Chapter Twenty Two
Wrath and Tears.
Zuko hid in the shadow of a building. He had heard the approaching footsteps and taken cover. He did not need to be taken captive by the Water Tribe. He watched silently as they approached, five of them. A man in armor, a young… person also in armor. Zuko thought it was a girl, but the armor of the Water Tribe made it difficult to tell. Three others were with them, a woman and two young women, around his sister's age, all wearing the Parkas favored in the frigid pole.
"...let me take the lead, Princess." The man in armor said. His voice sounded familiar, though Zuko couldn't place it. Princess? Was one of the women Princess Yue? He had assumed that the white haired girl with Sokka was her, as his uncle had told him of their engagement.
"Do not call me that again, Tahno. Need I remind you of where we are?"
Zuko knew that voice. He had heard it countless times.
"No, P- Ma'am." Tahno said, "Forgive me, but if there should be fighting at the Oasis then I should be in front, as a safety precaution."
Zuko's eyes widened in horror. Azula was headed towards the Oasis, the very place where the Avatar was sure to have brought guards to protect the Spirits. An action he had taken due to Zuko's warning. If Azula went there now, she would be in the fight of her life. Zuko grit his teeth and stepped into the moonlight.
"Azula!" He roared, causing the group to turn to face him.
"Why, if it isn't dear Zuzu. Why am I not surprised to see you here?" Azula smirked.
"You're not going to the Oasis." Zuko said, staring her down. Her companions lowered the hoods of their parkas, and Zuko recognized all of them. Mai, Ty Lee, and the officer who had directed him to his uncle's cabin. Ensign Tema.
"I didn't realize that you were in a position to give orders, dumdum." His sister sneered. She removed her helmet and tossed it to the ground. She took a firebending stance.
"They know you're coming. I told the Avatar that Zhao intends to kill the Moon Spirit." He took a defensive stance as he spoke. Azula's face turned into a rictus of fury at his words.
"You would betray the Fire Nation?!"
Zuko shook his head. "No. We all need the moon. The whole world depends on the balance."
"Uncle would never allow Zhao to harm the moon. He's watching him even now, I'm sure. You've as good as doomed the siege!" Azula said. Zuko thought he heard a touch of desperation in her words. "But it's not over yet. I can still get to the Avatar."
Zuko scoffed. "No you won't. He's left to get reinforcements. Sokka began to plan the defense the second I was out of sight, and sent him away."
Azula's face colored and she clenched her fist. It was over then. The moon and the Avatar would be out of her reach. Perhaps Zhao would succeed in capturing the Moon Spirit, but she had failed. Well, almost. At least she could capture one person.
"It's over Azula. Get out of here while you can." Zuko said, not lowering his guard. He watched her, and so did her allies. She snarled and attacked. Zuko barely managed to deflect the fire, and when it cleared Azula was mere feet away. Zuko dodged her next strike and loosed a powerful jet of his own.
At least, that had been his intention. What came out was an impotent flatulence of orange candle flame. Azula stopped and stared at him, and rage overcame her expression.
"You dare to think you can go easy on me?! Your mistake!" She roared. She attacked with a barrage of azure fire, performing some of the finest firebending of her life. Zuko ducked, deflected, and dispersed as much as he could, but none of his own firebending could touch her. She kept pressing him back and he couldn't resist her onslaught.
Zuko heard a distant crack of thunder from the direction of the Oasis, but he had no choice but to ignore it. It was all he could do not to be incinerated by Azula. She punched fire towards his face, and he launched himself backwards. Landing on his hands, he managed to sweep her off balance with a kick. He heard someone scream a name in the distance, but he was on his feet and sprinting away.
He wasn't running from Azula, he wanted to lead her and her team away from the Oasis. Perhaps if enough time passed she would realize that she couldn't go there. For now though, he had to try and keep her away. And stay alive.
Blue fire rained down around him, and then orange flame joined it as Ensign Tema attempted to aid Azula. The Princess roared out at her companions. "He's mine!"
Zuko turned and kicked fire, but again it was weak and ineffective. What was happening? Why couldn't he bend properly? Zuko drew his swords and faced her.
Azula stopped and took an offensive pose. "What will you tell the Fire Lord when I bring you to him in chains?"
Zuko stared at her. He snarled his response. "Only that I've learned the truth, and that suffering has been my teacher."
The wind picked up around them, tugging at Zuko's cloak. He heard a distant roar, and saw a glowing figure rise into the air. Air and water surrounded Aang, and Zuko watched in fear and awe as the Avatar flew across the city to the battlefield.
"Like I said. You won't have him." Zuko said softly.
She couldn't stop crying. She tried, she tried very hard in fact, but still she wept. She wept for her friend, for her brother, and for herself. Sokka had lost a lover, and she had lost a dear friend in Yue's leaving. Aang had entered the Avatar State, and he blamed himself for Yue's death. Now he was facing the assembled might of the Fire Nation. Sokka had taken up Koh's mantle and followed after. But all she could do was cry.
"Wh- Who is the Face Stealer?!" She asked between sobs. She didn't expect an answer, but she got one all the same.
"He is a foul spirit." Iroh said, "A spirit of order, but foul all the same. Koh is an ancient spirit. He was born near the beginning and still endures."
Iroh knelt beside her in the grass. He put an arm around her, and Katara cried into his shoulder. She took a deep breath, coughed, and wiped her eyes. She forced the tears back and got to her feet.
"And he has my brother's soul?" She said in a small voice. It was hollow. Empty.
Iroh met her eyes and looked away. "Yes, it seems so."
"Is there any hope for him?" She asked.
"There is always hope. If you keep looking, then you will find a way. I'm sure." iroh said before standing. He began to walk away from her, towards the city.
"Where are you going?"
"To find my nephew. I know that you see him as an enemy, but I must know that he is safe."
"Zuko was here. He warned us about Zhao's plan. If he hadn't, then…" Maybe Yue would still live, but the Moon Spirit would not. She, Aang, and Sokka might not either.
"Where is he now?"
Katara told him of the way Zuko had taken, and Iroh's eyes widened. He thanked her and then ran out of the sanctuary. Katara watched him go. She knelt down next to Yue, and tried to arrange her in a more dignified fashion. She closed Yue's eyes, and crossed her arms over her chest.
She placed one hand on her stomach, and then tried to move the other. That hand had fallen into the water, and when Katara tried to lift it from the pool it wouldn't budge. Katara stared in confusion. She tried once more, but the pool would not release her. The Koi broke from their eternal dance. The Moon Spirit swam to Yue, and placed its brow against the lifeless fingers.
The water began to glow like the moon, and the light enveloped Yue. She lifted from the earth, and faded into nothing. Katara watched in confusion as moonlight concentrated on the spot where Yue had been. It seemed to coalesce into the shape of a woman, and then Yue appeared, alive once more.
"How…?" Katara said in wonder. Yue smiled at her.
"I was touched by the Moon Spirit when I was born. She saved my life, and now I have saved her in return. Tui has taken me into her own. We are one now, just as the Avatar and the Light Spirit."
"Sokka! We have to find him, he thinks you're…" Katara couldn't bring herself to say the word.
"I am, in a way. I cannot walk beside him as I did before. I am something else now."
Katara's heart fell. So Yue was lost to them still, and no miracle would keep her with them. She looked at her friend, perhaps for the last time. Yue turned her head and looked into the distance, and a frown creased her brow.
"You must go to him: he needs your help. I will light the way." Yue said, and she vanished.
A beam of moonlight illuminated the path towards her brother. Katara began to run.
The battle raged, water and fire filled the air, swords sang and spears crashed; a symphony of desperation. Men fought. Men bled. Men died.
Away from all of this, three men sprinted through the night, wary of pursuers. They ran down side roads, and crossed canals. Eventually, they came to find a squadron of Fire Nation soldiers. Upon seeing the men dressed in the armor of Water Tribe, the soldiers ready to fight once more. The lead firebender stepped forward.
"Stand down you idiot," Admiral Zhao said, punching fire into the air. "I am your commanding officer!"
The soldier bowed instantly. "Forgive me, Admiral. I didn't recognise-"
"Back to the ships! Retreat! Now! We'll resume the siege at dawn." Zhao ordered. The soldiers paused, before turning back in the direction they had come.
Hahn and Laluk stepped in line behind them, following the Admiral. Their identities had been revealed, and now they had no choice but to flee. They continued on their path until a shadow fell behind them.
Turning, Laluk called out to the Admiral. "Zhao!"
Zhao turned, and saw a long shadow that stretched over ground where none should be. He stared at it in confusion before his eyes found its source. The figure of a young man, dressed in armor and bearing a sword. Zhao smiled. Perhaps this night wouldn't be a complete failure after all.
"So you've come for revenge, have you?" He said, his tone mocking.
Sokka said nothing. In an eyeblink, he had drawn and tossed his boomerang. It connected with the side of Laluk's head and the waterbender slumped motionless to the ground. Hahn rushed to his father and tried to wake him.
"Sergeant," Zhao ordered lazily. "Bring him to me."
The sergeant obeyed immediately. His men followed. The squadron charged Sokka, closing the distance quickly, but when they caught sight of his eyes they faltered.
Where before there had been eyes as blue as the sea, was now only an unnatural, unclean, and broken darkness. As if twin holes had been bored in the world, and night had filled the space with shadow. The space before them was dim, the colors muted.
The sergeant stepped forward, uncertain, and his action drew Sokka's gaze. He met the man's eyes. The sergeant felt the talon of fear take him. He turned on his heel and fled. When they saw their leader flee, the soldier fled with him.
Sokka and Zhao eyed each other. Zhao sneered. "Cowards, all of them."
He took a firebending stance and Sokka charged him. They exchanged blows, and in moments it was over. Sokka's sword flashed left, then right, and then left again. Zhao fell to his knees, his arms bloody and imobile. Sokka placed the tip of his sword on Zhao's neck, but paused.
Perhaps he should take him prisoner? He might have some information on the Fire Nation. Maybe there were more spies. Perhaps Arnook would like to deal with this man personally. Sokka thought he would enjoy ending him, had he not been wrapped in the void. As it was, Sokka had cast aside emotion.
Maybe he should take it up again, if just one last time. It would be… enjoyable. Yes, that was it. He knew he would not leave it unless he chose to, so much had his mastery progressed. It was a long way from when he had fallen from the trance under Azula's scrutiny. Now he could….
Sokka took a slow breath. He let the world fall into place around him once more. His arm began to tremble. His lip curled in hate. He started to think that this wasn't his best idea, but he wouldn't go back now.
"You…!" He snarled. He pulled back his sword and kicked Zhao in the chest, breaking the breastplate and sending the man across the ice.
"You took her from me!" He roared.
Zhao groaned and sat up. His arms dangled uselessly at his side, for Sokka had been sure to hit as many chi points as he could. The Admiral tried to stand, but without the use of his arms his attempt was fruitless. He sat against the building he had slid into and glared at Sokka in fury.
"Yes, and if I could I'd do it again. I wasn't aiming for her of course, the foolish girl sacrificed herself. But had I known what she meant to you, I would have done it slower."
Sokka screamed in wrath and charged him. He ran past Hahn and Laluk, who was only now getting to his feet. He would plunge his sword into Zhao's heart, and bring the traitors to Arnook. He could see the glint of fear in his enemy's eye, surrounded by hate and fury. Sokka raised his sword, waiting just long enough for Zhao to comprehend what was about to happen.
The spear in his back was unexpected. It was… cold.
Sokka turned his head slowly. It was Hahn, of course. Sokka had forgotten him and his father both. He should never have left the void, he thought, for had he stayed he wouldn't have made any misstep.
He still lived. It wasn't a mortal wound, at least not one that would take him that night. Hahn withdrew the spear, backing away. Sokka looked back at Zhao, and deciding that the man wasn't likely to go anywhere, he followed the man he had counted as a friend.
"You're weak, Hahn. You know that?" He spat, walking towards him as Hahn backed away, towards the canal.
"I'm strong enough to beat you." Hahn brandished the spear.
"No. You know that you cannot win outright, and so you have made up the difference with cruelty and cunning. You allied with the enemy. You snuck them into the city. You tried to kill the Moon Spirit. These are not the actions of a strong man, but of a weak and desperate animal."
Hahn bellowed and stabbed at Sokka, who casually batted the spear aside. When his sword made contact, Hahn's weapon shattered like glass. Sokka paused for a second in surprise, but took the new development in stride. He brought the point of his sword to Hahn's chest, and saw that frost had coated the blade. Odd, he thought, but acceptable.
"Surrender. Arnook will decide your fate-" he was cut off when a rope of water grasped him. He was lifted bodily from the ground and thrown into the air. He lashed his limbs out wildly, trying to find a way to steady himself. He saw water rushing up to meet him, and he took a breath. In moments he was encased in a sphere of ice.
Laluk helped Zhao to his feet. The pair walked towards him, stopping to stand beside Hahn. Zhao looked at him in contempt, being supported by Laluk all the while.
"It seems that this is the end for you, whatever you are." Zhao said, "I'll be sure to tell your father how you screamed. Azula too. She has quite the crush on you, you know. The idiot."
The three of them walked away, leaving Sokka trapped and unable to move.
Iroh slowed to a walk as he gained sight of his brother's children. Zuko was doing his best to evade Azula's fire, but he was losing. His bending had weakened, leaving him vulnerable. As he watched, Azula gained the upper hand and defeated her brother. Zuko fell to the ground, unmoving.
He approached them, and came to stand beside Mai and Ty Lee.
"General Iroh!" Ty Lee exclaimed, looking at him in surprise. "What happened? We saw the Avatar fly through the city. Where's…"
"Zhao attempted to kill the Moon Spirit. The Princess of the Water Tribe sacrificed herself to save her. They knew we were coming."
"Are they dead?" Mai said bluntly. Iroh shook his head. "A few. Most got away, and Zhao was among them."
"Listen to me now." He told the pair of them. "Sokka is bound to the Face Stealer. The Avatar has become enraged, and the Moon Spirit has likely merged with Princess Yue. Her sacrifice was enough."
"Why are you telling us?" Mai said, and jabbing a thumb over her shoulder she pointed to Azula. "Azula's right there."
Iroh let out a breath. "There are things in motion that you do not understand, and more at risk than you can know. I am sorry."
Taking the pair by surprise, Iroh lashed out and knocked them unconscious. Hearing the commotion, Azula turned. She saw what he had done, but she didn't comprehend.
"Uncle? What…" Her brow furrowed as Iroh approached.
"I am sorry, my niece, but there is more at risk than you know." He said.
"But, I've caught him! Father will see, he'll know! He won't-" She stopped speaking as realization dawned on her.
"So it comes to this then, does it? I was a fool, I should have seen it coming. I should have seen through your lies!" She snarled, and blasted fire at her uncle. Iroh dispersed the fire easily and incapacitated her. She fell to the ground, gasping for air.
She heard running footsteps, and then Iroh spoke.
"There is no need for fighting, I only wish to get my nephew to safety. The siege has failed, and we are all in danger. Let us go back to the boats, where you can rejoin the fleet. There has been enough violence this day. Besides, Prince Zuko and I can hardly drag all five of you back ourselves."
Tahno nodded slowly, but the Ensign looked ready for battle.
"We cannot take him, Temma. He's too strong. The best we can hope for is to help these three out of here."
Iroh walked to Zuko and helped him to his feet. Zuko came to Azula's side. Rolling her to lay on her back, he began to tie her hands. Azula felt her eyes begin to sting. She had failed. The siege had failed. She had come to trust her uncle and had been betrayed. Now her brother was tying her to take her prisoner. She had no one. Nowhere to go. She was alone.
A loud thump filled the night, and Azula stared at her brother and uncle.
"Do not tie her up! What are you doing?!" Iroh said, his hand poised to smack the top of Zuko's head once more.
"Uncle!" Zuko shouted in anger. "She's dangerous, we can't-!"
"I will not see my niece bound!" Iroh said firmly. "I will carry her."
Iroh knelt and picked her up. He maneuvered her carefully so that she rested on his back. He turned and Azula saw that Mai and Ty Lee were being carried by Zuko and Tahno. Ensign Temma was to take point, she guessed. They soon had turned back along the path they had come, and made steady progress out of the city.
"I am sorry, Princess Azula." Uncle said, " I hope that in time you will understand, and that one day you will forgive me."
Azula refused to make a sound, and she did not cry. No, regardless of the wetness on her face, she denied the existence of her tears.
Katara propelled herself down the canal with her waterbending. She moved like a hurricane, following the moonbeam at blinding speed. It led her left, down a water way, under a bridge, and finally left again. It fell over a sphere of ice, inside which she could see her brother.
She let the waterspout falter and touched down beside him. In seconds she had him free, and he gasped and coughed. He rubbed his eyes and they looked normal, if a touch red. Blood seeped from his back, pouring slowly as if it was reluctant to leave.
"Sokka!" She hugged him,"Thank goodness, you're-"
"They got away." He said. "Zhao. Laluk. Hahn. They're gone, but we can still catch them. If we hurry, then we can stop them!"
"No, you're bleeding, I have to heal you!"
"It's not deep! Katara, are you coming or not?"
"I- fine. But you're not leaving my side, not until I know you'll be okay."
"Good enough, let's-" Sokka paused mid sentence when he spotted the head of Hahns spear. He picked it up, and saw how wherever his blood had touched the blade it was stained black.
"Do you know which way they went?" Katara asked. Sokka tossed the spearhead into the canal.
"I can smell them." He rose to his feet and began to run.
The siblings raced down the street, following the scent that Zhao had left behind. They raced through the night, and arrived at the battle field.
It was a scene from Katara's nightmares. Aang stood in the middle of it, the Fire Nation all around him. They shot arrows, they shot fire,yet nothing found its mark. Aang raised a hand and a column of ice shot tanks into the air. Men rushed him with spears and were blasted away by wind. A signal horn blew, and the Fire Nation began to flee towards their ships.
"NO!" Sokka screamed, pointing a hand towards three figures on the prow of a receding ship. He moved like the wind, separating himself from Katara as he wove through the fight. He ducked, dodged, deflected, and still his progress to the remains of the gate was inhuman.
"ZHAO!" He roared, watching as the ship moved further out to sea. Admiral Zhao stood on the deck of his ship, staring in astonishment at Sokka. Whatever this thing was, it had escaped its prison and nearly got to him again. Zhao turned and walked below deck.
"Signal the fleet to resume the barrage as soon as we're out to sea. I want all infrastructure in range destroyed. We will level their city and plant our fag on the ruble." He ordered the first junior officer he came across. "And send word to the Fire Lord. General Iroh has betrayed us!"
"What of Princess Azula?" Asked the lieutenant, Zhao grit his teeth.
"Send a convoy to the infiltration point. She has likely returned to the steamers."
Katara stood beside her brother as he watched Zhao slip away. She put a hand on his shoulder.
"Sokka…" Was all she could say. So much had happened in what? An hour? The whole world had changed.
Aang roared his fury above them, startling the two. He raised his arms and a massive wall of water formed across the ruin gate, and froze instantly, repairing all the damage. He slowly descended to the ground, and landed beside them. He left the Avatar State, and sagged. Katara caught him before he could fall.
His wrath had been exhausted, and all that remained was tears and despair. He righted himself and looked at Sokka. "I'm sorry. If I hadn't stopped you, then Zhao wouldn't have-"
"I don't blame you, Aang." Sokka said, succumbing to his grief once more. "He told me this would happen. The Face Stealer, I mean. Koh. He said my strength was insufficient, and that she would die. I put the power aside. I chose not to use it. I let her…"
"I neglected my duty, and these are the consequences. I'll never see her again."
"What do you mean, who's the Face Stealer? What duty?" Aang asked, completely drained.
"That's the real name. Koh: The Face Stealer. He needed a champion to fight those corrupted by Vaatu, and I agreed. Now one of his has taken her from me."
"Sokka!" Katara said, breaking them from their conversation. "Yue, she's-"
She was interrupted when the bombardment resumed. The Fire Nation wasn't aiming for the gate anymore, but the city itself now. Buildings, bridges, anything they could reach. Aang groaned and fell to his knees. Sokka growled and took hold of his boomerang, which he had recovered after Katara had saved him.
Waterbenders tried to intercept the projectiles, but there were too many of them. Aang got to his feet, ready to resume fighting for as long as he could, but something stopped him. A concentrated circle of moonlight enveloped him, and he re-entered the Avatar State. He lifted into the air, and face the Fire Navy.
Above and behind him, a beautiful woman appeared in glowing white. She smiled down at the Avatar, and Aang raised his hands in front of him. A massive wave flowed from the gate, pushing the Fire navy out to sea. Yue raised her hands and an even greater wave followed the first, pushing them out farther still. Some ships sank outright, others were damaged, or capsized.
Yue spoke, and all who fell under the light of the moon could hear her words.
"I am Yue. The moon has taken me into her own, and we will not allow you to harm our people any longer. Leave this place, and never return."
The remaining ships sent out lifeboats to look for survivors, but they had already been pushed miles out to sea. Yue and Aang descend from the sky. Katara caught Aang, and Yue levitated before Sokka. She gave him a sad smile.
"You have a long and happy life ahead of you. I can see it."
He reached out to her, and they kissed one last time.
"I will always be with you," Yue said, and she faded away.
A week later, Sokka sat on the Glacial Gate, alone. There had been a funeral for those who had given their lives in the city's defense. Arnook had given a solemn speech, and Pakku had given one of his own. Ignick had survived, and the total casualties were fewer than he had originally expected.
They would be returning to the Earth Kingdom the next day. The world still went on, and it wouldn't wait for them. It wouldn't wait for him. He hadn't eaten much, or slept. He closed off Koh's power, but only until there was trouble. He had practiced opening the gate, and could call forth the mantle instantaneously. He did so now.
He laid Moonlight across his knees. He drew out the blackened knife he had taken from those bandit's so long ago, and opened a small cut on his arm. He dipped a finger into the viscous blood, and wrote a word on the blade of his sword. When finished, the word was burned black where he had written:
悔
Regret
Sokka cleaned the blade, and sheathed it. He reached for the void, and entering it he decided that he would not leave until the passing of time had dulled the sharp edges of his grief.
The End of Part One
Regret
Author's Note:
That's that, then.
Alternative titles for Part One are: The First Son, or The Moon.
I went with Regret overall because it has to do with the underlying theme of the story.
263 pages, 115,000 words or so.
The next update will not be the beginning of Part Two, Conviction. Instead, it will be an interlude where we revisit some of the friends and enemies that we met along the way.
Charlemagne OR WHATEVER
11/10/2022