Chapter Twenty Three

Katara hesitated as Sokka hurled the last of the soldiers into the river.

"Well," he said panting, "That takes care of that group."

"Where should we go-" Katara's sentence was cut off as a hand suddenly grabbed her from behind and hurled her to the ground. "Sokka!" she cried out. A fire bender loomed above her, fire burning in his hands. She froze as he raised his hand to strike.

Suddenly there was a loud thud and he fell forward, unconscious. Katara rolled quickly to the side so he wouldn't land on her. She looked up to see Sokka standing there with his weapon raised. He held out his hand and helped her up.

"Thanks." She said gratefully.

"Don't mention it." He grinned.

Katara turned to scan the grounds. The battle seemed to be going in their favor. Yet….

"Aang!" she cried suddenly. She could see Aang, far across the rocky landscape. He was fighting Prince Zuko and it looked like Zuko was winning. "Sokka! Aang's in trouble! We have to help him!"

Sokka turned and then motioned her to follow him. They started to race off in Aang's direction but suddenly a dark shape crossed over them. Katara glanced up and then grabbed Sokka, pulling him to the ground, as the Actu, the bird of death, swooped over head. Commander Zhao was sitting on its back. Katara gasped as she looked at him.

"Sokka….." she said in horror but he had already seen.

Commander Zhao no longer looked like the Commander they had known earlier. He was completely different. His eyes were bright, flaming red. His hands and feet flamed an intense burning orange as he flew. His hair was jet black and his teeth were barred in a snarl that revealed pointy fangs. Katara saw with a jolt that even his tongue had changed. It was split in half, like a snake's, and darted in and out of his mouth. His clothes hung in tatters from his body. She turned away. It was too terrible to look at. She had no doubt in her mind what he meant by "powers" now. She didn't know how he had done it but one thing was certain. He was pure evil.

Dark clouds raced across the sky, blocking out the sun. An eerie glow swept over the land casting horrible shadows across the ground.

"Come on! He's headed for Aang!" Sokka said pointing at the swooping bird. Katara realized he was right. They jumped up and tried to run towards Aang but something was wrong. The ground seemed to be slipping out from under their feet. Katara screamed as a giant rock erupted out of the earth in front of her. Sokka stumbled backwards to avoid it and the two landed on the ground in a heap. They scrambled back up but it was too late. With an earsplitting crash the ground around them exploded and they found themselves trapped in a prison of rock. Sokka tried to break the nearest one but his weapon simply shattered in his hands.

"Aang!" Katara called, tears running down her face. There was nothing more she could do but watch and hope that he made it through alright. Come on Aang! Please make it. Please!

Aang dropped to the ground and barely avoided a burst of fire. He was exhausted. He hurt everywhere and he could smell the stench of burnt skin. I can't do this much longer. I can't. He thought desperately. He hurled a wave of water at Prince Zuko but he ducked behind a rock and it splashed harmlessly around him. I'm losing. Aang realized in despair.

Another fire ball shot out and hit his already injured arm. He cried out as searing pain shot through his entire body. He felt his vision growing blurry as the pain over took him. He shook his head to clear it. He tried to send a blast of fire in retaliation but he was too weak. His arm dropped to his side and he collapsed on the ground. Fuzzy shapes swam around his head.

He lay there until someone flipped him roughly onto his back. He opened his eyes to see Prince Zuko leering at him. Zuko dug his foot into Aang's chest. "So this is what the mighty Avatar is made of. Not as tough as your friends hoped are you?" A flame appeared in his hand. "I was going to turn you over to Commander Zhao but I think I will kill you myself."

This is it. Aang thought wearily. I have lost.

Zuko raised his hand. Aang closed his eyes and waited for the blast of burning fire to rain down on him. But Zuko never got a chance.

Suddenly the earth erupted around them. The ground shook and heaved, throwing Zuko to the ground. A horrible laugh filled the air. It was so loud the very trees shuddered around them. Prince Zuko covered his ears and tried to block the sound out but it reverberated inside his head.

"Foolish boy!" A voice boomed. It was terrible and sounded like a thousand storms raging at once. "You think that I, I the most powerful being ever, would give you the glory of killing the Avatar? No! I will kill him myself. Then there will be no one to stop me and I will rule the world!" The laughter started again.

Prince Zuko forced himself to look up and gasped in shock at what he saw. Commander Zhao, or at least what had once been Commander Zhao, flew through the black sky on the Actu. The sight of him made Zuko's blood run cold.

"C-commander! I don't understand" Zuko sputtered, "I-I thought you were on our side!"

The laughter grew even louder. "You're so conceited you never even realized you were playing right into my hands. Now the Avatar is too weak to fight and I have almost completed the spell. My great grandfather passed this spell down to skilled fire benders for generations. Even to your father. It would make the user all powerful, unstoppable! But they were all to coward to use it. They wanted to take over the world by fighting. Fools! But now, I have completed the ritual and in moments full power will be mine!"

"No!" Zuko screamed. He tried to stand but the earth gave another violent tremble and he was thrown back down.

"You know I must congratulate you Prince Zuko," Commander Zhao continued sarcastically, "You could have stopped me. Only a fire bender could stop the spell while it was in progress. But of course, you were to busy saving the day with your heroic general's act. And now it is too late. I am all powerful!"

Black clouds began to whirl into each other and form a spinning whirlpool above his head. Blinding lightning flashed across the sky.

"My father will stop you!" Zuko shouted over the howling winds, "He is the ruler! He won't let you get away with this!"

"Ha! Don't make me laugh! Your father is dead!"

Zuko stared at him in shock, "No," he whispered, "No! You're lying!"

"I assure you I am not. Your father didn't agree with my plans so I….disposed of him. He was only hindering my progress."

"No!" Blind fury raged inside him as he felt hot tears slide down his face. "You traitor! You murderer!" He screamed at the top of his lungs, "You never cared about the fire nation! Never! You just wanted glory for yourself! How could I have been so blind as to follow you! I hate you!"

The laughter came again, loud and mocking, "Poor Zuko. You didn't even realized that I sent the 'earth bending spy'. He actually worked for me. After all, if I didn't get you banished from the fire nation then you might have discovered my plans. But enough talk. I can feel my power growing. Once I kill the Avatar the spell will be complete and I will be ruler of the entire world!"

"Guess again."

The voice came from behind Zuko. He turned to see Aang standing on top of a boulder, holding something glowing in his hand. Zuko hadn't noticed the Avatar had gotten up.

Commander Zhao screamed in fury. "No! The arrow of Zhatuk! It cannot be!"

"It is." Aang said, his voice filled with anger. "You've done enough damage. It's time we brought an end to this." Aang wasn't sure how he had gotten the arrow. It was all a blur. The only thing he could remember was seeing Avatar Roku's face, but he knew this was what would stop the evil one. He could feel the power coursing through it as he stood there.

"I will not be defeated." Commander Zhao hissed and a lightning bolt suddenly struck the rock where Aang was standing. Aang caught his balance, only to be hit by another bolt. He dodged it but landed on his back. Before he could scramble up another bolt struck the ground at his feet. The earth shook, sending both Prince Zuko and Aang flying through the air. Zuko was hurled against a pile of rocks. He groaned as he felt his arm snap as it hit and he fell to the group in a heap. Aang managed to land on his feet but as he did, the arrow slipped and was blown away by a gust of wind.

"No!" Aang screamed and tried to catch it, but the Actu dived and knocked him back.

Commander Zhao screamed in victory. Suddenly he glanced up as a shadow crossed his path. Then he back to laugh.

"So Avatar. It seems your flying friend has come back to say his good byes to you. Even he realizes that the end is near."

Aang looked up to see Appa soaring towards him. "Oh Appa. There's nothing you can do." Aang whispered.

Suddenly there was a thud. Commander Zhao had flew off the Actu and landed only feet away from Aang. He floated inches above the ground. Fire and lightning raced across his hands. "Time to say good bye." He hissed at Aang and raised his hands.

Time seemed to stand still. Zuko gazed in shock and horror at what he had once thought to be an ally. He lowered his head in shame. I have failed. But then his gaze fell on something glowing. He realized with a jolt that it was the arrow of Zhatuk, lying only inches away. He glanced at it, then back at Commander Zhao who had raised his arms for the kill. Suddenly he knew what he had to do.

"Aang!" Zuko screamed and, raising his good arm, he hurled the arrow with all his might.

Aang turned and was surprised when the arrow landed by his feet. For a split second he and Commander Zhao both stared at it. Then, like a flash, Aang grabbed it. Avatar Roku's words came back to him You will find an unlikely ally just when you think all is lost.

Aang pulled his arm back and stared straight into the Commander's red eyes. "It's time for you to pay for what you've done." He said quietly and hurled the arrow with all his might.

It struck the Commander straight through the heart. His mouth dropped and a horrible screamed filled the air. "Nooooo!" He fell to his knees as blood began to pour from the wound. "AHHHH!" He raised his hands as scorching hot pain seared through him. His skin began to bubble and boil and blood began to pour from his body. He screamed and screamed, writhing on the ground as his skin melted and his flesh peeled away to reveal bare bones. Finally, with one terrible screech his bleeding eyes rolled back in his head and his body exploded, showering the grass in crimson red.

Zuko watched and smiled grimly as the Commander took his last breath and was gone. Maybe all it not lost. Oh Katara, you were right. You were right. Then everything went black.