LAST MOMENTS

Zuko and Iroh, uncle and nephew, teacher and student, friends, stood in the center of the Fire Lord's throne room. The fires of the Burning Throne were extinguished, and the cavernous chamber was lit only by a pair of small torches on the walls of the far sides. Nevertheless, the polished wood reflected a faint light bright enough to outline the silhouettes of the four occupants.

The Fire Lord spoke. "I find you both Guilty of the crime of treason. You will die, here, for your betrayal. Princess Azula, I think I will give you the honor."

The princess' eyes, suddenly strangely visible in the dark, darted from her father to the pair of prisoners bound at the center of the room. "Out of loyalty and devotion, father, I will burn these disgraces." She summoned her flames, a small heart of heat and light in each delicate hand, and world burst into visibility in shades of shadow and blue.

Iroh glanced at his nephew, and saw much. The boy kept his face under control, but Iroh read many things in the set of his jaw, the exact tightness of his muscles, the focus of his eyes. Zuko was not afraid. Instead, his heart was breaking. "Father..."

"No more pleas, Zuko", Azula whispered. "Salvage a little honor and die like the royalty you used to be."

The angle of his jaw shifted slightly, and Iroh could now see the anger growing in his nephew. "Zuko, stay strong."

"Uncle! You have a plan?"

"Actually, no. But we have done what we felt was right. I think we're done... here."

Zuko stared at him, for a long moment. The shadows abated before the blue, illuminating more with every step closer she came. It was a rather slow pace. Why was she hesitating? It didn't matter. Zuko had caught Iroh's meaning. "Here."

"Yes. I look forward to making the journey with a friend, this time."

"With family," Zuko replied.

Then Azula lit his face on fire.

Iroh couldn't help but cry out.

Then Azula killed him, too.

The fires of the Burning Throne flared.

Iroh awoke with a start. He felt the rough rocks beneath him, and was struck anew by the horrible smell. He heaved a sigh of relief. Just a dream. For a moment, even though he was locked up and in his brother's power, he was glad that Zuko had turned against him under Ba Sing Se. At least this way, he was alive.

...for now.

END