Chapter 9: Old Enemies

The Boiling Rock

A place considered to be a highly fortified asylum meant to keep all prisoners from escaping, and so far throughout its many decades of activity, there was only one successful prison break to be known. It was a humiliating day for the prison reputation, especially for the Warden who held such a high devotion to keep that record from ever breaking. And now, on the night of another full moon there will be another. The boiling water surrounding the island left it difficult to see during the night. The steam that evaporated upwards gave its surroundings a rather dense and foggy terrain, and the torches that were lit were quite dim and difficult to see due to the thickness of the steam that came from below.

The Guards on the top of the prison conversed with one another as the quiet night ticked by. It was another boring, and repetitive night. Nothing interesting to observe or partake in. No riots. No fights. No attempts to break out. Nope, just another boring night. One of them yawned, already feeling the weight of sleep pressing against his shoulders; But he couldn't leave now. No, he still had 4 more hours until the next batch of guards came by to relieve them of their posts. So with heavy eye's, they pressed on as they did their best to keep each other from succumbing to the alluring sensation of sleep. The small talk continued as always, only to be interrupted by a slow and lightly squealing sound of a wire moving. This gained their attention, and they all looked to see the wires of a cable car approaching their direction.

"Are they here to relieve us already?" One of the guards scratched his head.

"That can't be right. We still have a few more hours until then." Another clarified.

"Maybe the Warden has a new batch of prisoners arriving."

"I don't think so, he always briefs us of any new arrivals before we take post."

"Maybe he forgot?"

"Pfft, yeah right."

The chatting ended their as they continued to observe the wire bring in the cable car that was unable to be clearly seen. The only thing being noticed through the fog was the lanterns the cable car had attached to it. The barely noticeable lighting gave them a rough idea on its distance. The cable car finally approached, stopping just over the platform allowing a safe disembarkment of whoever could be inside. The doors opened, and the guards piled around near the entrance awaiting to see who was on the other side.

Empty.

"Huh." One of the guards scratched his head. "That's odd."

"It's empty."

"Well, then how did it operate to get even get here? Was it the wind?"

"This is beginning to creep me out, man."

"Grow a pair already you wuss."

They never noticed a robed figure hopping over them from atop the cable car and descend down the steps in search for a few particular individuals of interest. Inside the prison was even more well guarded than the outside. With guards posted at nearly every corner, it made sneaking around much more difficult than the man anticipated; But sneaking doesn't mean that blood shouldn't be spilled. No, just as long as no one knew of your presence, that was all it took. Calmly walking down the slim hallway, he approached behind two men who leaned against the opposite walls facing towards one another. Extending his arm to scrape roughly against the metal wall, the screeching sound gained the two's attention before their vision was suddenly cut short due to the sharpness of metal penetrating their eye's. They tried to scream, but they soon found themselves being restrained by the very same walls they leaned upon. It pulled them in and enclosed them within its metal, leaving them to suffocate without anyones awareness of their disappearance. The man walked calmly passed the spot where the two guards stood and continued to make his way downwards to the deeper and more dangerous batches of criminals that was kept below. He repeated the process of executing guards whenever it was deemed necessary, or he'd just do so due to being annoyed by their overwhelming amount.

Approaching a darkened cell, he stopped just on the other side and peeked through small window on the metal door. It was quite difficult to see through the shade and darkness, but not impossible. There on the end of the cell sat a man chained by his feet and arms as he sat against the floor. He was beginning to look pale due to the lack of sunlight, and his restricted access to the outside world was more than noticeable.

"Long Feng." The man in robes spoke.

Long Feng glanced up, his eye's averting from the cold stones below his feet as he gazed at the man on the other side. "How may I be of assistance?" Despite his politeness, their was a tinge of venom from his voice. He seemed annoyed at the sight of people moving freely. Unlike himself who's been bound to these chains for decades.

"I will fill you on my plans after, but for now..." Grasping against the metal, he pulled it open with ease. "You will come with me."

Long Feng smirked. "Well, what do we have here? A metal bender? I've never heard of such a thing."

"Time's have changed" He approached the man before grabbing onto his shackles. "And you are quite outdated from a time that no longer exists." Breaking his shackles from his wrist and feet, Long Feng stood with satisfaction at the taste of freedom.

"I'm not so surprised." He chuckled. "Just as long as I get revenge on that wretched woman that put me here, I'll be your humble servant until our paths differ." He pledged while thinking of Azula.

Without another word, the two exited the cell and headed deeper within the prison. They stayed quiet for a few seconds, until Long Feng questioned his sense of direction.

"Are you sure this leads out? We seem to be going deeper."

"If you think I solely came here for you, then you are quite mistaken. In fact, I could've left you; But I have plans that do see your abilities in earth bending quite resourceful."

Long Feng decided to keep quiet from here on out. Despite feeling insulted by this mans brashness, he dared not provoke him any further. He hasn't been earth bending in awhile, so he's quite rusty. But also, he didn't know what this man was capable of. So it'd be best to play good boy until he figures out a little more about him.

They approached another cell, this time guarded by two guards. With a swift motion of his finger tips, he impaled all three of them in the neck with s metal beam that came hurling from beneath their feet. The force sent them flying up and stuck their corpses to dangle in the corners of the ceiling. The blood began to slowly trickle down the metal beams and drip onto the floor.

"My god." Long Feng blinked as discomfort began to settle in.

Approaching the second cell, the man instead busted through without even looking to see who was behind it. Light began to shine from the dim room, and in the end was an old frail woman chained to the wall by her arms and legs that fully ceased her fingertips from moving due to its restraining nature. She was old, really old. And Long Feng began to wonder why an elderly woman like herself was kept in a prison such as the Boiling Rock? Perhaps, the Fire Nation isn't as merciful as he thought. Not that the last century full of war had nothing to do with it.

The man approached the woman and lifted her face by her chin. She opened her eye's slowly when she felt human contact against her skin.

"W-Who are you?" She let out a weak croak.

"I am your new leader." He all but responded.

She chuckled lightly. "I obey no one."

"That may be true; But that will soon change, Hama."

"So you know who I am, then that means you know what I am capable of."

"Your experience in blood bending will not affect me. For I have also mastered that forbidden art. And might I add, I do find such an ability to be rather, boring for my personal taste. Where's the fun in killing your enemies if they aren't able to fight back?"

"Everything is." Hama grinned. "But, I am too old. In my current condition I would hardly live another few months." She felt the weakness in her body, it was too old and tired to even move.

The man placed three of his fingers on her head, two on her temples and his thumb on her chin. A small light emitted from them both, and after a few seconds he pulled away leaving Hama to feel more lively than before.

"What, did you do?"

"I have reduced your life essence by thirty years. Your age and appearance remains the same, but you are now able to move as if you were sixty."

"I would say you're crazy if I wasn't feeling its affect." She smirked as she watch him break the chains that restrained her.

"Tonight is a full moon, so you'd surely be able to use your gift whenever it is necessary. There are still plenty of Fire Nation Citizens and Soldiers I know you wish to exact your vengeance on, and I will ensure that you'll make many of them feel the suffering you've felt if you all but obey my every command."

Hama rubbed her wrist that were once chained while rotating her fingers ensuring of their stability. The informing of the full moon being high in the sky left her delighted, and the temptations of imprisoning many Fire Nation Citizens so they would rot in their cells just sounded too good to pass up. "Shall we go then?" She suggested, agreeing to his demands.

Long Feng nodded. "Yes, I believe it's time we should."

Long Feng looked at the man who freed them, and by now he was already making his way out the door and once again moving deeper into the prison. Hama was about to question his sense of direction as well, but Long Feng informed him that they most likely weren't his priority. They just so happened to be at the right place, and at the right time. Hama kept her mouth shut before observing the handiwork this man committed with corpses of guards impaled around her. Time ticked by once more, and after a good descent even deeper into the prison; They approached a heavily guarded room that had roughly a dozen guards posted outside the door. Hama and Long Feng glanced at one another, a little worried that there would be a ruckus that would alert the entire prison. However, their worry soon ceased to exist as they witness the man sucked the air out of every one of their lungs while compressing their throats together. They all clawed at their necks, wondering just why they weren't able to breathe. Only a few looked over to see a man with discolored eye's stare into their dying gaze before feeling their necks crush under the pressure. The floor was soon littered with more corpses, and they found themselves stepping over bodies of those were once alive.

"Air?" Long Feng questioned as realization of who this person may be began to settle in. "Is... is he?"


In the dark room, where all has forgotten of his existence laid a man who once had it all. Everyone feared him, meaning they all respected his reign of power. But despite what he currently had, his greed and lust for more was what led to his downfall as Fire Lord. Yes, the Ex-Fire Lord Ozai sat frail and alone for the first time nearly two decades ago. The amount of free time given was more than enough to reflect on what he's done in this world. While also thinking of ways he could've stopped his downfall. How could he? Proud Fire Lord of the Fire Nation, be beaten by a twelve year old boy! Avatar or not, it was disgraceful and humiliating. Much less, having his ability to bend fire to his will also stripped from his existence?! That is what made him so fearsome. His expertise in the element was unlike any other! And it was all taken, by him!

Even decades after his defeat, the anger still boiled within him. There was no liquid that could quench the fire that laid rabid within his soul. No amount of therapy or love. No, he wanted revenge; But even he knew when all was lost. However, it didn't mean he had to accept the outcome. Lifting his head to the unfamiliar sounds of gasping and choking, he could only wonder what was happening on the other side. The chitty chat of the guards became silent and empty, and nothing could be heard for what felt like minutes after. And then, the door that laid beyond the cell he was in dented with a horrific view of an inhuman hand busting through the metal. It opened with ease, and in stepped a man he couldn't recognize due to his concealing garments.

"Who are you?" Ozai narrowed his eye's uncaring for the other two that entered along with him.

"Ozai." He responded with all but joy.

Ozai clenched his teeth as his eye's filled with rage. Despite the maturity in the mans voice, he could recognize that sound anywhere. "Avatar!" He growled. "Why have you come?" He shook as the chains that bound his arms behind him jingled roughly. "I'll kill you! Right where you stand! I'll rip out your throat and watch you gasp for air like a pathetic pig!"

Aang stood calmly. He felt the rage within Ozai clearer than ever, and he also felt the disbelief within Hama and Long Feng when realizing of his true identity. "I am here to set you free, of course."

Ozai laughed. "Don't play these stupid games, I know that I am too dangerous to be set free. Why don't you stop humoring me and start explaining why you are really here."

"It's the truth." Aang replied. "I will set you free. And you will once again be able to move around the outside world."

Ozai's smile left, and a puzzled look emerged. "I don't understand."

"There is nothing to understand. I will set you free as I have said for the 3rd time. However, in exchange you shall serve me."

Silence fell between them, and Ozai found himself laughing once more. "Serve you?!" He hollered. "What do you expect me to do? Promote peace in the name of the Avatar? I would much rather see myself burn!" Ozai felt his throat compress, and he soon found himself struggling to breath.

"Do not mistaken me, Ozai." Aang glared. "You are but a pebble beneath my feet, and I will not hesitate to torture you until death would seem like a luxury." Releasing his grasp, he watched as Ozai choke as he struggled to regain his breathing. "We may have had our differences before, Ozai; But I am a generous man. If you join me, I will restore your rightful place as Fire Lord." He proclaimed. "But not only that, I will ensure that your influence will double ten times fold across the world than what you once had before I stripped you of your status."

Ozai huffed as his eyes gazed below. The words that entered his ears sounded delighting and empowering. It sounded quite amazing and would be foolish if he passed up on this opportunity.; But the thought of serving under the boy that had beaten him, much less serving anyone at all, that didn't sit too well with him. Looking up at Aang, their eye's gazed into each other as the Avatar now tucked his hood back behind his neck revealing his face to him.

"I..."


In another sector of the prison not too far from where Ozai was held sat another woman. Due to her extreme bipolar nature, she was forced to be restrained in every way imaginable that would render her completely immobile. Being restrained in what seemed to be a body bag, their were belts that wrapped around her torso along with her arms, all beginning from her shoulders to the tip of her fingers forcing them to stay connected with the rest of her body. Her legs were tied together in a similar fashion as her torso, and beneath the outer layer of the fabric that enclosed her were additional cuffs and shackles to further bind her body together.

This is who Princess Azula had become. A forgotten prodigy that the Fire Nation once adored; And now, a criminal view through eye's of the world. Her hair laid scattered and messy from the lack of care she wasn't able to give it. Part of her vision was clouded by bunches of hair stuck over her eye's to which after so many years of isolation she cared not for her appearance to others any longer. Zuko had come visit her a few times throughout the years; But those visits have slowly became less and less frequent until now, now she was too forgotten. She scoffed lightly at the thought knowing that she wouldn't want it any other way. Every visit he's given her, her response was filled with nothing resentment and anger. The crown he specifically wore was one of the main reasons as to why. It drove her mad to no means end when her eye's laid upon it. Princess Azula, rightful heir to the throne was robbed of her title as the successor to Fire Lord Ozai; And like her father, she's craved for the satisfying taste of vengeance.

However, another thing she's also had in common with her father was the amount of free time she was able to reflect upon. While at some points she did think of the good times she and Zuko had as a child, she mainly found herself longing for the affection of her mother and father once more. The crazed and conquering spirit her father gave always motivated her to live up to his expectations. He was her role model; And she surely didn't want to disappoint. That was why she strived so hard to become the best at fighting; And it was also why she didn't want to be overshadowed by Zuko.

Their mother, Ursa was a kind and loving woman. Despite her mother constantly preaching that she loved Zuko and her the same, she couldn't entirely accept that answer. There was always a favorite, no matter what. That is why she felt so drawn to their father more; Because she was HIS favorite. She wanted to understand more of her mother and bond with her into a deeper scale; But their similarities had already began to separate at a certain age. With her resembling more of Ozai, and Zuko having more of Ursa's kind and loving spirit. That is why she felt awkward when they interacted. They couldn't find something that would interest both of them despite her mother trying to do so; And it irked her knowing that she could've done more for her at the time.

That was the end of her thoughts as her mind once again succumb to the annoying sounds of a loose faucet dripping in the corner of her room. This is who Azula was now. No longer a Princess, nor a Prodigy. She was just another inmate with a number slapped on the back of her head for when it was time to get accountability. She was Azula, Inmate of the Boiling Rock. She rocked back and fourth, her crazed laughter becoming louder and louder as she thought of her new title. Oh, how it suited her under these circumstances. She would've continued her endless hysterical laughter if not for the metal door before her being burned into a molten liquid.

She blinked, curious as to what could be happening. As the liquid state of metal seeped through the drainage of the floor, a man concealed by a shadow stood on the other side. He took a few steps forward, revealing his old yet stern face towards Azula.

Azula's eye's widened, and her lips parted into one with glee. "F-Father?!" She nearly choked. "Y-You came for me!"

"Hello daughter." Ozai greeted. "In all of my life, I have never thought I'd see you in such a state." He frowned before grabbing hold of the additional cellular bars that enclosed her. His hands ignited once more, and the metal once again burned hot enough until it dripped to the floor as a liquid. "I have come to bring you home."

Azula couldn't believe it. After years of being isolated; Years of being forgotten by the world. She was finally able to step outside and reintroduce herself to those who dare forget her name. It was... it was a miracle. She watched with unbelieving eye's as her father undo the binds that restrained her limbs. And a satisfying stretch filled her bones as she began to move her fingers and wiggle her toes once more, she made an effort to stand but nearly toppled over due to not being independently mobile for so long. Ozai placed a hand on her shoulder, and she lightly leaned against her father for support.

"I-I don't understand. The Avatar, he took your bending from you. How... How did you get it back?" She questioned.

Ozai opened his lips to answer, but Aang entered the room disrupting any words from leaving his throat.

"That's because I gave them back." Aang replied.

Azula's gaze fell upon the Avatar, and her body tensed at the possibility of having to fight to escape.

"Relax daughter." Ozai assured. "We're... acquaintances now."

"If you think I have stooped so low as to be considered your equal, then I suggest you hold your tongue Ozai." Aang narrowed his eye's.

Ozai did just as demanded, a scowl presented on his face as he avoided the Avatars gaze. Azula stood surprised, mainly due to the fact that her father was just insulted and he didn't even lift a finger in retaliation. Just, just what on earth is going on?

"Avatar Aang." Long Feng entered the room along with Hama. "Is she the last one we- You!" Long Feng's eyes narrowed as a hiss escaped his lips.

Azula had a questioning gaze, as she seemed to not recall this man at all. She faced many people to the point where everyone had the same thought about her in the end. Of how cold and manipulative she was.

Long Feng took a few steps in anger. "I will kill you for humiliating me-" His throat ceased to cooperate, and his lungs felt compressed. He fell onto his knees before Aang unable to breath.

"I will not have my servants kill each other before they've served their usefulness." Aang glared before releasing the man from his grasp.

Not a second later, an alarm blared loudly across the prison.

"I think that settles it." Hama sighed, slightly grateful that their was no bloodshed between them... yet.

Without another word, Aang calmly walked out of the room. Hama shortly fell behind him, and Long Feng stood while rubbing his neck. He gave one last glare at Azula before following shortly after. Ozai stood protectively in front of her daughter while Azula allowed her father to assist her in walking. As they marched down the halls, the four benders who were once prisoners seemed to be in a hurry; But Aang continued in a calm pace without any worry of what could be in their way. In the distance they could here the numerous guards shout at one another preparing for what could be headed their way. Shortly after, a dozen guards appeared around the corner and pointed at them.

"There they are!" The lead one shouted before giving chase.

Aang continued his approach as the four lagged behind a little more allowing him to deal with what lied ahead. Discarding his robes, he allowed the full monstrosity of his figure to be known. He was lean, yet strong. Flesh, yet machine. This was who he had become now. The guards momentarily paused as they were unsuspecting of the limbs this man had; But they resumed their charge after getting over their initial shock. Opening his left hand directed below him, a sharp metallic spear the length of a small sword appeared in his hands. He grasped it firmly and sliced at the jugular with such swiftness at the first person who approached. Pushing him to the side as to allow him to bleed out like a pig, he raised his right arm to catch a blade before driving the weapon into the neck of the other. Leaning back slightly as to avoid being severed from the top down, he grabbed the wrist of the person who tried to chop him and yanked him towards his body. He latched onto his throat with his right hand and lifted him off the ground before using him as a shield to block oncoming flames that attempted to burn him. The guard rendered as a human shield cried out in pain as the heat scorched his back. Aang pressed forward with his human shield towards the few that lingered in the back. Crushing the mans throat that he held in his hands, he threw him ahead smashing roughly against two other guards who were knocked unconscious as the back of their heads impacted the metal wall behind them.

The rest of the guards jerked away as fear began to settle in. This person was no ordinary intruder, he was deadly. They could see that now. One of them attempted to flee, but he was crushed by the wall caving him into the other end.

"There is no escape." He coldly responded as he continued his slaughter.

As the rest followed only seconds after Aang finished his butchering of guards, they were all left questioning the sanity of the Avatar; specifically Azula who knew his personality better than anyone before this new encounter.

"Why... is he attacking them?" She thought as she walked over the corpses of guards. "He's the Avatar? He should be on their side... right?" She averted his gaze to look at the inhuman limbs attached to him. "What happened to you, Avatar? What did I miss throughout my years in prison?" She could only wonder. Despite no one voicing it, Azula knew that everyone thought the same thing; Especially her father.

Finally, after spending an ample amount of time fighting through guards with the majority of the work being done by Aang, they managed to reach the cable car where there was more than four dozen soldiers and guards alike awaiting their arrival; And in the front leading them all was the Warden, the Chief Authority of the Fire Nations most "Impenetrable" and "Inescapable" prison.

"Stop, right there!" The Warden ordered. "On behalf of the Fire Nation, you are under arrest for aiding these criminals in attempt to escape this prison. Surrender yourself now, and come silently."

Staring into each of his opponents eye's, Aang remained silent as he allowed the tense and soundless atmosphere play with their thoughts. "Twenty." He responded, confusing all who heard.

"I beg your pardon?" The Warden narrowed his eye's.

"It takes Twenty seconds to kill a man in boiling water. Twenty long and painful seconds. The temperature the water has to be in order to reach a boiling point is about 212 degrees Fahrenheit; However, the water around us is on a highly continuous state of evaporation that it's predicament should be around 400 degrees; A quite unnatural state if I say so myself."

"I take it you're saying that you'll be boiling us alive?"

Aang fell into a small and crazed chuckle. "Oh, no. It'd be fun to see, but that is not my intentions." Looking into his eye's, Aangs smile grew. 'Tell me Warden, have you ever been burned alive due to the unimaginable heat of molten lava rushing by the stubs of where your feet once were? Have you ever felt so helpless where even as you tried to claw with your only remaining limb away from source that gave such pain, that burning sensation just wouldn't cease; And you could do nothing but sit their and hope for the pain to end?"

No response was given, and they now stood in an uncomfortable silence wondering how anyone could respond to such a question.

"I didn't think so; But don't you worry..." His eye's glowed once again, and with a simple motion of his hand the metal beneath their feet mended and twisted up every one of their legs while snatching onto their arms only moments later as to refrain them from using any Fire Bending. "I will educate you all on the matter in a few short seconds now." Looking back at those behind him, he gestured for them to follow.

They walked straight ahead intending to go through the small army of guards. Aang stopped next to the Warden, and with a sadistic smile he whispered into his ear. "I guess this means we've broken your record once again, Warden." He chuckled before continuing his march towards the Cable Car. They boarded the lift, and with a pull of the lever they were now headed the opposite direction away from the still struggling guards. As they grew further, their was a mysterious roar that filled the sky causing all the struggling to cease as they glanced around as if trying to figure out what cause such a sound. From just over the ridge of the island where the moon was brightest, appeared the haunting figures of two dragons who came hurling towards the prison. The Warden as well as every other person who witnessed this majestic moment were left horrified at what was about to become of them. The two dragons approached swiftly, and as soon as they were in range their mouths opened as a wave of fire came hurling out their throats as they engulfed all of the soldiers in a scorching pit of hell. They all stood, still restrained by the metal as their screams became louder and louder at the unimaginable pain they were forced to endure and would soon succumb too.

"Is-Is that?" Azula's eyes were wide.

"But how?" Ozai questioned as well.

Legends had it that all of the Dragons were hunted and slain during the century war, the last person to ever see and slay one would be Iroh, nicknamed Dragon of the West. So seeing not only one, but two dragons who were still alive and breathing was just... unimaginable.

"I guess the Dragon of the West was nothing but a phony after all." Aang answered.

They continued to watch in amazement as the Dragons continued their onslaught of destruction against the prison, leaving no one left alive to tell the tale of what really happened here.


A fleet of Fire Nations ships anchored just off the shores of Kyoshi Island. A quick reaction team was immediately dispatched in order to aid the inhabitants of this island for what was believed to be an attack on all they stood for. Toph and Zuko made landfall on the bay of Kyoshi; and with them were nearly three hundred soldiers ready to fight in case their was resistance being met. The rest of the crew consisting of another 700 soldiers stayed on the ships awaiting the signals in case they had to launch an invasion on the island. Sokka had landed nearly an hour earlier; Having been informed at the Fire Nation of what was happening by Zuko, his men were prepared to leave much quicker than the rest due to being stocked recently; And because of that they were the first to reach the islands shores.

A scout returned from Sokka's group, and Zuko demanded a report.

"My Lord, as we took the main path that led to the village we came across three Kyoshi Warriors who had been killed in the confrontation with the invaders. There seemed to be no tampering to the corpses, and they must've been dead for about a little over a week now due to the numerous flies and maggots that began to eat their flesh away."

Zuko nodded, once he bid the scout to take his leave; He confronted Toph and many of the commanders appointed to lead their men. "It seems that the invasion happened quite awhile back. The message wasn't able to reach us as fast as I'd hope it to be, and I suspect their to be many casualties from the inhabitants of Kyoshi Island. We don't know if the invaders are still lurking due to the lack of ships being present, so we must be on guards at all times. Commanders, take charge of the men you have and spread them as you see fit; But do not underestimate the possibility of being ambushed. We have strength in numbers, so lets make sure we play this safe and get these men and women home to their families after we've settled the conflict here."

After receiving words of understanding, Zuko and Toph along with a small group of specialized soldiers specifically meant to guard the Fire Lord headed off onto the trail that lead towards the village. They approached the corpses that was informed of earlier, and to the accuracy of the report the bodies seemed to already be in a rotting state with insects and maggots crawling in and out of the flesh of the deceased warriors. Averting his gaze as to not look at the disgusting and rotting corpses, they pressed on knowing that the village would be in sight within a short ten minutes.

The walk seemed long, longer than it should've been. But like all walks, they were able to reach the intended destination of Kyoshi Village. Or at least, what was left of it. The streets were littered with corpses of the villagers both young and old. It was a truly horrific sight to witness. Their was dried blood that was once splattered against the walls with streaks of blood where it was once fresh; It released a disgusting rotten aroma in the air. A few of the men that accompanied Zuko lost their lunch at that instant, and Zuko felt as if he was about to lose his. Toph was lucky to not be able to witness such a scene, but the smell couldn't have been any stronger in her case. As they continued down the slaughterfest that was once Kyoshi Village, they slowly noticed the increasing population of inhabitants who were cleaning the deceased off the streets while transporting their remains to burials sites; And on the end just where the statue of Avatar Kyoshi proudly stood was Sokka.

He was on his knees, and his figure was slouched compared to normal. Approaching the man from the Southern Water Tribe, Zuko rested his palm against his shoulder gently. "Sokka?" He questioned, worried for his friend. "Are you alright?"

Looking over Sokka's shoulder, his eye's met the lifeless one's of Suki who's head remained severed from the rest of her corpse. Despite being dead for nearly a week, her body remained fresh; But cold.

Sokka gave no response as he held the head of his beloved in his arms. His eye's were empty, and his heart broken. Setting it atop of her neck where it was severed from the rest of her body, his lips began moving slowly as if trying to find some form of words to describe how he felt. "I'm gonna find..." The shaking in his voice was noticeable. He glanced up and stared at Zuko dead in the eye's, the anger within them said it all.

"And I'm gonna kill..."

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End of Chapter 9

Now we're getting somewhere aren't we? Aha, you know despite my lack in popularity in this fandom I find it really odd how I never found so much passion in a fanfiction compared to this. I don't know, it's just something about the idea of Aang being... well NOT Aang is what's so intriguing to me. If anyone know's any stories of a similar concept to what I am doing then please let me know. I would like to see what others think when doing this. Anyways, I have rehashed small/big moments of chapters 1-6 so if ya'll are curious as to what I may or may not have updated feel free to check it out. Not a lot has changed, some of my chapters were mainly either fixing grammatical errors, or adding forgotten lines/scenes while others were rewriting lines to make it seem less, plagiarized.

Other than that, ya'll know the drill. Leave a review of what you thought, surprisingly I didn't receive any positive nor negative feedback on my last chapter so... I guess it's going good? I don't know. You be the one to tell me, other than that you all know the drill. I'll see ya'll in the next chapter.

Ciao

~TheLivingMyth