Chapter 54
Ashes to Ashes Part 1
Aang
I stared at my hands in awe as I felt the lion turtle's power flow through my body. A surge of joy accompanying it. My family was watching me from the spirit world, I was a fully realized Avatar at age thirteen and I had a family of my own now. Smiling, I bowed to the ancient spirit before sprinting back into the woods and calling for Momo.
Sokka
Anger turned my face into a mask as I slashed at all those who I blamed for Su Sen's death. I wanted to find that archer. I would kill them. Azula had yet to show her face and those loyal to her were faltering. Our combined anger, hope and determination were leaving her forces breaking before us like waves.
Katara tore past me, water surrounding her entire body. She tore through the tanks and machines before us like Tui or La themselves. Toph was not even a second behind her, going just as much damage as the earth threw and surrounded the war machines. The White Lotus then stepped up to the plate.
If I had not been so angry I would have stopped to watch them along with a large portion of our warriors. The White Lotus, dressed in the uniform of their group tore through the opposing army like a knife against a perfectly ripe fruit.
The enemy turned tail and ran to the next wall. The army shook themselves out of their stupor and with a shout that shook the entirety of Ba Sing Se tore after those who were leading the pack. While everyone else charged after I faltered, looking back. The area was completely ruined, this part of the outer ring would not be able to be used for farming for at least a season. My heart sunk as I remembered that somewhere back there Su Sen was laying, dead. I turned back and followed the rest of the group deeper into the city.
As I passed through I could hear the sound of the battle still going on. Although it was a good distance ahead of me, in the higher area of the lower ring.
A wail of pain caught my attention. Jerking towards the sound I scanned the area. Not much was destroyed surprisingly, probably because of the efforts of the White Lotus. There was, however an ally way. Stepping into the shadow I looked about and froze. On one end of the ally was a man, dressed as a fire nation warrior. One of Azula's men. The man froze realizing that he was being watched. His leg was pinned under the barrel of a tank and it was clear that he had tried to move which was what had caused the cry of pain. We stared at each other, two adversaries, one clearly at a disadvantage. My hand moved and the man flinched.
"Please... please spare me." The stranger wailed, breaking into tears. The tears caused me to pause. For a few moments... I had actually wanted to kill the man. As it was I didn't know what to do. Leave him there for someone else to find or for him to escape. Or kill him. It wouldn't be hard, I had killed many men already, it was disgustingly similar to killing any other animal. Katara had mostly managed to avoid directly killing. When you were a bender you could manage that luxury. But a non-bender like me couldn't. It had been one of the things Su Sen, Jet, Chan, Kanan and I had talked about. Benders had it easy. They had longer lives, better jobs, and other luxuries that non-benders couldn't even dream about.
The man was still quivering, practically at my feet, sobbing for his life. I raised my sword and for a moment, I was sure I was going to kill the man.
My sword fell back to my side. I didn't have the heart or the will to help the man but I wasn't cold-hearted. I would not kill when there was another way. Doing so would be taking a step towards a future I couldn't predict. Su Sen wouldn't want me to do this either.
"You're filth." I told the man before walking away.
I picked up my pace, breaking into a jog. In all honesty we foot soldiers were probably not needed for this battle. It was almost ridiculous how easy this was. But then again, we had been given advantages that no other rebellion had been given. The avatar, Maddi, Zuko, Toph, Iroh and the White Lotus. What better way to guarantee success.
The battle was coming closer, I could hear the cries and shouts of the soldiers. The sound of fire, water and earth all obeying the command of their wielders, while those who did not have the blessings of spirits clanged their metal together.
I joined the battle in an instant, sliding forward to block an attack sent towards another man. There was no time for a thank you but I knew the man was grateful. I found myself once again falling into the chaotic rhythm of battle. I didn't pay much attention to where I was, just to what directly interacted with me.
A cry, one that should never be heard on a battlefield caught my attention. Another scream. Instinct spurred me on and I charged in the direction I had heard the sound.
Far in one corner of the battlefield a house had caught fire. Katara was already there, trying desperately to put the fire out. The sounds I had heard had come from within the house, I was sure of it. I didn't give myself time to think.
I charged into the burning building, using my sword to destroy the door. I heard Katara's shouts for me but ignored them.
The entire building was ablaze, I could barely see through the fire and smoke. I coughed as the black acidic smoke filled my lungs. The baby's wail directed me to the second story of the building. I didn't have time. I rushed up the stairs, flames flicking at my body.
There they were. A family of four, a husband and wife, a older daughter and a baby. They looked familiar but I had no time to question where I had seen them before.
"Follow me!" I shouted, throwing my sword into the wall. The wood crumbled away, already charred in that area past recognition. There was a rush of water and suddenly the entire building was doused. There was no way that Katara had suddenly found that much water which meant...
Pakku's head stuck out from the hole I had created, not seeming to care that we were all soaking wet and the baby was screaming.
"Everyone alright in there?" He called, once he gave us all a once over he vanished, a tornado of water supporting his body high above the ground.
With Katara's help we got the family to the ground and sent them back to a safe area.
"Are you okay?" Katara asked, grabbing my arm, right above the charred cloth. That arm had been burnt but I had been to focused to notice it.
"I'm fine, you can heal it later." I told her, trying to shake her off as the water covered my arm.
"Oh shut up I'm going to heal this whether you want to or not. I meant... I saw what happened to Su Sen." Her voice went from strong and commanding to soft.
"He used your dagger." I nodded, trying not to show that I felt something rip inside me.
"You... you did the right thing. I don't think I could have healed him, it-"
"I don't want to know." I told my sister brusquely. I knew she was trying to help but I needed to deal with this as I would. She nodded and pulled away, the damage on my arm fixed. I stilled for a moment then wrapped one arm around her. Without saying I pulled away and left.
This war wasn't done yet.
Zuko
I had just finished with the budget meeting. Being Firelord was not all that it had appeared to be when I was a child. The politics, the dry as dust meetings where I felt like I could fall asleep. But I stayed awake, I kept my head held high, I stayed official and professional. It was what was needed for my people. And therefore I would do my best to not miss a single step. Maddi and I had both agreed that at this point in time the fire nation had to come first.
"Fire Lord Zuko. A word please." One of the advisors stated, gesturing to me. I frowned. A private meeting was not the best sign.
"Of course." I stated, standing and walking over to join the man, leaving the scrolls I had been looking over for a servant to collect.
"What is it?" I asked, stepping into a more private area. The man was standing ramrod straight. A habit I had seen a great deal of, especially among those who worked under my father.
"There is a matter which I believe should be attended to quickly." I frowned.
"And that would be."
"Procuring an heir." I faltered for a moment, turning to look the man straight in the eyes.
"I do not see your point." I hedged, carefully watching him.
"If someone was to attempt to assassinate you the only ones who could claim rightful rule are your sister and father. I'm sure you don't want that to occur. It would be best to marry your fiancee, and soon. If you are married then if the worst happens she could still step into your spot. Although it would be better for you to have a child as soon as possible."
"You have some valid points but you are forgetting my uncle." I stated, trying not to show how uncomfortable this made me.
"Do you expect him to outlive his younger brother or niece? Fire Lord, you must marry the woman of your choice and have a child... if your current choice does not please you-"
"I'm happy with Maddi!" I cried, backtracking quickly.
"The truth remains that you need to marry her. And the sooner the better. For the sake of the Fire Nation."
Aang
I sped through the air, propelled by gale force winds. Momo hidden under my tunic. I had to get to Ba Sing Se, fast.
The ground flew past me, so quickly that I couldn't even distinguish a mountain from a desert. The earth was simply a blur of colour.
There. A large dot caught my attention as I began to slow down. Ba Sing Se. The city had a clear line torn through it. I could see the warriors fighting. Azula was nowhere to be found. I flew low, hearing a cheer explode below me as my shadow fell upon them. I continued on, not bothering to wave as I would have done not so long ago.
The palace was silent as I landed in the courtyard.
"Azula. Are you here?" There was silence.
"I'm here avatar. Unlike you or my brother I'm no coward." Azula snarled, stepping out from behind a pillar. I gazed at her solemnly. Her eyes were wild, like some sort of animal in pain. Her clothes were half falling off her frame. She hadn't been eating, I realized with a start. What had happened to make her fall so far. I almost wanted to repeat my earlier question. I couldn't believe that this was Azula.
"Give this up." I told her softly, stepping forward. She laughed, a dry and bitter sound.
"And then what, quietly walk away while my brother and mother laugh at me!? They always hated me you know, right from day one."
"No one hates someone that much." I tried to pacify her. Perhaps she could just be talked down. Then I wouldn't have to use this ability of mine at all.
"DON'T LIE TO ME." She screamed, lightning crackling across her fingers. I sighed and closed my eyes. I had tried to reason with her but had failed. She wasn't going to be reasoned with. She was to angry. To hurt.
"I'm sorry." I muttered softly to Zuko before surrounding myself with a ball of air. Azula charged at me. Fire sparking off her hands. She threw a huge wave of blue flames towards me. I caught them, a single sweep of my hand raising a wall of earth to block the attack.
Electricity shattered the wall like it had never been there. Azula stood in the dust, an eerie smile playing across her features.
"Come out, come out little Avatar. This time you don't have your friends to protect you." I pushed the dust away, clearing the area and raising the visibility.
"I was never hiding Azula." I told her in a calm voice.
"But you ran. You ran and you ran until she hated me and hated you and hated everyone!" She wasn't making any sense. Her eyes were almost unfocused as she stared at me. She continued to jibber confusing things about ghosts and how she loved her friends but was going to kill them. I stepped forward and she snapped to attention like an antelope before a lion. Then suddenly she was the lion. Screaming words that I couldn't even make out she lunged at me, hands punching sharp blasts of blue fire. I dodged out of the way, alarmed to find myself on the defence. It was instinctual for me but right now I needed to be offensive. I needed to defeat her. End this war that had gone on for far, far too long.
Fire surrounded my body, red to her blue. Pushing myself forward I charged in return. The fire wrapping itself around me was like a warm blanket, comforting and familiar. An extension of myself.
Azula's fire tore through my own like a hungry dragon, scorching my skin and clothes. She gave a manic laugh, her eyes rolling.
"You hate me! I can tell! Everyone hates me! But that's okay! Because I hate everyone-" She was cut off as I blasted her back with a strong gust of air. Instead of soaring backwards and crumpling to the ground like I expected, she landed her feet to the side of the building and rocketed off, fire in her hands and feet propelling her forward.
We didn't share any more words, although she kept babbling strange words, something about burning a doll's head and how it was her mothers head. I tuned out her words carefully, keeping my head. Electricity arced off her fingers and towards me. I launched myself out of the way.
The familiar surge of power alerted me to what I had just done. My eyes were glowing, as were my tattoos. I had slid into the avatar state. Azula stared up at me. I expected her to attack, to scream. To shout more confusing nonsense. Instead she just stared at me, eyes wide.
"Pretty." She murmured, so softly I almost thought I hadn't heard right. What on earth was going on? Where was the decisive, intelligent girl who had attack us so long ago? Where was the enemy that I could face with brute power, knowing that they deserved it.
All I saw was a scared little girl.
Slowly I glided down from the sky, tattoos still glowing because, for whatever reason, she needed to see this.
"Its okay. I promise-"
"DIE!" I ducked as a bolt of lightning crackled just above the small of my back. I quickly moved out of the avatar state. Whatever comfort it had given her had been a short term thing.
Azula launched herself at me again. I threw myself back at her, once again ripping the courtyard from the ground and using it to protect myself. Azula's incoherent screams intensified as she threw another bolt of lightning my way, missing me by such a small margin that I could feel the heat from the blast and the electricity tug at every hair of my body.
I dove to the side, surrounding myself with a long stream of water, then a ball of air, then rocks and finally a ring of fire.
I began by shooting stone after stone towards Azula, who dodged each and every one like there was nothing to it. Whatever insanity had grabbed a hold of her it clearly had not interfered in her ability to fight. Or perhaps it had improved her ability, I added mentally as I pulled several stones around me to block another lightning attack.
Azula screamed in fury and to my shock let loose a secondary blast, one I had not been expecting. I was thrown backwards as electricity arced through my body. Last second I pushed the energy into a familiar pattern. Iroh's lightning technique. The electricity flew from my hand, landing in the courtyard and throwing up more dirt then I had expected.
I was in pain. My body ached and screamed as I moved. I may have managed to survive but I was still badly injured. There was only one option left.
The blue once again took a hold of my body, throwing me into the avatar state once again.
Guided by the experiences of the past avatars Azula's fighting ability paled. It was like child's play. There was no move she could make, nothing she could say that I wouldn't expect.
I strode forward, batting away her attacks like they were cushions. She staggered backwards, fear filling her eyes as she realized the inevitable was coming.
"Don't." I paused. That voice. I recognized it and yet I had never heard it before.
A woman with red hair stepped between Azula and I. Her eyes were pure gold, and she held herself with a regality that astounded all of the avatars within me. Instinctively I bowed.
"Agni."
"Aang." She responded softly. I quickly fell out of the avatar state. She had turned away from me and gently placed a hand on Azula's shoulder.
"My poor child. I cannot believe I have left you here like this for so long. You had such potential. But your father murdered it, taking all you could have been from you..." She pulled the sobbing Azula into a hug then turned back to me.
"I chose her to be one of my few favourites. I don't do that lightly. She could have been a great Fire Lord, her father destroyed that. Just... don't hurt her. Don't take my gift from her."
"I promise I won't." I swore. Agni nodded then faded away, leaving me standing there, above a quietly crying Azula.
A/N: Hi! I am still alive. So chapter 55 will be the last chapter of Change the World where I will wrap everything up. Just let me know what you have thought and I want to thank you all. Those who have reviewed, followed, favourited or even have just quietly watched in the shadows as I wrote this story. I want to thank each and every one of you for your continued support and love. And remember Change the World is not the end of this! The next story Life Never Ends will be coming out too. Anyway I would like to ask you all to leave a review, if not for this chapter then tell me one of your favourite moments from this story, something you'd like to see in Life Never Ends. Heck, even just offering up a story for me to go see. I would love to hear from you all.
So Thank you for supporting me and taking this journey together.
Princess Kassie
