Chapter 39

Ozai's torch was a foot away from Zuko's face, but he could feel the heat of it already. He tried to screw up his courage, but he had been burned recently and could clearly remember how it would feel.

No matter. The longer they were in here, the longer Mai and Kazuto had to escape. He closed his eyes.

But instead hearing the hiss of his own skin as it melted, he heard a sharp gasp, and the torch clattered to the floor. Zuko opened his eyes to see Ozai still standing, a look of shock on his face. From his father's chest protruded the bloody head of a spear. And behind Ozai—

Akira. Zuko's brother wrenched the spear out from Ozai's back and spun quickly, stabbing two New Ozai society members in the throat and gut in quick succession. Zuko tried to rise to help his brother, but couldn't shake the grip of the men holding him. It was all over within seconds, and Akira turned back to Ozai, panting. His forearms were spattered with blood.

"That was for my mother," said Akira, crouching over the body of his father. "That was for abandoning her." Blood flowed quickly from the hole Akira left, and Ozai merely gurgled, lips bubbling with red.

Zuko watched in mixed horror and relief as his father shuddered, gasped, and grew still. The yellow eyes that had haunted Zuko for so long grew dull, and Zuko felt an unexpected stab of grief. The ten other New Ozai Society members still stood, apparently unfazed by the violent turn of events.

"Akira," Zuko said. His brother looked at him sharply, grey-gold eyes flashing with an emotion Zuko couldn't identify. Even covered in the blood of their father, Zuko still thought Akira looked like royalty.

"Akira, tell them to let me go," commanded Zuko. He didn't know what was going on, what game his brother was playing at.

"I don't think so," said Akira shortly. "Chain him," he ordered. Metal twisted achingly around Zuko's wrists and ankles, and then the pressure lifted as the men restraining him rose to join the others. Akira stood and turned his back to Zuko to address the insurgents.

"We've wasted enough time," said Akira commandingly. "Go head off the while I finish up here. We need to be ready to join Gui." The rebels nodded and exited the room, leaving Zuko alone with Akira.

"Akira," said Zuko again, head spinning.

His brother's back stiffened, and Akira finally turned around.

"Akira, what are you doing?" Zuko said angrily. "Ozai's gone. Let me go!"

Akira knelt in front of Zuko, taller even at this level. "You asked who I would rather serve: you or our father. Well, the answer is neither," said Akira heatedly.

"You want to be Firelord?" Zuko laughed bitterly. "Akira, let me tell you, it's a terrible job. And if I didn't have people I love standing beside me, I couldn't do it." He deliberately softened his gaze. "Why throw away your family for something that will make you miserable?" he asked.

"I don't want to be Firelord," answered Akira heavily. "This entire idea of monarchy is what caused the world so much pain in the first place."

"What?" said Zuko, bewildered. Without someone to rule, there would be chaos. "But you're in favour of the war!"

"I want to liberate the world from the tyranny of people like our father, from imbeciles like the Earth King!" said Akira hotly, still kneeling.

"Do you think I'm a tyrant?" said Zuko softly, staring at his brother. Akira's hawk eyes were impenetrable.

"No," Akira answered finally. "But are you giving up the throne?"

"Never," said Zuko flatly. He had to maintain peace; it was his destiny.

"Zuko, think about it!" Akira said passionately. He rose to his feet. "Why do you have the right to rule? Just because you were born to it?"

"It's not about the right to rule," argued Zuko, still tied to the ground. He strained his neck upwards."It's about who can do the most good!" He thought of how Akira had addressed the rebels, and added "Besides, you don't seem to be treating everyone equally! You're using the power of your blood, too. What's your plan, after you kill me?"

"I don't want to kill you, Zuko!" said Akira, heartfelt. He looked away. "In this time of transition, the military is helping me end the Fire Nation monarchy, and then we'll choose our own leaders. And if my name helps me bring about change, then so be it."

"You think a military coup will bring about equality?" snorted Zuko. "Come on, Akira. If you don't claim the throne, General Gui will crown herself as soon as she gets here."

"It's not like that," said Akira. "Besides, you wouldn't understand." He clenched his fists. "You don't know what it's like to be at the bottom of society, your life dictated by the whims of lords and ladies and Firelords. I've lived my whole life like that, and something needs to change. This way of life is brutal, and it's cruel, Zuko!"

"So help me change it!" said Zuko desperately. He swallowed. "You said that together, we could make a difference. That we could build a new world. Were you lying the whole time?"

"We can create a new world, Zuko! That's what I'm saying," said Akira. He crouched again, placing his hands on Zuko's shoulders. "Join me," he said urgently. "Think of what it would mean for the Firelord to renounce his title, to become one of the people! You could participate in the global revolution as an equal." He smiled. "We could fight beside each other, instead of against each other."

For a moment, Zuko imagined it. Akira was voicing his own doubts and fears about being Firelord. And his brother was right: Zuko didn't know what it was like to be truly poor. He had wandered in the Earth Kingdom for a time, but that was nothing compared to the life others lived. Maybe the world really did need a dramatic change.

Yells broke out from the hall. The Imperial Guard must have arrived. The sound of metal clashing against metal and screams of pain brought Zuko back to when he fought in Ba Sing Se, of the horror he and Azula had inflicted. Akira would restart the war Zuko had tried so hard to end. Even if his intentions were noble, the world would burn for Akira's dream.

"It's not going to work, Akira," Zuko said sadly. "Gui will claim power for herself, and you'll find yourself back where you started. But with more people dead. Maybe with time, things could change-"

"So you're against me," said Akira. His hands tightened on Zuko's shoulders.

"In this? Yes," replied Zuko.

Akira closed his eyes slowly, and then opened them again. He wiped a trickle of blood from Zuko's lip, his thumb oddly gentle. "Then farewell, brother," Akira said somberly. He stood and picked up his spear, still scarlet with Ozai's blood. Akira twirled it once before grasping it overhand, spearhead pointed down at Zuko's heart. Zuko strained against his chains to no avail. Even if he lit two fire daggers, he couldn't melt the metal in time.

The spear struck downwards, but was hit off course by a column of blue. Blinded slightly by the bright light, Zuko saw a dark shape swing gracefully down from the open window to his right. The figure landed in a crouch, catlike, and then stood, throwing back her hood.

"Step away from the Firelord," ordered Azula, two fingers pointed directly at Akira.

"Do it, Akira!" yelled Zuko. "She'll kill you!"

His brother looked cornered, hawk eyes darting left and right, and he pulled a knife from the back of his belt. Akira rushed towards Zuko, perhaps hoping to take him prisoner, but Azula was faster. Deft as ever, she moved her arms in a circle, electricity sparking around her. Her eyes flashed. Lightning struck. And Akira fell to the floor at Zuko's feet, body blackened by Azula's strike. His eyes were still open, but Zuko knew his brother was gone. He knelt in shock, the bodies of his brother and his father at his feet. It couldn't be true. It was impossible.

Still staring blankly ahead, Zuko felt a pair of gentle hands loosening the chains binding his hands and feet. Azula's face appeared before him, her face strangely blurry.

"Zuko," she said. "Zuko, you have to focus. An army is still on the way."

"I—" Zuko shook his head. He felt like he should be crying, but he couldn't. He just felt numb.

Azula hauled him to his feet. "He killed our father, and he was going to kill you," she said earnestly.

She glanced down at Ozai's body, expression unreadable. "This is what happens when you don't make people fear you," his sister said quietly.

Leave it to Azula to try to teach him a lesson now. But she had saved his life. Zuko nodded, trying to clear his head.

"Thank you," he said to Azula. He met her eyes, which were shaded with something quite unlike Azula. Was it fear?

"I thought I wouldn't make it on time," said Azula. Zuko noticed her hair was tied behind her back, just like in his dream after the Agni Kai.

"Thank you for saving me," he said to her again, more warmly. Tentatively, he reached out and drew her into a hug. She stood there stiffly before wrapping her arms around him awkwardly.

"Stop being so emotional, Zuzu," said Azula snidely. "We aren't safe yet."

"Right," said Zuko. But he didn't let go of the one member of his family who hadn't tried to kill him. It felt good to hold someone who was still breathing.

The shouts outside intensified, and the wooden-paneled door sprang open. Suki tumbled into the room, her makeup dotted with blood and dust. Zuko and Azula split apart.

"Zuko!" Suki cried in relief. "I can't believe you're alive!" Her eyes narrowed when she noticed Azula.

"What is she doing here?" Suki demanded.

"She's the reason I'm alive," said Zuko. As if resurfacing from a strange dream, he remembered his family. "Where's Mai and Kazuto?" he asked anxiously. "Do you have them?"

"No," said Suki. "But last time I saw her, Mai was on her way to get Kaz. I think they're okay." She scanned the room. "Where's Sokka?"

"He's not here," said Zuko. "He must have escaped." Suki sagged in relief.

More Kyoshi Warriors and Imperial Guards ran into the room. One gasped in shock as she saw the bodies on the floor.

"Akira and Ozai are both dead. Azula is with us," announced Zuko.

"Mak is preparing for the defense of the palace," said Suki. Zuko nodded, still processing recent events. Akira was dead. But he couldn't think about that now.

The sky visible from the open window shifted from grey to a pale gold as the sun rose.

"Dawn," said Azula, smiling. She inhaled deeply. "We'll destroy them."

Zuko crossed the chamber to his bedside and lifted up his crown. Aware that everyone in the room was watching, he settled the Firelord's golden flame into his hair. It was morning. He still had to find his wife and son.

"Let's go," Zuko said quietly.

Hello friends! Thank you for reading this far...we are sadly nearing the end. As always, I appreciate your reviews!