Thanks to Sokka and the Mechanist's underwater ships, it was not difficult to get past the Gates of Azulon and inside the capital. The city rallied its defence—faster than anticipated. Catapults fired volley after volley, tanks rumbled to push back and crush, and firebender and nonbender alike swarmed in to halt the advance.
But the invasion plan was not so easily derailed.
Toph stepped forward, a tiny figure in green surrounded by hulking, enemy tanks. She smiled and cracked her knuckles. "My turn."
Metal screeched as it was wrenched apart. Soldiers and bits of tank went flying. Any time flames got too close to her body, a rock wall sprouted up, courtesy of the Earth King's earthbenders who followed at her rear on clean up and shielding duty. Suki was also there, fans flashing as she fought off soldiers and helped to clear a path.
"They weren't kidding when they said you're like a one-girl army," Suki observed, pressing closer to Toph. "I'm impressed."
"You ain't seen nothing yet, Fan Girl."
"Oh?"
Toph bared her teeth in a wicked grin. "Try to keep up."
She charged forward, seismic sense rippling out from every step to paint the world—every tank, every firebender, every foe that needed to be taken down. Her lips curved more. No way was she going to hesitate this time. She wasn't afraid anymore, and she knew exactly what she had to do.
All of these punks were going down.
oOo
"Stop those catapults!"
Hakoda's cry carried to Ty Lee, who balanced on Appa's back next to Tomoki and Jee. "Get us closer," she called over her shoulder.
Sokka tightened his grip on the reins. "Alright, big guy, let's do this!"
Appa rumbled and sped for the war contraptions, swerving back and forth to avoid the fire streams and projectiles that the three couldn't block with their bending. Once they were close enough, Ty Lee thrust her hands forward in a massive blast of air. Soldiers screamed and were thrown back as the catapult came apart, caving in on itself in a heap of wood and metal.
"Feels good not to be on the receiving end of that," Tomoki said, wincing in sympathy for his fellow countrymen. "I do not miss those days of chasing the Avatar."
"Focus," Jee scolded, crafting a fresh fire shield. "This fight isn't over yet."
"Yes, sir!"
Ty Lee's eyes narrowed and she shot off another air blast, knocking over a whole line of soldiers on the upper wall as if a giant, invisible wing had swooped down and scooped them off their feet. A second gust took care of the catapult. "How many left?" she demanded.
"Six!" Sokka responded.
"Then let's hurry." Her expression shifted into a cheerful smile. "There's a really nice custard bun shop not far from here, and I've been craving one for days."
"Ah …" Tomoki blinked and exchanged a glance with Sokka and Jee. "Is she serious?"
Jee and Sokka slapped their palms to their foreheads.
"Hey, the catapults!" Ty Lee pointed to the wall. "Let's go, let's go!"
Sokka adjusted his grip on the reins. "You heard her, Appa! Let's go!"
oOo
Sharpened metal rimmed Mai's knuckles as she dashed down the streets of her home. One of the Home Guard lunged at her, fire trailing from her fist. Mai ducked and let the knives fly. There was a rapid thunk, thunk, thunk, a choked cry, and the woman was pinned. Without pausing, Mai kept running and drew closer to where Iroh, Hakoda and a few other Water Tribe warriors were fighting.
"What's taking so long?" she demanded once they got a breather. "Shouldn't the signal have been given by now?"
Iroh frowned. "I'm not sure, but all we can do is focus on doing our part here and trust that Aang and his team will pull through."
Her lips pursed. "I guess."
"Looks like we've got more company," Hakoda said, and gestured to the firebenders moving in on their position.
Mai got fresh knives ready. Time for round two.
oOo
"They knew we were coming," Azula said in an unreadable tone.
Zuko stood at her side behind the cover of a wall, teeth gritted and hands balled into fists. A line of tanks and many more soldiers, most of whom were nonbenders, barred the entrance to the palace. Yuyan Archers stood on the higher walls with their bows nocked. The whole thing was too well planned. Azula was right: their father and Shūrin must have learnt they were going to attack today. No doubt there was a spy hidden in the ranks somewhere. Worse, now the plan to sneak in as a small group was ruined.
"The eclipse is about to start," Katara muttered.
"And everyone is waiting for us to signal that we made it through," Yuzo reminded.
Atsuo signed with a deadpan expression that they hadn't made it through.
"The sass is not helping," Yuzo retorted.
Zuko's fingers dug into his palms. This was bad. Tanks were one thing, but the Yuyan Archers were no joke. He remembered all too well what kind of damage their speed and precision could do.
"Any ideas?" he asked Azula.
"None that your no-sacrifices rule will like."
Right. He'd figured as much.
Aang frowned and stepped forward, almost putting himself in sight of the barricade. "Maybe I can do something."
"Aang, no." Katara gripped his shoulder and pulled him back. "You can't go out there."
"I have the Avatar State."
She tightened her grip. "That doesn't make you invincible."
"But it does make me stronger."
Yuzo's brow furrowed. "I thought it drains your energy faster. Isn't that why you weren't assigned to the vanguard?"
"It's true I can't stay in the Avatar State forever, but if we don't end this soon, the eclipse will pass and the whole plan is going to fall apart."
Katara was not satisfied with this answer. She pointed out it would be safer to retreat and take on the barricade with a bigger force, even if that meant losing the edge of the eclipse. She wasn't sure the risk was worth it.
"No," Aang said, shaking his head. "This ends now. There'll only be more casualties if we drag this out."
"But—"
"Katara, you've always looked out for me." He gently removed her hand from his shoulder. "But now it's my turn to look out for all of you. Trust me, okay? I can do this."
"I do trust you, Aang. It's just …" Worry coloured her eyes. "You're still just one kid."
"You're right, I am one kid. But I'm also the Avatar, and right now I have a job to do."
She bit her lip as if she wanted to argue more but knew she had to respect his choice.
"We'll back you up as much as we can," Zuko said, meeting Aang's gaze. "Just be careful of those archers."
"Don't worry, I don't plan on letting them shoot me again."
Aang's tattoos and eyes began to glow a bright white. Power rippled from him like invisible waves of energy. He bent the earth to encase him head to foot in rock and stepped out from behind the wall. Shouts started. Arrows whistled through the air and got lodged in or bounced off his armour with sickening chinks and thunks.
Katara twitched.
"Wait," Zuko said, placing his arm in front of her.
She shifted on her feet and gripped his arm. He understood her agitation; it didn't feel right to let a twelve year old go out on his own to face all those enemies. But none of them could wield Aang's power. None of them stood a chance—at least not yet.
"I am the Avatar!" Aang yelled, his voice magnified beyond humanly possible and layered with all of the previous Avatars' voices. "I've come to stop Fire Lord Ozai and end this war! Surrender or I will attack!"
The fine hairs on the back of Zuko's arms and neck prickled.
"What's he doing?" Azula muttered. "How is talking supposed to clear a path for us?"
"He's giving them a chance," Zuko said with a hint of pride.
Aang hadn't forgotten what had happened in the Northern Water Tribe. He hadn't forgotten the words Zuko had thrown at his face while lost to despair and anger—that an ordinary human couldn't hope to withstand the Avatar State, so it was up to Aang to wield that power responsibly.
This was a show of mercy. It was a show of honour.
"Surrender!" Aang commanded again, and streams of wind and fire swirled around him to add to his shield.
"Do it," Zuko pleaded under his breath. "Come on."
The tanks fired and more arrows were released. Zuko closed his eyes in pained resignation.
Seconds later the ground ruptured and wind blasted with howling fury. The screams and cries of alarm that followed were like knives to his chest.
Why couldn't they have surrendered? Why did it always have to be this way?
Aang stomped one foot forward and thrust his hands out. The earth growled like thunder, shaking under their feet. Everything trembled. The palace walls cracked and splintered in spider webs that rained chips of stone. Wind buffeted and fire flared in hot surges. The only element Aang was missing was water—not that he needed it. At this rate, he was going to tear the whole palace down. He had already knocked most of the archers from their posts and many of the tanks had been upturned and couldn't correct themselves thanks to the endless force of his airbending.
Katara let go of Zuko's arm. Yuzo and Atsuo's jaws went slack as they stared at the display of power. Even Azula was a bit wide-eyed.
Then the sky darkened.
The rumbling and quaking stuttered. Aang's rock armour crumbled off him in uneven chunks, though some parts still clung in a second skin. His eyes and tattoos flickered like a candle struggling for life.
"What's going on?" Katara said, taking a hasty step forward.
Zuko's heart clenched. The sky got dimmer and dimmer and a breath of cold passed over them. "It's the eclipse."
The Mechanist had made them all "eclipse glasses" so their eyesight would not get damaged if they looked up at the sun, but Zuko didn't need to look at the sky to know that the thread that connected him to the heavenly body had been snipped. Or so it felt. His inner fire was colder than the dregs of a long dead camp fire. There was nothing there. No spark. Nothing.
Aang's tattoos went back to plain blue. His eyes no longer glowed. All the wind and fire stopped swirling around him, leaving a boy standing alone—small, half-staggering and vulnerable.
"Aang!" Zuko dashed out from behind the wall, Katara hot on his heels, and steadied him. "You okay?"
"I got shut out. I can't go into the Avatar State." His grey eyes widened with panic. "Why? Why is this happening again?"
Laughter came from above them. Shūrin stood on the main palace balcony—the same the Fire Lord used to make speeches, though there was no sign of Ozai. Unbent flames glowed on torches near her, highlighting the pure silver of her hair and how more clumps had fallen out, leaving bald patches. She looked old and withered. "You've come so far, Avatar Aang, yet you still understand nothing!"
Aang stiffened. "What are you talking about?"
"An Avatar who can only bend three elements is incomplete! Without fire, you cannot access your full powers!" She laughed again, and the sound was like a heavy stone knocking against Zuko's chest. "Do you still think you can force the Fire Lord and these soldiers to surrender?"
The colour drained from Aang's face. "Oh no."
As if on cue, the tanks flipped back to their normal position and the nonbender soldiers, including the Yuyan Archers who had not been too injured, reformed their ranks. Zuko unsheathed his swords. Beside him, Yuzo grasped his new blade and Katara got her water ready.
"Where's Father?" Azula growled under her breath. "Why is it only that thing up there?"
"Let's find out after we …"
Zuko trailed off as Ozai walked out on to the balcony to join Shūrin. Even in the dim light, the five-pronged headpiece stood out in his black hair. Zuko's chest seized up—because that was his father, and it had been three years, and all the memories were rushing back …
"Prince Zuko," Ozai greeted, his voice smooth and clear as a bell. "My son, you have done well. You have brought the Avatar to me."
Zuko's eyes widened.
"Return to my side so that your banishment may be annulled and honour restored upon you."
The words were spoken with such confidence, such ease. A year ago Zuko would have given anything to hear them as well. All he'd wanted was to have his father acknowledge him, to love him. He'd wanted that love so desperately.
But whatever his father was offering now wasn't love. It wasn't honour either.
Zuko shook his head and stepped back so that he was closer to Aang and Katara. "No."
His father's voice was like the sharp edge of a blade. "You dare to go against me?"
Zuko's heart thumped faster. There was a part of him—the part that had begged for forgiveness in the Agni Kai arena when he was thirteen—that wanted to back down. A part that wanted to shrink and shrink until his father's eyes couldn't find him. A part that wanted to block his ears so that voice couldn't dig in and make his chest tighten and tighten like a clamp on his lungs.
He had been afraid of his father as a child. It was a simple truth he couldn't deny anymore, and that fear still lingered in his pulse, the twisting knots in his stomach, and the sweat forming on his skin.
But there was another part of him that had come too far and experienced too much to be cowed.
He found his voice.
"I didn't come here to bring you the Avatar! I came here to help him stop you!"
Silence.
Zuko swallowed against the dryness in his throat. He felt jittery and blood thundered in his ears, but the words were out. They were out and they couldn't be taken back.
"Then you have learnt nothing," Ozai said.
There were many things Zuko wanted to say in response. He wanted to declare that he'd learnt everything—about the propaganda that had been shoved down every child's throat, about the way the world hated and feared the Fire Nation, about all he had seen during his banishment. He wanted his father to know exactly why he had sided with the Avatar, but he also knew his actions would speak loud enough.
He tightened his grip on his swords and his expression turned grim.
Ozai considered him before shifting his attention to Azula. "Surely you do not plan to fight alongside this rabble, Azula?"
She gave an odd twitch.
"Your brother has allowed his weak emotions to skew his thinking, but you are not like that. I know I taught you better."
Her shoulders hunched but she still gave no response. That didn't stop Ozai from continuing to talk. He appealed to her pride and her logic. He said the same words that had moulded her into the cold, ruthless princess she had been in the past.
Azula's fingers curled into her palms and she raised her chin. "The only weak one here is you, Father!"
"What?"
He almost sounded surprised, and for good reason. She had always been the perfect, obedient one.
"You stand on that balcony next to that thing, who by the way is probably using you, and say all you can to manipulate Zuko and me back to your side." Her lips curved, though there was no humour in the smile. "It's pathetic!"
"Azula …"
The warning tone made Zuko and Azula both stiffen. Zuko realised then that, growing up, she had been just as afraid of their father; she had just been better at meeting his expectations. Still, she did not back down now.
"You think that love and caring is weakness, and you taught me to believe that as well, but you're the one who's been left with nothing!" Her voice got rougher. "You didn't try to make me strong! You tried to make me as weak as you! But I won't follow you anymore, and I won't fight for you either!"
Even from this distance, Zuko could see the chilling expression that twisted Ozai's face. It was the same look he'd worn before he'd burned Zuko in that arena.
"I see your brother has rubbed off on you," Ozai observed. "You've become just as useless and emotional as him."
"Of course that's how you would see it." She glanced at Zuko and the smallest of smiles curved her lips. "But I don't see it that way. I can't after everything that's happened."
Zuko returned her tiny smile in a show of solidarity.
"Then you are just as foolish as him."
"No, Father. I just know who I am now. I know what I want, and it isn't to be at your side!" She raised her chin higher. "Your strength isn't strength! I know that for certain now, and that's why you're going to lose today! You can't even trust the person at your side!"
Shūrin smiled, unbothered by the accusation.
"How disappointing," Ozai said in a voice that could freeze bone marrow. "I see I was wrong to assume you could be worth anything."
Azula gave that odd twitch again but didn't say anything.
"The eclipse is almost over," Katara murmured. "They're probably going to attack as soon as the sun comes back."
That did seem likely. No doubt it had been Shūrin and the Fire Lord's plan to buy time with conversation. Even so, Zuko and the others didn't need the eclipse to bring their enemies down. Defeating the Fire Lord during the eclipse was mainly for the rest of the invasion force's benefit. The sooner they ended things here, the sooner they could force the city to surrender.
Except Ozai had other plans.
He turned his back on them. "I want Prince Zuko alive! Kill the spares!"
"Spares?" Azula clenched her hands. "You're calling me a spare now?"
He didn't pause as he passed out of view and went inside the palace.
Azula made a low sound in her throat, almost a growl. That was the cue to attack. Aang raised shields of rock to block arrows and pushed a line of nonbenders back with a quick, sweeping gust of wind. Zuko and Atsuo stuck close to Katara as she moved to take out a tank by freezing and damaging the cooling system. Meanwhile, Yuzo and Azula fought hand-to-hand but otherwise remained near Aang. Both had always known they would be weaker during the eclipse, but their reasons for being on the infiltration team were personal.
Still, not all of the Fire Nation soldiers had chosen to attack. Some hesitated, exchanging glances and looking towards Zuko and Azula.
Hope flickered in Zuko's chest. If they were already beginning to doubt …
"Join us!" he yelled. "You don't have to follow him anymore! We can stop this war here and now! We can end it all!"
More hesitation. Azula spoke to their sense of self-preservation by reminding them that once the fire turned back on, they stood no chance. They had already got a glimpse of the Avatar's power.
"How do we know you won't turn on us?" one soldier demanded. "How do we know this isn't a trick?"
Zuko met his gaze. "It's not a trick. If you surrender, I promise no harm will come to you."
There was a tense pause. Some of the archers lowered their bows. The hatches to the tanks popped open and soldiers climbed out. Nonbenders broke out of stance.
"It's working," Aang said, letting his rock wall slip back into the ground.
The fighting stopped and the two groups faced each other. Zuko looked up at the balcony and caught sight of Shūrin disappearing from view.
Light returned to the sky.
"The eclipse is over," Yuzo observed, and flames sparked above his palm.
"But this battle isn't." Fire thrummed through Zuko as he turned to Aang. "You ready?"
Aang nodded and stepped forward so they were side by side. "Let's do this."
oOo
The fighting sounded too distant. Ozai wasn't surprised when Shen—or whatever the fire healer's actual name was—declared that the soldiers had surrendered to Zuko and Azula. They were all traitors, all useless.
His gaze drifted to Shen and the chi blocker who lurked not far behind like a shadow. Ozai would never forget the day the two had arrived in the capital. They'd carved their way through the palace guards, easily overwhelming all who had sought to stop them—easily overwhelming him. For a second he'd thought he was about to greet death, but then Shen had offered his services.
"You've seen my power. You've seen what I can do. I can make you stronger …"
The promise had been too alluring, especially since word had been received that the Avatar planned to attack with an army. All Shen wanted in return was Zuko. (And that was hardly a sacrifice.) Even without the offer of new strength, however, Ozai had known he had to play along with Shen's game, at least until he could regain the upper hand.
"Let us see if your promises are worth anything," Ozai said, meeting pale gold eyes that were just like his son's. (And wasn't that ironic: the child he'd thought the weakest was the one with the most potential.)
Shen smiled and dipped his head in a bow. "I always keep my promises. Do not worry."
"You can't even trust the person at your side!"
Ozai banished Azula's words from his mind as easily as brushing away a cobweb. Of course he didn't trust Shen. He didn't trust anyone, nor did he need to. This was all a game of power. Though he did not control every piece on the board right now, he would make sure he did in the end.
His eyes hardened as he sat on the uppermost part of the dais, the part reserved for the Fire Lord. The truth burned in his bones. He had been born to be a ruler, not just of the Fire Nation but of the entire world.
This was his destiny.
oOo
"That was the signal, right?" Sokka said as he looked towards the palace.
Mai came to stand next to him. "Seems so."
His hand found hers. "Then I guess we just need to hold our ground now."
"Great, except I can't fight if you're holding my hand like that."
He smiled at the dry, teasing lilt in her voice and pulled her in for a kiss. "Let me have this moment. I missed you earlier."
She raised her eyebrow, but a smile lingered in the curve of her lips.
"Oh, get a room."
Both flinched at Toph's comment and turned to see her leaning against Appa and smothering a yawn. Suki was at her side, looking as if she didn't know whether to be amused or feel sorry for them for getting interrupted. Ty Lee, meanwhile, just grinned and cooed that she thought the exchange had been romantic. Heat rose to Sokka and Mai's cheeks.
"Do you mind?" Mai snapped.
"Nope," Toph said.
Ty Lee's tone became very innocent. "Wow, Mai, you're really pink, and I don't just mean your aura."
Sokka watched the way Mai's expression transformed into the most unimpressed and flattest of stares. He wondered how Ty Lee had survived this long; it was clear she had no sense of self-preservation. That was a look which, at least in Mai language, spelled murder.
Suki cleared her throat. "Er, maybe we should—"
"Get into position!"
They all glanced towards the fountain, where Hakoda and Iroh were urging everyone to hurry to their defence posts.
Sokka got his club ready. "Looks like that's our cue."
Mai caught his gaze and nodded as if to say this time they'd fight together. His heart stirred. She was so beautiful when she got that fierce look in her eyes.
Toph punched him on the arm. "Come on, Snoozles. Time to go defend Toph Fountain."
He raised his eyebrows. "Pretty sure that's not what it's called."
"Well, that says otherwise." She pointed with her thumb over her shoulder at the statue of herself now gracing the fountain square. Ozai's statue was in crumbled pieces.
Ty Lee scratched at her cheek. "You know, I'm not too sure the citizens are going to be happy with this new addition."
"I don't know," Suki said with a hint of a smile. "The craftsmanship is very good. A perfect likeness."
Toph grinned. "Of course."
Mai sighed and said she was going to let Zuko deal with this one. Sokka thought that was sound advice. For now, it was best to focus on not getting their butts handed to them. Their eight minutes of no firebending was up and that meant the battle was about to get much uglier.
He tightened his grip on his club. "Aang, Zuko, I hope you guys don't take too long out there."