Disclaimer: There once was a man named Corey who dreamt I owned this story. He awoke with a fright in the middle of the night to find that his end was quite gory. J I'm such a charmer…anyway, Avatar? Yeah, not mine.

Ignition

Chapter 4: Blaze

The sun rose slowly over the land as if the star itself was afraid of what it might find. As its rays touched the earth of the arena, two figures were illuminated. Anyone passing by would have stopped and stared. And many had done exactly that. As the light within the arena grew, one of the firebenders that had gathered cried out.

"It's Zuko, the Traitor!" he yelled furiously, gesturing forcefully at the opposite end of the arena. Many of the assembled nodded as they too recognized the exiled prince.

"Isn't that the Waterbender whelp?" came another angry voice.

"Yeah!" shouted another angry fire bender.

The young prince awoke with a start to the sound of angry voices. He shook his head lightly and began to survey his surroundings. As soon as he spotted the growing throng of angry firebenders, he nudged Katara. She opened her blue eyes slowly and met his.

"Zuko…wha…?" she muttered but was cut off by a yawn. The din from the fire benders grew louder, and they began moving down towards the arena. "What's going on?" she finished, frowning and more alert as she noticed the mob.

"They're probably wondering what we've done with their most beloved terrorist." Zuko replied, frowning. He stood and extended a hand to Katara to help her up, but she was already on her feet. At his puzzled look, Katara merely shrugged and said, "Morning person." Zuko rolled his eyes and returned his attention to the assembled fire benders that were now barreling down towards them with newfound confidence. Without even thinking, Zuko stepped to the side, shielding Katara. Flames burst into life at his fists as he slid his left foot to the side, taking a defensive stance.

This halted a few of the approaching fire benders, however the majority of the crowd continued on, spilling out onto the arena floor. Here, however, they stopped, as if suddenly unaware of how to proceed. One stepped forward, and Zuko immediately recognized General Mung, the heartless military leader he had encountered many times during his life.

"Where is Fire Lord Azula?" the general demanded.

Zuko smirked. "Well…" he began, "Her body is over there." he indicated with a jerk of his head. "I have no idea where her mind is."

As if to support her brother's statement, there was a maniacal cackling from where Azula lay chained.

"And if I am not mistaken, she was never crowned." Katara said, stepping out from behind Zuko, who nodded in agreement, but shifted to cover her once more. Katara frowned and placed a hand on his shoulder, pushing him slightly. Zuko did not fall, but he understood and stepped to the side.

General Mung raised his right hand, and several fire benders stepped forward as well. Zuko estimated about twenty. The crests on their helmets made it clear that they were his soldiers. Each took a stance , poised and ready to strike Katara and Zuko. Mung smirked. "We were ordered to defend the throne. It belongs to your sister." he sneered.

Katara glared and Zuko replied, "She was never crowned. She challenged me to an Agni-Kai, which I have won." he retorted angrily.

From the shadows stepped the seven fire sages. The High Sage stepped forward. "He speaks the truth. As sages, we too have an obligation to defend the throne. He was victorious."

General Mung smirked and shook his head and stared at Zuko, ignoring the sage completely. "You do not understand, my boy. You haven't won. Your sister still lives." he hissed. "Oh surely you must now the tradition…" added. When Zuko didn't respond, he continued, clearly pleased with himself. "When the challenge results in a shift of power, specifically the crown, it is a battle to the death. One cannot rule while the other survives."

Zuko glanced from General Mung to Azula. "Go and unchain her then." he snarled, the flames at his fists growing in intensity. He would not meet Katara's shocked gaze.

One of the sages went to unchain the deranged princess. Soon, she was standing among their midst, swaying slightly and still laughing eerily. "Back for another ass-kicking, eh brother? Round two?" she spat.

Zuko nodded, glaring at his sister. He was ready. He took his stance, his fire becoming white-hot. He would make it as quick and painless as possible. There was a flash and suddenly, his mother's face appeared to him. Tears streamed down her face as she stared directly into the eyes of her son. Zuko closed his eyes and turned away from the painful image. His composure drained from him; he knew he couldn't do it.

Katara noticed the subtle change in his posture. She placed a hand on his shoulder, however he quickly shrugged it off. He only glared back at Azula who was struggling to even make sparks. He turned his back on her and averted his eyes from Katara's.

"I can't." he muttered unnecessarily.

Katara just nodded. "I know…" she began. In an instant, she tackled Zuko to the ground. Before he could even react, a bolt of lightning crackled overhead.

"Damn it. She's got it back then?" Zuko muttered, frowning.

"Well it would seem so…" Katara replied sarcastically.

Azula swayed before attacking again, adjusting her aim. Zuko rolled over Katara and grasped above her elbows, taking her with him. They rolled out of the way, a scorch mark where they had rested less than a second before. The dust surrounding them settled and they regained their vision. The ability to see of course meant the ability to be seen, and before they could react, Azula fired again.

Zuko merely curled up around Katara as if to shield her. When the shock did not come, the pain did not envelop him, Zuko looked up. There was a figure standing between them and Azula, redirecting the lightning. "Uncle…" he breathed.

There was a grunt of acknowledgement from the powerful old man as he turned Azula's own power upon her. There was a terrible shriek and Azula was sent skidding across the arena floor. She slid to a stop and lay there, twitching spasmodically.

Zuko watched but was surprised when his uncle relaxed his posture. "Aren't you going to finish her?" he asked, completely confused.

Iroh shook his head. "It is not for me to do Zuko. It is not my place. It must be you." he said gravely.

Zuko merely stared at him. "You have to know…you must know that I cannot. I am not like that, like her, like my god damned father anymore." he said, the hopelessness and fury in his voice quite evident.

Iroh merely looked down at his nephew. There was nothing he could do and, for once, no personal anecdote which he could use. "I am sorry Zuko…"

Katara leaned forward, "Zuko…it has to be you." she said. "If it isn't, the crown still belongs to Ozai."

Zuko turned away from her. "My father I can deal with…"

Katara continued, taking his face in her hands. "You don't know that. We can't afford that risk. After everything this war has put you through…you personally can't afford that risk, that waste."

"But she's my sister…" Zuko replied in a furious whisper.

"The sister you once knew is gone. Azula is gone, her mind has left her. If not for you, do it for her. For your country. For the world. Please…"

Zuko hesitated before nodding. "Aang has his purpose, so I must have mine, right?" he whispered. "I made a promise to him to help bring balance." he muttered to himself. He stepped forward, placing one foot deliberately after the next until he stood above his sister. She glanced up at him and Zuko realized what Katara had said had been true: there was noting left but depravity. The mad glint in her eye told him she had nothing left of her old self. Oddly enough, the thought calmed him. He closed his eyes, focusing on his power. It expanded within him, developing into an inferno. With a single gesture, he directed it towards his sister.

It was over in a flash of blinding white light. There was nothing left of Azula, no evidence except for the charred ground upon which she had lain. Zuko turned from the spot and walked resolutely towards General Mung. "Are you satisfied?" he demanded, fury mounting within him once more as he advanced on the general. For the second time in his life, General Mung found himself retreating, step by step. "Go. Now." Zuko snarled. "Before I finish you as well."

The general and his companions did not need to be commanded twice. In an instant they were gone. Zuko merely stared at the remaining crowd. "Does anyone else object to or contest my victory?" he demanded, his eyes narrowed and his voice deathly quiet. No one stirred. "Then go." he demanded, his teeth bared. His subjects obeyed.

The High Sage stepped forward and extended the crown. For the second time, he was stopped. "Not now. Not today." Zuko breathed. Iroh and Katara approached him quickly, concerned. Zuko merely brushed past them, his eyes on the ground. Katara hurried after him, but was restrained by Iroh. She lifted her eyes to meet his, and the old man shook his head gently.

"Let him go." Iroh mouthed. Katara's shoulders drooped as she succumbed.

They exited the arena and walked to the top of a nearby hill in silence. Katara knew she had nothing to fear from Iroh. What most would consider to be an awkward silence was in fact a silence of mutual understanding. No speech was required, each was lost in his or her own thoughts. Suddenly, a bright light caught their eyes. The pair turned, surprised.

The arena was a ball of orange and yellow flames. They rose and expanded quickly, engulfing the entire expanse of dirt and stone. The flames licked the tapestries on the wall, which crumbled into ash. The intense heat could be felt by anyone in the vicinity, even from atop the hill where Katara and Iroh stood. On a whim, Katara glanced across the arena to the hill opposing them. There stood Zuko, watching the last reminder of his task be consumed by the blaze.

Author's Note: Mkay…so Idunno how I feel about this one. It's a bit angsty and Idunno if I like the Weak Zuko but it didn't really seem to fit his new, better-behaved-and-morally-upright character if he killed her outright…but I kinda wanted to because she's such a bitch…and I liked Iroh immensely so I brought him back. Anyway, this is probably my worst installment yet…let me know.