So sorry for the long delay

I had some personal problems in the way

This story has but two chapters to go

And I promise, I won't take it slow

One more big event remains to told

Birth of an Avatar and a duty to uphold

Thank you for being my reviewers magnifique

You made me stronger, when my writing was weak

Thanks to Loveroftheflame, Spleef, my editors wise

who corrected my story, and made life such a prize

I have to say, I'll be sorry to see this story go

But Just The Girl and my drabbles go on with the show

One last thing I must say, if you will allow

God, I really did miss writing the great Zhao

Downfall 28: I Do It for You

Look into my heart - you will find
There's nothin' there to hide
Take me as I am - take my life
I would give it all - I would sacrifice

---Bryan Adams

Zuko had been used to theburdens and pressures of life He had been scorned and burned more times than he had the wish to count. But the last few months must have softened him, made him vulnerable to the ultimate attack.

"Good morning, your majesty," Prince Kalyan had smirked as Zuko had woken up. He was feeling so weak and helpless. Normally, he would have thrown a fireball at him. "Do you mind if we…chat?" Zuko had wondered for only a second how the insolent popinjay had gotten into his private chambers before he realized that there were no guards anywhere. "Your court has regretfully come down with a case of poisoning as have you? And your family has the honor of being my…guests. I figured this was the time that we…chatted," he explained.

Zuko felt the words enter his brain before blasting into shards of agony. He had failed everyone. As he tried to lift his body, he could feel the fever course through his blood stream. "Don't bother trying to move. You are going to die a slow and painful death. We've sealed off the palace. Everyone inside is ill and no one outside knows of the plague inside. We are going to sit here and watch you all die slowly. I made sure that you were given an especially large dose. I want it to be good and painful," he had smirked. "And wait till you hear what I'm doing to your little foster child?"

Zuko lay back on his pillow, his lips dry and cracking from thirst. He was going to die now. It was all over. He had failed Hotaru and Uncle and Aiiro and Hyun, he had failed his kingdom and worse, he had done it willingly. He should have been more careful of the Earth kingdom.

Was this the Avatar's punishment for not ending the war soon enough? Why was fate so cruel to him, letting him die in his bed like a helpless child after all his life had gone through?

They would execute Uncle. He was glad he would not see that. He could not bear to watch the man he respected most die. And Hotaru, his sister. He didn't even want to think what would happen to the beautiful royal as a captive.

Aiiro…what would happen to the helpless child? Would he be slaughtered too, or forced to again lose everyone he loved. How much more could the dear boy take before his mind snapped? Zuko's arms ached to hold him, to reassure him that everything would be all right?

He heard the door open a second later and wondered if it would be the blade to grant him a merciful end to all his pain.

-----

Devdan watched the form of his beloved lay on her bed, surrounded by guards. She was like a virgin sacrifice to some evil stone god. Well, not a virgin, he had found that out personally. But still a sacrifice on the altar of ambition.

Devdan had always grown up believing men were like the stones. Nothing would ever change reality. He would always remain a half-breed fosterling, a creature of scorn and hatred to everyone. Hotaru would remain a hated enemy, a pirate criminal, an enemy princess. Kalyan would always win. Nothing would ever change.

Of course, he had enjoyed the happiness Hotaru had given him. He had enjoyed the way her eyes had lit up when he touched her skin. He loved the way she had honestly and foolishly loved a worthless person like himself. When he had been around her, he had forgotten everything he hated about himself. Damn girl, she should have run off with him when she had the chance. He could have given up his palace, his crown, his birthright for the chance to spend his life with her. Of course, that was all a pipe dream. Kalyan would have never allowed that kind of treason. Still, Hotaru had definitely left an impression on him.

She was a pirate. She had done unspeakable horrors in her past. Those tiny hands that he had enjoyed kissing were stained with blood and tears. She was a Fire Princess; she represented her family's century of persecution on the world. Now, her crimes would be punished.

But how would it be punished? By his crimes. He had done terrible things in his life as well. How many girls' lives had he ruined? He had lost count of the girls he had left pregnant, hearts broken and lives shattered. He was going to head an occupation force that would commit genocide against all Fire benders. So who would call him any moral beacon of morality?

The future before him was bleak. Years and years of living under Kalyan's boot, praying he didn't go back on his word and kill his half-siblings. Knowing Kalyan, that was only a matter of time.

"She's your enemy, Devvie. Get over her," Kalyan had said, before sending him off on this mission. Devdan had meekly bowed his head and accepted his fate. But was Hotaru really his enemy? The only thing she had done wrong was trust him!

Kari was wrong about Hotaru. She wasn't a monster. Yes, she had done horrible things, but there was so much good inside her! She deserved to live her dreams, she deserved a chance to make her life over. He was the monster who tricked her into loving him, who had plotted to destroy her even as he had whispered sweet words into her tender ears. He was the one who deserved to die.

No, they would die together. That much was guaranteed. In fact, that was a very nice thought. The two of them finally ending this dance of pain and suffering, surrendering to the oblivion. Wordlessly, he got to his feet and walked over to the body of his betrayed beloved. "You know, I'm going to have a lot of fun with you when we get back to Ba Xing Xe," he said softly, as he leaned over her. "I'm going to enjoy making you scream. In fact, why not start now?" he asked, making a big show of taking out a blade from his pocket.

Hotaru's golden eyes showed no fear as she waited for the final blow. There was only blistering anger and hatred for a long moment. Emerald met amber for a long moment before then the amber ones widened considerably. Devdan smiled grimly as he waited a long moment for his heart beat to begin to race.

With a loud roar, he stamped his foot, bending the sand around the guards into long spirals. Time seemed to exist only within the metronome of his breathes. With a snap of his fingers, there was a snap to their necks. It was a most satisfying sound. Kalyan had finally pushed the leash too hard.

Hotaru had already risen to her feet, released from the bonds. She was grasping the knife he had left her and looked ready to use it on him. "You fucking dog," she hissed, her long hair streaming down her body like a dark cape.

Devdan smiled, unsure of what amused him more, her nudity or her well-deserved ingratitude. Perhaps it was only a smile of joy. "Then end it now. Slay me. Right through the heart. That would be appropriate. Unless of course, you want me to cure the palace?" he asked, his grin widening.

Hotaru glared at him for a long second, before grabbing one of the dead guards. "I'll get these on. I'll kill you later," she said, jamming a black robe from one of the agents. Devdan had to admit, he could die happy with the sight he had just seen.

As Hotaru buttoned up the black robes, a loud cry entered the room. It was that infernal maid Kari, come to check up on him. "Guards, she's…" she began to scream, before Hotaru tackled her. Devdan was really remembering why he loved this girl so much.

"She's free to do what she wants to you," the angry princess snapped, her golden eyes burning with fury, holding the dagger to the girl's throat. "And believe me, I have plenty of ideas!"

"We have more important fish to gut, Princess. I have another fate for her," Devdan smiled maliciously. "If anyone looks for you, then they'll see a struggling girl under the covers. Now, come on. I can cure the poison by removing via earth-bending. We have work to do!"

-------

Zhao and the men he had gathered for a coup d'etat had found themselves involved in a rather different mission, preserving the throne of Fire Lord Zuko. Had he known this yesterday, he would have chalked it up to temporary insanity and had some sake to wear off such idiocy.

Now, he and his men were slashing through Earth-benders with considerable might. Of course, it would take hours to reach the palace at this rate, which meant that Orli could be dead by the time Zhao reached him. "Agni above, take me, but leave my son," he prayed. "If you spare my son, I'll send you the bodies of a hundred Earth scum," he continued, shooting a blast at an approaching warrior at the gates.

As he walked into the palace, his heart was beating in his chest. There were so many rooms, so many to search. There were so many ill Fire Nation court members lying about, moaning in pain. He had no way of helping them and so ignored their whimpers of pain.

"Sir, there's troops coming from the North side! It might be an ambush!" called Lt. Dani , a tall, pasty-faced boy with considerable martial arts skills.

"Set up defensive maneuvers and stand firm, men. The Fire Lord himself is counting on us," Zhao said grimly, feeling unfathomably patriotic. Next thing he knew he knew, he would be drinking tea with General Iroh and discussing Pai Sho. Well, if it saved Orli's life, so be it. yet, if the Earth kingdom had them at the rear, they were all done for.

He waited for a long moment, as he contemplated his son. He had not seen him in so long. The proof of Zhao's manhood and he barely knew his own heir. Well, he supposed here was where it all ended.

"It's a bunch of…women?" Dani called, his voice cracking with shock. "A bunch of women, dressed like men, and followed by lots more men, dressed in…RED," he crowed happily.

"It's the Lady Sakura with her band of followers and the Royal Navy!" Zhao breathed, never thinking he would be happy to see her! Weapons brandished high above their heads, their sight glinting in the sun was like the sight of Agni himself. For a second, Zhao actually had hope. Not that he had ever doubted himself.

------

Iroh had to admit, he had been taken aback by the plan. He had not trusted the Earth kingdom men, but he had not expected them to be so crafty. He had to give them credit, Ba Xing Xe had come close to defeating him again. But only close. Iroh never made the same mistake twice.

It had been relatively easy to fool the rock-brained guards by pretending to have a cold and sneezing fire on them. He then tripped them while they were running around trying to put the flames. After stealing the key, he used some pressure points to convince one of the guards to remove the toxin. He was surprised how menacing he could look in his old age.

"Teacher!" a voice said. Iroh turned around to find Sakura standing there, her sword drawn and bloody. "You are all right."

Iroh smiled at the sight of his former lover, looking so worried. "I see you came to save your chicks, mother bird. I must say, I am proud of you," he said. It just took massive amounts of danger and bloodshed for anyone to act like family.

"Oh quit your gloating. I intercepted a ship of most of the ambassadors leaving and decided to…press them a bit," Sakura said with a smile that could freeze sake in in a volcano. "They squealed like rats and told me all about the plan to take out Azar. I decided to get back to the palace and take out the threat. Now, enough yapping. I could use your help to find the children," Sakura said, looking remarkably like her children.

Iroh sighed, why was he blessed with such an emotionally constipated family? And why did he love them so much?

------

Zhao, along with General Iroh and Lady Sakura swept through the held palace like a plague. The small but tightly disciplined Earth Kingdom force that was meant for a surgical strike was no match for the overwhelming might of three battalions of Fire Nation troops, plus two extremely pissed off parents.

Of course, the sight of the Earth Plague victims had been a sobering sight. Powerful men and women had been reduced to feverish piles of pain, the lucky ones, that is. Some had already died from the food. Zhao had to admit, the sight of a dead cook clutching her equally dead child gave him a twinge of guilt. He had seen plenty of people dead, many of them killed by him, but these were his own people.

There were five Earth-benders with the Pirate Queen, who were able to remove the toxins, though it was a slow and painful process. Even the two Water concubines, one heavily pregnant had come out to help with the healing. Although the pregnant one looked sullen about it, the other seemed far more docile. "It is our duty to help the Fire Lord," she had said softly.

Had Zhao not been so stressed, he would have debated asking the Fire Lord for a free sample of the white haired Water Tribe woman, to see if she really had the legendary ability to…control liquids. Alas, Zhao had more pressing matters than watching the detoxification and fantasizing about women. He had a child to save.

As he and his best men ran to Prince Aiiro's room, he could feel his heart beating in his ears. What if his precious little son had already succumbed to the poison? He would have killed his own child! No, Orli was strong! Orli was of the bloodline of the God Agni himself.

As he got closer to the room, he could hear sobbing from the room. "What's the secret of the fire that burns under water?" a voice was shouting in a cruel tone, punctuated by muffled shrieks of pain and. "We'll lighten the load as soon as you agree to talk. Come on, I'm sure you want to live. If you tell us, we'll treat you nice," one guard said.

Zhao was aware that he most likely should have sent in men to clear the area before risking his own life entering a room. He just didn't care. With a roar like a dragon, he kicked the door down with strength even he did not know he had.

Two dark clad men were standing over a boy chained to a stone slab. His head was lower than his body, with a face half-covered by a stone gag. Another stack of rocks were on his chest, pressing into his tiny form. They…were torturing HIS son!

Zhao let out a feral roar of fury, letting out blasts of fire larger than he had ever seen. "I'll kill you all," he shouted, livid beyond understanding. What kind of monster tortured a child? "FIRE!"

The two Earth rats raised shields of sand, but were no match for the combined blasts of ten Firebending soldiers. Hearing them scream their lives out was frankly quite pleasurable. Let them burn in the underworld for an eternity!

Zhao had already jumped to his son to untie him and block the view of the carnage. Orli had the Green poison spots on him! The boy's skin was dank and feverish. That was in addition to the obvious torture he had gone through. This was all his fault.

The former admiral stared at his son, unsure how to comfort him. He had caused him so much pain. He could only imagine that Orli was terrified of him, thinking he'd be hurt again. He had been tortured, Agni damn those miserable bastards. "Orli…I…" he began, terrified to see Orli still sobbing piteously.

"Orli, it's all right," Zhao began again. His own family hated him. He had allowed his son to be tortured because of his own selfish wants. He was a complete monster.

Orli suddenly looked up with large golden eyes and held out his arms. "Make it stop, Father. It hurts so much. Please…make it up," he whimpered, his eyes still full of fear.

Zhao nodded and put his arms around his son. "Of course. That's a father's job, to make it stop. I'm here," he whispered, feeling his son's small weight in his arms. He could see the welts and bruises caused by the torture. He had been responsible for this. "Fathers are here to make the pain stop."

"They hurt me so much," Orli wept, completely hysterical. Zhao realized a day ago, he would have slapped the boy for crying. Suddenly, being manly and strong had a new meaning for him.

"I know, Orli. Hush, it's going to be all right. They can't hurt you anymore. You are safe," Zhao soothed in a voice he remembered his own mother using.

"You aren't angry?" Orli asked, his voice trembling as he laid his head on Zhao's breastplate. His eyes seemed so glassy. He was very ill. How could Zhao have let this happen?

Orli had a birthmark on his forehead. Why had Zhao not noticed that before? "I'm not angry anymore," he said, stroking the boy's hair. "Everything is going to be fine. Tani and your friend are waiting for you at home," he assured him. "I'm going to make everything better, my son."

Orli nodded weakly and coughed. "It still hurts," he whispered. Zhao paled and realized his child needed detoxification. That would be painful and he could not bear to make his son suffer so. "Father, why isn't it stopping?"

Zhao pressed his son closer to his heart. "It's going to be all right. I'm going to take you to someone who can help. Orli, it's going to hurt when she fixes you. There are tiny rocks in your blood and she has to make them like sand so that they come out," he whispered, picking him up in his arms. Orli started tearing up at the word hurt. Poor thing was still terrified. "But I'm going to be there the whole time. I'll be holding you and I promise you, it will only be for a minute. Then you'll feel much better and you can rest while I take care of some business."

Orli whimpered slightly but pressed his lips together. "You came back for me," he whispered.

Zhao smiled, tears blurring his vision. "You are my son. And no one messes with your dad," he said gruffly as he carried his son down the hall to find one of the Earth butch bitches that traveled with the Pirate Queen.
--------

Zuko was furious to find it was that backstabbing bastard Kalyan, who entered, looking quite worried. "It appears that things are changing. No matter, as long as you are dead, it won't matter," he said, holding up a long blade.

So, this was where it all ended. He had done everything and still, it had not been enough. He was going to die like an old man in his bed. Still…what was the change going on? Maybe one of the others had gotten out? That would have been nice.

"Brother, surely you aren't starting the party without me," another voice said, as that miserable Devdan sauntered into the room, a hooded agent at his side.

Kalyan's lip curled. "I told you to guard that Fire bitch, you idiot. Can't you do anything right?" he demanded, as the agent walked to the elder prince's side. Zuko was even more nauseous. They still had Hotaru.

"Not much fun watching a cake you can't sample," the pervert said mournfully, filling Zuko with burning anger far higher than his fever.

"I suppose you can watch my triumph as I kill the Fire Lord. That can be the thrill of your life."

"I already took care of thrilling him," a surprisingly feminine voice said, as a fist smashed an uppercut into Kalyan's chin. Before he could react, the agent had swept his legs and given him an Iron Palm strike to the forehead, knocking him unconscious. That was something unexpected.

Zuko's jaw dropped as the agent dropped her hood, revealing long black hair. "Sister!"

Hotaru smiled and winked. "Always here for you, little brother," she said, looking exhausted but quite chipper. Zuko's eyes flickered to Devdan, who was grinning quite happily as well. "Don't worry, as far as I know, Dev's on our side."

"You knocked him out…I could kiss you," Devdan whispered rapturously, as he shoved the elder prince's body into a metal wardrobe.

"But you want to live, you won't," Zuko mumbled from bed. Well, at least Hotaru would be able to take over the throne and take revenge. He could die now, the pain was really getting to him.

"Speaking of that, we need to cure you. You have a poisonous rock in your system. I just need to break them up for you, so it passes out before it kills you." Devdan instantly walked to Zuko's side and placed his hand on his forehead. "This is going to hurt," he said, closing his eyes. Zuko did not close his eyes, determined to keep watch on this bastard.

A searing pain filled his body, like all the marrow in his body was being ripped out of his mouth. Zuko only resisted the urge to scream because of the cool hand of his sister in his. "You'll be fine now, your majesty," Devdan finally said, falling to his knees.

"You are an oath-breaking son of a bitch," Zuko growled, getting to his feet. "But you saved my life. So I will forget the death penalty and offer you a reward of your choice," he said softly.

"I want to marry Hotaru," Devdan said, still kneeling. He raised his eyes to Hotaru and smiled. "Just consider me a member of your family and ignore what I just did to my brother."

As if the Fire Lord could forget such betrayal? "I'm beginning to remember the death penalty associated with what you did," Zuko snapped, looking furious. How dare this rogue even lift his eyes to Hotaru? He meet his sister's gaze for a long moment. "Besides, you'll have to ask my sister. She will choose her mate and no one has the right to…have no say in this but her," he forced himself to say. Everyone deserved the right to their own destiny. Even sisters.

Hotaru smiled radiantly, her eyes soft with love. "Brother, may I keep him as my pet?" she said, putting her hand on her beloved's shoulder.

"Sure. Be my guest, when we actually have time for this. First help me save the palace and I'll even buy you a collar for him," Zuko snapped, as he motioned for his friends to follow. "We need to save Uncle, Aiiro and Hyun, then get out of the palace, till we can find reinforcements…but so many people will die," he muttered, throwing a cloak on.

"Mostly on their side, your majesty," a horribly familiar voice said as Zhao walked inside, bowing deeply. His hands were stained with blood. "I've made sure of that."

If Ozai himself had walked into the room, Zuko would have not been more surprised. Zhao had just saved his life. "You!" he managed to stutter, before closing his mouth, as befitted a Fire Lord.

"Of course, your majesty. Who else would have the bravery and talent to save the day? The intruders are all dead. Her Ladyship and her band are here as well. A few of the pirates are earth-benders, they already have begun curing people. The General's helping with the wounded. I rescued your wife. Prince Aiiro is safe as well. In short, you have nothing to worry about," Zhao said, bowing the required degree without managing to look servile. It was an annoying talent.

"Your majesty, you have bigger problems. The entire Earth Navy in on its way, hoping to capitalize on the chaos of your death. I can tell your generals the route they will be taking," Devdan warned, his hand wormed into Hotaru's own grip.

Zuko nodded to Zhao, something perfectly befitting the insanity of the day. "Get my mother and rally the troops. There is still a large store of Zuko's Breath in the storerooms. Give those Earth dogs some firepower," he said, referring to the dog in his room. "We can beat them back."

Zhao looked downcast at that. "My son…was injured. I ask your highness to allow…to allow me to remain here one more day," he asked. Zhao refusing to go to battle?

Zuko was really beginning to wonder if the poison had not worn off and he was still delirious. "I…suppose that would be all right," he said. He couldn't begrudge a man a chance to care for his injured child.

Devdan nodded. "The general, your royal mother, Princess Hotaru, and myself can take care of the threat. I'll come with them to give them the plans," he offered with a low bow.

"Sounds fine, as long as you are in chains. You have a long…long…nearly endless road to ever regaining my trust. Don't hold your breath on it. Actually, do. It would save me a lot of trouble," Zuko muttered darkly.

Devdan gave Hotaru a pleading look. "Surely, you trust me, beloved one?" he asked, his green eyes pleading.

Hotaru shook her head. "My brother's right. Sorry, but you'll have to kept under guard. You have a long and painful road ahead of you before you get privileges with me," she said, her voice firm. "Besides…I like you tied up," she said with a wink.

Zuko's blood pressure soared to new heights. "What is that supposed to mean?" he roared.

"Hey, hey. We have an invasion to stop and a war to end and a people to calm. You can slaughter the idiot after he helps us win the war, my lord," Zhao said, his voice far more commanding than a possible traitor's should be. And the worst part was he was absolutely right.

------------

Aiiro lay on the bed, feeling his head spinning. His head felt so hot. He wanted Master to hold him. He had not seen his beloved guardian in so very long, he missed him. He knew something was very wrong at the palace. Master could be in danger! Everyone was, and he could not even help out.

Miss Tani seemed very scared. Her face was pale and her eyes were very wide. "It's going to be all right," she kept whispering, even as her hands shook with fear. She was very brave.

"There are bad men at the palace," Aiiro whispered, as Miss Tani poured some water on his lips. He was so thirsty, he wanted to drink up a whole ocean.

"I know. Dear Agni above, I know. Everyone we love is still back there," Miss Tani whispered, her eyes filled with tears.

"Miss Tani, am I going to die?" Aiiro asked, looking up at her. He had a bad feeling about Master. The bad men might hurt him. If he was gone, he wanted to go too. He did not want to be alone anymore.

Miss Tani's lips tightened. "Hush, sweetheart and rest. Let's think good thoughts for the Fire Lord, the Royal family, my father and my brother," she said softly, tears falling from her brown eyes and onto Aiiro's face. "Let's think how everything is going to be all right. Now, how about I have some turtle soup made for you?" she whispered.

Aiiro shook his head. "Master, I need you," he whispered, his lips cracking. "Where are you?" he asked. His eye lids felt so…heavy, too heavy to hear what Miss Tani was saying. All he could see and hear was dark emptiness.

AN-What a cliffie! I loved the season finale so much, what a cliffie there too! Well, next chapter, we find out Aiiro's fate and have the birth of the Avatar. Tell me what you think!