Disclaimer: I have come to the conclusion that for me to own anything I would have to sell my soul, and so far I want to keep it.
This would be that last time that I would ever see the man that had been more of a father to me than my own. Even though I knew that he was in great pain, he still maintained his sense of humor, even going as so far to ask me to make him a cup of tea. I felt my face heat up; he knew that I lacked the talent for making his beloved drink.
I looked around me at the other faces that surrounded his bedside. I saw my wife, Katara and our son Iroh. Next to her stood the Avatar with his beloved Appa and Momo. There was Toph and Sokka, I'm sure that Toph could feel the vibrations from every breath that my uncle, no make that my father, took. Angi knows that we all could hear them. Their sad faces reminded me that I wasn't the only one who'd relied on his strength.
'Rake up all the leaves in pleasant valley
It's the last day of my visit, upstate New York
To pay respects to the old man
He's still got his sense of humor
But his body fails him
He's surrounded by loved ones
But that only goes so far
And does he know where he is?
I doubt it'
He's dying and there is nothing I can do about it. Funny I always thought that he was like a dragon, that he would live forever. Or at least as long as I would. It wasn't possible that he could be dying. I remembered him telling me that at some point everybody has to die, but that doesn't mean that I was ready.
'Jack the lion roaring his last
Like a vision sent from the past
Bedside, crying, holding his hands
Strong hands'
Everyone trickles out until I am the only one left beside him. I sit down on the side of the bed and place my ear next to his mouth for two reasons. One to reassure myself that he is in fact still alive and two to hear that words that he is saying, they are faint, but I manage to understand anyway.
"Zuko, you know that I have always thought of you as a son." I nodded, knowing this already. I tried to tell him that I'd always seen him as a father figure, but couldn't get the words past the blockage in my throat. I cleared my throat but before I could speak he continued.
"Remember all that I have taught you. You have turned out to be a fine man, Zuko. I am very proud of you never forget that. And always remember that I love you." I nodded and let my tears fall, not caring that they weren't considered manly.
'Finally, get a moment alone with the old man
He's having trouble breathing and he's no the only one
He wonders where time goes
And why we haven't spoken for so long'
I regret not telling him everything worth mentioning, but now there is no time. But it doesn't matter because I forget everything that I wanted to tell him in the first place.
'He regrets it
He forgets it
And none too soon…
Because he's closing his eyes and fading'
I remember some of the things I want to tell him and whisper them in his ear. "Thank you for bringing the world peace, for reuniting the nations. Thank you for reminding the world that we all need each other for balance in the world. Thank you for your stubborn wisdom and for your skill. Thank you understanding the power of aggressive negotiation. Thank you for everything."
'We thank you for uniting
We thank you for the cause
We thank you for the lion
We thank you for the claws'
I call out to everyone to say 'good bye'. For this is their last chance.
'Come see him again
Come see him again
Come see him again
Come see him again
Bop, bop, bop'
The mighty Dragon of the West was fading fast. He tugs on my hand to pull me closer and it isn't his strength that makes me lean in, but the weakness in the tug. He asks me to tell everyone to stay clear, that he wants to show everyone why he was called the Dragon of the West. He asks me to join him, to combine our fires. Despite my great sadness I feel a small smirk tug at the corner of my lips, for I already know the reason for the name. I do as he asks and together we unleash an awesome power. My red fire mixing with his blue.
'Jack the lion roaring his last
Like a vision sent from the past
Bedside, crying, hold his hands
Strong hands.'
I feel the strength leaving him, and knowing that this breath will be his last, I lean down to whisper one last thing to him. "I love you, Father."