A/N: I'm sorry. I know I said I'd update once a week and it's been two weeks. I hope to remedy the situation now with chapter 3!
And Thank you to Cobalt Sunfire! My first review and it was a positive one!
After the shocking news the Fire lord had given them, the two children spent four days out of each others company. It was from a messenger that Kai recieved the news. The Prince, Zuko, was to fight in an agni kai. Kai was expected to attend. He and Azula met in the corridor between their chambers. They left together in silence.
The prince was not a terrible firebender. He certainly wasn't as good as his sister or his future brother in law. Had he applied himself more, he could have been quite good. Either way, this was going to be an interesting match. It wasn't until the gong sounded did the attendees realize who Zuko would be fighting.
It was obvious from the prince's reaction that this was the first he learned of his opponents identity as well. Fear coarsed through his veins. That much was obvious. For the man on the other end of the court was none other than the Fire lord himself, Ozai. Zuko's father. The boy immediately dropped to his knee's and began begging for mercy and forgiveness.
"Fool. He should know father will only take offense to his actions. He should stand and fight like a warrior." The words sounded cold coming from Azula.
"You will learn respect and suffering will be your teacher." Ozai was nearing his son now. Furious at the coward kneeled before him.
All that could be heard was a blood curdling scream. It was obvious Zuko would not walk away without a scar.
"This will not be the end of his punishment." Kai knew the Fire lord had a less than perfect relationship with his eldest son and he would probably take the chance to disown his own flesh and blood.
And with that everybody departed in silence as the soon to be ex-prince lay sobbing on the floor and his father departing as the victor.
It took less than three days. The Fire lord was insulted by his sons decision to not fight and had decided that banishment should be the obvious punishment. To hunt the Avatar was a failed mission by many great men and it was an obvious attempt to permanently get rid of the prince. Ozai's brother Iroh had volunteered to go with the banished prince and a small crew aboard a small vessel that, surprisingly, Azula had acquired for her brother. At the age of thirteen Zuko would leave his nation behind to take on an impossible task.
Kai knew he would fail. If he would not fight his father than he stood no chance against the man that controlled all four elements. However, this did pose a new idea. No, a new purpose in life for the young Kai. The Avatar has been missing for over 100 years. Many men, including past Fire lords Sozin and Azulon had tried and failed to find him.
He began researching the Air Nomads. The Avatar would have been reborn into one of the four temples. Sozin had been successful in destroying an entire population of people with the Great Comet. At least, thats what most people believed. He had failed horribly at what he had been attempting to do. It was well documented in Sozin's personal memoirs that he had been trying to kill the Avatar. Which he had not. With the Great Comet returning in less than four years, the Avatar, if he was still alive, would resurface soon. Kai just had to wait.
He would train, of course. He had to master the power of lightning in time so he could easily deal with the Avatar. He vowed, no prisoners. In order for the Fire Nation to completely seize victory the Avatar had to die.
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
He had been studying such topics since Zukos banishment, over three years ago. He had grown in more ways than one. He was a firebending master. Another trait he and Azula shared, blue fire. Lightning was one thing he had complete mastery over. He had studied the Avatar almost five generations back. He studied Roku the most though. It never ceased to amaze him that a being with so much power would not work with his home nation to rule the world. Perhaps he may have lived a little longer had he assisted Sozin. The walls of Ba Sing Se had yet to fall. When they did the war would be over.
It was around noon when he received the message. He was in the courtyard training. The Fire lord wanted to see him. Immediately. He quickly threw on his body armor and quickly made his way to the throne room. When he arrived, he was greeted by four guards by the entrance. There were usually none. After he entered they formed a fiery barrier, keeping the uninvited out. As he neared the throne he bowed as usual.
"Stand boy, we have received important information from Zhao." Ozai was irritated. Not his usual irritated. He seemed really mad about something.
Azula was already there, along with three of Ozai's top generals. Nobody else. Even the guards usually hidden behind the pillars were gone. Whatever was bugging Ozai was very important.
"Zhao has informed from his post in the far southern Earth kingdom that Zuko's ship docked with him and was heavily damaged." The Fire lord paused for quite some time, obviously calming himself. "He has informed me that the Avatar played a large part in it."
The Avatar. So, he was alive. Undoubtedly he must be ancient. Over a hundred years in age. He must have decided to come out of hiding to try and end this war. Why now, Kai was uncertain but Zhao was a loyal Commander. If he believed it was the Avatar, his word would be taken seriously.
"He has also informed me that he is an Air Nomad. However he is only a child."
"Impossible." General Poon was quick enough to discern this idea "The Avatar would have been born directly after Avatar Roku died. Sozin wiped out the Air Nomads one hundred years ago. Zhao must be mistaken."
"So you assume that the Avatar cannot put himself in a sort of hibernation state?" Azula looked to be very convinced that the Avatar had been found. "Even my idiot brother might be on to something."
"Perhaps. However unlikely." Ozai himself rarely smiled anymore. He truly found the idea of his son doing anything useful hilarious. "That is all Generals, you are dismissed. Remember, word of this news is not to get out to the public."
With a small bow all the Generals left the two teenagers and the Fire lord alone.
"... If Zuko does by chance bring the Avatar here what are we going to do with him father?" Azula was curious. She knew the answer already. It was obvious.
"He will die by my hand." Ozai was calmer than before but still tense. The Avatar was truly the only chance the world had of winning this war.
"So, he's back. He cannot be allowed to master the elements." This was the first time Kai had spoken. "He must follow the cycle, therefore he will go to the Northern Water Tribe to find a Waterbender. Then onto the Earth Kingdom and from there he must find a Fire bending master."
"Hmm. Yes, we must prevent this. I will find someone to lead a strike on the Water village. It will take time but if we can defeat them, all that will remain are the Earth Kingdom strongholds." Ozai looked to be deep in thought.
It was two months later that Kai dared approach the Fire lord with his request. It was late afternoon and the war meeting had just cleared. The Siege of the North would begin in less than a month and the final preparations and arrangements were being made. Admiral Zhao would lead the attack. The Avatar was also in the North. No doubt he had already begun learning waterbending. Perhaps he was a master already. Unlikely but possible. Now they had to stop his Earthbending progress. Or at least delay it until after the comet passed. Than there would be no world to save.
As he entered he bowed in respect to the Fire lord.
"Kai, what are you doing here?" Ozai was enjoying his tea. The only trait he shared with his fat brother.
"Firelord Ozai, no doubt that the Avatar has already begun his water bending training. He must be stopped from learning earth bending. I wish to travel on foot through the earth kingdom to follow him."
"Why would you do such a thing?" Ozai was slightly annoyed by the unexpected disturbance.
"As it is, the fate of the Fire Nations glorious conquest lies on the shoulders of the banished prince Zuko. This is unacceptable. The Avatar must be stopped if we are to win this war."
"Yes, this is true. Very well. You are to intercept the Avatar and kill him on sight. No prisoners. This is becoming a very pressing matter." Ozai seemed indifferent to the intentions of the fifteen year old in front of him.
And like that is was over. With a small bow to Ozai, the young firebender left. If he was to make it on time, he would have to board the ship today.
Of course this had all been planned out beforehand. There was absolutely no way that Zhao would be able to take the Northern Water Tribe with the Avatar present. You cannot fight such a power from a distance, it must be one on one for you to stand any chance of winning. The only obvious place for the Avatar to go after he defeated Zhao would be Omashu. The Earth Kingdoms second largest city. It would matter though, it was already under Fire Nation control. The Avatar would find not only a conquered city, but a very powerful firebender.
A/N: Wow. 1700 words? Not bad. So, please review. I only have one and I really want to know what you think. Good or Bad. Let me have it.
Also, you may have noticed that this follows canon. Thats because its supposed to. I want this to follow the original story to an extent. So maybe if I feel up to it I will do another chapter this weekend...?