43. Faded
The world faded in and out of focus whenever Zuko opened his eyes.
"Step aside," a voice said. Zuko started to turn his head, then gasped, agony searing his skin. "Nephew!"
Uncle? His lips moved, but no sound came out, and the world went dark. When he resurfaced, he opened his eyes and saw Uncle perched on the edge of his bed. Iroh's hand folded around his. "Zuko."
"Uncle . . . Everything's blurry."
Iroh's expression shifted, but through half-blind eyes, the movement was indistinct. Uncle said nothing, just held his hand.
Zuko closed his eyes. The world faded again.
44. Obedience
"Don't concern yourself with such a pitiful brother," Ozai said, and Azula obeyed, passing Zuko's empty room every day without pausing.
"Your brother is weak. You are the rightful heir," Ozai said, and Azula watched noblemen kowtow as her palanquin passed.
"You are my greatest and most loyal tool," Ozai said, and Azula sailed across the Earth Kingdom and burned villages in her father's name.
"Your brother failed. Look what happened to him. If you don't want to get burned, you won't fail," Ozai said. And Azula didn't fail. Couldn't fail because, unlike her brother, she listened to her father.
45. Memorial
Kanna watched her granddaughter set the boat in the water, heart twisting with grief. Kya's death had taken a toll on the village. Their numbers had dwindled to almost nothing. This tragedy echoed everything Kanna had lost in her long life.
The miniature boat drifted out to sea in a memorial as old as the tribe. Kanna went to the water's edge and set her own boat in the water.
"Is that for Mom?" Katara asked, eyes shiny with unshed tears.
"Yes." For Kya. For Pakku. For all those left behind. One boat to carry my memories into the unknown.