Chapter 31

The Final Confrontation

It was the most incredible experience Aang had felt in his life. He had yet to open his eyes, but he could feel everyone and everything around him. He could easily feel Katara's gentle hand on the back of his head. Sokka and Suki were standing nearby as well. Then there was Toph hovering over his side, clearly aware he was still alive despite what had happened. Ozai was a fair distance away standing between Aang and Zuko, but they were both paying more attention to him than they were each other. Aang was astonished to realize he could even distinctly feel Angel a few floors above them and the other Fallen Angels throughout the garage.

Opening is eyes brought a whole new level of awe to the experience. The first thing he saw was Katara's face, but it was strange, otherworldly even. Rather than the dark colors of her skin and hair, all Aang could see was a tranquil, soft blue. Everything about her; her clothes, her skin, everything gave off a light that reminded him of a body of water with the sun's rays shining through it. She was not the only one to appear this way either. Sokka looked very similar, and Suki too. Suki, however, had a deep brown light at her core that slowly faded into an emerald green as it reached out to her arms and legs.

"Twinkle Toes?"

Toph was smiling brightly down at him, tears of joy in her eyes. She looked so beautiful to him, radiating a golden and green glow. She knelt down reaching for him and he took her hand. As she helped pull him to his feet he took notice of his own hands. He too seemed to be made of light, though his held no color like his friends. What was different was the sheer level of luminescence that came off of him. He wondered for a fleeting moment if his friends could see any of this.

"Aang?"

Toph's voice was filled with worry. Aang simply smiled softly and placed his hand on her cheek. She leaned into his touch as his thumb brushed away her tear.

"It's okay," he said gently. "I'm alright, Toph. I've got this."

There was no sound to be heard other than the soft whispers and gasps of surprise as he stepped away from his friends. The cheering had stopped and Aang knew all eyes were on him. He looked over to Ozai and all he could see was an angry, chaotic mix of dull reds and black swirling within him.

"Back from the dead?" he asked.

Aang did not reply. He was taking in Zuko and Azula's colors. Azula was nearly overflowing with an intense blue that was drastically different from Katara and Sokka's. It was like she was made of blue shifted fire. Zuko on the other hand was a mix of reds, oranges, blues, purples and colors Aang was not sure even had names. Zuko had found peace within himself, or at least a measure of it.

"Nothing to say, boy?"

"This has to stop," Aang answered. No one spoke for a long moment as he stood staring down Ozai without fear. Everyone waited with baited breath for the Fire Lord's response.

"Your surrender is not accepted. Weakness will not be tolerated in my world."

"I'm not surrendering," Aang replied. "I'm giving you one last chance. End this please, before anyone else has to get hurt. I'm begging you."

"You're giving me one last chance?" Ozai laughed. "I will kill you, boy."

Aang shook his head sadly at Ozai's response. If he had to fight, then so be it. He was not afraid anymore. There was no reason to be.

Flames erupted from the Fire Lord's devices in a wave of deadly heat. Aang's feet carried him safely away from the sudden burst of fire and he soon began weaving his way closer to Ozai. Short bursts and steady streams of flame did nothing to hinder Aang's advance as he ducked, dodged and slowly closed in.

When Aang finally got Ozai within reach the man let fly with a punch aimed for Aang's head. Aang slipped around it and answered with a high wheeling kick that Ozai ducked under just as easily. As he rose Ozai attempted a backhanded attack that was stopped by Aang's arm. Aang attempted to strike Ozai's core with an open palm, but Ozai countered with an elbow towards Aang's face. When Aang pushed that aside, Ozai left the ground and spun his legs quickly through the air. With a slight back step and gentle push, Aang was able to deflect the two kicks and ducked under a third when Ozai landed.

Ozai decided to take this moment to capitalize. When Aang began to rise, Ozai extended his hand in an attempt to use his flames against his younger opponent. He was caught off guard when Aang's hand gripped his own, forcing it to close over his weapon. A sudden pain in his side told him that the boy had just struck him with an elbow. Then the boy's fist rammed unmercifully against the underside his captured forearm. The impact was not enough to break the bone, but Ozai felt the pieces of his weapon crumple under the force of the blow. He kicked at Aang's head again and when the boy released him in order to dodge, Ozai put some distance between them.

Aang stood calm and still as he watched Ozai begin to plan his next move. With one of those flamethrowers destroyed Ozai was probably going to be either very protective of the remaining one, or he was going to begin using it a lot more. Either way it was not going to make much of a difference. Aang would win this fight. That was certain to him.

Aang saw it a moment before it happened. Ozai let loose with a burst of flame and began to charge. Rather than dodge, Aang faced this attack head on. He pushed his way through the fire to be greeted by Ozai who leaped forward with one kick and then another. Aang swayed to the side of either of these and then pushed aside Ozai's hand as he tried to blast Aang in the face. The fire flew off to the side of their battle as Ozai swung viciously with his unarmed hand and tried to fire a concealed blast from his waist with the other. Aang blocked the strike and side stepped the blast in one easy motion before his extended arm circled above his own head and pushed yet another punch from Ozai down and away from himself. When Ozai attempted his third burst of fire in his volley of attacks, Aang crossed his arms around Ozai's and maneuvered it downward. As he did so, his left arm slid up Ozai's captured one and his forearm smashed into the Fire Lord's face. From there, a quick spin to Ozai's unguarded side allowed him to swing one leg under both of Ozai's.

Ozai quickly rolled back and away from his opponent and regained his footing. He raised his arm in frustration ready to let loose another volley of fire only to find that his weapon was gone. The boy must have grabbed it when he captured his arm. Aang stood holding the device in his hand for a moment before dropping it to the ground and crushing it underfoot.

"Do you think this puts us on equal footing?" Ozai growled out.

Aang remained silent.

Ozai's teeth ground together angrily. He had lost his weapons, but that did not mean that he had lost the fight. He just needed time to assess the situation. He began to back away and was not surprised when Aang stepped forward along with him. Ozai smirked slightly before charging towards a nearby support column. Increasing his speed and following his own momentum, Ozai used it to climb a few steps vertically before leaping onto the floor above them.

"Come and follow me to your demise, boy," Ozai taunted.

Aang did not believe that the Fire Lord had any intention of running away. He was definitely plotting something. Whatever it may be, Aang would be ready for it. He mimicked Ozai's earlier movements and climbed up to the next level of the parking garage. It was not difficult to figure out where Ozai was going. There was only one place he could end up going in this direction. Aang ran past groups of gang members who leaped out of his way, some even pointing out which way Ozai had run off. It did not take Aang long to reach the door to the rooftop.

Now out in the open night air, Aang could smell the rain that was beginning to fall. He paused for a moment to let the water fall over him, the scent filling his nostrils and the wind cooling his body. Aang felt Ozai nearby, hiding between the vents and ducts that littered the roof just waiting for him to step into the right spot. The ambush was already a failure, and Ozai just did not know it yet. Aang followed along with Ozai's plot and wandered into the area he knew he would be attacked in.

As Aang approached he felt Ozai leap towards him with a vicious kick. Aang ducked under it and awaited the Fire Lord's follow up kick. Before Ozai could fully extend his leg however, Aang planted a kick of his own to his opponent's thigh. This stopped Ozai's attack dead and opened him up to a series of short, rapid punches to his chest, core and face. When Ozai tried to counter attack with a punch of his own, Aang side stepped and ducked underneath it. Ozai's exposed side was then assaulted with a fist to his hip followed by an elbow to his ribs. Ozai tried attacking again only to find that the boy was no longer there. Aang had captured his back. Ozai felt a strong hand on his shoulder and another on the small of his back. Before he could react, Aang's leg slid between his own and Ozai felt his upper body being pulled back by the hand on his shoulder. He quickly lost control of his balance and was at Aang's mercy. Ozai was lifted into the air with a pop of Aang's hip and a push from the hand on the small of his back. The Fire Lord found himself staring at the dark sky for less than a second before the ground came rushing up to meet him. His face, chest and abdomen smacked into the concrete with a sickening thud and all of the air rushed out of him.

Aang stood above his opponent confident that he would not be getting up any time soon. He let out a breath he had not realized he was holding and felt a wave of relief wash over him. The fight was over. All that was left was to catch his breath and bring his downed opponent back to the others. Aang stared out over what he could see of the city in the late night light and smiled. Maybe now things could begin to get back to normal.

"Do you think this is over, boy?" Ozai asked weakly. "I still live, and I will destroy you."

"You don't have the strength to destroy me," Aang answered matter-of-factly.

"Even as strong as you are, you can't do what needs to be done," Ozai replied. "All of that power and you are too weak to use it!"

Aang knew that Ozai was on his feet again. Aang knew that Ozai was charging him. Aang knew that all he had to do was strike him down and this would all be over. Aang also knew that he could never do that. No living thing was without its light. Aang turned to face the Fire Lord with sadness and hope in his eyes, but did not flinch or shy away when he saw the fist that was coming nearer.

A/N: Ransom time. Reviews if you want the next chapter please.