CHAPTER RATING: T (Language)
A/N:
Okay, I miscalculated.
NOW there are only two chapters left.
Chapter 45: Sozin's Comet, Part IV: "An Avatar's Word"
The palace rumbled with applause. And on the balcony that Zuko stood from, it seemed like he had just addressed the entire world. Through the approval of his people, he bowed and stepped back through a red curtain, into a room that was formed from marble, with ornate decorations all around, from landscape paintings on the walls to the massive wooden table lined with a gold-embroidered cloth that stretched across its entire length.
"A fine speech if I've ever heard one, Zuko." Azula stood from her chair, clapping. Not with sarcasm, but genuine approval and praise. "I always took you as an introverted, quiet child, never did I imagine little Zuzu delivering such an awe-inspiring speech before millions of Fire Nation citizens." The sarcasm was back, but it was neither malicious, nor mocking, it was playful and challenging. But Azula noticed his grim expression, "Lighten up." She said. "You sounded confident out there. You're the Firelord now. Isn't that what you always wanted?"
"It's different now that I'm actually wearing this crown." he mumbled. "It feels like the whole world is relying on me."
"That would be the Avatar's job. What's the matter? Is the burden too heavy for you to bear? Should I take that crown for myself?"
"..." Zuko fell back into his chair, Azula nearly towering over him in her confidence.
Is it heavier than the shame Ozai held above your head? How he had you chasing this concept of 'honor and redemption.'"
"..." Zuko's blank stare bore a hole into the ground.
"You know how I see it? You wanted honor. All this time, you yearned for it, you craved it. You thought that Ozai's approval would bring it to you." Her voice was so sharp it nearly cut through the solid walls. "I don't think that's true. I think the one thing that can truly bring honor to you, Firelord Zuko, is for you to take on that burden, and carry it...carry it with unmatched strength. Carry it with an unbreakable conviction. Carry it until you draw your last breath."
Azula placed her hand on Zuko's shoulder.
"You do that, and with your final breath, you can tell yourself how valuable you really are. You can be proud of your own choices and actions. And you can tell Zuko-Firelord Zuko, that he has a name worth remembering."
She walked towards the door, and swung it open.
"That's what I think."
And she stepped out, her words that echoed in the room becoming quieter with the slab of steel and wood that closed behind her.
…
"You're smarter than I thought, Aang!" Sokka exclaimed, his slurred words floating through the thick haze of alcohol. "Dealing with Ozai like that! Stopping him without shedding a drop of blood! Good job!"
The remnants of Team Avatar sat around a table, the steam and aromas of hot food filled the air, and the stink of alcohol emanated from Sokka.
"Yeah, I get the feeling that it was quite anticlimactic." Toph sighed. "Pretty sure we got some disappointed folks around here."
"It'll be alright. At least everything is done. How long should we stay?" Katara spoke up, her gaze lifting up to Aang.
"We've done what we set out to do. Once Zuko has everything under control...Once Sozin's Comet passes, maybe we'll all go our own ways." Aang replied. "Maybe it's all over."
"What? What do you mean?" Katara asked with surprised frustration.
"Zuko and Azula will stay here." Aang continued. "Sokka probably wants to spend some time with Suki-"
"I sure do!" Sokka chimed in.
"...I'm sure you'd like to go back and see your dad. And I've got a century of time I need to catch up on."
"Which leaves me." Toph said. "I've got nowhere to go. Not like I want to go back home to that ball and chain life. So I guess I'll stick with Twinkletoes. Just him, and me." She nudged him with her elbow, and he gave an uneasy smile with a weak nod at Katara.
He sat between them, and with an exchange of dirty, malicious, evil looks, they burst out into laughter.
…
A tall structure of pure blackened steel. The prison of the former Firelord Ozai towered above the palace, and dominated the horizon. A dark winding staircase led to a single cell at the top.
Azula walked along the spiraling stairs with her brother in tow, finally finding the resolve to face the man they used to call Father.
The torchlight became heavier as they reached the top until two guards gave them a salute, and opened the metallic door to the single prison cell.
His eyes burned like the torches in the prison. Under the long strands of hair, two amber eyes that stood out in the darkness.
"What did I do to deserve this honorable visit from my beloved children?" Ozai laughed, but didn't allow them a response. "You." he pointed at Azula. "Nothing but a witless little girl. I have ears everywhere, and I heard whispers. Whispers of a princess who 'loves' the Avatar. And failed to take advantage of such an opportunity. A Princess born of nobility became weak, and doesn't have the strength to harness the power of the Avatar as a weapon...And who is this?" His face turned to Zuko. "A pathetic excuse for a man. For a Firelord. For a son. A mere child, who still bears the disgraced mark of lost honor. a disobedient brat who didn't know when keep his mouth shut, and suffered for it. Neither of you is worthy of your lineage. A great line of rulers ended in deceit. Your names will echo among the voices of our people as betrayers to the true Firelords of our nation." He spat. "Pathetic. I wish I'd never met your whore of a mother. I wish I would have never fathered you."
Zuko was shaking at his insults.
"With a single command, I could have you executed!" He shouted. Ozai's only reply was laughter.
"Still trying to impress me? Still trying to gain my approval? Still trying to gain my love? You will get none here. Not in this life, or any life after."
"Don't let him get to you, Zuko." Azula brought a hand to hold her brother back. "We came here to see you." Azula said. "To see you for a final time, Ozai. We won't be visiting again."
Ozai's laughter only grew, to the point where it encapsulated Azula words.
"You may think that you've won. But you nativity, your lack of respect, lack of loyalty, and lack of knowledge for the history of our people will lead to your downfall. You will pay dearly before I die."
The words sent a chill down their spines. But Azula managed to bring her guard back up. "Come on, Zuko. Let's get out of here. We don't need to listen to this."
…A few hours later, only days away from the arrival of Sozin's Comet...
"Hey, Katara!" Toph poked her head into the room. "I'm kinda hungry, you wanna go grab something to eat?"
"I'm just-"
"Don't be!" Toph shouted. "He'll be fine!" Across from Katara, Aang sat, legs cross on the floor. Clasping the cracked, but still intact medallion that served as a connection to his former lives. "How long was he out for that one time? When Azula attacked him?" Toph's blunt words made Katara twitch with anger and fear.
"Two weeks." She confirmed.
"I'm sure he'll wake up soon. He put himself in this coma. He'll get himself out." Toph reassured her.
"You're right." Katara looked towards him. "Sometimes I wonder though, what's it like to speak with his former lives?" Her gaze switched to Toph. "What do you think?"
"About what?"
"Do you think we all have lives like Aang? Or do you think we only get one chance?"
"You know…" Toph raised an eyebrow. "I really couldn't care less. I mean what's the point in worrying about what I used to do, or what I will do? All that matters is right now is this moment. And at this moment, I'm starving. Are you in, or out?!"
Katara shrugged.
"Okay. But you're paying."
…
He stood before them, and they, before him, in an endless green meadow floating within a beautiful, blue sky with glowing, swirling clouds.
And he bowed before them.
Confident. Resolute. Proud.
But in their eyes, he saw something different.
Anger. Disappointment. Frustration.
"You choose to spare him." Avatar Roku spoke first.
"How could you make such a mistake?!" Avatar Kiyoshi's voice boomed through spiritual the realm itself. "You let him live?!"
"I decided to-" Aang tried to explain, but was cut off.
"Your decision stands as it is." Avatar Yangchen chimed in. "You are an odd one indeed, Aang." He could feel the confusion in her voice.
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"You come seeking our counsel." Avatar Kuruk answered. "And yet, after we provided it, you chose to ignore it, and act on your own." Avatar Roku finished.
"What?! How can you say that to me now?!" The Boundless Sky began to darken, beginning to reflect the tone of this meeting of Avatars. "You all told me that this was my choice to make!"
"You told us your decision. You told us that he would pay for his atrocities! And yet...And yet…" Avatar Kiyoshi turned away with her weakening voice. "And yet you did nothing."
"Your decision had been made." Avatar Roku stated.
"You said that my decisions were mine to make! You can't judge them!"
"No." Avatar Yangchen began. "We cannot judge your actions." Avatar Kuruk continued. "But you've made your decision." Avatar Kiyoshi said. "And you shall face the consequences of those actions." Avatar Roku finished.
An explosion roared through the two Worlds, shattering the bridge that held him in the spiritual realm.
The sky burned with Sozin's Comet, while fire, ash, and steel rained down from Ozai's prison.
PUBLISHED ON: 07/10/2016
A/N:
Get those meta references? Cool.
Thanks for reading!