Previously on Fire and Earth…
I tightly closed my eyes as I clenched my fists, feeling a tear running down my cheek.
"No".
"What?!" my father demanded.
I opened my eyes and looked up at him. He was glaring at me with a crazed look in his eyes, and I returned it with a steely gaze. "No!" I repeated more forcefully, seeing the shock start to spread across his face. "Everything, EVERYTHING I have ever done was to please you! To gain your love and acceptance! But now I see: you don't understand love. You only understand greed and selfishness".
"Why you disrespectful…" he started to say.
"Father, all I ever wanted was your love" I said, cutting him off. "Ever since mother died, you've become this completely different person. For twenty years now, I've wanted my father back; I wanted you to be the man you once were, the man I thought you'd always been. I was a fool. I won't allow you to kill the Moon spirit. LET. IT. GO!"
I then entered into a fighting stance, and my father, looking completely flabbergasted, turned to look at everyone around us.
He then slumped in defeat before turning to look at me. The look on his face bore such bile and hatred that I took an involuntary step back; even though I had completely lost faith in my father becoming a better man, that look still drove a dagger through my heart. "So", he said, his voice dripping with venom, "my own son is a traitor".
In that moment, I decided to give my father one chance, one last chance to redeem himself and become the man I once knew. Standing up, I knocked Prince Zuko to the ground before reaching out to him. "Father, take my hand!" I cried, hoping beyond hope that he would accept. He started to reach his hand back to me, and it seemed like my hopes were becoming true.
But he had already made his choice.
He then withdrew his hand, staring down at me with a look of utter contempt and hatred that was permanently burned into my memory.
My father was then dragged into the watery depths.
Whether I was merely hallucinating or dead, I didn't care. I placed a hand on top of hers, feeling the warmth of it on my skin. The tears started flowing as everything came back to me. "I tried, mother" I croaked. "I tried, but father, he…"
"Your father chose his own path" she said, looking at me with her rich amber eyes. "You did nothing wrong".
"I still could've done something!" I protested. "I could've saved him, I could've stopped him from killing the Moon spirit. Maybe then, he wouldn't have…" I then allowed myself to break down, falling onto my knees and sobbing.
I felt my mother's hands on my back as she crouched down beside me. "You did everything you could, my love. You have never given up on family; even when your father turned his back on you, you never gave up on him". She then gently turned my face so that I was looking at her. "Your story is not yet over, my love. Your destiny is to go on and help end this war".
My mouth fell open as my fists unclenched; a dagger of pain stabbed through my heart as I beheld how the beautiful, strong-willed warrior had been brought low by the psychotic teenager. Azula's lips curled into a deep, satisfied smile. "Look at you; so pathetic. All my life, I've grown up hearing stories of your exploits, how you're the only other Firebender in the world who can do what I do. Now look at you: you're nothing but a sad, pathetic disgrace who betrayed his nation because of a simple peasant from an insignificant island. It's just as well that you lost your Bending; now I am truly the greatest Firebender in the world, and you are no longer my equal".
My gaze shifted over to the teenager. She was trying to bait me, to goad me into doing something reckless. Without my Firebending, and with the sheer number of Dai Li agents in the room, I wouldn't stand a chance, which is why I didn't fall for her bait.
It was then that I decided that two could play at that game.
"What's the matter?" I asked, my voice dripping with condescension. "Can't stand to have any competition? It must be very difficult, having a father who demands nothing less than absolute perfection from you and never even shows any affection towards you. Your own mother never even loved you. How could she? How could anyone ever find it in their heart to love someone like you?" Half of what I was saying was pure conjecture; I had, of course, heard all the rumours when it came to the royal family, but I had no way of knowing things that were so personal, especially when it came to her mother. It didn't matter; Azula had hurt Takara, and I wanted to hurt her back.
The teenager's face contorted into an expression of pure rage. "You know nothing!" she spat. "You're nothing when compared to me! I am superior in every way, and you are a pathetic, disgraceful, traitor!"
I then crouched down and enveloped the Earthbending boys in my arms, feeling tears running down my cheeks as they buried their heads into my shoulders. "I am never losing you boys again".
The sheer joy of the moment was shattered by the Water Tribe boy saying "Hang on, you guys said that he stole you!"
"Stole them?!" I replied, turning to look at him. I then turned to the twins and chuckled upon realizing how they had deceived the Avatar and his friends, ruffling their hair with my hands. "I'm afraid that you have been given false information".
"So you lied to us!" the Water Tribe boy said angrily, pointing an accusatory finger at Jin and Li. "All this time, and you guys were lying to our faces? I knew we shouldn't have trusted you!"
The twins looked down at the floor in slight shame, and I stood, placing a hand on their shoulders. "You must understand", I began, giving them reassuring smiles, "when I found them, they were orphans, living in the streets of this very city. I took them in and raised them as my own, giving them a home and a family".
"They told us they were your prisoners" the Avatar replied.
"They are my sons" I emphasized, looking down at the bald boy. "They are not my flesh and blood, but they might as well be. I am the only home they have ever known, and they only wanted to come back to me".
Leaping into the air, I landed beside the Fire Nation Princess just as she started to stretch her right arm forward in order to defend herself. I then jabbed that arm in several places using the Chi Blocking that Ty Lee had taught me, and I inwardly cheered as the arm fell limply to her side. Azula snapped her head to look at me, a look of pure rage written on her face before she suddenly remembered the opponent coming at her.
She was too late.
I leaped backwards, landing several feet away from Azula as Shan We landed directly in front of her. He opened his fist at the last second, and he blasted her face with blue flames. She screamed in agony, a shrill, piercing sound that made me cover my ears even though I was smiling; she was a child, barely into adolescence, but I still took great pleasure in her suffering. Shan We then ceased his attack, and Azula fell onto the ground, whimpering in pain. The entire left side of her face was now burned, the skin red and blistered, while a portion of the hair on that side was completely gone.
Piandao then turned to me. "Takara, you, too, were unsure of yourself. You told me that that caused you to make mistakes. However, after getting to know you, I can tell that you are never unsure of yourself when it comes to doing what you think is right. A warrior must always fight for what he or she believes to be right and just, and I have faith that you will do so. As we trained, you showed yourself to be as brave as the greatest Firebender, as enduring as the greatest Earthbender, as adaptable as the greatest Waterbender, and as agile as the greatest Airbender. You showed yourself to be fearless and cunning in battle, and I can honestly say that you are the finest woman I have ever trained". I smiled at the Master's praise as the butler handed him my twin swords. "Takara, you are one of the finest warriors I have ever met, and you are possessed of a spirit that is truer and brighter than anyone I have ever known". He handed me my swords, and I examined the weapons, taking one out of it sheath a little. Like Sokka's weapon, they had gleaming, double-edged black blades, but they emerged from the mouths of golden Dragon heads, and a burning sun was etched into the end of the grips, which had crimson tassels tied to them.
I smiled, breathing a sigh of relief. "I'm so happy to hear you say that". After a moment, I added "For the longest time, I never thought that I'd make it out of that experience with my sanity. Every day for weeks, I served that little psychopath. I was her plaything, and she enjoyed reminding me of it at every turn". As I spoke, I indicated the matching sets of four scars on both of my cheeks. "I'll have to bear these scars for the rest of my life, and those are only the ones on the outside. The only things that kept me going were thoughts of my father and…"
"And Shan We?" Suki finished. I glanced at her, blushing a little at her words before nodding. "So, you two are pretty close now, huh?"
I smiled. Even though she was accepting of my decision not to help her and the others when they fought Azula, I wasn't sure how she felt about my relationship with Shan We. "It just sort of… happened" I replied, placing my elbows on my knees as I held my chin. "When he first took me, I thought he was nothing more than a murderous Firebender. But, over time, I started to see that he was a good man who was forced to do some awful things because of his relationship with his father. After the siege of the North Pole, while I was Azula's prisoner, I kept thinking about him, about how kind and noble he was. The thought of seeing him again kept me sane, and when we were finally reunited at Ba Sing Se, I was in a safe place. After the torments Azula put me through, I had someone I could lean on, someone who I felt safe with. I couldn't have recovered without him".
A spout of crimson flames flashed past me, but I was not worried. I stood, my arms crossed, as I watched my young pupil practice his Firebending forms. Zuko stood beside me, and we both watched Aang like hawks, noting every single movement and slight mistake he made. After several moves brought him past us, Zuko barked "More ferocious! Imagine striking through your opponent's heart!"
After punching some flames forward, Aang growled "Ugh! I'm trying!"
"Let us hear you roar like a tigerdillo!" I barked, not wanting the Airbender's concentration to be broken for too long. Nodding, Aang spun around and extended both arms to the side, letting out a weak, pathetic roar that a wounded baby komodo rhino would be ashamed of as the tiniest flickers of flames spouted from his mouth and hands.
"That sounded pathetic!" Zuko chided.
"I said… ROAR!" I repeated, extending my arms to the side and lifting my head to the sky, unleashing my full, fiery might as searing blue flames shot from my outstretched hands and mouth. My last word morphed into a primal shout, and I maintained my flaming spectacle for several moments before finally relenting. Glancing around at my surroundings, I noticed that large swaths of grass on either side of me had been burned away, leaving scorched earth. Also, I noted that two nearby trees to my right were on fire, the blue flames consuming them without mercy.
Closing my right hand into a fist, I smothered the flames, sparing the trees further agony as Aang and the others stared at me with stunned silence. Zuko, however, was used to such displays, and was unaffected as he said "There, like that! That's how you roar!"
With a look of steely determination, Aang turned back around and extended his arms to the side. This time, when he roared, much larger flames shot from his hands and mouth. While his display was nowhere near as potent and awesome as mine, it was still very impressive, considering how little time he had spent learning the art of Firebending. He stopped after a few moments and turned to us. Glancing at Zuko before I looked back at Aang, I nodded, and we both showed our approval.
"Who wants a nice, cool glass of watermelon juice?" Katara asked from where she sat on the steps leading to the house's front door.
Aang instantly spun around, his face lighting up like a child about to receive their very first present. "Oh, oh! Me, me!" he cried, charging towards Katara and the others.
"Hey!" Zuko said as he grabbed Aang by the back of his robe. "Your lesson's not over yet! Get back here!" The Airbender struggled fruitlessly before giving up and slumping in defeat as the scarred teenager held him a foot off the ground.
"Oh, come on" Takara said. "Just take a break, Zuko. What's the big deal?"
After a moment, my scarred counterpart sighed in defeat. "Fine" he grumbled as he released his hold on Aang. "If you want to lounge around like a bunch of snail sloths all day, then go ahead!" Despite the scarred teenager's outburst, I found myself agreeing with him. Sozin's Comet was only a few days away, and Fire Lord Ozai's inevitable endgame would coincide with the massive boost all Firebenders would receive. We had to prepare, not lounge about.
"Maybe Zuko's right" Sokka agreed. "Sitting around the house has made us pretty lazy". I nodded my head, glad that someone was seeing sense. "But I know just the thing to change that: beach party!" I whipped my head to face the Water Tribe boy, my stoic demeanor slipping as my mouth opened in slight shock.
As the others gleefully made their way to the beach, I caught Takara by the arm and asked "Is this really the best way to be spending our time?"
"Oh, come on, we deserve to let loose every once in a while!" she replied, giggling like a teenager as she sprinted towards the water. I turned in order to speak with Jin and Li, but just as I did, they shot themselves into the air via earthen columns alongside Toph, and I sighed in defeat.
Everyone engaged in their own activity; Sokka and Takara dived into the water, Katara went surfing on a piece of self-made ice, Suki lounged on a towel, and the three Earthbending children tossed a rock back and forth with earthen columns while Aang slowly constructed a massive sand sculpture.
"Check out my Appa sand sculpture!" he declared triumphantly, and I had to admit that it was a fine piece of work. The real Appa gave his edict of approval by growling at the construct before him just as Toph approached.
"Not bad, baldie" she said, her hands on her hips. "But I've been working on my Sandbending. You're gonna love this". She then cracked her knuckles before opening her palms, creating a small cloud of dust at her feet that soon dissipated, revealing a breathtakingly beautiful miniature model of Ba Sing Se's Upper Ring. Every single building was accurately depicted, from the Royal Palace to a standard-sized home.
Aang got down low, his eyes wide with appreciation. "Wow, you even made a little Earth King and Bosco!"
"Most impressive" I said as I held my chin in my hand. "But a mere model is child's play". Smirking at her indignant scowl, I turned to Jin and Li and said "Boys, how about we show her what a real model looks like?" The twins exchanged devious smiles with each other before nodding. They both struck their feet on the ground, churning up a massive, swirling cloud of sand. I cracked my neck, taking a deep breath before thrusting my arms forward, shooting two streams of blue flames into the sand cloud.
Finally, I ceased the flow of flames, and when the dust settled, our creation was revealed. In place of the sand cloud, red-hot from its fiery birth, was a glass statue depicting two magnificent Dragons, their bodies intertwined and their bearded heads baring their fangs. Glancing at the others, I saw that they all stood, wide-eyed and slack-jawed at what a little fire and sand could create.
Kissing Jin and Li on their heads, I smirked victoriously as I glanced to my left, noticing Zuko leaning against a rock wall with his arms crossed. Leaving Jin and Li to their own devices, I walked over to the pouting teenager, crossing my own arms as I asked "Feeling a little put out, are we?"
He snorted, looking over at the others and replying "They need to be preparing, not playing around when the comet is only three days away!"
I nodded in agreement, turning to look at our group of friends and allies. "They need to be happy in these dark times. You and I know what war looks like, and even though they have all experienced so much in the last year, they don't fully comprehend the threat".
"We need to make them understand" Zuko offered. "They need to know what kind of danger they're facing".
I held my chin in thought, trying to think of something. Eventually, I said "I think I may have something".
I clutched my sides as tears ran down my face, laughing uncontrollably at Sokka's revelation about what his sculpture was supposed to be. The garish construct gave new definitions of ugly and repulsive, and yet, the Water Tribe boy was proud of what he thought to be a representation of Suki. Gasping for air beside me, Toph said "Suki, we'll all understand if you break up with him over this".
"I think it's sweet" my oldest friend said appreciatively. Sokka was at her side in an instant, kissing her cheek.
"Sokka, never let her go" I told my companion as I wiped the tears of laughter from my cheeks.
"But, it doesn't even look like…" Aang started to say, before a fireball obliterated Sokka's creation. I held my arms in front of my face as a cloud of dust was blown in all directions. Once it cleared, I saw Zuko leaping down from some rocks and firing two more fireballs at Aang, who managed to dodge them as they struck Toph's Ba Sing Se model. I stood in place, horrified at what was happening before my eyes.
The Airbender made for cover behind his Appa sand sculpture, peeking his head out and asking "What are you doing?" His answer came a half second later, when this time, a blue fireball struck the sculpture, destroying it and robbing Aang of his cover. I looked to my right, and saw Shan We standing beside Zuko, his arm outstretched.
"Teaching you a lesson" the tea-loving Firebender replied to the Airbender's question as the bald boy leaped behind the glass Dragon statue. Shan We moved his arms in a circle before thrusting them forward, causing a bolt of lightning to arc from his fingertips. It struck the glass construct, which exploded spectacularly, sending shards of glass in all directions. The twins reacted instantly, summoning a rock wall that kept the rest of us safe.
The wall slid back into the ground a moment later, and I watched as Zuko and Shan We repeatedly launched fireballs at Aang, who at this point was making his way back to the house. The two Firebenders ran towards the nearest rock wall, and while Zuko elected to climb it by hand, Shan We leaped into the air before rocketing upwards on jets of blue flames.
They soon disappeared over the edge, leaving the rest of us standing speechless. Katara slid onto the beach, having heard the commotion, and asked "What happened?"
"Zuko and Shan We have gone crazy!" Sokka replied as he gathered clumps of sand from the mound that was all that remained of his sculpture. "I made a sand sculpture of Suki, and they destroyed it!" He then paused before belatedly saying "Oh, and they're attacking Aang". I rolled my eyes at his priorities as we all ran up the beach and back towards the house, where we could hear the sounds of battle. Hopefully, the idiotic Firebenders wouldn't completely burn it down.
Once we arrived at the pathway leading to the front door, I retrieved my twin meteor swords, slinging them across my back before drawing them as we followed the sounds towards the rear wall. We rounded the corner, and were treated to seeing Zuko being blasted through a wall and into some nearby foliage, crashing on several branches before finally landing on the ground. Soon after, Shan We followed his counterpart as he was shot out of the hole that Zuko made, crashing on top of the scarred teenager.
Seeing that the danger had passed, I sheathed my swords as Katara demanded "What's wrong with you? You could have hurt Aang!" The two Firebenders groaned as they stood up, rubbing their various joints.
"What's wrong with us?" Zuko demanded in turn. "What's wrong with all of you?"
"How can you sit around heaving beach parties when Sozin's Comet is only three days away?" Shan We asked, evidently sharing the other's point of view. I couldn't understand why they were being so tense; we would only have to wait until the comet passed before Aang faced the Fire Lord. That way, he wouldn't be facing an overpowered opponent getting a major boost.
Shan We and Zuko exchanged confused glances before the latter asked "Why are you all looking at us like we're crazy?"
"About Sozin's Comet", Aang began, rubbing the back of his neck, "I was actually gonna wait to fight the Fire Lord until after it came".
"After?" Shan We asked, his brow furrowed.
"I'm not ready" Aang explained. "I need more time to master Firebending".
"And, frankly, your Earthbending could still use some work, too" Toph added. Based on what I had seen, the bald boy had come quite a long way in his studies, but then again, I wasn't a Bender, and his respective elemental teachers would know best.
"So, you all knew Aang was gonna wait?" Zuko asked.
"Honestly, if Aang tries to fight the Fire Lord right now, he's gonna lose. No offense" Sokka said, hastily adding the last part.
"The whole point of fighting the Fire Lord before the comet was to stop the Fire Nation from winning the war" Katara added. "But they pretty much won the war when they took Ba Sing Se. Things can't get any worse".
I looked off into the distance at the mention of the coup. It was my biggest failure, and hearing it mentioned was like a reminder that I had failed, after all the suffering and torment I had gone through before that.
"You're wrong" Zuko said, almost too quietly to hear. I looked at him and Shan We, and the two shared a grave nod. "It's about to get worse than you can even imagine. The day before the eclipse, my father asked me to attend an important war meeting. It was what I had dreamed about and wanted for so many years: my father had finally accepted me back. I was the perfect son, the son he had always wanted. I sat at his right hand as his generals appraised him of the situation in the Earth Kingdom. Despite having control of Ba Sing Se, the army was spread far too thin, and rebellions were cropping up everywhere".
I crossed my arms, listening intently as I sensed some horrible development to come at any moment. Based on Zuko's tone, it was probably as bad as I was imagining.
"My father then asked me for my opinion" Zuko continued. "Me, the son who he had banished years earlier. I was so happy, all-too eager to tell him that the people of the Earth Kingdom would always fight on so long as they have hope. He then said that the next move should be to destroy their hope, and it was then that Azula suggested that he burn their lands to ashes".
I cupped my hands over my mouth in shock; I could hardly believe that such brutality could exist, and yet, I knew that the evidence was incontrovertible.
"He's going to use the power from Sozin's Comet to wipe out the Earth Kingdom. I wanted to speak out against his horrifying plan, but I'm ashamed to say I didn't. My whole life, I struggled to gain my father's love and acceptance, but once I had it, I realized I lost myself getting there. I'd forgotten who I was". Shan We placed a hand on the teenager's back, and the former gave the latter a reassuring smile.
Katara fell to her knees and hugged herself tightly. "I can't believe this".
"And you knew about this, didn't you?" Aang asked Shan We.
The tea-loving Firebender nodded. "Zuko told me shortly after we made our escape from the Boiling Rock. That's why we're so insistent on preparing for the comet's arrival".
"I always knew the Fire Lord was a bad guy, but, his plan is just pure evil".
"What am I gonna do?" Aang asked, his tone despondent. Glancing over at him, I saw the strain he was feeling in that moment; there was enough pressure to defeat the Fire Lord, but he had previously thought that he could wait out the comet, and the boost that it brought. Now, that pressure was multiplied a hundred-fold with the knowledge that everything would be lost after the comet came.
"We know you're scared" Shan We said comfortingly as he and Zuko walked up to the bald boy. "And we know you're not ready to save the world".
"But if you don't defeat the Fire Lord before the comet comes, there won't be a world to save anymore" Zuko finished.
For a long moment, no one spoke; we were all still shell-shocked at the mention of the Fire Lord's insanity. Eventually, Aang threw his arms up in the air in frustration and asked "Why didn't you tell me about your dad's crazy plan sooner?"
"We didn't think we had to!" Zuko explained helplessly. "We assumed you were still gonna fight him before the comet, but no one told us you decided to wait!"
"This is bad" Aang said, covering his face with his hands and falling to his knees. "This is really, really bad".
"Aang, you don't have to do this alone" I said as we all moved to stand next to him. "You never have. We're all here to help you, no matter what. We'll fight and beat the Fire Lord together".
"Yeah" Toph agreed, clenching her hands into fists. "If we all fight the Fire Lord together, we got a shot at taking him down".
"Alright!" Sokka shouted excitedly. "Team Avatar is back! Air! Water! Earth! Fire! Fan and swords!" he declared, looking at Aang, Katara, Toph and the twins, Zuko and Shan We, and finally at himself and Suki and I as he passed us leaves in the shape of our respective weapons.
"Fighting the Fire Lord is gonna be the hardest thing we've ever done together. But I wouldn't want to do it any other way". The others, minus Zuko, Shan We, and myself then moved in to smother the Airbender in a group hug.
The tea-loving Firebender approached me, and he started to say "Takara, I…"
I cut him off as I slapped him across the face, eliciting a grunt of surprise as I pointed a finger at him. "Don't you EVER pull another stunt like that! Got it?" He hastily nodded as he rubbed his injured cheek, and I lowered my hand.
"Come on, you guys" Katara called. "Being part of the group also means being part of group hugs". The three of us exchanged glances before we joined with everyone else, wrapping our arms around the other members of our little group. All of a sudden, a breeze whipped my black hair as Appa came in for a landing, crushing us all beneath his massive head. He then proceeded to show his affection, bathing us in Bison mucous as he licked us with his tongue, and I cringed as my body instantly became slimy.
Being part of the group also meant being part of Appa licks, apparently.
"There's one technique you need to know before facing my father" Zuko told Aang as the three of us stood in the middle of the house's courtyard. "How to redirect lightning".
The Airbender's face lit up, and Zuko then turned to look at me. "You go ahead" I told him. "I will stand back and observe for now".
The scarred teenager nodded before moving right into the motions, copying them from when Iroh had instructed us during our time as refugees. That had seemed like a lifetime ago, and I found myself thinking about how he was faring as he gathered the full might of the Order of the White Lotus. "… body flow, the lightning will follow it" Zuko said, and I shook my head as I returned my focus to what was in front of me. "You turn your opponent's energy against them".
"That's like Waterbending!" Aang noted.
"Exactly" I said. "Iroh invented the technique himself by studying Waterbenders".
Aang then mirrored Zuko's actions, moving his hand down one arm, down to the stomach, up the other arm, and vice versa. "So, have you guys ever redirected lightning before?"
"Once, against my father" Zuko replied.
"A few times" I added.
"What did it feel like?" Aang asked.
"Exhilarating, but terrifying. You feel so powerful, holding that much energy in your body, but you know if you make the wrong move, it's over".
Aang chuckled nervously. "Well, not over over, I mean. There's always Katara and a little Spirit Water action, am I right?" He turned to look at Katara, hoping for some vindication, but he got precisely the opposite.
"Actually, I… used it all up after Azula shot you" the Waterbender explained.
The Airbender's expression fell. "Oh".
"The important thing to remember", I said, walking up to him and placing a hand on his shoulder, "is that you are merely a conduit. You are redirecting the lightning, not storing it. If you allow it to flow according to the energy in your body, then you will be fine. However, you must not let the lightning touch your heart, for that would be fatal".
My words did not comfort Aang, and Zuko reminded him "You'll have to take the Fire Lord's life before he takes yours".
Zuko and I then walked away, and I could hear the bald boy muttering "Yeah, I'll do that…"
"Gather around, Team Avatar" Sokka beckoned as he planted a watermelon on a stick, completing a rudimentary facsimile of a person. "In order to take out the Fire Lord, or, in this case, the Melon Lord, our timing has to be perfect". He then took a stick and started to draw out a plan in the dirt. "First, Suki, Takara and I will draw his fire. Then, Katara and Zuko charge in with some liquedy-hot action, and while the Melon Lord is distracted, Aang swoops in and BAM! He delivers the final blow!"
I held my chin in thought and appraised what was before me. "A sound plan. But what about the rest of us?" I asked, referring to myself, Toph, and the twins.
"For now, you're the Melon Lord's forces" Sokka replied. I nodded, glancing over at the three Earthbenders as they rubbed their hands together excitedly.
"So we get to chuck flaming rocks at all of you?" Toph asked.
"Whatever makes the training feel more realistic".
"Sweetness". We all then took our places, with Toph standing several feet in front of the Melon Lord, Jin and Li on either side, myself standing behind the blind girl, and the others were all the way down at the bottom of the hill, ready to advance upon our position. Toph cackled mischievously as Sokka gave the signal, beginning the simulated battle. She was responsible for hurling the giant boulders at the others, which would simulate strikes from the Fire Lord, while Jin and Li would summon earthen replicas of Fire Nation soldiers to serve as the Imperial Firebenders.
Li struck a foot against the ground, and four such replicas emerged from the ground in front of Sokka, Suki, and Takara, sliding towards them. The two sword wielders sliced a replica in half, while the younger Kyoshi Warrior knocked another down with her foot. Toph raised an oil-covered boulder into the air, and I thrust my fist at it, igniting the large chunk of rock in blue flames.
The blind girl then hurled the large projectile at the non-Benders of our group. It crashed into the ground, the flames dancing along its surface as the two Kyoshi Warriors nimbly moved around it. "Watch it, Toph!" Sokka cried indignantly, waving his fist through the air.
"I am not Toph!" the blind girl declared. "I am Melon Lord! Muahahaha!" I arched an eyebrow, thinking that her placement may not have been the best choice. She then raised another boulder into the air, which I ignited, before launching it into the air, eventually coming to land in between Zuko and Katara, who managed to move out of the way in time. They regrouped just as Jin struck his foot against the ground, summoning a large group of stone soldiers.
The two Benders made short work of their opponents, and Sokka shouted "Now, Aang!" I turned to my left as I noticed movement; Aang charged forward with an expression of determination on his face. He leaped into the air, staff raised for a strike… only to come short at the last second, stopping his weapon before it struck the Melon Lord.
"What are you waiting for?" Zuko shouted. "Take him out!"
Aang closed his eyes, shaking his head as he meekly replied "I can't".
I crossed my arms, staring at him intently as Sokka stalked over to the bald boy, poking a finger into his chest. "What's wrong with you? If this was the real deal, you'd be shot full of lightning right now!"
"I'm sorry" the Airbender said helplessly. "But it just didn't feel right. I didn't feel like myself".
For a tense moment, no one dared to speak out. Then, Sokka drew his meteor sword and promptly sliced the melon in half. "There", he said as the top half fell to the ground while juices ran down the figure's shirt, "that's how it's done". Though Aang didn't say a word, what I saw in his eyes told me everything I needed to know.
Sometime later, as darkness fell on Ember Island, we all gathered in the courtyard for an evening meal. I sat cross-legged, next to Takara and the twins, eating from a bowl of roast duck as Katara joined us, a scroll clutched in her arms. "I have a surprise for everyone!"
"I knew it! You did have a secret thing with Haru!" Toph happily proclaimed. We were all caught off-guard, and after blinking several times, I turned to look at Takara, who shrugged.
"Uh… no" Katara finally said. "I was looking for cooking pots in the attic, and I found this!" She then unfurled the scroll, revealing a tiny little infant sitting on a sandy beach, its mouth wide open with joy as it played with a miniscule shovel. "Look at tiny Zuko! Isn't he cute?" the Waterbender said in the cutesy voice people adopted when speaking to or about infants. The others chuckled, but Zuko was not so amused. "Oh, lighten up. I'm just teasing".
"That's not me" the scarred teenager said. "That's my father".
Everyone instantly became silent, and beside me, Takara spit out the mouthful of soup she had been working on. "But he looks so sweet and innocent" Suki said, pointing to the infant.
"Well that 'sweet little kid' grew up to be a monster, and the worst father in the history of fathers".
"That point is slightly debatable" I muttered after swallowing a piece of duck.
"But he's still a human being" Aang said, breaking his day-long silence after what had happened during our little 'training' session. We all turned to look at him, slightly surprised and also slightly concerned.
"You're going to defend him?" Zuko asked, dumbstruck.
"No!" Aang fired back a little too quickly. "I agree with you: Fire Lord Ozai is a horrible person, and the world would probably be better off without him. But there's gotta be another way".
"Like what?" I asked, letting some of my frustration with the bald boy slip through my stoic exterior.
The Airbender glanced at me, his expression helpless. "I don't know" he said at last. "Maybe we can make some big pots of glue, and then I can use Gluebending to stick his arms and legs together so he can't Bend anymore".
I tossed my bowl to the side, hearing it shatter against the stone floor of the courtyard as I huffed in annoyance and held my face in my hands. "Yeah", Zuko said, his tone lighthearted and obviously mocking, "and you can show him his baby pictures and all those happy memories will make him good again". The others, including Takara and the twins, giggled at the teenager's sarcastic words.
"Do you really think that would work?" Aang asked, sounding completely oblivious to the idiocy of what he had suggested.
"No!"
Aang sighed, proceeding to pace as he said "This goes against everything I learned from the monks: I can't just go around wiping out people I don't like".
"Sure you can!" Sokka said. "You're the Avatar! If it's in the name of keeping balance, I'm pretty sure the universe will forgive you".
"This isn't a joke, Sokka!" Aang suddenly shouted. I looked up and saw him facing the Water Tribe boy and the others, his body tense. "None of you understands the position I'm in!"
"THAT IS ENOUGH!" I thundered, on my feet in an instant as all eyes turned to me. "Aang, I have tried to be patient with you, but your insistence on avoiding your destiny comes to an end right now! What is the fate of the world when compared to your precious Air Nomad beliefs? What is the life of one man when compared to millions of innocents? Fire Lord Ozai is an evil man; he is not capable of love or redemption, all he understands is power, and he cannot be saved!"
"You don't understand!" the Airbender shouted back, though I could see the helplessness in his eyes. "I can't just take a life because that's what everyone wants me to do! I'd lose everything!"
"I've already lost everything. More than once" I said, my voice as soft as a dove's feather. "And that was all because of one man: Fire Lord Ozai. We all, everyone here, have lost something or someone we loved because of that man, and if you do not face your destiny, then we might as well surrender now!"
Aang growled in frustration, stomping off in a direction which would take him away from the house. I started to walk after him, but a sudden hand on my shoulder stopped me. I turned and saw Zuko standing beside me. "Let him go" he advised. "He needs to sort this out by himself".
Looking back at the bald boy, I harrumphed and muttered "If he does at all".
I was awoken by a gentle, yet firm, shaking. I gingerly opened my eyes, very much aware that it was still black as pitch, which meant that it wasn't morning yet. Groaning as I rubbed my eyes, I craned my neck in order to see who was shaking me, and was greeted by Shan We's stoic features. "What is it?" I asked, rolling onto my back and propping myself up on my elbows. "What's going on?"
"We're leaving" the Firebender replied, his tone grave. Glancing at the others, I saw that they were all still asleep, except for the twins, who stood behind their father. Aang wasn't with us, as he had most likely fallen asleep wherever he had stormed off to.
"Is this about the comet?" I asked, turning back to the man crouching in front of me. He nodded, standing up and offering me a hand, which I promptly took. "Okay; I'll wake the others".
"No" Shan We insisted. I looked back at him, and with the haze of sleep mostly gone at this point, I could see that there was something else going on. "It has to be the four of us, and it has to be now".
"What's going on?" I asked, crossing my arms.
"Takara, we don't have time for this" he explained. "We have to go. Now". I stood in place, never ripping my gaze away from his amber eyes. Eventually, he pursed his lips and exhaled through his nose. "I… haven't been completely honest with you".
"That's an understatement" I said sardonically, having lost all patience for games.
The tea-loving Firebender sighed, placing his hands on his hips. "When we were imprisoned at the Boiling Rock, I… received a message".
"A message?" I asked. "From who?"
For several moments, he couldn't bring himself to look me in the eye, but eventually, I reached out and gripped his chin in between my fingers, bringing him to look at me. "I am a member of an ancient, secret society: the Order of the White Lotus. Our ranks are filled with members from all nations, and we value beauty and knowledge above all else. While we were imprisoned, I received a message that the Order was gathering its full strength, and that a summons had been issued. By Iroh".
My eyes widened in shock as my mouth fell open. "So…", I began, trying to make sense of what he was telling me, "you've known where Iroh is this whole time? Why didn't you tell us?"
"Because, fate would have sent us to him eventually, and I thought that staying with the others and helping with Aang's training was more important right now".
I glanced at the twins before returning my gaze to Shan We. "So what's changed?"
He shook his head, crossing his arms and turning to look at the others, still sleeping in their bedrolls. "Aang has proven that he is not up to the task, and because of that, he has forced my hand. I intend to join the others in the Order and do my part to end this war, while there is still time, but I am not leaving without you and the twins".
I ran a hand through my long, black hair, taking a deep breath as I thought over his words. Ever since the incident during our training session, I had thought that Shan We was being a little too harsh on Aang, but given the recent revelation about the Fire Lord's plan… I couldn't help but see things from his point of view. He wanted to put an end to the atrocities committed by his people, and this one was going to outshine them all. If Aang wasn't willing to go beyond half measures, then the time had come to make a decision.
I then looked down at the others, at their tranquil, sleeping forms. I hated the idea of leaving them without saying goodbye, but Shan We was right: with the comet only a few days away, time was of the essence, and whatever decision we made had to be made right now.
Finally, I looked over at him and gently nodded my head. He smiled, silently trying to assure me that this was the right thing to do. We would see about that in the days to come. Taking only a few minutes in order to gather my things, I slung my twin meteor swords across my back, and with that, I was ready for travel. Shan We leaned in close and gave me a soft, tender kiss on the lips, and I smiled at the loving gesture. With one final look at the others, at our friends, we were off, traveling into the beyond, hopefully in time to save our world.
Azula, Crown Princess of the Fire Nation and heir to the throne, crossed her arms, huffing in annoyance. She was sitting cross-legged in her palanquin, which was being carried behind that of her father. A massive gathering was present on the harbour front, consisting of all the Imperial Firebenders, Fire Sages, and members of the court. The scarred Princess lightly ran a finger across the leathery skin on the left side of her face, which ran down from past her hairline all the way down to her chin.
Catching herself in the unconscious gesture, she lowered her rebellious extremity and placed it on her lap. She couldn't afford to show weakness, not today. Her father was about to be crowned as the ruler of the world, and together, they would go forth on their airships and use the power of Sozin's Comet to burn the Earth Kingdom to ashes.
On a day like today, weakness was not an option, and she could ill afford to appear weak, not just in front of her subjects, but to her father most of all. Gnashing her teeth, she noted that her palanquin was falling behind, and the gap between her and her father was growing. Leaning out so that her head peered out from behind a sheet, she turned to the men carrying her and barked "Come on, slowpokes, faster!" The four men picked up their pace, and Azula returned her gaze ahead.
Finally, she arrived at the mouth of the harbour, stepping out of her palanquin and briskly making her way up the steps of the platform towards her father.
Kneeling before him, she said "Sorry I'm late, father. Good palanquin bearers are so hard to come by these days. So, is everything ready for our departure?"
"There has been a change of plans, Azula" the Fire Lord's calm and collected voice replied.
"What?" the Fire Nation Princess asked, her controlled exterior slipping.
"I've decided to lead the fleet of airships to Ba Sing Se alone" her father explained, much to her horror. "You will remain here in the Fire Nation".
Azula took a moment to wrap her head around what he was saying. "But… I thought we were going to do this together!"
"My decision is final".
She clenched her teeth together, her nostrils flaring as she let her controlled persona to slip completely as her frustration took over. "You… you can't treat me like this!" she protested, standing up defiantly. She would make her father see that he was making a mistake; she was worthy, more than any other person alive. She would make him see. Suddenly, the image of her disgraced brother leapt unbidden into her mind. "You can't treat me like Zuko!"
"Azula, silence yourself!" the Fire Lord commanded.
She was not to be deterred. "But it was my idea to burn everything to the ground! I deserve to be by your side!"
"AZULA!" The Fire Lord snapped, turning his head so that he looked her in the eye. Before that powerful gaze, the Fire Nation Princess looked down at the ground. "Listen to me" he began, this time in a calmer voice. "I need you here to watch over the homeland. It's a very important job that I can only entrust to you".
Azula's eyes opened wide with the promise her father's words held. So he did think of her as worthy, after all. "Really?" she asked.
"And for your loyalty", he continued, "I've decided to declare you the new Fire Lord".
She felt her mouth opening with surprise, her every dream and desire suddenly a reality. "Fire Lord Azula?" she asked no one in particular. "It does seem appropriate. But, what about you?"
Her father smirked. "Fire Lord Ozai is no more" he said, bowing his head slightly as two of the Fire Sages lifted golden armour onto his torso. "Just as the world will be reborn in fire, I shall be reborn as the supreme ruler of the world. From this moment on, I will be known as… THE PHOENIX KING!" A large, resplendent banner was then raised behind him, depicting a golden phoenix on a field of black as similarly-designed banners were raised all throughout the harbour area. All of those gathered, including Azula, bowed before the new Phoenix King, and the scarred teenager's demonic face broke into a wide, satisfied smile.
Everything was coming together as it should.
To be continued…
Well, that kind of got tense, didn't it?
I think that Shan We is carrying around a lot of bitterness and anger. This war has taken so much from him, and now that they're finally coming towards the end, his emotions are as wild and chaotic as they've ever been. Aang's inability to come to a decision only served to exacerbate his frustration, ultimately causing him to leave and solve the problem on his own.
I know that the writers of the show really want us to re-examine the whole "western justice" idea of killing the bad guy in the end, but it still really irritates me at times, especially with Aang whining about 'betraying his ideals' by murdering Ozai. That man has not a single, solitary redeeming quality about him, and he deserves no mercy, which is why I think that the whole Energybending trump card was a deus ex machina.
When all of your collected past lives, literally hundreds to thousands of past Avatars, vote to kill him, then you know that the universe is trying to tell you something.
Part One is done! Stay tuned for Part Two, and the continuing final stretch towards the end of Fire and Earth!