Agni's disease
Oh my god! I finally completed this chapter. I had major writers block every couple of paragraphs. And I have exams coming up again. Well here it is please enjoy!
Chapter 4: The dawn without hatred!
Agni's temple / outside
When Zuko regained his consciousness he found himself back outside the temple.
"You're awake at last." The voice of Agni said behind him. "The trial of fear! My gift is not meant for those who are unable to face their fears." Agni explained while Zuko got off the ground.
"What was that? How is that even possible?" Zuko asked.
"That… was a memory. … an illusion created by the spiritual energy around this place and your own mind." Agni explained. Zuko couldn't take his eyes off of the ground. "That was intense." He whispered. 'Are all these trials going to be like this? If they are… what have I gotten myself into?!' He thought before looking again.
"Congratulations you've passed the second trial! Are you ready for your third and final trial?" Agni asked, a slight smirk barely visible upon his blindingly bright visage.
"I-I... I'm not sure... I don't think that I..." Zuko stumbled out as he tried to find the right words to say. The first trial had been relatively simple, all he had to do was cut off his topknot.
Even though by doing so he'd be willingly giving up his right to the throne.
Even though it would mean that he was willing to break all ties to his family. His father, his sister, but most importantly his mother as well.
"I see... it seems you will need some time to recover from the recent confrontation." Agni noted as he stroked his long beard in thought. "Very well, we will wait until you are fully rested before we commence with the final trial. You will need your energy if you are to succeed." Agni stated.
Hearing this Zuko's expression turned fearful and concerned.
"Zuko!" Agni voice suddenly boomed through the clearing. His voice twisted into a deep inhuman tone that radiated power and authority. "Have you learned nothing from your last trial?! Its purpose was to eradicate fear! If you are to succeed you must abandon all sense of pride and fear!"
Zuko gazed up towards his lord, his expression turning into one of understanding. 'Somehow lord Agni reminds me a little of uncle Iroh. With the amount of wisdom and life lessons they both are trying to teach me. The only difference is that I can never understand what uncle is trying to say while lord Agni is very straight to the point.' Zuko thought.
"I... I understand." Zuko said.
"Good. Once you are fully rested you will face the final trial."
Fire nation/palace/Azula's chambers
Azula was staring up at her bedroom ceiling. A day had passed since Hiten and she had become lovers. "Ha!" she laughed, the idea of being in love was so very ridiculous to her.
'ME! PRINCESS AZULA! FALLING IN LOVE?! WITH SOME RANDOM GUY?! PREPOSTEROUS!' she thought to herself.
And yet it had happened. Although if she were truly honest, Hiten wasn't JUST some random guy. No… no! Hiten was different than other men. He was loyal, didn't try to order her around, totally submissive without being pathetic. He was definitely not the most handsome man she had seen but that didn't mean he was ugly either. If she had to choose she would say he was above average. Everything put together he was perfect!
In an instant her mood changed when she became aware that she was smiling and even blushing at the thought of Hiten. Her eyes widened at the realization that Hiten could have that effect on her. Was this all part of a plot against her? Was he sent by someone to get close to her, just so he could strike when the time was right? 'What?! No! Of course not! Now you're just being paranoid! Hiten wouldn't do something like that!' She berated herself. However she wasn't comfortable with the fact that he could make her feel this way. Feel so calm, so warm, so peaceful. Make her feel so safe that she would drop her guard.
'RAAAAAAAAAAAGH! WHY DOES THIS HAVE TO BE SO CONFUSING?!' she screamed in her head, clenching her teeth in frustration. She wanted an answer, needed an answer! Why…? What was she feeling? How could she make it stop? How could she make sure it would NEVER stop?! Seconds went by as she waited… and waited. But no answers came, increasing her frustration.
"ANSWER ME!" she yelled, throwing her arms and wriggling her body around. Her tantrum didn't last long as her injuries decided to make themselves known. The pain calmed her down and she laid still in her bed looking up at the ceiling once more.
Her own mind was driving her crazy, she knew it, but she was powerless to stop it. she hated being powerless, she hated not being in control.
Azula would have kept on torturing herself like this, but luckily for her the door to her room opened revealing none other than Hiten.
"Hiten!" she cried out happily, a huge smile on her face. "Good afternoon crown princess Azula. You seem to be doing a lot better than yesterday." Hiten replied. "What's wrong?" he asked when Azula's smile suddenly turned into a frown. "Did I do something wrong?" He asked.
"No… and yes. I don't want you addressing me that way… just call me Azula!" Azula said while trying her best not to pout.
"As you wish Azula."
"And don't talk to me like that when we are alone! You're my boyfriend aren't you?!"
"Yes, I'm sorry Azula. I'll remember."
"You'd better!"
"Azula…?" "Yes?" "Would you like to go for a walk?"
"I would like nothing better, but as you can see I'm stuck in bed!" Azula said in a condescending tone.
Hiten grinned for a moment before disappearing back into the hall. Two seconds later he came back inside the room, this time pushing a wooden wheelchair in front of him.
The wheelchair was made from the finest wood of the finest trees. The wood was painted black and treated with a coat of varnish. On top of the high quality wood, the entire wheelchair was decorated with gold. Golden dragons on the armrests and golden flowers in the center of each wheel, surrounded by golden flames.
"I don't know…" Azula hesitantly said as she observed her mode of transportation. Hiten took a deep breath and sighed. "… I don't want anyone to see me like this. I don't want to come over as weak or fragile."
"Hmm" Hiten dropped into thought, closing his eyes, his fist under his chin. "…I've got it!" he exclaimed suddenly.
Azula wanted to ask him what he meant but he disappeared out the door. Several seconds passed before she heard Hiten's voice speaking in the distance of the hall. "Hey! You…! Yes you! Go down to the barracks and tell them the princess requires an escort of 10 guards!"
"yes sir! Immediately sir!" the guard on patrol answered.
Fire nation/palace/palace halls/10 minutes later
Azula was sitting in her custom made wheelchair with Hiten pushing behind.
"I've got to admit, having the guards clear the hallways ahead of us was brilliant." Azula said looking up over her shoulder.
"I have my moments." Hiten said with a grin on his face. "Now you don't have to worry about anyone seeing you."
"The privacy isn't bad either." Azula said as she winked over her shoulder before she grabbed hold of his vest and pulled him into a passionate kiss.
"I couldn't agree more." Hiten smiled to her as he kissed her again. This one softer and longer.
Their tender moment didn't last long after, as the mood suddenly changed when they heard a female voice coming from around the corner further ahead.
"Captain…!" Azula said, getting the attention of the captain from the escort squad.
The man in armor came running down the hall and kneeled down before her wheelchair.
"You called… Princess Azula?"
"I think that's obvious, yes I called you! what is all that noise?" Azula asked.
With the two females/around the corner
"Excuse me but WHO are YOU?" Mai asked, sounding almost uninterested.
"My name is Hibari. WHO are you?" Hibari asked.
"I am Mai, I am a close friend of the princess. What are you doing here if I might ask, you don't seem to be one of the servants…" Mai said.
"I heard that prince Zuko's situation has improved, so I decided to come and visit him." Hibari said.
"There is no need for that, Iwas just about to go see Zuko myself. You can return to your home." Mai said, turning around, thinking that would suffice to deter the woman.
"I will do no such thing! I'm not leaving here until I've seen him for myself!" Hibari demanded, making Mai face Hibari once more.
"Your concern for prince Zuko is appreciated, however! You are wasting your time if you think they'll allow any random nobleman's daughter inside his private chambers." Mai said and turned around again.
"I'm not just any nobleman's daughter! Prince Zuko and I have a romantic connection to one another!" Hibari threw back at Mai, marching after her.
Hearing those words caused Mai to stop and turn around again. "Excuse me?! Who do you think you are fooling?! Prince Zuko doesn't have any connections to outsiders, romantic or otherwise!" Mai responded politely but clearly agitated.
"Who are you to tell me that my relation with the prince isn't real?! We were having a good time together before he collapsed that night." Hibari stated.
"Me? I already told you, I am a close friend of Princess Azula! So you better watch your tone!" Mai said.
"Then shouldn't you be visiting the princess as she is recovering, instead of pestering my love?" Hibari asked snidely.
"YOUR LOVE?! And how do you even know that the princess is injured in the first place? That is supposed to be secret knowledge!" Mai demanded to know.
"My brother was present when it happened. And yes MY love!" Hibari threw back at Mai.
"You think just because Zuko didn't reject you that you have a relationship with him?! please, don't joke around like that. You aren't the first who thinks she can come and steal his heart and you won't be the last. You don't know him like I do, compared to me you don't stand a chance!" Mai said in her monotone voice.
"Oh! So you think you understand him so much better than me?" Hibari asked.
"Of course I do I've spent the past ten years with both the princess AND the prince, I know more about him than you ever will." Mai stated with her nose in the air, looking down upon Hibari.
"Ten years? And you're still not together? I think it's time for you to accept the fact that he's not interested in you!" Hibari threw back at Mai. Her tone suggesting her victory over Mai.
"That's quite the attitude… for a porcelain doll!" Mai said in her monotone voice that suggested disgust and contempt.
"A doll? I'll take that as a compliment… considering that if I'm a doll you'd be a broken one." Hibari replied. Her tone sickeningly sweet but her words poisoned.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Mai asked.
"Oh? You don't know…?" Hibari asked.
"Know what?"
"Well, think about it, who would want a doll that never smiles, never cries, is never angry… or anything else for that matter." Hibari said and then paused, waiting to see if Mai would reply.
When she didn't she continued "Just face it, Zuko could never truly love you. After all who could love a person that doesn't even know love!"
"…"
"I'm sorry what did you say? You'll have to speak up dear! I can't read it off your face after all!"
"I said… that's not true! I do know love! I love him! I love Zuko!" Mai said. This time there seemed to be a bit of emotion in her words.
"I know you believe you do, but your face says 'I don't give a damn'! Don't you ever smile?!" Hibari asked.
"…"
"I'll take that as a no. You might have known him longer, but I'm not an unemotional harlot." Hibari said.
"YOU BITCH…!" Mai said as she pulled her arms out of her sleeves revealing three throwing knives in her right hand and a dagger in her left.
With Hiten and Azula
Hiten and Azula came just around the corner to witness Mai pulling out her weapons.
"Mai!" Azula shouted her friends name hoping to stop her from making a huge mistake.
It had the desired effect as Mai stopped her advance upon Hibari. "Azula?!" Mai said, surprised to see her friend. "What are you doing here?" Mai asked.
"Don't be ridiculous Mai. I live here." Azula said.
In the meantime Hiten had let go of the wheelchair and had moved towards his twin sister.
"Hibari! Why are you here?" Hiten asked her.
"I received word that prince Zuko had recovered from his illness, so I came to check on him." Hibari said with her mouth while her eyes where saying 'Father's spies discovered that the prince was doing better so he told me to go and try getting closer to him.'
Understanding the look in his sisters eyes he nodded and thought. 'Sis is having a harder time getting closer to the royal family than me. I should probably lend a hand.' Hiten then motioned for his sister to follow him as he walked back towards Azula and her friend.
Azula had been berating Mai for her outburst while Hiten had been speaking with his sister. "It's not like you to lose your calm like that." Azula said.
"I know… I guess I just let my guard down and she took advantage of that." Mai berated herself.
"Well don't let it happen again, I expect better of you Mai!" Azula said.
"Yes princess!" Mai replied with a bow.
It was at that moment that Hiten returned with Hibari in tow. As he walked over he could see many emotions flash over Azula's face. Curiosity, confusion, jealousy, sadness, hurt, hatred and finally returning to curiosity.
"Azula. Allow me to introduce you to my twin sister… Hibari." Hiten said as he gestured to the young woman with whom Mai was arguing a minute ago.
"Your twin sister?" Azula asked.
"Yes she was the one talking to your brother before he collapsed that night." Hiten replied. "She was just on her way to see Zuko after hearing that his situation had improved."
"As was I!" Mai cut in.
"Then how about we all go see him together? If that is alright with you, Azula?" Hiten proposed looking at Azula for her approval or disapproval of his suggestion.
*sigh* "Sure… why the hell not!" and with that the four teens left towards Zuko's private chambers.
Spirit world/Zuko and Agni
Zuko was standing inside the center of the temple together with lord Agni. Together they had climbed up the many steps until they had reached the top entrance which had a rising sun carved above the entrance. From there they walked through hallways and down stairs, Zuko's sense of direction and estimate of the size of the temple led him to believe they were at the very core of the temple.
They were now standing in a large empty room except for the pillars at the sides. The walls were illuminated by torches placed every few feet. Several depictions of Agni in both his mortal and immortal form could be seen, painted on the walls. They appeared to tell a story of a mortal man who came before Agni in a time of need. The mortal man traveled to the spirit world where he prayed to Agni's immortal form (the sun) for five days and five nights without any food or water, without sleep or rest.
After the sun rose on the 6th day Agni appeared before him in his mortal form (as a man) and offered him bread and milk. After the mortal man had replenished himself on the milk and bread, he fell asleep. He slept for 1 day and 1 night until he finally awoke on the seventh day.
On the seventh day the mortal man asked Agni for the power to save his people from a great danger. A danger that was depicted as a black cloud from which monstrous creatures sprang forth. There were drawings of a large black dragon spreading its wings out from the top of the cloud, huge creatures of the land appeared to be stampeding out of the black mist and between their legs armored soldiers marched however each depiction never separated from the black mist they all moved as one large organism. Those same paintings showed the dragon roaring at a city or town, the beasts and men marching upon a few brave firebenders that were trying to protect the walls of the city. Normal citizens were running and screaming in fear, trying to flee from the great evil or hide. The citizens seemed to be made up of women and children of all ages. A woman carrying a bundle with a new borne baby in it caught Zuko's attention for a moment. The woman reminded him of his mother.
The next painting showed the darkness swallowing everyone and everything in its path leaving behind a ruined city and the bodies of those fleeing citizens lying lifeless on the ground.
These were the memories of the mortal man now kneeling before Agni, explaining the situation he and his people were in. Agni agreed to help the man and reached into the man's chest. The next painting showed Agni with a large black flame in his hand, leaving the man with a very small red flame in his chest as he was hunched over on his hands and knees. apparently leaving him exhausted.
The story continued on the opposite wall where the man now stood against what appeared to be a darker version of himself. Still with a small red flame in his chest and his dark self a large black flame in his chest. The story continued with the two clashing together fighting and struggling, eventually the dark-self seemed to be victorious as the original was once again on his hands and knees.
But when the dark-self went in for the final strike the original struck back the red flame in his chest having grown to twice its size. The next couple of paintings showed the flame getting bigger and bigger until it outgrew the body of the original and swallowed or banished his dark-self in a blinding explosion of light and fire.
Zuko wanted to see how the story ended but was interrupted when Agni spoke "It is time to face your final trial! Are you prepared?"
"…Yes… I am ready!" Zuko said with determination.
"Let us hope you are right." Agni said with a saddened tone.
"Zuko was about to ask what he meant but couldn't as his breath suddenly stopped when Agni plunged his excruciatingly hot hand into his chest. Agni's body was completely made of fire and therefore left him with the feeling that his heart and lungs were being incinerated. Just when he thought he would die Agni pulled his arm back pulling a black ball of fire from his chest, just like in the depictions on the walls.
Also just like on the walls Zuko fell to his hands and knees, struggling for air, tears dropping to the floor as the searing heat disappeared from his lungs. Finally able to breathe again he looked up as Agni looked down upon him.
"Stand up Zuko! From this point on there is no going back!" he said and stepped to the side. After several feet he stopped turned around and threw the black ball of fire in front of Zuko.
Zuko watched as the black fire started to grow and take form into that of a man. Two more seconds later and an almost perfect replica of himself stood before him. The only difference being his grey skin and his entirely black eyes, even the normal white was now black.
Standing up, Zuko recognized the look on his dark clone. Hatred, contempt, disgust, anger! Zuko was left speechless after everything he'd experienced so far. He wasn't allowed to stay baffled for long as his dark clone (dark Zuko from now on!) reared his fist back and punched forward unleashing a large ball of red fire. Zuko stumbled backwards as he tried to avoid the approaching fireball, and succeeded as the attack struck the floor between his legs. A bit too close to his private parts for comfort, Zuko felt.
Zuko scurried over the floor, crawling away from his attacker for several feet before standing up and hiding behind one of the support beams, his back pressed against the cold stone.
*woooosh thud* *woooosh thud* *woooosh thud*
Three times dark Zuko send a fireball flying through the air. And three times the blast broke apart against the stone, lighting up the walls to the left and right of the stone column.
'Damn it! why am I so calm? I should be furious, I should be out there fighting and losing my cool. Then why? Why can't I get angry? Why can't I get into my usual battle mode?' Zuko complained to himself. Zuko was trying his best to call upon the anger that had always fueled his fighting spirit. But no matter how hard he tried he couldn't find it, it just wasn't there anymore.
*fwooooooooosh*
Dark Zuko swung his arm in a wide right hook. Bending his fire to the right before it curved to the left reaching around the stone column.
Noticing the incoming fireball from the corner of his right eye Zuko reacted on instinct. Zuko relaxed his body letting gravity pull him down to the floor. The fireball harmlessly passed over his head. His years of intense and daily training taking over from his instincts made him twist his drop into a sideward roll.
Dark Zuko watched as Zuko rolled out from behind his cover and coming to a halt on his right knee. Before Dark Zuko could send another attack Zuko sent one of his own. While the fireball was many times smaller than one of his own, it came fast and accurate.
Zuko didn't wait to see if his attack would hit or not. It was merely meant to cause a distraction so he could disappear behind the next column. If he would have waited he would have seen Dark Zuko being taken by surprise at the speed with which the small flame soared towards him. Almost hitting Dark Zuko in the left chest very close to the heart. The only reason Dark Zuko was still alive was because he sent a stream of fire blasting from his nose and hitting the flame before it could impact on his chest. Because his bending was much stronger Dark Zuko's flames overpowered Zuko's attack and negated the flame.
Dark Zuko had lost sight of his target, looking around trying to find him again his anger and agitation grew. "Coward! Come and fight me! Have you no honor?!" Dark Zuko shouted as he turned around and around trying to find a movement amongst the shadows.
Zuko peered around the side of his hiding place, watching and waiting until Dark Zuko would look the other way. It didn't last long as he kept turning around and around expecting to be attacked from behind at any moment.
Zuko chose to wait a little longer allowing Dark Zuko to show him his back at least three more times before he jumped out taking a deep breath, rearing his fist back. Zuko could feel how the air in his lungs fueled the energy surging through his body, making it change from a calm little brook to a raging river. He felt his energy gathering to his right shoulder, like the many streams of molten snow coming from the mountain gathered into a single river that would eventually flow to the sea. And as he thrust his fist forward, giving it a little twist, he could feel the energy shooting down his arm and exiting into the air where it turned into fire.
As he experienced all this he was reminded of his uncle, it all felt exactly as the old man had described it when he was practicing his bending one day. He could hear his uncle's voice in his mind saying "No! power in firebending comes from the breath, not the muscles. The breath becomes energy in the body, the energy extends past your limbs and becomes fire!" his uncle had accentuated those words with a stream of fire aimed towards him. The old man had perfect control over his flames, spreading them up, down, left and right but never allowing them to reach him. "Get it right this time!" Iroh instructed him soon after.
The fireball hit Dark Zuko square between his shoulders, the impact slamming him forward, forcing him to take a step forward to keep his balance. The attack was a certain hit but the flame had been smaller than expected, losing power as it went. It had started out pretty big, while he was thinking of his uncle but as the attack grew closer and closer to his intended target. Zuko shoved those memories aside returning to his neutral state, trying to summon up his battle rage. This caused the flame to decrease in both power and size.
'Why? What happened? Why isn't my bending working properly?' Zuko thought.
"Ouch… that actually hurt…" Even though he said it hurt, the way he said it made it sound like it was nothing but a small scratch. Dark Zuko turned around, facing Zuko. A shadow covered his eyes but Zuko could swear he saw them glow blood red. "…but let me show you how it's done!" Dark Zuko said taking a deep breath.
Dark Zuko growled, his jaws clenched tight. As the air left his lungs, steam escaped from between his teeth. Another deep breath followed by another growl caused more steam to appear. Repeating the process several more times caused the steam to build up. Being enveloped by the steam Zuko couldn't see more than a blurry silhouette, except for his eyes which still glowed red.
Zuko decided that whatever Dark Zuko was planning it probably wasn't a good idea to just stand and wait for it. So he decided to turn around and find cover again. The decision came too late however as Dark Zuko suddenly roared and sent a large stream of fire towards him.
Looking over his shoulder Zuko saw the incoming attack, his eyes widened in panic. Zuko quickly made a circular motion with his hands, bending his flames into a shield. But the attack was too powerful and sent him flying through the air, exiting the chamber and sliding on his back over the smooth surface of the corridor floor.
Zuko groaned as he got up "Damn it! He's too powerful!" Zuko said. For the next hour and a half Zuko ran through a maze of corridors and chambers, trying to get away from his opponent and trying to stay alive.
*pant pant pant*
Zuko was exhausted. Breathing heavily and hunched over his hands resting on his knees, sweat dripping from his chin, nose and hair. 'I need to find a way to defeat him because I don't know how long I can keep this up.' He thought to himself. When he somewhat caught his breath he continued on down the corridor. Where the corridor ended another was attached to the right side, the front and left ended in a wall. Going around the corner Zuko froze. It was a dead end, the corridor continued for another twenty feet but then stopped. "Damn! I've got to turn back!" he said.
But before he could turn around he could hear Dark Zuko's footsteps coming from behind him, right around the corner. 'No no no no no!' Zuko thought as he ran to the end. Once there he let his hands press and glide over the walls. 'Come on! Please let there be a hidden door or a hidden room, something, anything!' He screamed in his mind, panic taking over.
Dark Zuko stepped around the corner to see Zuko clawing at the walls. "Face your death with some dignity!" He spat, disgusted with the way his counterpart behaved.
Zuko turned around. 'This will be the last time…' he thought. '…the last time I'm going to see this guy! Only one of us is going to step away from this. I'm not going to run anymore! Not that I could even if I wanted to.' Zuko thought trying to give himself a pep talk.
'It doesn't matter… this ends NOW!' Zuko thought as he looked Dark Zuko in the eyes. "I'm not going to die today… you can't kill me… I won't let you!" Zuko said, more to himself. The corner of Dark Zuko's mouth twitched upwards slightly.
"Perfect! The weaselrat finally decided to stop running." Dark Zuko grinned. (weaselrat = creature that inhabits the sewers of the firenation).
Zuko could feel his heartbeat increasing in his chest while his breathing slowed down. A drop of sweat made its way towards his eye. His eyelids closed, blinking the sweat drop away until it hung from his chin. Both benders stared at each other, Zuko tried to find to right moment to strike. Dark Zuko waiting patiently to see which desperate last move his prey would make.
The drop let go of his chin and made its way down to the floor below.
It had begun.
Zuko rushed forward. One step, one of Dark Zuko's eyebrows rose. Two steps, Dark Zuko's expression changed into a vicious grin. Three steps, Dark Zuko stepped forward with his left foot. Four steps, Dark Zuko rears back his right fist. Five steps, Dark Zuko takes a deep breath. Six steps, both Zuko and Dark Zuko start yelling.
Now only 4 steps from each other, Zuko starts taking smaller steps forward to be able to land a precise hit. Unfortunately for him, Dark Zuko was faster as he threw his fist at Zuko, sending a giant fireball crushing into his chest.
Zuko was blasted back down the corridor, sliding to a stop on his back. Smoke rising up from the burned flesh on his chest. A hole in his vest, the edges black from the scorch.
"Aaaahh nnnnnnnnngh raaaa!" Zuko groaned clasping at his chest as he thrashed on the ground. "Damn you!" Zuko cursed his counterpart. 'why?! Why am I so weak? Why can't I be cruel like Azula? Why can't I be cold like father? WHY?!' Zuko thought.
Dark Zuko marched over, the arrogance of his victory over Zuko clearly visible in the way he walked. "Don't worry, it'll all be over soon…" Dark Zuko tormented.
'He's right, I can't go on like this. This is how I die…? Huh, I don't know what to say.' Zuko's mind wandered and his entire life started flashing before his eyes. All the times his father called him a disgrace. All the times Azula had beaten, bullied, ridiculed and tricked him.
"You'll finally be reunited with mother. Tell her I said hi!" Dark Zuko continued his torment of his victim as he now stood over him. Preparing to strike his opponent for the last time and to put an end to this once and for all.
'Mother? Our mother? My mother… mom…' Zuko thought as Dark Zuko's words reached his ears. The thought of his mother unlocked all of the memories he had of her. While his memories of his father and sister were rather left forgotten in his opinion. The memories of his mother were all kind and warm and soothing.
The corner of Zuko's mouth twitched up a little as all those happy memories washed over him. She had always been there for him when he needed her, when he was scared, when he was sad, when he was angry. And then she died and he was all alone.
'Wait a second! I wasn't alone, I still had uncle!' Zuko realized. Iroh had taken care of him when his father scarred him for life and took away his right to the throne. Iroh had sat by his recovery bed and afterwards taken him to ember island, away from all the prying eyes of the court's nobles and military officers. Once there Iroh had helped him with his rehabilitation.
The thoughts and memories about his mother and uncle that flowed through his mind started to have a positive effect on him. As he watched Dark Zuko aim an open palm, with a small flame in front of it, towards his face, he could feel the fire within himself, the source of his fire-bending, growing. Surprise and confusion donned his face as the more memories of his uncle and mother raced through his mind the bigger his inner flame grew.
His power was returning to him.
To Zuko, Dark Zuko appeared to be moving in slow motion. The flame of his palm came closer and closer, bigger and bigger until Zuko realized that he now had the power to fight back. Letting out the breath he didn't know he'd been holding, Zuko sent a stream of fire from his mouth that collided with the flame coming from Dark Zuko's palm.
The stream from Zuko's mouth quickly overpowered Dark Zuko's flames. For as Zuko's bending powers increased, those of Dark Zuko faded away.
Dark Zuko threw his head to his left, barely avoiding Zuko's flames from enveloping his face. Even though Dark Zuko managed to avoid a fatal blow, his right cheek was severely injured. His skin was burned off and most muscle underneath was charred black. The flesh that wasn't cauterized was bleeding heavily.
"ungh!" *grunt*
Dark Zuko grunted as he went to touch the burned flesh. His eyes flinched shut as he tried to ignore the pain. "You'll pay for that!" he growled through his clenched teeth.
"No, I won't… because after this… we will never meet again!" Zuko said as he pushed himself onto his feet. His left hand covering the burned patch of flesh on his chest.
"Who are you trying to fool?! One lucky shot doesn't make you the victor!" Dark Zuko yelled. "Or is it that you've finally gone mad?!" he laughed.
"No, I just don't need you anymore…" Zuko replied, his answer only barely loud enough to hear as he had trouble breathing.
"what's that supposed to mean? You don't need me anymore… HAH! If anything it is I who doesn't need YOU!" Dark Zuko said. "I've never needed you! You were always in my way. Every time we sparred with Azula we could have defeated her if we would have done it my way. If we would have unleashed our anger upon her then she would be the one always being ashamed of herself, then she would have been the one to be disgraced. It would have been HER, NOT US!" Dark Zuko yelled furiously.
"You are the one holding us back! NOT ME! YOU!" he continued.
"Perhaps… but those days are over now." Zuko replied calmly. "I don't need my anger to fuel my bending anymore. I don't need to be driven by the will to rise up from disgrace anymore. I don't need to prove myself to my father or anyone else anymore." Zuko said as he looked into Dark Zuko's eyes. And then… he smiled. "And I don't need you anymore."
That last sentence was enough to make Dark Zuko explode into a raging frenzy. First his eyes widened and his nostrils flared as he clenched his jaws down upon each other hard. Then his head started to shake with rage as he exposed his teeth like an angry lionwolf. And lastly he screamed at the top of his lungs as his entire body burst into flames and he charged towards Zuko. Rearing his fist back.
Zuko on the other hand remained calm until moments before Dark Zuko would reach him. In a single moment Zuko created a large amount of fire which he compressed into a single ball in his left palm. As more flames were absorbed into the orb it started to transform into what appeared to be a miniaturized sun.
The two fire-benders clashed, Dark Zuko threw his right fist towards Zuko's face while Zuko thrusted his left palm with the sun forward towards Dark Zuko's chest. An explosion of bright light prevented those who would have been there to witness the fight to see who's attack hit first. But the aftermath was both laying on their backs.
From the source of the light Lord Agni appeared, standing between the two Zuko's. "It is done…" he said. "…the conqueror rises to claim his spoils, while the conquered is cast into nothingness." Agni said as he walked away from both bodies. "You have both done well, but now it is time for you to return home. Farewell, and good luck." He said before disappearing around the corner.
While he had been speaking, one body had started to glow while the other started to fall apart into a pile of ashes. Now, the glowing body shot through the ceiling as if it wasn't even there, making its way through temple until it reached the outside it continued to fly upwards towards the night sky.
Throughout all of the spirit world, the spirits could see what appeared to be a falling star flying to the sky instead of falling down from it. Many were confused as to what it could be or where it came from, so they followed it with their eyes until it disappeared from sight with a twinkle.
Fire nation royal palace/Zuko's private chambers
*grunting* "nnnnngh!" Zuko opened his eyes, irritated by the light. He tried to move his arm up to shield his eyes but found that his arm was extremely heavy and sore for some reason. "ih ohmohne ehre?" he tried to speak but his throat was coarse and dry.
"ZUKO?!" a voice yelled out to him. He winced as the volume of the voice hurt his ears.
"Someone! Hurry up and get a physician?!" the voice yelled again. Immediately after he could hear feet moving rapidly and a door opening. Two voices speaking outside of his room but he couldn't hear what they were saying.
Wet! Drops of water where falling on his face. He opened his mouth to speak again but a drop fell onto his tongue. 'Salty?! Tears? Someone is crying over me.' He thought before he could feel the person crying bury their face into his chest. A set of hands belonging to a different person clasped around his left hand and started stroking his arm.
Zuko was about to open his eyes to see who these people were when he heard a voice speak out that he recognized.
"Welcome back to the land of the living, Zuzu."
End chapter 4: The dawn without hatred!
Who died and who woke up? Normal Zuko or Dark Zuko? Find out in the next chapter!
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