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Days Gone By – Chapter Twenty-Four
The sound of jail cells bars slamming shut echoed into the air while its single occupant sat on a bench staring out from his cell.
The man gazing out of the Fire Nation prison was none other than the inventor known as the mechanist.
He had just been transferred out of the Fire Nation Capital City Prison and brought into a cell on board a Fire Nation airship.
Where was he going?
He couldn't say.
As for why?
He had a good guess.
'This must be some sort of ploy to blackmail me into creating more weapons for the Fire Nation.' The mechanist thought with a sorrowful sigh while he leaned back upon the bench.
The sound of footsteps approaching his cell caused the older man to raise his eyes upward to see just who had been sent to interrogate him.
Only to pale in terror upon finding a beautifully merciless face gazing back at him.
Princess Azula!
"Greetings peasant. You must be the mechanist." Azula spoke with her arms folded regally over her robed chest.
While staring through the cell doors with her callous amber golden eyes at the unnerved inventor.
"I…am Your Highness." The mechanist answered with poorly hidden nervousness while the princess opened the doors to the cell.
"By all rights I should have you executed for your part in the invasion. But that would be a waste of your ability." Azula stated before stepping in with her every step that she took sending a shiver down the poor man's spine.
"No matter what you say to me. Even at the cost of my own life. I will not build the Fire Nation anymore weaponry." The inventor informed in an attempt at defiance while the princess stared down at him with her usual ruthless death stare.
"Really? You speak as if you are so certain that I am powerless to change your mind." Azula purred before taking another step closer while the cell block suddenly lit up with blue fire.
"Whether I live or die is very well within your hands. But the Fire Nation wouldn't have half of its weaponry without me. And since you lack the ability to build it without me. Yes. In that regard you are powerless." The mechanist retorted in a brief spurt of bravery while the princess glared down at him with her lips curving into a scowl.
Not even a second later the sound of a pained cry echoed into the otherwise empty cell block.
The older man crumpled to the floor while the princess stood towering over him with a truly icy countenance.
The fist that she used to backhand the man fell back to her hip before she turned her head to speak once more.
"True. I cannot force you to build for us. But I can torture you slowly over the next year. I have many ways of making you reconsider your position." Azula remarked before stomping on the inventor's head with her amber golden eyes narrowing into that of an utterly piercing glare.
And much to her sadistic delight she was already finding that the Earth Kingdom man was already caving into her will.
That was if the sounds of his pitiful whimpers were anything to go by.
"Furthermore. There are a great many refugees living at that temple of yours. I could always bring them in to join you. Perhaps…you would be more receptive to their screams than your own?" Azula commented with her fingers curling up upon her toned biceps while the frightened man squirmed beneath her boot.
"N-no. Please don't." The inventor responded with his confidence already beginning to wane.
"Or…perhaps I should bring in your cripple son to keep you company." Azula continued in a cruel voice while her ruthless amber golden eyes never once left the inventor's now horrified face.
"Not Teo! Anything but that. I beg of you. Please…don't hurt my son!" The mechanist cried out with sadness in his voice while the princess's boot pressed his face into the floor.
"Well then…do as you are told peasant! Defy me again and the only sounds that you will be hearing will be your son's screams!" Azula barked with her body tilting gracefully while she ground the groaning man's head into the steel floor.
"Y-yes Your Highness! I understand." The inventor agreed in a defeated voice while the heartless woman loomed above him.
"Wonderful. Now I have a job for you. Do it well and after the wars end. I just may release you to live out the rest of your days with your son." Azula announced with her arms crossed over her chest while she peered down at the prostrated man.
The inventor felt a sense of hope flood through him upon hearing those words.
Yet at the same time…an even deeper sense of shame.
"What…kind of weapon must I build?" The mechanist inquired in a bitter voice before breathing in relief when the woman removed her boot from the top of his head.
"Not a weapon." Azula grunted with her fingers fishing through her pouch while the inventor glanced up at her in disbelief.
"If…it isn't a weapon…. then what is it?" The inventor breathed in a bewildered voice before backing away when the young woman crouched over him.
And with that the inventor found himself gazing upon a small l shaped canister in the calm of the princess's hand.
He turned over to glance up at the device in curiosity already finding himself compelled to study the strange item.
There was a dial on it that read…zero.
"This is a medical tool…a breathing apparatus to be precise. It was good for one hundred and twenty doses. You will study it and replicate it." Azula declared with practiced rigidness while she scowled down at the baffled inventor.
"I…have never seen such an apparatus before." The mechanist muttered before holding a hand to his wounded head while he continued to survey the device.
"You wouldn't. It is from a far away foreign land that neither you nor I have set foot in." Azula explained in an impassive manner before dropping it into the puzzled prisoner's open hand.
It went without saying that it was a true shock to hear the cruel princess of the Fire Nation ordering him to build medical equipment.
And from a mysterious foreign land no less!
His curious mind couldn't resist pondering just what land Azula was referring to.
He's traveled all over the globe and he's never seen such a compact portable breathing device before.
"Out of all the weapons that you could ask me to build…you want me to do this?" The inventor asked in an almost relieved voice while he studied it with a keen eye.
Only to shiver once more when the princess stood up while she glared down at him in a terrifying manner.
"That is none of your business. You will fix it if you wish to continue draw breath." Azula stated in a callous voice while she stared down at the rapidly nodding prisoner.
"U-understood! I was just curious. That's all!" The mechanist assured before leaning back against the floor of his cell while he peered between the device and the princess standing over him.
"You will work in a guarded laboratory and you will begin straightaway. If there is anything you need, I will provide it." Azula ordered in a cold voice while she crossed her arms over her breasts once more.
"Yes. I understand." The inventor spoke in quiet voice all the while pondering just why the princess wanted this done.
There was no way that this breathing apparatus was for her personal use.
The princess wouldn't be one of the most powerful firebenders in the world if that were the case.
So…why?
"In there you will also find two more devices that I wish for you to work on. A music player and a handheld game unit. But you will refrain from working on those until you've concluded with the inhaler." Azula instructed with her head tilting to peer down at the inventor's now utterly stunned face.
"A music player…and a game?" The mechanist repeated in a surprised voice all the while mulling over the strange matter.
There was no way that any of this was for Princess Azula!
It was almost as if…this was all for someone else!
"I just said as much. Did I not?" Azula snapped in a moody voice while the older man rapidly nodded his head.
"G-got it. If I do this…you will let me go free?" The inventor inquired in a curious voice while the princess stared down at him.
"Perhaps. After the Avatar is dead. At that point it won't matter what you do. You can build all the Earth Kingdom weapons that you want. Your little rebellion is dead without the Avatar." Azula replied in a smug voice while the inventor averted his eyes in shame for the briefest of moments.
"I will do it." The mechanist stated before raising his gaze once more while he observed the princess turn away.
"Perfect. And it goes without saying if you breathe a word about me ordering the repair of medical equipment…that all offers of mercy are off." Azula warned in a merciless voice while the poor inventor shuddered in understanding.
"Yes, Your Highness! I will remember." The inventor concluded with a nod while the princess strode towards the cell doors once more.
"Good. And I suggest you consider yourself fortunate that I am giving you this chance to redeem yourself. Try not to give me cause to change my mind." Azula concluded after closing the cell doors once more while glancing at the prisoner one final time before turning to walk away.
The mechanist sunk back into the floor of the cell with his hand over his face while he watched the princess walk away.
Only a fool would trust the word of Princess Azula.
And yet it was his only chance to secure his and Teo's freedom in the event that the Avatar should fail.
If you look at it that way…
He would have to be a fool not to comply.
Elsewhere.
In a sunny meadow Aang sat gazing into the distance with a reflection of sadness in his eyes.
He was wearing standard Fire Nation robes with a headband wrapped around his head to cover his markings.
In his hand was a staff and on his shoulder was a small winged lemur by the name of Momo.
Behind him sat a young woman gazing back at him with sympathetic blue eyes.
"Six years." Aang muttered in a guilt-ridden voice while Katara held a hand on his shoulder.
"It's not your fault Aang." Katara assured in a soft voice while Aang still hung his head in remorse.
"But it is Katara. Twice now. Twice…I have abandoned the people that I care about!" Aang lamented with heavy emotion in his eyes while his lemur companion chirped over his shoulder in protest.
"No, you didn't Aang. It was Azula that put you in a coma! If it's anyone's fault. It's hers! And Zuko's too!" Katara exclaimed with fury in her voice while the peaceful monk sat shaking his head.
"Zuko is our ally now Katara. He isn't our enemy. Not anymore." Aang insisted while Katara turned away with a bitter look in her usually warm eyes.
"I…don't trust him. I can't forgive him. Not for all that he's done." Katara retorted with her hands in her lap while Aang frowned at her back.
"All people have the capability to change Katara. We…just need to give him a chance. It doesn't do us any good fighting with Zuko when he wishes to make amends." Aang explained while turning to meet his girlfriend's unconvinced eyes.
"I guess we'll just have to see. Won't we." Katara scoffed in a skeptical voice while her boyfriend turned away once more.
"I…just wish that I had been able to say goodbye." Aang spoke in a barely perceivable voice while Katara turned back to him with her blue eyes softening in understanding.
"Aang…" Katara trailed off in a quiet voice while she watched a tear drop down Aang's cheek.
"Bumi…died waiting for me. Just…like Gyatso." Aang mumbled in a tone of boundless remorse while his lover began to wrap her arms around his neck.
It was something that they all avoided talking about.
How after Aang was struck into a coma by Azula, how they had to rush him away.
And in her distraught state she panicked.
And she shamefully spilled most of the vial of spirit water while they were making their escape from the Fire Nation.
Due to having only a fraction of the waters healing properties at their disposal they were only able to just barely pull Aang back from deaths door.
Instead of dying, the small sample of the spirit water had only saved Aang from death, and there after he remained in a coma for six years.
Alive, but not truly.
And with it, the Fire Nation had been able to conquer the Earth Kingdom.
And soon after, the Northern Water Tribe as well.
And so, they waited.
And they spent six whole years on the run hiding from the Fire Nation.
Many days they almost gave up, but they held onto the hope that Aang would one day awaken.
As did Bumi.
After word got out that Aang had been rendered in a comatose state.
They soon met with members of a faction that they would soon learned was called the Order of the White Lotus.
Bumi was a leading member of that order.
Led by Grand Lotus former General Iroh and many others.
The King of Omashu escaped from Fire Nation custody as soon as he heard that Aang had been struck down by Azula.
Bumi was the first to find them, and he who put them in touch with the other leading members of the secret order.
And soon Iroh and several other leading members of the order arrived after his escape from the Capital City Prison.
The Order of the White Lotus quickly took action to arrange an emergency medical treatment to keep Aang alive and suspend him in stasis to prevent his body from deteriorating.
He sat by Aang's bedside day in and day out, always insisting that their friend would awaken once more.
Bumi waited, and waited.
Until he was no more.
After one year of waiting Bumi finally succumbed to old age.
The King of Omashu died at the elderly age of one hundred and thirteen seated in a chair across from his slumbering childhood friend.
Iroh and the other members of the Order of the White Lotus had been grief stricken to learn of their friend's passing.
There wasn't a single one of them that wasn't.
But no one so much as Aang himself.
He had been shocked, confused and horrified to learn that he had been asleep for six whole years.
And in the days that followed after he finally awakened.
After he slowly managed to form the words to speak.
He began frantically inquiring about each and every one of his friends.
It wasn't long before Aang asked about Bumi.
Not a single one of them had wanted to be the one to break the horrible news to their gentle hearted friend.
It was ultimately Toph that had been the one to take the initiative.
She will never forget the heartbroken look in Aang's eyes when he had been told that his longtime friend had died waiting by his bedside.
From there he struggled to cope with the trauma of both the loss of his childhood friend.
And losing six whole years of time while the Fire Nation took control over the world.
It took Aang months of recovery while he went through therapy as he adjusted to learning how to use his body again before they felt that he was ready to confront the Fire Nation.
It was a grueling and difficult recovery for Aang.
But he recovered.
Two months ago.
Aang sat in his bed with a distressed expression on his face as Katara sat supportively beside him with worry in her eyes.
As he held a hand to his face while he remembered Roku's words from six years ago.
Listen carefully, Sozin's Comet will return by the end of summer six years from now.
Six years may seem far away, but I must warn you. You must not let the war persist long enough for the Fire Nation to get the opportunity to utilize the power of the comet.
Because if it does, Fire Lord Ozai will use its power to finish the war once and for all.
And if he succeeds, even the Avatar won't be able to restore balance to the world.
Aang, it is imperative that you defeat the Fire Lord and end the war before the comet arrives.
It had been six years since Roku told him those words.
When he first heard Roku tell him those words, he had thought that he had more than enough time.
But now…
He has been asleep for six entire years!
And during that time the Fire Nation has swept over nearly the entire world!
And because of the time that he lost.
He still hasn't mastered all of the elements yet!
And Sozin's Comet was now just six months away!
And now Aang could only gaze ahead with a distraught expression in his eyes as he despaired over both the gravity of their situation.
And the dear friend that he had lost.
And then nearly two months later.
On the day of the solar eclipse.
They had barely managed to pull themselves together with enough rebel forces in time to launch an invasion on the day of the eclipse.
But they did.
Aang stood with Sokka and Toph gazing up at the looming metal door of the secret underground bunker.
He hardened his face into an expression of determination while he thought of everything that he and his friends went through.
And those that they have lost.
And just then blasted off the door to the chamber while the doors then flew off their hinges.
The three then burst into the chamber expecting to find themselves face to face with Fire Lord Ozai.
Only for the three to freeze in their tracks in surprise when they were instead greeted by someone other than Ozai.
Someone that they haven't seen in six years.
A face that has caused them all a great amount of pain.
And it was all Aang and Sokka could do to stare on with expressions of shock in their widened eyes.
As they now found themselves gazing back at Azula lounging on a throne at the other end of the long chamber with a conceited smirk on her lips.
Azula sat up on her throne as she held her hands together while she gazed at her shocked enemies.
"So, you are alive after all. I had a hunch from the very beginning that you survived. But it has been so long that I must admit that I had my doubts. But it doesn't matter. Because I've known that the rebels had knowledge of the solar eclipse ever since the coup of Ba Sing Se six years ago." Azula remarked in a condescending voice as she smirked back at the disbelieving faces of her enemies.
The three could only stand there in a state of despair after hearing that the Fire Nation has known that they were aware of the eclipse for all this time.
And that it meant that the Fire Nation has had years to prepare for a possible attack on the day of the solar eclipse!
Only for the three to begin to recover their composure while they snapped themselves out of their shock.
And then Aang and Sokka's facial expressions began to transform from shock into fury when they gazed back at Azula's cruelly smirking face.
And they were reminded of all of the pain that the wicked princess had caused them.
"Where is he Azula! Where is the Fire Lord!?" Aang yelled out with anger in his voice while Azula pushed herself up from her throne.
Azula then stood gazing back at her enemies with a confident smirk on her lips and a short sword hanging from her hip.
"You mean I'm not good enough for you? You're hurting my feelings." Azula commented with a taunting smile as she waved a hand before her face while her enemies stared back at her in anger.
"Stop wasting our time and give us the information! You're powerless right now and you're in no position to refuse!" Sokka demanded with barely controlled rage in his voice as he pointed his sword at the princess as she stepped forward.
"And stick to the truth. I'll be able to tell if you're lying." Toph said as she clenched her fist beside her friends.
"Are you sure? I'm a pretty good liar. I am a four-hundred-foot tall, purple platypus bear with pink horns and silver wings." Azula spoke in an expertly emotionless voice with her callous amber golden eyes gazing calmly back at the earthbender's surprised face.
As Sokka and even Aang began to lose their patience while they both stared furiously at Azula's poised face.
"Okay, you're good I admit it." Toph stated in an impressed voice only to listen carefully when Sokka angrily stepped past her to confront the princess.
"Enough of your games! We know that you're helpless now! So, start talking!" Sokka shouted with fury in his voice while Azula gazed back at him with a smug smile on her lips.
So, Sokka's your name, right?" Azula questioned in a smooth voice with a cunning glint in her eyes as she smiled while Sokka gazed at her warily.
"What of it?" Sokka replied as his blue eyes glared back at Azula as she stood confidently with her hands behind her back.
"Oh, nothing much. It's just that my favorite little prisoner used to mention you all the time." Azula purred in a wicked voice as she took delight in the way that torment flashed before the young man's eyes.
And just like that she knew that she had him.
Hook, line and sinker.
As Aang and Toph froze up with unsettled looks on their faces.
While Sokka gazed back at Azula's wicked face with his eyes starting to widen in an expression of pain.
"Some dirt peasant girl named Suki. She was convinced you were going to come rescue her. Of course, that was years ago, and you never came. And she gave up on you. Sadly. She didn't make it." Azula taunted in a stunningly sadistic voice with a cruel smirk on her lips as she callously shrugged her shoulders while Team Avatar listened in horror.
She watched as tears began to stream from Sokka's eyes and an expression of pure agony overcame his face.
And then not a moment later a roar of unimaginable sorrow resonated throughout the air of the long chamber.
Sokka now broke out into an infuriated run with his sword in hand towards Azula while she smirked wickedly.
As Aang gazed after his enraged friend with a look of worry in his eyes and Toph listened to Sokka charging Azula in alarm.
"Sokka no! Don't let her get to you!" Aang called out in concern for his friend only for the young warrior to prove too emotional to heed his words.
"That's right. Come and get me water peasant." Azula sneered in a cruel voice with a superior smirk on her lips while she held her hands behind her back.
As she stood undaunted while she watched the crying warrior sprint towards her.
"What have you done to Suki!? Where is she!?" Sokka roared with utter rage in his voice as he rushed the smirking princess.
Toph promptly launched a blast of earthbending towards Azula to restrain her before Sokka could reach her.
And the cage of rock began to rise up and enclose around Azula while the princess still stood with a poised expression on her regal face.
Only for the trio to gaze on in complete shock when the earthbending that was surrounding Azula suddenly shattered to dust.
And in that same moment Sokka was knocked backwards by an earthbending attack before he could even reach Azula.
The three could only gaze on in disbelief while Azula casually dusted herself off with a giant smirk on her lips.
"When I left Ba Sing Se six years ago, I brought home some souvenirs. Dai Li agents." Azula announced in a vastly pleased voice with a wide smile on her lips while a squad of Dai Li agents leaped down from the ceiling.
And then ten Dai Li agents faithfully landed as they all crouched surrounding her while her enemies still gaped on in shock.
As she lowered a hand to her hip as she drew her short sword while Toph's eyes grew even wider in surprise.
And not even seconds after that Team Avatar could only step back in dread.
While Azula now stood with a short sword in her hand and her squad of Dai Li agents crouched all around her.
"Now remind me. What was that you were saying about me being powerless?" Azula mocked in a voice of supreme confidence while she stared back at the stunned faces of her three enemies.
Aang, Sokka and Toph stood as they braced themselves for battle as they faced down Azula and her squad of Dai Li agents.
As Aang steeled his expression while he gazed hard back at Azula's smirking face.
And then he sprinted forward with his friends at his back while he launched a blast of airbending at the princess.
Azula smiled while her agents of the Dai Li quickly leaped to her defense.
And mere seconds after that a desperate fight broke out between Team Avatar and Azula and her squad of Dai Li agents.
Ultimately, their invasion failed.
And thanks to the preparations that Azula made in advance.
And the deadly skill of the princess herself.
And all of the time that they had lost.
They were not able to reach the Fire Lord.
And while Aang may have recovered from what Azula did to him.
He could never get back what he had lost during those six years.
He could never get back Bumi.
Just like how he could never get back what he had lost during all that time that he was frozen in the iceberg.
And that was why she will never forgive the Fire Nation for what they did to Aang!
And Aang now sat in silence with tears streaming down his face while Katara held him in a loving embrace.
"He…told me to tell you that…knowing you was his life's greatest pleasure." Katara spoke tenderly with a tear trailing down her cheek as well while Aang hung his head in her arms.
"B-Bumi." Aang stammered with tears staining his eyes while his lover held him close.
"We'll stop the Fire Nation Aang. It…won't be for nothing. I promise you." Katara declared with a steely resolve in her eyes while she clutched her boyfriend into her shoulder.
"I'll…do it for Bumi." Aang murmured with a choked sob while Katara nodded in solemn agreement.
"For Bumi." Katara answered gently while they sat in the meadow gazing out over the horizon.
"I…will defeat the Fire Lord. I swear it." Aang stated with a hand wiping the tears from his eyes while Momo nuzzled against his neck in an attempt to sooth his sorrows.
And so, the two of them sat in silence while they gazed off into the distance all the while silently vowing that all of their sacrifices would not be in vain.
Ozai and Azula will fall, and balance will finally be restored to the world.
They are resolved to see it through to the end.
No matter what.
AN:
First, to Agent Banana. Yes, Azula would storm into any compound for Elle. There may not be an Area 51 in my story because her Earth is similar in technology but it is drastically different than ours. We will get to that eventually.
But I totally get what you meant!
And yes, Azula just threatened to torture and murder over fifty people, including a disabled boy, all for Elle. Yes, she could have just asked the mechanist nicely, but that isn't like Azula. Is it?
And yes, Bumi died waiting for Aang, just like Gyatso.
It only seems logical that the spirit water would not work to its full capacity if it was spilled. So because Katara spilled it, the spirit water only pulled Aang back from the brink of death. It was not enough to awaken his consciousness.
It's quite poetic, another person died waiting for Aang.
I wrote it this way because it wouldn't make sense having Bumi alive during that six year lull. It would completely diminish Bumi's renowned skill.
The only reason that Bumi surrendered was so he could act later on when their guards were down. Bumi had a plan. But once he received word of what happened to Aang, he escaped to go help his childhood friend.
And well...that's that.
The six years that the Gang spent protecting Aang adds a whole new level of guilt for Zuko to shoulder. Instead of causing a few months of pain, he caused over six years of suffering.
And six years that he spent away from Iroh.
Anyhow, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter! Please remember to review after you read and favorite the story if you have not already! Thanks!