Chapter 25: Gambles

"Are you sure we should've left the bloodbender back in that village?"

Kaze sighed. "Well, maybe. Or maybe not. Either way, the villagers were the ones held captive for who knows how long, so we'll let them decide what to do with her…"

Mai looked unconvinced, but let it go. She had something else she needed to ask him about anyway.

"So, are you gonna tell me what you and Katara were talking about?"

Kaze remained silent for a moment as he kept prepping the boat to take them back to the capital.

"Nothing you already don't know… just—"

"Really? If I recall correctly I heard something about the invasion failing or whatever." She said sharply.

Kaze let out a dry laugh. "Yeah, that's the one thing I had to confirm by talking to her…"

"So? Is it true then?"

"I don't know about true…" He responded as he pushed the boat back in the water. "But it's a… possibility? At the very least, we're going to have extra careful going forward."

She rose an eyebrow.

"And here I though you were done being cryptic…"

Careful… of what?

Or is it a who?

She couldn't really make sense of what he was saying…

But when did she really.

"That's fine and all but… are you sure you're doing okay?"

Because she's sure she's never seen him this concerned over something… not like that was saying much considering how carefree he is most of the time.

But even then…

"I'll be fine… don't worry. It's not like we thought this would ever be easy in the first place."

She chuckled. "You're not wrong about that. Just… try to keep focus, we need you more than ever before now."

She then climbed into the boat. "And we have to make sure to talk this out with Azu—"

But a popping sound reverberated through the air.

"Look out—" Kaze reacted quickly enough to bend a massive wall of ice in front of them, which managed to block the explosion just enough to not send them flying.

"Shit—He caught on to us! We need to—" Kaze started but another crackle quickly interrupted him.

This one he barely managed to dodge by jumping out of the way, but the impact of the explosion was powerful enough to send him tumbling through the sand of the shore.

"Kaze!" She shouted, readying a knife off her sleeve.

But she couldn't see were the Unnamed was. He was shooting from somewhere deep in the woods.

The sun was barely rising, so making him out in the shadows was impossible.

"Hurry into the boat! We need to—"

And then another crackle filled their ears.

But this time, it went directly at her.

She saw Kaze desperately bend the water around the boat to push her away. And it worked.

The explosion hit the boat and not her. But that didn't mean she came out unscathed.

In fact, by the time she noticed, she was flying through the air before her body splashed violently into the salty water.

She tried to move, to swim back up, but her muscles weren't listening to her. So she just started sinking, as her consciousness began drifting away.


Aang had to admit, flying on Appa always managed to calm his nerves. And it was totally what he needed after everything Katara had told them.

Her connection with the ocean was just another reminder of his failures in protecting the world, and now the plan they had been painstakingly preparing for all this time was in jeopardy…

At least according to what she and Kaze theorized.

Even if it wasn't technically the work of a spirit by the looks of it, there was a chance this connection was a lot deeper within the energies of the world itself that ignoring it would only spell a death sentence.

Maybe aborting the mission WAS the right idea, but even then, if they let the comet arrive before they defeat the Fire Lord, then the world will fall in his hands and there would be nothing they could do about it.

"Copper for your thoughts?" He heard a sleepy yet somehow still bright voice jump its way right next to him on Appa's head. But when he turned to look at the source, he was greeted with an unexpected sight.

It took him a second too long to figure out who it was, but that was only due to his breath catching in his throat and any sort of coherent thought leaving him.

Just like he had thought, it was Ty Lee. Except hair was freely waving behind her without anything holding it up.

He realized now that he'd never seen her without her usual braided ponytail… And with the orange light of the now rising sun, she looked…

"Aang?"

"H-Huh? Oh! Um… I'm okay!" He managed to get out, but with the way his voice raised a few octaves higher only earned him an unamused look from the girl.

She sighed. "I guess it makes sense that you're not… considering you're the one who has to fight the Fire Lord. And after everything Katara told us…"

She then brought her knees to her face and wrapped her arms around her. But she slightly peeked her eyes to give him a worried gaze.

"How are you really feeling?"

"I-I'm not sure what you mean?"

And then she flicked him in the forehead. "Not getting out of this one I'm afraid!"

She then gave him a beautiful smile while her entire body glowed with the backlight of the sun behind her.

"I know you carry more weight on your shoulders than anyone else… but that doesn't mean you have to hold back on us. If anything, you should let us help you out through it…"

"I-I…" He scrambled for an answer, but all thoughts escaped him.

Something was happening to him… And it wasn't good.

Ty Lee was genuinely worried for him and he couldn't seem to focus on anything other than the way her eyes seemed to glimmer with the oranges and purples that were invading the sky. Or the way her hair was flying so freely yet some of it somehow managed to keep framing her face, almost like she was deliberately doing it.

Not like he knew much about how hair actually moved, even if he had some now…

But he had to focus. She was right after all.

A hundred years technically passed, but to him, he was revealed as the avatar and just a week later he woke up dead in the middle of a war… And his people had all died.

There were many things eating at him, but the main one was...

"I-I just don't know if I'll be able to defeat the Fire Lord…"

"Even with the eclipse?"

He shook his head. "That's exactly what I'm worried about. We'll get no more than a few minutes to both find him and—"

And… then what?

The Fire Lord would be completely helpless without his bending… wouldn't that mean that he didn't have to fight him?

But then what?

Why did he never think about this?

"C-Can I ask you a question?" He asked tentatively. He was coming to a realization that he could only describe as torturous.

"What is it?" She replied worriedly. His struggle must've shown in his face by the look she was giving him.

But he had to get to the bottom of this.

"The plan was always for me to take on the Fire Lord during the eclipse, but… What exactly am I supposed to do?"

"What do you mean? You bring him down… right? That's what we've been banking on all this time…"

"I…" He once again struggled to find words. "What I'm trying to say is—What does bringing him down mean?"

Ty Lee stared at him blankly, trying to make sense of his question.

And then her eyes widened in realization.

But before she could say anything, he continued.

"The monks taught me to treasure all life, and that to take one would only bring the world ever more out of balance… And yet… That's what expected of me as the Avatar, isn't it? I'm supposed to kill the Fire Lord, right?"

Saying it out loud hit him like a punch to the gut.

"M-Maybe there's another way! Like…" She began saying but couldn't finish.

They remained in silence for a while, not really knowing what to do after his revelation.

"I've only met him a couple of times but… I don't think he's the type who would peacefully surrender no matter what… And the very moment he gets back his Fire Bending he'll retaliate in full force… Along with the royal guard… Maybe there really is no other way…"

"B-But I don't know if I can do it!" He protested, even though he knew she wasn't at fault for it. "Going against what I was taught—I don't know if I'm capable now that I'm the only one remaining of them, and if I can't…"

"Even if it means risking the fate of the world?" Ty Lee asked, but it wasn't accusatory. It was just that. A question. "Even if that was the only way to end the war?"

"I just—" He started but shook his head. "I don't know if I can bear taking anymore lives than I already have…"

Ty Lee looked surprised at his words, but recognition flared in her eyes. "You mean the North Pole?"

He nodded. "I've managed to live through that by telling myself it was the work of La… And learning the type of spirit he was through Kaze helped me come to terms with it… But it's not like I wasn't conscious of what was happening. Of what I was doing."

"But it's like you said, right? In the end, it was La making you those things—"

"Because I let him take control… I got so angry at Zhao killing Tui that I let his anger merge with my own."

Those deaths were on him as much as they were on La, and he'd have to learn to live with the guilt.

"I don't know if I'll be able to kill the Fire Lord when the time comes… And I can't bear to think that I'm weak for that. That I'll be letting everyone down once again just because of my selfishness. I've screwed up too much already and—"

But hand on his caught him by surprise.

"I don't think its selfish to want to honor your people's legacy. No matter how high the stakes." She then gave him a sharp gaze. "But Fire Lord Ozai won't hesitate to kill you the instant he gets the chance. And if you hesitate to make a decision, then we'll lose."

He lowered his gaze. He was feeling so overwhelmed that he could feel tears welling up in his eyes.

Why was it that things just seem to get harder and harder no matter what they did?

"But if it truly gets too hard for you then… let me do it."

"L-Let you do what?"

She couldn't mean—

"If it truly gets to that point, then I'll kill him."

Despite the nature of her words, her eyes were warm and filled with understanding.

"Like I said, let us carry some of the burden on your shoulders. We're here to help you end this war, so I'll do whatever it takes to get you through to the end, no matter what."

"B-But I can't let you just—k-kill the Fire Lord!"

"Maybe not but… it might get to a point where it's you or him. And a world without you is a lost one. No matter how strong or smart Azula is or how reliable Kaze is, when the world looks for someone to save them, they'll always go for you."

Her eyes then dropped as she started rubbing her thumb through his hand. "I know its super unfair, and I know it sucks but—You don't have to do it alone. If something gets too difficult, then we are here to help you get through it. Katara told me of what happened in the Southern Air Temple, that while you might've lost everyone you cared for, all of us who are here with you now are your family. And Azula, Kaze and Mai would agree as well…"

He started feeling something coming over his chest, but there were still so many things clawing at his heart that he didn't know what to make out of it.

He took a deep breath and looked deep inside himself.

Whether she was serious or not, he could hear the sincerity in her voice. She would go that far if it meant helping him. If it meant helping him fulfill his duty to the world.

There was so much at stake, and he couldn't afford to stay this undecided. This wasn't just for him but for her, and for every single one of his friends.

He's the one with the responsibility to the world. But they don't. They simply decided to fight for it because they wanted to.

He had to be stronger.

He settled down his mind. He had a choice to make, but there was only one right answer.

"I-It won't come to that." He tried to say with as much confidence as he could gather. "I'll figure out a way to end this war without killing the Fire Lord. And if not, then I'll do what I have to…"

Ty Lee squeezed his hand before standing up. She closed her eyes and spread her arms outwards, as if basking in the sun and the wind surrounding them.

Almost as if her body was flowing freely along the air.

It was an incredible sight.

One only an airbender could do.

"Thanks, Aang."

Thanks?

"For what?"

He's sure he's only really caused problem after problem for her...

"Despite everything that's happened and everything that's going to happen, I've never felt this happy before. And I never really got to thank you before, so I'm doing it now."

"I really didn't do anything though…"

"But you did! Even if it was an accident, if I'd never met you I would've remain lost forever, not knowing what it was that I was missing."

She had been smiling all the way through her words, but it was different from her usual ones.

It was almost like… he was the only one to have ever seen it.

If it meant protecting a smile like that, then maybe there was no reason to doubt himself.

He was the Avatar, whether he liked it or not.

He didn't ask for it. But the world didn't ask to be set into a hundred years of suffering either. Those that have been fighting in it have lasted this long out of their own dreams of a peaceful future. Out of their own willpower

He'll have time to do whatever he wants once he sets an end to it.


Something was wrong.

Kaze and Mai should've come back by now. There was no way some errant waterbender would be able to best both of them, even if they were caught by surprise.

So why were they not here yet?

Azula was pacing around her bedroom, where she's sure an indent is forming from the amount of back-and-forth she's been doing.

If something did happen to them, then it must've been some other party. Maybe even—

"Princess?" She heard after a knock on her door. "The Fire Lord requests your presence in the throne room. He's called for a war meeting."

A war meeting? Now?

Why would he—

No...

Did he find out about the invasion? Was that even possible?

Her mind began racing for answers, but ultimately couldn't come up with one.

At the very least, there should've been no real way for him to figure out their plans considering Kaze managed to intercept the Yuyan Archer carrying the Unnamed's message.

They've covered their tracks as best as they could. And she knew their best should be as good as it could get.

This had to be for something else. Although a war meeting at this point of the war was concerning. She knew the remaining Earth Kingdom towns and cities were bursting with rebellions, and that they were giving the Fire Nation Army way more trouble than they had expected.

Realistically speaking, their numbers would eventually fall to the sheer size of the Fire Nation troops, but she was hoping that they would hold on until the day of the eclipse…

And that her father wouldn't decide to take action prior to that.

Speaking of her father, he had been acting strange ever since he had hired the Unnamed. She knew he had been suspicious of them, and of everyone for that matter. But lately, he's been locking himself in his office, or the throne room without allowing anyone inside.

Which is why him calling a meeting had really caught her by surprise.

But she couldn't waste any more time thinking about it. If her father wanted her in that meeting, then she had to go quickly before she gave him any more reasons to doubt her.

So, she hurried her way towards the throne room.


He didn't have much time.

He had to get Mai out of the water before he was blasted by another explosion. But the boat was in pieces, and even if he managed to get to her, they had no real way of getting away.

He'll just have to figure something out.

So he put out his hands and drained as many trees as he could, crushing them just enough to reveal the massive figure he'd only heard rumors about.

Everything about him screamed danger, and his eyes were flaring up as he took a deep breath. It didn't take a genius to figure out what he was doing.

So in a split second before he could finish charging up another explosion, he bent the water from the trees into multiple ice shards and sent them flying at him.

It was messy, but he threw them fast enough to interrupt the impending explosion and forced the Unnamed to block with his metal claw and dodge.

It was short, but it was an opening.

So before anything else could happen, he turned around and put his focus on the ocean water.

It didn't take long to sense Mai's sinking body, which he promptly pulled back into the surface. Once there, he froze a platform of ice beneath her and sent it towards the direction of the Black Cliffs.

The invasion had to be on its way there already. So making sure his feet were firm on the ground, and Mai had no way of falling out, he pushed with all of his strength.

It was a gamble, but it was her best chance.

As for him, he once again heard the same crackle in the air that rose every hair in his body.

Almost without thinking, he managed to jump out of the way in time. But the blast flew right by him and was going directly at the ice raft he made.

It took all of his concentration to block the explosion with an ice wall, but he managed to do it.

He was running out of energy by now. All the exhaustion of the previous night was catching up to him, and he wasn't sure he'd be able to keep this up any longer.

But he had to hold him off just enough to let Mai get out of his stupidly long range.

So he steeled his nerves, and reached for the moisture in the air.

He hadn't done this ever since that day in the palace courtyard, which meant it could only end one of two ways.

Either it would be stronger than then, or he would fail spectacularly.

Only one way to find out.

When has he ever failed spectacularly before, anyway?

The Unnamed was now closer to the edge of the forest, where all the crushed trees were now a shadow of what they used to be.

He wasn't too sure, but he looked angrier than when he first saw him.

"Hey! You know it doesn't have to be this way, right?!" He decided to ask but was graced with no answer.

Not like he expected any.

The air usually humid hot air from the island was growing rapidly colder. And even if he didn't show it, he was sure it was affecting the Unnamed by the way his explosion was taking longer to charge.

His heart was racing by now. It might've been his nerves, but he usually never gets a chance to let out fully so it might've been excitement instead.

He had one shot, and he was going to make the most of it.

He cleared his mind and planted his feet firmly on the ground. Water then began circling him before gathering in his hands in a sphere. It was small, and it was shaking violently.

The air was freezing now.

Looking at the Unnamed, his frustration was now clear on his face. But he looked poised enough for one final shot.

And something was telling him it would be one hell of a final shot.

So he had to meet him with equal force.

He had managed to freeze an entire courtyard by doing this, and now he wasn't sure if this might end up destroying a large portion of this forest.

War isn't without its consequences, but he'll have to make sure to come back and fix it once the war is over.

It was now or never.

And so, the moment he heard the crackle in the air, he released his hold on the water and pushed it forward.

Everything happened in an instant. His lightning fast torrent of water clashed with the Unnamed's explosive beam.

And it exploded in a potent blast of blazing hot steam and energy.

He wasn't sure when it happened, but he was flying in the air now.

He was losing hold of his consciousness now, but he could feel the way his body crashed into the waves of the ocean.

He didn't have the strength to pull himself upward, and just kept sinking.

But for some reason, something in his head was telling him to let go fully. That the ocean was his ally no matter what.

And considering everything that's been going on, he decided to listen to the voice.

And leave his body to the mercy of the water.

"Our army is spread to thin. If we were to send more domestic forces into the Earth Kingdom, then these rebellions would be put to a stop almost instantly."

Her father remained silent, considering the general's words.

"Princess Azula." He called out to her. "You've had your share of travels around the Earth Kingdom… Would you agree with the general's assessment of the situation?"

Yes, she did.

But something was irking her from the moment she entered the throne room.

Her father, who she has had increasingly lower contact ever since her return from Ember Island suddenly wanting her input on something as important as this was suspicious to say the least.

If he was truly onto their plan, then maybe agreeing so quickly to leave the capital even more unguarded than normal wasn't the best course of action.

But thinning the amount of soldiers in the Caldera might be worth the gamble. The invasion was only a couple of days away. If she could convince him to deploy those troops as soon as possible, then their chances of victory will grow considerably.

"Yes, they've managed to survive this long through sheer willpower and hope. Perhaps an appropriate show of force is what needed to properly end this war. We can't afford to let their hope of victory to grow more than it already has."

Her voice was sharp and menacing. She hoped it was enough to convince her dad.

"Hm… You're right. Destroying that hope is exactly what we need to do… But perhaps there's a better way to achieve that than increasing our army's size on the battlefield…"

A better way? What could that—

"Sozin's comet is almost upon us. And with it, our strength will be endowed with the power of a hundred suns. No bender will be able to stand against us!"

Her eyes widened, but she quickly composed herself. She couldn't let up her act now of all times.

"What are you suggesting?" One of the generals asked.

"A hundred years ago, my grandfather, Fire Lord Sozin, used the power of the comet to wipe out the airbenders. And now, I will use it to wipe out the Earth Kingdom out of this world. Permanently!"

It was taking all of her willpower to not jump and speak out. As long as they invasion succeeded, they didn't need to worry about the comet.

They didn't, and yet, her mind was racing with the implication of her father's words.

He was ruthless and greedy, but he wasn't naïve. He was also one of the smartest people she knew.

Wiping out the Air Temples was possible due to their small size, but the Earth Kingdom was a different story.

It was massive, and had way more people and cities than anywhere else. To wipe them out in a single day would require a method to traverse it quickly and efficiently.

And she knew her father wouldn't just propose things without having a plan on his head.

She had to find out.

"Father!" She spoke out, causing everyone in the room to turn to look at her. Everyone except the one person she called out. "How would we be able to achieve something like that when the Earth Kingdom more than triples the size of the Fire Nation?

He chuckled. And then it turned into a maniacal laugh she hadn't ever heard coming from him.

"There's nothing to worry about, Azula. Your father has been working on the perfect method to achieve this. And it's nothing short of spectacular. On fitting to the future supreme ruler of this world!" He exclaimed grandly, prompting the entire room to burst in clapping.

She stood speechless. Her father had planned something without her knowledge, and judging from his reaction, she knew it couldn't be good.

Her fists tightened on her sides. Whatever it was, she knew finding out before the invasion would be impossible. Not with how paranoid her father had become.

And without any of her friends there, her movements were limited if she didn't want to arouse more suspicion.

In other words, they were in trouble.

"What do we do about the rebellions until then, my Lord?" A voice spoke out from the war table.

"Nothing." Her father spoke firmly. "Let them enjoy their last few weeks of life before their inevitable destruction. As for the troops, recall every firebender back to the Capital. They shall serve a vital part in my grand plan."

She then turned to look at her. She knew the type of person he was… so why was she caught so much by surprise.

"Kaze still isn't back from his little excursion in dealing with that water tribe rat who destroyed one of our prisons… quite concerning, isn't it?"

She schooled her features before answering. "Yes… although I don't believe there's a reason to be concerned. Kaze would never let himself be bested by anyone, so I'm sure he'll be back soon."

She tried to sound convincing, but she wasn't sure if it was to convince herself more than anything.

Everything that's happened so far has all been more or less planned for, so she wasn't sure how to feel now that she was left completely in the dark.

"I see… Well, regardless, perhaps it's time to reward him for his efforts towards his nation."

Reward him? Now of all times?

"What do you mean, Father?"

"I've gone ahead and sent some soldiers to retrieve his family from Harbor City."

This time, she wasn't even able to contain her shock.

"His concern for them has been nothing but apparent through all these years, so I believe letting them rot in an filthy orphanage isn't becoming of a ruler, considering all of his achievements. They are to be accommodated withing the palace until a proper home is built for them in the Caldera."

He then smiled a chilling smile. "Make sure to give him the good news once he arrives at the palace."

And with that, she was left alone in the throne room.

There wasn't any doubt now.

She didn't know how, but he knew.

He knew that something was coming, and that they were involved in it.

And now that she was all alone, she was the only one who could do anything about it.