"Firelord Ozai, you and your forefathers have devastated the balance of this world, and now you shall pay the ultimate price!"
Avatar Aang was looming viciously over Firelord Ozai, his eyes and tattoos glowing as he was floating, the four elements surrounding him. This is it. Everything that he's been working toward for the last nine months has come down to this very moment. Firelord Ozai, evil madman, the third-generation leader of the most devastating war the world has ever seen, is lying helplessly in front of him. The victorious Avatar swung his arms and channeled a concentrated stream of water, earth, fire and air around himself and straight toward Ozai's heart.
...
...
...
No.
He can't do it. Aang won't deliver the final blow.. He can't. This is not right. All life is sacred. That's what his mentor and father-figure said to him. There was no way he was going to betray his teachings.
Ozai struggled within his bonds and snapped his eyes shut, as Aang wound up all four elements to pierce through his heart. He anticipated an agonizing end, with his entrails having been drilled through with the elements. Just as he was expecting the strike, all he felt was a splash of water?
He looked up as the Avatar descended, coming out of the Avatar State and landing on Ozai's pillar. He undid his bonds with his back towards the Fire Lord.
"No... I'm not gonna end it like this." The airbender was ashamed of how close he came to taking the life of a human being as his once-deadly strike hit Ozai as nothing more than a splash of warm water and pebbles. There may not be any good inside the Firelord, but Aang couldn't bear the idea of this century-long war claiming another victim, certainly not by his own hand.
"Even with all the power in the world, you are still weak, just like the rest of your people. They didn't deserve to exist in this world. The Fire Nation did the world a favor by killing them" Ozai snarled.
Aang momentarily froze, anger welled up in his chest at hearing those words, gritting his teeth he turned around
"No, Firelord Ozai. You are weak." He pointed at the Firelord. "Your people destroyed a whole nation. Innocent men, woman, children. Defenseless people. A nation without an established military and you dare call my people weak?!"
The Firelord looked unphased and simply smirked at the Avatar
"Yes, they were weak and useless, a waste of space, it won't take long for everyone to forget the existense of your pitiful nation."
Aang at this point was quivering with anger, he has never felt angrier. How fucking dare he! He thought about all the people that lived in the Southern air temple, his father-figure Gyatso, his friends, Yonten, Jinju, Sango, Jinpa. All dead. Because of those monsters! His friends must've been so scared and confused when the attack happened.
Eyes and tattoos flickering, he couldn't control his anger anymore as more images of his deceased nation appeared in his head, images and sounds of men, women, children screaming and begging for help as the Fire nation mercilessly slaughtered them. There is only so much Aang could take before he snapped. Roaring in fury Aang clenched his right fist, cutting Ozai's airway. He watched in sick satisfaction as the Firelord's eyes widened in fear and he struggled to breathe.
He knelt in front of The Firelord, holding his tightly clenched fist in front of the Firelord's face as if to mock him.
"Ironic that the element that killed you is air, isn't it Firelord?" The Airbender spat out, voice filled with venom and eyes cold.
The Firelord kept clawing at his throat in a feeble attempt to breathe and his eyes widened in horror, as he slowly started running out of air.
Aang watched face blank as Ozai's eyes slipped shut. The Firelord slowly stopped his violent struggling, and fell face first to the ground unmoving.
Aang blinked a few times before he stood up suddenly, The terrifying realization hit him full force. I just killed him! He's dead!
No, no, no, no, NO! He thought, panicking.
Eyes wide in terror Aang took two steps back from the unmoving body, before he fell on his back in shock. Tears streamed down his face as he gripped his head. He couldn't believe that he just took a human life, just like that.
What have I done?!
I'm sorry Gyatso.
oOo
The sky was darkening when an airship landed next to the pillar, Aang had no energy to panic, he felt numb. He wiped the remaining tears away and stood up, Fortunately it was his friends who stepped out of the ship, Suki and Toph were supporting Sokka, whose leg was wrapped up in bandages. They all had huge grins plastered on their faces, but as soon as Toph's feet made contact with the earth, her grin disappeared and she froze.
Sokka however didn't notice and was excitedly hopping around on one foot
"You should have seen yourself" He was flailing his arms around "It was amazing-"
Aang didn't hear the rest of his words, his ears were ringing, his legs were numb and it took all of his strength to keep standing.
Suki narrowed his eyes and hesitantly stepped towards the unmoving Firelord on the ground.
Aang's breath hitched in his throat as Suki neared the body.
"So... did you.. you know..?"
She hesitated before finishing,
"Finish the job?"
Aang's heart leapt into his throat, he desperately wanted Ozai to sit up and tell her he's alive. He glanced at Toph, who was looking down with an unreadable expression on her face. He knew that she knew. Aang's stomach clenched, he exhaled slowly and attempted to catch his breath, as Suki looked down at the unmoving body. They were all waiting for him to say something.
Aang lowered his head and clenched his fists.
"I did it. He's dead" He choked out, throat tightening
Sokka's eyes widened, he looked at Toph, she didn't look suprised, as if she already had known. Glancing at Suki he saw that she wore a similar expression of shock on her face.
Aang looked up to see Suki looking at him with concern, Sokka and Toph looked serious. Sokka put his hand on the airbenders shoulder.
"You okay buddy?"
No I'm not. I hate myself for being weak and killing Ozai. I hate myself for betraying my people. I'm no better than Ozai. He thought bitterly
"Yes. I'm fine" He lied and looked away
They didn't look convinced, Sokka looked like he wanted to say something. Toph opened her mouth as if to speak, but suprisingly, held her tongue.
Before anyone could say anything Aang's right hand was clutching his face and he was swaying on his feet Toph's eyes widened and quickly stepped towards Aang and grabbed his left arm just as the airbender's legs gave out beneath him and his eyes rolled into the back of his head.
"Aang!" Sokka exclaimed in shock, he quickly helped Toph and grabbed Aang's right arm to keep him up.
"He passed out, didn't he?" The blind bandit inquired for verification.
Sokka nodded, frowning
"Toph can you earthbend him to the ship?" Suki asked, biting her lip
"I got it" She said and started earthbending the Avatar towards the ship.
"Do you think he'll be okay when he wakes up?" Suki asked worried
"I...don't know" was the only response Sokka could give, as they followed Toph to the airship.