Chapter 2: Decent
Zuko sprinted.
He sprinted like never before. Buildings ablaze crumbled beside him, and the sound of people's agonizing screams filled the air as he raced towards the palace.
The path was strewn with charred bodies, and it demanded all his willpower not to pause and assess the grim scene. Yet, he couldn't afford to halt. His mother, uncle, and child were inside the palace, amidst a raging war zone. A mere moment's delay could mean losing them all.
How had this transpired? When had the insurgency amassed enough strength to challenge his military, let alone launch an assault on the capital? Had he truly been oblivious to the unfolding events in his nation, oblivious to the rebellion's growing power?
Such thoughts were irrelevant.
The sole objective was reaching the palace and safeguarding his family.
Approaching the courtyard's end, he encountered the lifeless forms of both his soldiers and the rebels. What chilled him to the core was not the quantity of bodies, but the youthful faces of those fallen soldiers.
Children. They were mere children, some scarcely older than he had been when he assumed the throne. Had he faltered so greatly as a leader that the succeeding generation of his nation had opted to overthrow him and reinstate his tyrannical father?
As he entered the palace, he swiftly made his way towards his daughter's chambers. The main hall was filled with the bodies of soldiers and fire sages.
Approaching the door, he spotted an enemy squadron rushing towards him. Assuming an offensive stance and bracing himself for the impending fight, he witnessed something so terrifying that it sent shivers down his spine.
He saw a soldier standing a few feet away, but it wasn't the soldier that frightened him; it was what he held in his hands.
A small figure, Izumi's figure.
At that moment, Zuko no longer cared. They had attacked his people, invaded his home, and were attempting to abduct his daughter. If any of these men were to survive what was coming their way, they would be remembered as legends, having endured the wrath of the Fire Lord. Their Fire Lord.
It all unfolded in the same manner.
One moment he was dashing through the garden, with his sister in pursuit, and the next moment his mother informed them that Lu Ten had perished in battle.
While his mother struggled to hold back her tears and Azula attempted to maintain her composure, albeit visibly surprised, he remained composed. No sorrow, no rage, nothing stirred within him for his fallen cousin. The only thought occupying his mind was how closely it mirrored the dream he had. It was eerie, every detail fell into place, akin to witnessing the love among the dragons, a play he had witnessed countless times that evoked no new emotions.
Following the initial revelation, his mother disclosed that Iroh had abandoned the siege and would not return anytime soon.
Zuko understood that this presented his father with the perfect opportunity to seize the throne. The only certainty for Zuko was the unfolding of events, leaving him with a single question lingering in his mind: how could he enact change?
With that thought in mind, he returned to his room. On his way back, he came across fire sages conversing among themselves. Although he couldn't catch the entire conversation, he managed to piece together the gist from the fragments he overheard. They were discussing his uncle. Some proposed that he should consider remarrying, while others believed it would be wise for him to relinquish the throne to Ozai.
Aware of the inevitable outcome if he remained passive and allowed events to unfold, he was uncertain about the repercussions of taking action. However, truth be told, he felt powerless to intervene.
Upon entering his room, he noticed the knife sent by his uncle. He picked it up and twirled it in his hand, halting at the side bearing an inscription. "Never give up without a fight," Zuko read aloud.
He had encountered this knife numerous times in his dreams and, thanks to his training with Mai, had become adept at using it, almost as proficient as she had. It appeared that his past experience still lingered in his mind as he effortlessly spun it in his hand.
"If only uncle was here right now," Zuko thought. In his dreams, he envisioned forming a close bond with his uncle. Despite not seeing him for months, his dreams compensated for the absence. Iroh was always a guiding presence, offering wisdom and support during his darkest moments. Zuko pondered, "What would uncle do?" He sought a way to make a meaningful impact in the weeks ahead. If his dreams hinted at a possible future, as today's events suggested, he needed to leverage them to his advantage. As Zuko concentrated on unraveling the unfolding events, he failed to notice a small figure sneaking into his room and quietly settling on a chair behind him.
"At first, I didn't understand your fascination with knives and swords, but considering how your firebending isn't progressing at all, it makes more sense for you to seek another means of self-defense," he turned around and faced his sister, who had taken over his chair and was watching him intently.
Initially, he wanted to reply and defend his honor, but he soon realized it was pointless since Azula would counter him swiftly.
Remaining silent, his sister got up and approached him. "Nothing to say, Zuzu? Are you not going to stand up for your firebending abilities, or are you simply conceding that I was right?" She began to circle him as she spoke.
Zuko pondered. Based on his nightmares, he understood that his relationship with Azula would not improve, leading them to opposing sides, resulting in her descent into madness and his rise to the throne.
If this truly was a second chance at everything, then he needed to seize it and initiate some changes. His first priority was to mend his relationship with Azula.
As she stopped in front of him, he glanced up and uttered, "I think you should have this," extending his hand to hand her the knife.
"What?" she inquired, with evident shock displayed on her face. Zuko grinned; it was uncommon for anyone to witness anything other than a smile on her face, and he felt a sense of pride in being the one to evoke a different emotion from her.
"You said you wanted it, so I'm giving it to you," he stated while handing her the knife.
"Why?" The shock was still evident on her face as she accepted it and glanced at the inscription.
"Let it serve as a peace offering between us," he explained, taking a step back. "I'm weary of constantly battling you, Azula. Why can't we have a relationship like other siblings?" he inquired, fixing his gaze on his sister.
"So, you're offering me a knife as a gesture of peace?" she questioned. "Or are you simply tired of me outshining you all the time?" The smug expression returned to her face as she moved closer to him. "Has poor Zuzu finally had enough of his younger sister always surpassing him?"
Zuko didn't fall for the trap she was setting and calmly responded. "We used to be close friends not long ago, what caused the rift between us?" He inquired, looking at his sister. "It's true, your firebending surpasses mine, but that doesn't alter the fact that you're my younger sister. Is it unreasonable to desire a normal relationship with my sibling?"
Azula gazed at him in disbelief. "Aren't you jealous of my power? The power that could have been yours if you were born lucky."
Zuko sighed. "While I desire your power, the reality is that I don't possess it, but that shouldn't hinder our friendship." He proposed, "So, what do you say? Truce?"
Azula looked at him with a blend of surprise and curiosity in her eyes. "I'll consider it," she replied as she headed towards the exit.
Just before reaching it, she abruptly stopped and turned back. "Thank you, Zuzu," she uttered before departing, leaving him alone. Perhaps he could bring about change, making gradual adjustments, although it would take time for the impact to be felt. Nonetheless, he felt content at the thought of no longer having to engage in constant battles with Azula.
As he extended his hand, a rainbow flame shot out of it. Once believed to be exclusive to dragons, but through guidance from the masters Zuko managed to master the technique.
The initial burst of flames engulfed the two nearest soldiers, leaving them no time to react, mesmerized by the beauty of the approaching flames.
Two charred bodies collapsed as more soldiers rushed towards him, but Zuko felt no fear. He was vastly superior in strength to these men. At this stage of his life, he was recognized as a master firebender, having long surpassed his sister, who had been confined in an asylum for years without the chance to practice firebending.
With each fallen body, the rebels grew more desperate to defeat him, but their efforts were futile. His power far exceeded theirs, leaving them only to hope for a swift end.
After dealing with the final soldier, letting his body join the others, Zuko noticed the last one fleeing with his daughter in tow.
"How dare you?" Zuko seethed inwardly. "You dare attempt to abduct my child yet evade facing me. I will demonstrate the consequences of crossing me."
Chasing after the man, he swiftly retrieved a knife from one of the fallen soldiers. His time spent with Mai had significantly honed his knife-throwing skills, allowing him to effortlessly hurl the knife and strike the man's leg.
As the man fell to the ground, he released Izumi from his grasp, allowing her to hit the ground and roll a few feet away.
The man tried to recover quickly but was not fast enough as Zuko stepped forward to retrieve his daughter. All he could do was meet the Fire Lord's gaze, filled with nothing but anger.
While Zuko lifted Izumi, he shifted his attention to the man before him, who lay on the floor, trying to remove the knife lodged in his leg. Looking into his eyes, Zuko sensed fear. The man, only in his early twenties, a few years younger than Zuko, had been foolish enough to intrude into his home and abduct his daughter. Such recklessness needed to be punished.
"Go ahead. Finish him," a voice echoed in the depths of his mind, and for the first time, Zuko obeyed the command, extending his left hand. Ignoring the screams that echoed through the room as rainbow flames erupted and consumed the man, Zuko's sole focus was on Izumi, now safe in his arms.
That night was one of the worst he had ever experienced. It felt like Lu Ten's death had set him on a path similar to his recurring dreams, but offering a truce to Azula had veered him off course.
During that night, he witnessed all the painful events that awaited him, from his own scarring to his wife's demise. Surprisingly, the dream concluded differently. For the first time, Azula appeared in his dream not as an adversary or a prisoner, but as a companion standing by his side, aiding him in governing his nation.