Author Note: Here we go! We start Book 3. With this arc I am going to try and fix the issues that I have discovered in the other pages I've written. And I hope you all enjoy, I am going to finish this story. We are on book 3 and we are almost done! Follow, favorite, and review! Engagement with the story is pretty cool and I'd be glad to see it. Have a great day!

Chapter 67

It was raining the day the Avatar died.

Appa groaned and moaned, the harsh winds cutting into him as he soared through the bespeckled city of Ba Sing Sai. Yet, despite the chaos below, the Fire Nation seemed reluctant to pursue them further, perhaps deterred by the tumultuous streets below.

Earthbenders clashed with invaders in the streets, their struggles painting a vivid picture of resistance against the encroaching flames. The walls of Ba Sing Sai still stood, but rumors swirled like the tempest overhead. They whispered of Fire Princess Azula, her purple lightning casting a sinister glow upon the city, her hands stained with the Avatar's blood.

"Easy, Appa," cooed Katara, her voice a soothing melody amidst the storm.

"We need to find grounding," spoke Ben.

"Where?" Katara's voice was edged with desperation as she gestured to the flickering lights of the city. "Look around, Ben. They all know what Appa looks like. The moment we settle down..."

"It's a miracle we've got this storm as cover," muttered Ben, his eyes scanning the ensemble behind them.

Zuko scowled, his arms wrapped tightly around his knees, while Ty Lee sought refuge beneath her hood, avoiding the relentless rain. Aang, stabilized thanks to Katara's healing, still lay in a coma, his restless movements a testament to the turmoil within.

"Aang needs a proper doctor," Ben insisted.

Katara shot him a look, her expression a mixture of frustration and exhaustion. "I know, Benjamin. But where?"

Ben's grip tightened on the reins, his frustration boiling over. "Damn it all, let's touch down and..."

"Are you insane?" Katara snapped.

"What more can we do?" Ben's voice rose with urgency. "We're all injured, and Appa isn't sturdy enough to get us through this storm and out of Ba Sing Sai. We need a plan, Katara..."

His words lingered in the air, his hazel eyes fixated on the city below, a maze of uncertainty and danger.

"We'll trust in the force," Ben said, his voice carrying a weight of determination.

Katara glanced at him, her eyes widening briefly. "W-what do you mean by that?"

Ben gripped the reins tightly, his gaze focused and intense. "We don't know what's right or wrong, there's no clear path out of this. But there's always a way."

"A way?" Katara questioned, her voice laced with uncertainty. "I don't get it, Benjamin, what do you…"

But then she understood, a horrifying clarity dawning in her eyes.

"Everybody hold on!" Ben's voice pierced through the storm, a command tinged with urgency.

"B-Ben, what are you…"

"Hold on, Katara!" Ben's cry was urgent as he pulled down on Appa's reins. The mighty bison roared, hurtling downward in a streaking angled line. Their screams were lost amidst the howling winds, but as they descended, something caught Ben's eye.

"Over there!" He shouted to Appa, guiding the creature towards their target.

Katara opened her eyes, finding themselves descending towards a medium-sized property within the city. A house and a large storage area lay before them, promising shelter from the tempestuous night.

"Come on, buddy, in there," Ben coaxed Appa, his voice firm yet reassuring.

As they landed in the mud, the group struggled to catch their breath. Zuko, still reeling, voiced his discontent. "Next time you risk all our lives with such a sudden descent, a better warning would be appreciated."

"Noted, prince," Ben replied, a hint of sarcasm in his tone. "Would you like tea and chocolates on this ride, maybe even a…"

Ty Lee shot him an annoyed look, prompting Ben to relent with a sigh. "Fine, whatever," he muttered, turning his attention to the task at hand. "Ty Lee, Katara, Zuko... see if you can get the doors of that barn open."

His gaze drifted towards the fallen, his heart heavy with sorrow. Sokka was the only one who had perished. Aang still breathed, albeit weakly, but there was hope if Katara could find medicine.

Ben leaped off Appa, landing in the mud. The tattered remains of his once ornate black Jedi robes clung to him, soaked and torn. Rain trickled through the openings, chilling him to the bone. With a shiver, he realized they needed shelter, and they needed it now.

"I've got it open," Zuko's voice cut through the rain, breaking the tense silence.

"Good," Ben replied, taking hold of Appa's reins. The darkness within the storage container seemed to swallow them whole as they entered, the rain outside tapering off like a waterfall.

Team Avatar navigated through the darkness. "I can't see anything around here," Katara remarked bluntly.

Her words prompted Ty Lee to ignite her lightsaber, casting a violet glow that illuminated their surroundings. "Thanks," Katara acknowledged as she moved through the room.

Ben's eyes scanned what little he could see in the light of Ty Lee's blade. Tools cluttered one corner, including a plow and a self-propelled lawn mower, alongside what seemed to be failed designs of...

His eyes widened as Katara's voice broke the silence. "Found it!" she exclaimed joyfully. With a flick of a button, warm light flooded the area from the main burner of the furnace.

"Good job, Katara," Ben praised, making his way back to Appa. It was time. With a sigh, he climbed on top of the bison, deliberately avoiding looking at Sokka. Instead, he approached Aang and cradled him in his arms.

Aang felt small, shivering with pain. Ben worried that any sound might disturb their fragile respite. Yet, Aang remained silent.

Ben descended from Appa's tail, the others watching as he laid Aang at the base of the furnace. "Can I get some more blankets?" he asked.

Ty Lee nodded, retrieving blankets from the pack. Meanwhile, Katara knelt beside Aang, carefully arranging the blankets.

"He's got a fever," Ben observed. "He's freezing, should we really be…"

"Ben, no offense," Katara interrupted, her tone firm. "I am the healer of the group. You may be the Jedi, but this is my job."

For a moment, Ben was speechless. Then, he nodded, acknowledging the truth. Katara had healed him countless times before. In this desperate moment, she was the one they must trust to save Aang.

Katara drew in a deep breath, her eyes fixed on Aang whose labored breathing echoed in the room, each breath a struggle. Along the center of his chest lay a soiled bandage, marking the spot where his sternum should be.

With a determined resolve, Katara began to peel away the bandage, revealing burnt skin that still smoldered, a small hole oozing blood at the side. She tended to it swiftly, her hands moving with practiced care, though Ben couldn't shake the feeling that it was where the lightning had struck first, coursing through Aang's body like a malevolent force.

It was a mess, a damn mess, Ben thought bitterly. Jet murdered, Sokka executed, and now an attempt on Aang's life? Three of their members lost in the blink of an eye. Their mission to warn Ba Sing Sai now seemed futile, a futile endeavor in the face of such tragedy.

But Ben steeled himself, pushing aside the despair threatening to consume him. Rising to his feet, he headed toward the door. "Where are you going?" Katara's voice cut through the tense air.

Ben shrugged, his gaze determined. "I'm going to check the main house, see if we can get some help."

Katara's eyes widened in alarm. "You want to reveal our presence?"

"We're living in their backyard, Katara," Ben retorted, his voice firm. "We need supplies for Aang, and I'm choosing to trust in the Force."

Katara's gaze flickered toward the burning furnace, her eyes ablaze with their own intensity. Ben rose, his resolve unyielding. "I am the leader," he asserted.

"Sokka was," Katara shot back, her voice tinged with anger.

Ben's glare softened, replaced by a somber understanding. He knelt beside her, a hand reaching out to comfort her. "Sokka was a friend, an important part of our group. But we can't lose hope, especially now," he said softly. "Aang's life hangs in the balance, and we need to do everything we can to save him."

Katara met his gaze, a mixture of sadness and defiance in her eyes. Then, as tears welled up, she collapsed into his embrace.

Once she had composed herself, Ben turned to the others. "I'm going to talk to the owners. There are things we need to do."

"Like what?" Zuko asked, his voice laced with uncertainty.

"Good," Ben replied, a note of determination in his tone. "You're listening. We need three things. First, we have to find Toph. I've got a bad feeling about where she's gone."

"The letter said that her family wanted to meet her and…" Katara rattled on.

However, Ben shook his head. "The guru…and I went back to the divide."

"The divide?" Ty Lee and Zuko both exclaimed in question.

But Katara knew. "It was a horrible crevice in a desert. We had to pass it one time and these strange animals descended upon us," she nodded towards Ben. "They were creatures of the Sith he told us."

"The presence of Exar Kun was there," Ben proclaimed.

"…and what did you do?" Katara asked, her eyes narrowed. Ben knew that he had lost trust, but he had fought to reclaim it.

"I banished his spirit…and cast his fortress into the void." And they all looked at him in shocked astonishment.

"I am done being a pawn of the Sith," he proclaimed. "I fight for the light, for the force…to one day bring an era of peace. No matter what. This war shall end."

Yet, they heard Aang grimace in pain. Katara descended upon him as Ben quickly went outside. He ran up the steps and it was a patio. Ty Lee followed behind him.

"Ty Lee," he whispered.

"Hold on," she sighed, and they made their way past the patio glass doors. They could hear the rumble of Fire Nation tanks in the distance as they hid in the backyard. Ty Lee closed her eyes.

"Ben, I am going into the force…I don't feel anyone or anything inside."

Ben looked at her. He smiled. "Good job, you're a quick study," he proudly proclaimed.

She nodded triumphantly.

"Listen, I don't support breaking and entering," Ben continued. "But Aang is badly hurt, our clothes are in tatters, and we're all seriously injured or hungry. We need a place to regroup and replan this war. A place for Aang to heal, and for us to plan our next move."

"What is our next move?" questioned Ty Lee.

Ben shook his head. "Maybe, we just aim straight for the Fire Nation."

Ty Lee shot him a look. "You want to head straight?" she regarded. "Before, we were able to get in and hide because we were small and they weren't expecting us. You had me who had been all over the countryside and royal city. I've seen that building for years before the Sith announced what it truly was. But now they're going to be expecting you in full."

Ty Lee kneeled. "So, are we going to do this?"

Ben sighed. "Do it."

Ty Lee took her lightsaber and ignited it. She wielded the purple beam and slashed downwards on the handle. The door was splintered ajar and she clicked off her blade.

"Nice," commented Ben as he ruffled her head and she smiled at the action.

It was a small house. A living room, a kitchen, a main bedroom, and a bathroom. They stayed the night there that night. They placed Aang in the bedroom and they found herbs and other medicines, mixed with Katara's healing, it made a powerful concoction. Maybe, Aang could pull through.

Yet, on the other side of town along the docks.

Azula was inside of her crowned ship. Around the docks of Ba Sing Sai now were Fire Nation warships that littered their ocean, and that was not the only place they littered. The Fire Nation soldiers had their way with their great city.

Beating up protestors, stealing from the populace, and even abusing them when they tried to fight back.

Azula awoke in a cold sweat. Her red robes clinging to her form as she arose from her bed. She flung her legs over the bed and her disheveled hair, she tried to raise her arm to…

But she was missing that arm. She was not flawless anymore, she was not beautiful anymore, what was she. She arose from her bed as she gazed with orange eyes at the mirror in front of her.

Imperfect. She had killed the Avatar. But the Avatar had left her imperfect…

She glared at the mirror. And a bright orange flame pulsated within her hand. She screamed, and her voice was filled with more mania than insanity as the bright blue flame shattered and destroyed the mirror in front of her.

She dressed. She ate, struggled so, but ate. Then, she descended down into the lower depths of her ship. Where there was only darkness.

"Princess Azula!" They spoke to her.

A contingent of Fire Nation soldiers were in front of an armored gate. Bars on all sides in a small cage, but they still held her uncle up by the wrist.

Two dark Jedi stood on either side. They looked tired and weary, their backs hunched and their features hidden underneath Fire Nation-esque helmets, yet even in their discomfort, they shuffled uncomfortably within them.

"Leave us," spoke Azula firmly.

The Fire Nation guards did as they were told. The dark Jedi remained in the room.

Azula stared at them. "What are you doing?" she spat. "I order you to leave."

The taller one pulled the helmet off his features, revealing brown hair unfurling and blue eyes greeting her. "I ain't under your command, princess," bluntly stated Thomas, and the other dark Jedi's back swiftly strengthened.

Azula eyed how the other one went for his lightsaber, however, this one didn't have one.

"Who is your command?" Annoyingly spat back Azula. "I am the daughter of Fire Lord Ozai. You Sith serve the royal family, not the—"

"Leave them, Thomas," and a voice arose from behind them.

It was Sith Lady Jax and Zhao.

The dark Jedi bowed, and they each left the room. Zhao passed Azula and gazed into the cell where a bruised and beaten Iroh lay in chains. "So, this is the great dragon, now reduced to just a weak old man…"

Jax clicked her lips, but Azula was astonished. "What happened to him?"

Jax was smiling. "What do you mean…this is Admiral Zhao, isn't he not?"

Azula was staring at him. Zhao's features were still in a smile as he stared down upon Iroh. "What is wrong with him," and she turned to the slender woman of the Sith. "He feels different."

"Feels, that's an interesting connotation for what that thing can exude…"

"Thing?" repeated Azula.

The Sith Lady smiled underneath her cowl. "I'll tell you a little secret, princess. But it must stay between us. When Aang went into the Avatar state in the North Pole, he dragged Zhao into the ocean with him. He dragged him with such length and speed that some of the man's limbs were ripped off, and the pressure of the water as well…" The Sith Lady paused and smiled. "It was so fast that even Zhao felt it, every excruciating detail for a moment."

As the lady finished speaking, Azula turned to see Zhao still smiling and glaring at Iroh. "Then what is he then?" she regarded shakily.

"A product of the dark side," Sith Lady Jax remarked. "A weapon, an improvement, something that will be loyal and ready to kill. Strangely, the thing has inherited its gene donor's personality. The pride fuels it. It's loyal to me and wishes for the blood of Jedi…but it's also loyal to the royal family."

Azula smiled at that. "Good then," she regarded. "A hound is still a hound, but a loyal hound does have its uses."

The Sith Lady smiled. "Yes, and we can definitely help you with the biological parts as well…" The lady nodded to Azula's stump. "We can make you whole. It won't be pretty, but you'll have a new arm…and you can even bend again if you don't put too much strain early on."

Azula nearly lost her footing at that. She had stayed up for nights, contemplating the fact that she would never be perfect. Sure, it would look horrible, but it was her arm she could cover it up. She just needed an arm to bend. To bend was to be whole. And with bending, no one could ever hurt her like before.

Her mind drawn towards her mother, Zuko, Ty Lee, and Mai…where was Mai now? Now, all that remained was sadness and rage towards the Avatar that she was gladdened to have killed.

Yet, the Jedi still lived…him and the traitor and the rest of their ilk. Azula would root them from this Earth and burn them where they stand.

"Thank you, we'll speak more about it…after I am finished speaking with my uncle."

The Sith Lady nodded. She whistled and Zhao turned around and didn't offer any engagement; however, for a brief moment, Azula wondered if she saw something writhe underneath Zhao's battle plate.

She paused in front of where Zhao once stood. She glared from above as she took in the ruined sight of her uncle.

"What did you write, uncle?" she questioned harshly.

However, her uncle only rewarded her with shaking breath.

"You had me in your care for days. You took care of me and healed my wounds. They told me everything after I called them and they arrived to arrest you. You think that saving me was going to save you from punishment…after your aiding of the Avatar and the Jedi, after what you did for Zuko!" she shouted.

However, she could hear the rattling of her uncle's breath.

"I-I…Azula, I…didn't…I would've done…the same for you," he belched out.

Azula glared at him. "Don't lie to me!" she shouted, her voice booming within the metal room. "You've always preferred Zuko more than me. Just like Mom. You've always been by his side and—"

"A-Azula…there is still…a chance," his words grew more clarified as he turned and gazed upon her. "You can turn away from this path. Maybe, the Avatar would've spared you…but this Jedi is different than the others. He hates this war, and within his righteous hatred, he is going to put an end to it."

Azula was glaring at him. "Whom…Ben, the one who the Sith says wields the dark side more than a Jedi should?" She clicked her lips and smiled. "The Sith Lord here has reforged Zhao into something more. She has promised me a new arm…who knows, maybe I'll even pick up a lesson or two from her."

Iroh's eyes widened, and he glared up at her. "Whatever sort of thing they are offering you is false, Azula. It's a sickening power that will consume you…turn away from the light…I saved you to show you that there is another way. Please." And he begged, but Azula was already walking out of the room.

And he knew deep down what was coming. For better or worse, this world was tired, and the war was going to come to an end. Whether by the comet or by Ben's lightsaber cleaving off the head of Ozai himself. This Hundred-Year War was going to end very soon.

Luckily, they didn't know of his failsafe. Maybe they suspected. They didn't realize the power of the ink that was on his table. And all this time that had passed. Maybe, Ben and his nephew would act on it.

For a moment, Iroh hesitated and thought of Aang. But right now, he needed to be real. The Avatar was struck hard by Azula, and the crowds of Ba Sing Sai…and possibly this world spoke these words.

"The Avatar is Dead."

The fate of this world lay upon Benjamin Wilum, informal Jedi Watchman, but Grandmaster of the Jedi Order. He had killed Sith Lords, fought against great benders, and within his hands, brought down warships and behemoths. The fate of this world was on his back now.

"What a poor…poor boy, you are," spoke Iroh, as a horrific pang of sadness tore through his heart. They were so young, but maybe within their noble young hearts, they carried the fires of hope the brightest. Maybe it was them that could win this war.

Yet, Iroh did his part to both his nephew and niece. He smiled, Zuko had finally made the right choice…but he was still stricken with a horrible pain as he realized, as he watched his niece's back turn away from him. One was saved, but he would go to his grave thinking of his son's death…and his niece's damned soul.

And he closed his eyes as the night took him.

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