Ozai heard the noise of the airship impact on the ground, and the engines whir to a standstill. There was no opening from where he was seated to see where they were. Yet he bore a sinister smile as he remembered what the Avatar had divulged in their conversation, about landing at the Fire Nation capital.

He had warned him, but perhaps the Avatar had forgotten how the battle, and the inconceivable ability he'd exhibited, left him in little shape for a second onslaught. Trying to fend off soldiers, sages, and Azula.

But he could now hear the sound of doors being slid open rapidly, and the faint sound of footsteps coming from the ramp. He anticipated the first sounds of the fire-bending as he stood up. It was best not to be hasty, it may take some time before the Fire Nation forces broke through.

Except he didn't hear anything, except for something that sounded like…rejoicing, and it sounded emotional.

Azula wasn't one to do anything like that. The Avatar taken out, she'd have been up the ramp rather than waste time, now instead of later, talking up the Fire Nation. If the rejoicing was instead from.

And it was then Ozai stopped, as the terrible truth dawned. Footsteps were heard on the ramp and they were faster than he'd expect from his daughter, or his soldiers.

The footsteps changed sound as they entered the airship, and Ozai saw the hatch in front of him move to the side.

"Fire Lord"

A Fire Nation officer entered the room and gestured to him.

"It's the Pheonix King…" Ozai stopped, as he realised the officer had addressed a second figure, who entered the room.

He saw his son moving through the doorway, called the new Fire Lord. Which only meant that somehow, Azula had squandered her chance at the throne. Ozai was furious.

"A moment please" his son asked the officer, who nodded and left the room.

Zuko faced him with a cold stare, and Ozai feigned an emotionless stare back. He knew well that it had been him who had taught the Avatar firebending, given him that one advantage that reflected his own. There was a silence between them.

His son placed a hand to the scar on his face, and it was as he moved it that Ozai lunged. Zuko, however, hadn't let his eyes of him, and his other hand bent a spark of fire above its palm.

Ozai stopped mid-lunge, and he stared at the flickering orange flames his son held. He stared up to see his son with a hand still on his scar, face unchanged.

And Ozai felt his satisfaction grow, Zuko believed the Avatar was to defeat him. Now the Avatar had defeated, but spared him, his son now had no barriers to taking his life.

"This is your will, Fire Lord" he hissed.

But he saw a new hand placed on his sons shoulder, and saw his brother look at him. He saw the fire exhaust from Zuko's hand, and the Fire Lord turned away as Iroh smiled at him, a smile that was returned.

As Zuko left, Iroh moved to follow when Ozai jeered at him.

"Brother" Iroh turned his head, a look of shame, but also a hint of calmness on his face, "We enjoyed our trip over the world very much. I will hope to share with you some of the astonishing wonders I have found, If you are interested".

And with that, Iroh too left Ozai in the room, and the latter barely even cared when the room was later exchanged for a cell. He only cared for his flame of rage, but he couldn't burn anything with it.

A/N: Apologies for the wait for the second chapter. Finally figured out how i wanted to write it. Hope you enjoyed.