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XxXxXxXxXxX
"We're married now. You're really part of my Family now."
Zuko opened his eyes, seeing Agni's dim light cast through the open terrace, spilling into his room—the Fire Lord's room. For the first time, Katara was inside his room, inside his bed—naked. It was something he intended to have much more of—because they were married. From where they once started, it seemed impossible, literally unthinkable, but it happened regardless, and he had given up trying to fight it, preventing it from happening, a long time ago.
It was one of the best decisions he ever made.
"We are," he confirmed, scooting onto his side and watching her; her blue eyes looked back at him. "You're part of my family, as well—my wife. You're Fire Lady now."
"Do you really think I'm the best Fire Lady you can have?"
Zuko frowned and almost laughed at the absurdity. "Of course, I do. The only reason I didn't have a Fire Lady already is I didn't trust any of the ones offered to me. But I trust you—I've always trusted you."
Katara smiled before it faded slightly. "You were just mad at me for a while."
"After which you were mad at me for a while."
"I think we were both mad at each other."
Zuko agreed after several moments of thought. "We will certainly be mad at each other in the future, but we will be fine."
Katara nudged him with her elbow beneath the sheets, grinning. "Don't think that gives you the excuse to be mad at me."
"I don't need excuses to be mad; I need experience." He pulled her bare body against his, bringing their warmth together. "You are going to be an excellent Fire Lady; you will be like my grandmother."
"Ilah, right?"
"Right."
She sighed in a teasing long-suffering way. "I guess I have to be to keep up with the best Fire Lord Fire's ever had."
Zuko rolled his eyes. "I'm not the best- "
"You are."
"- but I appreciate your thoughts."
Katara rolled over, raising the covers across her back, freeing his eyes to her breasts as she pressed her hands against his chest, hovering; her blue eyes gleamed as a desiring smile crossed her lips. "Can you appreciate more of me, Fire Lord Zuko?"
He brushed his hands up her legs, past her hips, and rested them on her sides—close to both of their desires. "I have to appreciate you again?" he drawled. "I thought I did enough of that last night."
"You've been doing it enough for a year, but I still want more," she whispered, blue eyes darkening. "And I think I appreciate you well enough, too. How about we appreciate each other?"
As a Firebender, his control was remarkable as it had to be, but he found his control threatened in ways it very rarely ever had. It was unlike previous times with Katara; it was something different. There was a distinction with her in his bed as his Fire Lady where he was Fire Lord, with the evidence and symbols all around him, and still wanting him.
It made him afire.
"A Fire Lord serves Fire," Zuko agreed. "It would only be honorable for me to see to my purpose of providing the next leader with my beautiful Fire Lady Katara."
She grinned. "Don't forget pleasurable."
"I have to retain some sort of morality, don't I?"
"I love that you do."
Zuko finally stopped denying his hands his target and cradled the enticing, swollen, warm mounds of flesh. "My Fire Lady."
"My Fire Lord," Katara breathed.
They appreciated each other again.
XxXxXxXxXxX
"Your airbending is impressive," Zaheer commended. "The strides you have made confirm to me that Vaatu chose his vessel wisely."
Ozai grunted, taking a long drink of water; he was pleased with his performance, making Zaheer work for his victory in their spar. "I have nothing to do but train. Of course, it has improved. I am Vaatu's only worthy vessel. Not even The Avatar himself equals my determination and willpower. I will surpass you shortly."
"You will. When the time comes, I will teach to you true flight; you will walk the winds like The Avatar."
He anticipated mastering such power; he felt the promise of it tingle down to his toes. "Glorious power—it will all be mine. I will take The Avatar's power and smite him with it, purifying the world of his poison. His power is too great for him to be anything but apathetic—look at the legend of Kuruk. The Avatar's power ensures his tyranny, for he is too powerful. He kills indiscriminately and faces no consequences but the consequences that he ordains; he faces no judgment but his own judgment. Look at Ba Sing Se! He faced no consequences! He never appeared before a council to offer himself to a sentencing for his crime! He knows nothing of the sort, wearing faces in every lifetime, but beneath his flesh churns not blood but divinity, which is the ultimately apathy and unfeeling cruelty. When he looks with his eyes and hears with his ears, he sees and hears only that which he desires—and destroys anything and everything that pulls away from his depraved desires. I have spent over ten years thinking about him since my humiliation and what he is, what he means to the world, and what his role is in the world of man where we are supposed to rule but of which we are deprived because of him—The Avatar. I judge him a tyrant, and I will ensure he feels my judgment—it will be his last sensation before I topple him from his eminence forever."
Zaheer smiled in agreement, eyes closed. "Yes, yes. His words are curses, and after eons, it is finally the time to hurl our curses at him, the combined might of all those he has slighted and humiliated, enslaved in his chains of power."
"We will remake the world," Ozai promised. "We will obtain for you a true body—and true bodies for everyone. I will need your help, Zaheer, to ensure this prophetic destruction, and I will have others. Most importantly, I will have Ursa with me again; once she sees the good we intend, she will join. She will grieve our children's deaths as I do, but she will return to me in haste. Our love will never die."
Ursa had to return to him; she had to see reason and sense, no matter how horrifying. She saw reason the night they planned Father's death, and he knew she was capable of doing so again—all she needed was time, understandably. His direct intentions to destroy Zuko and Azula, while unfortunately necessary, were unwise since she was such a devoted, loving mother—one of the many things he loved about her. He had blundered his strategy with her, which was his fault—he had been so in awe at the miracle of their reunion that his natural aggression surfaced, driving her away, because he wanted to keep her with him. He should have looked at it from her perspective; he should have recalled the good memories—the cherished memories—he had with Zuko and Azula and shared them with her, reminiscing, reminding her that he understood her pain—he understood it better than anyone. And like her, he understood the horrible cost in standing against their children, who were against him; he understood its withering impact and damning condemnation.
But he did it—because he had to, which Ursa would realize.
She would—she had to!
"This is a grand endeavor," Zaheer commended. "It requires vision, ambition, intelligence, and willpower, all of which you possess in astonishing quantities. With Vaatu, we will succeed; with you, we will win. All that is borne of The Avatar, which is everything, we will purify. We will bring the world anew; we will make it so. There will be joy in the air and freedom, unlike that which exists now, which is fearful, anxious, and unnatural."
Ozai spun his hand, whipping the air around them, blowing his hair and beard. "Do you think he realizes it?" he whispered, heart pounding in his chest. "Do you think he realizes his end? Do you think he senses it? Do you think every decision he makes is born of his desperation to avoid the inevitability of his defeat? Do you think he is terrified? Do you think he prepares his allies for his defeat?"
Zaheer scoffed. "He would not be The Avatar if he did; he thinks he is supreme and holds no doubt he is. He wonders the same about us."
"About me," he corrected. "He does not know about you."
"Another advantage."
Darkness flooded the air, and he turned to it in expectation, glimpsing Vaatu's entrance out of the darkness. However, he noticed, to his relief, Agni and Devi with him, recovering from their reformations much more swiftly than he anticipated, but it was small comfort.
"Where have you been?" Ozai demanded, voice rising in fury. "It has been weeks since- "
"Silence!" Vaatu hissed, darkness rumbling in warning. "Do not think I was unengaged; I was implementing the execution of our new army."
Suddenly, out of the darkness appeared hundreds of bodies, tumbling to the ground, unconscious. All the bodies were evidently of Fire and Water, born of their races.
He blinked, processing the sight. "What is this?"
The pride emanating from Vaatu like his shadows was intoxicating. "Our army."
Ozai stared at him, knowing he was missing a critical piece of information. "How? What could they do for us? They are nobodies."
"Their spirits are nobodies, but their bodies are the source of our army, for their bodies will hold the spirits of great men."
He inhaled sharply in realization, glancing at Zaheer, a great man—a spirit—occupying Ty Lee's body. "The same strategy. You pull spirits out of the Gardens of the Dead and place them into bodies."
Vaatu's laughter boomed in confirmation. "Yes. This entire war built to this; this was always the conclusion—the greatest men in the world's history standing against The Avatar's tyranny. All those whom The Avatar slighted across his 38 lifetimes stand against him now, amassed in number and unified in hatred. You are a great man, Ozai, and the only way for success is if great men follow you. You shall have your great men."
Ozai reached out, staggering, and had the wind keep him standing as he captured Vaatu's objective in his mind—and would never let it go. "My grandfather?"
"The greatest men, the most powerful benders of Water, Earth, and Fire, will stand with you, living again in new bodies—if they accept the offer. Not all of them will, but enough of them will. Chin V's kinsmen provide all the Earth bodies we needed, but these Water and Fire bodies are now here—I searched for them, determining which ones would be most beneficial with the most premier bodies physically. The Avatar himself provided the Fire bodies, for they are recently recovered from the energybending plague—and I took several more that I found. They are all Firebenders, and the others are all Waterbenders. This is our new army, Ozai—it will be enough."
"It will be glorious," he whispered, mind shuddering in elation at the force Vaatu provided; it was greater than anything he ever conceived. "There can be Azulon, Sozin, Kohaku, Kazuki, Rylun, Henjul, Ojas, Ehktol, Houka, Hideki, Rohit, and Ravi—and going back to Kai himself! All Fire Lords to reign, and every other great Firebender in between! Then all the great Waterbenders, stretching back thousands of years, and we will have Chin V returned, and all his forefathers, including Chin the Conqueror—and every other great Earthbender to ever live."
Vaatu did not change his focus, but it was clear he focused on Zaheer. "There are other Air bodies, related to the body you hold now. Once this is over, I will find for you the most premier of them—return to you your natural state."
Zaheer bowed his head, closing his eyes—before returning. "Thank you, Vaatu. I adore living, but I despise this body, an infernal weakness foreign to the glories I once possessed."
"You will have them all again," Ozai vowed.
"Where is Indra?" Vaatu demanded.
Ozai sneered. "Busy taking all her Children to the Gardens."
"Has she gone to The Avatar?"
"Unlikely—it is not as if it would make a difference. I have Zaheer, and Indra knows none of our plans."
"She could tell him about me," Zaheer pointed out.
Ozai shook his head after a moment. "It will still not make a difference. She has no idea of our new army—the greatest army in the history of the world. It is preferable that she is gone."
Vaatu appeared to agree as the darkness subsided. "As you see, I also found Agni and Devi and ensured their reformations. I never did it the first time as I was too weak then and did not want to waste energy. Now there is no choice. Agni and Devi will remain here to enhance everyone's chi pathways here of Fire and Earth, to ensure they are as powerful as they can be, matching the great men to inhabit the bodies—they will all be as powerful as they were in their lives, in possession of a body to match their remembered power and strength."
Ozai never considered his victory—his ascension—more guaranteed.
XxXxXxXxXxX
"Not even I imagined this was where you would rise."
Katara turned and saw Pakku approaching her; she remembered her new position, recalling Zuko, Ursa, and even Azula's guidance, and waited until Pakku inclined his head in respect before she did the same—she was Fire Lady now, occupying a different social status, unlike anything she had ever experienced before. "If you mean Fire Lady, I never imagined it, either."
Pakku chuckled, eyes roaming her, taking in her new garbs—official Fire Lady robes, which swirled around her, pooling in some places. It was taking some getting used to, but she knew upon leaving to fight Vaatu and Ozai, she would be able to modify her attire—like Zuko did his. But it would still be Fire, and she needed to ask Zuko if she was supposed to wear her new crown, even in a fight. Zuko never did, at least since she had reunited with him, but she had no idea if that was because of his aggressive fighting style and violent nature or if it was because of tradition.
"Look at you—the second most powerful woman in the world."
Katara's lips twitched. "Yes, my sister is the most powerful. Don't remind her of it."
She and Azula were officially sisters now, according to Fire's laws, and since she was Fire Lady, she adhered to Fire's laws. Part of her Family included Azula as well, which was something that would have once made her laugh in disbelief, even outrage, but it happened all the same—and she was shockingly okay with it. Azula was actually someone she trusted, against all odds; she was a sister with whom she shared several similarities—and possibly more, but she always avoided considering it even deeper. And because Azula was really part of her Family now, not only Aang's wife and Toph's friend and a surprisingly good ally, but she would also fight for her to protect her if she had to—like she did for her Family.
"Something tells me I don't have to," Pakku drawled, clearly identifying Azula as possessing an excellent sense of status. "Yet here you are—the Fire Lady. That girl who traveled to the North to learn waterbending never seemed destined for it. I thought you would sooner spit in Fire Lord Zuko's face than marry him."
"He helped us end the Great War," Katara defended, protecting her recognized Family—her husband—against her step-grandfather. It would be unsettling if it didn't feel so right—because Zuko really was part of her Family. "He's the only reason the Great War ended peacefully."
"Before that war turned into this war—I heard your brother calling this the Greater War."
Katara shuddered at the reminder—and of how much was lost, more than had ever been lost in the Great War, whose net destruction over a century didn't equal that which was lost in three years since Kuei declared war on Zuko. It seemed unthinkable, but it happened, anyway. Really, the worst thing to happen during the Great War was that which triggered the Great War—Air's murder. That was the worst thing. Even the South's crushing, decapitating defeats in back-to-back generations didn't compare because there was still so much left of the South—not to mention the North still remained, populated, healthy, and vibrant. It was shocking to consider, particularly when compared to the Greater War, as Sokka kept calling it, but the Great War wasn't all too bad compared to what it could have actually been, specifically when taking into account there was an entire century, 100 years, for things to be as bad as possible—and the Greater War showed more than anything how bad it could have actually been, and had shown it in only three years.
It was horrifying.
"It's not only a match of love, you know," she reminded, not wishing to think about how awful the Greater War was. "It's political, too."
Pakku nodded, impressed. "I know. And I see now only the South would make such a deal—for the better. I was there when Fire Lord Azulon reached out to negotiate with Chief Arnook for peace, offering then-Prince Zuko's hand to Princess Yue. The North's outrage was so loud I'm surprised Fire Lord Azulon didn't hear it."
She thought about what she had learned about Azulon from Zuko, Ursa, and Azula. "Something tells me he did."
"I know the South and North have had great problems," Pakku said slowly, face twisting, "but please don't forget the connection they share. The North made many mistakes in the Great War, certainly more than the South did, and the North earned its reputation of cowardice for generations of avoidance, hiding in isolation—I know that, and I think, or hope, that those survivors in the North do, too. But I ask that you, born of and in the South, raised in the South, who saw and experienced so many more horrors and tragedies than the North, don't punish the North by bringing all the rewards of your marriage only to the South; share the prosperity amongst all of Water."
Katara understood his point but was disappointed he ever considered she wouldn't do it. "I will. The South's not only my Family—the North is, too. And don't forget that Sokka will be Chief of both. He will technically be on the same level as my husband."
She had learned very quickly that, in a formal setting, like talking to Pakku with servants passing them, she was never to refer to Zuko as 'Zuko.' It was either 'the Fire Lord' or 'my husband.' Thus, she chose the lesser of two evils.
Zuko was her husband, after all, and she was happily proud of that fact.
Pakku's lips curled. "Yes, your brother's rising is even more surprising than yours, and yours is very surprising."
"He's going to be a good Chief," she assured. "He's learned a lot during this Greater War—we all have."
Aang most of all, it seemed.
"I had my doubts about him," Pakku admitted, to which she wasn't surprised—she always knew that people had doubted Sokka's abilities. There were even times, to her shame and regret, when she had doubted his abilities, which she feared he knew, deep down. "But he's grown and matured; he's ready for the burden. And most crucially, he has heirs now."
"Twins," she agreed, still marveling. "Both Waterbenders, too, blessed by the Moon."
Her Family was getting even bigger—not to mention her newfound connection to Hama and Hama's baby, whom she would fight to protect from anyone, including the baby's own mother, if she had to.
"The future is murky, but I think it's secure. Avatar Aang explained this Phoenix to me, and I can't conceive any approach Dark will have to counter it. It's brilliant."
Katara nodded, still impressed and awed by Aang's ingenuity. "Short of raising another army, no. But I can't figure out what army he could raise that could stand against Aang and all of us backing him. The world is devastated. There's hardly anyone left worth standing, least of all worth fighting. We've outlasted all our enemies, and Aang has outlasted Vaatu and whatever Vaatu's thrown at him, which is everything. My sister said this Greater War has really been a war of attrition, and she's right. This isn't going to last much longer, no matter what."
Pakku's face flickered with relief. "The South has been untouched, for which I'm relieved. I wish others had fared as we did."
"Except for Air, the South fared the worst during the Great War," she pointed out. "Maybe Chyung and Zaofu, but they weren't devastated, not once but twice, like we were. I'm just glad the South got a break and was able to keep peace. Based on what my husband said, it was actually a sign of 'respect' that we were devastated twice by his grandfather—because he thought we were a very real threat, an even bigger one than Earth. My husband said that Earth's population was so much bigger, which is why Fire mainly fought Earth; he said if Water's population, if the South's population was bigger, that may have been the real conflict of the Great War."
She had trouble wrapping her mind around the fact that Azulon respected the South and destroyed them because of said 'respect,' but the more she experienced war with Vaatu and Ozai, she was beginning to understand it.
"I think the South being so broken during the Great War is what saved them from being pulled into this Greater War," Pakku said after several moments, seemingly not disagreeing with Zuko's claims. "Earth started all of this, and Earth only did so because they were never devastated like we were. Earth was conquered, but they were never beaten, whereas the South was beaten."
Katara swallowed, recalling her childhood—how the Family was broken to its seams, it seemed. It was part of the reason she wanted to fight as hard as she could to protect her Family now—because she knew what it was like to have a broken Family. "We were."
"And because the South was beaten, they did not try to antagonize Fire—they did not look to war because they understood the cost of war. I don't know if Earth ever really understood the cost of war."
She recalled all the turmoil and chaos on the continent. "I think they do now. It's worse there now than it ever was during the Great War—by a lot."
According to something she heard Aang mention, the continent hadn't been in such bad condition since Chin the Conqueror began his conquest, after which Kyoshi had to add even more chaos by destroying the order and stability that Chin had imposed. Apparently, Chin was Kyoshi's husband, too, which added a whole other tragedy and horror to the situation that Katara wasn't even sure she could really express—not that she wanted to so soon after marrying her own husband in Zuko. She couldn't imagine killing Zuko and tearing down everything that he built and accomplished in his pursuits. How could a woman destroy her Family?
She hoped to never find out.
Pakku's face shadowed with regret and sadness. "Besides Bumi, there was never a King of Earth worth anything. That's also the big difference. Your great-grandfather, grandfather, and father were all excellent leaders and looked out for the South, whereas Earth was separated into four kingdoms with each king but Bumi looking out for himself instead of Earth. According to Prince Iroh, that is the real reason the Great War lasted so long. Otherwise, he claims his father would have ended the conflict—and still tried to many times, despite it."
Katara nodded, remembering Azulon's offer of Zuko's hand to Yue in marriage for peace. "War's a terrible thing and makes good men mad with madness and horror—and vengeance. I hope that this Greater War will show everyone that war is the worst thing."
She knew from experience how awful war was firsthand; the Great War's effects on her mind, psyche, and spirit had sent her into a tailspin for years that, some days, she felt like she was still in.
"Maybe for a generation or two," Pakku agreed, looking doubtful and sad. "That Waterbender you hold prisoner, her name is Hama."
At the look on his face, she sighed, knowing he suspected the truth. "Gran-gran's lost sister, yes."
Part of the Family.
Pakku was silent for several moments, absorbing the confirmation. "I remember her. She never liked me."
Katara tried to imagine Hama and Gran-gran together, as actual sisters, in the North and later the South, but she felt deep mourning that she couldn't imagine it—it was just so opposite of her experience with both of them. She could never imagine anything but a broken Family. "She hates me more than she never liked you."
Part of her Family hated her, which left her unsettled and almost breathless from the implications. But because Hama was part of her Family, she would fight to protect her—and the baby, also part of her Family, in her womb. It was all she could do—she wouldn't be herself if she didn't.
"I was quite likable," Pakku agreed, eyes jesting, before sobering. "Kanna never talked about her. When I met her in the South when I traveled there, I expected to find Hama, too, but she was not there. I assumed she was dead, killed in battle, especially because Kanna said nothing about her. I didn't dare ask. Now I wish I did."
Knowing he was hunting for answers, she obliged him; she already told Dad the whole story after he learned the truth from Zuko, who he thought had impregnated her, which culminated in their wedding. "She was captured during a raid—I don't know when. I think it was the first time Azulon- I mean, Fire Lord Azulon came to the South to conquer."
She was Fire Lady now—she had to use proper titles for the past Fire Lords, including Azulon, to whose grandson she was now married as Fire Lady.
Pakku hummed, almost resembling a growl. "She was away from her home longer than she was at it. I doubt she had many years in the South before she was taken."
"A few years," she said, thinking back to the various calculations she made. "She was taken when Gran-gran was around my age now, if not a little older. Gran-gran wasn't even married to Gramp-gramp yet."
"It happened later, and your father's birth was even later."
Katara swallowed, recalling what she knew about Gran-gran. "Gran-gran thought she was barren. Gramp-gramp, he died before I was born, but he didn't remarry or anything; he loved her and kept her as his wife. They were thought to have no children. But then Gran-gran became pregnant, and she thought she lost a sister only to gain a son, even if it happened years later. She said she wished for a daughter to honor her taken, dead sister, to name her Hama, but she bore Dad and named him Hakoda, after their uncle, who was the only one to support their trip away from the North."
It was the Family feeding into itself.
Pakku's eyes closed. "I remember him—very powerful waterbending."
"Dad was Gran-gran's miracle baby, and Gramp-gramp loved Dad even though he wasn't a Waterbender, taking after Gran-gran."
"She never told me that."
"It's all hard to tell."
"I'm ready for the world to be at peace," Pakku whispered, looking ancient. "I've never known the world in peace. I ache for it—I feel it in my bones. I want to see what it's like. Bumi tried to explain it to me, but he didn't remember much of it, not really. But at least he had those memories, and I was jealous that he had them. I'm jealous that Avatar Aang has those memories. I want those memories, too; I want my own memories of the world at peace. It must be a wonderful thing."
Katara swallowed. "It must be. I want it so badly; I want my children to have it—I want my Family to have it."
"They will—because you fight with Avatar Aang to ensure it."
"I'll fight to my death for it," she vowed, meaning it. "I would rather die than keep living in a world like this, and I would rather die than see Ozai win—I will fight to my death to see it. Him winning won't happen—it can't happen. We will make new memories we've never known, those very memories of the world at peace. We fight for those memories, and we live for them—there's nothing greater than those memories—so our Family can live in them. I want to remember nothing else but those memories—I'm going to remember nothing else but those memories."
She hoped she would attain those memories quickly.
XxXxXxXxXxX
"When I return, it will be with the Phoenix," he reminded. "You must control your firebending. It might feel like Sozin's Comet."
Azula rolled her eyes. "My mastered chakras make it feel as if Sozin's Comet is in my body already."
"There will still be an impact. I need you to be prepared; I need you not to try to take the flames and pull them to you instinctively—because it will be an instinct."
"Do not doubt my capabilities," she dismissed with a wave of her hand. "I know control—except when it comes to you."
Aang sighed at the smirk on her face. "Don't distract me."
"I have my fun, Avatar—I must have it; I must have my pleasure, as well."
"I'm serious," he said. "Don't distract me. The Phoenix is more important right now. He's ready."
Azula sobered and nodded. "Indeed. How long will you be gone?"
"It shouldn't be more than a few hours," Aang promised after several moments of thought. "I just have to find where Koh hid him. Since he came into the Mortal Realm in the past week, he left him under the guard of other allies. That alone tells me that the Phoenix is strong and Koh wasn't worried about sabotage by that point. I just have to find where he is, which shouldn't take too long because I'll be able to sense him—follow the trail."
"How do you want to act upon your return?" she challenged, curious, golden eyes analytical. "What is your plan?"
Aang smiled. "Take the Phoenix to a central location in the Fire Nation and draw all the chi-stealers to it. I'll keep it there, probably atop a massive pillar—I may use one of the old Avatar Temples and fortify it, keeping any from going inside and reaching the Phoenix. I may need to stay there—we all may need to stay there—for several weeks as we lure all the chi-stealers to us."
"That would probably take us to the Solstice," Azula pointed out in reminder.
"I'll feel a lot better about the Solstice if we have all those chi-stealers on our side," he answered. "They won't be chi-stealers and Vaatu's anymore; they'll be recovered Firebenders."
"Do you have any idea what Vaatu intends to do on the Solstice?"
He shook his head, frustrated. "None. The only thing I can think of is that he may make an invasion of spirits into the Mortal Realm to distract me, but that would be his last resort—the literal final attack. And I know he's not ready yet for the final attack."
Azula sighed. "How many invasions can he unleash?"
"He should be running out," he muttered. "He better be."
"We must prepare for that possibility," she decided. "Once we have the Phoenix, we prepare for war, gathering all our forces, including the chi-stealers you will purify. The Solstice will be critical. You are right—I cannot know what Vaatu will do, but I know Vaatu will do something. It is this feeling—a sense of knowing."
Aang tried to smile. "But we also have that sense of knowing that we will defeat him."
Azula stood taller, proud. "I never doubted, Avatar."
He kissed her quickly, bringing their lips together before moving back. "I don't anymore."
"Go," she ordered, lips stretching in a victorious smirk. "Return the Phoenix and enable our assured victory."
Aang teleported to the Immortal Realm, appearing where he always did, before he took off, stretching his senses. But confusion spread through him as he felt nothing from the Phoenix; there was no echo or trail of energy for him to track and follow, as there should be—as Koh had even confirmed there would be. He knew how spirits worked, unless the spirit was Vaatu who knew how to mask his energy and Agni and Devi, who were taught by Vaatu who to mask their energies, and there should be the trail, produced by an echo of the spirit's presence, especially a powerful spirit. There were few spirits as powerful as the Phoenix, shaped by Agni and The Avatar; there should be the echo, producing the trail.
Where was it?
He wondered if Koh had somehow masked the Phoenix's energy to hide him from Vaatu, but Koh never knew how to mask his energy. But had Koh decided to keep the Phoenix in the same location, tricking Vaatu—and Aang himself—into thinking that the Phoenix would be moved when it would always be in the same place, not telling Aang because he knew that Aang might give it away somehow?
Aang took off for Koh's lair, but when he arrived, Koh's lair was empty, in disarray as it had been previously—no Phoenix in sight, which was a good thing, as he told Koh to take the Phoenix elsewhere and hide him.
But why couldn't he sense the Phoenix, drawn to it as he was its creator?
Dread gnawed at him at the conclusion he reached, but he shook his head and kept searching.
Koh hadn't betrayed him—right?
XxXxXxXxXxX
It was strange seeing Katara in Fire's garments, but it was a sight to which she was becoming accustomed—even if it was only to ensure her superiority over Zuko, who was clearly distracted by the sight of Katara in Fire's garments, the very robes of the Fire Lady. Unfortunately, that was not her simple aim, though she wished for the simplicity. She had come to like Katara, something astonishing to her, and since they were now sisters, it needed to be a permanent feature.
"How was Hama?" Azula asked after Katara exited Hama's cell, waiting outside for her.
Katara jumped in surprise, holding a hand to her chest before relaxing. "Azula. What are you doing here?"
"Bored," she notified, raising one shoulder. "Aang left to gather the Phoenix, and we do not have much time. I wanted to talk to you."
"Really?" Katara said, brows rising.
"Really. How was Hama?"
A lament crossed Katara's face. "Poor. She put together why I'm wearing these robes."
Azula's brow rose. "Your crown also did not help."
An unconscious hand touched the Fire Lady's crown. "Right. I forgot that was there."
"A good sign," she commended. "You must always be Fire Lady in appearance; the sooner you accept it, the more you will flourish."
"You don't wear your crown," Katara commented after several seconds, watching her. Clearly, she did not wish to discuss Hama, the source of a painful conversation—'betrayal of the Family,' likely, based on previous conversations heard.
Azula pushed herself off the wall and nodded to the single guard standing watch over the cell—the only guard that could be spared with how scarce the numbers were. "Why would I? I am not loyal to Fire but Air. I am the Mother of Air—that is my position."
"You are still Fire's Princess."
"Only until a daughter is borne by you," she observed. "And you need not worry—I will not press my claim or the claims of my children to the Dragon's Throne unless Zuko's line dies out."
Katara's face was impressively passive, but Azula detected the worry. "You're going to have many children."
"Many," Azula agreed in confirmation and thought of the joy experienced upon learning the truth of Ty Lee's family. It made her regret her time with Ty Lee all the more. "Many, many. I must bear the beginnings of a new race that will have intimate ties to both Air's sovereignty and Fire's sovereignty. However, barring Zuko's line dying out leading back to my line, neither I nor any of my descendants will ever pursue that claim—I swear on my position as Mother of Air."
"Not on your honor?" Katara asked, relaxing, lips stretching in amusement.
Azula rolled her eyes. "I am not my brother. His obsession with Honor was extreme even for Fire's standards."
"Considering why he was obsessed, I don't think it was extreme."
Her brows rose in surprise before she could control the reaction. "He told you."
"Of course, he told me," Katara said, looking offended by any suggestion otherwise. "I'm his wife."
Azula scoffed, wondering at Zuko's sanity. "Of course, he would consider it romantic to whisper in your ear the truth of his scar on your wedding night- "
"I knew before; I've known for a long time."
She had not expected such maturity on Zuko's part but applauded him. "You know Father's idea of mercy, I see."
Katara's face flushed in protective ire. "It was never mercy; it was cruel."
Azula waved a hand. "You do not have to explain it to me; I was there—I watched it happen."
Something assessing but sad appeared in blue eyes. "I'm sorry about that. You couldn't do anything, could you?"
She did not bother to stop her intense frown. "No. I had to watch; I was eleven. If I tried to stop it, the same would happen to me. I never knew what happened—Father never deigned to explain it to me. He was in a rage the likes of which I never saw before, even after Mother left, for months after it happened. I was terrified for my life. I thought every day I would be next. I know Zuko spoke up in a war meeting, which resulted in an Agni Kai, and I know the conclusion of the Agni Kai was to fight, but Zuko refused to fight, for which he received Father's mark—that is all I know. I lived that nightmare while you can only imagine it, and never insult me by claiming your imagination is enough."
Katara swallowed and shook her head. "I never thought it was. But it was never merciful. It was evil and cruel."
Azula sighed, hating the memories that floated in her mind, seizing her attention. "Whether you like it or not, it was merciful; it was an act of mercy. By refusing to fight, Zuko cast himself into dishonor, for which only dying could redeem him. It is Fire's way and has always been; it will be always." She hissed between her teeth as she recalled the terror she lived in for months after Zuko's banishment when Father was unpredictable, simultaneously in disbelief, grief, and hatred. "Father hated it, and he hated Zuko for making him do it—I know he did. He never spoke of it, but he changed after it happened; he became worse. I think that day, the day of that Agni Kai, was the real turning point for our family; it damned us to destroy each other, which culminates now in which Father's children and wife stand against him to destroy him. Father was a weak Fire Lord and let everything happen, let it reach this point, which has its roots in all the other points he let things reach. That Agni Kai should never have happened, and I do not know why Father let it happen- "
"Because he wanted it to," Katara muttered viciously, face twisting.
She recalled Father's reaction to the Agni Kai and Zuko's banishment and shook her head. "I do not think so; I think he was in as much disbelief as anyone by what happened. Perhaps you are right, but I think it was more complex. I have no idea why, but I have that feeling. But my feeling is even stronger in saying that that Agni Kai saved Fire from extinction."
"Really?" Katara whispered, blue eyes morose—likely because she considered such a sacrifice on Zuko's part monstrous.
"Without it, Zuko would stay loyal to Father, undoubtedly, and Zuko was always capable of greater loyalty and strength than I ever was," she pointed out. "If Zuko stayed loyal to Father, Fire would have won the Great War—or The Avatar would make Fire extinct in his wrath."
"You're certain of that?"
Azula hummed. "Or Aang would have made us extinct later, but I guarantee it would have happened as he aged and matured into his primordial power. It all worked out."
Katara subtly wiped her eyes. "Like it's working out now. This war will be over soon."
"Not soon enough," she agreed. "There is more work to do upon its completion than there is currently."
"Do you fear it?"
"No, I am annoyed there is so much to do and bitter that this is our inheritance from those before us—they left us this mess they did nothing to solve but contributed to its mess with their nonsense."
"I can't wait until we get started."
"How is your marriage's start? How is it being married to my brother?"
Katara grinned. "Wonderful."
Azula rolled her eyes. "It is only us. You can be honest; we are sisters now."
"But I'm not lying," Katara protested.
"I lived with him for years—I know you are lying."
To her surprise, Katara laughed. "I get along with Zuko better than you do."
"I should hope so," Azula praised. "You are his wife and Fire Lady."
A bright, happy smile radiated joy. "I know."
Azula nodded. "You are a good choice for Fire Lady—you may be the only choice for this generation."
Katara looked knowing. "As you're the only choice for Mother of Air in this generation."
"For all generations," she clarified, smirking. "Do you doubt The Avatar's choice?"
"Not anymore."
Azula admired her honesty and believed their newfound sisterhood would remain stable; she felt surprised that she hoped it remained stable.
It was nice to have a sister, even if a forced one.
XxXxXxXxXxX
"Are your feet holding up well?"
Toph snorted at Jin's question, flexing her healthy toes, connected to healthy feet. "Does a platypus bear shit with a grunt?"
Jin sat near her, vibrations consistent. "I will take your experience as fact."
"That's always the right call. Are you going to tell me why Lightning Psycho's so pissed at you?"
That had been a fascinating realization. At first, she didn't understand why Azula always appeared to watch Jin, always keeping an eye on her, but when she recalled Azula's suspicion of Mai and Ty Lee when they were present, she realized the source.
Azula was pissed at Jin for some reason, which was confirmed when Jin flinched at her blunt question.
"She has good reason," Jin said slowly. "I cannot tell you."
No lie was said. "Why?"
"She would be more furious."
Another truth. "Really?" she asked, narrowing down quickly why Azula would be so pissed. "Did you tell her that she's ugly?"
"No."
"Did you tell her that Hitchhiker's ugly?"
"No."
"Did you try to seduce Twinkletoes?"
A shudder passed through Jin, but there was no change in her heartbeat. "No."
Toph shrugged, tapping her fingers into the ground in the royal courtyard. "Whatever. If you're going to tell me, you'll tell me."
"Does he scare you?"
She felt her brows rise. "Twinkletoes?"
"Does he?"
Toph was quiet before sighing. "Yeah. He's The Avatar. I think if anyone understands The Avatar, anyone's scared of The Avatar. That kind of power, it makes you remember what you are versus what he is—you're human versus a god. It makes you want to die when it's directed at you."
Ba Sing Se would haunt her for her whole life—as would the massive fight between Aang, Vaatu/Ozai, Agni, and Devi where Azula was killed and she almost was.
"From his hands drip the blood of millions," Jin whispered.
"More than that if you're counting all his lifetimes," she agreed distantly, unable to deny it. "But I don't blame him for any of this; I blame us for being too weak to do anything about it. We shouldn't need a savior to come in and fix things; if we lived in a better world, there would be no Avatar."
Jin laughed, surprisingly. "This is not a better world."
Toph assessed Jin's heartbeat, finding it remarkably calm—like she spoke observable fact. "You want him gone, don't you?"
Finally, the heartbeat changed, increasing in speed—not from deception but fear. "Yes. He faces no consequences for his actions because of what he is—because he is The Avatar, above anyone. He will never answer for what he did to Ba Sing Se."
"He answered to himself," she whispered, recalling Aang's madness after Ba Sing Se, how he descended into a dark, perverted outlook—reverted to who he was before he met Azula on Ember Island, based on what she heard Azula say. "He tortured himself for it."
"That is not good enough."
"I guess not," she agreed softly. "There are always people we answer to, but there's no one that The Avatar answers to, is there? We all answer to him at the end of the day, but he doesn't answer to us; he answers to no one but himself."
Angry vibrations assaulted her. "Yes. To quote you, it is badgermole shit."
Toph nodded, rubbing between her toes for soothing assurance. "Who would you have him answer to?"
"Us."
"He would no longer be The Avatar if he did."
"There should not be The Avatar," Jin confessed, swallowing. "This world is worse off for having The Avatar in it."
Jin clearly believed what she was saying was the truth, heart not wavering at all—unfortunately. "Do you really believe that, or are you just saying it?"
"The Avatar is why things reached this point."
"Things got this bad because of Vaatu."
"But why is he doing this?"
Toph exhaled a ragged breath. "I know—because of The Avatar."
"The root of this is The Avatar's fault," Jin stressed, voice breaking in exhausted emotion while Toph thought things were quite a bit more complicated. Yes, The Avatar clearly had a lot of fault, possibly the most fault out of anyone, but it seemed lazy and disingenuous to lay it all at The Avatar's feet. "Something must change. This can never happen again, but I am certain it will generations from now."
"Eons," she corrected, recalling Aang talking about the Harmonic Convergence. "Well, there's that thing about two Avatars. You may be right. We could be doing this every generation from now."
Jin flinched, but Toph was little better. "It cannot be that way."
She agreed wholeheartedly. "But that Tree of Time son of a bitch thinks otherwise. Aang said It confirmed It wants two Avatars."
"Then it is more evil than The Avatar and Vaatu," Jin muttered.
Toph felt uncomfortable because she felt that Jin was right but didn't want to admit it. Thus, a change in subject was required. "What's up with you and Haru?" she challenged. "I keep feeling you two together."
"Nothing has happened," Jin hissed, heartbeat accelerating much more rapidly. "He is not my husband."
Toph sighed. "That's not what I meant. I just meant that you are together a lot. You two seem as tied together as Samir is to Ursa, despite Aang and Azula being around."
She really didn't want to think about whatever that meant.
"He is a good man," Jin said after several long moments of silence. "He is a friend."
"He's a different kind of friend from me or Suki," she pointed out, curious. "I heard you guys talking about going back to Chyung after this is all over."
Jin seemed to squirm in place. "He promised to help me keep the throne. We both think my sisters are dead. He lost Ty Lee, and I lost my husband. We lean on each other in grief, that is all; we understand what it is like."
Toph felt sympathy and reached out and tapped Jin on the arm with her fist—gently. "I get it. You guys both lost everyone to really matter, whereas we're all different."
Well, there was Aang losing Air, which was a much bigger loss, but she suspected that wasn't a helpful connection to make.
"I am so happy your feet were healed," Jin breathed, voice choked with emotion. "I am. But I must be honest—I must confess."
She had a feeling what Jin was going to confess and held up a hand. "Don't. It's okay."
"But- "
"You're bitter I got healing and you didn't."
Silence.
Jin's heart hammered in her chest at such a brutal pace that Toph felt bad. "It's okay, Jin- "
"It is not," she stammered, voice breaking. "You are my friend, and I- "
Toph did the only thing she could think of and pulled Jin into an awkward hug, patting her quivering back. "You're my friend, which is why I forgive you," she whispered. "Believe me, I have a lot of practice forgiving asshole friends. Aang was way—way—worse than you've ever been, than you could ever be, honestly. You've always been a good friend since we met. I'd be jealous, too, if I was in your position."
Jin reached up and wiped at her face—at tears, most likely. "Really?"
"Absolutely," she assured. "I thought I was a dead woman dying, and now I'm alive and healed—it's unbelievable." Her emotions began to rise inside her, brimming, as she swallowed thickly to control herself; it was a losing effort. "I was dying," she breathed, voice wavering. "I was days away from death. There was so much pain and exhaustion. I married the love of my life only to lose him and make him face losing me—it was all cruel. I didn't even have time to be angry; I was just tired and hurting. I had no hope—I gave up all hope. There was nothing for me to do but die—and die slowly, excruciatingly. Maybe I would have killed myself to avoid it, but I'll never know. All I know is that a miracle happened when Katara showed up and had that Spirit Oasis water and healed my feet, legs, and the rest of my body that was wasting away from that fucking infection. That may be the best day of my life—because I got a second chance, able to do everything I've ever wanted, whole with two healthy feet. It was the miracle I never thought I would get, and it only happened to me—well, and Bor, too. I'm sorry that you didn't get a miracle, too, Jin."
"Thank you," Jin croaked, clutching at her. "It all hurts."
"I know."
"I would give anything to see Thryn again; I would give anything just for the chance to see my babies, who I never knew."
Toph released Jin and sighed, wiping at her own tears, sniffing. "I wish you could have that chance, too."
"But I will never have it."
"No. No one gets it—no one gets that last chance." Something fierce, desperate, and determined seized her. "I swear, we're going to make sure that this is the last chance Vaatu has to ever be an asshole."
"And The Avatar?" Jin challenged, voice soft but strong.
"Aang's come a long way," Toph whispered. "We all have. None of us are who we were when this started, which is a good thing. We would lose, would have lost already, if we didn't grow. He's also not going to be like he was—never again."
"I hope you are right."
Toph knew she was.
XxXxXxXxXxX
"You're married to my sister," Sokka accused, eyes narrowed on him. "We're brothers now."
Zuko rolled his eyes, recognizing Sokka's train of thought and protective instinct. "Don't bother. Your father gave his blessing."
Sokka threw his hands into the air. "But why didn't you come to me for my blessing? What's wrong with me? I'm her older brother!"
"You already gave me your blessing," he pointed out, confused.
"When?"
"When I went to tell her that I love her."
That had ended in disaster.
Sokka blinked and sagged with a groan. "Son of a bitch—you're right. I forgot about that. Just don't hurt her, alright? I know you're the Fire Lord and everything, but fuck the Fire Lord—this is man to man, okay? If you hurt her, you won't need a Fire Sage to split you and her up—I'll take my sword and split you in two, if you know what I mean."
Zuko nodded, impressed, understanding the allusion to castration. "How long did it take you to come up with that?"
Sokka smiled. "A couple of days. Did it sound threatening?"
"It did."
"Could you tell I meant it?"
Zuko laughed. "Yes, I could. Well done. And don't worry—I have a feeling Katara would kill me before you could ever get to me."
Sokka grumbled, seemingly annoyed that he would be deprived of the chance in the hypothetical scenario. "Well, I don't think it will come to that, if it's any consolation, but I had to say it—cover my bases. You know how it is."
"Sure," he agreed honestly. "I said something similar to Aang after he married Azula and returned from his trip."
"I don't think Azula would leave anything left of Aang if he did that to her."
"I would have to declare Agni Kai to a memory."
"You've done that a lot, haven't you?"
Zuko cleared his throat, avoiding the fact that he had, in his mind, declared Agni Kai to many of his memories. "Katara and I will be fine."
It was often difficult to even look at her in all that red and not have the instinct to remind her that they were married now.
"I don't doubt it," Sokka assured. "I'm just on edge waiting for Aang to get back with that Phoenix."
Zuko agreed, feeling similarly. "We're as ready as we can be. We are about to have an army."
"Of Firebenders," Sokka muttered.
"And Waterbenders when the South's army gets here," he reminded.
"I know, I know, but it's not exactly pleasant knowing there will be more Firebenders than Waterbenders."
Zuko winced. "Not many. I have a feeling that everyone's going to be endangered still, if not more, by the time this is all over."
Sokka looked grim. "As close to Air as we can be."
He almost laughed in pained disbelief. "Balanced—I know. Everyone will have to rebuild after this, not only Air."
"I know we'll do it."
Zuko nodded, certain. "So do I. I only wonder what schemes Vaatu has planned to make it as hard as he can for us—because we know he has."
Sokka's finger rubbed his sword's pommel. "We'll fuck those schemes."
"And leave nothing left," he agreed.
"If we don't, all this will happen again."
"I know."
XxXxXxXxXxX
Koh betrayed him—it appeared the inevitable of his conclusion.
Aang felt not only his own rage but Kuruk's settle in his heart; it was a familiar sensation but all the more distressing and invigorating—he had to destroy Koh. There was anticipation and sadness as he wanted him and Koh to reach an agreement and peace, never to target each other again. But it was not to be—it was the root of his painful conclusion. It saddened him, making him heavy, reminding him bitterly that nothing ever went according to his plans. But his fury over the fact that Koh betrayed him, compromising his ingenious solution to Vaatu was warping his mind—he could barely think straight as all he wanted to do was find Koh and destroy him, as he should have done lifetimes ago!
Why would Koh betray him? How did taking the Phoenix lead to Balance? If Koh was always going to betray him, why would he wait until now? If he was always going to turn to Vaatu, why wait until now instead of entering the war earlier? What was so special about the war now beyond its climax? But it became clear as he went out of his mind that the war's climax was the special part that Koh wanted to influence, pulling the war in a new direction—in Vaatu's favor. It was unacceptable! It was Koh taking the Phoenix, the crucial factor in helping end the war, putting the odds in Vaatu's favor or Aang's favor, and going against Aang's will! Had Koh destroyed the Phoenix and returned to Agni his flames?
He should have never trusted Koh!
When he returned to the Mortal Realm, body pulsing in a restrained effort to hide his hatred, he knew that at least several days had passed and floated to the dining hall, refusing to touch the ground—if he touched the ground he would break the palace.
"Aang," Katara greeted in surprise when he entered the dining hall, sitting next to Zuko as Fire Lady, garbed in the red robes similar to Zuko's.
"Daddy!" Samir exclaimed and bolted to him, and he hauled her into his arms; she fortified his restraint and control.
Azula must have recognized the look on his face as she appeared grim, approaching him with urgent steps. "What is it? You were delayed."
Aang took a deep breath to calm himself and placed his knuckles on the top of the table; unfortunately, it didn't help. "Koh betrayed us. He couldn't look past his grudge."
Now he couldn't look past his own grudge—it would be Koh's destruction.
Iroh paled immediately, clearly remembering the reports of faceless corpses that he overlooked—reports that Aang himself overlooked and dismissed, too, thinking Koh wasn't stupid or suicidal enough to betray him. Hakoda's eyes closed while Zuko jumped to his feet, demanding questions, followed by the others, all of whom became a cacophony looking for answers. Samir seemed to realize that something bad happened, as her gray eyes were wide, looking to and fro, head on a swivel as she clutched at him. Haru and Jin looked at each other, solemn but unsurprised. Batsu put his face in his hands, dismayed, while Pakku rubbed his temples, looking as old as he felt.
"I don't know!" he snapped over the commotion. "I don't know where the Phoenix is! I searched the Immortal Realm, scouring it—there was nothing. Agni wasn't even there, which means he's already reformed."
Zuko's single brow furrowed tightly. "I thought it takes longer to reform- "
"Vaatu accelerated the process," Aang explained, knowing it was the only conclusion possible. "Agni may have taken the flames back because Koh gave them back to him. I really have no idea."
Katara looked shocked. "No, why would he? I thought you said he was on our side."
"I did—I was wrong."
Toph's face twisted. "Twinkletoes, I know you want him first, but I call dibs on the Face Stealer's corpse."
Aang felt his face darken, frustration gnawing at him. "There's not going to be a corpse left after I'm done with him."
"That's what I'm talking about!" Toph praised but seemed to rethink her instinct to punch his arm—he wasn't in the mood, and he knew it was obvious.
Sokka looked grim. "What can we do, Aang? Without the Phoenix, this war could be extended for another year—it gives Vaatu that army he needs. There could be thousands upon thousands of chi-stealers on his side, and we were trying to take that away from him, robbing him of that ultimate army."
"Are we sure the Phoenix is gone?" Azula challenged, watching him. "Perhaps the Face Stealer hid him too well."
"He betrayed me," Aang muttered, afraid if he spoke louder it would be a roar. "I know it—I feel it."
He always knew he and Koh would end up on opposing sides, drawn into inevitable conflict, but he thought he could trust Koh to guard the Phoenix because Koh wanted Balance as much as he did!
It had been a fatal miscalculation, for which everyone would have to pay the price—such was The Avatar's legacy, it seemed.
"Are you sure? If the Face Stealer is here in the Mortal Realm now, why would the Phoenix not be, as well?"
Aang blinked in surprise, having not thought to consider it; he closed his eyes and stretched his senses, releasing his presence across his senses, feeling the world, all the energies connected intimately and profoundly. However, he couldn't find the Phoenix—he couldn't find Koh, either, which confirmed to him that Koh betrayed him, avoiding his gaze, hiding, knowing he committed an unforgivable betrayal. As a last resort, knowing it was his only option, he handed Samir to Azula as he entered The Avatar State and peered farther, stretching his senses to the ends of the world, absorbing everything and sifting through the primordial onslaught—and found the Phoenix where he least expected it.
Aang exited The Avatar State, stunned—but still furious—as he retook hold of Samir, who stared at him with bulging eyes. "It's okay," he soothed. "It's me. See?"
Samir touched his face and tugged at his beard before she nodded in acceptance. "You're Daddy."
"He's in the South," Aang notified to the others.
Sokka's eyes widened. "What? The Face Stealer?"
"The Phoenix," he clarified but winced. "Well, they both could be. I can't find Koh. But we know the Phoenix is in the South."
"But why?" Zuko demanded, face dark. "Why would the Face Stealer do this?"
Azula's lips thinned. "He knows the Phoenix will enable Balance's return, and he wants Balance, as it is his nature, but he does not want Balance yet; he wants it delayed."
Aang's fists clenched in realization; he should have known. "He wants to give Vaatu time to get another army—damn him. He sabotaged the Phoenix. The Phoenix should be done, but he's not; he doesn't feel done. I think he's close. The timing isn't aligning now. This gives Vaatu the time to get his army- "
Katara shook her head. "But what army? There is no army he could get."
Hakoda's face was withered; he looked sick. "The South's army. That's why the Face Stealer brought the Phoenix to the South—because it's where- "
"Vaatu is," Aang finished, cursing under his breath. "That's it. Vaatu will use the South's army, the last available army in the world. He knows I'll have to wipe them out if they allied with him- "
"They would never ally with Vaatu!" Katara protested, face pale. "Never! How could he- "
"All it would take is domination," Sokka interrupted, resigned. "He could lie and say Aang destroyed the Family, killing Dad and us—and they could believe him because they have to. They don't want to die."
"They will if they betrayed me for Vaatu," he muttered, feeling so exhausted, rubbing a hand over his face. Why did everything have to be so hard? He wasn't sure if he ever understood Kyoshi as much as he did currently.
Bor glanced at Sokka. "Avatar Aang, be careful. You do not think straight."
"I'm older than all of you," Aang dismissed, frayed to his seams—would the Greater War ever end? "I can say whatever I want."
"And since you are The Avatar you can do whatever you want, as well," Jin called out, surprising him.
Azula whirled on Jin, golden eyes on fire, face reminiscent of the girl from the Great War. "Silence, Queen of Chyung."
"I can't find Koh, either," Aang notified, not willing to decipher the evident animosity Azula held for Jin—it was clearly more than Jin getting closer to Haru, whom Ty Lee had loved. "He betrayed us, but we know where the Phoenix is—and where Vaatu is based on it."
"This is horrible," Katara breathed, eyes pinching in sorrowful frustration.
Aang hissed between his teeth. "And the Solstice is several weeks away—it's worrisome. I don't know what Vaatu plans to do on the Solstice, but I know he plans to do something. We leave immediately."
"I'm sorry this happened, Daddy," Samir whispered, nestling her face into his shoulder, avoiding his beard, though her fingers held onto his beard hairs in a fistful, keeping him with her physically.
He rubbed a hand over her face, finding peace in her weight settled against him—it was the only peace he was capable of. How he missed Gyatso's wisdom! "Thank you, Samir. You're a good daughter."
She seemed to preen, nuzzling him. "I know. You're a good daddy."
She was certainly Azula's daughter, even though not of body.
"How quickly must we depart?" Ursa asked, approaching with Batsu.
"We needed to leave yesterday," he said instantly. "We leave as soon as possible. We leave today. I know it's short notice- "
"I'll write Anju to send forces to the South if she can. She'll probably come herself," Batsu announced in interruption and left the room without waiting for an answer.
That reminded Aang of the obvious as he looked at Zuko, locking their gazes. "Have you received word of those recovered Firebenders I purified at that village on the continent?"
Zuko looked somber. "Not a word."
He feared the meaning of the silence and bit back a curse because Samir was watching him with her big gray eyes. "We can't wait for them. Write the Sun Warriors—we need them. I don't care what you have to promise—offer them the Dragon's Throne if you have to. Fly there and tell them if you must and then fly back. But tell them to travel and meet us at the South. I want them there to meet us. Can you do that, please?"
Zuko nodded and stalked out of the room, followed by Iroh, likely to advise on the wording of the letter.
"What else?" Azula asked, bracing a hand against Samir's tiny hand clutching at his beard and gently unfurled it, even though Aang didn't mind the hold.
He gripped his hair, furious, knowing Koh's days were numbered; he hoped Koh knew it, too. He could let Ummi's theft pass, but he could not let this betrayal go unanswered, and the only answer was destruction. Koh declared war, and Aang declared war in turn—it was time. "This is the end of the war, which means the worst of it. The Great War's worst fighting was decades before its end, but this is different. Millions upon millions have died in the world during this fighting—Water, Earth, and Fire are endangered—but the final clash is nigh. It will determine if we're only endangered or extinct, if there will be hope or despair."
"We're behind you," Bor vowed, face pinched, eyes determined. "Whatever you need."
"We go to the South to fight," he decided, looking at Hakoda. "I hope your men are ready to betray Vaatu if they allied with him."
Hakoda looked grim but expectant. "They are—or they will be by the time we arrive. It will take time to get there."
"I know, which is why we have to leave as soon as possible- "
"Suki is pregnant!" Sokka snapped, face flush. "She could go into labor any day now!"
Aang squeezed his eyes shut, impotence and frustration shaking him. "I'm sorry, Sokka—I am. It's your choice. I can't stay here to protect you, Suki, and your twins, and I can't have anyone else stay here, either, to protect you. You can stay here or- "
Sokka cursed under his breath, clearly understanding the necessities of the situation. "Fuck! We're going." He scrambled to Suki and placed a gentle but sturdy hand on her swollen belly. "Is that okay? Can you make it?"
Suki flashed an exhausted smile. "I don't see why not. I'm a Kyoshi Warrior. If anything, it might be good for the twins to be born in the South, their father's homeland."
"We'll be ready to go, Aang," Haru called out.
Katara nodded in affirmation. "We need to get to the Phoenix as soon as possible."
The fact that Vaatu hadn't already destroyed the Phoenix notified him that Vaatu intended to use the Phoenix for his own purposes, which offered him a thin, narrow path to recovery. "Yes. We leave today."
XxXxXxXxXxX
Hakoda volunteered to deal with Hama and prepare her for the trip, not missing the shuddering relief passing over Katara at his commitment, but he felt no gladness for it—only curiosity and hesitation. He had waited too long to meet her and talk to her, trying to make sense of the fact that his aunt was alive after thinking his whole life that she was dead. He had heard the story during his childhood from his mother in which his aunt was a powerful Waterbender who was taken by Fire, captured as a war prisoner, from which she inevitably died a painful, horrifying death. His mother had always told him that her sister had died and was dead, saying no one could survive Fire. Whenever he asked if she was sure, she would simply look at him with a withered look on her face, eyes dim with grief, and say that she hadn't heard from her sister in decades. She said if her sister had managed to impossibly escape, she would have heard from her—because she would have traveled home, returning to the South.
Returned to the Family.
But his aunt never did, which confirmed to Hakoda the fact she was dead—or so he thought because his aunt was alive, for the evidence was before him.
The guard had opened the cell for him, leading him inside before sealing it, leaving him standing amongst the torches lining the walls, leading to a chained figure slouched on a bed. The key to his aunt's chains was held in his hands, deposited there by the guard after showing him the letter from the new Fire Lady, ordering the prisoner's release into his care. From what he heard the Dragon of the West describe to Pakku, his aunt was unresponsive, even to his 'powerful charms,' and he had no idea how to help her, even wondering if she could be helped.
Hakoda wasn't sure but knew it was time to find out—because there was no more time.
The swollen belly, nowhere near Suki's prominence but still very evident—his daughter-in-law could go into labor any day, which made the resulting travel all the more worrying—caught his attention, but his presence hadn't caught his aunt's attention. From what Katara said, Hama had no idea she was pregnant, which astonished him, but he was thankful—he didn't want to have to deal with that mess on top of everything else going on.
But how long would his aunt remain ignorant?
"We don't know each other," he began quietly, "but we should. It's a crime that we don't know each other."
His aunt didn't react, looking lost and broken, and he knew why—her waterbending was gone. His mother had told him that her sister adored her waterbending, loving it even more than she loved a man named Kanak, and that for her to be deprived of her waterbending as she died must have been torture to the extreme.
But Aang had taken his aunt's waterbending because she was a terrible danger—she had been the reason why Samir and Dowager Fire Lady Ursa were kidnapped by Ozai at the North, according to what Katara told him after he confronted her about Hama's identity as his aunt and her grandaunt.
His daughter and aunt were at terrible odds, for his aunt despised his daughter and wished for her to die.
How did the Family get so broken?
"I wish things didn't reach this point, and I wish I could do something for you, but I don't know what I could do. Too much has happened."
Silence.
"Are you going to say anything?"
Silence.
"Not even if I tell you Katara sent me?"
Silence.
"Why did you do it?"
Silence.
"I'm not going to leave you alone."
Silence.
"You think this silence of yours is impressive, but it's not; it's just weakness."
Silence.
"You're never going to have a chance until you speak for yourself. Go on—defend yourself. Tell me the justifications for all that you did and all that you are; tell me the reason for your abandonment."
Silence.
"I don't buy this silence; it's polardog shit, and we both know it."
Silence.
"My name is Hakoda. That's your uncle's name, isn't it?"
His aunt's suddenly tight posture alerted him that she wasn't as out of it as Katara seemed to think. "How do you know that?" Her voice was a broken rasp, unused in many weeks, but it gained strength with each word she uttered, followed by her finally looking up at him, revealing to him her face. "Who are you?"
Hakoda inhaled sharply at her appearance—so like his mother's when he was a boy—and stared at her, mesmerized. "To answer your first question, my mother told me that; to answer your second question, I'm your nephew—we're Family. My mother told me about you. She said how you were taken in a raid. She told me a lot about you. You look like her, how I remember her looking when I was a boy—the very image I will always hold when I think of my mother."
His aunt's face flickered in realization; a sudden yearning appeared, to which he felt a deep connection. "You're Kanna's boy?"
"Her only one; she had no other children."
"Your father was Hada?" she asked after several seconds, seeming to scan his face for the answer.
"Yes," he confirmed. "I'm the South's Chief—like he was."
A shocked laugh echoed. "It figures. He was after her for a long time."
"Even longer," he agreed, thinking of the stories his father and mother talked about regarding their courtship. "She made him work for it."
Something inescapably fond and sad crossed his aunt's face. "Yes. That sounds like her."
Hakoda sat down slowly across from her. "You're my aunt; I'm your nephew. Why are we only meeting now?"
Mad fury burst in his aunt's blue eyes. "Fire murdered Kanak, who would have been your uncle, and stole me- "
"You escaped and chose to stay in the Fire Nation—Katara told me the story." He leaned forward, confusion and distress mingling inside him. "You could have come home. Why didn't you come home? Why didn't you give my mother the greatest gift of her life other than my father's resurrection? Why did you reject the Family?"
A sudden realization appeared on her face. "You're Katara's father."
"Yes- "
"She betrayed Family!" his aunt howled in judgment.
Hakoda's eyes narrowed. "She only betrayed it because you betrayed it first, refusing to come home, denying all of us from knowing you."
His aunt flinched. "She betrays me now," she whispered. "I want to die. I'm ready to die. And she won't let me. Look at me." She gestured in disgust to her body, specifically her swollen belly, unable to be hidden. "She makes me fat, feeding me so much food, to keep me alive."
Hakoda wondered at her line of thought but realized his aunt had inevitable difficulty seeing that which was directly in front of her for what it was—she had no idea she was obviously pregnant because she never knew Ozai was Ozai, despite all the evidence.
He pitied her. "How long were you imprisoned?"
"I don't know," she whispered. "I didn't have a sense of time—I lost it. All I know is that it was years. I don't even know my age, only an estimate."
"Why didn't you come home?"
His aunt was silent for a long time, a visible struggle on her face before she sagged. "I wanted revenge, and I thought it was more important than Family."
He leaned forward, shaking his head. "No. That may work on Katara; that may work on Sokka—it may work on any of the others, including Avatar Aang. But that doesn't work on me because I know the truth of our race and culture—I know how things were before we were conquered the second time. I know our customs. We grieved you—my mother and father did—for years, and they both said that the Family was broken after you were taken. Why didn't you come home?"
"I told you- "
"I don't believe you—I know there's more to it."
The rage appeared, filling her face with scorn. "Believe what you will, Nephew Hakoda."
Hakoda sighed, leaning back. "I used to think about you when I was a boy," he whispered, watching her face—so like his mother's when he was a boy. "I saw how deeply it hurt my mother, the fact you were taken and assumed dead. It hurt her; it broke her in many ways. You weren't only her sister; you were her best friend—she told me that. As I grew up, I use to dream that I'd be a great warrior who would invade the Fire Nation and somehow find you and rescue you, making the Family whole again. But that was a fool's dream—because there was nothing to find as you left on your own and refused to come home. And now I hear that you hate my daughter, your own grandniece—your sister's granddaughter. I smell polardog shit, and it's not coming from me."
His aunt laughed, but it sounded broken. "You have Kanna's spirit."
"And my father's heart, I'm aware. I want an answer—I deserve an answer, Aunt. There's only one clear thing to me—you hate the Family."
"Katara put me in prison again. She hates the Family!"
Hakoda scoffed, knowing the story, and he trusted Katara's version of events infinitely more than Hama's version of events. "After you used bloodbending on- "
"On scum!" she shrieked. "They were Fire! They deserved it! It was the least they deserved it!"
He glanced at her swollen belly, in which lived Ozai's child, and Ozai was the most monstrously Fire out of anyone he could think of—and his aunt had laid with him. That baby was part of the Family, too, which made the equation a lot more complicated with the additional element. "I understand vengeance—my wife was killed- "
"Katara told me," his aunt notified, voice softer. "I'm sorry for your loss. I know how it feels."
"I'm sure you do. And I wish you got your vengeance—I really do. But you didn't. Can't you see that? You didn't actually avenge yourself on those who really wronged you. You became just like those who wronged you and terrorized people who had nothing to do with it."
"They were Fire! Katara should have understood! She betrayed me—betrayed Family!"
"She was fourteen," he stressed, staring at her in disbelief, wondering what she could have possibly been through, how she could have been tortured, to make her mind unable to grasp something so simple. "What was she supposed to do? You didn't even tell her that we're Family! She had no idea! And even if she did, what could she have done? You were a criminal, and the Great War was going on! There were bigger things than you!"
"You know nothing of it!"
Hakoda couldn't stop the laughter from escaping. "Maybe not, but here's what I do know. You were the first Bloodbender, unknown to anyone, on top of being a very powerful Waterbender. What I know is that you didn't go to the Caldera and assassinate Azulon, who would have been powerless against you if you timed it correctly, which you were very capable of; what I know is that you didn't take actual vengeance and kill the son of the man who you think started everything; what I know is that you never targeted anyone who could give you any kind of challenge and make you work for it; what I know is that you were lazy; what I know is that you stayed in a location no one could find you for decades just so you could prey on innocent people who couldn't defend themselves against you; and what I know is that you really hated Family instead of loved it by staying away for so long. I know how vengeance works, Aunt. If it was really about vengeance, you would have marched to the Caldera, timing your journey perfectly and do everything to make it successful, until you reached the Fire Lord and killed him. But that's not what you did. You stayed put and did nothing, content to terrorize the same people over and over again for decades. It was never about vengeance; it was about cruelty. You were never about avenging; you were about terrorizing—and terrorizing the Family with thoughts of your torture and death."
There was a horrible pallor on his aunt's face, but she was snarling at him, eyes wide with mania. "Stop it!" she howled. "You know nothing! You're not Family! You're a traitor, like your stupid daughter!"
Hakoda exhaled slowly in disappointment and stood to his feet, revealing the key in his hands, to which she went still instantly. "You don't know why I'm here—it wasn't only to introduce ourselves to each other and have this little reunion. You're leaving."
His aunt blinked, shocked. "What?"
He smiled but felt no confidence. "That's right. You're going home now—to the South, the home and family you abandoned decades ago. This is your last chance, Aunt. I hope you take it."
Silence—filled only by her shallow breathing; her eyes were in a permanent state of shock, fixated in her slackened features.
"You're coming with us," he repeated, approaching her. "It's only because we have no other choice, but you should count your blessings. You'll see my mother again for the first time in over sixty years—your sister." He inserted the key into the lock holding her chains against the wall and freed them, to which he took control of them and held them in his grip; she would remain chained as a precaution, but it mattered who held the chains. There was part of him that wanted to let go of the chains and let his aunt run free, to be free from all the horror that had so obviously destroyed her, but he couldn't do it—not only because of the child in her swollen belly. "Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Silence.
Hakoda crouched in front of her, jingling the chains in sound, locking their eyes; hers were unseeing, glazed, and teary. "Do you understand, Aunt?"
His aunt swallowed thickly. "Home."
He nodded. "That's right. You're going home—you have the real chance to be part of the Family if you take it. You don't have to die; you get to see home again. Stand up."
She struggled to her feet, and while he felt the instinct to help her, he didn't trust her not to attempt something; he let her struggle. "Are you lying?"
"No," he promised. "I wish I was, but I'm not. Come on."
Hakoda led her out of the cell, forcing her to walk in front of him.
XxXxXxXxXxX
The Gardens of the Dead were unlike what he expected, idle and serene; it was a literal garden where nothing but conversations appeared to happen with each Race having its own designated section. There was no action or excitement; there was simple lethargy and languishing with nothing to do but seemingly 'sleep' or converse. There were countless pathways, trees, and other fruits blooming everywhere—it was a beautiful space, from which no one would ever want to leave, luscious and renowned.
Ozai thought it was dreadfully boring.
He bumped into countless spirits conversing with each other, trying to fight through the massive crowd as he followed Vaatu, who parted the crowd, only for the crowd to form back behind him and smash into Ozai, who was not amused. It was his powerful restraint that prevented him from attacking the spirits—even his notable aggression was dimmer in the serene Gardens of the Dead, which had a peculiar impact, a soothing one in which gentleness and passivity seemed celebrated and encouraged.
It was the relaxation of dying.
Ozai found it disgusting and hated the thought of The Avatar banishing him to the Gardens but knew that The Avatar, the sickening fool that he was, yearned for such disgust—and vowed to deny it to him. He would put The Avatar into the Void, not in the Gardens!
When they reached Fire's section, he found himself scanning every spirit he encountered, looking for a sign of greatness in the face, looking for a recognizable figure from the many portraits he had seen of his ancestors and predecessors, men of renowned, who achieved incredible things—things he had already equaled and would surpass.
He was so close!
As he passed millions of his race who had already lived and died, he felt great regret that Ursa was not present to share the profound, unforgettable experience with him. She should gaze upon the glories of their race as he did, seeing everyone to ever live and die stretching back eons, able to communicate if necessary—see the long expanse of history and realize its continuance was ensured due to the fact they lived while the spirits did not.
Why did Ursa have to betray him?
"Uncle?"
Ozai stiffened and felt more than saw Vaatu pause in leading him as he turned to the face, attached to the spirit, he knew instinctively he would see. "Nephew," he greeted, staring at Iroh's son. "Yes, it is me."
Lu Ten, dressed in familiar military armor, a diligent soldier even in his death, approached him with a broad smile. "How are you here like this?"
He glanced at Vaatu, who said nothing. "He brought me here."
"He is a powerful spirit."
"The most powerful spirit," Ozai confirmed. "I will bond with him to become my own Avatar to defeat The Avatar. You are welcome to join me if you desire. I can give you a new body."
Considering he had deprived Lu Ten of his previous one, it was simply the honorable, courteous thing to do. And it would be delicious revenge on Iroh to bring his son back, keeping him as an ally against him.
"I was killed," Lu Ten said with a maddening serenity. "Why would I want to return?"
Ozai scoffed. "You are like your father."
Something mourning and hopeful appeared on Lu Ten's face, dissimilar to Iroh's in most ways—but there were signs of the resemblance. It had always been enough to keep Ozai from going to Father with whispers of cuckoldry and Natsumi's infidelity. "How is Father?"
He recalled instinctively the last time he saw Iroh when Iroh visited him one time after The Avatar shamed him forever—well over ten years ago by now, possibly closer to eleven years. "Old and slow. He should not be, but he does not take care of himself. Your death crushed him."
"I know it did," Lu Ten agreed in sorrow. "He wanted to die after it happened, wanted to join Mother and I, but we convinced him he was still needed. He has so much love to give."
Ozai turned away from Lu Ten, disgusted, for Lu Ten clearly knew little of the man his father once was. "Goodbye, Nephew."
"Will you tell Father I want to see him again but only when it is time?"
He smiled, glancing back. "I will tell him to his face."
"Thank you, Uncle."
Ozai continued on, following Vaatu, who clearly knew his target, directing them farther into the Gardens along countless curves, twists, and binds with great shadows trailing. There were even some curious spirits who followed after them, but Ozai paid them no mind, for they were obvious followers; he did not need followers—he needed great men. Thus, none of the spirits, even of his race, were worthy to join him.
"Here we are," Vaatu murmured, pausing finally at a grove aligned by several trees.
He stepped past him, feet crunching in the luscious grass and froze, inhaling sharply, almost a strangled choke of air, upon the sight of a familiar figure he never knew from his own memories but from portraits he saw—Grandfather.
Ozai did not bother saying a word to Vaatu as he approached Grandfather, feeling nervous and anxious for the first time in decades—since his plan to assassinate Lu Ten commenced. It was a churning sensation in his gut as he approached the greatest man to ever live, except for The Avatar—but Grandfather was so much more of a man than The Avatar, who was a god, which made Grandfather better on some level. He tried to prepare words to speak, to greet, but there was nothing but his feeling of shame in ruining the greatness Grandfather began.
When he reached Grandfather, who did not turn to face him, reclined against one of the trees, not even realizing his presence, as he was insignificant next to him, Ozai fell to his knees, impotent; he had no words—there was nothing to say. It should not be Grandfather following him to destroy The Avatar but him following Grandfather to destroy The Avatar. Grandfather was so much greater than him in every way, accomplishing so much—terrorizing The Avatar so severely that The Avatar vanished for a century. He rested his golden eyes on Grandfather's outline, glimpsing the withered profile and long hair and beard, and atop his head rested the Fire Lord's crown—a symbol of his identity, clear for anyone to recognize. Yet Grandfather simply stared into the distance of the Gardens, reclined against the tree's massive trunk; he appeared elsewhere, as if his spirit was in the Gardens while his presence was in a separate place.
Ozai's body buzzed with nervous anticipation, but as he sat there longer without saying a word, the pressure built, bearing upon him, and he almost trembled in dread—and fury. He was a great man with a great legacy, pursuing an even greater ambition! He was meeting the greatest man to ever live—before he surpassed him shortly! He should be erupting with excitement and joy, but there was only fear—the fear of judgment. He had never measured up in Father's eyes. If he failed to measure up in Father's eyes, how could he measure up in Grandfather's eyes?
As his eyes continued roaming Grandfather, he knew suddenly that Grandfather was aware of him, but as he finally gathered his strength, Grandfather spoke first, beating him to it.
"I do not entertain gawkers," Grandfather said, voice like gravel, not looking at him, as if he was not worth his attention.
"Not even admirers?" he asked quietly.
"Not even lovers."
Ozai swallowed and glanced back at Vaatu, but Vaatu was gone, possibly finding the other spirits of great men who would join them; he looked back at Grandfather tried to follow his gaze into the distance but saw nothing. "What do you look at?"
"My children and wives."
He craned his neck, curious for a sight of Father, but he saw nothing still. "Why are you not with them? Surely they want to be with you."
Grandfather did not react; if it were not for the fact that his eyes were open and aware, it would appear he was asleep forever. "I am the reason for the suffering they endured in their lives; I refuse to cause them suffering in their deaths, most of which I am responsible for. My second wife lost her hand and almost died in childbirth, almost killing my first son, because of me. That son was the only one who lived. All my other children, despite their beginnings being healthier, all died, lines dying out."
Ozai's eyes widened in disbelief. "No, there is more- "
"Do you know who I am?"
"Yes!" he exclaimed. "You are the greatest man to ever live! You looked to the world as your inheritance and sought to make it better! You saw the truth of The Avatar's evil! You saw what he is capable of, his great capacity for apathy, cruelty, and evil! The Avatar slaughters where he gazes, and his gaze envelops the entire world! You sought to liberate us!"
Grandfather finally reacted and turned to him; the impact was like a lightning strike to Ozai's mind. "You know legends, not truth, which is greater than legends, for legends have their essence in truth. But you have the legend, a fraction of the truth; you miss the truth itself. My goal was never liberation; my goal was to defend and survive."
"Out of which liberation flows!"
"Do not pretend you possess the intelligence, experience, and memories to judge that which I did; do not pretend you understand my reasons, you boy."
Ozai shuddered at the weight in Grandfather's gaze, so powerful and thundering, seeming to bellow in presence. "Grandfather," he whispered, unable to say anything else.
Grandfather's golden eyes sharpened like blades. "You are not Iroh."
He swallowed. "I am Ozai, your second grandson—but greater in every way."
A terrible analysis appeared, and he knew Grandfather was judging him, evaluating him, and he intended to meet every criterion leveled against him. "Azulon's son?"
"His second son but greater than his first."
"Then you are not my second grandson but my third," Grandfather intoned, eyes flashing with very real grief, and Ozai remembered what happened to his cousin, born by his aunt—he died on his first entrance into the Great War. There were rumors that the Scourge of Fire had killed him long before he became the Scourge of Fire, but there was never any confirmation. "You are not a spirit—you are living."
"And you will join me," he vowed, anticipating thrumming inside him. "We will have our revenge against The Avatar."
Grandfather's face slackened, golden eyes dimming into the distance; he appeared to see the entire Immortal Realm, experiencing it all. "The Avatar?" he echoed. "He returned—I knew he would."
"He destroyed us and cast me into shame during the height of Fire's esteemed victory—right when we were unstoppable."
"We lost the war."
Ozai looked away in shame from Grandfather's ancient, profound gaze. Grandfather began something marvelous, but Ozai had ruined it. Sozin would have never lost the Great War, but Ozai did. He had received a priceless inheritance that was the envy across the world, but he was the Fire Lord to ruin and squander it rather than ensure and secure it.
"But this is our vengeance," he promised, finding the courage to meet Grandfather's intimidating golden eyes, carrying power, experience, and weight unlike any eyes he had ever seen—except for The Avatar's eyes. "This is not only for us; this is for the world—for the very Realms. Think about The Avatar's impact and presence; no man can be called a tyrant but him, for he is the tyrant who began tyranny itself and gave to other men the idea of tyranny. He is responsible for all that happens, and we are the response; the world and history are on our side. We will defeat him; we will destroy him."
"The Avatar cursed me to madness," Grandfather said heavily, looking past him. "His power is unbeatable. You will never defeat him. It is impossible—nor should it be possible."
Ozai leaned forward, invigorated. "We will destroy him, Grandfather. I become my own Avatar. My mastery is not only in firebending but earthbending, and waterbending—I also near mastery in airbending."
Grandfather blinked, golden eyes tracing his face, flickering. "Indeed?"
"Indeed," he confirmed and pushed a gust of wind gently against Grandfather, which ruffled his long hair and beard—and Fire robes. "I will undergo the Ascension and destroy him. I will be the new Avatar to oversee and rule the Realms. There will be glory now; there will be freedom away from his tyranny."
"How?" Grandfather asked, withered, like a beaten man.
Ozai was aghast. "We have Vaatu on our side! We have Agni, Devi, and Indra! We have timing on our side!"
"I once had timing on my side," Grandfather whispered. "Yet timing was nothing next to The Avatar, who appeared and cursed me. Look."
At Grandfather's gesture to the flowing stream beside the tree, Ozai peered into it and stopped breathing at the images he saw. It was one of a majestic temple built into the towering peaks of mountains, appearing to dwell in Heaven itself; it was one of the Air Temples, conquered and burning; there were bodies everywhere—but it was not Air Nomads; it was all Fire Nation soldiers, murdered, bodies motionless. But there was one man—Grandfather!—who was encased in the ground, held in place by an Air Nomad, who Ozai recognized with a sharp inhale.
The Avatar.
"He was there that day," Grandfather said, voice drifting. "Only that day. He destroyed all my army but me. I lived in terror the rest of my life from that day. I knew he would return, and I feared for my children's lives, but my children still died—perhaps from The Avatar. I cannot say. Your father was my only legitimate child who lived, who survived to live past me. I wanted all of them to, but four did not, and I know The Avatar was responsible. He was always there, hiding himself in the shadows, mocking me and maddening me. Was he manipulating events to make it seem like I could have victory, only for him to interfere effortlessly at the last moment and rip my victory away from me? Did he force the war I never wanted? Did he whisper in the Earth Kings' ears, telling each that war was the only answer when it was never the solution? The Avatar wanted the Great War—he forced it to happen, making Earth and Water blinded by hostility and unintelligence. He cursed me to watch it happen and live it, unable to stop any of it. I wish I never succeeded in any of my endeavors. The price was too much."
Ozai was speechless but looked at stream and saw the images clear, becoming as clear the stream itself, and he watched—and listened:
The Avatar loomed over Grandfather, who struggled fiercely to break free, and said nothing, imperial and daunting in his severity, judgment, and intensity.
"You are older," Grandfather murmured, trying to break out of the ground by superheating his fists and body, but it was useless—The Avatar was the ultimate tyrant, keeping him chained. "You should be twelve, not thirty."
The Avatar sat down across from Grandfather, near the legendary Azar, who whimpered in fear. "I've imagined this so many times."
"So have I."
"But what's happened and what's happening isn't how either of us imagined it." The Avatar placed his hand on Azar's snout and forced the dragon into slumber. "What did you think would happen?"
"Victory," Grandfather claimed with conviction.
"You have victory," The Avatar agreed, looking at the destruction all around him. "But all seasons end, Sozin; your victory will turn to defeat. Is this Vaatu or is this you?"
"Who?" Grandfather demanded, face twisting in effort to decipher The Avatar's cruel riddles.
"You killed my race; you desecrated my home; you ruined my youth; you raped my innocence; and you murdered Gyatso."
Grandfather's face jerked forward. "I tortured Gyatso; I crushed him with my flaming fists; I broke his bones; I seared his flesh; I ripped off his ears; I boiled his eyeballs; I demanded your location. But he refused to relent, more stubborn than any Earthbender."
"Not stubborn," The Avatar corrected quietly. "More loving."
"Yes, he loved you with the depths and intensity of a volcano. But you are not even his son of blood. Yet, still, he sacrificed himself for you; he died preserving your identity. But you refuse to do him the courtesy of defending his honor. You are pathetic!"
The Avatar snapped in boiling rage and snared Grandfather's throat and lifted him into the air, pulling him right out of the ground and blocked all of Grandfather's powerful, frantic attempts to harm him, including squeezing Grandfather's throat so hard as to prevent flames from coming out of his mouth. "You think I don't want to kill you?" The Avatar roared, voice sounding like thunder. "You think I don't want to avenge my race? You think I don't want to avenge Gyatso? You think I don't want to avenge myself?"
"Then why not?" Grandfather challenged, choking out the words.
"Because I'd never stop avenging," The Avatar sneered and released Grandfather, who immediately scrambled away, watching him. "And I want peace. Avenging only brings more avenging, not peace. And your race doesn't deserve my wrath. I spare you to spare Fire."
"How are you this old? How do you appear- "
"I don't think you have any idea of the power that lies within me," The Avatar interrupted, circling Grandfather, confining him, pressuring him, forcing Grandfather to his knees from the power emanating from the Avatar. "I can be whoever I want. But more than having no idea of the power within me, I don't think you have any idea of the strength I have to wield my power. You think the Great Comet is powerful, but in me beats a heart that races with the power of a thousand Great Comets. The only reason you still breathe is because of me. I could throw you down from Heaven if I desired it; I could bury you under mountains; I could drown you under the weight of the ocean; and I could smother the fire that burns in your spirit. What power do you hold, Sozin? What power is it that extends your life beyond this moment? On that volcano when you left me to die, it wasn't you that killed me. It was circumstance, something random—a mere chance. It wasn't deliberate and calculated; it didn't have its source in you and your cunning, your power, and your ability. You were just there, and that is all."
"It had to be done! It was the only way to pull Fire out of the weakness you did nothing about! Air was going to raise you to destroy us! They succeeded! This was everything I tried to prevent! Now they will enslave us with their levies again!"
"We were brothers, Sozin, and you betrayed me. We had our differences, but I respected you—loved you—like no man alive. And in return for my respect and love for you, you left me to die. I would have never taken your life, but you allowed mine to be taken; I would have died for you any day, but you made it so that I died because of you. Did you console my wife with words of grief and regret, pretending to care?"
"I mourned you! We were brothers, but you refused to open your mind- "
"Sometimes we can be so open-minded that we're close-minded. You were close-minded—still are, and you will be always. You commend your open mind, but now I will give you what you've always wanted—a true open mind. I will give you the truth. You will know what is coming and what will come for you. Your victory today has nothing to do with you just as your victory in leaving me to die on that volcano. It's only the Great Comet—circumstance—that won the day. It was never you. It's me right now who holds the chains of your victory, and I could just as easily as wrap those chains around your neck and rip your head off as finish this sentence. What can you do, Fire Lord? All that you are is a pawn, a tool—nothing more. How easily you are led by the hand like a beaten child. I could kill you, and it would be so easy; it would be a joy to kill you. But I'm not—because you will be haunted and become obsessed, losing yourself in your anguish. This is my curse on you, and it will be eternal; there will be no cleansing yourself of it. It won't take affect now; it won't take affect today or tomorrow. But it will take affect one day, and you will never know when it happens—only that it will happen one day when it happens. Your identity will no longer be yours, and your own memories will turn on you. Your eyes will not see as they once did; your ears will not hear as they once did; and your mouth will not speak as it once did. You will be blind, deaf, and mute, but you will feel the judgments against you, searing your flesh like the flames you're so proud of, and you will know the whispers leveled against you by your servants, wife, sons, and daughters, the screams and shouts that you will never hear, deprived of eyes, ears, and a tongue. 'This is Sozin,' everyone will say, including those who adore you now but won't forever. 'This is Sozin; look at what he is because he thought he knew better.' One day you will awaken and lose your autonomy as you perceive and comprehend it, and you will be nothing, manifesting—realizing—the bleakness of your spirit. The decades henceforth will be good decades for Fire, yes, but they won't be good decades for you. Misery will cling to you like a desperate child, like the children you slaughtered today who ran into the arms of the monks and clung for life; your misery will infect your soul and taint all your memories once joyful, and your loneliness will rob you of your vitality and vigor until you're nothing more than a husk, a figurehead on the Dragon's Throne, a puppet under the control of your heir. You will lose your children, and your tongue will lose its mobility. Every day henceforth you will regret this day; you will search for me pleadingly and desperately, but you will fail. You will grind your knees to dust from the consistency of your prayers for me to return to kill you, to the end the agony that ravishes your heart and splinters your soul. But I won't answer your prayers. Heaven turns away from you, Sozin, and when you die finally, Agni will incinerate your spirit from existence rather than taking you to enjoy the Gardens, for not even he can endure the shame of you as his prophet. It will happen—all of it will; I have ordained it so. All your repentance and tears won't stop it; they will only increase your long demise. Your dread will grow with each passing day, for you know my curse beckons; it will come for you, and it will consume you."
The Avatar smiled with sharp intent and placed a hand on Grandfather's shoulder, but Grandfather did not shrug it off, frozen, The Avatar's words immobilizing him.
"Enjoy this day, Sozin. Enjoy your victory—because you won't enjoy it forever. There will come a day when you hate it, cursing what you thought was your grand victory on this day because all this does is ensure the Great War, and no matter your pleas with Earth and Water, they will turn from you in hatred and opportunity; they smell blood, like I smell blood in the air now. You and Fire will be trapped in a coalition against Earth and Water—and me. You have no choice but to fight, to fight for your survival, which you denied my race. All your plans of a brighter world dim with each day that passes until you realize that this day, today, is the source of your failure, not your victory. You thought you were liberating Fire from a trap, but you only pushed Fire into a much greater trap, where understanding with Earth and Water will never be reached in your long lifetime. Your solution today ensured a greater problem that will destroy countless Fire men, watering the continent with their blood—because you have no choice but to fight or be destroyed, like you destroyed us today. You will never win—Fire will never win. Even if Fire's victory seems certain, guaranteed against all possible obstructions, Fire will lose. You will live the rest of your days knowing this and being unable to stop it, for the Earth Kings want your head—they want their vengeance. Water's Chiefs will endorse your slaughter. There is no coming back from this—not for you. Air will come back from this, but you won't. Millions of your race will die. Your men will be slaughtered in lands away from their home, and your women will be raped by soldiers defending their home. You trespass on them, and they trespass on your women. You will never be able to stop it. You will live each day of your life to your death knowing it. You will look back on brighter days enviously and despondently and weep in regret, terror, shame, horror, and despair—because you will realize that this day was never your victory; it was your defeat. It's always been your defeat, Sozin."
The Avatar crouched in front of Grandfather, glaring into his eyes with the force of Heaven. There was no touching him; there was no stopping him—not from Grandfather, who appeared dead on his feet, knowing his fate. It was a damning thing since The Avatar was the judge, immune to suffering and cruelty—as he was the source of both.
"Yes, you understand. Live knowing my curse beckons, and you're no Master of Air to evade it; my curse will find you with the accuracy and precision of lightning. Live with the reminders of this day forever and know your fate is no one's fault but your own; live the rest of your days and experience everything; live knowing that your name is smeared forever, tarnished by your own decisions; live knowing that no fathers or mothers will ever name their sons 'Sozin' in honor of you because your name is barred from memory, and even if a man is named after you, no woman will marry him, too disgusted; live knowing that your strivings are impotent and your spirit frail with misgivings; live knowing that you fail; live knowing that The Avatar is—that I am—beyond you forever, always judging and watching, waiting to return to revoke all your evil; live knowing that Fire's loss is inevitable; live knowing that Fire loses because of your actions on this day and becomes stuck in a Great War that you want nothing to do with but are powerless to prevent; live knowing that your real aims with your conquest here today to liberate Fire only enslaved Fire further, but to a massive war unavoidable and unstoppable; live knowing that all the riches and treasures you recover from each Air Temple will not be used for progress for your race or anything but to continue a war effort that will last beyond your long life and long into your death; live knowing that you unleashed everything that so many will damn you for; live knowing that your life is mine to take or spare whenever at my choosing—always; live knowing that you are perpetually in my debt for your continued existence; live knowing that you're not the powerful Fire Lord but the dependent Fire Lord, reliant on your great enemy for air to breathe; live knowing that loss and despair are all you will know; live knowing that your reckoning will come, beckoned by my curse on you; and live knowing you will be exactly like me—alone."
Grandfather croaked in a gasp, shuddering, seeming to shrink in on himself while The Avatar turned around, content with his cruelty. However, Grandfather roared in presence, golden eyes bursting with power and potency, and his fingers wove through the air, calling lightning to him. Unfortunately, The Avatar avoided the titanic lightning strike fired at him, jumping over it—and surged toward Grandfather and struck him in the head with an unforgiving fist. The Avatar placed a hand on Grandfather's face and forced him into slumber—and into a curse impossible to stop.
The Avatar loomed imperially over Grandfather's unconscious body. "May my curse damn you forever," he intoned before turning away toward the temple.
Ozai leaned back, astonished, grasping the forgotten but newfound complexities of the Great War—and the seeming fact that Grandfather never wanted the conflict. "Was that true?"
"He cast me alone forever," Grandfather said, lips stretching strangely in mourning as he stared at him. "And he was right. I am alone, even now. I cannot face my children and wives, not after I brought them such grief—they all died because of me, in one way or another."
Ozai shuffled closer to Grandfather, shaking his head. "I can bring them back, as well. They are all powerful Firebenders, and they can- "
Grandfather's golden eyes burst with wrath. "Do not bring them back," he hissed, making Ozai flinch. "I will have them free from this. I do not want The Avatar to touch them."
"But you will have him touch me?" he challenged.
"You already challenge him—I cannot help you."
"You can help me by joining me," Ozai encouraged. "You can redeem your failing. I think you are an even greater man than I considered before, for you withstood The Avatar's curse and fought a Great War you wanted nothing to do with it, forced into it by Earth and Water."
"The Earth Kings," Grandfather whispered. "They wanted the conflict, and Water—the South—joined after."
"You fought your aggressors off for decades and were winning by the time of your death, and we would have won if not for The Avatar. That is how great we are—how great you are. I always wondered why we never conquered Earth so quickly, but now I understand why—we never wanted to conquer; our goal was to survive, which Earth threatened."
"Because Air threatened it first. We destroyed them because of it, and I was damned forever." Grandfather grunted and shook his head. "I miscalculated. I thought there was more goodwill in the world than there is; I thought only Air was our enemy—I never realized Earth was, as well. The South was the only good one, the only possible ally, but Earth got to them first. I should have made preparations for consequences to destroying Air, but I never did; I thought I could make overtures to ensure peace. It never occurred to me that the Earth Kings wanted conflict. But it was too late, and they did—and I left us groping and scrambling for solutions and resources, unprepared for a Great War. What saved us is that Earth was not prepared, either, and was in disarray; not everyone on the continent agreed with the conflict, fractured rather than united. Fire was unified because we realized our existence was threatened, yet I should have anticipated it. If I had spent those twelve years after Roku's death planning for a Great War rather than only Air's destruction, I would have made it so that Earth was conquered swiftly, unable to recover to strike back. How long did the Great War last? There was no end in sight when I died."
Ozai bowed his head. "100 years."
Grandfather's face broke with sadness and impotent frustration. "It should have never happened—it should have never happened! I could have saved us, saved all our men from slaughter and our women from rape, if I was wise. I should have anticipated it, but I had no conception of Earth being outraged by Air's murder because many of Earth hated Air, too—it was well-known to us, especially the spies I sent to the continent who reported it. Thus, I focused only on Air in my preparations, only amassing resources and manpower for an invasion in a single day, not a full, outright, massive war. I never considered the Earth Kings, who wanted war to legitimize their rules after Kyoshi put them on the thrones after Chin the Conqueror's conquest and refused any attempts of peace offers I made—it was my great oversight. I was desperate for the Great War not to happen, but when Earth declared and prepared an invasion force, making offers to the South to join them, I had to scramble to get Fire prepared for a war we were never prepared for, which is the reason for a 100-year-long war. It should have never lasted so long. It is my fault it did."
"The goal was not to conquer," he realized, leaning back, old understandings clearing for new understandings. "It was to defend Fire."
"I suspect conquest was not the goal until halfway into the war," Grandfather said. "It was only when the goal became to conquer that our strides stopped. When the war started, our goal was to defend our very existence because Earth—and later the South—wanted to wipe us out. Earth did not fight simply to avenge Air's murder; they fought for vengeance for themselves and, according to my spies, to colonize Fire's islands since Earth had such a massive population. The South did not fight at all simply to help Earth against Fire; they fought for social and political advancement, recognizing that there was a lot to gain if they won and helped Earth win. It was a real war, in which scheming reasons get lost in the chaos and madness. I was honest with our race until my madness took over, and I left the war effort to your father, who wanted the war; he enjoyed the fighting, changing the objective from survival to conquest."
Ozai nodded, always knowing Father once possessed such a perspective but never seeing it—because Father's perspective changed. It was why he considered Father weak and one of the other reasons why he sought to become Fire Lord himself. "That changed later on. He sought to end the conflict; he was desperate to for many years."
Grandfather looked worn. "Good. He learned wisdom. Did you want the war, Grandson?"
"I did," he confessed. "I never knew the real reasons for it."
"By your generation, no one would have," Grandfather dismissed, disgusted. "All those who understood it were dead, and everyone living wanted to fight simply for blood, not for understanding. Even if someone survived who knew the truth, he would intentionally muddle the knowledge to benefit himself because he inflated his worth and agenda over the safety and stability of those he represented; he would reframe the conflict into something other than its actual source for the goal of deception and support, because if people knew the real reason, they would never support it. That is how war works, and I lived in war—I was at the top of it and saw how it works and realized the truth of it. There is no madness like war, and The Avatar cursed me to experience it after what I did to his race. Fire never wanted the Great War, at least at the beginning, which is why Fire made such strides the first half of the conflict—as we were motivated with a real reason to fight. Earth is who wanted it at the beginning, but Earth wanted it for the wrong reasons, which is why we crushed them for so long—until their motivations switched to our original motivations, fighting for their survival, to make it a real holy war. The Great War was between Earth and Fire, and both Earth and Fire had conflicting stages of it being a holy war, which gave each side the advantage—until the motivations changed. The Great War changed in its framing across generations because generations themselves are different from each other. That is why you never knew any of the source of the Great War."
Ozai swallowed and felt determination gnaw at him even more cleanly. "We know the source of this new war—The Avatar. It has always been The Avatar—he has never done his job and mired the world in his tyranny. We can redeem our failing, Grandfather; you can redeem your failing. Will you help me? What we do know is defend ourselves from The Avatar's tyranny, making it so that he can never destroy us again."
Something unreadable passed over Grandfather's ancient face before he nodded; life seemed to flow into him as his features smoothed out, appearing younger, hair darkening. His youth returned as vitality and purpose returned to him. "Yes, Grandson—I join you."
Ozai smiled in ecstasy, excitement bursting inside him with frantic intensity. "Thank you, Grandfather. You will not regret it."
Grandfather's golden eyes were penetrating. "No, I shall not."
He felt Vaatu behind him and turned, seeing many spirits—many great men, all of Fire, Earth, and Water—standing there with Vaatu, expectant and anticipatory. He stood to his feet and motioned Grandfather to follow him, which he did silently, and he swept his gaze over all the spirits and laughed when he recognized one of them from experience.
"Chin V," he greeted in amusement. "Such weakness to be killed by a cripple."
Chin V's inbred face, still memorable in death, but lacking the grotesque scars, spasmed in disgust. "I am not here for you; I am here for Vaatu, who will destroy The Avatar."
Ozai looked to those around Chin V and saw the resemblances—and the decreasing signs of inbreeding, traveling to the source. "Chin the Conqueror," he observed, staring at a man who held himself with firm bearing, undaunted by Vaatu. "Thank you for your loyalty."
Chin the Conqueror's face crinkled in memories. "You know of loyalty, something my wife forgot. She murdered me and destroyed my legacy, sabotaging all my dreams. I gave her everything, and she repaid me in ending my life."
All the Chins nodded in unison, to which Ozai smiled and looked at the first Water Tribesman he saw, though there were many. "And you are?"
"Chief Karnok," the man greeted, blue eyes glittering with ferocity—Ozai respected him. "I unified the many communities in the North into one tribe."
Based on his studies of Kai, he knew how the process of unification was blood-soaked. "Do you hate The Avatar?"
"I hate any man who denies me my wants. The Avatar hated my unification and took my wife as punishment; he always lusted after her and made her bear him children."
Ozai was reminded bitterly of Azula, who betrayed him and married The Avatar. "The Avatar is mine, but you will see his demise—you will help me ensure it. All of you will! His tyranny ends now!"
The spirits of great men all slighted by The Avatar roared in approval, hundreds of Firebenders, Earthbenders, and Waterbenders shaking in anticipation, the eagerness on their many faces felt by Ozai in his own spirit—because it was the same eagerness he felt.
"This is an army unlike any other," he whispered, staring at his new army—small but overwhelmingly powerful—and was in lust like never before.
XxXxXxXxXxX
The pace to the South was a brutal one, but he didn't have a choice, forcing a weeks-long trip in days, and to help the Fire ships that Zuko procured for the few soldiers he could gather, he used waterbending to make them sail faster, able to keep up with Appa and Druk, who coasted on Appa's hard work.
It was exhausting.
Thankfully, he didn't have to worry about Hama this trip because Hakoda was guarding her on one of the ships, which allowed Appa's load to be lighter as Zuko flew on Druk, staying behind Appa's current, able to ride it. There were others, like Haru, Jin, Toph, and Bor, who chose to ride on the ships—but it increased Aang's load in having to drag the ships along at a much faster rate than was normally possible. Katara was a big help, but she tired very quickly, and he told her to stop, saying he would handle it.
But it taxed his energy reserves.
All that mattered was getting to the South and getting the Phoenix before it was too late and unleashing a surprise attack against Vaatu—if Vaatu, indeed, was at the South.
There were various outlines of strategy discussed between Azula, Zuko, Katara, Ursa, and Iroh in Appa's saddle, but Aang didn't contribute; he was focused too intently on keeping the ships in the water keeping rhythm with Appa's rapid pace.
"Aang!"
He grit his teeth, keeping his concentration, connected to the water below, keeping a constant flowing wave. "What?"
Katara patted his shoulder, which notified Aang of the sweat pouring off him everywhere. "Look. We're close. I think it's alright."
Finally, Aang opened his eyes with a painful, gasping effort and saw the South in the distance arise out of the ocean's mists, visible and brilliant amongst the remarkable dazzling snow. Euphoric relief filled him when it looked like the South was untouched by Vaatu and Ozai; it didn't look like it had been conquered—certainly nothing like had happened to the North. He looked back into the saddle and saw the respite he felt depicted on everyone's faces, even Samir's as she mimicked Azula and Ursa, beaming back at him with a wild wave of her hand. When he returned his gaze to the North, he stretched his senses for confirmation and was rewarded in feeling nothing like Vaatu anywhere.
All he felt was the Phoenix hidden somewhere near the South.
He immediately let go of the water beneath them with gentle release to prevent a sudden halt for each ship and leaned back against Appa's shoulders, head resting against the saddle lip. "It's okay," he muttered, almost delirious with relief. Koh had still obviously betrayed him, but the consequences weren't as dire as he feared. He had learned over time to think of the worst occurrence happening, since that seemed to be the pattern with the world; he thought that Koh put the Phoenix with Vaatu in the South, producing a swift and inevitable, deadly fight—the final fight—but it was a pleasant and relieving surprise to find the Phoenix alone in the South.
What was Koh's strategy? Was Koh allied with Vaatu at all, or was he allied with himself, having his own agenda and purpose? Neither filled him with goodwill, but it was better than he predicted.
He would still have to destroy Koh for his betrayal.
"Daddy, it's all snow!" Samir exclaimed, leaning over the saddle and tugging at his shoulder. "Can we go penguin-sledding? Aunt Katara said you did before!"
Aang laughed, letting himself finally relax since he learned of Koh's betrayal, letting his body rest; he pulled Samir out of the saddle and into his lap, her weight a real presence that encouraged his rest. "We will, I promise. We'll go once we explain everything with Hakoda to the South."
"Can we go really fast?"
He grinned and blew a small cyclone into her face, which whipped her hair around, making her giggle. "Airbender-fast."
Samir's gray eyes lit up as she grinned back up at him. "And Mommy, too?"
He knew Azula was listening—or keeping one ear aware—in the saddle and shrugged. "I don't know. I'm not sure she could keep up with us. She's so slow."
"My, my," Azula drawled, leaning over the saddle, staring down into his face, upside down. "I hear a challenge, Avatar. Are my ears correct?"
"But you are slow, Mommy," Samir pointed out, confused. "You're not an Airbender; you're slow."
Azula smirked at Samir, golden eyes gleaming, one eyebrow higher than the other in contentment. "I keep up with you, yes?"
Samir shook her head with a solemn confidence born of childish belief. "Nuh-uh. That's 'cause I let you."
Aang laughed as Azula's smirk stretched. "I will go penguin-sledding with you, and if I go faster than you, you must meditate for a whole hour."
A choked gasp echoed as Samir stared up at Azula like she uttered a world-destroying curse before determination appeared on her face, features scrunching. "Deal."
He didn't bother warning Samir to prepare for an hour of meditation and directed Appa to land as they reached the South's capital, passing over the large wall. Rising into the air were large towers of gleaming, glittering ice, below which several interconnected citadels were outlined with blue fabrics imported from the continent with Water's symbol. The South had changed in countless ways, appearing similar to the North in blending into the environment, part of the icy tundra, from which massive cliffs emerged.
Unlike seemingly any other place in the world, the South greeted him with a happy cacophony of greetings and exclamations. The ships arrived shortly thereafter, reuniting Hakoda with his people, who swore the army was ready; apparently, there were waiting for Hakoda's letter for deployment. There were even accusations that some of them were going to take off without Hakoda's approval, but Hakoda took easy charge and introduced everyone to each other as they all crammed into the Elder Building for a gathering.
Aang kept his senses attuned to the Phoenix, vowing to gather it after the meeting, but with the South untouched by Vaatu, the only place he had been in three years not touched or impacted by Vaatu, it was like living in another world—it was the world he wanted the rest of the world to be like, which gave him powerful hope that it was possible. It was distracting and freeing, almost bringing tears to his eyes—from gladness instead of grief, something that hadn't happened since Samir.
"Do we know where Ozai is?" one of Water's warriors asked—based on the way he kept glancing at Katara, he was probably dissatisfied that she was taken from eligibility for marriage, least of all by the Fire Lord.
"No, but we have to leave the South regardless," Hakoda answered. "Ozai is not here; he is on the continent somewhere."
"He was in Chyung," Sokka said, face flickering with grieved memories. "He's probably somewhere around there still."
Aang thought it more likely Ozai would go to the remains of Ba Sing Se but didn't bother raising the point; the building was stuffed with people, no space between anyone with Hakoda, Aang, and company centered in the room, around which a mass encircled them.
"How soon do we have to leave?"
Azula glanced at him. "The Solstice is in less than three weeks—twenty days exactly—at this point. We think the Solstice is a critical date, and we want to stop this threat by the Solstice."
It would be a very tight window, but Aang nodded in agreement. "It's doable. Have there been any reports of faceless bodies found?"
Commotion erupted at the insinuation, whispers and rumors abounding with anxiety and terror in the air, but Hakoda raised his hands and silenced the crowd. "Well? Have there?"
"No!"
"There better not be!"
"If I saw the Face Stealer, I'd fuck him so hard he'd have no face left!"
"I'd take revenge for poor Avatar Kuruk! If that was my wife he stole, I'd be just as pissed!"
"I'd let him take my wife!"
"Yeah! Mine's uglier than a polardog!"
"Mine's too mouthy! It'd be nice for some silence every once and a while!"
Katara looked unamused while raucous roars of laughter echoed, to which Aang stood up, forcing silence. "This is a real threat," he called out, turning around, making sure his solemn, firm gaze meet everyone else's. "Koh is here; he is in the Mortal Realm, and he has already stolen faces; he has increased his collection. I know you all jest because you're uncomfortable but take this seriously; take him seriously. He betrayed me, and he is an enemy. If there is any evidence of his presence, you must report it. Do you understand?"
As expected, his warning sobered all the nervous Water Tribesmen.
"We would like to leave in a week," Hakoda said, glancing at him in confirmation, to which Aang nodded. "The army is already, but we must work on strategy and who will be paired with whom, who will command- "
"That's you, Chief!" one warrior shouted.
Hakoda shook his head. "I will be one of the commanders under Avatar Aang's command; he is our leader. Understand that now. If Avatar Aang gives you an order that contradicts something I say, you follow Avatar Aang."
"Same for me," Sokka added.
"And me," Zuko said.
Iroh nodded. "And me."
"That's a given," one warrior said with a snort, eyes glinting with humor.
Aang rubbed a hand across his beard, trying to calculate the timeline before he realized something very quickly. "I'm going to leave shortly with Fire Lord Zuko and Fire Lady Katara to bring more forces into this army. I'm going to grab a lot of Firebenders who forgot their firebending."
Zuko and Katara understood his allusion but the Water Tribesmen looked confused while Toph's eyebrows disappeared into her bangs. "You don't want me for that?"
He hesitated but shook his head. "I need you to acclimate with everyone here to understand your positions and plan ahead. And remember, Queen Anju- "
"She will send what reinforcements she can," Bor interrupted. "She may come herself."
Batsu smiled. "That was my understanding, yes. She is coming with her whole army, I imagine. She understands that if we lose this battle, there will be no Omashu, regardless. She emptied her forces to join ours."
"And we have the Sun Warriors," Ursa reminded. "We will all meet here and unite, preparing for the assault."
Aang nodded. "There will be more Earth reinforcements. You need to help make sure everyone is on the same understanding."
"Shouldn't be too hard," Toph assured with a dismissive hand waving at him blindly.
"I'll help," Bor promised, clearly seeing Aang's worry on his face.
"This is a big battle," Sokka warned. "I'm not kidding when I tell you it matters more than the Great War—it's bigger. This will determine the world's fate for generations. We have to stop two Avatars from happening- "
Aang closed his eyes in silent frustration as another commotion, this time more hysterical and confused, erupted; he hadn't been planning to mention the threat of two Avatars. "Enough!" he exclaimed, handing Samir to Azula and jumping onto the large table, walking atop of, drawing everyone's attention. "Sokka wasn't lying. You know I'm The Avatar, and you know what it means. Now imagine a second Avatar who wants nothing but my destruction and all your destruction. That's what we face. We have to stop it from happening. Ozai is this second Avatar; he knows firebending, earthbending, and waterbending—I know, it's scary. I'm just as worried as you are. He may know airbending, too, but we don't know for certain. But what we know for certain is that he's desperate. We have the momentum against him. This has been a hard, grueling fight, and you've been untouched by it, but that ends now. This is going to be the hardest fight; it's going to take everything we do to defeat Ozai."
Azula nodded. "However, his time is nigh, and he knows it, which is why he acts now in desperation. All that we do challenges his intentions, for we have made his intentions our own. We weaponize the weapons he intended to direct at us. We no longer defend ourselves from his schemes but launch our own assault against him, and our assault will be a success."
"It is ensured!" he promised.
"We're with you, Avatar Aang!" one warrior shouted, followed by a chorus of various proclamations of support, to which Aang found he could breathe easier. Based on all the past experience, he had wondered in dread if the South would be devoted to him and his cause against Vaatu, but it appeared there were more loyal to him than anyone.
Maybe it had to do with him slumbering in their ocean for a century.
After the meeting and shuffling through the cluttered crowd, all of whom wanted a piece of him in awe and wonder, he left Samir with Azula and took off for the Phoenix, knowing he couldn't put if off any longer—he had already waited too long! When he reached outside the tribe, he looked into the distance, seeing the other villages part of the massive community and followed the Phoenix's beacon, trying to pinpoint its location. Based on his senses, it was nowhere near the villages; it was nowhere near any of the land masses—it appeared in the middle of the ocean.
Had Koh placed the Phoenix under the waves?
The thought made him frantic as he dashed with ever-greater vigor through the snow, reaching the ice's edge, past all the tribe, where the ocean began; the wind brushed against him in reminder, and following his sense, he flew onward. With Agni's dim light, it was somewhat difficult to navigate as he almost smashed into various floating ice masses, some larger than others—but he kept going.
However, something chilling that had nothing to do with the weather ravished him when he recognized where he was going—where the Phoenix was located. It was confirmed when he curved past one of the separated glaciers and saw the warm glow, brilliant in intensity, emanating from the remains of something hauntingly familiar.
The Iceberg.
Koh had a perverted sense of humor—he had always known it, but he was still surprised.
Aang grit his teeth, infuriated by the clear challenge Koh issued him, mocking and scornful, in placing the Phoenix in the remains of the Iceberg, in which he had rested for a century. He landed on the Iceberg, reminded of the Boy who thought he was a dream when they spoke, and tended to the Phoenix, who was in stable but delayed condition.
For whatever reason, Koh didn't want the Phoenix destroyed but delayed—but it didn't matter.
Koh's days were numbered—he would bring Koh to his last day.
XxXxXxXxXxX
Katara was showing him off to her tribe with joy and enthusiasm, pulling him along everywhere and introducing him to so many people that he had long given up trying to remember everyone's names; he didn't really pay attention to any of those he met. He paid more attention to her as she spoke and interacted with others, leading him everywhere; she looked dazzlingly happy, delighted to be back at her home.
He vowed silently to make an effort to visit the South with her once a year, every year, for several weeks after all the chaos was over and order was re-established.
"Do you remember any of the people I introduced to you?" she asked, staring up at him in amusement, her red robes and Fire Lady crown drawing his attention. If he had known the impact the sight would continually have on him, he might have suggested she wear something else; it was powerfully distracting—and worth it.
Zuko shrugged. "I only remember you; you're all that matters."
Katara laughed but rolled her eyes. "We're married now. You don't have to say things like that."
He gave her a solemn look, but let his lips stretch slightly with a smirk. "The Fire Lord is always honorable with the truth."
She pulled him into a final building that resembled a massive hut. "Come on. There's someone I really want you to meet—the best for last."
When he saw Pakku step out of one of the rooms, he had a feeling he knew who he was meeting; it was confirmed when an elderly woman shuffled out of the room after Pakku with slow but intentional movements and paused at the sight of Zuko. Immediately, he recognized her and sighed at the memory of hauling the woman—Katara's beloved grandmother, Kanna—out before the crowd when he was hunting for The Avatar. But before he could make a worse impression, Katara hugged her and beamed. "Gran-gran, I want you to meet someone."
Katara's grandmother's eyes were not vividly blue like Katara's, but they were still blue as they assessed him. "Pakku already told me you're married."
However, nothing diminished Katara's joy as her smile became more radiant. "I know. We are married, Gran-gran; this is my husband, Zuko."
Zuko approached slowly, trying to remember if Katara had ever shared greeting customs about the South, but he recalled nothing; when he remembered what she did whenever she introduced him to all these, there had been not set structure, simple random nods and smiles, and an exchange of words that possessed no rhythm or repetition.
His consternation must have shown on his face as Katara's smile softened. "Zuko, this is my grandmother, Gran-gran."
He smiled at Katara's grandmother and bowed, thinking it the only solution. "It's an honor to meet you."
"You're the Fire Lord," Katara's grandmother observed, watching him with old, alert eyes. "You made my granddaughter your wife."
Zuko nodded slowly, searching for a hidden meaning but found none; it was a simple observation. It was a refreshing change of pace compared to his experiences in the Fire Nation. "Yes, she is my Fire Lady."
"Do you love her?"
"Yes."
"Does she love you?"
"She should."
Katara rolled her eyes. "I do, Gran-gran; I love him."
Katara's grandmother smiled finally and held out her trembling hands to him, which he took after a moment, realizing her intention. "I know Katara's not stupid; she makes good choices, and if she thinks you're a good choice, you're a good choice. Welcome to the family, Zuko."
Zuko squeezed her hands gently. "Thank you… Gran-gran."
Amusement glimmered in her old eyes. "Kanna."
He nodded in agreement, relieved. "Kanna, thank you."
Kanna turned slowly to a chair and achingly sat down, assisted by Pakku. "Tell me, Zuko—when did you love my Katara?"
Zuko blinked, unprepared for the question. "It's still a continuing experience. It started a long time ago, and it grew; it keeps growing."
Katara glanced at him in amusement as she sat down in the chair slanting against Kanna and Pakku's; she patted the spot next to him, in which he sat. "We planned to wait until after this war to get married, but Zuko didn't want to wait any longer; he surprised me, but I said yes. It all happened really fast."
"Why did you no longer want to wait?" Kanna asked, watching him.
He knew he had to be careful since Katara hadn't told Kanna about Hama yet, which meant Hakoda's mistaken ire at the assumption that Katara was pregnant could not be told. "We have all been devastated by this war," he said slowly. "Fire is endangered, and it's a terrible thing. I thought if we waited, our marriage would be the sign of peace that the world needed, but I realized that the world needed it sooner than that; we needed to remind ourselves that peace and joy are possible, even when so much has gone and is going wrong."
Kanna looked unimpressed. "So, it was for politics."
Zuko's eyes widened. "No, that was part of it; that was for the Fire Lord and Fire Lady—if that makes sense. For Zuko and Katara, it was because—at least for me—I didn't want to wait any longer. Chief Hakoda mentioned his wife and what happened, and he said he wished he had more days with her. I realized I wanted every day with Katara."
Katara was clearly surprised, having not known about that part of his conversation with Chief Hakoda, while Kanna looked appeased. "My son likes you to entrust you with such knowledge about Kya—it is a rare thing."
"It's a rare thing for me to like someone," he said. "But your son is a good man, and I respect him; before all this started, he was the only leader in the world worth anything besides Aang and King Bumi."
A secretive smile danced on Kanna's lips; he dimly recognized it as the same as Chief Hakoda's smile—but on a smaller, older face. "He said the same about you. I often wondered why he betrothed Katara to King Kuei instead of you."
Zuko felt sour at the mention of Kuei—how he hated that man and would hate him forever! "I wasn't exactly welcoming to any matches offered to me at that time," he admitted, recalling his previous temperament, policy, and behavior. "My official policy was to deny any bride offered. It was a highly charged situation; it was all politics."
"You did not like King Kuei," Kanna observed, somehow seeing the truth on his face.
He decided not to lie; he didn't even think himself capable of saying a denial, a claim that he, in fact, actually liked Kuei—it was never to be borne! "Not at all. I hated him."
"Are you a better man than he was?"
"In every way."
Katara nodded swiftly. "He is," she confirmed. "He's part of the family, Gran-gran—he really is."
"King Kuei promised my son that Sokka would have the North," Kanna said, watching him in curiosity. "That is the only reason the betrothal with Katara happened. Will you help Sokka get the North?"
Zuko nodded. "Yes, but it's already guaranteed, regardless. Hahn is dead, and so is Arnook. Once this is over, Sokka will go with Suki and his twins to the North to begin rule, and I'm going to support him in every way I can."
Kanna's lips twitched, eyes glimmering. "I guess it's a good thing to have the Fire Lord as a friend."
Once, he would have resented being called a friend to Sokka—not to mention horrified by being married now to Katara—but he smiled, meaning it. "It's a good thing to be a friend and have Sokka as a friend."
"Yes." Kanna's face cleared, revealing a surprising stoicism, but her eyes were cold as the wind outside. "Now to the real matter at hand. If I remember correctly, you once grabbed me by my parka and threatened my life in front of the whole village."
Fuck.
Zuko had hoped she'd forgotten that event—or at least not remembered his identity—and scrambled for explanation, seeing Pakku glance at him with judgment, but he ran out of time and just sighed. "I know. I'm sorry for that. I know it means nothing, but I was never going to hurt you. The only reason I grabbed you is that I thought you might have been The Avatar because you were so old; I thought The Avatar passed into Water. I was trying to get you to reveal yourself and confirm my suspicion, but I was never going to hurt you—as long as you weren't The Avatar. I was never going to hurt anyone who wasn't The Avatar."
If he had actually intended to hurt someone for maximum threat to force the release of knowledge of The Avatar's location and identity, he would have grabbed one of the children.
Katara blinked in shock, clearly never putting together his actual reasoning for grabbing her grandmother, while Kanna nodded slowly. "You seemed more desperate than threatening to me. I was scared, but I thank you for releasing me without hurting me."
"I'm glad it wasn't you who was The Avatar," he said, thinking back to the Great War and being on opposite sides. "Katara would hate me forever if that was the case."
Kanna surprised him by laughing. "I would have made it a lot easier for you."
Zuko recalled how difficult and exasperating it was chasing, fighting, and hunting a twelve-year-old Aang, who kicked his ass all the time and had blatant fun—fun!—doing it. He could almost have changed sides simply for that fact—he wanted to stop getting his ass kicked by a twelve-year-old genius kid. "Yes, you would have."
"For what it's worth, Zuko, I'm glad you found yourself on the right side," Kanna commended. "You make Katara happy, and it's all I've ever wanted for her. If she married you, she had good reason to, and I see some of those good reasons."
Katara knocked her elbow against him, shooting him a teasing glance. "There are quite a few."
He nudged her back. "Probably more than that."
Katara's smile wavered before it tightened as she seemingly remembered something, turning back to Kanna. "Gran-gran, I'm going to bring someone else by to visit you in a little bit. I think you'd like that. Is that alright?"
Zuko knew immediately who Katara referred to while Kanna's brows arched slightly. "More than meeting your husband?"
"More than that."
"I've already met The Avatar," Kanna reminded, unimpressed.
Zuko hid a smile while Katara sighed. "I know, but I'm not talking about Aang; I'm talking about Family. There's someone you have to meet, okay?"
Kanna scanned Katara, going up and down, resting specifically on her hips, which were hidden behind the Fire Lady's robes. "Katara, are you telling me that you gave birth?"
Katara blushed, clearly thinking of their previous night's activities, and Zuko forced himself to admire the hut's design instead of meeting Kanna's searching gaze, but Katara shook her head. "No, no, Gran-gran. I didn't give birth, and I'm not pregnant."
"Alright," Kanna dismissed. "Introduce me to whoever when you're ready."
By the look on Katara's face, Zuko knew she would never be ready to reintroduce Kanna to Hama.
XxXxXxXxXxX
"I never thought it would be this cold," Bor muttered, shivering, despite the thick parka he had been given. "Even my penis feels cold."
Toph was worse off, as she was blind utterly, and had to grip his arm as he led her around. "At least you can see. And don't be asking me to warm up your penis for you."
"Will you do it later?"
She grinned. "Definitely. We never really got that honeymoon period, did we?"
"If we win this war, that will be the honeymoon period."
"Not if," Toph corrected. "When we win this war."
"Right," Bor agreed, sounding annoyed he misspoke. "I know we'll win. It's just a matter of when."
Toph nodded in confirmation; it felt inevitable at this point, especially the Phoenix, which Aang had grabbed, was safe and growing—apparently, it had been resting inside the remains of the iceberg Aang slept in for a century. It was a bold insult if she had ever heard of one, and she knew Aang was pissed about it, especially given how she felt his vibrations through the snow—the snow!—when he walked by her. She simultaneously did and didn't want to be there for when he lost his shit against the Face Stealer.
"People keep looking at us strangely," Bor muttered.
"Why?" she asked, surprised. "Are we still wearing the parkas wrong?"
There had been some laughs she heard as she and Bor tried to put on the parkas, misbuttoning certain areas, and she had hers on upside down until Katara fixed it.
"I think it's because we're ugly."
Toph snorted. "You know, that means our kids will probably be the most beautiful out of anyone's—two uglies making a beauty. If that's not beautiful, I don't know what is."
By the sudden strain in Bor's arm, he glanced at her in surprise. "You think about us having kids?"
She pulled him closer for warmth; he was much larger and, thus, a much bigger source of heat. Stupid Katara had stupid Zuko who was warm while Azula could warm herself and Aang didn't even feel the cold—then there was Sokka and Suki, who were both used to the cold. And Ursa kept herself warm while Samir was running around everywhere, amazed at all the snow. The only consolation was that Jin and Haru seemed to suffer as much as she was based on what she heard—but here she was, outside amongst all the snow and freezing temperatures with Bor, while Haru and Jin were content to stay in one of the homes.
Who was the idiot in comparison?
She decided to blame it on Love—stupid Love, making her want to spend time with Bor, her husband.
"Of course, I do," she said, tempted to reach up and roll her eyes, but she had to devote more energy to try to keep her balance walking as they shuffled along the snow, beneath which was frigid ice. "Did you forget we're married now? You need an heir, King of Ba Sing Se."
"That makes you queen."
"Queen Tough," Toph recalled. "You still want kids?"
"I don't see why you want my kids after knowing the truth of my father," Bor said stiffly; it echoed out of his voice and tightened his body.
Toph squeezed his arm tighter. "Ehh, I've met worse."
She felt Bor's disbelieving stare. "Really?"
"Ozai, Vaatu, Agni, Devi, Twinkletoes at certain points—take your pick."
"I'm serious- "
"So am I," she defended. "You need an heir, and I'm going to give you one—not now but later. We could do it ten years from now. There's time. We're both benders; we can wait a little bit."
Bor sighed. "I look like my father. Do you know that?"
"I figured," Toph said carefully, recalling the various rumors she heard about his appearance. "But I don't care about it. I don't even know what he looked like, and I don't know what you look like. It doesn't matter. I know your heart, and I don't mean just in a stupid romantic sense like Sugar Queen or something; I mean, I know what your heart feels like with my feet—I know its beat, and I love its beat. I felt your father's heartbeat, and I swear on my feet, and you know how much I love my feet, that your heart is nothing like your father's; it doesn't even compare. Where it really matters, you're not like your father. Who gives a shit if people think you look like him? Who gives a shit if you do look like him? That's not what matters- "
His heart hammered against her fingers. "I don't want our children to look like him—like me."
Toph blinked, realizing she should have made that connection and wondering why she didn't, especially when she understood how Bor's mind worked. "Would you love our kids if they looked like him?"
"I don't know," he confessed, ashamed.
She leaned her head briefly against his arm. "Bumi loved you, despite how you looked."
He flinched—hard. "I know. I don't know how he did it."
"Because he was strong and had love—like you. You're a lot more like Bumi than you are your father; you're a lot more like Bumi than you could ever be like your father." She reached up and patted his hairless cheek. "Believe me, I know what I'm talking about—I met them both. You're nothing like your father, and because you're like Bumi instead, you would love our kids if they looked like you and your father."
Bor grimaced, but his heart didn't feel so stressed. "We're going to see Anju again. I don't know what to say to her."
Toph had been wondering how Bor would handle telling his cousin everything that happened, including everything that happened before Bor was born—when Anju was just a toddler. "Are you going to tell her?"
"I don't know how I would; I don't think I can, not now. Maybe after all this is over."
She thought of her experience with Anju and nodded slowly. "Probably for the best."
"She's never been exactly understanding," he said with a wince. "I'm worried enough she'll blame me for his death."
Toph was worried about the same thing but tried not to let it show; if she did, it would make him more worried. "If she does, I'll put her head up her ass."
"That wouldn't be good for relations between us."
She snorted. "When have relations ever been good between you?"
Bor sighed. "It's never been bad, but it could be better."
Toph patted his arm as she kept her balance. "There's a reason Bumi liked you the best—that's all I'm saying."
"No, I think he liked Avatar Aang the best," Bor quipped, and she heard the grin in his voice.
A laugh escaped her. "Are you sure he didn't like himself the best?"
While she meant it as a joke, she knew she only reminded them both of Bumi's fearsome reputation, built atop the bodies of so many people he had killed, for which he lived his life, haunted, because of it.
Bor cleared his throat. "Well, at least he and Avatar Aang got to go on the mail chutes he built in Ba Sing Se with Samir before he died, making new memories. Maybe Samir will think that was the best."
"Don't be too sure," she warned, lips twitching half-heartedly. "Twinkletoes, Lightning Psycho, and Hitchhiker went penguin-sledding. From what I heard, Lightning Psycho and Hitchhiker have a bet going on that sees the loser meditate for a whole hour."
Given how much Samir absolutely hated meditating, Toph wouldn't put it past her to miraculously will herself to victory over Azula through sheer terrified determination.
"What about the Phoenix?" Bor demanded, sounding worried.
Toph snorted. "Iroh, Sparky, and Lightning Psycho Senior are guarding it and helping it grow."
Silence.
"Penguin-sledding?" he echoed after several moments.
She felt a similar level of disgusted disbelief. "Don't ask—I have no idea. They make a weird, beautiful family."
"And we make an ugly, beautiful family?"
"That's right!" she agreed, smiling.
"Bor! Toph!" Sokka called out suddenly, followed by rushing feet. "Where's Katara?"
"What's wrong?" Toph demanded, worried, searching for his voice.
"Suki's in labor!"
XxXxXxXxXxX
Samir adored penguin-sledding.
Azula had intended to defeat her in a race, but upon seeing the lively joy and hearing the shrieks of laughter, she had lost whatever motivation she possessed for a fun, amusing competition. She let Samir defeat her, though she made it difficult in making it a last-second victory. She imagined it would be a good memory to remember, and the more she lived, the more she realized, like Aang once told her, memories were all she had.
Watching Samir dash around with the penguins and blowing flurries everywhere, sticking to her hair and flushed face, it was a strange environment. When they were at the North, she never had the chance to look at the sights and absorb the surroundings due to the situation and the fact that most of the North was demolished and devastated. Several times, she had knelt and brushed her fingers across the snow, some areas soft and other parts hard, like freezing grains of sand rubbing roughly against her fingers—it was fascinating.
Aang had played energetically with Samir after many rounds—Azula had counted twenty-seven rounds—of penguin-sledding, whipping snowballs at each other and raising forts to battle; there had even been several bouts of throwing a massive snowball high into the sky and letting it crash on top of them, to which laughter echoed in the wind. Then, of course, Aang had turned his attentions to her, and Azula had her hands full in defending against Aang and Samir's onslaught of snowballs, which all her tactical training, cunning, and strategy could not defeat—because Aang redirected her snowballs back at her, which made Samir holler in joyful laughter and throw her own snowballs.
It was worth it.
However, while Samir entertained herself and even tried talking to some of the penguins—"I'm just like Grandpa Gyatso, Mommy!"—Aang had relaxed and laid back in the snow, elbows propping himself up; his gaze went across the icy cliffs and to the ocean, directed afar.
Azula sat next to him, fingers cold and slow from the snow, but she warmed them up with puffs of fire; looking at Aang, he did not appear impacted by the intensive cold, and neither did Samir—Airbenders. "Penguin-sledding is a worthy game," she admitted. "However, I do not think it compares to the glories of volleyball."
"Wait until you see airball," he replied, glancing at her; his gray eyes were clear and pale, beautiful to look at with the bright light surrounding them because of the glittering, intense environment. "There's nothing better than airball."
Reminded of the truth about Ty Lee's family, she nodded. "You will have more Airbenders to play it with."
When he did not erupt in joyful exclamation about all the wonderful, miraculous possibilities, she knew his thoughts dwelled elsewhere. There was only one likelihood for his soured expression.
"Are you really going to destroy the Face Stealer?"
Aang sighed, looking out at the gleaming snow, even under Agni's dim light; it was a majestic sight. "I have to, don't I?" he whispered.
Azula had wondered and disagreed. "Think about the consequences," she urged. "He is the foremost Great Spirit, born of Raava and Vaatu's energies; he is Balance. What happens if you destroy him? What impact does that have? Did he really betray us? Make no mistake, I am most displeased that he delayed the Phoenix and clearly bought Vaatu time, but that is all he did; he could have destroyed the Phoenix, returned the flames to Agni, or given the Phoenix to Vaatu. He did none of those things."
"I've wondered what faces he's stolen while he's been in the Mortal Realm," Aang muttered. "At first, when I heard it, I wasn't concerned; I thought he might be targeting Vaatu's agents or something. But now, I have no idea; I don't know what he's doing."
"I do not think it warrants his destruction."
Aang glanced at her, face grim and resigned. "Probably not, but he's too comfortable doing this. He should never be comfortable betraying me. The only reason he feels comfortable doing it is because of my restraint. But you're right—what he did doesn't change much that I can tell. I still can't discern what army Vaatu can raise. I thought Koh betraying us meant Vaatu was going to get the army of chi-stealers as his army, which we didn't want, but now we're still going to get that army, making those chi-stealers Firebenders again. Nothing really changed. I don't actually understand Koh's objective, but the problem is—I know he has an objective; I know he has an agenda; and I know he's working toward a scheme. I know there is something going on that I'm not seeing, which makes me worried—and Koh is the problem."
"He is his own entity," Azula concluded. "He is not loyal to either Vaatu or you; he is a third-party."
His face twisted, and she could not stop the urge to brush some of the snow and frost out of his beard, sweeping her fingers across the thick hair, even picking some out with effort. "He's a very powerful third-party."
She smacked her hands together several times, freeing them from the snow from his beard, and breathed a small flame to warm her fingers. "He is. However, he is not more powerful than you, and he is not a foe to consider in such proximity. I think it is clear he is not allied with Vaatu."
"But it's also clear that he's not allied with us," Aang pointed out, bitter.
"But the Face Stealer has no army while Vaatu does—or Vaatu will have an army somehow. The Face Stealer is not the threat to us; Vaatu is."
Aang's jaw jerked with tension. "I know, but we can't forget about him. He's up to something."
Azula conceived any conflict between Aang the Face Stealer and saw the inevitable conclusion. "You will defeat him, regardless—same as Vaatu. But you must take care of Vaatu first. This may actually be the Face Stealer's plan—distracting you from Vaatu to buy Vaatu more time."
"My focus is Vaatu, not Koh," Aang clarified, firm. "Vaatu is more threatening—by far. I will take care of Koh after."
"Will you still destroy him?"
He sighed, shaking his head. "No. You're right—none of this warrants his destruction. I got ahead of myself. He plays a game, wanting something out of it; he wants to be a beneficiary or recipient of something—I just don't know what. The fact he didn't destroy the Phoenix and only delayed him saves him."
Azula nodded in agreement. "When will you leave with the Phoenix?"
"Tomorrow."
She felt no surprise by the notification; she agreed with it—it aligned with the timeline they needed to adhere to with the Solstice eighteen days away currently. "Do you want me to go with you?"
Aang stretched his hand and blew the flurries into the air, watching the winds take them. "No, Zuko and Katara will be enough. I need you here to be my voice in case something comes up."
"Why take Katara?"
He glanced at her. "She's Fire Lady now. Shouldn't she be there?"
Azula sighed. "It would be an excellent way to introduce her as Fire Lady to so many Firebenders. I trust your judgment."
"I'll let Zuko decide," he said after several moments. "He may want her to stay here to be his voice, actually—I didn't think of that until just now."
"This is going to be a tight timeline," she realized, thinking about the restraints, particularly if Vaatu was going to evoke an invasion of spirits on the Solstice, like Aang suggested. "We have less than three weeks to the Solstice."
"The war will extend past the Solstice," Aang revealed, something heavy and rigid on his face—a grim knowing. "It will be impossible to stop by the Solstice. We still don't have our full army, and I'm not risking anything against Vaatu until we have our full army."
Azula agreed with his caution, remembering what happened last time he led an assault against Vaatu without adequate caution; she much desired not to repeat the conclusion. "We wait for Queen Anju and the Sun Warriors."
"And the recovered Firebenders who are chi-stealers now."
"I like our chances," she admitted after several moments of thought, not wishing to be overconfident as she had during the twilight of the Great War, but she could not help it. There was much about which to be relieved. "I really like our chances."
Aang pulled her against him, and she sighed in relief, leaning against him, letting him bear the brunt of the chilling wind, preserving her energy; he was enticingly warm, as well. "So do I."
"Do you think the Face Stealer will join Vaatu outright?"
"He knows if he does it means his destruction," Aang said flatly, beard brushing against her forehead. "He has never been stupid. I wish he was being stupid now, acting on his own like this, but I know he's after something. The only thing I can think of is that he wants more influence and is positioning himself to fill part of the void after this is all over."
Azula admired the Face Stealer's scheming—but resented it all the same. "That is a strong possibility. He wants Balance, and he sees himself having more influence henceforth as facilitating Balance. Would the Tree allow it?"
"The Tree allows anything," Aang muttered, frustrated. "This all ends the way the Tree wants it to end and no way else. That's the one reason why I can't feel so confident yet. The Tree confirmed to me It wants two Avatars. Vaatu and Ozai can't become a new Avatar as far as I can see for centuries, but we both know this is ending in the next months. Then how can there be two Avatars if the Tree wants two Avatars?"
She felt an ache in her mind as she tried to conceive the possibilities, but there were none that appeared feasible—and if Aang could not discern it, there was no way she could. "Maybe it will happen in another lifetime," she offered, frowning. "Maybe you defeat Vaatu now- "
Aang's arm tightened. "I'm not just defeating; I'm destroying. I'm going to make it so that nothing like this will ever happen again, Harmonic Convergence be damned. But I am concerned that it's not going to end the way we think. We have the momentum and advantage now, but we can't be arrogant; we have to keep ourselves at the same level and in the same place. We have to think like Vaatu is ahead of us; we have to think like he has the entire world as his army. We have to stay the losers rising up to vanquish the victors; we can't be the victors looking down on Vaatu, daring him to surprise us. We can't relax for even a moment until Vaatu is gone."
"I commend you," Azula approved. "We must proceed with caution."
"We'll be ready for whatever happens on the Solstice," Aang vowed. "I'll leave to purify the chi-stealers, and once everyone here is ready, you'll meet us on the continent."
"Where?"
"I'm thinking Chameleon Bay," he said slowly. "It should be big enough to fit all the ships."
Azula nodded. "I will let the others know. If Vaatu invades with spirits, where will he target?"
"Wherever I am to distract me, to free him to do whatever he needs to do."
"Would this invasion of spirits be his final assault?"
Aang's face twisted in frustration. "I don't know; I don't see how it can be because Ozai's not his own Avatar."
Azula hummed. "Perhaps we should prepare for it to be the final assault; perhaps we should anticipate Father being his own Avatar by then."
He exhaled roughly with a deep groan. "There's hardly time."
"But enough."
Aang scrubbed a hand over his face, brushing through his beard. "It's tight. Okay—we do that; we have to. We can't risk it being anything else; we look to the worst. We prepare for it to be the final assault, which means we need everyone to be at Chameleon Bay on the day of the Solstice; we need everything ready by then."
"We can delay our departure from here for many days," she pointed out. "It will allow Queen Anju and the Sun Warriors to reach us. With all the Waterbenders here—and with Katara—we will be able make the trip to Chameleon Bay the day before and meet you in time."
"That's still going to be tight."
"Then we depart early that morning," Azula clarified, twisting her head to meet his lovely gray eyes. "This is our only option. You leave tomorrow, and we prepare to join you in seventeen days since there are eighteen days until the Solstice."
"Make it sixteen days."
"Very well."
Before he could respond, Samir ran up with a disappointed red face, pouting. "Daddy, the penguins keep running away! Why won't they be my friends? How did Grandpa Gyatso do it?"
Aang laughed, face clearing of all stress, and tugged Samir in for a tight hug. "By being Gyatso—that's how."
"But that's not fair!" Samir protested. "Can you show me, please?"
He hopped to his feet, and Azula watched as Aang started talking 'penguin' to the penguins with Samir, trying to lure one close.
She was content to watch—and think about the plan.
XxXxXxXxXxX
She was home.
The cold in the air was so achingly familiar, but she had forgotten it was familiar—until she experienced it again. It was very familiar—as was the ice everywhere, for her room was made of it, locking her in, not letting her out. Her nephew—Kanna's son and Katara's father!—had knocked her unconscious upon their arrival to the South, for she had been, she could admit, hysterical and near violence. When she woke up, she was in the icy room, where light filtered in through the ice in blue, wondrous hues, at which she had stared for hours, possibly days—she had never thought she would see such a sight again.
There was so much beauty. She had gotten used to Fire's sights and locales as the memories of her home dimmed in her mind, blurring into ideas rather than visuals, but now that she was back, even trapped in a room, she wondered how she ever considered Fire beautiful. She had learned to tolerate Fire's locales and environment because she lived there, having no other choice, but it was never a time of contentment or bliss; there was only hatred and disgust that she was forced into such a fate—because of Fire. She interacted and lived with and near Fire men and women, and while she saw the aesthetic appeal of some of them, and perhaps even been attracted to several men, there was never an active assessment of beauty—until Ozai.
She had finally wrapped her mind around the fact that it was only ever Ozai; there was no Piandao. The man she healed, befriended, and loved was Ozai—Piandao was nothing but a name she associated with him when everything that he was, including all that she loved about him, was Ozai.
It was a sobering, haunting feeling. She betrayed Kanak and loved Ozai, laying with him many times, still thinking about him even after he deceived her about his identity—and missing him.
Ozai's brother was nothing like Ozai; he had come carrying tea often into her cell in the palace before departure, but he annoyed and disgusted her so thoroughly that she refused to speak to him. It was not to him she truly wanted to speak; it was Ozai because she missed him. He had been such a massive part of her life, the biggest part in her life since before she was captured by Fire and discovered bloodbending; he had been by her side every day for a year, or even over a year, possibly. How could she not miss him after spending so much time with him? How could she not think about him when he spoke about his ambitions and plans, looking to the future and world? How could she not still love him after he had warned her always of The Avatar's tyranny, railing on about it to such a degree she thought he might, potentially, be exaggerating.
She had no doubts now.
Being home only reminded her of her stolen waterbending; she brushed her fingers against the gleaming ice, trying so powerfully until she wept to reach out and feel the connection, but while she knew the connection existed always, she was no longer able to connect to it.
The Avatar stole it from her, raping her forever.
She prayed that Ozai and Vaatu destroyed The Avatar—it was the least she was owed.
When the ice shifted, turning to water, to make an opening, she didn't bother looking up, not giving the satisfaction. However, unlike previous times, there was not the tell-tale sign of the ice shutting to seal the room. But despite how urgently she wanted to see if there was an escape option, she refused to give the satisfaction. Her satisfaction at giving everyone else no satisfaction was all she had left, and she intended to live it out for the end of her days. When she had the chance, she planned to kill herself to prevent anyone from having the satisfaction of saving her or 'turning' her against Ozai and Vaatu.
The Avatar stealing her bending ensured she would never 'turn' on Ozai and Vaatu.
"Are you ready?" Katara asked, voice tight but hopeful.
Hama didn't look up, saying nothing—give no satisfaction!
"This is a bad idea, Katara," Hakoda said, disapproving. "If she had ever wanted to come home, she would have."
She snarled silently but remained quiet.
"Dad, if she doesn't deserve it, you know who does. Maybe this will be a good thing."
"There's a bigger chance of it going wrong- "
"I don't care," Katara interrupted, firm. "We need to do this. I want her to see; she deserves to see. You know she does."
Hama finally looked up and rested her hands on her bigger stomach, which was swollen permanently from all the food and drink Katara forced down her throat—the traitor of Family! It was all done to keep her fat, making her as fat as possible, so she would be easy to catch in case she managed to escape. It was cruel and disgusting. Katara looked desperately hopeful while Hakoda, named after her uncle Hakoda, the only one who supported the trip to the South when she and Kanna wanted to leave, watched her with stern eyes—he certainly looked like Hada, but something told her he looked more like Kanna when he was a child.
Her eyes glanced at the open ingress to the room, disgusted. "Just kill me."
"No!" Katara exclaimed, wearing those disgusting Fire Lady robes and wearing that evil crown. "We're not going to do that! You're Family!"
She scoffed. "What do you think your husband's going to do after all this is over? What do you think The Avatar is going to do? You're only keeping me alive because I have knowledge about Ozai and Vaatu."
However, if she confessed what she knew, it would ensure her death—they would no longer need her alive and would kill her, releasing her from all the torture! But she held back, not wanting to betray Ozai and Vaatu's plan for the Ascension.
But could she hold on forever?
"Zuko won't do that!" Katara protested, face pale. "Neither will Aang! You're Family."
By the look on Hakoda's face, Hama wasn't the only one with doubts. "Be that as it may," he said slowly, approaching her with the key to her chains. Immediate suspicion filled her as he unlocked her from her chains, freeing her wrists and ankles for the first time in over two months, by her estimate. "We won't deny you your last requests."
Hama's eyes narrowed as she rubbed her wrists and massaged her ankles, reaching over her rounded belly—she hated the sight of it, the sign of her imprisonment, for Katara refused to let her starve to death, forcing massive amounts of food and water until her stomach started protruding, the source of her belly's swollen curve! Her stomach's contents even moved because she had to digest so much food, even pressing against her flesh in light bumps when Katara shoved more food down her throat! "And what are my last requests, Nephew?"
Hakoda crouched in front of her, undaunted by her glare. "You don't want to see your home?"
She inhaled sharply as a searing yearning rushed through her; it felt like her blood itself sang in her ears. "You're lying," she hissed, tears filling her eyes.
"We're not," Katara whispered, smiling in hope. "We want to show you the tribe, let you see everything that you never saw—and that which you forgot. You can be part of the Family again."
Hama wiped the tears from her cheeks, only for more to appear at a rapid pace. "You are cruel."
"Not as cruel as you, staying away for decades," Hakoda judged but held out his hand, offering to help her stand up. "But we can end our cruelty now. Come on."
She smacked his hand aside and struggled to her feet; it was very difficult with her bigger stomach, which she was unaccustomed to. When she reached her feet, panting, she sneered at Katara. "I hope you're happy. Your plan to make me fat is a success, keeping me trapped because I could never escape; I have neither the strength, energy, nor mobility."
There was a powerful exhaustion that had been gnawing at her upon reaching the Fire Nation that only seemed to grow; the several times she vomited upon waking only reminded her of Katara overfeeding her, causing her body to purge as a result.
Katara swallowed and looked away. "Come on."
When she reached outside, feeling fresh, frigid air, it was not like what she expected or anticipated; there was wonder and health everywhere she looked. Katara and Hakoda guided her through the city—because it was a city looking more like the North than not!—with descriptions of events and plans, explaining how things came to be, stretching back years over time, back to the Great War's end, but she barely heard any of it, least of all processed and applied it to her own understanding. All she could look at, awed, was the South as a rising mighty power that surpassed the North, especially the last she saw of the North after invading with Ozai and Vaatu; the South, not the North, was the face of Water, the supreme power of their race for the first time in its existence.
It was unlike anything she thought the South was capable of after the Great War, and she wiped the tears from her eyes, so moved by the sight. "It's so beautiful," she breathed.
Katara smiled and kept guiding her onward. "It really is, isn't it? It can all be yours again, Hama."
But as they kept going, Hama felt her awe replaced by sadness because it was so painfully obvious that the South—her home—had passed her by and forgotten about her; the South never needed her. Even her efforts in defending it during the Great War were futile. She was nothing to the South, forced to be a prisoner because the South valued The Avatar, who would destroy the South, more than it did her, who had been willing to die for it to save it upon Fire's invasion. Nothing in her life could ever go correctly; nothing could work out in her favor. There was always something, even when something was perfect, that would destroy her.
Like Ozai.
She could never go back—and the South would never have her back.
Katara and Hakoda clearly thought they were giving her some sort of rebirth by letting her walk through and experience her former home, but all she heard were the whispers echoing in the air from the Water Tribesmen and women they passed, and she listened to those whispers more than she did Katara and Hakoda's explanations about everything, ignoring Katara's hopeful glances at her. Apparently, The Avatar's presence was an amazing thing to the Water Tribesmen and women, who spoke of his growth and power and commitment to Family by marrying his wife—Ozai's daughter!—and having a daughter. Others warned of the imminent clash and said victory was on their side because The Avatar was there. Others mentioned Katara's marriage to Fire Lord Zuko—Ozai's son!—and its promising influence on the world, which would ensure that the South was tied to Fire for generations, giving them the strongest ally possible—an 'unbeatable alliance,' they said. But the central theme of all the whispers was oriented to The Avatar and how glad they all were that The Avatar was with them and would defend them.
Hama wanted to scream about how it was all so wrong because The Avatar was the ultimate thief and rapist in stealing her waterbending, but she was silenced—because the South didn't recognize or welcome her. She was just an outsider, someone who deserved the ocean to swallow her—forever. She wasn't part of the Family and never could be again—she was an outcast, likely considered more Fire than Water because of her loyalties and experience. It was not her turning her back on the South but the South turning its back on her.
The Family had spoken—made its choice, and she wasn't accepted as part of its future.
Katara motioned her forward to a large hut with ornate steps leading into it. "Come on—come in here. It's a surprise."
She doubted she was capable of feeling surprised by anything and shook her head. "No, I've had enough- "
Hakoda placed a firm hand on her shoulder, blue eyes even firmer. "No, Aunt. Go inside."
Hama grumbled beneath her breath and followed Katara inside the hut, which was well-decorated. "Gran-gran," Katara called out, and Hama's heart stopped—it wasn't from bloodbending. "Remember that 'someone else' I said I'd bring by? She's here."
She staggered back, knowing she couldn't face Kanna, her sister, after so many decades, but the decision was taken out of her hands when Hakoda gently pushed her forward, keeping her from escaping. But before she could fight him, an elderly woman—so old!—hobbled out of a connected room, passing through the doorway and blinked at her in surprise before her face slackened in shock, blood draining from her old face as she recognized her.
She felt the same reaction overcome her, staring at a face that was so terribly old and seemingly unrecognizable, but those lovely eyes—she knew those eyes! And the longer she stared at the weathered, lined face, the more it was familiar to her, the more she saw in her mind the image of Kanna when they were both young. Light burst behind her eyes, almost blinding her, as the memories assaulted her—the images of Kanna, who she once knew better than anyone in her life. She compared the two visuals she knew, the young and the old, and recognized the two women as one and the same, becoming one woman—her beloved younger sister.
Kanna shared the same realizations flashing over her face—Hama watched it happen, riveted—but Kanna moaned, strength failing her; her blue eyes began to roll to the back of her head.
"Kanna!" she gasped, leaning forward, but Katara was quicker, and caught her.
"Dad, help me!" Katara exclaimed, and Hama felt Hakoda move away from her and toward Kanna and Katara, and she knew it was her moment; it was the opportunity to dash out of the hut and vanish into the crowds, but could she leave her sister?
She didn't move.
It was clear that Kanna hadn't fallen unconscious all the way and returned to herself within several efforts from Hakoda to get her to open her eyes, and when she did, he helped her to one of the couches, where the cushions looked comfortable and inviting.
Hama watched it all, silent, overwhelmed—she had no idea what to say.
Kanna grasped at Hakoda, peering past him and pushing him weakly with light strength; her blue eyes were riveted on her, and Hama was the same. "I'm not the only one seeing her?"
Katara smiled and nodded in kind assurance. "No, Gran-gran, it's real; she's real. It's your sister; she's alive."
Tears dripped down Kanna's cheeks. "Hama?"
"It's me, Kanna," she whispered, voice breaking as they embraced, tears spilling down her own cheeks as she felt reunited with Family—something stolen from her because Fire kidnapped her and The Avatar later stole her waterbending. Kanna embraced her, and Hama embraced her back. Kanna wept against her, voice, face, and body so different from what she remembered, and she wept in turn, mourning all that was lost. "I've missed you so much."
She was reunited with her sister, only to lose her again—such was The Avatar's endless cruelty. Ozai was always right about him.
Kanna's wrinkled hands grasped at her as she pulled back, touching her cheeks, awed—lives lived together in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood passed between them, the memories that only they and no one else would ever know, love, cherish, and experience. "Hama, my sister," Kanna croaked in a tearful gasp, eyes murky with water. "It's you."
For the first time she could remember in decades, she felt peace and love; she felt like she really, actually belonged, set in Family—and she was grateful for it; she even loved Katara and Hakoda for making it happen, however shortly. It would never last, which she knew, but she could bask in it—and make it the last sensation she ever experienced. It was time to reveal her knowledge, the only reason for her survival; it was time to make her exit from the façade happening all around her, even if she was grateful to be part of it—for now.
Hama glanced at Hakoda and noticed that there was an older man, in possession of much better health than Kanna, who had entered without her knowing, and there was something about him that she recognized, but she had no idea who he was. But instead of looking at him, she looked at Hakoda, making her choice.
She gasped, tears coming to her eyes as she gripped Kanna's arms; it was the perfect time to die—she was ready for it. She couldn't go out in a better way at a better time. "Ozai and Vaatu have a plan for the Ascension," she said, voice cracking, but it became stronger. "I'm not lying. I've always known."
Ozai and Vaatu would be strong enough to deal with the consequences of her reveal. She just wanted to die, and she doubted they would begrudge her for it.
Hakoda whipped her toward him, eyes peering down at her urgently. "What is it?"
"The Tree of Time," Hama whispered, remembering everything Vaatu told her. It was the way to ensure her death! She was going to die! She was going to go out her own way with her own satisfaction, giving no one else the satisfaction! It was the perfect way after seeing Kanna again and reuniting them briefly, but it could never last. She would die before they would be separated by The Avatar and made to answer for her crimes; she could see Kanna's eyes last with joy in them instead of anguish. "They have to mimic the Harmonic Convergence and will use all the spirits Vaatu persuaded to him and go to the Tree of Time. Ozai will sit inside while Vaatu and all the spirits will pour their power into the Tree of Time to mimic the Harmonic Convergence's power. Then Vaatu will merge with Ozai, and he'll drink the Tree of Time's sap before going into the Void of Eternity, where he will be ripped apart endlessly until the Ascension is complete. But once he comes out, he'll be another Avatar."
Katara's face was slack with shock, clearly trying to comprehend the Ascension, while Hakoda cursed under his breath, but before he could say anything, Sokka burst inside, followed by two Earthbenders, the blind one and the other one that reminded her of Chin V, even though he wasn't Chin V. "Katara!" he exclaimed, heaving in gulps of air. "Suki- wait, why the fuck is Hama in here?"
The blind Earthbender smacked Sokka on his arm. "Focus!"
Sokka blinked and looked at Katara. "Right. Hurry! Suki's in labor! Come on!"
"What?" Katara gasped, eyes bulging. "Now?"
"Yes, now! Hurry up!"
A stunned silence descended before it was pierced.
"Katara, go help Suki," Hakoda ordered, turning to Kanna while Katara dashed out of the hut with Sokka and the two Earthbenders. "Will you watch Hama?"
"Of course," Kanna said, looking insulted, even angered, by the fact he asked.
"I will help," the familiar unknown Waterbender said.
"Thanks, Pakku," Hakoda remarked, and Hama's eyes closed as she realized who the Waterbender was—Kanna's old betrothed in the North, a powerful Waterbender. There was certainly no possibility of escape; there was only death, which she surrendered to. There was no other reason to keep her around and overfeed her now.
"I can tell I'm needed."
Hakoda nodded, glancing at her briefly with a worn smile. "Thank you, Aunt. This is just the knowledge we needed. You may have just saved the Family. I need to go tell Aang immediately."
Hama didn't bother correcting his assumption that she did it to help; she only did it so The Avatar or Fire Lord would kill her faster and end her suffering. She watched him go, leaving her with Kanna and Pakku, something she never expected.
"Hama," Kanna whispered, drawing her attention. "How are you here? You're dead; you're young."
She swallowed and shook her head, feeling Pakku's gaze on her, but she didn't care about him, she never had; she just cared about Kanna. "I was imprisoned for a long time, but I escaped. And I'm young because I'm a bender; my chakras are mastered."
"I heard of benders living longer lives," Pakku said quietly, "but beyond Bumi, I never saw it."
"There was a Great War going on—of course, you never saw it," she said in disgust but kept her eyes on Kanna. "It's me; I swear it's me. We left the North when we were young and made the dangerous trip to the South. Uncle Hakoda's the one who helped us escape and plan the journey, and I see that you named your son after him."
Kanna's face puckered as her tears started afresh. "Hama, it's you."
"It's me."
Pakku sat on the other couch; unlike Kanna, he didn't appear surprised or overwhelmed but rather suspicious. "Are you going to tell her or must I?"
At that point, she knew immediately that Pakku was already aware of her loyalties and the reason for her presence, whereas Kanna blinked and looked between them, trying to keep up. "What? Tell me what? Hama, what's going on? Hama's here—that's all that matters."
"She's here not of her willing," Pakku responded, glaring at her.
If The Avatar hadn't stolen her waterbending, she would crush Pakku's heart instantly, especially when something passed over Kanna's face, making her look even older. "You said you escaped. How long ago?"
Hama swallowed and shook her head. "That doesn't matter- "
"How long?"
"Kanna- "
"How long?"
"It wasn't- "
"Hama, how long?"
"I don't know the exact number."
Pakku frowned while Kanna gaped at her. "Make an estimate."
"Decades, probably close to fifty years. Maybe sixty."
She no longer had her waterbending, but she still felt Kanna's heart break, and it made her want to die—even more than she already was dead. "That long?" Kanna gasped, holding her chest, breaths short and shallow. "But… why? You didn't come home. Hama, what? Why?"
Hama flinched, not wanting to answer, but she knew Pakku would force her to stay. "You don't know what it was like," she protested, voice cracking. "I was tortured; I was treated like an animal! All our brothers and sisters, all Waterbenders, died, one by one, Family dying all around me, and I was going to be next—but I escaped! I fought my way out, and I needed to hurt Fire!"
Pakku scoffed, approaching Kanna and holding her against him as she grieved. "If vengeance was your aim, you would have done more than terrorize- "
"You know nothing!" Hama shrieked, quivering. "I wanted out! I saw what that stupid war did! I felt it more than anyone! I was tortured and starved for years! I watched everyone I was with die! It was only me, and I got out—and I decided to stay out! I knew if I came home, the war would be waiting for me; if I came home, it would follow me everywhere and touch everything, raping me all the more! I made the choice to stay someplace where I didn't have to be part of that war, where I could be free from it—the Fire Nation! By staying there, I could do to Fire exactly what Fire did to us—invade and terrorize, destroying everyone! Don't pretend you understand anything, you coward, living at the North for decades, free! You're a fucking eunuch, never touched by anything, least of all the war—least of all by a woman!"
Silence.
Hama's breathing was rough and chaotic as she bowed her head, shivering and weeping. "I wasn't strong enough!" she cried out, voice wavering with her sobs. "I'm sorry! I wasn't strong enough! I couldn't come back and face the war! I knew if I came back, it would take me again, and I couldn't bear it! I wanted to be free from it! I wanted to come home, I wanted to see you, Kanna—I wanted to do it more than anything! I thought about you daily! I prayed for your health and joy! But I couldn't come home myself—I couldn't do it! I'm sorry! Kanna, I'm so sorry- "
Kanna reached forward and pulled her into another embrace, and they both wept against each other, chests heaving with turmoil and decades of grief, regret, and horror. They rocked in a soothing rhythm on the couch, back and forth, cries falling into a dwindling rhythm as they simply held each other, distraught.
"You're the only reason I ever wanted to come back," Hama choked out. "I'm sorry I didn't."
Kanna pulled back with a teary smile and reached up with shaky, unsteady fingers and wiped Hama's tears from her face. "You're here now—it's all that matters. My big sister is alive, and that's worth all the celebration in the world."
Hama's face crumpled as she collapsed against her, spent and exhausted. "I'm so sorry, Kanna."
"Me too," Kanna whispered. "I'm sorry you went through so much. But we're together again." Suddenly, Kanna's hands rested on her middle, resting gently but firmly—and knowingly. "And I see there's a little one you're carrying, adding to the Family—making this a reunion of three, not two. How far along are you?"
Hama blinked, processing the words and feeling Kanna's hands on the swollen curve of her stomach—she didn't understand. "What?"
Kanna smiled, happiness passing through her lined face, chasing away the grief in her eyes. "You don't need to be bashful. You're pregnant. It's wonderful!"
"No, I'm not," she denied, almost laughing at the absurdity—before she placed her own hands next to Hama's on her stomach, cradling naturally the swell. A dim memory of her placing her hands against their mother's stomach when she was pregnant with Kanna flashed through her mind, and she choked on her sudden onslaught of emotion when she recognized the sensation as the same, despite ninety years of disparity in time.
The reason for her swollen belly wasn't because Katara had been overfeeding her; the reason for her vomiting wasn't due to her grief over her stolen waterbending; her exhaustion wasn't due to her loss in spirit; her stomach's contents weren't moving because of all the food; and the extra weight she gained in her limbs wasn't because of all the food Katara forced down her throat.
She was pregnant.
Hama almost blacked out in realization as she gripped Kanna's arms, mouth hot; it barely worked as her mind raced and made connections, knowing exactly who sired the child in her womb—Ozai. "I'm pregnant," she realized in a faint whisper, breaths gasping, heart shattering. "A baby."
Kanna stared at her in concern. "You didn't know?"
She bowed her head against Kanna's shoulder and wept again. "Born of a lie instead of love!"
XxXxXxXxXxX
I hope that you all enjoyed it. Please leave a review and tell me what you think. I'd really appreciate it!
**Zuko and Katara are married and appreciate it.
**Ozai's airbending progression is increasing, and Vaatu reveals what he and Ozai's final army entails—the spirits of all former great men who stood against The Avatar inhabiting bodies. It really has been building to this moment, the ultimate army to fight against Aang and the Gaang (plus allies). Vaatu has always shown his capability for such a thing, dropping hints here and there through the story, most specifically with Jet who became Lee. What better way to raise the stakes?
**Katara and Pakku discuss Katara's new position as Fire Lady, Hama, and the possibility of advancement for War with her new marriage.
**Azula and Katara discuss Hama, Ozai, and Katara's marriage to Zuko, fortifying their new connection as sisters, according to Fire's laws.
**Jin and Toph discuss The Avatar and his impact, and Toph isn't able to disagree with all of Jin's points that she raised—how could she? Jin confesses of her bitterness that Toph was healed while she wasn't because Toph is a good guesser, and Toph forgives her because she understands it.
**Zuko and Sokka discuss the marriage to Katara and the fact they are official brothers while waiting for Aang to get back with the Phoenix.
**Aang discovers that Koh betrayed him by moving the Phoenix and is furious as a result; he senses the Phoenix in the South and makes the immediate decision to travel to the South with everyone, fearful that Koh gave Vaatu the Phoenix—Aang is gearing for a battle, even though he's not ready for one. The reason he never noticed the Phoenix was in the South is because he never thought to look for the Phoenix in the Mortal Realm; he had no reason to as the thought literally never crossed his mind that Koh betrayed him—because logic tells that Koh is too intelligent to betray him since he would destroy Koh, which prevents serious consideration from happening. Aang has no reason to look for the Phoenix, thinking it was growing in the Immortal Realm, as agreed to.
Thus, Aang makes the urgent decision to go to the South to reclaim the Phoenix and fight Vaatu if necessary. It's the only decision he can make because he can't let the Phoenix fall into Vaatu's hands, which will ensure Vaatu gets the army of chi-stealers, which he thinks Vaatu desperately needs.
**Hakoda confronts Hama and demands answers for why she abandoned the South and never returned there. It's actually a very huge question that's seemingly never addressed in the show, especially for a Waterbender as powerful as Hama, who had both the power and ingenuity to make her way home after her escape if she really wanted to. The fact she never did reveals the inescapable conclusion that she didn't want to go to the South—or if she did, she had a greater reason for staying away, staying in the Fire Nation. Of course, Hakoda gets no answers out of her and releases her into his care because he tells her she's finally going home, accompanying everyone else to the South.
**Ozai meets Sozin in the Gardens of the Dead and recruits him to join him! They discuss the Great War, and Ozai learns a lot about the actual reasons for why the Great War happened to begin with. With a war that lasts a century, so much knowledge, the very reasons for the conflict, is lost as myths and deceptions take the place of the truth, forced to happen by leaders who don't want the people they send to die to know the truth and reasons for everything that happened. However, the Great War is reframed in its structure and positioning as the generations who fight in it change, losing the truth and absorbing the lies—the literal propaganda. The Great War was always avoidable; it was inevitable, certainly, but it was inevitable because not everyone wanted to avoid it. I find it compelling that Sozin wanted to avoid the Great War, didn't actually want it, only wanting Air's murder, and miscalculated because the Earth Kings wanted the Great War. It actually makes more sense with Fire and Earth's essences. Fire worships Power, and Air's murder would be the ultimate sign of power, but fighting the Great War wouldn't be inevitably—because it would culminate in Fire losing power, which would be unacceptable. Thus, Sozin doesn't want it but has to fight it—because Earth is stubborn and wants the Great War, refusing all offers of negotiation and peace. The Earth Kings hate Fire and see opportunity for expansion, legitimization, and vengeance for Sozin's invasion during Roku's life. In my estimation, it was Earth who pushed for the Great War, which, if you noticed, is exactly what happened in this story in Chapter 1 when Kuei declared war against Zuko. Basically, it happened all over again, but the critical difference was that Aang was there to deal with it—he didn't do a good job, no, but he was still there—as he was present and mature, a man instead of a boy. It reflects the theme of cycles that is prevalent throughout the world of Avatar.
**Aang and company arrive at the South to find it untouched by Vaatu and the Phoenix in stable but not perfect condition.
**Katara introduces Zuko to Kanna, and Zuko answers for his "crime" in pulling Kanna away from Katara when he "negotiated" with the South after Aang awakened from the Iceberg. It makes sense that Zuko might have suspected that Kanna was The Avatar. After all, he had no idea if The Avatar was still of Air or of Water—no one had seen The Avatar in 100 years (or 112 years if going back to Roku, a recognizable Avatar to everyone). If he thought Kanna was The Avatar and was hiding/pretending like a coward, it makes sense that he would grab her to try to force her to reveal herself—or get someone of the village to reveal her. If Zuko actually wanted to harm anyone for a real threat, he would have grabbed one of the many children, not the village elder at that point. It only makes real sense if he suspects Kanna is The Avatar.
**Toph and Bor really discuss children and what it means, especially with the recent truth of Bor's father's identity. However, they are interrupted when Sokka notifies them that Suki went into labor and is looking for Katara.
**Aang and Azula go penguin-sledding with Samir and discuss the plan to deal with the Solstice, Vaatu, and Koh's betrayal. Aang realizes that he can't destroy Koh because there wasn't enough done to warrant his destruction. All Koh did that Aang knows about is simply delaying the Phoenix, which is remarkably generous compared to what he could have done, such as destroying the Phoenix or giving the Phoenix to Vaatu. Thus, Aang walks back his earlier vow to destroy Koh, and clarifies and refines the plan with Azula based on the timeline to the Solstice, which is eighteen days away, to incorporate all their allies. Remember, Aang doesn't actually know what Vaatu plans to do on the Solstice, but he knows that Vaatu intends to do something—he's preparing for the worst-case scenario by gearing up for total war.
**Hama gets to visit the South and walk around with Katara and Hakoda guiding her. She meets Kanna again for an emotional reunion and has enough goodwill in that moment—and motivation to die—to tell Hakoda of Ozai and Vaatu's plan for the Ascension because Vaatu had shared it with her. She wants to die; she has every reason to after her waterbending was smothered forever. She has no idea about her pregnancy (she's always had a problem seeing what's right in front of her, hasn't she?) and assumes that the single reason she is still alive is for her knowledge, for which she's partially correct. Thus, if she reveals her big piece of knowledge, she thinks that The Avatar will kill her, having no further use for her, but she has no idea about the pregnancy—until Kanna points out the obvious to her, and because Hama actually trusts Kanna, unlike anyone else, she realizes the truth.
Well, I think that is everything. I hope that you all enjoyed it, and I would really appreciate it if you left a review to tell me what you thought about it.
Stay Safe
ButtonPusher
