Chapter 13: Sozin's Comet Part Four
Chapter 13 for those who were waiting patiently for the other half of the Agni Kai, haha.
Take this as a special treat before Halloween.
I'm already frightened, just thinking about reading the comments for this chapter.
hope you'll go easy on me, because I'm really fried after updating this.
The Agni Kai had begun.
Azula moved first, unleashing a fierce torrent of blue fire that seemed to sear the air itself, her movements fluid and sharp, every strike calculated. She was faster, more powerful than he remembered, and her strikes carried a precision that put Zuko on the defensive from the very beginning.
The entire courtyard, even the nearby buildings, were soon awash with heat and light as their flames clashed, the surrounding structures shuddering from the force of their strikes. Zuko's heart pounded in his chest as he tried to keep up with her.
Azula's eyes gleamed with satisfaction as she saw Zuko struggle to keep up. She could feel the difference in herself, the power coursing through her veins. It wasn't just the comet's influence—She moved with a clarity, a sharpness she had not felt in a long time, as if a weight had been lifted from her mind. The calm that washed over her made her movements fluid yet deadly, and with every strike, she felt herself growing stronger, more unstoppable.
Zuko, on the other hand, was rattled. This wasn't the unhinged Azula he had expected, the one he thought might make a mistake or lose control. He had come here thinking she would be erratic, unstable, that her descent into madness would make her vulnerable. But instead, she was the opposite—she seemed stronger, steadier, like something had reignited her focus.
With a powerful swing, Azula sent a massive stream of fire spiraling toward him. Zuko managed to leap out of the way, the heat scorching the ground where he had stood just moments before. He stumbled, regaining his footing quickly but Azula showed no signs of slowing down.
Zuko gathered his strength, his hands igniting in a bright red blaze as he summoned a powerful wave of fire and launched it at Azula, his flames roaring through the air as he attempted to overpower her. For a moment, the heat of his attack sent ripples across the courtyard, and he managed to break through her defenses, landing a solid hit that sent her stumbling back.
Azula's eyes narrowed in fury as she steadied herself, her lips curling into a scornful smile. She brushed off the blow as if it had been a mere inconvenience, her stance poised as she prepared her counterattack.
From the sidelines, Suki and Katara could only watch in awe. The sheer magnitude of the firebending displayed was beyond anything they'd ever witnessed. Each movement summoned flames that rose higher than any fire they'd ever seen, licking at the sky. Even from a distance, the heat was almost unbearable.
"Something feels wrong," Suki murmured, her eyes wide as she watched Azula weave through the air, her blue flames almost blinding.
Katara nodded. her fists clenched in silent frustration. She could see Zuko struggling, see him pushing himself to match her attacks, but the difference in power was clear. Her brother was skilled, determined, but Azula fought with something more—something fueled by a deep, internal flame.
The comet's energy surged in both of them, igniting flames that tore through the air, leaving scorched marks across the stone. Azula's strikes were merciless, each one bringing him closer to the edge. She ducked and spun, her attacks blazing as she forced Zuko backward.
Zuko's realization grew with every strike he met. Uncle Iroh had warned him, warned them all, that Azula's firebending was unlike anyone else's. The proof was clear as daylight, etched onto her skin for all to see. Though Zuko hadn't spoken of it, he knew the gravity of that mark—a silent testament to the ancient trial she had survived in childhood. The one that had honed her fire to its intense, blue precision and set her apart.
It was the reason for all those defeats against her, the reason he could never match her in raw power. Its the reason why his uncle had urged him to take on Azula with their entire group. But here he was, standing alone, facing her.
"You must feel really stupid right now," Azula taunted, her voice cutting through the roar of their flames. "Picking a fight you knew, you could never win."
"What are you talking about? I'm still standing," Zuko spat back, his breathing heavy but his gaze fierce. " And the sooner I finish this, the sooner this war will end."
Azula laughed, a chilling sound against the crackle of the flames around her. "This war is far from over. Admit it—you've already lost. And without that shaggy beast of yours, you have no place to run."
"Maybe, but like I said, Azula. I'm still standing."
Summoning every ounce of his strength, Zuko unleashed one last attack, a massive wall of fire that towered between them. For a brief, hopeful moment, it seemed like he might gain the upper hand. But Azula's eyes narrowed in disdain, her face twisting with contempt as she summoned a blast of fire so intense that it shattered through his defenses, sending him flying backward across the courtyard.
Zuko hit the ground hard, rolling to a stop as the impact knocked the wind from his lungs. He gasped for breath, his body aching as he tried to push himself up. But Azula was already there, standing over him, her blue flames swirling around her like a deadly shroud, her gaze triumphant and unyielding.
She stepped forward, her flames blazing even brighter, casting an eerie glow across her face as she prepared for the final strike.
Katara's hand flew to her mouth, her eyes wide as she watched Azula's flames rise, the intensity enough to make the very air crackle with power. "Zuko…" she whispered, her voice trembling as she watched him face down the deadly blue fire.
Zuko didn't back down. He pushed himself up, his body trembling from exhaustion, but his gaze remained steady, his hands raised as he summoned his own flames to meet hers.
Azula's smile grew, cold and unrelenting. Her voice was like ice. "Goodbye, Brother."
Before she could strike, a massive blast of water crashed into her side, sending her stumbling backward. Katara stood just a few yards away, her arms outstretched, hands still dripping as her waterbending coiled in a protective stance. She had drawn the water into powerful tentacles, ready to strike again.
The sudden intervention shattered the formality of the Agni Kai. Instantly, Azula's guards adjusted their stances, abandoning their positions as spectators, ready to protect their Fire Lord at all costs.
Still struggling to his feet, Zuko shot Katara a look, his face twisted with surprise and frustration. "What are you doing?" he rasped.
"Helping you," Katara replied firmly, her gaze never leaving Azula.
Azula, shaking off the impact, pushed herself upright. She smoothed her hair back, her face twisting in fury as she slowly heated her body, vaporizing the water clinging to her until steam billowed off her skin and armor. Her eyes locked onto Katara, her voice cold and cutting. "You filthy peasant."
Zuko, catching his breath, smirked defiantly. "Come on, Azula. You can't take us both?"
Azula's eyes flicked from Zuko to Katara and then back again, assessing her opponents. With a casual, mocking smirk, she replied, "Now, now Zuzu, just give me a moment to even the odds."
Without another word, Azula raised her hand, crackling tendrils of lightning forming at her fingertips, the air around her buzzing with raw energy as she took aim at Katara.
Realizing her intent, Zuko's eyes widened. "Nooooo!" he shouted, throwing himself in front of Katara just as Azula unleashed the bolt.
The lightning struck him full-force, surging through his body with a blinding flash. Smoke rose from his clothes as he staggered, collapsing to the ground in front of Katara.
"Zuko!" Katara cried, kneeling at his side, her hands trembling as she reached out to support him.
Within seconds, Suki rushed to her side, grabbing hold of Zuko's arm as she tried to support him, her face pale with worry.
Azula's fury only seemed to intensify. With a sneer, she turned to her guards, gesturing toward the group with a swift, imperious wave of her hand. "Kill them," she commanded, her voice dark and merciless. "Kill them all!"
The guards shifted their stances, eyes narrowing as they prepared to unleash a coordinated assault on Katara, Suki, and the weakened Zuko, their flames igniting with lethal intent as they closed in.
As Ozai unleashed blast after blast against Aang's stone sphere, cracks spider-webbed across the rock's surface, splintering with each blow. Aang gritted his teeth, straining against the shockwaves rippling through his shield as the Fire Lord's attacks grew more violent, each fireball larger, hotter than the last.
Ozai sneered, circling the sphere like a predator. "You think you can hide from me?" he spat, summoning the full fury of the comet. A massive fireball, blazing like a meteor, formed above his head, casting long shadows across the rocky landscape. He launched it with a roar, and it collided with Aang's defense, erupting in a flash of orange-red flame and sending shards of stone flying in every direction.
The sphere shattered, the force hurling Aang backward. He smashed into a nearby rock pillar, his body already aching from the brutal impacts. As he hit the stone, pain seared across his back—right where Azula's lightning strike had left its mark, scarred into his skin. The pain flared, sharp and electrifying, and as he struggled to breathe, his vision blurred. His mind drifted for a moment, slipping inward, beyond the pain and the chaos, reaching into something vast, ancient, cosmic.
A surge of energy awakened within him, blinding and boundless.
The seventh chakra, once blocked by fear and attachment, cracked open, and with it, the dormant power of the Avatar State roared to life.
Dust and rubble settled as Ozai approached, a cruel smile stretching across his face. "Come on out, little boy. You're about to—"
He froze mid-sentence as a hand shot out of the rubble, gripping his beard in an iron hold. Ozai's eyes widened in shock at the sight of Aang's glowing arrows. Before he could react, Aang blasted him backward with a powerful gust of wind. Ozai staggered, barely managing to stay on his feet as he looked up, bewildered.
Hovering above the ground, Aang's body was encased in a swirling sphere of air, his arrows blazing with the bright, unearthly glow of the Avatar State. He floated forward, and Ozai took a step back, staring at the young monk as though seeing him for the first time.
Aang's eyes blazed with raw energy, and he let out a guttural roar that echoed across the desolate landscape. From his hands, feet, and mouth, massive tendrils of fire erupted, and then slowly it formed a blazing ring that spun around him. A rush of water surged from the nearby ocean, spiraling upward to form a ring outside the flames, and boulders tore themselves from the ground, joining the growing circle. Air, fire, water, and earth—all encircled him, each layer spinning in an unbreakable vortex of power.
Ozai felt a flicker of unease, but it hardened into fury. Summoning his own fire, he launched a fiery assault, hurling bolts of flame toward Aang. Yet each attack dissipated harmlessly against the protective sphere around him. The Avatar State's energy pulsed outward in a shockwave, pushing Ozai further back as Aang charged forward, an unstoppable force.
Ozai staggered, hands raised defensively as Aang unleashed a torrent of fire, the flames intensified by the comet. The fireball hurtled toward him, and Ozai barely managed to evade it, the heat searing as it passed. He tried to counter with his own flame, but Aang's next attack was already upon him.
From the ring of water, a massive wave broke free, crashing down upon Ozai and extinguishing his fire. He gasped as the cold water doused him, momentarily blinding him, but as he tried to recover, Aang attacked. With a flick of his wrist, He commanded rocks from the earth ring, launching them like cannonballs. Ozai ducked and weaved, his agility saving him as the boulders smashed into the ground around him, each impact sending tremors through the earth.
Regaining his balance, Ozai attempted to counter, flinging fire at Aang with desperate fury. But Aang was untouchable, a whirlwind of elemental energy. He swept a hand through the air, and a gust of wind erupted from his air sphere, blasting Ozai off his feet and sending him crashing into the side of a crumbling cliff. Ozai coughed, wiping the blood from his mouth as he struggled to rise, his once-proud stance faltering.
Aang raised both hands, summoning pillars of fire and water simultaneously. The two elements merged, swirling together into a churning vortex that Aang directed at Ozai. The Fire Lord tried to shield himself, but the attack struck with devastating force, the impact throwing him across the rocky ground, battered and bruised.
Ozai crawled to his knees, gasping for air. Aang floated closer, his expression unreadable, his body radiating an overwhelming power. He clenched his fists, and the ground beneath Ozai cracked and shifted, a chasm opening up around him. Ozai scrambled back, barely avoiding the plunge as Aang commanded the very earth to bend to his will.
Desperation filled Ozai's eyes as he gathered the last of his strength. Fire erupted from his palms, directed in a final, brutal assault. Aang raised his hand, the flames parting around him, harmlessly dissipating into the air. With a sweeping motion, he retaliated with a surge of flame even hotter and brighter than Ozai's, the comet's power amplifying it to an inferno that engulfed the landscape.
Water surged forward, followed by rock, and then the winds howled as they closed in around him. The elements swirled in a furious cyclone, trapping Ozai within the storm. He struggled, trying to escape, but Aang's control was absolute. The cyclone compressed, and Ozai was forced to his knees, powerless against the onslaught.
Through the maelstrom, Aang descended, his form illuminated by the spinning rings of fire, water, and earth. His voice echoed with the weight of a thousand past lives, resonating like thunder across the battlefield.
"Fire Lord," Aang's voice boomed, a mix of all his past selves merging into one. "You and your forefathers have devastated the balance of this world, now you shall pay the ultimate price."
Ozai's gaze flickered with fear as he looked up, truly seeing the Avatar's might for the first time. The sight of Aang, encased in elemental power, was a vision of wrath and justice personified, a force of nature unstoppable and undeniable.
The members of the White Lotus gathered on the breached section of the outer wall, the steady sound of the city-wide tram system clattering in the distance. Beyond them lay the sprawling agrarian zone, with fields stretching wide before the looming shadow of the inner wall in the far distance. Iroh stood tall, the hard-fought victory at the outer wall only strengthening his resolve. He looked over his comrades, nodding to each with respect as they boarded the tram cars positioned nearby.
"These tramways run through the entire city," Iroh explained, gesturing to the rail system that connected Ba Sing Se's zones. "The fastest route through this place is on these tracks."
Jeong Jeong joined Iroh at the front car, his gaze scanning the horizon with a hint of determination. "I'll take the skies, offer support from above."
Without waiting for a reply, Jeong Jeong's hands and feet ignited in jets of flame. With a powerful leap, he launched himself into the air, streaking upward in a rush of heat and fire. From above, he would have a better vantage of any incoming forces—and the chance to rain down fire on their opponents.
The tram cars jolted forward, clattering along the tracks as the White Lotus made their way across the open zone. They hadn't made it far before Jeong Jeong's shout rang out from above, his voice urgent and cutting through the noise of the clattering tram.
"Fire Nation tram cars—incoming!"
Iroh's expression tightened. Ahead of them, he could see the unmistakable silhouette of Fire Nation trams rushing toward them, packed with soldiers prepared to defend Ba Sing Se.
"Prepare for combat!" Iroh called, his voice carrying down the line of tram cars. The White Lotus members took their stances, bending at the ready as they closed the distance with their opponents. Flames erupted from the lead Fire Nation tram car, arcs of fire roaring through the air. The White Lotus countered with equal force, bending shields of water and walls of earth to deflect the incoming strikes as the two sides clashed in a furious battle along the tram line.
At the forefront, Iroh summoned flames into his hands, sending blazing streams of fire toward the approaching Fire Nation cars. Fireballs exploded between the tram cars, leaving trails of smoke and flame as the two forces exchanged relentless attacks. Above, Jeong Jeong provided aerial support, raining fire onto the advancing Fire Nation forces as they retaliated with equally fierce blasts.
The clash was brutal, the Fire Nation soldiers fighting with practiced ferocity. They were defending their greatest conquest and had no intention of giving it up without a fight. And with the comet's aid, the odds were in their favor.
One of the earthbenders moved to the edge of the tram, launching pillars of stone that forced Fire Nation cars to swerve, breaking their formation. An elderly waterbender summoned a torrent from her canteen, slashing the water forward with deadly precision, forcing several Fire Nation soldiers to back away. Despite their fierce resistance, the White Lotus still faced overwhelming force; for every soldier they pushed back, another two stepped forward, keeping the pressure relentless.
Jeong Jeong continued his aerial assault, scanning for any vulnerability. His gaze fell on the inner wall station looming in the distance, the tunnel entrance to the inner wall clearly visible. But his heart sank as he noticed the Fire Nation soldiers positioned on the tower above the station, bending rocks and flames to bring down the tunnel ahead of the White Lotus. If they succeeded, the trams would be derailed entirely, crushing their advance.
He yelled down, his voice cutting through the chaos below. "Iroh! They're destroying the tunnel! Stop the trams before we crash into the rubble!"
Iroh, focused on the immediate battle, didn't hear the first call as he dodged a fire blast and retaliated with his own flames. Jeong Jeong called again, louder this time.
"Iroh! The tunnel's collapsing! You have to stop the trams!"
This time, Iroh looked up, eyes widening as he took in the scene ahead. The Fire Nation soldiers were working quickly, bringing down large chunks of rock and fire to close off the entrance to the inner wall. Stones tumbled and fire illuminated the debris, casting ominous shadows across the tracks.
One of the White Lotus members beside Iroh saw the impending blockade, panic flashing across his face. "General Iroh, should we stop the cars?"
"No," Iroh replied, his voice resolute. "We push forward."
"But the path is blocked!" the member protested, his voice edged with urgency.
Iroh took a steadying breath, tapping into the energy of the comet as he called forth an intense concentration of fire into his hands. The flames grew, condensing into a powerful, blazing orb. "We will make our own path," he said, his voice steady and unyielding.
With a powerful surge, he hurled the fiery orb toward the debris blocking the tunnel. It streaked forward, a comet-like fireball crashing into the rubble with a thunderous explosion. The impact sent rocks flying and shook the tunnel, the flames scorching through the debris and clearing a path forward in a burst of smoke and heat.
The trams raced ahead, speeding through the wreckage, and the earthbenders among them leaped into action, reinforcing weakened sections of the track with pillars of stone to keep the cars steady as they powered forward. A firebender at the rear launched defensive strikes to cover their retreat, countering the remaining Fire Nation cars that continued to advance on their tail.
Jeong Jeong descended from the sky, his form landing lightly beside Iroh on the lead car, his face flushed from the effort but his spirit unbroken. He looked ahead to the inner wall, now looming larger as they drew nearer.
"We actually made it," Jeong Jeong said, his voice carrying a note of relief and triumph.
Iroh nodded, his eyes reflecting the determination and grit that had carried them this far. "Yes," he said, his gaze never wavering from their path forward. "But the true battle still lies ahead."
With the path through the agrarian zone behind them, the White Lotus now faced the imposing presence behind Ba Sing Se's inner wall. The magnificent city herself. Their victory at the outer wall was only the beginning, and the journey through the city would test every skill, every ounce of courage they possessed. But together, they moved forward, a unified force of power, intent on reclaiming Ba Sing Se and restoring balance.
As Appa approached the Royal Plaza, they could see the courtyard already lit up by massive blasts of fire, illuminating the night with vibrant orange and blue. Toph and Sokka watched from the saddle as the entire scene played out below them. Katara and Suki, were close to Zuko as the guards readied to finish them off.
"Kill them, Kill them all!" Azula had commanded.
But before they could strike, Toph launched herself from Appa's saddle, hurtling toward the ground. She landed with a resounding thud, the impact sending a tremor through the earth beneath her. With a powerful stomp, she sent a massive wave of stone and debris hurtling toward Azula and the surrounding guards. The blast forced Azula back, knocking her off balance as she stumbled, her cold gaze snapping up to locate the source of the disruption.
"Toph!" Zuko gasped, barely able to believe what he was seeing.
"Nice timing, huh?" Toph smirked, raising her fists as she slammed her foot down, creating a wall of rock between Azula and them. "Now, let's get out of here!"
Katara and Suki were already by Zuko's side, lifting him to his feet, their expressions tense as they supported him, trying to keep pace as he struggled to regain his balance. The guards, recovering from Toph's shockwave, quickly rallied and launched a volley of blazing fireballs toward Appa, each shot fierce and deadly.
Toph threw up another earth barrier, shielding them just long enough for everyone to scramble back toward the bison. She moved with haste, her stance strong and grounded, her gaze unwavering as she deflected the incoming fire. "Hurry it up, slowpokes!" she called, casting a glance over her shoulder.
Azula, momentarily taken aback by yet, another interference, quickly regained her composure. Her eyes narrowed, her frustration simmering beneath the surface as she tracked their retreat. Her gaze scanned the bison as it began to ascend, her eyes catching on a figure in the saddle. She froze.
"Sokka…" she murmured, her voice barely audible, but to Sokka, it was as though her words resonated across the entire courtyard.
Sokka found her gaze, feeling the intensity of her stare even as Appa continued to ascend. For a moment, he hesitated, lost in the silent exchange between them. He saw the depth in her eyes—a flicker of something unspoken, perhaps regret, perhaps something else. He wanted to look away, to bury it in the chaos of the escape, but he couldn't.
Azula whispered, almost to herself, "Stop…" Her gaze remained fixed on him, as though memorizing his face in those fleeting seconds. The guards, oblivious to her initial command, continued their assault, their flames cutting through the air with unrelenting force.
Toph raised her hands, summoning debris from below to form a thick barrier of earth along Appa's side.
Then, as if snapping back to reality, Azula's gaze hardened, her face twisting with frustration as she realized the attack hadn't ceased. Her voice cut through the din of battle, sharp and resolute.
"Stop!" she commanded, louder this time, her tone edged with a trembling authority. The barrage continued for a beat longer, defying her, until she raised her voice once more, a hint of desperation in her words. "I said stop!"
The guards froze, their fire flickering out as they glanced at each other in confusion. An uneasy quiet settled over the courtyard as Azula's gaze returned to Sokka, her eyes holding him, as if she were memorizing every detail.
Despite the growing distance, their gaze was charged with a thousand unsaid words. For a heartbeat, it felt as if time had stilled, and amidst the pandemonium of the courtyard, they saw each other with startling clarity.
But the spell broke as Suki and Katara reached him, pulling him into a fierce, relieved embrace. Their arms wrapped around him, holding him tightly, their words rushing out in a mixture of joy and relief.
"Sokka! We thought we'd lost you," Katara said, her voice thick with emotion as she clung to him, her relief palpable in every word.
"Yeah, you big lug," Suki added, squeezing him tightly, her face buried against his shoulder. "You have no idea how worried I've been."
Sokka nodded, managing a small, lopsided smile. "Missed you guys too," he murmured, his tone soft yet carrying a weight he couldn't quite articulate. He glanced at their relieved faces, absorbing their presence, the reality of it all sinking in slowly.
He looked over at Zuko, who offered him a nod, a silent acknowledgment of the close call they had just survived. The two shared a brief, understanding look, a mutual recognition.
Appa soared higher, the palace fading beneath them, and as they flew into the distant sky, Sokka found himself looking back at the shrinking palace.
One last time.