As Azula approached the airship, the captain, his face etched with worry, hastened towards her and kneeled with a nervous tremor.
"Status report," Azula demanded coolly, her voice slicing through the tense air.
"It appears Prince Zuko and his friend have damaged the remaining airships. Repairs will be needed," he replied hesitantly, avoiding her gaze.
"That's former Prince. How long will the repairs take?" Azula's tone was sharp, her impatience palpable.
"20 minutes, but that's just for this airship," the captain answered.
"You have ten. Fail this, and I'll kill you myself. Notify me in the courtyard when it's done," Azula commanded, turning away dismissively.
Reaching the courtyard where her duel with Zuko had unfolded, Azula noticed the extinguished fires. She sat in the center, adopting a meditative pose, and ordered everyone to leave her undisturbed.
"Zuko... he was almost stronger than I was!" she thought, her teeth gritted in frustration.
"No! Focus, Azula. What did that disappointment of an uncle always say? 'Firebending comes from the breath.'"
Taking a deep breath, she allowed the energy of the comet to flow through her, exhaling slowly. A blue ring of flames manifested around her, pulsating in sync with her breathing, growing and shrinking.
Zuko's firebending had been different — more fluid, hitting harder with simplicity. And his redirection of her lightning... Uncle must have taught him that. Their movements, they reminded her of waterbending.
Traditional training had always emphasized aggression, overpowering the opponent. Yet, Zuko had moved with both offensive and defensive fluidity, a style that seemed impossible unless he had learned something new.
Azula extinguished her flame and took a different stance, recalling Zuko's movements with precision. She felt an immediate change; her firebending was not only stronger but more malleable. Yet, something felt off, so she shifted her stance again, this time lighter, mimicking the Air Nomad style she'd seen from the Avatar — quick, sharp, barely touching the ground.
The fire around her danced like a serpent, or more aptly, a dragon.
"Dai Li, construct a thick wall," she ordered.
Seconds later, agents emerged and erected a wall as formidable as the walls of Ba Sing Se.
Azula focused, condensing the flames into a small comet in her palm. Just then, Ty Lee approached, poking Azula's cheek playfully.
"What'cha doing?" Ty Lee asked with a grin.
Azula shot her a glare but soon sighed. "My father once showed me a technique that involved condensing one's flames. If I've done it right, this wall should crumble. I've never succeeded before. Be warned, if I mess up, this entire area might explode."
"Aw, are you warning me because you care?" Ty Lee teased with a mischievous smirk.
"No. I am merely stating the facts," Azula retorted, narrowing her eyes.
"I'll stay. I'm sure you'll do it," Ty Lee said, her smile unwavering.
Azula's eyes widened momentarily, then refocused intensely on the wall. She inhaled deeply, ran forward, and with a fierce yell, hurled the compressed fireball. A thunderous boom echoed as the wall disintegrated, the ground beneath melting and bubbling from the heat.
"See, told ya you could do it," Ty Lee chimed in, still grinning.
"Of course, I could. I'm not incompetent. Did I not order you to stay at Molten Island? Never mind, call Mai; we're going to Ba Sing Se," Azula said, a grin breaking her usual stern demeanor.
"Isn't the battle over already?" Ty Lee asked.
"Maybe. Either the war is over, or they're still holding out. Whatever the case, my uncle should still be alive, unless father has already killed him," Azula said, her voice laced with venom.
----
"Fire Lord Ozai! You and your forefathers have devastated the balance of this world, and now you shall pay!" Aang roars, his voice echoing with the strength of all the Avatars before him.
He raises the elements—water, fire, earth, and air—twisting them high into the sky before they come crashing down like a spear towards the Fire Lord. Fear flashes across Ozai's face as he realizes the wrath of the Avatars is upon him. But just as the elements are about to strike, they stop, collapsing harmlessly around him.
"I won't do it. If I kill you, then I'll be just like you," Aang declares, stepping out of the Avatar State and turning away from Ozai.
"Even with all the power in the world, you're still weak," Ozai sneers, rushing forward to strike Aang with a blast of fire.
Using his seismic sense to detect Ozai's movements, Aang effortlessly parries the attack. He quickly uses earthbending to capture Ozai's hand, then rotates to immobilize his other hand, countering each furious strike.
With a calm breath, Aang forces Ozai to kneel. As Ozai breathes out a desperate flame, Aang blocks it and presses his fingers to Ozai's forehead. The teachings from the lion turtle echo in his mind: "In the era before the Avatar, we bent not the elements, but the energy within ourselves. To bend another's energy, your own spirit must be unbendable, or you will be corrupted and destroyed."
As the red light threatens to overtake him, images of Sokka's death and his friends' pleas to slay the Fire Lord flash through his mind. Vengeance tempts his heart, but he lets it go, realizing, "I am not the Avatars of the past. I am me." The blue light explodes, overpowering the red, cleansing Ozai of his firebending.
The light fades, and Aang steadies himself, exhaling deeply.
"What... what did you do to me?" Ozai asks, his voice weak.
"I've taken away your firebending. Now, you'll never be able to hurt anyone again," Aang replies firmly.
He then extinguishes the surrounding forest fires with a sweep of airbending. As Suki and Toph approach riding Appa, Suki calls out, "Aang, we have to go! I overheard one of the soldiers talking about surrounding Ba Sing Se. It was a trap!"
"We've turned most of their fleet into scrap. This is our chance," Toph adds.
"What about Katara and Zuko? Did they win?" Aang asks, leaping onto Appa.
"We don't know, but if our friends are captured, then all of this would have been for nothing," Suki says urgently.
Aang steers Appa into the sky, pondering their next move. Turning towards Ba Sing Se, he resolves, "You're right. For now, I'll believe in Zuko and Katara."
---
As the war blimp sliced through the skies towards Ba Sing Se, Azula studied the battle plan with a furrowed brow, her frustration palpable. Mai lay sprawled across a bench, twirling a kunai absentmindedly, while Ty Lee stretched on the floor.
"So, Azula, not to state the obvious, but how long does Sozin's Comet last again? It's been half a day already," Ty Lee asked, breaking the silence.
Azula sighed, lowering the map. "We discussed this during the war meeting, Ty Lee."
"Actually, we were stopped at the door, remember? Only benders were allowed in," Mai interjected without looking up.
"Oh." Azula paused, then nodded slightly. "Right. I suppose I forgive you, Ty Lee."
"What? Forgive me? But you were—" Ty Lee began, only to be interrupted.
"Sozin's Comet lasts three days. During this time, my father plans to burn a path from the southeast all the way to the Earth Kingdom capital," Azula explained, spreading the map across the table.
"What? Why?" Mai asked, sitting up.
"What do you mean?" Azula replied, her tone sharpening.
"Why does he want to burn a path? Wasn't this whole war about expanding our territory for more resources? Why are we burning what we're fighting for?" Mai questioned, her brow furrowed in confusion.
Azula opened her mouth, then paused, her eyes narrowing as she considered Mai's point. "Ah, I see your point now, Mai. I believe my father is doing this to leave his mark on history," she concluded, her expression darkening.
"His mark?" Ty Lee echoed, puzzled.
"He wants to emulate Fire Lord Sozin, to be remembered. He thinks scarring the land permanently will remind everyone not to rebel against him. It's short-sighted," Azula mused, her voice tinged with rare doubt.
"I don't really get it, but shouldn't you tell the Fire Lord the plan is bad?" Ty Lee suggested innocently.
"That was probably the most idiotic thing you've ever said," Azula replied, staring at Ty Lee in disbelief.
"What!?" Ty Lee exclaimed, taken aback.
"If anyone suggested that to the Fire Lord, they'd be executed on the spot," Mai explained, facepalming.
"I'd rather not end up like Zuko. But you're right, he's making a mistake... not that I can tell him. Unless... yes, that might work," Azula murmured, more to herself than to them.
"Earth to Azula? Anyone there?" Ty Lee joked, tapping her forehead against Azula's.
Azula blinked, pulling back. "Don't do that. Listen up, both of you," she commanded, clearing her throat. "Our main force will push through the breach Iroh made into the city. The entrance, however, is guarded by King Bumi and the traitor Jeong Jeong, along with Water Tribe Master Pakku and Piandao, your former teacher, Mai."
Mai's eyes narrowed, but she nodded.
"Then there's Iroh, guarding the King himself. Mai, you'll duel Piandao. Ty Lee, you take on Bumi and Jeong Jeong. The Dai Li will handle Pakku," Azula dictated confidently.
"Whoa, whoa, why do I have to fight two of them?" Ty Lee protested.
"Don't worry, I have a plan that will help you neutralize one instantly. You can choose who to take out first," Azula reassured her, a hint of a smirk playing on her lips.
"Azula, I don't usually say this, but are you insane? These aren't just any benders; these are grandmasters, each at the peak of their powers," Mai pointed out, her voice laced with concern.
"Let's sideline that remark, but there won't be a next time. My father ignored the White Lotus for years, and look where we are now. Putting them all together is like tackling an unstoppable force, which is exactly why we must divide them. Piandao will honor a duel with you, Mai. Use that to your advantage. Meanwhile, I'll take on Iroh," Azula planned out loud, determination steeling her features.
The blimp drew closer to Ba Sing Se, the city's walls looming on the horizon. Azula's eyes glinted with a fierce resolve as she stared down at the map, her fingers crackling with electricity.
"We will split them up, defeat them, and while they're distracted, my troops will reclaim the city. As for Uncle, of course, I'll win," she declared, her confidence unwavering as lightning danced between her fingers, igniting the corner of the map.
Ty Lee and Mai exchanged a look, unease flickering in their eyes, but they knew better than to doubt Azula's resolve. As Ba Sing Se came into view, Azula's smile twisted into a sadistic grin, ready for the battle ahead.