ATLA: Azlua

Agni Kai

"Zuko, we were supposed to do this together! She killed both my father and brother! This is my fight too!" Katara's voice trembled with fury, the weight of her loss bubbling to the surface.

Zuko turned, his expression softening for just a moment. "Katara, I know. But this...this is my battle."

"Mai, Ty Lee—handle the girl," Azula ordered, discarding her ceremonial robes as she stepped forward, a wicked gleam in her eyes.

Zuko glanced at Katara, giving a quick nod. "Take care of those two. Then help me."

As Mai and Ty Lee sprinted towards Katara, Mai flicked her wrists, sending a volley of stilettos her way. Katara dodged, slipping to the side of the courtyard and using water from her pouch to deflect the knives. The air grew tense as both fights erupted.

Azula stood still for a moment, breathing deeply, letting the power of Sozin's Comet fuel her firebending. "I've always been stronger than you, Zuzu. And now, with the comet's power, your chances of winning are nonexistent. For Mai's sake, surrender, and I'll place you under house arrest. I'll even talk to Father. But this is your last chance."

Zuko clenched his fists, inhaling sharply. "It's too late for that. Accepting your offer would mean betraying everything I've fought to change. This is the only way!" With that, he launched a powerful stream of fire towards Azula.

Azula moved gracefully, pressing her hands together to part the flames. She retaliated instantly, sending three sharp bursts of blue fire at Zuko, who dodged the first and flipped to disrupt the others with his own fire.

"I'll admit, you've gotten stronger, Zuzu. But that didn't stop me from killing your friend...Sokka, was it?" Azula taunted, leaping high and sending a vicious flame kick downwards.

Zuko gritted his teeth, knowing she was baiting him. He split the flame with a swift motion, scattering it harmlessly.

"You watched him die. Are you going to watch her die, too? Uncle's pep talks won't save you this time, especially with him dead in Ba Sing Se," Azula sneered, circling him like a predator.

"How do you—?" Zuko began, shock flashing in his eyes.

Azula's grin widened. "You think I took all my Dai Li with me? A single fire hawk was enough to warn me. The army stationed outside Ba Sing Se is as good as ours. Father's on his way to burn it to the ground."

"That won't happen!" Zuko shouted, rushing forward, sending arcs of fire in wide sweeps.

Meanwhile, Mai's knives whizzed through the air toward Katara, who blocked them with water whips. But Ty Lee was faster, pressing in close with her chi-blocking strikes. Katara barely kept pace, shifting between defending against Mai's ranged attacks and dodging Ty Lee's quick jabs.

"How long can you keep this up?" Ty Lee teased, narrowly avoiding a water whip. "I've got great stamina! How about you?"

Katara's eyes flashed as she turned Ty Lee's latest kick into an ice trap, freezing her leg in place. But Mai swiftly shattered the ice with a knife, freeing her.

"How can you fight for someone like Azula? She'll turn on you both!" Katara shouted, pushing back with a tendril of water.

Mai ducked behind a pillar and threw another knife. "Do you really think Zuko can beat her? Azula's a firebending master. You should've brought Iroh or an army if you wanted to win."

Ty Lee giggled, dodging another attack. "Azula's super scary! We're not risking her wrath," she added, leaping over Katara's water tendril, only to be caught midair and slammed across the courtyard.

Katara took a deep breath, pulling water from beneath the courtyard grates and forming a protective circle around herself, readying for the next attack.

Back in the duel, Azula formed a fire dagger in her hand and used her firebending to propel herself toward Zuko. He countered, using the dragon dance technique to release powerful bursts of flame. Azula dodged, twisting midair with short bursts of fire to change direction.

Their flames collided—red against blue—sparking an explosion of heat that sent both fighters sliding back. Zuko's red flames began to overpower Azula's blue, pushing her back.

Azula's eyes widened in shock. He's actually stronger than me, she thought, before forming a firewall to shield herself from the intense heat. The force drove her back, but she rolled to her feet, regaining her balance.

"What's the matter, Azula?" Zuko taunted, his eyes blazing with determination. "No lightning? Afraid I'll redirect it?"

Azula's face twisted in rage, her fingers twitching. "You want lightning? I'll show you lightning!" she spat, summoning the deadly energy.

Zuko readied himself, adopting the stance Iroh had taught him, prepared to redirect her attack. But as Azula's eyes scanned the battlefield, they locked onto Mai, who was still engaged with Katara. With a twisted smile, she shifted her aim.

In a flash, Zuko's instincts kicked in. His eyes widened in horror as he realized Azula's target. He threw himself in front of Mai, taking the lightning bolt directly into his chest. His body convulsed as he redirected the energy through his heart and up into the sky.

"No!" Katara screamed as Zuko collapsed to the ground, his body twitching violently.

In the chaos, Ty Lee took the opportunity to chi-block Katara. As Katara tried to summon a water whip, her movements halted, and the Dai Li emerged from the shadows, pinning her to the courtyard wall with earthen hands.

"We had that, you know," Mai said coolly, catching her breath as she and Ty Lee faced the Dai Li.

"Apologies, Lady Mai, Ty Lee," a Dai Li agent bowed. "Princess Azula has concluded her duel and requests your presence."

They approached Azula, who stood triumphantly over Zuko, her foot pressed down on his chest wound. "Chi-block him, Ty Lee," Azula ordered, her voice devoid of emotion.

Ty Lee complied, her fingers moving quickly to immobilize Zuko's body.

Moments later, Katara was dragged over by the Dai Li, her wrists bound in stone cuffs. "Undo the chi-block, Ty Lee. Katara, heal him," Azula commanded.

Katara's eyes burned with defiance as she knelt beside Zuko, her tears mingling with the water she summoned. "One day... I'll have my revenge," she whispered fiercely.

Azula merely smirked. "Take her to the prison below the Fire Palace."

Zuko, slowly regaining consciousness, coughed weakly. "Why am I...alive?"

Azula knelt beside him, her face hovering close to his. "You're not. Not to the world. Everyone will believe you died today...along with your friend. But as a reward for Mai's loyalty, I'll spare you. You'll remain in her care." She stood, addressing Mai and Ty Lee. "You will be relocated to Molten Island, along with a few Dai Li. Wait for my orders there."

Mai bowed, tears streaking down her cheeks. "Thank you, Azula."

Azula gave a small, cruel smile. "I must join Father at Ba Sing Se now. He'll want to hear of your demise." She turned to leave but paused as Zuko's weak voice caught her attention.

"Father...is dead. I'm sure the Avatar has already defeated him," Zuko rasped before slipping back into unconsciousness.

Azula's smirk faded for just a moment, replaced by a calculating expression. With a flicker of doubt in her eyes, she propelled herself into the air, her mind racing with the implications of Zuko's words.