𝐆𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 [ᴢᴜᴋᴏ]

Chapter 64

Episode 20, Sozin's Comet: Part 3: Into The Inferno

The journey to the Fire Nation was painfully long and the both of us just sat on Appa's saddle.

Zuko was looking on the ground, worry covering his face.

"Don't worry, Zuko," I said looking at him, "We can take Azula."

"I'm not worried about her." Zuko briefly glanced at me before looking at the red orange horizon in front of us. "I'm worried about Aang. What if he doesn't have the guts to take out my father? What if he loses?"

I gulped and looked at Zuko. That was still a possibility and we shouldn't forget that. However, it was also something we didn't even want to think about happening.

Shaking my head slightly, I let out a sigh. "Aang won't lose. We have to believe in him," I said and looked at the sky. "He'll come back. He has to," I whispered before we fell silent.

No one said anything and the tension in the air grew as we neared the Fire Nation. Not long until we would face Azula. I took a deep breath and played with my fingers. My stomach tightened and my heartbeat quickened. No one knew what would happen and it was driving me crazy.

Taking another deep breath, I felt arms around me. I looked up and saw Zuko hugging me. Immediately I put my arms around him as well, his heartbeat calming me somehow. No words were needed as we both knew that we would be okay and this would be over soon.

When the Royal Palace came into view, I gulped and closed my eyes. The fight would be starting any second now.

We landed on a massive sqare yard with a smaller building at the front with a small stage. The yard must have been used for public speeches or anounements, perfect for a coronation. Along the edges of the yard, there was a way that was roofed, starting from the building and then ending on the other side of it.

Behind the smaller building, there was the royal palace which seemed even higher than I remembered. But this time, with the red orange sky and the tense air, it had a scary and merciless vibe to it instead of a royal and powerful one.

"Let's do this," Zuko whispered and nodded.

I looked at him and nodded as well before taking a deep breath. We jumped off Appa and I gulped when I saw Azula and a few servants in front of the building. She was on her knees and the guy behind her held something that looked like a golden hair clip in form of a flame.

Zuko turned to me and cupped my face. "Stay safe," he said and pecked my lips before turning around and walking up to Azula. He stopped a few metres away from her and knitted his eyebrows and clenched his jaw. "Sorry, but you're not gonna become Fire Lord today." Azula glared at her brother. "I am," he said with a determined expression on his face.

Azula laughed, holding her stomach. "You're hilarious." She stopped laughing and the guy behind her started to move the hair clip toward her head.

I stepped beside Zuko and shot her a glare. "And you're going down."

Azula tensed and rose her hand to stop the guy from putting the hair clip into her hair. "Wait," she said and stood up looking intensely at Zuko, "You wanna be Fire Lord? Fine, let's settle this. Just you and me, brother." A sick smirk played on her lips. "The showdown that was always meant to be, Agni Kai."

"You're on," Zuko said in a challenging tone.

I snapped my head to the side and looked at him with wide eyes. "What? No!" I quickly said when Azula's smirk widened. "She's playing you. She knows she can't take us both so she's trying to seperate us."

"I know, but I can take her this time," Zuko calmly said, not taking his eyes off his sister. "There's something off about her. I can't explain it but she's slipping." Zuko turned to me, "And this way, no one else has to get hurt."

I pressed my lips together and nodded. This was his fight after all. "But if something happenes I'll interfere," I said and he hummed. Making my way to th edge of the yard, I leaned on a pillar that supported the roof with crossed arms and watched the fight begin.

Azula had a crazy smile on her lips as she took off her cloak and dropped it on the ground. "I'm sorry it has to end this way brother." Her tone gave me chills. I noticed what Zuko meant, she was not herself. Her stance was sloppier than usual and also her facial expressions seemed like she lost her mind.

"No you're not," Zuko slowly said and eyed his sister.

Azula used her fist to shoot massive amounts of blue flames toward Zuko while he used both of his hands to counter her attack with the same amount of fire and force. The two flames met in the middle creating a huge two coloured flame and a big amount of heat around us. My eyes widened and I looked at it in awe. That was the most beautiful and terrifying thing I have ever seen in my life.

The flames disappeared and Azula continued to attack Zuko with several fire kicks and punches. That wasn't how Azula usually fights, she would be calmer and more strategic with her attacks. She wouldn't use up all her energy in a few minutes like she did now.

Zuko calmly countered her attacks making his sister annoyed. Blue and orange flames were the only thing I could see and all the buildings surrounding us were in flames. You could really see how strong Zuko had grown to be. He kept his calm but that didn't effect the strength or force of his attacks.

Azula was still recklessly attacking him but it didn't took long for Zuko to finally hit her. She flew back a few metres and landed on the floor with a grunt. Azula was panting like crazy and stood up again, glaring at Zuko.

"What? No lightning today?" Zuko provoked, "What's the matter, afraid I'll redirect it?"

I pushed myself off the pillar and took a step forward. He was provoking her and that was not the best of ideas.

Azula let out a breath. "Oh I'll show you lightning!" she screamed and used both of her index and middle fingers to conjure lightning. Even I could feel the electricity around us as lightning surrounded Azula.

Zuko took a deep breath and got ready to redirect it. However, before she could hit him with lightning, her eyes darted over to me for a second and she smirked before shooting it my way.

My eyes widenend and everything seemed to go in slow motion as the lightning came my way. I got ready to redirect it and pointed my index and middle finger toward the lightning, taking a deep breath.

Zuko's eyes widened as well as he glanced over his shoulder at me. He quickly moved and ran over to me and the lighting. "No!" he shouted and jumped between us.

I froze and let my arm fall to my side as I watched Zuko falling to the ground. His body twitched due to be hit with lightning but then he laid there motionless.

Tears welled up in my eyes as an earpiercing scream left my mouth. "No!" I fell on my knees as tears streamed down my face. My chest tightened and the air was pushed out of my lungs.

Why did you have to save me?

A/N - ok sorry not sorry but I can't write fight scenes. I have no idea why but I struggle really hard with those, please bear with me. Hope you still like it. The next chapter will be the last one.
Stay safe and healthy :))