Fire and Aether

Chapter 43: Sozin's Comet Part 4: Avatar Rose

    "Time to die, Avatar!" Ozai screamed as he attacked Rose.
    Malvina let out a loud and long yell as she attacked Aang again, making him rise into the air before she slammed him down again.
    "Toph, I need you to metalbend this rudder so it's stuck in this position and will slam into the others." Sokka told Toph.
    She did as he said and things starred working as Sokka had hoped. Unfortunately, the captain of the ship attacked them just then and they ran. Sokka lost his grip and the pair went tumbling down. He caught Toph but hurt his leg in the process. "Hang on!" He called.
    Sokka used his boomerang to hit one guard, launching his sword into the other. Just as they were about to fall, another airship crashed into theirs, thanks to Suki, and the pair landed safely.
                       * * * * *
    Ozai delivered multiple blasts of fire. Though Rose fought them off, she was backed into a corner. Fortunately for her, she landed on the injury Azula had inflicted when she hit her with lightning.
    Suddenly, Rose had a vision of all the Avatars before her, standing in a line, each turning their gaze to her which shined with pure white light. She felt the bridge she had been on during her training with Aurora.
   Ozai moved towards the pile of rubble he created, not realizing what was waiting for him. Rose appeared from the rubble, her clothing ripped in such a way it seemed almost stylish with the tears in the sides. Her eyes and tattoos glowed a bright white and her voice was ethereal as she grabbed Ozai by his beard.
    "Now it's my turn!"
    She tossed him by spinning him in a circle, sending him flying through the air and into the side of a mountain.
   Aang regained his footing and attacked Malvina again. She shielded herself then looked around. Ozai called for her but she simply shook her head. "Sorry, love, but I don't like to lose. Maybe I'll see you in another life."
    That said, she vanished from sight. Rose levitated into the air and the scene that followed resembled the one that had taken place in the Southern Temple not so long ago: spirits flew around her, the air whipped around, water swirled in a spiral on one side of her, chunks of earth rose into the air, and a spiral of fire appeared on the other side of her.
    It was a magnificent sight...that everyone would sense.
                      * * * * *
    Aurora fought off multiple forces, amazed when what remained of Malvina's turned tail and disappeared. She glanced out into the distance and smiled.
    "She is in the Avatar State!" She shouted.
    The rest of the Order cheered as they attacked what remained of the troops. Iroh used his firebending to burn the flag his brother had used to decorate the city.
    Then...he smiled. He'd fulfilled his destiny, his childhood vision, and Ba Sing Se was free at last!
                      * * * * *
   Katara began to fight Azula then, her anger palpable. No one messes with her friend and gets away with it!
    She let Azula think she was winning, tricking her into stepping onto a grate. Then, at the last second, she trapped them both in the water that she pulled from beneath.
    Katara took a deep breath and released herself. Grabbing a chain, she shackled Azula with her arms behind her back before she released them both from the water.
    They both coughed up water, Katara ensuring Azula's restraints were strong enough to hold her. She raced back to Zuko.
    "Katara...tell Rose I love her. I always have."
    "Tell her yourself." Katara said, healing Zuko with water.
    Zuko nodded, thanking her. The moment was shattered as Azula lost control, firebending from her mouth, before she finally gave up and just cried.
                         * * * * *
    Rose floated in the air, the elements around her showing off her true power. That's when Ozai attacked, sending fire her way. It bounced off her shield, causing her to smirk. The look on Ozai's face said it all: he was utterly screwed.
    "Leave here, Aang. Let us do our work. The king will fall."
    That said, the elements detached themselves from Rose and attacked Ozai, first small rocks followed by a wall of fire and a group of spirits. He barely fought them off.
    A wall of water knocked Ozai onto a rock that then pinned him down due to her earthbending. A group of spirits stood before him, their attention, as well as Aang's, now on Rose.
    "Fire Lord Ozai, you and your forefathers have devastated the balance of this world, and now, you shall pay the ultimate price."
    The spirits echoed the words ultimate price again and again. Aang rushed forward. "Rose, please don't. You're better than this."
    Rose turned away and allowed the power to disappate. "He's right. I'm not going to kill you."
    "Even with all the power in the world, you are still weak."
    As he attacked Rose, she fought back, trapping him before she grabbed him by his face. In her mind, she heard the lion turtle's voice: "In the era before the Avatar, we bent not the elements, but the energy within ourselves."
    That knowledge in mind, she began to bend his energy. She glowed in an ethereal blue light while Ozai was bathed in a red light. Again, she heard the lion turtle: "To bend another's energy, your own spirit must be unbendable, or you will be corrupted and destroyed."
    The light began to turn more red, almost covering Rose's body. At the last moment though, she reminded herself why she was here, who she was doing this for, and of the future she wanted with her friends and with Zuko. The light turned blue and enveloped them both.
    They both collapsed onto the rock. Rose took a deep breath and stood. Aang rushed to her. "Are you ok?"
    "I'm more than ok. I did it."
    Aang turned to Ozai who glared at Rose. "What have you done to me?"
    "I took away your firebending. You can't use it to hurt or threaten anyone else ever again."
    That said, she cleaned up the mess from the battle and stood victorious as Sokka, Suki, and Toph arrived. When asked after Ozai, he remarked, "I'm still alive."
    Rose smiled. "I learned there was another way to defeat him and restore balance to the world. I took his bending away."
    "Who taught you that?"
    "A giant lion turtle."
    "You have the craziest adventures when you disappear." Toph said, shaking her head.
    "Technically you were right, Aurora." Rose said. "I had to defeat the Fire Lord's dark power. And I did...by taking it away."
    Aurora thought a moment. "How very clever! Remind me never to doubt you again!"
    "Well what happened to the witches?"
    "They turned tail and disappeared when Rose went into the Avatar State." Aang said. "I don't think they plan on coming back."
    Rose and the others went to catch up with the rest of Team Avatar, just happy to be putting everything behind them for some long overdue peace.
                        * * * * *
    The next morning, cleanup began, fires were put out, and many friends and families were reunited.
   Ophelia looked proud as she thanked her daughter for bringing peace to their family. Rose smiled and hugged her mother followed by her brothers and sister-in-law.
   Everyone who had been wrongfully imprisoned were released. Ty Lee had joined the Kyoshi Warriors whom she had become friends with. Mai didn't know where she was going from here but, when she actually smiled, it was obvious she was a lot happier.
    Later that day, Zuko stood in his old room, trying to get dressed. The wound caused by the lightning hitting him was very tender.
    "Need some help with that?" A familiar voice called out.
    Zuko turned to see the love of his life standing there, freshly cleaned and dressed in a fancy layered blue dress with red markings and gold trim.