The Traitor Princess

Chapter 68 - Sozin's Comet, Part Three

Aang touched down on a pillar towards the edge of the rocky field. The first airship slowly approached.

Eziri touched down just as Aang sent Momo away. She could just barely make out her father's figure on a platform extended in front of the ship. She inhaled deeply, feeling the power from the comet.

"Remember, Aang: the comet might strengthen my father's bending, but it strengthens yours too. Use it to your advantage and rely on your breath." Eziri instructed.

Aang nodded in understanding, not taking his eyes off the approaching ship. He inhaled deeply and exhaled a small burst of flames. Eziri watched with pride; he was ready.

The ship grew closer and they watched as Ozai released a massive stream of fire from his palm. Eziri's pent-up anger bubbled to the surface. The man before her was a monster and she would do whatever it took to help stop him.

Aang gestured for Eziri to step back and she quickly obliged. He fluidly moved through earth bending stances, sending discs of stone towards the airship engines as soon as it was in range. The ship started smoking as it powered down.

Eziri and Aang shared a nod before matching each other's movements. They each sent a burst of fire straight for the engine, exploding parts of the ship just as Fire Lord Ozai reached their eye-level.

The man discarded his outer robes and flew off the airship. He used his firebending to propel him over onto a stone pillar. He met eyes with his daughter and glared. Eziri straightened. She wouldn't back down. She wouldn't let him intimidate her. Not anymore.

"After generations of Fire Lords failed to find you now the universe delivers you to me as an act of providence."

"Please listen to me. We don't have to fight." Aang was clearly hoping his last-ditch effort would end this battle before it began. Eziri just stood silently. She knew her father. She knew he'd never agree to it. "You have the power to end it here and stop what you're doing."

"You are right. I do have the power." Ozai said with a wicked gleam in his eye. It was so painfully similar to the look Eziri saw in her sister. "I have all the power in the world!"

Ozai demonstrated exactly how powerful he was by blasting streams of fire from his hands and mouth. Aang looked a bit disheartened at the realization that Ozai was beyond reasoning but shifted into a fighting stance nonetheless. Eziri stood to his right, just a half-step behind her friend.

While Ozai was show-boating, Aang spoke to Eziri without taking his eyes off the Fire Lord. "Stay back for now. I have to handle this, Ezi."

She looked at him worriedly but softly murmured her agreement. "I'll follow your lead, Avatar Aang." She reluctantly used her firebending to propel herself to another pillar a few rows away. She wouldn't let harm come to Aang, but she couldn't be in his way. This was his fight and she'd do as he asked.

Ozai finally finished his ridiculous display and spread a ring of fire all around him. Aang easily dodged and countered the attack with earthbending. She was mesmerized by Aang's bending, her eyes glued to the way he effortlessly dodged every attack. Her focus was only broken by a loud, repeated booming noise in the distance. She snapped her head to the airship fleet and smirked at the sight. One airship was running along the top of all the others, effectively destroying each ship one by one.

"Good job, guys." She sent a silent plea to any listening spirit to keep her friends safe and focused back on Aang. He was holding his own but she remained alert and ready. She followed the fight at a distance, hopping from pillar to pillar so she could remain close enough to step in.