Accidental Avatar 3: Totally Lit

The other kind of crazy

Zuko stared up at the portrait of his great-grandfather, the Fire Lord that started everything, pondering the meaning of his mystery message.

"It's never too early for a sitting with the court painter, Zuko," Azula sarcastically commented as she passed by. "Make sure he gets your good side."

Her comment upset him, certainly. He didn't know why he thought she'd be nicer to him after everything that went down on the beach. But before she disappeared, a thought popped into his mind.

Maybe Azula knew something he didn't. She often did.

"Wait," he called out. "I need to ask you something. What do you remember about our Great-Grandfather's history?"

"Ah, Zuko. It's so strange how your mind works," Azula sighed, turning to look up at the portrait as well. "Fire Lord Sozin began the war, of course. He spent his early years secretly preparing for it, but he was as patient as he was clever. He famously waited for the comet, later renamed Sozin's Comet, and used its power to launch his full-scale invasion of the world. In the end, he died a very old and successful man."

"But how did he die?" Zuko insisted.

"Didn't you pay attention in school, Zuko?" Azula sighed again as she walked away. "He died peacefully in his sleep. He was ancient."

Zuko stared up at the portrait; still, his brow furrowed in frustration. She hadn't told him anything he didn't know.

"You're still missing something," Amaya appeared beside him. "Try looking over the message again. Perhaps there was a hidden meaning."

"I know," he muttered under his breath. "Why are you here again?"

"You brought me here, Zuko," she giggled. "Anytime you think of me, here I am."

"Don't you have other people to haunt?"

"Zuko, I'm not a ghost," she snorted. "I'm a delusion. You created me, so only you can see me. Or hear me."

"So I'm crazy?"

"Pretty much."

"Great."