Fire You Are (Zuko Love Story)

Avatar Aida

This is it. This is where the war ends, where we finally fulfill what we were meant to do in the war. The sky grows a grim red-orange color as Sozin's Comet shines through the sky in its majestic power, making every firebender in the world more powerful. Ozai must already be wreaking havoc elsewhere. Ba Sing Se must already be under attack. And Zuko and I are only minutes away from the Fire Nation capital.

"Aida," Zuko calls for me.

When my head turns in order to see Zuko staring at me, his eyes reflecting sorrow. I can't find any words and neither can he. Instead, I move over to him and the two of us embrace. Yes, we're confident, and yes, we probably will be successful. But there's still this dread and dismay that longs despite all of that. We both know what's at stake, and we're no longer naive so as to not pay attention to any of that.

I know what this means to Zuko. To be honest, I want him to finally resolve his conflict more than I want to play any significant parts here. 

Zuko's lips gently rest on my temple and the two of us remain without saying any words. After starting to worry, I hold him tighter. I can't let him out of my sight for a second. Zuko senses my worry and he holds me tighter as well.

"I love you, Aida."

His words calm me down; a part of me starts to see all I need in him.

"I love you too."

I look up at his two golden eyes and refuse to let this be the last time he and I can be together peacefully. I'm going to do everything that's necessary to make sure it doesn't end here.

Appa lets out a subtle roar that catches our attention. Zuko and I look out at the direction in which we're heading to see the capital lying ahead. Azula must still be in the palace. Come to think of it... why isn't she commanding any troops anyway, or with the Fire Lord? Why would she be stuck waiting here? It just doesn't seem like anything she'd do willingly.

"When we find Azula, let me do the talking," Zuko says. "I don't want you to get hurt if it isn't necessary."

"It's okay, Zuko," I rest my hand on his shoulder. 

In little time, Appa lands in front of the palace. This places brings me awful memories of when I was held captive, when I was alone, weak, helpless. When the only thing keeping me sane was the daily five or so minutes I could practice a technique that would help me escape. I look around now and it looks as deserted as it did the night I got out. 

But it isn't completely empty. There is still one person here, the person behind our struggles, and one of the deadliest firebenders that needs to be taken down. Azula is just at the entrance of the palace. She's standing, but something instantly feels off about her. For starters, she isn't in her same straight, proud posture. She's slightly hunched and her head is tilted down. There's a glare on her face that turns into a grotesque, evil smirk when she sees us, and it's a look I'd never even seen on her before.

Zuko helps me down from Appa. He walks beside me as the two of us approach his sister, and now I can get a closer look at her. Her hair is a mess. There are bags under her eyes as well. Her eyes, they also don't look focused like they usually did. They're wider, and I know what makes eyes that wide. An unhealthy obssession that's crippling Azula and her mind. She didn't use to be like this; something threw her off her balance.

"What's happening to her?" I whisper.

"She's slipping," Zuko says. 

We stop a few meters away from Azula, whose facial expression only hardens when we do. 

"You came back!" She yells.

Her voice is also a tell-tale sign of her sanity leaving her little by little.