Walk The Path

Chapter Nineteen

Clink clank.

The sound of Aang's shoes against the rungs of the metal ladder reverberated as he climbed through the hatch.

Clink clank.

Aang's heart was racing as the adrenaline pumped through his veins. Before he knew it, he was standing on the dry, cracked earth beneath the dark sky. He didn't see Ozai, or anyone else, so he bended a flame in the palm of his hand to see more clearly. After squinting and walking hurriedly, Aang's stomach lurched as he saw a figure with long, black hair running in the distance. As Aang grew closer to the figure, he realized that this man was Ozai. The airbender scowled and raised his feet as he stomped the ground. The earth rumbled as the ground buckled, rock rippling for miles before thwarting Ozai from his feet.

"Arrrghh!" Ozai yelled as he crashed on his back.

With a furrowed brow, Aang sped towards Ozai before the older firebender had a chance to stand up. As Ozai began to push himself off the ground, he felt his body crash against the earth hard by a forceful wind. Ozai opened his eyes to see the Avatar towering over him with white, glowing eyes. The firebender cowered in fear as he saw the young Avatar's arm raise high into the air to deliver the final blow. Ozai thought this was the end, that this is where he will die. He was sure of it.

A few seconds passed and Ozai was still alive and unharmed.

Trepidatiously, Ozai opened his eyes to see the Avatar continuing to stand over him, shoulders slumped in defeat. His eyes returned to their normal grey. Aang spoke calmly yet firmly, "No, I won't take a life."

Ozai's eyebrows raised in confusion as he stood up with a smirk on his face. Ozai yelled as he blasted fire from his hands, "You will always be weak, just like your parents!" What Ozai didn't expect was for Aang to anticipate this move. Aang countered Ozai's fire blast with one of his own, equal in size and force. Minutes passed as the two fire blasts fought against one another. Sweat formed on Aang's brow from the heat of the duo flames. The airbender found extra energy he did not know existed in himself to push against Ozai's flame.

Aang, brow still furrowed, exerted all of his energy to overpower Ozai's flame. The red hot flames from Ozai began to diminish slowly as concern grew on his face. Aang spoke firmly, "Ozai, you've upset the balance of earth and the spirit world. You will listen to me and end this war." Ozai continued to produce his flame from his hand, even though it was weakened by Aang.

"No, my vision for a better world will come to pass. A world where only the superior race, firebenders, live. This is only fair, to put the weaker races out of their misery," Ozai grunted as he struggled to keep up with the strength of Aang's flame.

Aang sighed, growing tired with him, "I gave you the chance to make the right choice, Ozai! Don't forget that!" Aang exhaled, stomping and rising the ground up to encompass Ozai from his feet until his shoulders. With Ozai's hands and feet trapped in the rock encasement, Aang scowled as he placed his right hand on Ozai's forehead and his left hand over Ozai's heart.

The space between and surrounding Aang and Ozai filled with the sounds of thousands of people chanting. The droning voices continued as Aang leaned his head back, expelling a bright, white light from his eyes and his mouth. Ozai's eyes and mouth emanated a red, vibrant light. Aang continued to press his hands onto the older firebender, willing his own chi to protect against the creeping, malignant chi from Ozai. The red started to flow through Aang slowly, until it reached Aang's neck. Aang shook under the force he used to push back from Ozai's energy. Images of Ozai's hatred, anger, and selfish goals floated through Aang's mind before they drifted away. Grunting to keep Ozai's energy at bay, the airbender mustered a push of his own energy. Ozai's chi quickly retreated from Aang, flowing back through Ozai before leaving the firebender's body. Aang and Ozai stayed in this position for a few moments before Aang felt his life force leave his body, knees buckling under exhaustion.