章 25: Big and Sudden Changes
I arrived at the abandoned town, there was a very specific reason why I chose to came here. But that would only reveal itself later.
I sat down on my knees, sword resting on my lap, one hand gripping it's pommel, the other running along the blade. I could see her, hear her as she approached.
She stopped within ten meters of me. "We're alone again," I remarked.
"Indeed we are, I presume you wanted this to happen, didn't you Kai?" Azula rhetorically questioned, the last three words she spoke mockingly.
"That's a new toy you got there," she said upon seeing me holding my sword. I raised it for her to get a better look. I stood up, holding my sword, pointed down to the side with one hand.
"My name is Elliot, Azula," I told her. She looked at me, interested.
"So you do know of me."
"I do. It'd be odd for me to have not known you," I comment with a smile.
"You know, the more I talk and look at you, the more I can see myself overlooking your previous transgression," she uttered, staring at me as though enraptured with curiosity.
"That just won't be possible, Azula," I told her.
"I like this you more than the angry one, you're..." She seemed to be looking for the word, acting as if she had it on the tip of her tongue.
"Ah! You're cute, that's it!" she stated simply with a smirk on her face. I looked down at my sword.
"Oh, we're going to fight now, aren't we?" She spoke about it as though it were the most casual thing.
"We are," I agreed.
"You really think that sword will help you?" She inquired as her hand raised up, a blue fire flickering on her palm.
"It may."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Azula..." I was the one who broke the silence on the standoff.
"Yes?" she asked with a smirk still painted on her face. I felt more nauseous, guilt wracked my heart as I said those next words.
"I'm sorry. You need help, but I... I can't give you that." I declared to her. I didn't even realize I was crying before tears were already streaking down my cheeks, dropping to the ground. I was only now just helping myself. It would be a long time before I could help someone like Azula.
And so, instead, I would cry for her. I think I now understood what Air Nomads meant by compassion for all life. It's only unfortunate that I wouldn't be following their teachings today.
"Help? I don't need help," Azula scoffed at my words, and I grimaced. That was why I couldn't help her, she didn't want help. And so that gave me only one choice.
"I'll make it quick," I promised.
"We'll see," she uttered, her eyes narrowing.
"I guess so." As if that was the agreed upon word, we both bolted into action. Wind surrounded me, pushing me forward, I arrived in front of Azula in nearly an instant.
Her eyes widened as she conjured a wave of blue flames that I dispersed without even trying. I brandished my sword, slashing it towards her neck. It tore through her skin with the ease I expected, little to no resistance. Like cutting through paper.
Her eyes widened as she grabbed at her neck as blood spilled like a fountain, down her garbs. I stared at her, ingraining this scene into my mind. Indignation, disbelief, hatred... fear.
I could see many emotions flash onto her face as she realized her death was coming. As she stumbled and collapsed, I caught her body and gently laid her down. She seemed confused on why I would show her this kindness on her deathbed. She died confused.
I took in a deep breath, calming myself. I think there's a common perception that doing something a second time is easier. In most cases, that was true.
But this... this was harder than I thought. Zhao and the others was just an instant this was... It was harder because I empathized with her.
She was only fourteen, I was eighteen when taken from my home, my future. I destroyed her's like how mine was taken from me.
I shook my head. I took my hand from behind her head. Despite feeling guilt, and incredible sadness, I stood up. I wiped the tears off my face, more determined than ever. Bending down, I picked up her motionless body.
"You..." I turned my head, looking at Zuko.
...
Zuko POV
I didn't understand the sight before my eyes. Azula, dead. THAT Azula. My sister, Azula...
'This makes me the Crown Prince,' I banished that thought from my mind as soon as it entered. I wanted my honor back, my place at my father's side, back. But not like this. I may not have gotten along with her, but I still loved her. She was my sister.
Azula's killer turned towards me, her corpse in his arms, and I flinched. I didn't recognize his face. But he had all the recognizable features as a person of Fire Nation descent.
He took a step forward, and I unwittingly took one back. Fear overcoming me. He had killed Azula, a Firebending prodigy like it was nothing.
He stopped approaching. I don't know why. He stared at me for a good long while, as if mulling over what to say, while I just stood there, paralyzed.
"My name is Elliot, but I guess, most people know me as Kai," he stated.
'Kai?' I thought, recognizing that name even if barely. Wasn't that the name of a defector? But he used Air-
I remembered. It was months ago, but I recalled being beaten by someone of his stature, I hadn't gotten a close look at his face, but I was sure it's him. Then The Avatar-
"Yes, I'm traveling with Avatar Aang. But killing your sister was my own choice, by my own hand, Prince Zuko."
"Prince...?" I asked.
"Yes, you're the Prince of The Fire Nation now, aren't you? This is what you wanted, wasn't it?"
"No, I..."
"Your sister was sent to her death by your Father's orders, one of many I suppose. She just so happened to be his daughter, and your sister."
"That is quite a grim way to look at it," I heard a familiar voice. My head snapped in the direction I heard it, and saw my Uncle standing behind me, a little blind girl next to him.
"Maybe," was all Kai said in response to my Uncle's words.
"Uncle! Azula, she's..." It still felt surreal. Uncle nodded, a rare somberness displaying on his face.
"I know." I felt strength leave my body as he acknowledged my words, knowing it wasn't just some illusion. Azula was really dead.
I turned my head back to Kai, flinching as he approached, but Uncle put a hand onto my shoulder. Holding her body, he held her out to me.
"You... what are you..."
"I'm giving you the chance to bury your sister."
"You... You're the one who killed her!" I shouted.
"I am."
"I..." Despondent. That's what I was. Even my usual anger had all but left me.
"I'm sorry for your sister, and I'm sorry for your niece," he apologized.
"I forgive you," Uncle accepted.
"Uncle, how could you-"
"Revenge will not bring her back Zuko. He clearly does not want to fight anymore than he has to, and neither do I. He is already doing us a great courtesy, not everyone in war gets to bury their deceased loved ones," he explained to me with great melancholy.
Kai handed her to me. She was... lighter than I imagined, colder. I felt empty. Was there anything I could of done?
I stared at Kai's back as my Uncle offered me one last piece of advice. "There isn't anything anyone could of done for Azula. The path she walked was her own, and this is where it lead her."
...
Elliot POV
"So you... killed her?" Toph hesistantly inquired after a while of walking.
"Yeah." I didn't deny it. Why would I? If Aang and the rest asked me, I would tell them the truth to.
"Why?" she asked, unusually serious.
"..." I stayed silent, pondering over what to say. In truth, I had no idea how to explain my actions. But I wouldn't lie, neither would I make an excuse.
"Because I felt that was the best choice at the time."
"Why was that the best choice?!"
"She was an enemy. An unhinged enemy too smart for her own good who would, and may have already, harmed a lot of people."
"And how do you know that?"
"I don't, not truly. She needed help, I couldn't give her it. I don't know anybody who could've. I had other options, yes, but I felt her dying there was for the best," I did my best to answer her.
"..."
"I don't expect you, or the rest to understand, or even agree with my actions. Neither am I going to say I did it for you guys, or that any of you could have changed my mind. Because that's just not true, Toph," I informed her.
"I get it, Hustler. You don't need to... explain yourself."
"I may not need to, but I wanted to. I don't want to hide things from any of you, especially you, Blindspot."
...
We met the rest halfway. They were on their way to my location, worried for me after fighting against Mai and Ty Lee. Time to face the music.
Sokka was the one to ask it. "What happened?" There it was, the dreaded question. I let out a deep breath.
"I... I killed her," I responded.
"I see." Sokka uttered, he had the least reaction to the news, understanding.
"..." Katara didn't say anything, I don't know what was going through her mind. And Aang... he had the worst reaction.
"Elliot you... killed her? Why!? Is it..."
"No. I killed her because I thought it was the best course of action for me."
"For... you?"
"Yeah. I knew Azula personally, I guess you could say. She's manipulative, cruel, and unhinged."
"And how would you know that?" Sokka questioned, suspicious.
"Because I was a Fire Nation Soldier. Once I learned I could Airbend, well... I defected. It was only a matter of time until it got revealed, and I would either be killed or worse."
"I knew it! I was right from the very beginning!" Sokka exclaimed, making me smile. I remember how suspicious he was of me at first, and how the very first thing he said was how I could be Fire Nation. He wasn't wrong.
"So you killed her because it would be easier for you?" Aang said, hurt in his voice. "There wasn't any other option?"
"There were. But that's the one I picked, so... yeah."
"..."
"..."
"I'm not an Air Nomad Aang, and I probably never will be. I'm sorry if I made you think otherwise."
...
Aang wouldn't talk to me anymore, Katara less so than usual. My actions made the air around the group tense. The only ones who acted as usual with me were Toph and Sokka.
I don't know if things would go back to normal. Or if Aang would forgive me. Only time would tell. Even if i didn't act like it, I did value their opinions. But, still, I don't regret killing her.
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