Capítulo 3: Book I, Act I: Ashes, Chapter III
Edited by: Bieverdog AO3: GalavantingGoose and ultimatebookworm08
Book I, Imbalance
Act I: Ashes
Chapter III
The brightness of Sozin's comet still bloodied the sky. As the colors washed over the Capital, the citizens gathered outside to witness a spectacle of fire and light illuminating the city in bright orange and blue. Little did they know, they were watching a fearsome duel for the throne. Some in the growing audience even cheered. Many assumed they were witnessing the celebration of the Princess' coronation until a lightning bolt thundered. Silent tension reigned for a moment. Fires spread. The Home Guard roused itself, trying to stop the panicked crowds and attempting to put out the fires.
Zuko and Katara exchanged uneasy glances. What were they going to do with Azula now? She was still, her breathing normal, but she lay on the ground, staring blankly.
"Do you think this is another one of her tricks?" Katara eyed Zuko with a serious expression, her blue eyes betraying a hint of worry.
"I don't think so. She looks so…" He trailed off, his eyes remaining on his sister.
"...Bad?"
Zuko shook his head and, with watchful eyes on Azula, he whispered to Katara, "It's just that… I've never seen her like this before. I don't know what's happening to her, but I'll find out. For now, we need to put out the fires before they spread further. At least until we get some news from the others."
She interlaced her fingers, looking expectantly to the crimson horizon.
"I hope they're okay."
A group of soldiers approached, accompanying the High Sage. The old man seemed out of breath. He motioned the soldiers to stand down and stood forward. "Prince Zuko, We come to pledge our loyalty to you. We await your command." The sage bowed, and some of the soldiers followed.
Others darted their eyes around, unsure. One pointed. "They captured the Princess!"
"Traitors!" some voices shouted in the back.
The rebels rushed for the princess. Zuko blocked them with a wall of fire, groaning in pain as he moved to create the flames, but he was unable to close the gap entirely. Others began to fight with the ones who had bowed. Katara joined the fight, trying to separate the soldiers from each other with water tentacles while Zuko fended off two lunging spears. After knocking the other to the ground with a blast of fire, he managed to disarm one of the soldiers. The fire sage covered his head and pleaded for the soldiers to stop, to no avail. The prince bent two flaming whips, trapping them in flames. "Enough! My sister challenged me to an Agni Kai and broke the rules; I've earned the throne honorably! The world has suffered enough under my father's rule. Today, the Avatar will end Ozai's reign of terror. Tomorrow, our nation and the world will be at peace. Together, we can restore the honor of our nation. There has been enough bloodshed already."
The soldiers' anger dissipated. Some looked ashamed, and others grunted reluctantly, but they all lowered their weapons.
The prince sobered his tone. "There is still much left to be done today. I need to speak with your commander."
"The princess jailed him earlier today, Your Majesty; those earthbenders took him."
What? What was she thinking? He cleared his throat. "Then I order him released. Now put out the fires before they grow out of control! Alert the Fire Watch if they aren't already responding. Katara, would you please go with them? There might be wounded. I'll find you once I talk to the captain."
"Got it." More softly, "Be careful, Zuko."
"...My prince, what should we do with your sister?" The old man had a troubled look on his face as he gestured towards Azula, whose expression was still blank.
"For now, just take her to her room, but keep her guarded and restrained. Make sure the royal physician tends to her."
As Katara prepared to leave, she stopped and turned around, grabbing him by the shoulders. "Zuko, I know she's your sister; but she's too dangerous to be left like this. She almost killed you, killed Aang… I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if she hurt any of my friends again…"
"She's not right, Katara. It wouldn't be right if we left her in a prison cell. Just look at her; she's not even reacting to us! I just want to know what's wrong with her before deciding anything." He lowered his gaze, considering.
Katara's eyes widened. "Everything is wrong with her! She's crazy! You can't expect her to be civil and forget about all of this. Those soldiers won't be able to contain her."
"I know... I can't expect her to be civil about this; but that doesn't change the fact she's my sister… But I won't hesitate if she tries to harm any of you again. She won't escape, trust me."
Katara sighed and touched her necklace, then nodded and walked away. Zuko went on his way, escorted by four soldiers. The fire sage remained with two others to carry the princess back to the palace. As they stretchered her away, she was fixated on thin air.
Azula woke up to a burning fever, jumping out of her bed, panting, and covered in sweat. A guard entered the room. "Is everything alright, Princess?"
"Yes, it was nothing."
She had quite a nightmare. Of a scarred young man and a blue-eyed girl. They seemed blurry in her memory, but they felt so real to her. Heart racing, she took a deep breath to relax, sighing in relief. Just a nightmare.
The sun was already shining, so the princess jumped out of bed to dress; she didn't want to miss her training. She snatched loose yet elaborate red robes with pink and gold accents. She had much to do for the day, even on holiday. She was still the princess of the Fire Nation, having almost as many obligations as her brother. She was a bit annoyed that her family had decided to stay in the Capital this year instead of going to Ember Island, but she wasn't one to question Father's judgment.
Azula hurried to her brother's bedroom to find him. His guards were still at the door. A firebender who can't rise with the sun. She couldn't help but roll her eyes. The young princess snuck inside, tiptoeing to the bed and shoving her brother to wake him up. "Zuko, get up! We'll be late for training!" Zuko groaned and pulled the covers over his head. Next to his nightstand was a washbasin. You asked for it. Grabbing the pitcher, she dumped it on him.
"W-what?! Hey, stop it!" Zuko threw the covers away and wiped the water from his face, scowling.
Azula hugged her stomach, laughing uncontrollably, then smiled. "Good morning, Zuzu. I thought I'd stop in to remind you we have training today." She smiled innocently, holding both of her hands behind her back.
"I know we have training! I was just about to wake up."
"Yeah, right. You should be thankful. Dad is going to be there today, and you know how punctual he is."
Zuko hugged his knees, peeking over with a glum expression. "I know. I just don't know what he expects. None of us know any firebending forms yet. I mean, we can't even firebend... He'll just be disappointed."
"You mean you can't firebend." Flashing a smile, Azula made a small flame dance in her palm that grew and shrunk with her breath.
Zuko hopped out of bed to gaze in wonder. "Whoa… Azula, that's awesome! How did you do that?"
"I know, right? Yesterday, I was playing outside, and I saw some soldiers heating their tea. I just copied their technique; but instead of just heat, flames came out. I've been meaning to tell Father our teacher is a dummy. He just doesn't teach us properly. It's so simple; I'm sure we could've mastered firebending years ago if our teacher didn't drone on and on and on about philosophy all the time ." Azula crossed her arms.
He shrugged. "Well, I'm sure he has a reason for that… Master Zhe isn't a bad man."
"I didn't say he's a bad man; I said he is a lousy teacher! And a lousy teacher doesn't deserve to have royalty as his students." She gestured with her arms still crossed.
"Maybe you're right…" He eyed her near-pleadingly. "Can you be my sifu today then?"
Azula held up her chin. "Sifu Azula… Hmm. It does have a ring to it… But no, I won't." She inspected her nails.
His head dropped. "Oh… Ok."
Azula snickered and wiped a tear from her eye. "I was joking. You always fall for it. Of course, I'll teach you, Zuko; It's easy. But first, let's eat. It's already quite late, and we need to practice some time before Master Zhe arrives. That is, if you want to be ready to firebend today."
Zuko's face regained its color, and his expression brightened. "Really? Thank you, Azula!" He patted her head, and she cringed. "You're the best little sister!"
"Alright, alright! You can thank me later. Now, can we please go?"
Zuko nodded, and they scurried to the dining hall.
Carved on the side of the caldera, on the outskirts of the Capital, stood the prison, not only protected by its remote location but also by an outer wall that guarded the prison jealously. It was for political dissidents. So, he could at least be sure he could count on Sung's help. Zuko had been there before. He didn't have good memories from his visits there, but he was glad that he had at least reconciled with Uncle.
His thoughts wandered back to the task at hand. As they neared the narrow path to the main gate, Zuko noticed guards posted atop the outer walls. He didn't really have a plan, but he wanted to avoid any confrontation. He motioned to his escort to halt.
"Who goes there?"
Zuko cleared his throat. "We've come here for Captain Sung…"
"Identify yourself!"
"We mean no harm. I'm Prince Zuko, I–"
"It's the traitor! I need backup now!" So much for the peaceful approach . Guards thronged to the wall and blocked the main gate, arms ready to face the incoming threat.
"My sister won't become Fire Lord! Lay down your weapons now! Ozai's reign ends today!
His soldiers formed around him and stood their ground.
"What is the meaning of this?!" One guard walked out, the others parting before her. She stepped in front of the troops at the main door.
"Warden Ming. Ma'am, these traitors are here for Sung."
She fixed her gaze on Zuko, speaking in a civil but commanding tone. "You are not welcome in the Fire Nation anymore, Prince Zuko. Leave before I arrest you."
"I challenged Crown Princess Azula for the throne and won. That's 'Fire Lord Zuko'."
"We are here on the orders of Princess Azula. This man has committed high treason–" The warden's resolve wavered; it was clear to Zuko that his sister did what she always had done, for they feared her.
"High treason?" He scoffed.
"You're standing here guarding a single man whilst the city is burning and in disarray! It's your families and friends down there. They need all the help they can get! Don't fear my sister; she no longer commands the city. Don't– don't be like me…" Zuko paused for a moment and glanced sideways, his gaze melancholic. "Don't wait too long to act. It's never too late to do the right thing."
Some left their posts at his words and hurried to the city. Ming trotted over to him, holding out a key ring. "I hope you know what you are doing, Prince Zuko. Here are the keys to Sung's cell. Those earthbenders beat him up. When they brought him here, he– He said that… Well, it's best if you see for yourself."
"Thank you. We will head back to help you as soon as possible." The warden nodded and gestured to the guards. "Let them pass! Follow me to the city!" Most of them followed, not entirely without question, but the safety of their loved ones far outweighed their duties.
The prince entered the prison. It was cold inside, and there were scant windows. Its narrow rocky corridors carried a chilling breeze. Zuko led on with a flame in hand. Wails echoed from ahead, becoming louder as they marched ahead. Inside the last cell, a man lay curled up, tears running down his face to mix with the grime.
"I'm here to free you, Captain." At Zuko's words, the man stood up. He frantically hugged the bars, tears still pouring from his eyes. His right eye was blackened, and he had several cuts on his arms.
"My family. Please, what do you know of my family?"
"I'm sorry. I don't know anything, but my sister is not in control now."
"I need to find them… Those earthbenders… they said they would… The colonies..." He choked on his own words, trying to hold back the tears.
"We can look for them; but first, I need your help. The city needs your help; It's chaos out there. Most of the soldiers trust you, the Imperial Firebenders…"
The man seemed to have regained his confidence, clearing his throat. "She banished them all... They will all suffer because of me; I couldn't do anything, but I can now.
"They might still be in the city; there's no time to lose."
The aromas of the royal kitchen flooded the hallways, drawing Zuko and Azula closer. Breakfast was waiting for them. Their mother was already at table having a conversation with one of her aides. She stopped as she saw them approaching, smiled, and waved. "Good morning, my little turtleducks! Did you sleep well?"
"Good morning, Mom!" Zuko ran to hug Mother.
Azula looked around worriedly. "Is Father not here yet?"
"Your father had an important meeting to attend; but I'm sure he won't miss your training today." She smiled, but her eyes always betrayed her.
"Again? Just please tell him to be there. He won't be disappointed this time ."
"He is not disappointed in you; he just has a lot of work to worry about. He always tells me how proud he is of you both." She sounded so convinced, but Azula could not stop doubting. She only hoped that her hard work would finally bear fruit and make her parents proud.
"You really think so?" Zuko smiled hopefully, encouraged by his mother's words. Azula rolled her eyes; Zuzu could be quite gullible.
"Of course I do. Now finish your breakfast if you want to train well."
To that they could all agree. The children enthusiastically ate their breakfast, racing to see who would finish it first. Azula almost choked on her food, but her effort proved worthwhile.
"Have fun!" Their mother smiled.
"It requires concentration, not fun." Azula crossed her arms, serious.
Zuko smiled. "Will do." He waved. "See you later, Mom."
"Come on, Zuko. Race you there!" Azula tugged her brother's arm and started running.
The competition was fierce. They ran through the Royal Gallery, almost bumping into the servants cleaning. They could see the light coming through the end of the hallway. Almost there, Azula thought.
A pair of scribes came through the door, laden with documents. Azula's eyes bulged. "Look out!"
The men jumped, flinging the papers into the air. She slipped between them, Zuko following behind and almost bumping into one of them. "Sorry!" Zuko shot a guilty smile.
They collapsed in the middle of the courtyard near a fountain. Catching her breath, Azula held her hips. "I won again! You make this too easy, Zuzu."
He frowned, crossing his arms. "I'm just letting you win."
" Sure, you are. Well, what do you say we get to work before Master Zhe gets here?"
"Right! Show me how you do it."
They hid behind some bushes, and she peeked out to ensure Zhe had not arrived yet before starting her lesson.
"Okay, listen up! First, you have to relax. Hold out your hand; now breathe in and out slowly. You need to feel the flame inside of you; close your eyes if it helps."
"I'm not feeling anything ."
"Just focus on your breathing and imagine the fire expanding and contracting as you breathe. When you feel that energy, will it to your hand."
Zuko squeezed his eyes harder and took deep breaths. A small flame bloomed in his palm. Although weak, it still danced with the wind. It was much better than his previous attempts before. "I did it! Azula, I did it! Look!" He smiled excitedly.
"Great, you might have some talent after all. Now try controlling it with your breath." Zuko began to breathe– "Zuko, stop! He's coming." Zuko held his breath, extinguishing the flame instantly. They stepped out, grinning sheepishly.
"Sifu Zhe, good morning."
Zhe sported a long white beard braided with golden jewelry. Azula always wondered how he could even carry that weight. He kept squinting as he faced them. "Ah, there you are. Good morning, students. Today, we will continue our lesson on the principles of the nature of fire. I'm sure you must be excited to start practicing katas, but it is imperative that you first master–" Zhe turned to bow deeply. "Prince Ozai, It is an honor to have you here." The prince gave a fleeting, polite smile.
"Master Zhe, I am eager to see the fruits of your teachings. We will begin with a firebending demonstration." Their father gestured and stood expectantly.
The master held up his finger. "Actually, my prince, my students are learning the roots of firebending, its history, and its purpose. You see, through this knowledge they will possess the tools to master the self-control, discipline, and restraint necessary to proper firebending."
"Then your training has been useless and a waste of their time and mine." His eyes narrowed, and his lips tightened in anger and disgust. He spun around to leave.
Azula ran to him. "Wait, Father! We can firebend!" Father raised an eyebrow.
The teacher was astonished. "What? How?" Then alarmed. "No, don't; you are not ready yet!"
Their father raised his hand at him. "Silence! Show me…"
The teacher bowed his head and stood next to his students. Azula bent a small flame on her palm. But Father was unimpressed; he planned to move on. She had to improvise fast. She had seen the soldiers train; if they could do it, she could do it as well. Before Father could leave, she stood her ground and brought her fists near her waist. Focusing on her breathing, she punched, exhaling, and sprouted flames from the tip of her knuckles. The flames came out controlled, compressing into a powerful hot burst. She struck again, and the flames grew hotter. She mustered all of her strength; and this time, the flames turned blue for a moment.
Had she messed up? She feared she had gone too far; now Father would be disappointed again. She bowed, a cold line of sweat falling from her brow. A clap broke the silence, and she slowly raised her gaze. It was Father. Her teacher stood there with his mouth wide open. Zuko's face was a mix of awe and happiness.
"Outstanding, Daughter. You may continue your lesson, Master Zhe. Azula, walk with me." Zhe took a moment to get his bearings, but he straightened his beard and nodded.
Zuko tried to show his father, as well. He reached for his father's hand, but Ozai pulled away.
"Another day, Son; Continue your training. It will do you well to follow your sister's example."
Zuko's face fell, his eyes tearing for a moment; but he held them back. He lowered his head. "Yes, Father."
Azula looked at Zuko–
Father looked at her impatiently. "Well? Let's go." Azula nodded and walked beside Father, only looking back once.
Zuko's eyes focused on the gates of the palace. He could still hear the ghosts of deafening cheers from a crowd of admirers. The recognition and love he had never received from his people before had made him blind to his mistakes. It embarrassed him to think it took him so long to realize the error of his ways–
A hand touches his shoulder. "Is everything okay, Zuko?" Katara looked at him with concern.
"Yeah… let's go."
"You don't have to worry; the fires are out. Fortunately, there weren't many wounded… Now we just need to get news from the others."
"I know. Come; I'll show you the palace while we're at it." Katara smiled and helped Zuko open the main door. The heavy red door depicting The Flame parted slowly. As they entered, they noticed weapons and scorch marks on the ground; it could be an ambush. Zuko took a defensive stance, and Katara reached for her water pouch– There was no one around. They crept towards the palace. There were signs of a skirmish all over; but there was no one to be found.
They reached the gate of the palace. Shouting could be heard within. Zuko and Katara looked at each other and opened the door, ready to fight. Inside, they saw a group of men kneeling on the ground with their hands tied, one of them a brown-haired military officer. Zuko recognized him: it was General Shinu. A younger officer stood nearby, looking down on the general. The captives were surrounded by soldiers on guard. Some murmured at their arrival.
"You traitor! The Phoenix King will be back soon; you'll regret this, Mak!"
"We'll see about that…" The young officer turned to Zuko and straightened.
"Colonel Mak at your service." The man bowed to Zuko, and his soldiers followed.
"What happened here, Colonel?" Zuko had lowered his guard, but Katara was still suspicious.
"General Shinu here tried to take the palace. The ministers got word of your arrival, and they ordered that the palace be held off until the Phoenix King arrived. When your sister got here, they closed off the palace. We did what we could to help, Sir. I'm glad to report there was no bloodshed."
Zuko's pulse calmed, and he breathed a sigh of relief. He thought of his sister; he hoped she wasn't playing a trick on them.
"And what of my sister?"
"She was brought to her room. A healer is monitoring her. We are still looking for the royal physician, sir."
"I'll go see her, then."
"Also, a falcon arrived not long ago with a message for you. The General did not read the contents of it; we made sure of that. I think you should check that first."
Katara's face lit up. "It could be Aang! We have to see it, Zuko!"
Zuko smiled shyly. "It's possible. You go ahead; I want to check on Azula first."
Katara's lips tightened as she touched her necklace and dipped her gaze. She looked up at him. He nodded. "Ok. Whatever you do, be careful." She went with Mak to read the message.
Could the war be over? He was almost certain of it, but at what cost? Regardless, he felt lighter. As he walked the halls of the palace, so many memories invaded him, some good, others bad; but all of those experiences had led him to this moment. Two soldiers stood guard outside Azula's room. They bowed as he marched to the door. Reaching for the handle, he hesitated; he knew he would have to decide what to do with her. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, opening the door.
Azula was so happy. Father barely even had any time for them. If he had asked her to come with him, it must have been because she was special. She thought briefly about Zuko, but she believed she could always teach him later. Then their father would be impressed with him too. She was so caught up in her mind that she hadn't been paying attention to where they were going. She realized where they were when Father touched her shoulder to stop her: the Royal Gallery.
He turned around to face a giant portrait of a past Fire Lord. "Tell me; what do you see, Azula?" On the portrait, a flaming comet stretched along the canvas. Below it stood a stoic, gray-bearded Fire Lord. He held a piece of parchment in his left hand and flames in his right. At his feet, five small soldiers guarded him. She knew it by heart. Every soul in the Fire Nation did.
"That is Fire Lord Sozin, His Majesty's great predecessor. He began the effort to bring prosperity to the world. He founded many colonies, expanded our armies, and thwarted the Air Nomad invasion." Azula looked up to her father, but he was still expecting something else, though she was sure she was correct.
"Yes, but why was he successful?"
It was hard not to know; every book mentioned him. "He was intelligent and a wise ruler who knew how to take advantage of opportunities. He had a great dream to bring prosperity to the world. His conviction in it gave him the will to make it a reality."
"Yes, but you miss one thing–he was also ruthless in the pursuit of his aims. We are a powerful nation; and the natural order of things dictates the strong rule over the weak. History has always proved this law of nature true. The Air Nomads were a weak and unruly nation that stood in our path to greatness, and they received their due. You wouldn't expect a bison to make demands of a dragon?"
"I suppose not..." Azula said softly. She was intrigued to hear more.
There was a spark in his eyes. "Sometimes, the strong attach themselves to the weak out of 'pity,' 'compassion,' or 'love,' making them vulnerable in turn." She opened her eyes, listening intently. "I'll tell you a secret few know: the last avatar was friends with Sozin. Brimming with enthusiasm, he shared his dream with the avatar. In a lapse of weakness, he had trusted him. Soon he came to regret his mistake, nearly dying at the traitor's hands. But Roku decided to spare him out of 'friendship'. Even with all the power in the world, the mightiest bender was still weak. He underestimated Sozin."
Our ancestor learnt from his mistake. He killed the avatar and managed to expand our great nation. The avatar had been a thorn in our side for countless centuries, commanding the world at whims. Now we rule unopposed because we managed to become stronger. Our bloodlines have only strengthened through the years. But all of these achievements hang on by a thread. All it takes is one moment of weakness to destroy all that our ancestors have accomplished."
He put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm telling you this because you have the potential to be great, my daughter. I saw it in your eyes the day you were born. The path to greatness is long and hard and is reserved for the few willing to do what is necessary. Remember this lesson, Azula: strive for excellence and never let weakness cloud your judgment. Those who do are doomed to succumb to Roku's fate. You have a choice to make, Azula. I know that you will make the right one." Father left without another word.
Standing there, she felt that the room felt unnaturally empty, dead. The calm was shattered by the sound of a storm, cold wind rushing from outside extinguished the candles in the gallery, cloaking it in darkness. The doors were slammed shut. Behind her and across the hall, a single door creaked open, a dim silver light shining through. She creeped towards it, her heart beating faster with each step, and inched it open. A broken mirror shone in the darkness–
The door thundered shut. Frightened, she thrust back on the handle; but it would not budge. She turned to face the mirror. The reflection, it moved… She came closer, nearly tripping on broken glass. The mirror she had broken before, where she had seen the reflection of her mother. Amidst the darkness, it was only her and that cursed mirror.
As she moved closer, she saw that what little that remained of it did not show her reflection. Perplexed, she squinted her eyes and saw herself on a bed, her hands chained to the side. An old man inspected her, taking notes in a book. She heard the sound of a door opening to reveal a scarred young man. Her legs tensed, and her eyes widened in fear as she regained her memories. She tried to step back but stumbled and fell on the broken glass, cutting her hands. She screamed in pain.
"What did you do to me?!" she shouted at the mirror, but it made no difference, as they were unfazed by her words. The old man muttered something that made Zuko's expression turn sour; it was but a whisper to her ears. He looked at her motionless body, then the floor, pondering something, and nodded.
Azula stood up and grabbed the sides of the mirror. "Let me out!" Her desperate cries went unheard. Once more, she heard the opening of a door. It was that water tribe peasant; she carried a piece of paper in her hand. She ran to hug Zuko, and Azula's blood boiled. They had plotted against her all this time. They wanted this! They had trapped her there; they wanted her to suffer, to humiliate her.
With a snarl, she pounced on the mirror, punching it relentlessly until it cracked. She fell to her knees, sobbing. They looked at the living corpse on the bed for a moment. The old man wiped her reflection's face with a cloth, and she felt her forehead dampen. She panicked, for she really was trapped, and there was nothing she could do about it. She saw as Zuko gave her one last conflicted gaze before heading out with a somber expression. The water peasant followed but didn't look back. She lay on her knees, watching helplessly as her body was tossed into a wheelchair. A prick in her neck, then all was darkness.
The sun was shining brightly in the morning. The war had finally come to an end– The loud thrum of a gong brought Zuko back to the present. Crowds from across the nations had gathered to witness his coronation along with his friends in the first row. They all cheered for him. The night before, Zuko had fought for his life in that very courtyard. Not even in his wildest dreams would he have imagined all of this would happen. He was friends with the Avatar, who had been his mortal enemy only months before; and they had saved the world together. He knew that he hadn't brought peace to the world alone, for he considered his friend deserving of that praise. Raising his hand, he bade the cheering crowds to stop for a moment.
"Please, the real hero here is the Avatar." Zuko turned around to face his friend, and he motioned to the stage. The Avatar walked towards him and took his place at his side. Aang couldn't help but smile at the sight of his friend.
"Today, this war is finally over!" And the crowds cheered louder. "I promised my uncle that I would restore the honor of the Fire Nation, and I will. The road ahead of us is challenging. A hundred years of war has left the world scarred and divided; but with the Avatar's help, we can get it back to the right path and begin a new era of love and peace."
After a moment, he knelt in front of the High Sage. The sage placed the crown on Zuko's head.
"All hail Fire Lord Zuko!"
The newly crowned Fire Lord Zuko stood up and motioned Aang to stand beside him. They saluted the cheering crowd. As he looked up, he noticed the burnt rooftops in the distance. The shouts and cheers were drowned out in Zuko's mind. At what cost did we achieve peace? His thoughts drifted to his mother and sister.
Through her mirror, she could only see walls that were padded and stained. Cold water dripped from a crack in the ceiling. Its occupant wore a straitjacket and was strapped to a wheelchair. But from afar, she looked more like a puppet than a person. Her dead, golden eyes stared blankly at a deteriorating wall.
One wouldn't be faulted for believing her to be dead if it weren't for the tear trickling silently down her cheek.
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