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Blue Mask	By : PatPat Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > AU/AR - Alternate Universe/Alternate Reality > Het- Male/Female Views: 11083 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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Blue Mask, Two Swords, and Sozin’s Comet
Preparing the Traps
By Pat Squared

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Captain Sui of the Fire Nation Naval Infantry Service knew that he would have to become involved in the fight for the dais the moment he spotted the two shadows in his garden. One he knew personally. The other was not hard to figure out who she was.

“You son of a bitch! I should have just taken you up on your offer and killed you aboard that ship. You have just messed everything up and left me to pick up the damn pieces.”

The burly man was obviously deep in his cups and he did not care if Zuko would tongue lash him for being almost fall-down drunk. Things were falling apart and he was powerless to do anything about it.

“Your father threw out most of the servants. He killed the nurse that restored him back to health, saying that she was a traitor. His paranoia knows no limits and he is bathing the world in blood.”

Sui lifted another cup to his lips.

“Your father’s men found Quan three days ago. He fought, but he was not a bender. He did not even have a chance to get his licks in before they worked him over. Gods, I only knew him for a few short months and he...

“He was under arrest for treason for being your sister’s intern finance minister. I had managed to sneak some poison to Quan so that he could end his pain before your father could really start questionings him. Ozai has seized all the assets of the clan. Most of your mother’s relatives are all scattered in hiding and the other clan members are preparing to run to the lands control by the Outcast Clan. Worse part that that the Earth Kingdom is in the midst of a civil war right now so there is no safe place for anyone to hide unless you like dodging those unforgiving savages of the Water Tribes in the poles. The only reason that I am safe what that Quan killed himself before he could spill out his secret.”

Sui poured more plum wine into some cups. Zuko handed one of them to the blind lady traveling with him and took the other one.

“Drink, my wife hates it so let’s piss her off some more. With a new baby, it’s not like I am getting any. We could have won this war and maintain our hold on the mainland. All we had to do was cut a deal with the Outcast Clan and those outcasts would have let us have at it with the eastern Earth Kingdom. Hell it would be interesting to have some damn mud flingers on our side. We don’t have to waste damn troops occupying half the continent and instead use them to smash those damn stubborn, mud flingers.

“However, Ozai is killing off all the smart officers your sister promoted and is reinstating his cronies and drinking buddies. My general is dead, executed for not trying to kill your sister. My colonel now reports to Admiral Goshen. Thankfully, he just stamps his seal on whatever documents that my colonel gives him.

“The young pup is not yet old enough to shave, probably can’t even swim, never set foot aboard a man of war, and he is an admiral just because his daddy and your father were old wenching buddies. Unlike the others toads, our admiral tries, but he is the damn exception. The others are purging their units of so call traitors. Now even the half the Fire Nation is hoping that the avatar will burn that Ozai’s butt, but with what you told me about the Avatar...all I can do is pray that your father has a fatal brain fit and someone takes the dais and restore order. We need you.”

Zuko merely looked at him.

“Tomorrow night, my sister and I will try to stop this madness.”

Sui looked at his old comrade.

“No way in hell. You two are going to die. Then what! Either Ozai repaints the streets in blood or we get a wonderful civil war. Guess what, then even the mud flingers can figure out how to make one of their damn rocks float and the Fire Nation ends up like the air benders. I can hide the two of you aboard a ship and smuggle you to the mainland. At least we can start a real resistance.”

Zuko smiled, “Maybe, but a dying man such as I already made my peace with death. I need you to merely deliver us to our father’s presence with the appropriate chains and restraints. How many of your men can you trust to protect your Fire Lady and remember to duck out of the way with fire and lightning start flying?”

Captain Sui knew that he was way too drunk to make such a decision. Nevertheless the moment came and being the commander he was, he made the decision without hesitation.

He bowed to the blind lady, “My mistress may I, Captain Sui, clan master of House Kuzon be the first of your many loyal subjects to swear my personal loyalty and place my honor in your hands and to pledge the wealth, blood, and honor of Clan Kuzon to your endeavors?”

Captain Sui had thrown the dice and bet the lives of his family, his clan, and his men upon a dying prince and a blind princess.

“You and your family shall never kneel in front of me and mine again. Your family is my family. My family is your family. Your honor is far greater than my honor. You are my shield bearer and I am your sword. Arise, Prince Sui. You and your loyal men are now my cousins, for those who risk everything to save our nation tomorrow are forever my kin. Four generations ago, Fire Lord Sozin and General Kozun bound themselves together. Now I, Fire Lady Azula bound myself to you.”

The Fire Lady knelt in front of a hunter’s son and touched her forehead to the earth three times with each statement.

“I am not worthy of your sacrifice. I am not worthy to be your mistress or the mistress of our nation. I am not worthy of the honor that you granted me. Your courage and hope shamed me. Your willingness to sacrifice everything for one such as me has shamed me. What is mine is now yours. What shall be mine shall be yours. Your oaths are my oaths. Your obligations are my obligations. My soul shall be surety for your sins.”

Zuko handed his sister a sharp rock and she slashed her palms in the traditional form that had not been seen since Sozin lifted Kozun to the heights of power. Sui slashed his palm and the pair grasped arms and hugged. As Shield Bearer, Sui swore an oath to loyalty not to the Fire Nation, but to the blind, lost girl who would probably be dead tomorrow evening. Tomorrow would mean the end of a nightmare or the start of an eternity in the underworld.

Better that I die a man, than be a dog for that twisted bastard.

“Zuko, help me get your sister up off the garden. My wife will kill me if I let you go off to your death without feeding our new kin and letting your sister have at least have bath and change into decent clothes. Besides, it’s damn fault that I am caught in this, so I will let the two of you explain to my wife, why I am sending her and the kids to my wife’s cousins in Xui province in the middle of the night. After that dealing with Ozai will be easy.”

Whatever happened, Sui knew at least one thing, there would be no more plum wine in his future. At the best of times, Sui was barely able to light or extinguish a candle flame with his bending gift, but with steel only one man has bested him and that man would fight by his side. He had his horse chopper and a dagger just in case.

Either way he did not expect to see any of his grandkids.

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Aang and Sokka consulted the map that Toph acquired from her cousins.

Smuggling and evading the odious taxes was a constant game that merchants around the world played with local authorities. House Fong and their distant cousins in House Ming made their fortunes in the now illegal trade between the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom. Even now, merchants on both sides engaged in the illicit luxury goods trade with their foreign counterparts. As such the smugglers had carefully mapped out the twisted valleys and mountains that dominated the home islands of the Fire Nation.

They left Appa and Momo in the high mountain pass that linked a small mountain village and the network of roads leading to the Forbidden capital of the Fire Nation. Their were almost no mixed bloods in the home islands of Fire Nation and the few that lived on these islands were all well know to their neighbors. There would be no way that the four travelers would be able to just walk in and pretend that they were a bunch of peasants from the countryside.

Tonight they were going to steal a fishing boat and slip into the networks of sewers that the local smugglers use to move their wares under the city.

Toph motioned for everyone to quickly move off the road and with a motion made their footprints vanish from the earth.

A Fire Nation militia patrol!

Everyone moved and hide with the expert practice of four year of evading the once determined Prince Zuko. If he had an impossible tracking them, then the Fire Nation would not have a chance as long as they did not do anything stupid, like move or make a noise.

Unlike the Fire Nation patrols that they had witnessed on the mainland that was comprised of warriors in their prime, this patrol was comprised of an old man and half a dozen ladies of mixed ages. The old man was missing half of his left arm above the elbow and was viciously scared, yet he carried himself like a warrior. The ladies were mostly wilting in the summer heat and yet they were wary of ambush.

The patrol was mounted on ostrich-horses, instead of the war rhinos used by the front line units, the militia used ostrich-horses because they did not require the same amount of fodder and care. Also the militia was armed with a collection of old weapons, the type that looked like they were passed down through the generations. The old man wore a well-worn leather tunic studded with small steel plates, a helmet with the orange-dyed feather crest of a patrol leader, and was armed with a cut down horse chopper. The ladies wore lighter armor and were armed with short swords, small shields, and long spears that doubled as lances. Among the group were two archers, both separated so that no one archer could ambush the pair.

Even in the middle of the Fire Nation, generations of war and even more generations of being traveling merchants forced to protect their cargo at all cost had disciplined the Fire Nation’s troops, even down to the local militia. It seen somehow perverted that the traits that made the average Fire Nation citizens an ideal merchant made an ideal soldier, but the Fire Nation was proof. There was no idle conversation and the entire group was diligent in looking for any signs of impending trouble.

Even the youngest girl, younger than Toph, looked positively lethal, despite the aged condition of her gear. Her gear was old but well taken care of and the butterfly swords looked absolutely evil. The red arm band spoke that she was a fire bender. A matching band on three other warriors told the world that this patrol would not hesitate to turn any perceived enemy into fuel.

Aang knew that if this was the worse that the Fire Nation had, then the Fire Nation palace would be guarded by the nation’s best. The Fire Nation had conquered most of the world, not by having more troops than their opponents, but by having the best trained troops and the cagiest commanders. The traits that once produced the world’s sharpest merchants now produced the world’s best generals.

The group would wait for the patrol to past and then head overland downward towards the sea. Aang’s hope sank even lower. It was even money that they would even make it to the shore. Now if he had to name odds, it just dropped from one in two to one in five.

Aang closed his eyes and tried to fix an image of happier days in his mind.

Katara had pin up Toph’s hair and Aang could see her impish smile through the silk cloth that doubled as a veil.

Katara and Sokka tied the red string bracelets on the wrists of the two lovers.

“Know that fate had already bound the souls of Aang of the Air Nomads and Toph Bei Fong of the Earth Kingdom long before they were born. The gods have recognized these two as mates since before either of their parents were conceived. However, what fate decreed, these two made real. We recognized the wisdom of the gods and welcome the union between Aang the Avatar and Toph Bei Fong. May harmony, children, wealth, and long life be the rewards given by the gods to Aang and Toph."

Katara threw a handful of seeds and coins at the pair.

“May you two die the same moment so that neither of you shall know the grief of separation. May you be mourned by the many children and grandchildren that you two bring into the world. Wear these red bracelets as a symbol of the red string bracelet that fate already used to bind you to together on the day of your births."

Sokka stomped his foot to represent the temple bell that would have sounded if the ceremony took place near a temple.

Katara screamed to the heaven, “It is now official. There will be no going back to your mother’s house, Toph Bei Fong.”

Katara tossed a pair of straw sandals, a small scrap of cloth, and a pair of blankets at Toph’s feet.

“You are not welcome as family anymore in your mother’s house as a daughter. You have chosen to walk away. Never shall we cloth you again. You shall sew your own from this day hence. Never shall you share the warmth provided by our mother’s house. The only warmth you shall know is your husband’s embrace. Toph Bei Fong – In the eyes of the Fong ancestors, it is as if you already passed on to the next world. Guest and friend you may be, but as a daughter nevermore shall you be.”

Sokka took over. It was now his time to cast Aang out.

“It is now set. You are now a man, little brother, with a house of your own”

Sokka tossed a short sword, a hammer, a small bag of seeds, and a small bag of coins at Aang’s feet.

“Your father’s house will not protect you any more from the world. Your oaths of obedience and loyalty are forever void. It is with this blade and your skill that you must protect your family. You and your bride will have to build your own house with this hammer. With these seeds you shall be forced to grow your own grain, and fed your own house with your own sweat. With these coins whatever debts we owed you are paid in full. Our prayers for your luck are all that your father’s house shall freely give you.”

Katara slapped Toph across her cheek

“May you one day taste the pain that you gave us. May this pain be a taste of the pain you will suffer when you bring your husband's children into this world. May you one day rebuke your daughters for abandoning you as you have abandon your parents.”

Sokka socked Aang drawing some blood.

“This is so you may never forget this day."

Sokka socked Aang in the face blackening Aang’s left eye.

"This is so that you will remember the seriousness of promises that you made to your wife and the gods today. Remember the commands of the gods that your father and mother taught you: First, do no unnecessary harm; Second, do not do unto others as you would not have others do unto you; Third, stand up for what is right even if it costs your life; Forth be brave and do your duty in the face of death; and Fifth, never give up without a fight. These five were the commands that we have shared with you our son. However, now the gods have a new command, put the welfare of your family above all other things."

"Soon, it will be your sons who will seek to abandon your house as you abandon your father’s house. Never let them go without making them pay with the blood you gave them.”

Then they hugged the couple.

“Although both our houses are pained that our beloved children slip away from our grasps, we are overjoyed that they have found one another. We wish them well as we say goodbye. We forgave them as our parents forgave us. May the gods smile upon the couple as they tonight consummate their love and conceive their first child. Then we will have our revenge as they too shall break your hear as you have broken ours.”

Katara and Sokka left the tent and walked away from the newly wedded couple.

He would remember that night he and Toph first made love as husband and wife. He would remember the first kiss. He would remember the moment he and Toph realized their love. He would remember the moment they surrender their virginities to one another. He was tasked with saving the world by a cruel comedy of errors. He never asked to be the avatar and wished that someone else would have been tasked with the mission to save the world. However, Aang did not regret the times he spent with Sokka, Katara, and Toph. Zuko was an interesting character who taught him that even his enemies had a kind of honor.

Aang had lots of memories of the past. He had lots of good times with his old friends. However, when he sought to gather courage, he did not think of a past long gone. He did not think of vengeance or ponder the fate of the world.

When afraid during the past few months, he thought of Toph. He could no more turn away than he could deliberately hurt Toph. Toph stuck by him no matter what the odds. She did not think, but was rocklike in her devotion to him. Now it was his turn to stick by her, to protect her, and to protect their child.

The fear was replaced by a determination not to let his wife and future child down. He would meet the Fire Lord. He had to stop a madman who destroyed his family, his nation, and if given an opportunity would destroy the world to make the world an image of the insanity that griped the Fire Lord’s twisted mind.

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“Zula, launch a lightning bolt at the sound of my voice. I will direct it to the target.”

However, Azula was afraid to do so.

What if I hit him?

She could not take that risk. Once she even paid assassins a fortune to kill her brother. Now she was in the position to strike him down. The old Azula would, did sell her soul for such a moment.

“Zula, we don’t have a choice. When we are surrounded by Sui’s men and father’s guards, you can’t just lash out randomly.”

Azula shook her head and sobbed, “What if I mess up? I messed everything important up in my life. You can’t trust me after what I did to you, to uncle, to my only friends.”

She heard her brother’s footstep and felt the warmth of his inner flame approaching. Zuko merely held his sister in his arms.

“Zula, I am dying. It’s not your fault or anyone’s fault. I was cursed with the lung flux and I lived eighteen years longer than the healer’s predicted. I can’t generate the qi to lash out a decent lightning bolt or even a small puff of flame. However, I have enough qi to redirect it to another target. It is the only weapon they can not destroy or turn against you. I need your qi. You need my sight. Please, don’t make my death an exercise in futility.”

“But...”

“No buts...no...if only’s. The past is cold ashes. No one can change the past. Listen to me. You have a future. You are the future. Our child is the future. If you don’t launch a lightning bolt or you hesitate, I won’t be in position to redirect it. Even if I die, I want you to fight on. Promise me that you won’t let father ruin another life like he ruined your life.”

Zula sniffed back a tear, “I...I promise.”

Zuko took half a dozen steps into the summer rain. Even in the storm, Azula could hear the hiss of steam as the rain evaporated off his skin.

“Do it when I yell. Now”

Zula flung a wild bolt that flew wide of its intended mark, but Zuko managed to catch it and sent it into the tree stump.

“We did it, little sister. One more...Now!”

Zula tossed another bolt. Thankfully the summer lightning storms provided enough lightning and thunder to cover up their practice session.

“That is enough. I need to rest and Sui got a meal ready for us. Tonight we will be a family once again and finally have a seat down meal that didn’t require the services of a poison tester. Although I would reconsider eating anything that Sui’s wife cooks.”

Zula walked into the rain feeling the rain pelt down into her sore flesh. She grabbed Zuko by the wrist and dragged him back inside. His inner flame was far too hot and soon it would burn itself out.

“You’re burning up. You have a fever.” she accused.

“The lung infection will claim me soon. Not even the best water tribe healer or fire nation surgeon can save me, only delay the inevitable. I rather have this few days having you back as my sister than a century wondering how we ended up so...”

Azula hated it. Zuko had peeled back the scab over her soul. The old, cold, calculating Fire Nation princess was gone. Zuko was stubborn enough to give her the throne, but the cost was far too high. She didn’t want the throne. She didn’t want the obligation on her soul. Sui only followed her because of Zuko. They others will only follow because of Sui. Zuko was the one who was meant to lead the resistance against the twisted imp she once proudly called her father.

Zuko was the last person in the world that loved her unconditionally. He had forgiven her and gave her another chance at life. However, the price for her salvation was one that she now feared paying. Either way tomorrow, she would again be alone and unloved.

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The Fire Lord laughed as he heard the news.

Captain Sui of the Naval Infantry Port Security Detachment had captured the Blue Spirit and his snot nosed little brat. Too bad that he needed the child growing in her womb; otherwise he would have her placed as the screaming guest of honor at her own dissection.

However, he need not be so concerned about the sire of his grandchild.

Ozai wanted to have a close up look at the world’s best assassin. He wanted to see the creature that manipulated that wench of a daughter. He wanted to see the creature of the shadows that was feared by both the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom. Jian Li was reputed to be a master killer and fire bender, a master of flesh, steel, and flame.

Ozai used terror to maintain his power.

Now he had to defeat a people’s champion to maintain his legitimacy. He had to show that he still held Agni’s blessings and could wield Agni’s curse. He was Agni incarnate and would prove his power once more. He would have to waste the ultimate weapon on a demonstration of strength.

So be it. It’s too bad that the Blue Spirit is bound to that traitorous slut Ursa birthed. However, he will serve nicely as the object lesson. Tomorrow the traitorous scum will see that I am Agni, walking among them when I burn the Blue Spirit. I will make him plead for mercy like that weak, pathetic boy Ursa tried to foist off on me. In three days, Sozin’s comet will bring forth the plague that shall strike down all my foes and make the world my prize.

Ozai knew that it would be too easy.

The Blue Spirit was mortal.

The Blue Spirit for all his legendary deeds was only a man. Ozai was a god. He was born a god, cursed to walk among mortals. He would scourge the unworthy and send them to his brother Yuanlao, the king of hell. He, himself, would track the cowardly avatar and kill it for he was a god. The last of the air benders will die in his hands. Then he will destroy the other benders. Only fire will be left. Then he will clean out his nation, purifying it until they all submitted to the god that ruled them. The avatar was only a mortal - A mortal that can be broken like all other mortals.

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The Fire Nation capital was built on the ruins of a series of older cities that had once stood in this spot since the first fire bender stepped outside a cave and built mud huts. There were multiple levels of sewers and passages, with building built on top of buildings. No one had bothered to map the entire under-city. There were more canals under the Fire Nation capital than there were in the Northern Water Tribe capital. There were sections that were used in the smuggling of goods, cisterns, or as even an underground river highway for the transport of bulk goods, but if the travelers made a wrong turn somewhere, the four would be forever lost in this world of darkness.

Katara moved the skiff they borrowed from some farmer up the flooded sewers with her bending. Due to the summer rain storms, the current was too powerful to even consider risking having the boys row. Toph looked wan since on a boat, she could not sense anything. Sokka kneeled in the bow ready to snap his boomerang at anyone who might raise an alarm.

However there would a challenge. The Fire Lord’s guards were not stupid and would ensure that they could not just sail under the palace undetected. The four would have to find a way inside the palace compound and soon or it will be too late to stop Ozai before the comet came.
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Blue Mask