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The Fall of Ozai	By : CaptATKirk Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > Het - Male/Female Views: 5957 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- 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.

Chapter List
- 3
- 4
- 5
Note: Sorry all mistakes are my own. I don’t have a beta. I know it is so slow getting started but I promise there will be something for everyone soon. =}
Chapter 4 A Guru, Realizations and Revelations.
The trip to the Eastern Air Temple seemed to take forever. They finally landed late that night. Everyone gave up and said to hell with it and stayed on Appa and slept. In the morning Pathik came and took Aang to begin his quest toward controlling the Avatar state. The others split tasks and began to make camp since they were going to be there for a while. Once everything was set up each wandered off to pass the time as they had seen fit except for Iroh, Zuko and Lan. Iroh had plans for both of them. Lan was rubbing Appa’ nose and playing with Momo. Zuko was on a nearby tree stump pretending not to watch her every move. Iroh came up silently beside Zuko watching a free spirit do what comes natural. Lan turned her head to see Zuko lower his eyes. Iroh gave her a little wave.
“ Lan has a way about her.” He looked down at his nephew who was pretending not to see.” She has no fear and is very free.”
“ If you say so.”
“ I have a task for you nephew. I want you to go to the temple and think long and hard about what you want“
“ I told you what I want.”
“ No Zuko. I want you to look inside. Really look and see what is really there.”
“ Uncle-“
“ Then we will start your training again.”
“ Fine.” He left his perch and walked passed Lan. She turned her head to look at him and wished she hadn’t. He was in angry mode. She tried smiling but it seemed to make it worse because he turned his head away and made a long journey up to the temple. Why do I bring her close only to push her away?
As he made his way he thought of how he still didn’t know if he was doing the right thing. It seemed to be what his Uncle wanted but he still wasn’t sure that it was what he wanted. Here he was helping the Avatar, the only one who could stop his Nation. The one person who could destroy everything he knew, and he was aiding him. As he made his way to the temple, he began to remember more pieces from being in the North Pole. He remembered seeing a pair of eyes. They were big and blue with thick cinnamon lashes. Why he thought of it now, he couldn’t explain.

The temple was quite, and yet alive. Moss had grown over the air bender statues and in the cracks on the floors. The stain glass was almost all gone from the windows, except for one small blue piece hanging on by what seemed a thread. Vines were everywhere like fingers searching for something. He would have much rather had stayed out in the open watching Lan and feeling at peace but if this would light a fire under his Uncle to resume his training then fine. He would stay here for an hour or two before going back to his Uncle and repeating what he had told him before. Zuko assumed the lotus position and closed his eyes letting his hands rest loosely. It was quiet and peaceful but he felt anything but. He also felt sick and cold as if he had eaten something bad. He began to sweat and tried to stand only to fall on the cold stone floor. He began to dream.
                                                                        * * *
Lan had decided before she was to have a talk with Iroh that she needed a bath. She had been traveling all night and felt dirty. She felt that the conversation with Iroh was important enough to be presentable. Not to mention she had been keeping her heritage from herself for too long. She was born into the water tribe she should look like it. It was time to ditch the clothes that made her look like any other Earth Kingdom girl. After she had washed her hair and cleaned off she tried to put on her bindings only to realize they were now to small. Her hips and chest had filled out since being in the north. She did the best that she could before putting on the two-piece gi. It to was a little tight in the bust but she would manage. Lan squeezed the water out of her hair, rather then water bend it out preferring it to dry in waves. She made her way up the hill and onto the clearing where the Bison would land. Iroh was waiting for her, and watching Toph, Sokka, and Katara while thinking that they were all to young for what lay ahead of them. Lan came up beside him and looked over the ledge to see her new friends.
“ What are you thinking Master Iroh? “ She watched as Momo flew around looking for bugs.
“ That I haven’t been called that for a very long time.” Lan decided to sit down and let her feet dangle.
“ In fact I am so used to being called Uncle I don’t know anything else.” He looked down at her like a father about to tell his child they couldn’t go out to play.
“ I know that look. That was the look my father gave me when he had to tell me he wasn’t going to be able to teach me any more.”
“ I will be teaching you Lan.” He sat down beside her and handed her her fathers letter to him.” That is if you wish it. I want you to read this first.”
Lan did ash she was asked. She took her time trying to picture in her mind what her father had felt while he was writing it. She could feel her fathers sadness and grief she could also understand it. She could understand how he would entrust her life in Iroh’s hands. She wasn’t angry at all. She was just confused. She rolled the letter up and handed it back to him.
“ Zuko said the same thing to me about ‘The Chosen Child’.”
“ He was always listening at doors to much as a child.”
“ What does that mean ‘Chosen Child?’? !”
“ Each nation says that the Avatar is not as random as we like to believe. When he or she dies, they are reincarnated into the next Nation in the cycle.”
“ I know that.”
“ There are whispers that it is because of breeding.”
“ Certain benders made to have a child would make sense. Very sick and kinda archaic but it makes sense. What does that have to do with this ‘Chosen Child’?”
“ What I am about to tell you is only whispered behind closed doors and even then denied.” He looked at her and really wished he didn’t have to tell her that like the Avatar her destiny was much to great for one so young.” Once every thousand years or so a child is born that can bend two elements at once. It is said that from her the next Avatar will be brought forth. Also, if the Avatar cycle is broken-“
“ Broken! Broken how?”
“ No one knows how but it is believed it can be broken. Should it be broken this Child will become the next Avatar.”
“ So you, and my dad, along with the Water Tribe Priests, believe Im this child? ”
“ Your Birth fits and you can bend both fire and water.”
“ Now I know how Aang feels. All this put on one kid sucks.”
“ Yes it does.”
“ So does this mean I get to call you uncle too?” She looked up at him with laughter filling her eyes. They both laughed hard before he answered.
“ I would like that very much.” He put his arm around her shoulders and they watched as Momo circled and dove for more bugs. Toph had knocked Sokka on his butt with earth bending. All too soon they would be thrust back into a war that started before all of them were even born. “ I will start training you the Avatar and Zuko tomorrow.”
“ Speaking of the Devi“ Lan stood up and looked around. She could see Aang and Pathik but Zuko was no where to be found.” Where is angry boy?”
Lan walked along the path she had seen Zuko go along and took her time. She was going to learn to be a better fire bender and Katara was going to teach her to be a better water bender. Soon she would have very busy days and nights. It was sad to see the once beautiful temple hollowed out and crumbling like an eaten melon that the rind has been thrown away but she couldn’t help smiling that life was coming back. Trees and vines grew and flourished. Birds had made nests in the new growth. The life that was destroyed was coming back in a different form. Slowly she made her way to the temple, but after finding Zuko she wished she had moved faster. She ran to Zuko’s lifeless form and screamed for the others. She pulled Zuko so that his head rested in her lap she then undid the cork on her bending pouch and the water wrapped around her hands like glowing gloves. Lan let them stay at his head and could feel that he had a fever and was in a deep sleep but the scary part was spirits were in his dreams. For someone who doesn’t know the sprit world Lan knew that it could be terrifying.
“ Lan what happened?” Katara also called her water forth and placed them over Zuko’s chest.
“ I dunno. I found him like this.”
“ Lan I don’t know what this is?” Katara let the water go back into her pouch. “ I don’t think this is something we can heal.”
“ I do.” Lan looked up and her eyes had turned white. The voice that came from her mouth was not her own.
“ Go get his Uncle. Tell him that it has finally happened. Tell him ‘Ursa says it is time’.” Katara ran as fast as she could. Toph and Sokka watched frightened and confused.
                                                                        * * *
Lan was in a dark room. It had golden pillars and a fire was before her. Even though the room was a glow with it the room felt cold to her. She wove her way between the rows of Fire Nation soldiers till she was in front of the flames. The soldiers seemed to take no notice of her at all. She could make out a small royal pavilion beyond that but couldn’t quite make out who was sitting there till the flames died down a little and she saw that it was Zuko but so changed. He was older now but not so much and his face was no longer scared. He looked so regal to her . . . yet so alone. She tried to go up the stairs that led to him but the fire blazed up. She tried to bend it and could do noting. She decided to sit before him and wait.
“ Lan what is happening?” It was a small and distant voice that sounded like Iroh to her.
“ I don’t know. I guess I have to wait.” A blue dragon began to circle around the pillar next to Zuko and spoke with a woman’s voice. It spoke as if it were trying to lull him into some kind of safety.
“ Are you planning o retire soon fire Lord Zuko?”
“ I’m not tired.” Zuko informed it.
“ Sleep now. Close your eyes-“
“ No Fire Lord Zuko! Leave now before it’s to late! ” She, like Zuko had been sucked in by the voice of the Blue dragon that they didn’t see the red one. She recognized its voice and put it together. He was at war with himself. He had brought this on himself. The Blue Dragon was what he was. The red is what he will become.
Lan was about to open her mouth when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked and saw the woman she had been able to talk to since she was twelve. She knew her name but why she was there she didn’t know. She looked to Zuko and this woman and back again until a thought came to her.
“ You’re his Mother.” The Fire Nation Lady nodded to Lan and smiled warmly.
“ What’s happening Lan?” It was Iroh again.
“ I will answer him.” Lady Ursa told her. Ursa looked to the light and whispered something that Lan couldn’t hear before turning her attention to her son.
“ Sleep Fire Lord.” The blue dragon was now nose to nose with him.” Sleep just like Mother!” It opened it jaws and, was ready to bite him when he looked at it and held up his hand.
“ No Azula.” The Blue dragon stopped and blinked.” I fear you no more. I am not that Prince anymore.” He looked to the red dragon that slid over to the blue one and swallowed it whole.” Thank You Uncle for not giving up on me.” He smiled as it circled around him.
“ You are now ready. Someone else is here to see you.” The dragon circled Zuko again before coming to Lady Ursa. It winked at Lan before leaving her and leading Ursa threw the flames. Lan stood as the dragon come back to her stopping her.” Not yet little Orchid. One realization at a time.” Lan nodded and sat back down.
                                                                        * * *
Iroh ran as fast as he could. For his age he was amazed that he made it to the temple without dying. It wasn’t so much what Katara had said about Zuko collapsing that scared him into action. It was what Lan had said and how it was said that scared him. He came to the clearing to see Zuko laying in Lan’s lap. Her hands were by his temples but her spirit was inside him. He had heard of some healers who were able to do this but had never seen it. He kneeled before Lan and saw that her eyes were closed.
“ Lan what is happening? ” He asked her. Her eyes fluttered before answering him.
“ I don’t know. I guess I have to wait.” She said dreamily.
“ Iroh what’s happening to them?” Sokka bent down and waved his hands in front of Lan. She didn’t even flinch.
“ This is what I was hoping would happen.”
“ You hoped your nephew would go into a coma?” Toph screeched.
“ No. Not that.” He looked at Lan again. “ Zuko has changed. He didn’t stop to accept it. When he freed the bison, he started walking down this path but would not accept it. Now that we are here and together he has been forced to confront the past and understand the path he now travels. He has to change, and face that change. He is not going to be the person that you remember.”
“ So he isn’t going to be an angry jerk anymore?” Sokka made faces now at Lan that earned him a whack in the head from Katara.
“ So this is a sprit thing?” Katara put her hands on her knees and looked at Lan. “ That’s why I couldn’t do anything to help.”
“ Great more Avatars stuff.” This earned Sokka another whack from Katara.
“ Lan what is happening now?” Iroh calmly asked her. Her eyes opened and they were completely white.
“ It has happened Iroh.” The voice was a little harsh from not being used but Iroh recognized Ursa’s voice. “ All you hard work has paid off. He is finally on the right path. He will be all right now.” A red tear slid down Lan’s cheek before her eyes closed again.
                                                                        * * *
“ Mother!” Zuko stood up and his Mother came to him and held him to her like when he was a little boy.
“ Zuko.” She stroked his hair just like when he was a boy.
“ Mother what? How?” He held her away at arms length.
“ When your Uncle Iroh came back. I would not let your Grandfather kill you. I would not let you be punished because of your fathers ambitious nature. I killed Azulon in his sleep. Your father locked me in the dungeons. Uncle Iroh then gave me poison and ended the suffering your father imposed on me for protecting you.” She watched her sons face goes from sorrow to blind rage.
“ But now is not the time for that. Someone is here to help you.” She motioned through the flames. He looked to see a woman petting the red dragon.
                                                            * * *
Lan had been petting the red dragon and now it was leading her through the flames. She walked through them and waited.
“ Take him Lan and explain what has happened.” Ursa took her sons hand and put it in Lan’s. “ Don’t be afraid Zuko. She can help you but you have to let her.” She kissed her son’s forehead before disappearing down a long dark corridor.
He looked at her hand and then her eyes and he remembered it all. The North Pole, the dreams everything came back to him. Soon purple flowers were falling and releasing a light fragrance. He looked around and he was in the middle of the grove again with her, but now it was different. Now he knew her name. She was real and had been right before him the whole time.
“ You have been with me all this time and yet you have said nothing.” He took a flower that had landed on her head and brushed it away.
“ I figured that there was a good reason you didn’t remember.” Lan shrugged.
“ What happened . . . what does my Mother want you to explain.” He hooked her hand into his arm and they began to walk along a path leading deeper into the grove.
“ I think what has happened is that you have changed. You’re free now. Everything that held you back is gone. Everything that has tied you to this world has been cut loose.” She stopped when he did.” You’ve remembered because you were ready to.”
“ Not everything is gone.” He stopped and brought her to him.” Do you know that you haunted me? ” He tilted her chin up to look at him. “ I thought I had made you up to ease my lonely heart. I don’t want to wake.”
“ We have to. The world needs us. Me, you, Aang, Toph, Sokka, Katara, Uncle Iroh all of us. It’s only begun for all of us now.” Suddenly a door appeared right before them.” Like life Zuko, I can only show you the way.” She let go of him.” Only you can open the door.”
“ Will you still love me out there?” He motioned to the door with his head.
“ Always.” He opened the door and slowly his eyes opened and he was lying on the stone floor of the temple his head resting in Lan’s lap. He felt a little cold and weak.
                                                                        * * *
Aang was opening his Chakras and they were about to get to the last one when they both heard a sound like chimes. The wind picks up and swirls around him and Pathik. Suddenly smoke forms and Master Rokku appears.
“ It’s time you learned about your friends. They are your greatest strength for what lies ahead.” Rokku also was in the cosmos with them and they formed one big cosmic triangle.
“ Toph is a great teacher . . . she maybe rough around the edges but that is part of her charm. Sokka is a thinker but is still a child whether he likes to admit it or not. Katara is your greatest strength of all and don’t be afraid to tell her so. You may have to let her go but trust me it will work itself out in the end. Iroh will keep all of you from thinking about what lies ahead to seriously. He will keep laughter alive in all of you. Now we come to Zuko.”
“ Ah your friend has begun his road to healing.” Pathik opened his eyes and decided to join the conversation.
“ What? “ Aang had heard it to but thought he was imagining things.” I wouldn’t call him that exactly.”
“ Yes he is. It will be awhile but soon you will both realize that you are friends. Now, he has begun to heal. He has a way to go but the pretty one, with the strange hair”
“ Lan.” Aang didn’t know why but just saying her name brought a smile to him. He looked at Pathik who nodded.
“ Yes she will be his guide.” Pathik and Aang looked at their feet to see the others carrying Zuko to the main camp.
“And yours Aang. Just as Lan and Zuko are tied together so are you and Lan.”
“ What do you mean them . . . we, are tied together?”
“ Just as Lan has been our mother and our grandmother“
“ That’s it. I thought I liked her but different from Katara.”
“ Yes and she loves you just like a mother would love a child. Now, she and Zuko have met over many a life time and each time they have been torn apart.” Rokku looks to Aang and waits patiently as a teacher would a student. It all starts to become clear to Aang as if a veil has been lifted from his eyes.
“ Oma and Shu! “ He shouts in realization.
“ Very good Aang they were Oma and Shu.” Rokku nods his head once and waits.
“ Each bending nation has its tale of two lovers that could never be together. Zuko and Lan are those two.” Pathik added.
“ This time around it will be different . . . I can feel it.”
“ For their sake I hope so.” Pathik and Rokku exclaimed.
“ It will be.” He watched as Lan tucked Zuko into the sleeping bag before falling into her own.” This time I don’t care what I have to do but it will be different for them.”
“ I have something I must teach her as well but I can’t finish that till I open your last chakra.” Pathik looked to Rokku who nodded and disappeared leaving Aang with these words.
“ You may have to let her go now, but it will all work out right in the end.”
                                                            * * *
The rest of what happened to Zuko was fuzzy to him. He remembered them lifting him up and taking him back to camp but the rest was blurry. He woke that night feeling great and terrified. He had found her again but now there was a new problem. He didn’t fear anymore except for one thing. Zuko looked up at the night sky. The stars were bright and winking at him. He was at peace finally and began to think. I know what I want now. I want my throne, my country, and my honor, but I want it on my terms. I have to take it back by force. But now I have a new fear. I know what my sister is and I know that she will take my greatest weakness and use it/her against me. I know that Azula will hurt and maybe kill Lan to get to me. The greatest thing in my life that happens to me and I have to let her go. He rolled over to see his Uncle threw the flames watching him drinking tea.
“ Good you’re awake. How do you feel?”
“ I’ve felt better.” Zuko sat up and looked around to see everyone was sleeping but one. Lan was missing.
“ She’s with the Guru.” Iroh laughed into his cup. The old Zuko would have stared him down for a while. This one blew out some air before standing up and asking.
“ Where?” He had stood up to fast. He fell back on his butt. He was still a little weak from the fever.
“ Not yet. You and I need to have a talk first.”
“ Not now.” He tried to get up again and couldn’t. The fever had taken more out of him then he had thought.
“ Yes now.” He came to sit down next to Zuko” I know that look. You’re about to do something incredibly stupid.”
“ What are you talking about?”
“ Zuko I know about Lan. I know she is the girl you met in the North Pole.” Zuko said nothing but looked at his Uncle as if he had said he was a hog monkey. “ You have changed Zuko. By going against yourself you fought yourself. The better half of you has won, With a little help. I have never seen such a determined person as her. It’s all in her eyes.”
“ Yes it is.” He watched the flames as they danced. He watched them form her hour glass shape and looked away. No matter how much this was going to hurt, he had to push her away.” I don’t have time for this. My life is complicated as it is.”
“ The harder you fight destiny the harder she hits.”
“ What’s that supposed to mean?”
“ You’ll find out. I had hoped you would do this the easy way, but it seems your going to have to learn the hard way.” Iroh sat back against a rock and looked at the flames. “ Lan is both fire and water yet unlike you she has made peace with what she is. Unlike you as well she had two parents who cared and supported her. She will help you make peace with yourself if you will let her.”
“ Uncle don’t start this now.” Why does he see all of this? Am I that transparent around her? All the more reason to end it all now.
“ I know you. You are going to push her away to protect her. She isn’t helpless Zuko.”
“ Against Azula she is.” He managed to get to his feet. “ Now where is she?” Iroh shook his head and pointed to the sanctuary where he had fallen. Zuko made his way slowly on unsteady feet.
“ He’s being stupid isn’t he.” Toph looked past Iroh with her head to one side.
“ Yes. Then again my nephew has never done things the easy way.”

                                                                        * * *
Pathik tried the same analogy of pools and found that this pupil was a little more knowledgeable than Aang.
“ Lan what do you know about Chakras? ”
“ They’re pools of energy in the body and can be blocked. But energy like water-“ She bent down and showed him where the pool had been blocked by muck.
” Can’t be stopped. Water given enough time when trapped.” They both watched as the water pushed a rock or two loose and flowed glowing into all the pools.” Will carve a new path. Everything in its own time.”
“ Who is supposed to be the enlightened one here?” He laughed at her and found that opening Lan’s chakras wasn’t that difficult. Most of them were already open. The fourth chakra being the heart was still blocked by guilt. “ What do you feel guilty about Lan?”
“ I didn’t save my parents. I didn’t save Yue. I did what was asked of me and they are gone.” She was sitting with her legs crossed and looking over the rest of the air temple. The clouds swirled and formed her parents and her cousin.
“ Their deaths were meant to happen. Besides I believe a knew form of love has taken their place.” The clouds dissipated and she could see Zuko making his way to the sanctuary.” Love is energy. It can’t be created or destroyed. Only changed.” Lan sighed and felt a vibration in her heart and heard a bell. So did Pathik.
“ Good. All your Chakras are open but one. The last one I am going to leave to you to open. When the time is right-“
“ How will I know it is the right time? “ She stood up and looked down. From here she couldn’t see or feel the war, but it was there just as the clouds were growing larger the war was still there one step behind her.
“ The world will call to you. The people of all nations will call to you in your dreams and while you are awake. They will ask for you to save them.”
“ This is more of that ‘Chosen Child’ stuff isn’t it?”
“ Yes. I was given a vision of what should happen if Aang should fail. The world will need you. You will need all the Avatars past to help you. By releasing the last chakra you will have what you need to help the world.”
“ Why do I have a feeling the last chakra is not going to be pretty?”
“ If it comes to you having to open the last chakra then releasing your earthly tie will not matter. If you have to open that one then the scared one betrayed you all.”
“ He wouldn’t do that.” She looked down at his bald head and wanted to split it open.
“ The probability is there. I have given you what you need. I have shown you the way. Just remember that if it does happen you will be the last hope.”
Lan said nothing and made her way to the others. She was so angry and engrossed in her own world that she almost ran Zuko over. He had to grab her to keep from falling. They stood there holding each other for a while till Zuko realized he had to suck it up and do it now.
“ Lan we need to talk.” He let her go and leaned against the rock wall.
“ Not more bad news.” She tried to help him stand but he pushed her away. “ Yup more bad news.”
“ I know in the North Pole things happened“ He looked away from her. Thinking about the dreams he had since he knew she could read his face and know he was lying.
“ Not enough happened if you ask me.” She tried her best to get him to look at her but it wasn’t working at all.
“ But they’re not going to again.”
“ What?!”
“ We’re friends’ Lan. That is the extent of our relationship.” He still couldn’t look at her. He was looking at her feet and paying close attention to them. For someone her build and height she had delicate feet.
“ Zuko I have been dealt one blow today. I don’t need another.” She took him by the shoulders and made him look at her.” Look at me and tell me that we’re just friends . . . otherwise get the hell out of my way.”
“ We’re friends. Nothing more.” He looked her dead in the eye and lied. One day maybe you will forgive me. She slapped him hard across the face and left him standing there rubbing his jaw. “ Then again maybe we’ll just kill each other first.”
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The Fall of Ozai