Avatar The Last Airbender Fan Fiction ❯ Prophesied ❯ Remember ( Chapter 9 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

“…Remember…

…I will still be here…

…As long as you hold me…

…In your memory…”

Josh Groban, `Remember'

Chapter 9: Remember

Fire Lord Ozai was in a meeting with his most prodigious generals when a guard alerted him that a Fire Sage wished to speak with him. Rather than disrupt the generals by leaving, he motioned for them to continue while he allowed the Sage to enter.

The Fire Sage bowed humbly as he entered, a small scroll tucked to his chest.

“My lord,” he whispered when he reached the Fire Lord's side. “You asked me to inform you if I found anything in the foreseer's works that might foretell the outcome of this war.”

Quickly, the Fire Lord raised his hands for silence. The room quieted, but the Sage did not raise his voice above the current whisper as he unrolled the scroll.

“Here, my lord. Read here.”

Sensing the tremor in the Sage's voice, Fire Lord Ozai took the scroll and began to read where the Sage had instructed to begin.

The reign of fire will end

A lasting peace for all

When the Son of Agni rides with his sire

The enemy of the free people will fall

The Sage's voice was noticeably shaky now. “You a-a-asked me to i-in-inform you e-even i-if it w-was b-b-ba-bad my l-lord.”

The Fire Lord waved his hand, the scroll pressed firmly against the table by his other.

“Go.”

The Sage bowed, and was gone. One of the generals, Zade his name was, leaned forward.

“What does it say my lord? What is the prediction?”

Ozai stared at a particular flame embellishment on the wall behind the generals.

“It says that the Son of Agni will be our undoing.”

Whispers stole around at this statement.

“The Son of Agni?”

“Not possible.”

“The scriptures say nothing of the Great Lord Agni having a son.”

“It's just a myth, it cannot cause us harm.”

“Silence.”

The generals fell quiet and looked at their leader. Fire Lord Ozai turned his head to look at the leader of the Fire Sages who always attended these meetings.

“This is your area of expertise.”

The Sage knelt in respect, his forehead touching the floor.

“My lord, I will search the scriptures for mention of a Son of Agni. In the meanwhile, I think it best if we offer sacrifices to the Great Lord Agni in case we have offended him in some way. This Son may be a great beast or simply an extremely powerful fire-bender. We must know more.”

“Then go, and come to me when you know more.”

The Sage bowed his head in acknowledgement and went out. Fire Lord Ozai left his generals to planning the next stage of the war and went to his private study.

As he sat down behind his desk, he was so tired and frustrated. None of their advances were working against the Earth Kingdom. Was there some supernatural force that was preventing them from achieving their goal? He could only think of his dream, which had come several times since it had first appeared to him.

The Fire Lord walked to the window and pushed back the glass doors to walk out onto the balcony. He laid his hands on the railing and sighed, his gold eyes flashing in the morning light. The first light from the rising sun was bursting from below the horizon and unknown to him; the last rays of the moon were setting behind him.

There was a flurry of wind, and he turned around sharply to behold a beautiful woman standing in the balcony doorway.

“Still want to be a god, my lord?”

“Keilantra.” He hissed. She smiled and moved out onto the balcony, a shroud of darkness following her where she went, a black robe concealing most of her form.

“I have your order Fire Lord.”

The black robe parted as she drew out a tightly wrapped package and when she pulled back the cloths, it revealed a shining gold spear.

“This I have sanctioned so that you might stand a chance when the Great Lord Agni seeks his vengeance upon you.”

He took the spear from her and as he did, he couldn't help but notice how scantily clad Keilantra was beneath her outer robe. She laughed as he averted his gaze to the spear he now carried.

“You desire me Fire Lord.”

She tossed back her robe, fully revealing her outfit and turned to walk back into his study. He couldn't help but follow. But she didn't stop at his study, but continued on into his bedchamber. Brushing her hand against the crimson silks of his bed, he shuddered at her antics.

“Fire Lord Ozai,” She said simply and paused after speaking until he wanted to ask what she wanted. Instead, he kept his silence and she sat down on the edge of his bed.

“The spear you carry can kill any immortal if wielded correctly. And I tell you, if you are not the one to wield it, it will not serve you well.”

She smiled.

“But I know someone of the royal blood can wield it, so you have as much chance as any of those related to you.”

His eyes narrowed. “You put me at risk?”

She stood and walked over to him and he suppressed another shudder. The lighting of the room accented the color of her skin, an almost golden color, and the cut of her dress revealed more as she walked.

When she reached him, she touched a hand to his rough cheek. “Oh no, my lord, I only do what I am told. You put yourself at risk.”

He growled in anger as much as concealed lust and she pressed her body against his, but her voice instantly lost its seductive touch.

“The spear contracts into itself, so you may carry it with you at all times.”

She smiled again. “It is so amusing to me that you desire me, and I remember you as a screaming babe fresh from your mother's womb.”

She stepped away and towards the balcony.

“Run to your concubines Fire Lord, for they are the only ones who will love you tonight.”

He blinked and she was gone, the sun had fully risen in his window. He looked down at the spear and noticed a few characters on the head of the spear. It read simply,

Forged to be wielded by the Son of Agni.

With an angry growl, he allowed the spear to contract into itself and headed out, back towards where his generals were meeting.

She ran down the hallway, gasping for breath through her constricted chest as she fought back sobs. Today was her eighth birthday, and no one cared. Once again, she hadn't done right in training, and father had punished her, once again. On her birthday of all days, didn't she deserve more than this?

Pushing open the door to her room, she slammed the door behind her and threw herself on the bed. She sobbed into her pillow, knowing that no one cared enough about her to risk her father's wrath by coming to comfort her.

The last thing she expected was a hand on her back doing just that.

“Go away.”

“I got you something…for your birthday.”

She sat up partially, not really caring but not wanting to seem impolite. Then she laughed bitterly upon seeing her brother's face, not having recognized his voice. He pulled her up and into his arms, letting her sob against his shoulder.

“I'm sorry.”

“Why?” she whispered brokenly.

“For not coming here sooner. Father tries to pit us against each other but we must stand together. Only together will we be strong.”

She nodded against his chest.

“I promise you sister, I will always be here for you.”

“And I you my brother.”

He kissed her cheek and she made a gagging sound, dragging the palm of her hand across the offended area. He laughed and placed something in her hand.

It was a small charm, the Fire Nation symbol carved delicately into the metal.

“I carved it myself.” He said sheepishly.

She threw her arms around his neck. “Thank you! Oh, this is my best birthday ever!”

She leaned back and smiled at him, and he smiled back.

Then, suddenly, he was being dragged away from her, his back to her, and an ethereal voice sounded around her, heard by none but her.

“Why are you saying this?”

“Get away from me!”

“Don't give in sister! Don't let him win! He's trying…”

“Liar! My father cares about me! You're just jealous because I learn faster than you do! Get away from me!”

He was surrounded by fire, and before she could stop herself she smiled.

In her mind, in the same ethereal voice, she screamed against her own torment.

“Brother! I am here for you! I'm sorry!”

But he didn't hear her, because she had never said it.

The fire consumed him and he screamed. There were no words in his scream but she swore she heard them.

“AZULA! WHY?”

Princess Azula sat up sharp in bed, clutching the crimson sheets to her trembling form. For a moment, she barely knew where she was until, with an unsteady lurch, the ocean reminded her of where she'd come to be.

She was on a warship, in the middle of Earth Kingdom waters, searching for the Avatar…and Prince Zuko.

Azula climbed shakily out of bed, the threads of her nightmare still clinging to her subconscious. The worst part was that her nightmares were consistently made up of memories.

Her black hair fell around her shoulders as she splashed some cold water on her face to help her wake up. She then put on her gray uniform and then the traditional armor. She quickly fixed her hair and glanced in the full-length mirror, just to check.

Golden eyes looked back at her and narrowed in her mirror image.

I will find you brother and help you capture the Avatar. I will keep my promise, and I will stand by you until death parts us. And if I live on after you, I will avenge your death one thousand times over.

Azula then turned and marched out of her room, slamming the iron door behind her. She marched above deck and up to navigations where the helmsman was guiding the ship.

Upon reaching the floor, she barely noticed the heads inclined in her direction.

“Lieutenant…Ryuji is it?”

The said lieutenant stepped forward, a map in his hand.

“It is my lady.”

She nodded. “What are the last known coordinates of my brother's ship?”

He opened the map and stepped near her; she shifted to compensate the rest of the distance so they could both see the map.

“His ship was last seen at these docks.” The lieutenant said, pointing to a place on the map.

“All right. Helmsman, head for Anrik.”

“Anrik ma'am? But Prince Zuko was last seen at Kusho Di!”

“He'll have left by now and if I know Uncle Iroh, he'll be stopping at Anrik for some light shopping.” She stopped and looked at the inquisitive helmsman.

“Why are we discussing this? I gave you an order. Head for Anrik!”

“Yes ma'am!” the helmsman squeaked before adjusting their course.

Azula stepped past him and looked out the window to the ocean beyond. She had a mission to complete.

Zuko woke slowly as the sun rose, still leaning against the tree he'd sat by to watch the tigress' remains burn and to keep them from spreading to the trees. As he tried to stand and stretch, a weight bore down on his right side. The girl…Katara…was sleeping on his right arm, the young tiger cub they'd found and adopted curled up in her arms like a sleeping babe.

She's rather pretty.

She's rather annoying.

Her hair looks soft…I wonder…

Before he could stop it, his hand had wandered up and brushed a stray strand of her hair back behind her ear. Zuko growled in anger at him-self and stood roughly, briefly forgetting that she was halfway lying on him.

Katara's head hit the sand, jarring her and the cub awake. She shook her head and pushed herself up. The cub mimicked her movements before bounding across the beach to Zuko, who was standing by the waves, watching the sunrise.

She stood, momentarily forgiving Zuko for being so rude. It was hard enough to believe she'd fallen asleep against him. Smoke was still rising from the previous night's fire, and it marred the sunrise. Katara walked over and stood by Zuko for a moment before kneeling to play with the cub.

“We should call her Mika.” She said to Zuko.

“Who?”

She looked up at him disdainfully.

“The cub of course. I think we should call her Mika.”

“First of all, stop thinking. Second, you can call your pet whatever you want to. I don't care for the thing.”

Katara laughed as Mika turned back to her favorite toy, Zuko's bare toes.

“Well, it seems she cares for you.”

Zuko made a sound like he was annoyed but he made no effort to move his foot from Mika's reach and Katara smiled. After a moment, she stood.

“I'm hungry. Let's go back to camp and I'll make breakfast.”

Zuko nodded his agreement and they both turned to go, but Zuko stopped.

“G…Katara, look at that.”

She turned and followed his gaze. “What is it?”

The wind had shifted directions and was now blowing northwest, taking the smoke with it. This was in itself normal, but halfway across the horizon sky, the smoke stopped and went straight up, as if some wall blocked it, but nothing could be seen.

Instantly, they both set out towards this invisible wall, hunger forgotten in curiosity.

Nen paced the floor repeatedly with Mamoru nearby. On her face was a vengeful smile, and Mamoru avoided looking at her, instead watching the stars of their spiritual home streak by.

From the clouds around them materialized two humanoid beings, one male and one female, the Air Goddess and her husband. Nen turned to greet them.

“Lady Makani, Lord Samir, I'm glad you could join us.”

Makani smiled sweetly at the young Water Goddess but Samir did not even acknowledge her. He glared at Mamoru who in turn ignored him, but the Air God did not seem upset at this. He stalked across the floor Nen had produced and drew up the clouds until they formed a small couch, which he then stretched out upon.

“What is then about Nen?”

She smiled at him. “Please be patient, Samir. We are waiting on one more person.”

The clouds parted once more and Lady Kaia, the wife of Mamoru, had arrived. She smiled sheepishly, her gaze sweeping the room to linger a moment longer on Samir, who calmly disregarded her. Mamoru cleared his throat and she whimpered, quickly taking the seat that her husband procured for her. Mamoru himself chose to stand.

Nen smiled. “Good, everyone is here.”

Makani, who'd also conjured a seat from the clouds, reclined back. “What about Agni and Shasa?”

Nen's smile never faltered. “This does not concern Shasa, and we are here to discuss Agni, and he cannot help decide his own fate.”

Samir sat forward. “Just what are you talking about Nen?”

Mamoru also turned his full attention to the youngest Water Sister. “Yes, I suggest you begin outlining this great epiphany you had, after which you begged me bring you home.”

Nen sighed, and finally let her smile fall. “I am simply here to speak to you about Aye.”

Makani frowned. “What does that have to do with Agni?”

Nen positioned herself so she could speak with all those surrounding her.

“What is Agni doing to end the war that we endure every day?”

Mamoru growled softly. “He is taking his power from the Fire Nation and discrediting their morals and beliefs. What more can he do? By law, we are not allowed to directly affect Aye.”

“Are we sure he is? Can he not be strengthening the Fire Nation?” She said calmly with a seductive purr.

Mamoru took three quick steps forward into the circle. “Have you forgotten what it is to be a god in your long stay away from the Spirit World? Agni feels every death just as we do. How could he support this war?”

Nen hissed in anger. “In my `long stay away from the Spirit World' I saw this war first hand. I have the most experience with this, more than any of you! If Agni is trying to stop this, why is the Fire Nation winning? The Air Nomads have nearly been completely wiped out. We can count them in the hundreds. The Southern Water Tribe is a mere shadow of its former self. Thousands of Earth Kingdom villages have been forced to surrender to this burning plague. I myself was attacked by a Fire Nation soldier!”

“We know not what nation that man was from, and Agni can do no more than the rest of us!”

Makani stood quickly. “Perhaps Nen is right.”

Mamoru looked at her. “What do you mean Makani?”

Makani was quick to defend her position. “I mean that Agni has chosen to live in Aye and his very presence in the physical world lends strength to the fire-benders. Completely ignoring that Solzen's comet is attracted to him, so when he is in Aye, it moves more quickly.”

Kaia seemed shocked. “So Agni's mere presence is giving the fire-benders an advantage?”

Nen nodded and Makani sighed, feeling as if she had betrayed the Fire God. But Nen felt no such regret, but Mamoru growled in anger. Before he could speak however, Samir joined the debate.

“Now we must see this from all angles,” he said calmly as he stood. “Perhaps there is a reason why Agni has chosen to stay in Aye that does not concern the Fire Nation.”

“Yes!” Mamoru cried in agreement.

Nen grinned wickedly as she turned to Mamoru. “And now you are siding with the man who slept with your wife?”

Samir and Mamoru, now standing side by side, glared at the young goddess, both silent.

Kaia stood sharply and spoke shrilly. “Enough! Do you not see that if we, the gods and goddesses of this world, are divided, the people will not long last? We swore when life was created in Aye that we would protect them and look only for the welfare of the people! If there is a reason for Agni's choice of habitat, why should we force him to ignore this decision?”

“There is a reason.”

Every one of them spun around to behold Shasa sadly standing amongst the clouds. Nen glared at her sister, but shrank to the background.

Makani took a step forward. “What is it Shasa? What is the reason?”

Shasa sighed and raised her head to meet their scrutinizing gaze.

“He stays for his son.”

There was a flurry of movement and Samir stepped forward. “You have another son?”

She shook her head. “Not my son, his son.”

Nen laughed in triumph. “He slept with another woman?”

“Yes, but I don't hold it against him. Zuko…”

“Zuko?” Nen shouted happily. “Prince Zuko?”

She turned back to the other deities. “This is proof of what I've been saying! He's given his strength to the Prince of the Fire Nation! He means to help the fire-benders win the war.”

Shasa lunged forward. “No! Zuko is nothing like the other fire-benders! He doesn't support the war! He hates it! When he gains the throne…”

“He will be consumed by the same bloodlust as all the other fire-benders! And with the strength he's been given he will destroy the remaining free people of this world!”

“No!” Shasa shouted almost desperately, but as she turned to plead with the others, the look in their eyes said that Nen had won.

Mamoru moved to stand beside Shasa.

“Look,” Mamoru started. “We don't know how Zuko will turn out, but we do know the indecision in his heart. Agni's decision could be for the best.”

Makani stepped forward, the cold brutality of the harshest winds in her eyes. “Or it could not be. I think it best that Agni return, and stay in, the Spirit World, neither directly or indirectly affecting the outcome of this war.”

A look of horror invaded Shasa's eyes. “You can't do that! It would kill him!”

Nen smiled. “If everything has been said, as always, it comes down to majority.”

After a moment of contemplation, it was Nen, Makani, and Kaia against Mamoru and Shasa. Samir stood in the middle.

At long last, Samir hung his head. “I am sorry Shasa, but I stand with Makani.”

Anger filled Shasa and she glared at her peers. “May Agni forgive you, for I will not.”

Then her gaze fell on Nen, her sister, the one person in the world she was supposed to be closest to, the one who had now so deeply betrayed her.

Their eyes met and as Nen opened her mouth to speak, Shasa cut her off.

“You are not my sister.”

Shasa then turned and was gone. Mamoru started to go after her and then stopped, knowing his support would soon be needed.

Agni and Iroh were sitting on the deck of the warship, Agni's attention clearly elsewhere. Iroh took another small sip of tea.

“So that's it?”

Agni sighed.

“Yes, that is my entire plan. I mean to defeat the Fire Lord, and then the people will gladly take Zuko back as their leader. In the mean time, if he is given the chance to see the war, his opinions should develop as yours did, and he will seek to end the war.”

Iroh nodded his agreement, but looked down. “Perhaps we should speak to him about these things. Then I might not feel as if we are using him.”

There was a moment of silence, which lengthened substantially after a bit.

“Agni?”

Iroh looked up. The Fire God was nowhere to be seen.

Agni looked around at his peers until his gaze met Nen's. Her eyes were full of hatred and triumphant vengeance.

“Nen?” he whispered, and she grinned. As she did so, Agni began to get a sinking feeling.

He looked around again, but no one would meet his eyes except Mamoru. Hidden in the deep green eyes of the Earth God was anger and sympathy, and Agni's heart sank a little lower.

“What's going on?” His voice never elevated above a whisper.

Nen stepped forward when no one else would. “We have decided, in Aye's best interests, that you should remain here in the Spirit World until further notice and have no contact with Aye, again until further notice.”

Makani spoke gently. “Only until the outcome of this war has been decided.”

Tears unwillingly filled the eyes of the betrayed Fire God. “You can't do this.”

Nen smiled. “We can and we are.”

Mamoru choked back an angry sob. “Please, for pity's sake Nen, reconsider!”

“Never.” She whispered.

Agni turned and walked quickly to stand in front of Mamoru.

“Mamoru, please, do me this favor. Find my son, Zuko, and tell him that I am his father. Please do this for me.”

Mamoru nodded fervently and Agni cried out. “Go now!”

When the Earth God had gone, he turned back to the gods, who merely looked at him. He slipped back into his true form but this time did it reluctantly, not knowing the next time he would be allowed to transform back into his human form.

The Great Golden Dragon turned and took flight, leaving behind his peers in search of solitude.

Kaia began to cry, and Makani drew on her icy strength to remain calm. Samir turned to comforting Kaia.

Of all the deities in the Spirit World that day, only Nen was happy.