Avatar The Last Airbender Fan Fiction ❯ The Guard and the Phoenix ❯ Final Assignment ( Chapter 1 )

Avatar: TLA © Nick & Bryan of Nickelodeon, not me, alas.

 

There was only a few weeks left before soldiers could finalize their resignations from the tyrant Fire Nation Army. Fire Lord Zuko was pulling out all the troops at break neck speed, with Avatar not far behind to make peace with rebellious victims of the war. Peace was settling in like a fine veil, with small conflicts here and there from disillusioned soldiers and less than peaceful civilians. There was a strange kind of serenity in the Fire Nation; people from all nations walked the streets like nothing had happened. It was apparent that few people actually wanted the war and most were more than willing to welcome their brethern nations back into their homes.

 

Even in such a peaceful time, there was still a need for Xi-xi's position, guards at the dead volcano prison. While Fire Lord Zuko was a peaceful man, he did not forgive war crimes so easily. So, there were prisoners, not many, but enough. Xi-xi had dreamed for the day to come when even guards were allowed to resign and live the life they had dreamed of. However, the last assignment given to her would put all those plans on halt. The head guardsman had only said to look over the new prisoner for a few days, until still eager veterans of war showed up to take her place, but upon looking at her charge, there was no way she'd let him go.

 

“Fire Lord Ozai…” Xi-xi said beneath her breath, the information sheet shaking in her hand. This was a man she had feared, a man she believed to be dead, “How…”

 

“The avatar somehow managed to take away his firebending powers.” The head guardsman shrugged, “He shouldn't be too hard to handle. Although, for a man so used to being in power, I can't imagine how difficult this is for him.”

 

Xi-xi shuddered as her boss sauntered away. While he hadn't supported the war, he was just another man who idolized the ex-Fire Lord. That sympathy in his voice was almost sickening. No time to worry about that, though, Xi-xi was down the hall in minutes. The quicker she got started; perhaps the sooner someone would show to take her place. Her mind raced. She'd heard about Princess Azula being chained up somewhere deeper in the prison, even heard the mad girl's wails, but never would she have thought that the Fire Lord himself would be here. Wasn't that what the Boiling Rock was for? Then again, the change of command has left the place disheveled. Zuko probably wanted his father nearby, for his own reasons.

 

The metal door clanked heavily as it rolled into the wall. Dingy orange light washed the room in a sepia tone. Ozai looked up lazily from where he laid huddled against the wall. Xi-xi approached carefully, the weight of her armor setting in like the world was trying to keep her from getting closer. She knelt down and spoke low, “Fire-… er… Ozai, I am your new guard-” It wasn't customary to introduce yourself to your charge, but she felt it necessary, “…my name is Xi-xi.”

 

His focus seemed beyond her, at the door she had left open, but as she spoke, his eyes locked with hers.

 

Xi-xi's heart stopped.