Chapter 17: Murder the Light

As they crossed the sky, Jet tried to still his hammering heart. He was determined to stand by her side, but the adrenaline and worries of 'what if' soared through his mind one after another. His main concern was if Daiyu was too slow or they as a team were too weak to truly defeat this bastard. While he did not want to think of the possible results he knew that it was more realistic to admit they were there. Then where was the chance that Aang did not show. There was no way Sokka with Toph and Suki could take on the Fire Lord, and by the time personal fights were over the four others including himself would be spent. Aang had to return for them to succeed.

"Azula will be waiting for us at the palace city," Zuko explained as he directed Appa with gentle hands, "Which is where Xing will be too. Do you plan on fighting him then and there?"

Beside him Daiyu sat, pressed against his side as though to engrave the feeling of his body against hers into both their minds. They too admitted that there was a very strong possibility of death in the fights to come, and wanted to fight knowing the sensation one last time. Behind them Jet and Katara sat silently, their minds on different matters. The water girl could not help but watch the sky as though waiting for calm blue to turn into the color of fire and red and destruction. She worried about Aang. Where he was, what he was doing, if he would return in time. Could he take down Ozai even if he said he wasn't going to kill him? Were the lessons he got enough? Was there anything else she could have taught him in terms of waterbending? If only bloodbending could be accessed without the help of the full moon.

She paused to think, "We'll lure him away somehow. I have a feeling that you and Azula are going to need all the room you can get. Plus if we give them the chance to work together then we lower our chances of winning." Her veins pulsed. Just the stress of fighting the man who nearly killed her was enough to set her nerves on fire. She both feared seeing him again and looked forward to it. She imagined Azula would be very surprised to see her alive and well.

"Don't forget that she has lightning to work with," Jet reminded Katara kindly. "Water attracts lightning so you're more likely to get hurt by it than Zuko is. Not only that but he knows how to redirect it and you don't." There was no time for her to learn after all. "If there's ever a chance for you to heal any minor wounds for either of you, do it. And try to wear her down if you can." He had never fought her but Azula sounded like a girl who didn't have as much stamina as she appeared.

Katara nodded once, thankful for the support. She had never fought Azula either, though she knew well what the other girl could do. Jet was more experienced in fighting those that were more physically capable than him- fighting benders while he could not bend- so to have this insight really helped. She knew that she would have to keep her distance from the Princess as well, as she had no real experience fighting hand to hand combat. "Make sure you're careful where you strike and when you do," she reminded him, "Your body isn't as durable as Daiyu's so if you attack at the right time you are likely to get really hurt." And no one wanted that.

"We're here," Zuko announced, staring down upon the place he used to call home. There was only a small gathering for what appeared to be the coronation of a new Fire Lord. Knowing his father as he did, Azula got the throne while he gave himself an even higher title as future ruler of all the continents. He knew the bison understood where to land and why. Though he thought him a stupid beast originally, he came to understand that the lumbering fluff ball was just a being of simple desires.

For what could have possibly been the last time, he turned Daiyu towards him, covering her mouth with his and shared with her a long sweet kiss. An embrace he tried to engrave into his mind. Her fingers ran through his hair, claws gently raking his scalp as he so enjoyed. His thumbs ran over her warm cheeks; it was as though she was going to cry. She smiled as the descent began, the shouts of surprise and people scurrying to get out of the way of Appa's large body rang around them. She could feel the heat of Xing's gaze on her body. "I love you," she whispered forehead pressed against his own.

"I love you," he echoed, stealing a smaller and shorter kiss before standing. His shoulders squared and features pulled into a stern expression he challenged her loud and clear. "It's not you who's becoming Fire Lord today Azula. I am."

She didn't look right. Not only not to the intruders but also to her underlings. She didn't care. She knew she looked ridiculous with her choppy bangs and improperly styled hair. She though couldn't care less. In her place she stood trembling with both rage and excitement. Xing had failed to kill Daiyu somehow. She would finally put her brother in the ground using her own hands. "Very well brother. Let us have a duel. An Agni Kai! The battle that was always meant to happen! You and me, brother."

"Fine," he took everyone by surprise.

"What?" Daiyu lowered her voice.

Katara however was very loud about her worry. "Zuko this isn't part of the plan we discussed! You said we would take her down together!"

"Aang would gut me if I let you get hurt. Besides I can take her; there's something not right about her."

"That's what's worry some," Jet rumbled, "Don't get cocky because of the comet. You're not the only one who gets energized by it."

But Zuko shook his head, "It'll be okay. Katara, you can stay with me as backup if need be but I think it'll be okay."

Daiyu scowled. "...You better ask for help when you need it or I'm going to have no choice but to beat you once this is all over. And make sure you keep yourself calm; don't let the comet's energy get to your head more than it already has." The sky was turning red. She could feel the destruction in the distance; the collective chaos created by fear and wonder and terror all around. Even Azula's instability added to it. She could feel the chaos poking and prodding at her, waiting for its chance to play. She sternly told it to wait its turn.

Azula turned to her pet who silently stood off to the side. His eyes had been locked onto the girl he had been so certain he killed. "This is the first and last time you've failed me Xing. You have a second chance; kill Zuko's whore and I'll give you a reward better than any you'd be able to think up." Though he was a disgusting human to look at, maybe if she had his child it would take after her in appearance, but be able to use both light and fire. The ultimate warrior of her own flesh and blood. It would begin her legacy and turn it into a legend like no other.

Xing stepped forward, head inclined. "You are alive". He greeted Daiyu, watching as black swirled at her shoulder blades like a fog.

She shrugged as casually as her nerves allowed. Luckily she appeared calm. "I'm a tough cookie to crumble. You're going to have to do more than just impale me on a branch."

"Don't challenge him!" Jet grumbled.

"I see. I'll endeavor to try harder," he glanced to his mistress, bowing low. "I am leaving now."

Azula scoffed, "Go then! Make the fight quick!"

"As you wish." He rushed them like a storm.

And in turn, Daiyu's wings flared seemingly hidden on her back until that point as she turned and ran along Appa's body pushing hard as she took off from a runway much too short. She flew, watching over her shoulder as light blasts shot after her as though seeking her body heat. She turned, and despite his cries of not being ready scooped up the swordsman that was Jet in a fashion Zuko was rather familiar with. A hug under the arms and legs around her waist. There was only just enough momentum to make them airborne again. And as gusts of venomous wind pushed against his body tossing his messy black hair every which way, he watched them retreat to a location unknown. Xing bounced after them, running like a lightning bolt from rooftop to rooftop honed in on his targets. His gaze went back to his sister. He had other things to focus on.

The place Daiyu took them too was the courtyard of the palace. A place broad and open perfect for a fight. But also one could take momentary cover within the building or behind the trees that lined the grassy man made field. She dropped Jet as she had no time to stop, watching as he tucked and rolled with a grunt while she barrel rolled in the air out of the way of the nearest blast. Furling her wings and spinning midair, they snapped back open as she landed disappearing like smoke in a breeze.

Xing landed heavily on the balls of his feet, knees crouching to ease the impact as he jumped down from the high up rooftop. Jet looked him over, dressed in nothing but white pants with a gold sash. He was missing his middle toes, and arm and an eye. Scars littered him from head to toe. Daiyu hadn't been exaggerating when she said he looked like a living experiment. Like someone had strapped him down and played with his insides until he developed the powers the person was looking for. He knew though that it didn't work that way, and that somehow he had to have been spirit touched much like the young female warrior. Carefully he drew his swords, watching as the eye made of starlight zoned in on him. After a moment it was as though he was dismissed and dubbed harmless.

Jet would show him that doing so was a fatal flaw. He charged in first, knowing that there was no other way he could challenge the beast of a man, swords at the ready and features hard with determination. He grit his teeth as blasts of light were fired at him, barely managing to keep himself from flinching from each close call. Behind him Daiyu worked hard on her timing, meeting each light blast with one of dark energy. Walls of shadows were far too flimsy against Xing's abilities this she knew well. She needed to get Jet up close and personal so he could keep him busy. Given enough time, she would enter the Chaos State and in theory make quick work of the mangled man.

The idea of making certain Xing didn't attack Daiyu was nowhere near fullproof. She had tried to explain to poor Jet just how fast the massive enemy was, but he could not imagine it until he faced the facts himself. With each swing he made it was as though Xing retaliated five times in a row before Jet could even get his swords up to block or counter attack. He coughed hard as he was sent flying back by a single kick, tumbling heels over head as he skidded to a stop. He could already feel a disgusting and disturbing bruise forming on his gut, but did his best to pay it no mind. Breathing would be more difficult, but at the very least his ribs didn't suffer for it.

He had no time to look over his shoulder to see if Daiyu was having any success at all in taking to her new state of ability. But given the fact that there were blasts cancelling out Xing's he only imagined she had stopped to make certain Jet wasn't taken out so early in the game. Loyally his hook swords sang through the air, but unlike normally they cut through nothing when they should have met flesh. He aimed for the man's remaining arm, and was forced to backpedal as a blast of energies met one another. Using the smoke as a cover he made his way around Xing, and was actually rewarded with blood.

Hissing as he grit his teeth, Xing spun and promptly placed a fist in Jet's face. He was used to pain, but that did not mean he liked it any more. It also didn't mean it could not affect him. As his life liquid splattered onto the ground, he turned again, and rushed the girl that had made an opening to the boy. Much to his surprise, a sword was literally thrown at his head like a spear. He changed course but did not break stride as he ran at her determined to make her death this time swift and certain. A blast of dark energy met him, though like she had been doing a blast of his own cancelled the attack. Again he changed course, repeating the process five more times only to realize that she had been herding him back to her partner.

Jet opened his mouth and rolled his jaw, checking for damage as one of his swords flew, and as he watched Daiyu carefully improvise as he tried to get close to the target again. As though with a mind of its own, a little tendril of shadow offered his second weapon to him. It would have been cute if not for the imminent doom that was currently taking place. Xing had been given no choice but to come back to a personal fight with the Freedom Fighter leader. Skillfully swung, spinning his entire body for momentum and to cover ground swords following his command to create a twin horizontal cut.

This hit again much to Xing's disbelief. The sudden movement was not part of the usual attack pattern. And as one sword hooked against another again he found a third hit annoyed him. His abdomen bled gently, though the one on his back and the new cuts on his side cried red rapidly. He needed to get rid of this one so that he could take care of his main target. Xing jumped skillfully over Jet's vicious swing looking to take his head and instead placed a blast of light at the boy's feet. Another was sent directly at Daiyu; she was forced to defend herself while also blinding herself due to the size of the attack. Xing took this chance to thrust his foot at the stunned Jet's abdomen. The familiar sensation of bones breaking told him of the ribs that stood no chance. Gasping for breath Jet buckled over, and found a knee trying to tear his lower mandible from the upper one. He was sent crashing, rolling as in his stunned state his swords fell from his hands.

Daiyu retaliated, her vision cleared before Xing could challenge her again. She had heard the painful break, and knew that feeling well. It would take some time before Jet recovered, if he could. Using the shadows to wrap around the light master's ankles she literally flung him around, bouncing him off of the floor and even an innocent tree in an attempt to daze him. The massive man flailed his arm and leg in an attempt to grab something that could halt his momentum. He found it in the very tree she tried to leave an imprint of his body on, grip strong as the branch groaned in protest. It snapped soon enough as she pulled, but it was more than enough to give him time to hit her with a blast of light.

Daiyu flew back with a pained yelp, taken aback by the sudden white blast, skin lightly seared as she rolled to a stop and jumped to her feet. Ignoring the momentary spinning of the world- she must have hit her head- she watched as Jet managed to get up close and personal with the monster again. He swung hard with both swords, battered and very much bruised. Blood dribbled from his lips and forehead and arms. His clothing was more tattered than she expected it to be too, and she could see a bruise blooming at his ribs where they were broken. He had slowed down significantly as well because of this.

But this didn't keep the skilled swordsman from nearly bisecting the lightbender.

But instead of meeting his mark, he found a hand around his wrist, the larger man had merely not been there by the time of impact, sliding to the side and gripping onto the fragile joint. The sword fell to the ground as his cry of pain alerted his partner to a plan gone wrong. Daiyu, worried for Jet's well being, formed a floor of shadows and literally threw Xing into the distance so that she could check on the nonbender's condition. She found him cradling his left limb, and saw the swelling at his hand. Xing had broken his wrist.

"Can you still fight?" The heat of the comet had already come, the sounds of blasting red and blue fire in the distance lit up the remaining darkness of the sky. As though a volcano housed an internal war the two types of flame pressed and charged one another. One seeming to have no real target or intent other than destruction and the other concentrated and carefully placed. Nearly the opposite of what they had been months ago.

Jet hissed as her fingers pressed on tender flesh, "Yea, I'll be fi- move!" he shoved her hard, thrusting his hands against her shoulders despite the pain that shot through the bad wrist. He himself only had enough time to jump forward, rolling as the impact met his back scorching his clothing. Groaning, he stood forgetting about the swords he had lost with that impact. Instead he dared to enter pure hand to hand combat, even if it wasn't his forte.

Xing showed him swiftly just who was king when it came to battle with the palms and feet. As he moved his normally lumbering frame around a well aimed but slightly clumsy kick, he blocked with his own lower extremity and instead used his only hand and speed to suddenly grab the boy's neck. He thought that Jet would actually protect one of his most vital areas, but apparently the tempo of the fight had gotten to him. He was tempted to simply crush the boy's trachea, but given that he was not the main target settled for less.

A single beam of light brought forth a pain like no other for poor Jet. He screamed a sound that chilled any listeners to the bone, his ribs aching as his body trembled. Light entering and exiting as though a hot weapon through animal fat, it created a small hole in the young man's side. In a spot that while not instantly fatal, would need swift treatment or permanent damage would be done.

Daiyu stopped as she heard the scream, standing at the ready from being pushed. The events had happened too fast for her to track. One moment she was dazed from the blast, the next she was watching a weaponless Jet fight Xing and then finally the hole in the teen's body. Shocked into motionlessness and horror struck she had to knock herself from her stupor when by his throat alone Xing threw the dangling boy to her feet. He rolled to a stop limbs over sides like an abused ragdoll, mouth open in a silent scream as agony echoed through his entire body.

"Jet!" she cried, watching as the red quickly pooled under him. Instantly her hands pressed on the wound ignoring the scream it brought forth. Of course it hurt, but she needed to get pressure on it or he would be in trouble. "Jet, talk to me!"

The brown eyed teen blearily looked to her shape. The pain near blinded him, and with the loss of his blood came exhaustion. Jet's bloodied lips rose into a slight smile, "Hey beautiful," he cooed softly, throat unwilling to let him raise his voice.

She sighed absolute relief, and offered a teary smile in return. "Hey. Hang in there okay? I'm going to take you to Katara to get you fixed up." Wings formed on her back. But as she made to lift him the screams came. He thrashed with a new energy, insisting she not move him. Instantly she put him down as gently as possible. "I have to take you to her or-"

"You have a higher priority than me," he was tired, and cold. "Xing can't be allowed to live. You know that. I know that. Don't worry...I'll be...Okay...I think." Breathing was hard. Talking was hard, and strangely he was colder than he was a few moments ago. He wanted to sleep. "I'll just….Take a nap."

She knew he would bleed out if she didn't do something about it. She knew that just by looking at him and personal experience. She needed to move fast. However he wouldn't let her move him. It hurt him, and he obviously had no intent on leaving the battlefield when there were bigger problems at hand. "Jet no. You're my top priority right now. Xing can wait."

"If he gets to help or defend Azula, it's over," he whispered. "I won't forgive you if you end up dying to get me healed. And I won't forgive you...If you let him go to keep me safe….I just need to shrug this off. It'll be okay I think."

But there were no promises, and her heart clenched. She cursed herself. She should have done this earlier, just like they had planned. She should have done it before she lured Xing away; maybe if she had Jet wouldn't be in the battered and bloodied state that he was. Xing stood, watching from a short distance. He could see the damage even from where he was. He was the one who made it; he knew the effects it had on the body. "Your partner was weak," he challenged shamelessly, "It will be good when he dies to make room for the strong. This is the world Azula wants; I will create it for her."

"Jet is not weak."

"He is," Xing pointed a finger, as though to gesture to the downed young man, "Weak and feeble, just like any other nonbender. I admit he is a talented swordsman, but this has nothing to do with Azula's vision for the future. As her father is determined to exterminate the earthbenders with his wrath, my lady is determined to rid the world of lower humans such as this one. In fact, I shall begin the process in her honor." The beam of light came before she could stop it, shooting its way through Jet's chest.

The poor boy's next scream was more of a strangled gasp. Blood bubbled up from his lips, his eyes blown wide with pain as a hole sat in his lung collapsing it. He coughed vigorously, trying to roll over as blood dribbled from the new wound and his mouth. It hurt everywhere, his heart raced; he could not breathe. The result happened far too fast for Daiyu to do anything about it. And as he rolled back onto his back, he only saw her shadow. This was how he died? At least he wanted to see her face. Pretty and without dirt. He thought of when they had gone on the date in Ba Sing Se; this was his last thought before the world turned black, and his mind shut out all external sensations.

She screamed for him to listen, for him to move or react as now two holes sat in him both making the puddle larger. What was she supposed to do?! As she tried to shake him back into consciousness, she ignored the tears that sprang to her eyes. "Jet! Jet! Wake up! Jet please! Please wake up Jet! Jet!" Her heart pattered painfully in her chest, threatening to burst from its home. "Please. Please no…..," salt mixed with the blood that had splashed onto her face when he was hit a second time. She was so stupid; she knew better than to stop in the middle of a fight! What was wrong with her?! Everything was going wrong.

Jet did nothing to respond to her. She felt a pulse, but it was weak and rapid. He would die if she didn't do something immediately. Xing once more watched with almost sick interest. So this was what happened when those people cared for died in such a major battle. How interesting. "Did you love him?" He watched her cry, shaking the boy's shoulders as though that would help. "War takes everything from those stupid enough to love and protect anyone save themselves. Not only was he weak for his lack of evolution, but he also clearly cared for you. This is your fault; you should have never allowed him to enter this fight. Instead you should have died for real on your own. Let him live another day until he too was extinguished with the rest of the non-benders. His death was inevitable, but you only made it happen faster."

Was he taunting her or stating facts? She couldn't tell, but it made her angry. "Shut up."

"If you like I can take you to see him," Xing pressed. It was not a sadistic edge that urged him to push forward but rather pure interest in her reactions and how her mind worked in such a state of horrified anguish. He had never seen it before, and jumped at the chance to learn.

She glared, green eyes hard, jaw clenched as she bared sharp canines. "I said, shut your mouth."

And yet still he did not take her threat as anything more than empty words. "How would you like to fade into nothing? As the first warrior to ever survive a fight with me the first time around, I will give you the honor of choosing how my hand ends your life."

"Shut your fucking mouth," it was a sound Katara would have known well. The mixture of a growl and a lowered tone to her voice rumbled from her chest like thunder. She should have done this sooner. But that was a mistake she would not make again. Jet was still alive, she knew that much, but not for long. She needed to get Katara to him, because moving him was out of the question. In order to do that she needed to finish what she started.

The pink woven lines started at her fingers and toes, crawling up and around her extremities, covering her exposed torso as she ripped her pants to clog the holes in Jet's body in an attempt to make him live longer. Soon the burning glow following her veins reached her jaw, cradling it like caressing fingers. Lips and claws gained the tell tale dark pigmentation, and soon her eyes glowed the purple-pink of dark energy. However, Daiyu had no intention of letting it stop there.

Screw controlling the Chaos State.

She wanted this man to suffer. What better way than to give the chaos what it wanted? Rather than breaking under the pressure like before, forced behind a glass wall, she was confident she could even pull herself from a mindless state now that she understood how the Chaos State worked. She would let the chaos use her as a vessel of destruction, sole target being the lightbender. The wings that formed on her body were as always covered in feathers glowing chaos colored quills, though rather than made from shadows outside her body, they seemed to rip through her skin made only from the shadows within. Blood poured down her back in an almost poetic way as the appendages stretched and shifted as though to test themselves out. The whites of her eyes soon gave way to the color of dark energy, the lines pulsed with a burning light and fangs extended below her bottom lip.

Though the world burned, the courtyard of the palace was cold.

Around them shadows danced and quivered, growing and pulsing with her breathing, a growl on her snarling lips as her fingers hooked into claws. It was a strange sensation, being behind the glass wall of her mind but by choice rather than force. She knew that she could confidently put herself back in the driver's seat whenever she pleased. It was as though finally the nearly sentient energy and she understood one another, and had come to a clear agreement. In the controlled Chaos State, she compared for her own benefit, she was still of clear mind. She was in front of the glass with access to new abilities and power. She knew what she was doing and how and why. She made the actions of conscious mind. But as she let the chaos of war and death and stress and malice use her like a puppet, her body falling into autopilot, only one thought came to the forefront. Here, she was behind the glass, but there was a door in it for her to use. She had access to the same amount of power, but any reservations she had while in control were gone.

Kill the light.

Xing stared at the sight, taken aback by it and somewhat amazed. He had never seen anything like it. A state of strange animalistic terror. He watched as tears filtered from her glowing eyes and blood soaked into her already crimson shirt staining her pale skin. Looking down to the boy, he saw shallow rapid breathing and pale tanned flesh; he was going into shock, and would soon die. He was certain of this and had absolutely no regrets for being the cause. Azula had told him to kill the girl, but the boy got in the way. Now as he looked at the girl, he still felt certain he could take her life. Just because she adopted a new appearance meant nothing to him.

He lifted a hand, palm facing Daiyu, and released a blast of burning light that scorched its way to her. Aiming to hit her face and literally incinerate her head killing her on contact. Much to his surprise however, her wings lifted her into the burning sky spread wide and powerfully flexing. The heavy whoosing as air was pushed out of the way seemed to echo all around. Hooked fingers gestured as she soared higher, charging him with a face of madness. Much to his surprise, he felt more than saw the rapid spikes of shadows thrust themselves forward at a speed he had not believed them capable of. He was forced to bounce and evade on the balls of his feet, rolling and jumping as pike after pike attempted to impale him.

A surprised gasp escaped open lips when just as suddenly a blast of dark energy met his back, cauterizing his sword wound but also burning that side of his torso making it painful to move his arm or twist to dodge. A tendril of darkness wrapped around his ankle. He knew its intent, and broke it with a crescent of light before it could throw him around like a ragdoll a second time. What he wasn't expecting was for it to be a distraction that allowed Daiyu to swoop down and rake her talons along his side, dipping into the gashes Jet had left behind and creating an even larger injury. Xing was used to pain, but he was not accustomed to someone being able to dish it out to him. It had been far too long since something like this had happened.

She watched, landing with furled wings as he bled. His clothing tattered by her claws and the swords from earlier, and crimson trailing down the length of his body. It wasn't enough. Almost like an earthbender she stomped, urging for a floor of pikes to impale him. They rose immediately. However as Xing insisted on using them to his advantage, they continued to grow and gather into one another. Shifting and twisting they became a trio of puppets, all of which shared her vicious visage. They moved silently as their vision consumed their master's forcing her to see three times as many angles as before. Behind her glass wall, she thought perhaps she would not be able to control it just as when she was in the driver's seat. The chaos had no issues however. They lunged, swinging down as their arms broke into barbed whips. Xing made his way through their onslaught, and retaliated with a wave of light that turned the shadows into nothing.

Daiyu however was expecting this, and retaliated with her own two waves of dark energy that enclosed around him. When he ran to retreat on a limping leg, the walls curved, scorching the ground as they made a cylinder shape around him. When he jumped, he found a roof. His face hit it first, earning him a burn that made him scream. As the dark energy seemed to hum in place, ever moving but stationary at the same time, a new dome of shadows appeared, blades lacing what could have been smooth sides. The walls began to spin, and the dome shrank. Looking down, he tried to think of a way to evade through the earth. However even he would need multiple blasts of light to create a tunnel large enough for him and he did not have the right amount of time needed to do so.

He collected a wave of light behind him, knowing that it was a double edged sword. However it had worked last time he fought her and as he condenced the wall into a smaller wave he knew it would be stronger. And it was. Xing grit his teeth as his burn turned into charred skin and exposed bone, but the walls that had kept him in gave way. He turned, searching for the waiting opponent. Only for claws to render him from crotch to throat. He had not expected her to be waiting for him at his exit shadow laced claws capable of rendering deep gashes into the earth.

Forced to halt, a trembling hand rose to his throat where the gashes stopped. He found holes where there should not have been. Blood gushed and poured as his heart instantly hit overdrive while adrenaline tried and failed to numb the pain. His large body hit the ground, falling onto his back and breaking the burnt skin with an audible sound of unknown name. Daiyu watched as blood bubbled from his lips, his single silver eye looking up to the sky, life fading from him. A single name escaped his mourning lips.

Azula.

Daiyu heartlessly scoffed, "She never loved you, idiot. Just used you like the tool you are. Die in vain knowing no one loved you. And that I killed you without any remorse." Her voice was gravelly and dark, as though growling and speaking at the same time. As she pulled herself from behind the glass wall within her head, she felt the weight of the energy expenditure hit her like a mountain falling. However, she shook her head, ignoring the exhaustion as she made her way to Jet. He was breathing, if barely. Shadows applied pressure to the wounds, not that it did much good. She shouldered him. Using what strength she had left to carefully heave him into her hold and take him into the sky. The explosions of fire all around had stopped. She only hoped Zuko was okay.

She prayed Katara could save Jet.

()

Zuko groaned as his wounds from days earlier fought him, not allowing him to slip his right arm into the sleeve of his robe. The lightning strike had been agonizing, he knew not how Daiyu managed to handle it like she did when it happened to her. However, gentle hands took up the fabric and just as softly guided his limb into position. Looking up, he found his jaw wide open. Her hair had been pulled into an elegant bun, black tresses framing her features and green eyes framed by light makeup. Her robes like his were of the finest make, dark red upon gold and marked by a lighter red. Billowing sleeves and a graceful follow of her frame to the floor, trailing behind her by a few steps.

Tying the strip around his waist she kissed him on the cheek, "Don't push yourself so hard. You're still healing." But she had been battered too. Her back ached where the very real wings receded back into her body once she had safely delivered her longtime friend to the healer. And her muscles screamed with every unwilling motion she forced them to make.

"You look beautiful," he greeted, a gentle smile on his features. He kissed his future wife full on the lips, wrapping her arms around her. "Are you ready?"

"When you are." Though first they had to finish getting him ready. Wrapping him in the formal wear of additional robes and pulling his hair up into a neat top knot she finally lowered the shoulder plates designed to look like fire over his head.

They walked the hall silently, her arm wrapped over his own as she tried not to trip over the trailing fine silk. How she would ever get used to so much clothing she had no clue. Maybe once the whole coronation was over she would ask Zuko to make a law where such flowing fabrics were only to be worn on rare occasions. Then her preference of wearing as much or as little as she wanted would be less frowned upon. It was somewhat ironic that now as they strolled with leisure, she found she did not mind the building. Before it had been a place she felt trapped in. Where she always had to look over her shoulder and watch for someone trying to stab her in the back. Now, with Ozai and Azula both in jail and Xing dead she could relax.

They found Aang waiting for him, dressed in formal Air Nomad clothing carefully tailored to fit only him and properly depict the clothing the old masters wore. He had been sitting, seeming to be meditating when he opened his eyes and stood to his feet. He smiled and shared a swift hug with Daiyu as she removed her arm from her lover's grasp.

"I can't believe a year ago, I thought my destiny was to capture you," Zuko smiled, the expression small but warm.

"I can't believe a year ago, I was still trapped in a block of ice. The world is so different now," the Avatar smiled back, his was much broader and open gray eyes sparkling with a pleasant joy.

"And it's going to be even more different thanks to us working together," they shared a short hug.

Daiyu found it worthy of soft snickering, reminded of how hard Zuko had been when she first met him. He barely allowed Iroh to hug him let alone share words of kindness or anything not related to capturing Aang. It was a huge change, seeing him as he was currently, but one that was was also extremely welcome. "I'm going to join the others in the crowd. Try not to talk for too long. The banquet afterwards is supposed to have lots of different food from all the nations and I haven't eaten since early morning."

Aang laughed as Zuko rolled his eyes a smirk crossing his features, "I'll be sure to make it so you're last to eat then."

"Mean! No cuddling and kissing for you for a week if you're going to pull that shit," she glared, knowing that while her other half didn't mind public displays of affection, he was also slightly embarrassed by them. The proof was in his pink cheeks as Aang snickered again.

Playing along he jabbed the new Fire Lord in the ribs, "Better watch what you say. She's going for low blows."

"Shut up and and let's go. We'll see you later Daiyu," Zuko grumbled, ignoring the warm sensation of his ears and making his way through the red and gold curtain.

Shaking her head with a smile she grinned, making her way outside through a door far from the long entry Zuko and Aang would soon be traveling through. It wasn't hard for her to pick out her friends. Sokka and his flailing despite his broken leg made it even easier. Each of them was dressed in armor respecting their nation, including Jet who, for once, wore all green being a citizen of the Earth Kingdom. The breastplate seemed to fit him rather well, if she was honest. Katara spotted her first, blue eyes wide and mouth slightly hung open. She had never seen Daiyu so dressed up before, and the fact that she was garbed in such nice clothing, she realized just why she was seen as beautiful.

"You seem almost over dressed for standing with us," Katara greeted with a small smile, "Or maybe we're underdressed?"

Daiyu waved a hand, momentarily glaring at the flapping of cloth that followed. "Nah, they just insisted that I wear layers upon layers of stupid flowy gowns because of Zuko and I being a couple. Or….Technically we're engaged."

Before Katara could so much as breathe her question Jet stepped in front of her, white bandages wrapped around his head and chest under the armor. "You're what?!"

"Yea! When did that happen?!" Sokka had only just caught the last few words, but it was easy to assume who she was talking about considering Jet's frantic response.

"Who said you could do that without my permission?" Jet continued, "I'll rip his freaking head off for not asking me!" He had only just started to accept that Daiyu didn't see him as anything other than a brother, and she goes and does this? He didn't know whether to cry or to be pissed enough to thrash her. Almost instantly he decided a proper thrashing would take place. "We just got over the war!"

He groaned low in his chest when an elbow jammed itself against his ribs. "Oh calm down already! Just be happy for her why don't you!" Toph rolled her unseeing eyes. Personally she didn't see a reason for being surprised or exceedingly happy. It was bound to happen some time or another. At the very least, though, they were happy. "I'm happy for you Daiyu."

"Thanks Toph," in more way than one. Finding the warrior somewhat out of line but more silly than anything, batted him on the head with the pads of her fingers. "What are you, my dad?" She rolled her eyes, "It happened while we were staying here in the Fire Nation after we thought Aang died. It was the only way Ozai would accept our relationship. But Zuko officially asked on his own before Aang disappeared and we went to find Iroh."

Katara shoved the overprotective teen to the side, grunting as she thrust all of her weight behind the movement and still struggled to get him moved. "You're going to tell me all about it later, right?" Here she was the one excited blue eyes bright and a pink flush on her cheeks. It was the first time she'd be able to talk about such things with another girl and she couldn't help but be excited, "We need to pick out a dress for you! And figure out where the revenue will be and-"

Suki smiled, her painted lips pulled into an amused smile as she hushed the waterbending master gently. "Okay, that's enough. We need to line up now; Zuko and Aang will be coming out any minute….Congratulations though. And you definitely should tell us about it. Not right away but if you don't Katara might explode."

Daiyu laughed and shook her head, silently grateful for Suki's actions. "Maybe later. For now let's focus." She turned, glaring at the trailing fabric as she had to adjust it to sit behind her instead of being twisted around her ankles.

As Zuko and Aang finally revealed themselves, applause and cheers resounded loudly through the courtyard. From mere soldiers to larger players in the war, there were people smiling and cheering for the two before them. The Avatar who had defeated Ozai, bring peace to the world and restoring balance between the nations. Young and still very much in need of some growing up, but powerful and of pure heart. And the new Fire Lord. A boy some of them had called fool and even shunned in the time of his father's rule. Someone who had obviously struggled to find where his place in the world was. Someone who they knew had goals and ideas on how to bring honor and glory back to their magnificent home.

The shadow touched hybrid stood next to Katara between those of the Water Tribes attending the event, and the people of the Fire Nation. In her own little section where she alone stood. Looking up at Zuko, she saw not a strong and fierce leader who knew what he was doing. She saw instead a determined young man who would have to grow into the position he had rightfully won from his sister. Next to him was Aang, another person who still had to grow into the position he had no choice but to accept. He had large shoes to fill, and the role of Avatar would pull him every which way with the potential of even forcing him against his friends. But Daiyu knew that he could do it. They both could.

"Please," he called for silence, "The real hero….Is the Avatar!" the clapping and cheering escalated. "Today, the war is officially over! I promised my Uncle that I would restore the honor of the Fire Nation and I will. The war that lasted one hundred years has left the world scarred, and divided. But with the help of the Avatar, we can begin a new era of love and peace."

The event that was taking place was not just merely to announce that the war was over and that the Fire Nation would be working hard to earn the other nations' forgiveness. It wasn't just so that a crowd of people could praise Aang for his victory, or Zuko for his own. It was also Zuko's coronation as Fire Lord. The young man knelt, bowing his head. His eyes searched the crowd, looking for a familiar pair. When he found the emeralds that seemed to sparkle even from afar, he smiled gently. She offered him a fang filled grin.

The head of the Fire Sages made his way forward as Aang stepped to the side respectfully. The emblem of Daiyu's new home seemed to shine with more than just the reflection of the sun as it was held up high. The sage rose his voice for all to hear, carefully lowering the hairpiece that did more than simply act as an ornament that accentuated one's looks. It was also the symbol of Zuko's position, of his promises to his country and the world. Of the responsibility that now rested on his shoulders.

"All hail Fire Lord Zuko!" A new wave of cheering nearly deafened the poor teen as he stood, gaze scanning the crowd taking in smiling faces and feeling a sense of relief, and belonging. He made his way forward, motioning for Aang to follow and stand at his side. And then, as he locked eyes with her again he called silently for his lady. Daiyu carefully climbed her way up the stairs that otherwise led into the courtyard. She cursed the draping cloth for what seemed like the millionth time as she almost embarrassed herself by falling on the stairs because of it. Luckily she caught herself before anything could be noticed, and she reached her lover while still being graceful.

As the cheers continued and even rose from their friends, Daiyu shamelessly took the newly crowned Fire Lord's face and pressed her lips to his. The shock was evident, but he responded in kind wrapping his arms around her waist. For a second she thought she heard a whistle from someone in the crowd, but couldn't place just where or who it would have come from.

Life was good.

()

She recognized the way to the cells. Burrowed into the earthen walls of the volcano and kept under lock and key by some of the best guards the nation had to offer. As in the palace the after party of the coronation took place- the loud music and laughter echoing even as far as they were from it- she followed him down the path to a particular cell. They were still wearing their clothing from before, never once given a chance to change out of their robes. But as Ozai lifted his head when he realized who was approaching, she silently grinned to herself. She had come prepared.

He mockingly looked upon his son and the hybrid, "I should feel lucky that the new Fire Lord and his Lady have graced me with their presence." He hissed the words, spitting as though they were poison.

"You should feel lucky that the Avatar spared your life," Zuko retorted as he leaned down to look his weak father in the face. He hadn't been the same since Aang took his bending. Still as self entitled as ever, but incapable of backing up any and all threats he gave someone. "And that Daiyu hasn't gutted you," he added as an afterthought. "Banishing me is the best thing that could have ever happened to me. It put me on the right path; maybe being here can do the same thing for you."

Daiyu took this as a signal to make her move. She had refused to go with him unless she was allowed to rough the bastard up a little. Though he had refused to wait and let her change, considering they would be returning to the party when they were done. Motioning with a hand, she glared heavily green eyes venomous in the dark and seeming to glow. The shadows responded instantly, shooting forward and stringing the failure of a father by his hands and neck wrapping around the bars of the cell's ceiling. The bearded man choked and thrashed violently, however found himself winded after a few moments of flailing. The shadows released the bars, letting the limp man fall to the ground and fusing with shadows on the ground pinning Ozai by the same body parts like a dog shoved into their own piss.

Coughing, Ozai snarled, "Why are you really here?"

Zuko moved forward, nearly pressing his face to the bars as he stared his blood parent down. His amber eyes glowed with a malice that in any other situation would have made Ozai proud. "Because you're going to tell me something…..Where...Is...My mother?"

()

Daiyu sighed as she listened to the peaceful song-ji horn played by a more than happy Iroh. She had changed clothing again, this time green. It fit their setting, after all. They had decided that a small group vacation was required in order for them to wind down and relax. She found herself sunbathing for the first time in nearly a year, enjoying the warm sun that hit her through the top of a nearby tree. Not far from her Jet sharpened his newest set of hook swords, a pair he had bought made by the best of smiths in the Earth Kingdom. Off elsewhere Suki and Katara chatted and Aang and Toph were keeping themselves busy. Zuko of all people served warm tea, Iroh pausing to smile his thanks when his cup was set down.

"Zuko stop moving around so much! You're ruining the moment!"

"What moment?" Suki was almost afraid to ask.

"I wanted to paint a picture," Sokka smiled softly, adding gentle touches with each slow and careful brush stroke. He remained focused even as his sister carefully made her way to look over his shoulder.

It didn't look anywhere near as good as she was hoping.

"Why do I have Momo's ears?" She pointed, rather hurt.

But Sokka was far more wounded than she, "Those are your hair loopies!"

"My hair isn't that spikey." Zuko added.

Jet agreed, "I look like I have a tree in my mouth."

"That's the wheat you're always chewing!"

"Why am I firebending?" Suki rose a brow.

Sokka defended himself, "I thought it added to the picture."

Iroh however disagreed, "Hey, my belly's not that big anymore; I've really trimmed down!"

And yet, "Well I think you all look great!" Toph grinned throwing her hands into the air.

As the group continued to argue, Zuko thought that this would be the best moment to give Daiyu a gift he had been thinking about saving for a more personal time. Yet he knew that after the next few weeks of relaxation, they planned to try and get the Fire Nation back in order, as well as set off in an attempt to find his mother. And then there was the wedding. Though they had agreed that they would wait a few years, he wanted to start planning as soon as possible. They would be far too busy to truly settle down and merely cuddle the day away as he so enjoyed. He found himself disappearing into another room, smiling at the gift as it sat as though waiting for him.

She hadn't taken part in the arguing. She knew from Sokka's Suki sand sculpture that he had literally no artistic talent. So she wasn't surprised when people started to insist that he either do it over or go find a real artist to capture the moment for real. She had kept her eyes closed, pleased with the silly banter and the cool breeze that told of autumn on the far off horizon. She had not expected for something to plop onto her stomach like a sack of cabbages.

When she opened her eyes to look, she found her face covered by a pink tongue and a wriggling body dancing all over her prone form. Laughter instantly brought the argument to a halt as they realized something far more interesting was going on. Suki gasped as Katara cooed, watching as the young woman and the little animal rolled around on the floor. Zuko stood to the side, a soft expression on his face. He had placed a little black wolf pup upon the young woman's prone stomach. It looked to only be a few months old, and more than willing to show that it was friendly towards anything that breathed.

When Daiyu managed to catch her breath and finally look the little thing over, she gaped. Happy red eyes stared her down as it dangled in her hold, her hands under its armpits. Large paws and ears that seemed capable of giving flight, she noted that it was actually surprisingly large for something that seemed so young. And, strangely enough, it seemed to be a mesh of two animals. While the front portion was definitely a wolf's, the rear seemed to be that of a lion's. Long thick black fur shortened to a smooth coat gradually the transition fully completed at the shoulders. And though normally wolves had shorter tails and lions longer, the tail was long and covered with long fur from base to tip.

She gazed up at Zuko, questioning. "I thought you might want a new partner to ride while we're traveling. The Fire Nation keeps wolf-lions as a protected species but this one doesn't have a mother I found out from a wildlife preserve. He can't be given a surrogate of his own kind because the females will eat babies that aren't their own. And the employees were short handed. I had a request to help hire more people to work with them when I heard about this. They agreed to give him to me so I could give him to you as a gift."

Daiyu slowly stood to her feet, putting the little wolf-lion cub onto its four paws. It protested even as she made her way forward, wrapping her fiance into a powerful hug that nearly choked the air from his lungs. "You didn't have to do this."

"I wanted to…...It's kind of my way of thanking you for everything you've done for me," he smiled, relaxing into the embrace that became softer, warmer rather than just intense. "I know all this time you've been missing Enlai, and having someone to fight at your side. And I realize that I can't always be there to watch your back. So I thought something like this would help both of us. Wolf-lions get rather large- about the same as an eel-hound, and they grow fast too. So we could ride him in our travels when he's big enough."

"You are literally the best….Ever," she smiled, pulling him in for a grateful kiss. Not simply for the new companion who ran around chasing poor Momo as though he were a toy. But rather for everything else. She tried to tell him through actions alone, through the tenderness of her kiss and the movement of her lips, just how happy she was. To have him. To be alive. To have followed her heart even when she thought she shouldn't. To finally have peace in her life. If only her family could see her now. She wished she could show them that despite all the suffering she'd been through, she still managed to find someone that made her happy, and a group of friends that supported her through thick and thin.

He pressed their foreheads together, not at all ashamed that they had kissed in front of an awed group. "Only for you," he vowed.

"I love you,"

"I love you too." They shared another embrace.

Once they parted again, Toph took the chance to speak up. She petted the little animal enjoying the sensation of fur between her fingers. "What are you going to name him?"

Tilting her head, Daiyu smiled as her thinking hum attracted the little one to her side. Picking him up, she brushed noses with him. His yipping growl was something far too adorable. "Zian."

Because finally, peace had come.