Chapter 209: The Revelation (2)
Aang quickly understood that Nik wasn't revealing everything. For instance, while he described their adventure, he left out the locations of the prison they broke through as well as brushed past Michi's story and her former husband's act of child brainwashing. Although children in Omashu were getting better now, it would take them years to form the same bond with their families for as Zhao claimed, children were easy to control than adults.
Nik also stowed away Koh's attack on them, him contacting Mokshi and becoming its host while a few meek spiritual encounters were lightly described. The most notable of all, that Nik was rather focused on, was clearing his name.
Plunderer?!
The. Heck!
If anything, he should be given the name he proudly claims— The Nut Cracking Messiah. But... he could see the charm in the moniker— Nik the Plunderer, too... However, this nickname would most definitely gain him judgmental stares from the ladies that don't know him. For instance, Ty Lee had quite several questions if he actually 'persuaded' Michi, Mai, Poppy, and Toph to join him since their situation was openly used to ruin Nik's reputation. After all, Ty Lee did not brush past the possibility that Nik may still be... 'forcing' them.
It was a good thing Mai scoffed at that and Poppy was there for assurance but their words failed miserably as Azula smirked widely, knowingly sending Ursa a teasing glance before declaring, "Oh, please, mothers and daughters love him. He may not be the Avatar... but he certainly knows how to mend relationships."
And after a short summary of how they rid Poor Man's Land of Dai Li agents and captured them in one of the strongholds, Nik concluded it with Mai's and Azula's desire to meet with Ty Lee which made the braided girl snap her gaze in the duo's direction with a wide... cute but predatory grin as if she couldn't wait to pounce on them. Maybe hug the life out of them?
Either way, once they were done, it was Zuko who spoke out, "Are you... really planning to fight my father, Avatar?"
This question made Aang look at the royal family with a complicated look that was shared by Ursa. Aang could see that... they were nice. To a certain extent if one ignored Azula's catty and rude remarks at times or Zuko's angered hisses. But... Aang lowered his head and grew thoughtful. He didn't know how to explain his emotions properly but he did feel he had sorted things out to a certain extent.
"The one who started this war was... the Fire Lord Sozin." Aang exhaled a heavy sigh and gripped his staff tighter, "I have... had dreams. I saw it. The Fire Lord could not hope to destroy the Air Nomads at once. Attacking a single Air Temple would have meant that the rest of them would retreat somewhere safe. Spread out and live their life without ever using air bending but... Fire Lord Sozin invited every Air Nomad to a grand festival as a tribute to the one before me, Avatar Roku."
With anguish clear in his eyes, Aang whispered, "Fire Lord Sozin circled my people and killed them all at once. And from then on, the Fire Nation raided the air temples and hunted every single Air Bender..."
Ursa's eyes were wide with horror. Nik and Suki had sadness clear on their faces while Mai sighed deeply. It was Azula, Zuko, and Ty Lee who looked the most stunned by these revelations.
"Then... Fire Lord Azulon continued this heritage of slaughter and massacre. Perverted his intentions into honor and pride while waging war against Water and Earth Benders. And finally... this tradition came to an end with Phoenix King Ozai and Fire Lord Iroh taking down Ba Sing Se and naming it the Phoenix City. But... when it should have ended... when this madness should have been gone for good... the Phoenix King does not want to rest."
Looking up, a single tear escaping his eye, Aang looked at the Royal Family deeply, "Your father may not bear the sins of his predecessor's actions but... Phoenix King Ozai is employing Dai Li agents to control the minds of the future of the world. For what, that I don't understand but... I must fight him... and end this reign of madness for good."
Nik couldn't help but feel proud at this moment. Aang had grown so much, after all.
Still, there was something Nik had to add.
"Ah... others already know this by now to a certain extent so you should, too. The real reason this Phoenix King is going and trying to suck the control out of every child's mind is to become a god or something," Nik's words made Ursa gape a little as he continued, "So, anyone who reveres him as a god is good... one of the main reason why we still haven't gotten a good way of entering the Phoenix City is that we just don't know to what extent Ozai controls it. And... well, I am pretty sure, in time, Ozai wants whoever that doesn't see him as a god to... well, vanish. Much like my trick, but more permanent."
"You cannot be serious!" Ursa was shaken as she gasped while Zuko clenched his fist tightly.
"Wait... so... that's what he was trying in Omashu?" Aang questioned while Nik shrugged.
"I don't know for real. Maybe Omashu was just a way to check the feasibility of his ideas which did not come to pass thanks to you mostly," Nik pointed out.
Ty Lee's head felt like it was buzzing. Her mood visibly deflated. But before she could question things, Zuko spoke up softly, "Isn't there any other way to stop this?"
His words made Azula frown and she sneered, "Oh, poor Zuzu, feeling a little worried for the man that hasn't been in our lives for years? Maybe if you knew the real reason why Mother was even forced to leave—"
"Not another word!" Ursa snapped, slamming her hand on the table before gripping it with a wince.
The room descended into silence as Nik cleared his throat while retrieving a glob of water from his personal space and manipulated it to cover Ursa's hand. "Here, it will ease the pain."
He muttered as the water began to glow softly and the bruise on her hand didn't even have the chance to appear before Nik healed it.
"Wait... you know why we left? Tell me!" Zuko glared at Azula pointedly as she crossed her arms with a smirk, "Please, I don't want to deal with Mother's chides later on."
"Why did we leave?" Zuko turned to look at Ursa who shook her head slightly, "It's better that you don't know... even Azula only overheard it. So..."
"Just why won't you tell me?" Zuko snapped, "You know very well that this has burdened me for years. Hell, I still can't believe we are talking about fighting with our father!"
"Were you expecting anything else, Blue Devil?" Azula narrowed her gaze.
"I— I fought a few soldiers! That's all! I did not want the people around me, whether earthbenders or not, to get treated like shit. All this? This rebellion. This position, I did not want that. Get this in your head once and for all!" Zuko glowered as flames flickered over his fists while Azula seemed unbothered by it.
"Then... why don't you step down?" Aang inquired mutedly.
"What?" Zuko furrowed his brows.
"If something ails you... take steps to feel better. You were clearly thrust into this position and believe me... I understand this. To some extent, Nik understands this, too... but unlike us, it's not like you don't have a choice. I can't be a normal bender. Nik cannot... escape a few things himself, he taught me that. But you can, right?"
Aang gazed at Zuko without blinking.
"But..." Zuko grew silent.
"You said it yourself. It was the act of saving others from getting hurt that got you into this... but... now it is hurting you. I don't suppose the idea of facing your own father can be very thrilling."
Aang whispered while Zuko lowered his head.
"Then what about the prisoners?" Zuko inquired.
"Aren't many of our men stationed already?" Azula shrugged, giving her brother a way out in a timely manner. For all intents and purposes... Azula wished to tease her brother and annoy him to hell till the end. It wouldn't do if he exhausts himself too quickly.
Zuko began walking towards the kitchen, "I... want to speak with Uncle, too."
"Oh, and Aang, if you want to learn Firebending, Iroh is your guy. He taught me, Zuko, and Azula..." Nik pointed out as his gaze widened and he practically bounced out of his seat with a burst of wind carrying him along towards Zuko, "Let me tag along. Clearly, my advice is working so you may be in need of my childish wisdom. After all, I am just a boy, right?"
Aang grinned while crossing his arms behind his head as Zuko flinched and then remarked with a somber expression, "Sorry about that. I... should not have been quick to judge you."
"Oh, Zuzu~ What about asking Ty Lee out? You did dress up for her, right?"
The silent Ty Lee digesting all of this flinched as Zuko scowled, "Shut up! T-there's no way— whatever, come along," he coiled his arm around Aang's neck and rushed into the kitchen.
Azula's smirk broadened but not for long as Ursa towered over her, "Young lady... you shouldn't have done that. Come with me... about time I give you the medicine required for having a limit to your words."
"You know... Poppy, why don't you just show Ursa one of our guest rooms? She can discipline Azula there and also get to familiarize where Azula has been lazing around during the day."
Azula's scowl deepened while Ursa blinked and looked towards Nik... and then she remarked thoughtfully, "Maybe it is about time I did see how you intend to provide for Azula."
"Here you go, see it for yourself." Nik smiled and extended his arm towards Ursa who grabbed it after hesitation and disappeared.
"Why the pout? You love getting punished, last I checked," Mai muttered as Azula snorted and left, too, alongside Poppy.
"So... why did you guys want to meet with me?" Ty Lee questioned and looked at Mai while Suki and Nik glanced at each other.
"Maybe we should give you privacy, too," Nik smiled and Mai's glare sharpened, "One of you stays here."
Mai held a tone that others could not refute as Suki groaned, "And I wanted to train..."
"Hey, I can help you with sparring... I mean... I'm not THAT skilled..." Ty Lee smirked while Mai rolled her eyes.
"Sure," Nik shrugged and stood up, "There is a field not far from here—"
"Wait... don't I get to experience your trick?" Ty Lee stood up with a hurried tone escaping her lips.
While she expected some form of hesitation, Nik shrugged, "That works, too. I just didn't think you'd be so eager to get a taste of Nik the Plunderer." While his phrasing left a lot to be adjusted, Ty Lee was far more interested in a skill that seemed to defy the sense of reality where wielders of elements existed.
After a few minutes they left, Aang, Zuko, Iroh, and Lu Kin returned to the front of the store... and were dumbfounded how quickly the rest were to 'disperse.'
***
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