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This Kataang one-shot takes place in The Southern Raiders. |
Chapter Forty-Four: Two Roads[]
There is always a choice.
There is always, always a choice.
Everyone has a choice.
She has a choice.
The monster lies blubbering in front of her, his eyes rolling in his head as the shards of ice fill the sky, and suddenly she remembers what he said:
Katara, you do have a choice.
Forgiveness.
The icicles melt suddenly, and the water drenches the monster's head. The man appears pitiful this way, so very pitiful, as the monster kneels.
"I did a bad thing. I know I did, and you deserve revenge. So why don't you take my mother? That would be fair . . ."
The words sicken her.
They shake her to the core.
They make her want to vomit.
"I always wonder what kind of person could do such a thing, but now that I see you, I think I understand." She takes a step forward, her eyes narrowed but no longer dangerous. Only sad. "There's just nothing inside you. Nothing at all. You're pathetic and sad and empty."
The monster whimpers. "Please . . . spare me . . ."
Her gaze hardens. "But as much as I hate you . . ." She turns away. "I just can't do it."
There is always a choice.
There are always two roads.
She has chosen her path.
She has chosen mercy.
There is always a choice.
There is always, always a choice.
Everyone has a choice.
He has a choice.
"Fire Lord Ozai, you and your forefathers have devastated the balance of this world," it, the Avatar Spirit, roars, the voice not his own, the power not under his control, "and now you shall pay the ultimate price."
It raises his hand to strike, and it moves his fingers.
The elements conspire into a single whip, into a single attack, into a single spirit of destruction.
It slashes his arm through the sky.
This spirit of destruction attacks.
And then . . .
"No."
He has a choice.
"I'm not going to end it like this."
The spirit of destruction dissipates.
He shakes.
He stops.
The Avatar Spirit can no longer control his body.
He can control it.
The Fire Lord's presence, once filled with fear, has turned into disbelief. "Even with all the power in the world, you are still weak." Ozai pushes forward.
He can feel the Fire Lord's movements.
And he blocks the attack, kicking into the air and willing the earth to follow.
The rock solidifies around the Fire Lord's hand, not enough to hurt, just enough to keep Ozai still.
He moves in a circle, circle-walking, like the monks taught him, Earthbending, like Toph taught him. The Fire Lord's other hand, too, is trapped within stone, and as he completes the revolution, he lowers the walls, until he is face to face with Fire Lord Ozai.
There is always a choice.
There are always two roads.
He, too, has chosen his path.
He, too, has chosen mercy.
Notes[]
D= This chapter is so sad!
Actually, it takes during both 316 and 321. Why? Look at how similar the scenes are. Both of the characters faced his/her worst enemy, and both chose mercy.
Two roads. Hi, Robert Frost!
"Katara, you do have a choice.
"Forgiveness."-> And this, ladies and gentleman, is why 316 is and will always be Kataang. Confirmed by Bryke, apparently.
""Fire Lord Ozai, you and your forefathers have devastated the balance of this world," it, the Avatar Spirit, roars, the voice not his own, the power not under his control, "and now you shall pay the ultimate price."" -> Note the stark difference between this and my earlier descriptions of the Avatar State. This time, Aang is fully conscious, but he can't control himself.
"He moves in a circle, circle-walking, like the monks taught him, Earthbending, like Toph taught him. The Fire Lord's other hand, too, is trapped within stone, and as he completes the revolution, he lowers the walls, until he is face to face with Fire Lord Ozai." -> Do you know how difficult it is to write an action scene like this? To write it?!
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