Chapter 220: Lashing Out (4)

Chapter 220: Lashing Out (4)Chapter 220: Lashing Out (4)

"Mom!" Before Zuko could reach out, Ozai's hand held his shoulder with a physical strength grand enough to startle the young prince as it was clear that the Phoenix King did not win wars just by the virtue of an army.

"Listen to what she has to say, Zuko. You can release her after that if you must." Ozai's words remained sincere but lacked the warmth with which he showered Zuko before. Instead, Zuko was stunned to see Ursa opening her eyes before glaring at not only Ozai but him, too. Her lips tugged down alongside her frown into a deep, hateful scowl and she muttered, "It's you two, huh... Zuko, did you enjoy meeting with your father? Are you happy now? You always did ask about him, right?"

Zuko's eyes widened in shock as he remarked, "Mom, what are you talking about?"

Chuckling with a certain lack of affection in her voice, Ursa snapped, "I knew you would betray me," she glared at Zuko with a tone that dripped in venom, "You hateful little wretch, it's because of you why I am forced back into this hell, isn't that right?"

Zuko's eyes grew misty and he shook his head in a dazed manner as horror reflected over his face. Updated from novelbIn.(c)om

"Now what do you want from me? I gave more than 20 years! 20! And yet... hehe... hahaha!" Her giggling turned into a bout of crazed laughter as she shouted, "Curses upon the Imperial Lineage! Ozai, you stole my youth! Zuko, you stole what remained! Kill me! Just end it all!"

"Enough!" Ozai raised his voice and growled sternly, "We have hurt each other enough but Zuko and Azula are innocent! Tell Zuko... Tell him the truth, all of it! Then I'll consider fulfilling your wish."

"What?" Zuko's eyes snapped wide open but Ursa's hiss cut him off.

"If that will gain my release, sure! Zuko! The truth is, you're Ozai's son!"

Ozai's lips parted in shock, "What?!"

With a sick smile, Ursa smirked, "Oh, I hated you! But you knew whose son Zuko really was. You had the proof our first night! Yet you killed Ikem! I hated you and your family. I hated what came from me through your efforts. Raising these two was the worst thing but I did all of it just to end them in front of you! I remained alone my entire life! Barren! Without a man to love! You think I cared?!"

"Z-Zuko, you're really my son!" Ozai patted Zuko and smiled when the prince's hand suddenly turned around and clenched Ozai's pointed goatee in his hand and let his fist burn, "That is not my mother and you are certainly not my father, Phoenix King!"

Kei Lo's and Ozai's eyes widened in shock but the next second Zuko's grip loosened and he fell.

Meanwhile, 'Ursa', who was strung up finally spoke, "Lord, what do you think happened?"

Kei Lo and Ozai looked at a woman certainly beautiful but she wasn't Ursa.

"Something in your words must have given it away," Ozai narrowed his eyes and settled his beard while losing all the warmth and affection he had displayed not too long ago.

"Flesh of an offspring... Azula is an asset much too valuable. Take Zuko back to his room and prepare to have him turn even more compliant this time. A few more drills like these and he will fall right where I want him to." Narrowing his eyes, Ozai's hand blurred and a backhanded slap struck Kei Lo, "And you, your information was incomplete. Obviously, Zuko realized something within those words that she is not Ursa despite the script given to her."

"Please forgive me, Phoenix... God," Kei Lo turned on his knees, "I'll accept any punishment!"

"Get Zuko back to his room."

Ozai scoffed and walked past Kei Lo.

Mentally apologizing—

"Sorry!"

— and Verbally, too, Aang rushed past them when he was eventually stopped by a... tiny red squirrel who stood in the middle of the hallway while looking at Aang curiously with its deep green eyes.

Feeling something strange, Aang took a deep breath and relaxed his stance, "Greetings, Spirit."

Aang bowed deeply while the squirrel blinked in surprise and chattered, "Spirits! Spirits! You left not only the humans unguided but spirits, too!"

It jumped up to the nearest vase and crashed it on the floor, "Humans lost."

It then jumped onto the chandelier above holding many candles and let it fall as the flames caught the nearby curtains promptly, "Spirits lost, too. Humans you can fix. But spirits you must suppress else they consume everything!"

Shocked by the strange spirit's words, Aang questioned hurriedly, "What do you mean?"

"The Phoenix King is not your destiny anymore, Avatar," the squirrel chittered in its sharp voice and warned, "He who wishes immortality has gained the curse of a vile one. A being sealed after darkness. It arrived when you left. It devoured when you slept for ages. It consumes death as the beguiled one consumes flesh... Disappointed you have, not only the humans but spirits, too."

Before Aang could ask for clarification, the squirrel turned its head, "Here he comes. Be warned, Avatar. Its weapon is desire, and your weakness— guilt. You should not have come here now... but fate is rippled around you and a sense of hope... freedom, granted. May you not let your mistakes carry on to the next soul."

The squirrel jumped into the flames and disappeared into a red puff of powder.

"Ah... the Avatar. Finally, we meet."

And as the flames spread in the hall, a cool and collected voice tore through the crisp crackling noise of the inferno, attracting Aang's gaze out of his daze and focus on a lavish figure decorated with red, gold, and a strange black 'mist' that seemingly oozed out of him. But when Aang blinked, the mist was long gone.

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Alternate Title: When Aang Fucked Up On a Spiritual Level.

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