This chapter is dedicated to the lovely Miss Kid Katz for her lovely review. So now, you want to know about Ozai? Believe me, this chapter was far too much fun to write, it's good to see justice be done.

Endless Night

Ozai had lost everything. Four weeks ago, he had been a prince of the realm with a wife and two children. He had a future and he had a face argued to be extremely handsome.

Now he was an exile, with a bandaged face and a fool’s mission. His wife and children were left behind and now he had a wild fool’s chase. The Avatar would never be found, Grandfather Sozin had killed him with the other Airbenders and even if he had survived, he would have done something already instead of waiting a near century. He had assumed that if the Water tribe or Earth Kingdom had produced one, he or she would have risen in rebellion to the Throne of Fire or at least discovered. Ozai had studied many texts of the previous Avatar, Roku, his wife’s grandfather. He knew that the Avatar State would be triggered at some point and that was something that would have to be noticed. Nothing had happened.

Therefore, the Avatar was likely a member of the Fire Nation or dead. Either way, he was barred from entering the Nation or the Spirit world, so he was at a loss at how he would regain his power and rightful title. The small tugboat he had been given was unworthy of his title. Only a dog of a commoner would be satisfied with this pathetic little junk heap of a vessel.

“A word, your highness,” Captain Zhao said. His most loyal soldier, Zhao had been selected to attend his highness personally and had been an excellent aide. Ozai had vowed to reward his favorite ruthless aide with full measure when he was Fire Lord. “I have been thinking of a way to display the skills that show you the true heir to the throne.”

“Speak,” Ozai said softly, knowing that this would be useful. He had nothing better to do, but sail around this miserable ocean, a few miles from the only home he had ever known.

“We all know that it’s unlikely the Avatar lives,” Zhao began, earning him a growl from Ozai, who didn’t need his worst fears confirmed. “But what if you served the Fire Lord in a new way, one that would gain you back his esteem?” he asked.

“Keep talking,” Ozai said softly. This idea had a great deal of merit. He always liked finding new ways to solve his problems. He had eliminated Lu Ten, his worthless nephew, hadn’t he?

“Your brother nearly conquered Ba Sing Se. The walls are still broken down, and you can still have the chance to finish what he started. Corporal Lien is still in the area and she has a large force of troops. With you at their lead, you can go in there and take the Earth throne. Present the crown to the Fire Lord and surely, he will recall you back. You will have brought him more than a ghost, you would have brought him victory,” Zhao advised.

Ozai smiled and nodded. Trust that slippery man to come up with a perfect strategy to regain him in royal favor. “Set a course to the Northern Legions. Corporal Lien will be having a visitor.”

Ozai relished his new role. He was one of the only men still high ranking enough to command the legions needed to burn down the city. And he was not afraid to use proper methods, unlike his soft-hearted brother. He was taking steady losses but Iroh had already broken through so many walls, Ozai had to only deliver the final blow.

“How goes the plans?” Ozai asked one fateful morning, relishing in the smell of burning victory victory.

“The walls have burned down and the city will soon be occupied. We’ve been steadily moving in troops and should have the place secured within days. We still have issues with the Dai Lee, but there’s only a hundred or so of them. We’re bringing the Yuu Yaan warriors to pick them off, one by one. I trust they won’t be a problem,” Lien answered, as she tied back her hair back under her helmet.

“You have assisted in my campaign most helpfully,” Ozai complimented. “For someone so young, you have achieved much.” She would have been a pretty concubine, if she didn’t look so severe and grumpy all the time.

“All in the service of the Fire Lord,” Lien said gruffly, starring at the map. She was a low born colony girl, with no manners. Still, no one could beat her tactical skills and that was all that matters.

“ I must say, it looks like we shall be back in the Fire Nation before the summer Solstice,” Ozai said softly. He could not wait to see Ursa again, now that he would have returned in triumph.

“We?” Lien softly. “I do recall that despite your authority as a general, you’re still quite banished.” She flung a cloak over her armor, further hiding her feminine nature.

“But I helped take over Ba Sing Se. I’m a war hero,” Ozai roared, wondering if the world had gone insane. “I led the troops.”

“And how well that served our cause. You made sure to show your hatred of the Earth kingdom. You do realize that now you can’t lead a rebellion, turning yourself over the them as an ally,” Lien said softly. “They hate you as much as your own Father does. You are marked by your own family as a disgrace.”

“You used me?” Ozai demanded. This chit dared to defy the son of Agni incarnate himself and think she would live.

Lien nodded, as she looked up from the map. “The plan was brilliant. It rallied the troops enough to win the victory, and this made sure you sealed your fate as an evil oppressor in their eyes, while serving the interests of my lord Azulon. He needed to make sure you didn’t raise the flag of rebellion,” she said coldly. “Your servant Zhao wasn’t too loyal, was he?” Speaking of the devil, he moved out of the shadows, grinning.

Ozai breathed in the scent of fear. “You dare betray me to this bint of an upstart commander, Captain?” he demanded, finding himself completely outmatched again. He had not counted that the ambitious snake would have bit the hand that had fed him and promised him so much.

“I betrayed a traitor and served the Fire Lord and assisted in his aims. I think I have done well. And my title is Commander now, I have earned it. I will be serving as Prince Zuko’s personal aide de champs. As an adviser to the future heir to the throne, I will be in the perfect place to make sure I reach admiral within a year. I’m shocked you didn’t see through me. What use would I have, serving a banished Prince?” he demanded, taking the hand of the Corporal. “I’d much rather help my betrothed Lien.”

“I challenge you to an Agni Kai!” Ozai roared. He couldn’t dare strike a Commander without being executed on the spot, but he could have his revenge.

Zhao looked cocky enough to accept, but Lien shook her head. “It doesn’t behoove a commander and my future husband to duel with a commoner in exile. Send him on his way and he should consider himself lucky he doesn’t receive a flogging for his insolence,” she aid haughtily. “We can tell Fire Lord Azulon his will was done.”

“Good luck finding the Avatar,” Zhao said, kissing his shrew’s cheek. “You will need it.”

---

Ozai had left in disgrace, once more. It had been eight years since that horrible day, when he had lost everything. Father was still old but strong, with Iroh at his side. Zuko would be sixteen now, and Azula fourteen. Had Ursa remarried? Had he just been forgotten?

One thing was true. He had not forgotten them. And when he would find the Avatar, he would be back.

AN-It felt so good to see Ozai get his butt kicked by a girl, after what he did to Ursa in canon. Do you want to see the Water sibs or the Fire sibs next?