MfWAT: Madness We Welcome
Memories from Western Air Temple
Chapter Title: Madness We Welcome
Characters: Zuko & Azula
Arc: Legacy Arc
Setting: after Hurt, before White Fire
Rating: T
Warnings: insanity, violence, battle
Summary: “We are exactly the same, brother! Inside and out!”
“You’re an idiot to do what Ozai tells you to, Azula!” Zuko drew his sister’s attention to himself so that Toph could get away without having lighting blasted at her back. “You can’t honestly think that he’ll be satisfied or pleased with you even if you kill me!”
“I’m not doing this for father, Zuko.” Azula grinned widely, her sloppily painted lips stretching across her face like a bloody wound. “This is just about you and me.” The girl cackled. “And I will not stop for anything until you’re finally gone.”
Zuko drew a deep breath. “Okay then.” And with those two words he stopped his struggle to stay with a clear mind. He allowed the flame inside him to spread, feeling it all over. He was pure power now; he was pure fire.
The fire seemed to almost burst out of him when he punched the air to unleash an attack. A blast of fire, one unlike anything else he had ever released, barrelled forward and Azula dodged it with a sideways leap, sending a wave of blue fire at him with a spinning kick. Zuko lifted his arms and a wall of fire rose, Azula’s flames mingling with his and becoming his to control. And he did control them, pushing his hands forward to send the flames towards his opponent like a rushing wave.
Zuko rushed forward under the cover of the yellow flames, aiming right to the middle, where he spotted Azula’s hands a few moments later, the girl directing the flames to her sides, even though they clearly singed her sleeves judging from the small wasps of smoke.
Thrusting a flaming fist forward, Zuko aimed right for the other’s face, making a solid impact with the girl’s face even as he himself suffered a swipe of the other’s hand, nails tearing fabric and flames burning skin. But Zuko’s attack held more force and knocked his opponent back.
Zuko seized the opportunity to perform another attack and lit his hands into high-degree flames that looked like blades. He made a swipe at the other, who rolled backwards out of the way, continuing the momentum to create a spinning volley of fire that she sent at Zuko.
Zuko didn’t feel the flames as anything more than warmth against his body, the desire to simply keep fighting numbing him to pain, and the boy rushed at the girl, who rose off the ground with a blue flare and slid away at high speed.
Fire burned around the two, remaining from their attacks and refusing to die out in the presence of the powerful benders. And they would burn brighter as Zuko dodged the two balls of fire Azula threw at him in fast succession, first leaping to the side and then ducking down. The boy supported himself on his arms and kicked out with his legs, sending himself into a flaming spin that created a rush of fire that was directed all around him.
Azula avoided the attack by leaping over it, again performing a spinning kick to send her new attack at Zuko. Taking advantage of having the girl in one place, Zuko leaped up and rushed straight at the attack, punching the flames away with his flaring arm. He continued to run forward, using his other hand to release an open-palmed attack that sent out a wider blast of fire than a first would.
It was the right choice. Azula could not dodge this attack from so close, and the flames caught her arm as she tried to avoid the blast. But the girl did not seem to feel the pain, much like Zuko, and unleashed her own close-range fire blast.
Zuko lifted his hands in a circling gesture, gathering his flames into a shield around him that took the brunt of Azula’s attack. Then Zuko proceeded to push forward, allowing his entire body to be engulfed in flame, proceeding to perform a full body tackle at his sister, his flames transferring to the girl, actually harming the one who hadn’t created them.
Zuko summoned more fire for himself and saw Azula mimic the action. He gathered the flames between his palms and thrust out in a move that mirrored his opponent’s. The concentration of heat was intense, intense enough to cause an explosion that sent both siblings flying through the air and to the rocky ground.
Quickly struggling to his feet, Zuko panted from exertion as he watched the other firebender carefully, trying to guess her next attack. Perspiration had gathered on Azula’s face, smearing her makeup, but even the splotches weren’t as horrid to look at as the feral snarl on the girl’s face, an expression Zuko was certain he mirrored and didn’t care if he did.
Azula made no move to attack. Instead, the girl grinned lazily before laughing slowly. “Look at us, Zuko.” The girl giggled. “We’re exactly the same, brother! Inside and out!”
He should be attacking, Zuko’s mind supplied to him. The fire inside him wanted to come out and burn everything to the ground, but Zuko hesitated. There was a difference, one he was only now recalling. There was something inside him stronger than the instinct to destroy: the desire to protect.
“If there’s anything between us that matches, it’s our skills!” Zuko kept himself focused, directing his attention from the ache he was experiencing in his entire body now that the haze of adrenaline and instinct was fading. “We could keep going for a long time!”
“You’re wrong!” Azula shot out a blast of fire, one larger than any before, and Zuko brought his fists down to create a powerful wave of flames to engulf the attack. “You’re a pathetic weakling, Zuko!”
Steadying his body, Zuko laughed. “What edge could you possibly have on me now? Lightning? I haven’t seen it yet and I thought that was your best skill!”
“You’d like it if I tried to shock you, wouldn’t you?” Azula’s face twisted into a grimace. “I bet you’d love to use my own attack against me like that!”
“It doesn’t really matter.” Zuko rolled his shoulder, testing out the muscles. He met Azula’s gaze steadily. “I can make my own lightning now.” Not breaking eye contact, Zuko started the kata, and watched Azula’s eyes widen in recognition.
He didn’t use the technique to gain an advantage; there was actually a possibility that using it would weaken his position, since Azula was a master of the move and therefore aware of all of its weaknesses. But he couldn’t leave the technique unused, not in this battle. He had to show Azula that he could do it, that he’d overcome the difference between their skills.
There was plenty of time for Azula to avoid the attack. Zuko knew this when he connected his fingers, raw power crackling around his hands. He thrust his hands forward and lightning struck to where Azula was standing a long distance away. For the next moments neither of them moved, and Zuko became aware of something.
Azula had no intention of dodging.
The snapping blue stream hit Azula, ran right through her, and scattered into several directions. A moment after that, or even during it, the girl collapsed.
Zuko ran as fast as he could with his burned and sore legs, falling down before reaching the girl and crawling the rest of the way. His mind was blurring again, as something strong within him made itself known. His fire burst out of him, making him its own, turning a brilliant white.
More Memories from Western Air Temple
Chapter Title: Madness We Welcome
Characters: Zuko & Azula
Arc: Legacy Arc
Setting: after Hurt, before White Fire
Rating: T
Warnings: insanity, violence, battle
Summary: “We are exactly the same, brother! Inside and out!”
“You’re an idiot to do what Ozai tells you to, Azula!” Zuko drew his sister’s attention to himself so that Toph could get away without having lighting blasted at her back. “You can’t honestly think that he’ll be satisfied or pleased with you even if you kill me!”
“I’m not doing this for father, Zuko.” Azula grinned widely, her sloppily painted lips stretching across her face like a bloody wound. “This is just about you and me.” The girl cackled. “And I will not stop for anything until you’re finally gone.”
Zuko drew a deep breath. “Okay then.” And with those two words he stopped his struggle to stay with a clear mind. He allowed the flame inside him to spread, feeling it all over. He was pure power now; he was pure fire.
The fire seemed to almost burst out of him when he punched the air to unleash an attack. A blast of fire, one unlike anything else he had ever released, barrelled forward and Azula dodged it with a sideways leap, sending a wave of blue fire at him with a spinning kick. Zuko lifted his arms and a wall of fire rose, Azula’s flames mingling with his and becoming his to control. And he did control them, pushing his hands forward to send the flames towards his opponent like a rushing wave.
Zuko rushed forward under the cover of the yellow flames, aiming right to the middle, where he spotted Azula’s hands a few moments later, the girl directing the flames to her sides, even though they clearly singed her sleeves judging from the small wasps of smoke.
Thrusting a flaming fist forward, Zuko aimed right for the other’s face, making a solid impact with the girl’s face even as he himself suffered a swipe of the other’s hand, nails tearing fabric and flames burning skin. But Zuko’s attack held more force and knocked his opponent back.
Zuko seized the opportunity to perform another attack and lit his hands into high-degree flames that looked like blades. He made a swipe at the other, who rolled backwards out of the way, continuing the momentum to create a spinning volley of fire that she sent at Zuko.
Zuko didn’t feel the flames as anything more than warmth against his body, the desire to simply keep fighting numbing him to pain, and the boy rushed at the girl, who rose off the ground with a blue flare and slid away at high speed.
Fire burned around the two, remaining from their attacks and refusing to die out in the presence of the powerful benders. And they would burn brighter as Zuko dodged the two balls of fire Azula threw at him in fast succession, first leaping to the side and then ducking down. The boy supported himself on his arms and kicked out with his legs, sending himself into a flaming spin that created a rush of fire that was directed all around him.
Azula avoided the attack by leaping over it, again performing a spinning kick to send her new attack at Zuko. Taking advantage of having the girl in one place, Zuko leaped up and rushed straight at the attack, punching the flames away with his flaring arm. He continued to run forward, using his other hand to release an open-palmed attack that sent out a wider blast of fire than a first would.
It was the right choice. Azula could not dodge this attack from so close, and the flames caught her arm as she tried to avoid the blast. But the girl did not seem to feel the pain, much like Zuko, and unleashed her own close-range fire blast.
Zuko lifted his hands in a circling gesture, gathering his flames into a shield around him that took the brunt of Azula’s attack. Then Zuko proceeded to push forward, allowing his entire body to be engulfed in flame, proceeding to perform a full body tackle at his sister, his flames transferring to the girl, actually harming the one who hadn’t created them.
Zuko summoned more fire for himself and saw Azula mimic the action. He gathered the flames between his palms and thrust out in a move that mirrored his opponent’s. The concentration of heat was intense, intense enough to cause an explosion that sent both siblings flying through the air and to the rocky ground.
Quickly struggling to his feet, Zuko panted from exertion as he watched the other firebender carefully, trying to guess her next attack. Perspiration had gathered on Azula’s face, smearing her makeup, but even the splotches weren’t as horrid to look at as the feral snarl on the girl’s face, an expression Zuko was certain he mirrored and didn’t care if he did.
Azula made no move to attack. Instead, the girl grinned lazily before laughing slowly. “Look at us, Zuko.” The girl giggled. “We’re exactly the same, brother! Inside and out!”
He should be attacking, Zuko’s mind supplied to him. The fire inside him wanted to come out and burn everything to the ground, but Zuko hesitated. There was a difference, one he was only now recalling. There was something inside him stronger than the instinct to destroy: the desire to protect.
“If there’s anything between us that matches, it’s our skills!” Zuko kept himself focused, directing his attention from the ache he was experiencing in his entire body now that the haze of adrenaline and instinct was fading. “We could keep going for a long time!”
“You’re wrong!” Azula shot out a blast of fire, one larger than any before, and Zuko brought his fists down to create a powerful wave of flames to engulf the attack. “You’re a pathetic weakling, Zuko!”
Steadying his body, Zuko laughed. “What edge could you possibly have on me now? Lightning? I haven’t seen it yet and I thought that was your best skill!”
“You’d like it if I tried to shock you, wouldn’t you?” Azula’s face twisted into a grimace. “I bet you’d love to use my own attack against me like that!”
“It doesn’t really matter.” Zuko rolled his shoulder, testing out the muscles. He met Azula’s gaze steadily. “I can make my own lightning now.” Not breaking eye contact, Zuko started the kata, and watched Azula’s eyes widen in recognition.
He didn’t use the technique to gain an advantage; there was actually a possibility that using it would weaken his position, since Azula was a master of the move and therefore aware of all of its weaknesses. But he couldn’t leave the technique unused, not in this battle. He had to show Azula that he could do it, that he’d overcome the difference between their skills.
There was plenty of time for Azula to avoid the attack. Zuko knew this when he connected his fingers, raw power crackling around his hands. He thrust his hands forward and lightning struck to where Azula was standing a long distance away. For the next moments neither of them moved, and Zuko became aware of something.
Azula had no intention of dodging.
The snapping blue stream hit Azula, ran right through her, and scattered into several directions. A moment after that, or even during it, the girl collapsed.
Zuko ran as fast as he could with his burned and sore legs, falling down before reaching the girl and crawling the rest of the way. His mind was blurring again, as something strong within him made itself known. His fire burst out of him, making him its own, turning a brilliant white.
More Memories from Western Air Temple