Self-destruction? Avatar protocol? Full power over water and fire? The words swirled in the darkness, once known past was slowly breaking into multiple fragments , a past that was now hold little meaning to him. Alec tried to grasp them, to retain, but his mind was a jumble of static, his consciousness flickering like a dying flame.
He felt a surge of energy, raw and untamed, coursing through his being. It was cold, like the deepest ocean, yet burning, like the heart of a star. Two opposing forces, perfectly balanced, perfectly intertwined, awakening within him. It was overwhelming, exhilarating, terrifying.
Outside, the battlefield was a scene of utter chaos. Zuko watched in horror as Alec was engulfed by Zhao's firestorm, the poisoned needle already doing its deadly work. The word "Yes" echoed in his mind, a crushing weight that threatened to shatter his resolve.The words Zhao had used now seemed to ring true, yet his heart screamed otherwise.
"Alec!" Zuko roared, a primal scream of anguish and despair. He lunged forward, ignoring the firebenders who still sought to intercept him, ignoring Iroh's warning cries. He had to reach Alec, had to save him, had to understand his situation.
But before he could reach the inferno, something impossible happened. The firestorm, which had been raging with destructive force, suddenly began to change. It swirled, not with the chaotic energy of uncontrolled flames, but with a deliberate, almost graceful motion. The crimson and orange hues shifted, blending with an ethereal blue, a color that pulsed with an otherworldly light.
The ground beneath them trembled, not from the Mechanist's bombs,. The air grew heavy, charged with an unseen energy. The Fire Nation soldiers, even Zhao, paused, their faces etched with a mixture of fear and confusion. This was not normal firebending. The sea was roaring beyond the walls. A huge wave , enough to submerge half of the town , rose from behind straight toward them.
From the heart of the swirling inferno, a figure began to emerge. It was Alec, but not as they knew him. His body was wreathed in both fire and water, two elements traditionally opposed, now dancing in perfect harmony around him. His eyes, usually a striking azure and crimson, now glowed with an intense, pure white light, radiating an ancient power that seemed to pierce through the very fabric of reality.
The poisoned needle, still lodged in his neck, began to glow, then shimmer, and finally, disintegrated into dust, leaving no trace. The wound healed instantly, leaving behind smooth, unblemished skin.
Zhao, his face pale, stumbled back. "What... what is this?" he stammered, his voice devoid of its usual arrogance. "This is impossible!"
Iroh, his eyes wide with a mixture of awe and understanding, whispered, "The Avatar State... but how?"
Zuko, however, saw only Alec, his more than friend and his protector. The conflicting emotions warred within him, but one thing was clear: Alec was alive. And he was more powerful than anything Zuko had ever witnessed.
Alec, now fully emerged from the elemental maelstrom, stood tall, his presence commanding the attention of everyone on the battlefield. The fire and water swirled around him, a protective aura, yet also a weapon of immense power. He raised his hands, and with a silent command, the elements obeyed.
The Fire Nation soldiers, who had been charging, suddenly found themselves engulfed by a torrent of water, not from the sea, but seemingly conjured from the very air around them. It crashed over them, extinguishing their flames, sweeping them off their feet, and sending them tumbling down the mountain path. At the same time, pillars of fire erupted from the ground, not the destructive flames of the Fire Nation, but controlled, precise bursts that created barriers, forcing the remaining soldiers into retreat.
Zhao, recovering from his shock, launched a desperate, furious fire blast at Alec. But Alec merely extended a hand, and the fire, instead of striking him, twisted and turned, transforming into a whip of fire and water that lashed out, striking Zhao with incredible force. The admiral cried out, thrown backward, his armor scorched.
Alec did not pursue. He looked at the soldier who threw the poison needle . The soldier trembled with fear but still launched one more strike of poison but this time his hand couldn't move at all , all of the blood in the body started to freeze with incredible speed. A frozen structure appeared in front of their eyes . A crack sound echoed in the field and the statue broke into pieces.
His gaze, still glowing with that otherworldly white light, swept across the battlefield, a silent warning to any who dared to challenge him. The remaining Fire Nation soldiers, terrified by this impossible display, broke ranks and fled, scrambling down the mountain in a desperate, chaotic retreat.
The battle was finally over. The once-mighty Fire Nation army had been shattered, fleeing in chaos. The Northern Air Temple stood secure, at least for the moment. Alec cast a last glance at Zuko, his gaze empty—no sadness, no rage—simply the cold distance one holds toward a stranger. Zuko parted his lips to speak, but the world around him shifted. Suddenly, Alec, eyes ablaze with a radiant power, appeared before a surging wave and stepped into its heart, his form slowly dissolving—taking with him Zuko's final thread of hope for redemption.
The wave, capable of sweeping away everything, receded at last, returning the sea to a fragile calm after crashing down on nearby ships. Frantic, Zuko raced to the edge of the wall, his voice cracking as he shouted, "Alec! Come back! I'm sorry for not believing you. I'm sorry. Truly, I am. I don't care about honor, I don't care about titles—just give me one last chance, please. Just once."
Without a word, Iroh approached and rested a steady, comforting hand on Zuko's trembling shoulder. Tears slipping down his face, Zuko whispered, "Uncle, I've failed him again. What do I do? I never told him how I felt—I don't know how to go on without him."
Iroh let out a weary sigh, his eyes lingering on the sun as it sank slowly beneath the horizon, its golden light vanishing beyond the endless sea.