A storm

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“The mind can do amazing things. It provides you comfort in your darkest hours with dreams, it can be enhanced by embracing ones imagination. But it can also be your greatest enemy and there is nothing more undoing than being betrayed by your own mind.”

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This quote above is really what inspired me to write this little ‘prompt’ I really had no end goal to bring it anywhere. But I thought I’d we get to see Azulas final breakdown. Finally cracking under the weight of trying to live up to impossible expectations while upholding a family legacy. Such a thing must run in the family, no? Anyways your probably here to read the prompt not me talking about it so without further ado!

This prompt contains depictions of a character having a break from reality, if you are sensitive to such topics this is your warning now

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The rhythmic sound of water flowing outside echoed within the empty prison. Even with no way to see the outside world, the prison cell brought the storm to life. The acoustics captured every individual droplet of water ing the rest and flowing down into what sounded like a stairwell. Before being captured by a drain and moving back outside. As Ozai focused on the storm It pushed him further and further to the brink of madness. Each clicking like noise, rang in his head. It reminded him of the pendulum clocks present at war meetings. Each click taking away another second of his life. As he honed in on the sounds for just a moment he could see it, and feel the warmth on his face.

Just for a second he was sitting back on the throne. Back when he had everything he ever could have wanted. Surrounded by flames, adorned with fancy robes, hands folded neatly by his side. Looking out at an empty court. He had achieved what he had always wanted. The end all be all goal to become Firelord and bring honor to the fire nation.

Distant footsteps clicked on the marble floors. Syncing up with the sounds of the raging storm outside. A voice faintly said “lucky…” with a mocking tone.

When a quick glance revealed no one. Ozai questioned “Who’s there?” The sound of distant child’s giggling and scampering shoes distracted him. “Show yourself!” He demanded.

Suddenly an adult man's voice spoke breaking the stillness of the air. “We should share this prosperity with the rest of the world.” They said with a chipper tone.

Ozai whipped his head around facing the direction the voice came from. Firelord Sozin stepped out from the shadows casted by the flags that hung proudly from the ceiling. Boldly representing the might and strength of the fire nation.

Ozai watched Sozin closely as he stepped out into the open unsure of what to think.

Sozin had a possessed look come over him. “Failure…you have let our nation down…failure!” He shouted alongside a deceitful cackle.

Before Ozai had the chance to respond Sozin vanished, and his mocking laughter lingered but was soon drowned out by the other voices creeping in. All trying to speak over one another.

”a full on invasion would be impossible!”

”it would bring colonial allegiance into question!” Another argued.

”well do you have anything else to propose.”

”trade ports would be destroyed.”

”foolish! Sacrifice the platoon, they aren’t worth the scraps they eat!” One boldly exclaimed.

“Don’t listen to them father, we will bring the earth kingdom to its knees.” Azula's voice called out. Ozai looked around for her but she was nowhere to be seen.

“Lucky to be alive!” Shouted one with an accusing hiss.

Ozai shot up from the seated position. “Silence!” He shouted at them all. But they only continued speaking at the same time, they were impossible to make out at times. His vision got blurry and the air felt heavy. Making breathing gradually harder and harder.

”Stop! Please…please..” One begged, sounding at the verge of tears.

”no you can’t go.” Said another.

”Get out of my sight!”

”You can’t do this!”

“Don’t leave me!” Another young voice cried out sobbing.

“Zuko?” Ozai was finally able to recognize one specifically out of the slurry of voices. Stepping down from the throne he walked defensively through the flames that parted ways at the mere wave of his hand. They had him spinning in circles looking for the origin of them desperate to make them stop.

“Just a spare!” A voice spat behind him. Ozai turned quickly to see the face of his elderly father scolding him. “Get out of my sight- boy..” Azulon scoffed.

“No!” Ozai shouted, making a fist at his side. “I will not!” He said defiantly looking his father up and down.

“If you know what’s good for you! You’d leave, boy!” Azulon yelled back.

“This is my throne! My nation!” Ozai swung at his father, flames shot out but as they hit Azulon they went clean through him and he vanished as he was truly never there. Ozai looked stunned. Raising his hand up examining it. But the voices persisted forcing him to look back up.

“Where is mom?” Zuko cried.

“No, y-you aren’t.” Ozai followed up with a stutter as he was slipping further and further from reality.

“This isn’t you.” Ursas voice spoke.

“Get! OUT!!” He shouted with an aggressive gesture of his arm fire shot towards the nonexistent opponent. Desperate to get them to stop. His breathing intensified as he became more and more panicked.

“Disappointment.” Azulons voice was always saturated with hate.

“You don’t even know me…” he mumbled under his breath. Throwing a fireball in a rage towards the voice of his bitter father. His fall from grace far sured him now.

“Monster!” Another called out.

“ARGH!!!” Ozai shouted, throwing yet another fireball. In a rage he threw more flames out into the room, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. As his desperation grew.

Finally stopping he realized in his madness he had been setting the flags within the room on fire. They fell to the ground engulfing the rest of the throne room in flames. He grabbed his head with both hands in shock. The hairpiece once adorned by a proud and arrogant firelord fell off to the side unimportant. More incoherent mumbling followed the voices that sounded as if they were circling him closing in. “GET OUT! GET OUT NOW!” He had thrown himself on his knees as the flames got closer to him.

He began laughing at himself, at the sheer insanity of the situation. It advanced to hysterical laughter as the flames engulfed him. The crackling of the fire made a rhythmic click and soon he was back in the dark cold cell. Laughing to himself in the pitch darkness. Flashes of lightning outside followed by loud thunder hushed his laughter. To the rest of the world it was nothing more then just a beautiful storm.

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