Tai Lung stood in his room, he was preparing to leave for the Earth Kingdom to free his father, to put an end to this war, but there was one last task he needed to complete before his departure. In his hands, he held a small bundle of scrolls, each written when he was coming back from the south pole. Carefully, he set them down in front of the small spirit fox at his feet.
"Send these to Wan Shi Tong," Tai Lung said, his voice steady but quiet. "Tell him I won't be able to send more for a while. Something unexpected has happened, and I'll be occupied for quite some time."
The fox gave a small nod, padding lightly around the scrolls. After circling them thrice, a soft golden light radiated from its form, wrapping the scrolls in its glow. In the blink of an eye, both the scrolls and the fox vanished from sight, leaving behind only the faint shimmer of light.
Behind him, Ty Lee stood in silence, watching. When the light faded, she finally spoke. "I thought you said the portal to the Spirit World was closed. So how is Huli able to take the scrolls back to the Spirit World?"
Tai Lung turned slightly, one eyebrow raised. "You're sticking with that name, aren't you?"
Ty Lee grinned faintly. "Well, the little fox needs a name. You can't just keep calling him 'spirit fox.'"
"I don't think it minds what it's called," Tai Lung replied evenly. "And to answer your question, the ancient and powerful spirits can travel without the use of the portals at the poles. The portals only block the weaker ones and the physical bodies of humans."
"So… Huli's a powerful spirit?" Ty Lee asked curiously.
Tai Lung shook his head. "No. It's thanks to Wan Shi Tong. He lends it the strength to pass freely."
Ty Lee nodded, though her expression lingered with worry. After a pause, she asked, "Are you okay? You've been… acting strange."
Tai Lung tilted his head slightly. "How so?"
She hesitated. "You're calm. Too calm. When you heard the news about your father, the first thing you did was attack the Fire Lord. You killed him, and then… you just calmed down. As if nothing happened. I'm worried about you."
"I am angry," Tai Lung admitted, his tone calm. "If those attackers had been in front of me when I first heard the news, I would have ripped them apart." His eyes darkened, but then softened again. "But now… I won't let my anger control my actions. Otherwise, I could make mistakes I'll regret."
"So… you're afraid of failing because of your anger?" Ty Lee asked gently.
Tai Lung shook his head. "Not failing. In anger, you can hurt the people dearest to you or innocent people. You take actions that change your fate and theirs for the worse. I know myself, Ty Lee. I know what I am when I give in to rage. I've made mistakes before, and I won't dishonor my teachings again."
Ty Lee was silent for a long moment, then said quietly, "Like when you killed Azula's father?"
"I didn't kill him," Tai Lung corrected. His voice carried a strange finality. "He's still alive. Think of it as… sleeping."
Her eyes widened. "Really? He's alive?"
Tai Lung nodded once, then continued "The Fire Nation is the one who started the aggression a hundred years ago. The attack was overdue and despite the damage they have done, no one in the Fire Nation including myself has right to feel injustice, we are the bad guys here. Most of us has actively participated in the war like my father or at least chose to be somewhat neutral like me, that makes us all guilty. I am angry about my father but it is not enough that I start killing indiscriminately now."
Ty Lee frowned thoughtfully, then asked the question that had been wondering for a while now. "Then what are you really planning to do? If you're not acting out of anger and you think you are not on the right side, then why march with an army? Wouldn't negotiating be better? Less violent? People wouldn't be hurt that way."
Tai Lung's gaze drifted, his expression softening "For years, I've roamed this world without knowing my purpose. But in my visit to the Spirit World, I found something. A path suitable for me to walk. Something I genuinely want to do." He gave a small, fleeting smile. "But when I returned, I realized that to make it reality, the world must first be at peace. The war must end. Only then can I begin." He lowered his head, the calm steel in his voice leaving no room for doubt. "I will free my father… and I will bring back peace. I don't think negotiation will bring peace, the cycle will just continue eventually, so I want to make a greater change that will make the peace last."
Ty Lee's lips curved into a smile despite her concern. "I know you'll succeed."
Tai Lung looked at her, and for the first time that day, his smile reached his eyes.
——————
Two days later, the Fire Nation moved.
Tens of ships, packed with soldiers, put to sea for the Earth Kingdom. Above the fleet, five airships rode the wind among the clouds. On the leading ship, Tai Lung sat cross-legged on the deck of the leading ship, eyes closed, meditating.
Azula, Ty Lee, and Mai came together to see him. Azula spoke first, the edge of a smile in her voice. "For someone, who declared he is going to end the war and everyone believes is going to destroy all of the enemies, to be seen meditating most of the time, feels like you are making a mockery of meditation and peace intentionally."
Tai Lung opened his eyes, measured and calm. "I can understand Ty Lee insisting to come and Mai tagging along," he said, "but why are you, the Fire Lord, joining this campaign? You are the first" He focused his eyes toward the crown Azula now wore.
Azula, wearing the Fire Crown, answered with an amused tone, "I am merely some Fire Lord, you killed the previous one for not leading the army. So I won't dare to stay back and risk your wrath."
Tai Lung's face stayed unchanged. "I believe Ty Lee should have told you he is not dead," he replied.
Azula rolled her eyes. "You turned him into a tiny green stone somehow; might as well call him dead." Her amused expression shifted to seriousness. "I have seen the faults of my father and I have no intention to repeat them. I will lead my people instead of sitting behind a curtain of flame, shouting orders."
Tai Lung nodded once, then asked, "So why did you come to me now?"
Azula's gaze met his.
"Shouldn't you share with me your plan? From Ty Lee's words, you don't seem to be going there simply to burn everything, you have a goal in mind. I need to know what you are planning and what it means to my nation" She kept staring him in the eye, waiting for a response.
Tai Lung explained his plan briefly, the essentials laid out. When he finished, Azula let out a quiet, incredulous laugh. "If I heard this years ago, I would call it the rambling of a madman. But now, I believe in you, and I am actually looking forward to seeing how things will turn out."
Ty Lee's voice wavered with concern. "Are you sure this is going to be okay?"
Mai answered before Tai Lung could "What's the worst that could happen? The world falls into chaos and war? We already have that."
Tai Lung looked at Ty Lee then said. "A different path doesn't necessarily mean chaos and destruction."
Azula folded her arms and said, "As long as the Fire Nation as a whole is not harmed, I don't mind your plan, especially since we are counted as the victors of this hundred-year war."
A strong wind swept across the deck then, and a huge black owl descended beside Tai Lung, wings beating slow and silent. The girls all stepped back alarmed while Tai Lung's brows rose in surprise. "What are you doing here, Wan Shi Tong?"
The massive old owl spirit dipped his head. "My seeker told me of what happened to your father," Wan Shi Tong said "I find it regretful that you are being dragged into the war of these humans, so I came to offer you my aid."
Tai Lung inclined his head. "I appreciate the offer, friend, but I do not need it. And I must admit, I am surprised to see you offer me help, I know how much you hate violence and war."
Wan Shi Tong's eyes glinted as he cocked his head. "From the short time I have known you, and the stories I have heard from you, I do not believe this is a simple war where you merely attack humans." He paused, studying Tai Lung. "Tai Lung, what are you really intending to do?"
Tai Lung repeated what he had told the girls.
The owl was silent for a long moment. When he finally spoke, his voice carried the weight of old knowledge. "You need to come with me to the Spirit World. I agree with your plan, but it will not work as is. You must strike a deal with a spirit."
The fleet of the Fire Nation continued on its path led by Azula, in the temporary absence of Tai Lung.