CHAPTER ONE: A SHADOW OF FORMER GLORY

"There's a few things you need to keep in mind before going in there. First and most important, don't let her in on anything personal. Keep your own life out of this." That kind of advice went without saying. "You understand?"

"Yeah."

"Second, don't mention Fire Lord Zuko. If you're lucky she'll stop talking for weeks, if you aren't lucky… well, that's better left unsaid. Our psychiatrists have tried to figure out why her brother brings up such a strong reaction, but she closes off every time. Just don't do it."

Aang wrote a quick mental note.

"Last, just use common sense Aang. This is a master firebender we've got locked up who is clearly disturbed. She will not hesitate to kill you if she wants."

"Oh, I know."

He felt thankful that the guard was taking so long to unlock the ten iron bolts, each securing the prison door. It was a massive steel door, unbreakable by all feats of bending knowledge.

That is, unless you're a certain earthbender. Aang smiled to himself.

While he waited, The Avatar stole a glance back down the dim hall, empty except for two Firebenders at the very end. It was a long ways to run…

The last lock clicked and Aang focused his attention. The guard, his face hidden by a triple-eyed mask, made an eerily noticeable pause before he reached for the handle. Under the silk of his uniform, Aang could see his muscles bulge as he heaved open the incredible door. Even with the fitness of Earthbending under his belt, Aang doubted he could open that door on his own.

Metal whined as a warm breeze hit his face. It was like looking down Koh's lair again, a dark abyss of uncertainty, and Aang instinctively swept his face of emotion. He forced his feet forward, knowing he owed this favor to Zuko. The guard didn't say anything as Aang walked into the cell. He clutched his staff with a firm grip, already ready for a fight.

The door's hinges screeched as it was shut, then the guard hurried to lock all the bolts. Aang was trapped. His eyes had to adjust to the minimal light provided by a hanging crystal lantern. Only a cage of metal bars separated him from the prisoner, but it didn't do anything to ease the sense of menacing closeness. She was only a shadow of her former glory, all the prestige of a Princess stripped away to the bare bones of a monstrous teenage girl.

Her face was hidden under a veil of tangled hair, but Aang could still feel her eyes watching him. Meanwhile, her arms were bound and secured by a mess of knotted chains hanging from the ceiling. She was kneeling, and Aang imagined -or hoped- that her ankles were bound to the stone floor.

"My my, you've grown." Her distinctly chilling voice was a sound Aang had hoped to forget.

He gulped, but tried to hide the sound, "So you recognize me."

"How's your back?" She asked with a masked tone, deliberately blurring her true subtleties. Aang decided to ignore the question. He didn't want to fall angry or vengeful over that little incident. He had a job to do.

"I came here to see how you were doing." Although that was only half of it. "To talk to you."

She threw her hair back, letting the green light shine into her pale face. Golden eyes. That smirk… "I don't think we ever had a formal introduction." She sounded earnest, as if she really wanted to make up for her past sins.

Azula always lies. Aang recalled Zuko's mantra but decided to play along anyway. If he had to talk with her, he might as well make it friendly.

"My name's Aang."

"Azula. And it's been two years right?" Aang caught his grip loosening on his staff. "A lot can change in two years." She added.

"So what have you heard?"

She raised an eyebrow, "I haven't heard anything; the psychiatrists insist on only talking about me. Always questioning me, cold and soulless. It's honestly a pleasure to be having a normal conversation again."

Aang felt a bit sad for the girl when he realized she'd probably been sitting in this position, or securely chained up, for the last two years. But I'm here to help you.

"What would you like to know?" He smiled like a child and she sinfully recognized his innocence. Her smirk widened, stabbing a sick feeling into Aang's stomach.

"What's become of my dear city, Ba Sing Se?"

"It was recaptured during Sozin's Comet." He hid another gulp.

She faked a look of surprise, "By whom?"

"By Earthbender rebels." That was the official explanation. The Order of the White Lotus liked its privacy and opted to stay out of the spotlight. Of course, rumors circulated through Ba Sing Se of spirits who had rescued them from their oppression, but to the rest of the world they were only a brave army of peasants.

Something about her expression told Aang that she wasn't buying it. "And what of my father?"

"He's in jail, like you."

"Well properly, this is a mental hospital. You'd never guess it by the way they treat me." She rattled the clumps of chains binding her limbs for effect. "Why didn't you kill him?"

He was about to answer when the Warden's voice rang in his head, Don't let her in on anything personal, like a warning alarm. His philosophy on killing wasn't the kind of information he wanted Azula to know, and she was beginning to catch on to his sudden silence. He clumsily diverted the subject. "The people of the Fire Nation are happy that he's gone."

"I don't care."

"Well then…" He could feel his control of the conversation slipping, and Azula seemed to be delighted with his discomfort. A squirming thought crossed his mind that from the very start he'd never been in control of the meeting.

"Are they treating you well?"

Azula made a non-discreet glance toward the chains, "Wonderful." Her sarcasm was sprinkled with hatred. "They feed me mush, and the psychiatrists come in twice a week to ask me things."

Zuko was in touch with the three psychiatrists, and they sounded like pleasant people. Azula's perception was bound to be warped.

"Why are you here Aang?" The air of her voice was smooth and sultry, calculated to curdle his blood.

"I told you." He forced a smile, "I just wanted to talk."

"Right, and that was a lie. You're here because it's part of your job as Avatar, someone sent you to see me because I'm still dangerous."

Aang gestures to the mess of chains holding up her arms, "You can't even move."

That terrible smile crept across her lips, "Oh Aang. Can you imagine what a girl like me could do with her mouth?" He felt a shiver trickle up his back as a few embers flew from her teeth. "You're hiding something, I just haven't figured out what."

The voice in Aang's head was screaming for him to retreat. He'd lost the round, she held the upper-hand, and he couldn't afford to be defending himself now. Worst of all, she knew this. This mind game, more like a battlefield, wouldn't be so simple.

Taking away her firebending would require patience and preparation, unlike Ozai whose spirit was insolent and weak.

As if reading his thoughts, she added, "You should be heading off Aang. You've got important business out in the real world."

Keeping his demeanor calm, and trying desperately to appear strong, Aang agreed. "Have a goodnight Azula." He backed up, making sure to keep his eyes on her pale-green visage, and tapped the metal door. The series of locks began to chink behind him.

"Sleep well Avatar." She grinned as the door screeched open.

Aang left the cell just a little too quick, eager to feel the openness of the outside and the freedom from Azula's stare. The huge guard heaved the door shut again behind him, trapping the prisoner in her eternal darkness once more. Aang hurried down the hall and tried to predict how Zuko would react to this less than noble news. He'd promised the Fire Lord this favor, but now Aang was beginning to think he'd made a dreadful mistake.