After escaping the asylum with the unintended help of another patient, Azula is up to her old tricks as she plans her revenge against Zuko. But, as her mental state declines, she may find that her greatest enemy is herself. As Azula struggles with her declining sanity, long dormant memories are stirred up, begging her to question everything about who she really is... but will Azula listen?
Zuko begins his own quest. Trying to piece together not only what led to his sisters breakdown, but what drove the siblings apart in the first place.
Meanwhile, the Gaang deal with their own problems after Aang and Katara suddenly pass out, only to come too and find out their ability to waterbend is slowly fading. A phenomenon that, unbeknownst to them, may somehow be tied to Azula's escape.
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Prologue
Woes of the Fire Lord
"Well, you don't look happy" Mai said, addressing Zuko as he entered their room, doing nothing to hide his disappointment and frustration.
"I'm not!"
This had only been the second time since becoming Fire Lord, nearly a month ago, he'd been to visit his father. Both times for the same purpose. Information on his Mother's whereabouts. Neither visit had produced anything.
Mai felt a slight pain in her heart. He looked as though he'd not slept in days. The responsibilities of being Fire Lord already showed on his face. She wished she could do more for him, but clearing up the aftermath from one hundred years of war was bound to weigh heavily on anyone, especially someone as young as Zuko.
"He's just playing games with me!" Zuko fumed "Last time he simply refused to answer, now it was a bunch of demands. Better food, a larger cell, NICER PRISON ROBES!"
He removed the crown from his topknot, setting it down on the large ornate dresser. He walked over to the couch and sat down on it's edge. Mai sat up and moved next to him, putting her arm around him. He closed his eyes and raised his hand to the side of his face, rubbing his scarred eye.
Mai knew he was desperate for information about his mother, but between his day to day responsibilities as Fire Lord and coordinating reparations and aid to the Earth kingdom and Water Tribes, his personal desires had to be put aside. She moved her mouth closer to his ear and spoke softly.
"I know it's frustrating but..." Mai offered
"It's beyond frustrating" Zuko practically yelled out in frustration "It's infuriating. Why is he.."
"You really can't figure that out?" Mai said as she pulled back and looked at him, cocking her head to the side.
"What's that supposed to mean?" He asked looking over at her.
"Well, I may not know your father very well, but I do know Azula, and I have a pretty good idea of where she gets it from." She started to explain.
Zuko winced slightly at hearing his sister name. Azula... It was still something he didn't like thinking about. His last confrontation with his sister still left him... uncomfortable. He pushed it out of his mind as listened to Mai.
"He's lost all his power, so he's using the only thing he has left. He's manipulating you because he has something you want. It's the same thing she would do in his situation. "
Zuko let out a frustrated sigh. He knew she was right. It was exactly the type of thing he'd come to expect from him. He leaned his head against the back of the couch, closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"About your mother" Mai paused, knowing this was a touchy subject. "Have you thought about asking Azula..."
He just shook his head, cutting her off mid-sentence. But it was too late, his thoughts were now squarely back on his sister.
Besting her had been a life long ambition. She'd always been the perfect one. The sibling with everything, while he was always the one cast aside. After their Agni Kai and she'd been taken away, sobbing and incoherent, it became apparent to Zuko that maybe he had been the one "born lucky". Ozai's "approval" was apparently no substitute for a parents love.
Shortly after that, he'd had an offshore prison converted into a mental health hospital. Though he hadn't done it just to accommodate his sister. The wages of war had left many in need of such a place.
Most of the patients had come voluntarily. While others, Such as Azula, had been placed there for fear that they would be a danger to themselves or others. As such, the Earthbenders hired to renovate the prison had left a part of the prison exactly that, still a prison. Though the occupants were still treated as patients, they were watched and guarded around the clock. Azula even more so.
He'd been receiving regular reports on her progress, or rather, lack there of. She seemed to have recovered from her initial breakdown, but whether she'd gotten any "better" was hard to tell. According to the doctors, she was still showing signs of paranoia, and now depression. Though, since she'd not said more than a few words since arriving, an accurate diagnosis was hard to get. Silence was unusual for Azula, and it worried Zuko. In his mind it only meant one of two things. Either she really was too far gone for help, or she was planning something.
He didn't know exactly what had led to her breakdown, and despite everything that had happened between them, he still cared for her. He couldn't make sense of it himself. He should hate her, but he just couldn't. She was still his sister, and things had not always been this way between them.
"No" he said looking back to Mai after a long silence lingered between them. "I doubt she'd help me even if she did have any information."
A knock on his chamber door cut their conversation short.
"Enter" Zuko yelled.
One of the palace guards peeked his head in. "Fire lord, Captain Makato has requested an audience sire"
"I'll be there momentarily" Zuko said waving him off.
Zuko entered the throne room minutes later. Makato, captain of the palace guard ( who'd been promoted to that position on a personal recommendation from Zuko's Uncle Iroh). knelt on the ground and waited for the Fire lord to find his throne.
"What is it Captain" Zuko asked as he settled into the throne.
Makato stood and addressed the Fire lord. "The Kiyoshi warriors have located an encampment of troops still loyal to Ozai held up in a canyon roughly 20 miles southwest of Omashu. There's a peacekeeping force in the area, they should be ready to engage in about 2 days."
Ozai may have been imprisoned, but he still had his loyalists. Luckily, so did Zuko. At the end of the war, all of the Fire nations military forces had been ordered to return to Fire Nation territory. But Zuko still needed to have some forces in foreign lands to deal with exactly this type of situation. It was a difficult situation. Zuko needed to deal with the problem, but at the same time, do so without having to leave a strong military presence in foreign lands.
It was Suki that had recommended a solution. Zuko had come to discover that his father had imprisoned many soldier's whose only crime had been to speak out against the war in the wrong company. As such, nearly 30% of the Fire Nation's prison population turned out to be ex-soldiers labeled as "traitors".
About half these men now served Zuko loyally as part of the peacekeeping forces that, although Fire Nation in origin, served as special detachment's in both the Earth Kingdom and Water Tribe militarily.
As for reconnaissance, Suki had offered the services of the Kiyoshi warriors. An offer Zuko gladly accepted. Now, upon finding any loyalist encampments, the Kiyoshi warriors would alert both Zuko and the closest contingent of peacekeeping forces.
"How many" He asked the captain.
"Only around 30 soldiers, nothing one contingent can't handle" He responded.
The doors to the throne room suddenly burst open. Startled, Zuko jumped up and instinctively assumed a fighting stance, as did Makato. A guard came running in, breathing heavily and clutching a note in one hand.
"Fire Lord, Your Highness! It's..." He spat out before bending over, hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath.
Zuko relaxed his stance.
"What is it soldier" Makato demanded.
The soldier continued between breaths."It's...Azula Fire lord... she's...
Zuko exchanged a look with Makato then back to the soldier "What is it, what's happened!" He demanded
"She's..." The guard tried to continue, but paused to catch his breath once more.
"SHE'S ESCAPED!" Zuko yelled out.
"No your Highness, she was... she was taken.. kidnapped... this morning! We just got a messenger hawk a few minutes ago."
"By Who!" Zuko demanded
"We... we're still trying to figure that out Fire lord!"
As this is the first story I've written in a very long time (and my very first attempt at fanfic) any and all criticism and/or reviews are highly appreciated. Thank you for reading.