DISCLAIMER: I do not own Avatar: TLA.

I have a sense of humor, so I gave Zuko's daughter a special name. :D

I have an aunt. An aunt that I've never met.

I know her story; everyone does. How prodigy Princess Azula was brought to her knees when her two best friends turned on her. I asked Mother about it once, and she said she didn't regret it, but her eyes told me different. I didn't say anything else after Dad told me to drop it. Azula is a pretty sore subject for them.

Aunt Ty told me everything, though. I guess she's still in love after all these years. She told me about the Academy, how they met and what Azula was like when she was younger…and how she'd changed. The entire story is kind of sad, if you really think about it.

If Dad knew what I was doing right now, he'd have my head. Mother certainly would. But I want to do this—maybe I need to. Grandmother says it's a good idea, and I trust her. Even Mother likes Grandmother Ursa! So here I am off to the prison.

Hopefully the guards will keep their mouths shut.

She's chained in a cage like an animal. The guards tell me that Avatar Aang took her bending away because she was a danger to herself and everyone else. It makes sense, but some part of me is sad that I'll never get to see her firebend. I've heard she was amazing.

As the door creaks open, the light catches dull amber eyes in a thin, hollowed face. My breath catches. Azula looks…defeated. She's quietly lying down on her side, tangled hair spread in a mess around her. She looks nothing like the pictures I've seen, the ones where she is a commanding, powerful princess. My father let her get this way? Anger coils in my chest, but I shake it off. Time for that later.

"Leave us," I snap at the guards, and they obey. As the door swings shut, Azula raises her head and looks at me. There is no life in her eyes, just a faint curiosity.

"Who the hell are you?" she rasps, dragging her skeletal body into a sitting position. "What do you want?"

I kneel on the floor, bringing my eyes more or less level with hers. "My name is Maiko. I'm your niece," I say softly. "I've been wanting to meet you for a long time."

A harsh, cracked laugh bursts from her throat. "You wanted to see what the chained dragon has come to, did you? I suppose Zuzu told you all about me; my dear big brother always paints me in such a kind light."

Zuzu? I blink, slightly startled that she dares to call the Fire Lord by some childish nickname…but then, why should Dad care? "No, I didn't. I've heard your story from Ty Lee, and—"

The name has an immediate effect on her. She lets out a roar of fury and lunges at the bars, and I scramble backwards, suddenly afraid even though she can't hurt me. Azula's eyes are blazing with hatred. "Don't. EVER. Say. Her name. In front. Of me," she spits, and I'm half-surprised she hasn't grown fangs. "That little traitor is the reason I'm here! She tricked me, told me she loved me and then abandoned me!"

It wasn't a lie, I want to say, but I'm too afraid to keep talking about it, so I mutely nod. After a few moments Azula's anger seems to abate, and she lets out a deflating sigh, crawling back to her former position in the cell. "I know your story," I say carefully, watching her, "and I don't think you deserve this."

She snorts and tosses her head. "Going to ask your daddy to let me out? I don't think so, girl. Does Zuzu even know you're here? Bet he wouldn't like it, his precious little baby going to see Big Bad Aunt Azula." Azula smiles ferally, baring her teeth, and I can practically feel her hunger for the fire that used to live in the pit of her belly; her hunger to burn me to ashes and give my parents a taste of the agony she was put through. I swallow and ignore her.

"No. I'm not, because you're dangerous. But I want…" I stop. What do I want? To get to know her? That's ridiculous, she's still half-insane and probably would kill me if she could. Still…she's family, and since nobody but Grandmother ever comes, she's probably lonely…and I do feel bad for her. "I want to know you," I finally reply, and I think I see surprise in her face for just a heartbeat.

"How old are you, Princess?" she sneers.

"Fourteen," I say coolly. Her face twists in something between pain and rage before she says quietly,

"I was fourteen when it happened." Azula turns her back to me, and even though I try for another half-hour, she won't say anything else.

I sigh and get up from the ground, my knees aching from kneeling on the stone floor. As I knock to let the guards know I want to leave, I glance behind me and tell her "I'll be back in a few days."

I think I see a flicker of movement in the back of the cell before I walk away.