A/N: Well, the story continues. This is the sequel to Book 4: Embers, which was pretty awesome, if I do say so myself (it is highly recommended you check my account and go read it if you don't remember what's going on or are new). I told you the hiatus was going to be short. I love writing this story too much. In case you've forgotten what's happened, here's a short recap to hopefully jog your memory:
13 years after Sozin's Comet, Zuko set out personally to flush out what seemed like an information leak in the Fire Nation's military. Soon, it was revealed that this information was being leaked to enemies of the Fire Nation to bait them into attacking it, sending them into the wrong place to counter attack the Fire Nation's renewed invasion. Zuko was dethroned and it seemed like war was once again fast approaching with the Fire Nation intent on world domination once more. Zuko gathered his friends in an attempt to stop the new leaders of the Fire Nation before the war broke out. But it was all an elaborate ruse. The information being fed to the Fire Nation's enemies was correct, and it lead them straight to the Fire Nation's remaining forces. A coalition of the Earth Kingdom and the Northern Water Tribe attacked and killed Fire Nation soldiers in the hundreds, while Zuko and his friends were fighting the leaders, thinking they could prevent the Fire Nation from attacking the world again. But this had all been planned; the Fire Nation itself was the target, not the other nations. A mastermind in the shadows is trying to conquer the world, through the currently more powerful Earth Kingdom and its allies. Oh, and Aang went missing 10 years ago on some sort of spiritual mission into the Spirit World so he wasn't there to help out.
Wow, that's wasn't really short at all, and it was lacking a lot of details about the other characters, their development and such and such. I'm especially proud of my post-breakdown Azula, who is now struggling with her own nature, while trying to please her brother and possibly redeem herself. Of course, that doesn't mean it's been a smooth ride. There was a murder here and there, but you know what they say about omelettes... :P
This chapter contains the thoughts of a resolute princess on a quest, an emotional reunion with less than satisfying results, and a friend injured in the line of duty.
Chapter 1: New Beginnings/Old Mistakes
Azula was pacing back and forth in her little room like a caged panther, fuming. She was starting to get annoyed, very annoyed indeed. Who do they think they are, keeping me away from him? she thought bitterly. The few times they'd let her see him were brief and pointless, he hadn't even been awake. At least he wasn't thrashing around in pain anymore… But this couldn't go on any further, something needed to be done about this, all of this.
Azula sat down on a comfy, large pillow, resting her chin on her fist as she went over the details of the previous days. The Fire Nation was in shambles; its few remaining forces tossed to the winds. She recalled the fights, the screams of pain and the silence of death. She found no pleasure in them anymore, not after what her brother had said. He had been right in a sense, she could have done better. Her combatants had known something; she should have left one of them alive for questioning.
She remembered the way the old man had looked surprised when she had suggested that his master Fu Bai was a weakling… there was something more going on here. Her memories shifted to Fu Bai, but not the face she had seen last before she had burned it, but to a younger face. They had been in the same academy once. She had been one of the more clever girls there. She had hung out with her, Mai and Ty Lee occasionally. Despite all of her cleverness, she lacked a certain sense of initiative. She had always come to her, eager to hear what the princess had planned next for her unsuspecting victims, whether they were fellow students or teachers. Azula had discovered early on in her scholastic adventures that teachers had a difficult time punishing a member of the royal family.
It seemed rather out of character for Fu Bai to go through with a plan as grand as what had happened on that day, of course she could have planned it, but she lacked the guts to actually go through with it. Of course, this was assuming what had happened had been a plan and that Fu Bai hadn't changed much in almost fifteen years or something. But Azula was a good judge of character. Fu Bai lacked the gall to go through with something like this, and that old man certainly didn't think of her as his master.
This required further investigation. Azula got up and walked to a table with compartments built into it with a chair waiting for her in front of it. She pulled out several pieces of parchment, an ink well and a quill. She wrote with a steady hand, careful not to mess any of the characters. When she was done, she sealed the letters with wax from a candle (it hadn't been burning, so she melted it with a precise flare of fire). She stood up, ready to leave with her letters, when she suddenly stopped. She looked at the ink and quill for a moment, until she made up her mind. She sat back down and took another piece of parchment. Even though this letter was shorter than the earlier ones, she took a longer time to finish writing this last one, as she took extra care with the complicated signs she wrote, ancient signs used only in ancient rituals and very important documents in contemporary Fire Nation culture.
Satisfied with her work, she carefully folded it so she could write two similar characters on the other side. She looked at the name she had written. The quill approached it once again carefully, while her mind recalled watching Ty Lee writing a similar letter to one of her past boyfriends. She had also written a boy's name on the other side, but had added hearts and other cute little pictures around it. Azula came to her senses and sneered at the memories. She stopped the quill just in time. A real princess shouldn't act in such an unrefined manner, she decided as she left the name unblemished.
She opened the letter one last time, to make sure she hadn't made any mistakes before she sealed it with wax. Once again a memory of Ty Lee emerged; she had kissed the name on the letter as well. Azula took a moment to consider doing the same as her friend, but decided against it. It just seemed foolish.
She reached into her shirt and pulled out a decorated knife, which she had kept in pouch, close to her heart. She stared at it emotionlessly, fond memories of the person she associated with it passing through her mind, until quietly, she spoke to herself, "This'll do."
"You awake?" the shade asked, slowly coming into focus. Zuko recognised that voice, he always would.
"Mai?" Zuko asked uncertainly. He hadn't expected this, especially since the last things he could recall were the cold touch of a blade against his throat and the maddened cries and tears of his sister. As he slowly got up on an elbow in the bed he was lying in, he carefully touched his throat, finding it wrapped in bandages, but apparently still fully intact.
"Good, you're awake and just as observant as ever," the still slightly blurry shade of Mai said from an indeterminable distance.
The slap Zuko received on his check came as a complete surprise. He fell back into bed, blinking like mad. As much as the slap burned his skin, it had cleared up his vision with frightening efficiency. He looked at Mai, sitting next to his bed in a large, comfortable looking chair, with one leg crossed over the other while her fingers were crossed. She was trying to appear nonchalant about all of this, but the fire in her eyes revealed something different. She hadn't changed much in the seven or something years they had been apart. Only her hair had been styled differently, but still retaining that regal look to it. By the spirits, she was still as beautiful as the day they were wed.
"Ouch! What was that for?!" Zuko asked her, eyes wide with shock, slightly watering from the force of the slap, while he rubbed his cheek tenderly.
"You really need to ask? Where on the list should we start? You neglecting me for years, favouring your court and sister over me or not even trying to fix it after? You didn't even chase after me…" Mai started out with a haughty voice, but it quickly softened into a quiet melancholic whisper. She looked away from him as she finished, still trying to portray that she wasn't affected by their sudden reunion.
"But you said –"
"True, but it was also your last chance to prove me wrong, that you still loved me deeply and would do something stupid and reckless… just for me, like I did for you at Boiling Rock…" Mai interrupted him, slowly turning her face to look at him once again.
"Mai, I had no –"
"It doesn't matter, all that personal stuff. It happened years ago," she said as she stood up from her chair, pushing it back. The legs of the chair squealed annoyingly as they moved along the marble floor. She frowned at the noise, but quickly resumed, "What I'm talking about are your more recent actions…"
"What?" Zuko asked, also getting up from his bed, now standing just in front of Mai. He inclined his head slightly, to examine her more closely, but she looked down, not wanting to meet his eyes.
"Because of you, the Fire Nation is shattered, broken. The Earth Kingdom and Northern Water Tribe have their own areas…" Mai said with a dark conviction, still avoiding his eyes. "I've heard the Earth Kingdom is actually brainwashing innocent civilians to conform to their policies there. And let's not forget all the remaining splinter groups of what remains of the Fire Nation that have sprung up, all feeling they can govern themselves better than they have been led… It's only a matter of time before the idiots start fighting each other and get swallowed by the Earth Kingdom's advancing forces. They want nothing more than to control and pacify our people – at any cost… And it's all your fault."
"Mine? How?" Zuko asked, stupefied by his former wife's words.
Mai suddenly snapped her face up to meet his gaze, but Zuko dearly wished she hadn't. She was glaring at him, it was unbearable. He tried to look away, but the power her eyes still held over him forced him to look back. "Don't tell me you're really this ignorant. You led us, until your leadership resulted in a rebellion, which you barely contained… then you didn't even pluck out remaining sources of dissent, allowing them to hide and grow in power. After your weak leadership, they actually took over. And then? When all of the Nation's military power is gathered in one spot? You attack their leaders and distract them, making them an easy target for the Earth Kingdom and Water Tribe. Because of you, hundreds of people have lost their lives pointlessly… hundreds of our people."
"I-I-" Zuko stammered.
"Yeah, I thought so…" Mai said gloomily as she turned away from him and walked to a window, staring out at the bleak horizon, where distant fires and smoke created a disgusting edge to the world. She held herself tightly, shivering slightly at the cold she thought she felt, even though the climate was warm and humid this time of the year.
"I really thought you could do better than this…" Mai said solemnly, closing her eyes.
"Mai, I'm sorry… about everything. About us, the world, everything… you know that I didn't want any of this to happen," Zuko said, hoping his honesty would help him, as he took a few tentative steps towards Mai.
Mai turned around, opening a sad pair of eyes. "I know… I know exactly what you meant. You forget, I really did love you… I know you Zuko. Under that gruff exterior, all those scars from your past… lies a heart as pure and golden as your beautiful eyes. You didn't mean for any of this to happen, I know that… but Zuko, it did, and you're responsible."
"Gah! I'm sorry, damn it! Urgh, I know I messed up! And I'll fix it, I swear! Please, just give me a chance." He was starting to feel exceedingly frustrated, this wasn't what he needed right now. He knew he had messed up, but there were too many loose strings at the moment. As much as he tried to give Mai his full and undivided attention, his mind kept wondering what had happened to everybody else. But he quickly calmed down, knowing there was time for such questions later. Remembering his Uncle's teachings, he took a few deep breaths, calming himself, seeking his centre. After he had calmed down from his little outburst, Zuko walked over to Mai, who was still looking at him sorrowfully, and took her unresisting hand. "Please, just give me another chance."
Mai looked down at their hands together, like they had been in a distant and happy past, and then at his scarred yet beloved face. She examined his eyes and face with eyes as deep as the sea, but eventually turned away, not finding what she had been looking for in them.
"I'm sorry, Zuko, no," Mai said in a depressingly familiar monotone as she took a step back. She held the arm Zuko had taken, rubbing her elbow as she felt the body heat from Zuko's touch leaving her hand, leaving it cold. It seemed to reflect their past relationship with painful accuracy, she thought bitterly.
"Huh? Why?" Zuko asked, surprised by the cold shoulder he was receiving after what he thought had been a sincere and desired, heartfelt apology.
"Haven't you been listening to me at all?!" Suddenly an old anger flared back in Mai's voice. She marched over to him with a scowl that cut him as deeply as one of her knives would have. "You destroy everything you touch! Everything you hold dear! Just look at us! Your kingdom!" Tears began to well in the corners of her eyes as she unleashed hidden emotions. In that regard the pair were far too similar, they had always kept what they felt for each other, whether it was love, annoyance, pride or anger, in them until it was too late. It was perhaps one of the main reasons why their marriage hadn't fully worked. But what she said next was too much to stomach, and she regretted saying it immediately after. "I'm just glad we never had a child… hah, like that could have ever happened with you gone all the time, and even if we'd had one, how long until you messed him up… like your father did to you."
"That's not fair," Zuko said coldly. He might have been wrong about a lot of things and made grievous mistakes, but this was going too far.
"Zuko, I'm sorry… it's not really your fault… it's the way you grew up," Mai said glumly, taking a step back away from him, wiping her tear-filled eyes, trying to control herself before she said something really stupid. "As much as you try to deny it, you're still your father's child, and through you, his legacy lives on in one form or another. His blood runs through your veins. He may have been replaced as a father figure, but you can't shake away what he did to you completely."
"That… that may be true," Zuko admitted grudgingly, squeezing his fists while he turned his face away from Mai, so that his scar was hidden from her.
"And then there's what I said to you earlier… how you mess everything up for the people you care about… I know I said it harshly – old memories stirring up old pains – but it's true Zuko… I wish it weren't, but it is… oh, how I wish it weren't… I'm sorry Zuko, I have a new life here, where I have what I've always needed."
"And what you've always wanted?"
"It's close enough…" Mai answered the sharp question quietly. "I have responsibilities now as well. I'm one of the leaders of this particular city-state. I kind of feel bad about berating you for your responsibilities when you were Fire Lord." She laughed weakly, desperately trying to deflate the pressuring situation she found herself in.
Zuko said nothing, just staring at the floor, until he suddenly said in a silent voice, straining to keep it from cracking. "As long as you're happy… I gotta go now… fix things…" he said and started walking away towards a door he spotted on the far edge of the richly decorated room. For the first time since waking up, he felt tired, old bruises and aches sapping him of his last strength, not to mention the crippling emotions he felt. By the time he reached the door, he was dragging his feet while his shoulders sagged miserably.
"Yeah… Don't we all…" Mai said, more to herself than to Zuko as she watched his trailing back.
Zuko, who was just about to walk out of the room, suddenly remembered something vitally important. His lost energy quickly returned and the pain subsided for a moment, driven out by a desperate need. He turned around slowly and awkwardly asked, "Umm, where is everybody else?"
Mai smiled warmly at him, gently shaking her head.
"Zuko!" Ty Lee squealed like a giddy schoolgirl, the one she had remained as throughout most of her life, much to the delight of her many friends (although few would willingly admit it). "You're not dead!"
"Yeah, I'm not dead," Zuko answered awkwardly before Ty Lee squeezed him into the tightest huge he had ever received. "Yet at least," he wheezed.
"Oh, sorry! I didn't hurt you, did I?" Ty Lee asked worriedly, she jumped back holding her hands in front her mouth. "Sorry, sorry, sorry!"
"I'm okay," Zuko said, gingerly rubbing his sides.
A hard punch came from his left side and hit him on the shoulder, sending him hopping to the right. "Ahh, geez!"
"Come on, he's a big guy he can take it," Toph stepped out and stood in front of him with the widest smile he had ever seen on her cute, little face. "I knew you'd survive. It'll take a lot more than some poison to take you out. Well, the medicine we got you probably helped too, but whatever."
"Yeah," Zuko muttered, holding his wooden shoulder. He couldn't feel the tips of his fingers.
He looked around the room Mai had taken him to. It was like a big atrium, it even had the mandatory fountain in the middle. Couches, large pillows and thick carpets along with the other lavish decorations filled the large room with multitudes of colours. Veiled doorways led to smaller rooms with beds in them.
Zuko spotted the two waterbenders they had taken along on the mission, napping on couches on the other side of the gently trickling fountain. Hefeng was sitting in a corner, with nothing but a pair of yellow pants on, while the whole of her upper body was covered in bandages. She had apparently peen meditating, but now peeked at the gathering with a half opened eye. She slowly got up, wincing at the exertion, and slowly made her way to him. She tried to bow, but it was obvious it was causing too much pain for her, so Zuko told her it wasn't necessary, and offered to bow down extra deep in order to compensate for her lacking bow. She smiled at this and giggled slightly, accepting his offer. Zuko bowed, but stopped halfway through his own bow, gritting his own teeth as a pain shot through his back. He stood up blushing slightly while everyone gathered around him laughed.
It was good to know everyone was okay and still capable of laughing…
"Wait, where's Sokka?" Zuko asked suddenly, glancing around the room once more, looking for his friend.
The smiles and laughs quickly disappeared. Toph took his question the hardest, staring at the floor in shame while the others exchanged solemn glances.
"He isn't…?" Zuko asked, not daring to finish the question, as if that could stop the possible bad news from becoming true.
"No, he's just…" Ty lee answered, biting her lip, "Well, he's still recovering… it doesn't look good."
"Where is he?" Zuko said, desperate to see him.
Ty Lee pointed at a veiled archway. Zuko quickly staggered over furniture to see Sokka. He pushed back the veil and found his friend lying on a bed, half covered by a blanket, looking pale with bandages covering red blots on his chest and arm. His breathing was laboured and his eyes were squeezed shut tightly.
Zuko stepped forward and knelt down next to him, feeling his forehead. It felt clammy and cold. He turned a questioning glance towards the gathered people at the archway. Mai came forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. "The doctors did everything they could, but the poison that was in the arrow tips, it was different from yours. We have no idea what it is. His wounds won't close properly and his condition is getting worse by the day. Your waterbender friends have tried to heal him, but apparently neither one of them is skilled enough to help him. We're doing all we can to keep him stable, but we can't cure him… I'm sorry Zuko."
Zuko remained silent for a moment, thinking it over, while regrets concerning his recent actions resurfaced once again.
"Can he be moved?" Zuko asked solemnly.
"What?" Mai said, crouching down so she could hear his quiet words.
"Can he be moved?!" Zuko shouted suddenly, startling everyone gathered around the small room.
"Y-yes," Mai answered, taking a few steps back at the sudden outburst.
"Then give us your fastest air balloon," he said determinedly, getting up with a fiery resolve in his eyes. "No one else is going to die on my watch, ever again."
He stormed past the women gathered around the archway. He stopped in the middle of the room, seeking the calm he desperately needed. While he squeezed his fists, he tried to breathe in deeply, but he couldn't seem to fully attain his previous calm.
When he was eventually satisfied enough with his anger, he turned around grimly. "Sorry Mai, but this is important. We have to save him."
"Of course. I'll have the fastest balloon prepared within the hour," Mai said, as she started walking past him. He, however, grabbed her hand as she was passing him by. She looked at him quizzically. He looked almost possessed.
"Where's Azula?" he asked, a dark look appearing in his golden eyes.
Mai gulped nervously. The brief contact she had had with her old friend hadn't gone well, there was a burned down room to testify as much. And as if that hadn't been enough, she had learned of the murders she had committed from the others, only making her more nervous about her. "She's down that hall, to the left, at the end of it," she answered, pointing towards the door from which she and Zuko had entered from.
"Thanks," Zuko said with a voice full of foreboding before he stormed out of the room.
Mai stood staring at the door for a moment, as both Toph and Ty Lee ran after Zuko. But she didn't stay for long. She quickly marched out, wanting to personally make sure that everything was ready for a speedy departure for Zuko.
As Zuko, Toph and Ty Lee approached Azula's door, they found a note stuck to it. Holding the note in place was a familiar looking knife. Scrawled on the note in clear, carefully written characters was "Zuzu". Zuko looked bleakly at the knife, before he pulled it out of the wooden door and placing it in his pocket, quietly muttering, "How does she keep getting it?" He grabbed the note, opened it quickly, breaking the wax that held it closed, ripping the letter slightly. His eyes skimmed across it feverishly. His brow furrowed as he reread the blasted piece of parchment.
"What is it?" Ty Lee asked eagerly, standing on her toes behind Zuko, trying to read the letter from over his broad shoulders.
"Azula's gone," Zuko said in a depressing monotone. He held the letter up, intently watching the light filter through it, before it burst into flames around his thumb and forefinger, which had been holding it up to the light. Burned, dark pieces fell to the ground like autumn leaves, still glowing around the edges.
Toph and Ty Lee gave each other a shocked look before they both said together, "Uh-oh."