*I do not own anything! This is strictly for fun! And I am hoping that this revamp flows a little better. Reviews, questions, concerns and ideas are all appreciated. ENJOY!*
Zuko walked down the dark halls of the asylum. His red robes swished at the pace he walked. The doctor seemed to be talking nonsense.
"Her mind has completely broken..."
"Her consciousness has shifted, she's no longer seeks out violence..."
All of which meant nothing to the young Fire Lord. For he knew one thing that was always true.
'Azula always lies.' He came to the solid steel door that housed his sister. Zuko took a breath. "Open it."
"But my lord..." the doctor protested.
"I've no interest in your assumptions doctor." he exhaled a small flame. "I know her. I will know if she..." 'is gone...' he thought to himself. The orderlies each grasped the levers and began to turn. The door creaked open and Zuko saw something he did not expect. Though he had no idea what he would find, Zuko did no think he'd find Azula sitting calmly at a table. Her white linen clothes looked clean and almost pristine. She was brushing her chocolate tresses with a comb. The air in the cell wasn't at all sickly, like Zuko had been used to while in her presence. She turned. Zuko gasped.
Her eyes were no longer that molten gold, filled with scheming and lies. They were a shade of sweet honey, filled with innocence and wonder. Azulas' face filled with recognition. She stood abruptly. "Zuko!" she rushed him, his guards hit a defensive stance. She stopped in fear. Zuko held his arm out to calm his guards. The look on her face was a mix of confusion and sadness. "It's because of what I did isn't it?" she was close to tears.
"Leave us," Zuko ordered. His steel eyes left no room for arguments. The heavy door closed, but Zuko could still sense his men behind it. Azula kept a respectful distance, her small hands twiddling with the ends of her hair. Her hair! When the old Azula kept it order;y and precise. She now had it out and loose.
"Your hair..." Zuko said, he held out his hand. A silent invitation for her to some closer to him. She smiled sadly and accepted. She took three steps closer to him, still fiddling with her hair.
"I... let loose now..." she murmured shyly. Zuko took a strand from her hands, allowing his callused finger tips to feel the softness.
"It suites you," he agreed. Her smile nearly melted his cold demeanor. This wasn't the Azula he'd always known. She jumped slightly, Zuko had to force himself not to react.
"Where are my manners. Please Zuko, wont you sit?" she extended her arm towards the table she'd vacated. Zuko nodded, taking his seat slowly still watching her. "can I offer you a drink? I'm afraid all I have is water..."
"Water will be fine," he replied. This puzzle bothering him. It couldn't be a trick. Not even Azula was this good. But this girl was a complete opposite of the sister he'd always known. She placed the metal cup in front of him. Her face went from pleasantly flustered to crestfallen.
"I know what your thinking," Azula said as she sat across from him slowly. "You wondering if I'm still that monster. But Zuko I swear I'm not! I..."
"What do you remember?" Zuko asked, his water untouched.
"Not much," Azula admitted, suddenly finding her lap and clasped hands very interesting. "Bits and pieces really. Its the rage that is easiest to remember. I was so angry, at everything. I..." she gasped, her hands flying up to her face. "Zuko..." she whispered. Tears sprang from her eyes. "I shot our Uncle!" Zuko felt an odd need to comfort his sister, wondering if this was what Sokka felt like with Katara.
"He survived," Zuko replied. Relief oozed from Azula, but the tears still fell.
"I'm so...(sob) so glad. I hope to (inhale) apologize to him one day," Azula cried. Zuko was about to speak again but Azula continued. "I know you think this some kind of trick, but please believe me Zuko. I was there for everything! Everything I did, I was there for. I can't explain it. It's like there was her, and then there was me. She had control, and I was forced to watch all the things she did..." she was almost hyperventilating.
Zuko stood slightly and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Peace Azula. I understand what you are saying. We just want to make sure this, this metempsychosis is permanent."
"To make sure I don't turn back into a monster," she replied sadly. Zuko closed his eyes, letting out a breath.
"In insensitive terms, yes Azula. So we know you don't revert back to your old ways."
"The other me will have to kill me Zuko. She'll never get control again," Azula vowed, her honey eyes burning with determination. Zuko retook his seat with a nod, a tiny part of himself hoping she was right.
The sun was setting against the hillside of the plantation hidden deep within the earth kingdom. A young woman about twenty walked through the terracotta halls. Her long dark mocha colored hair was loose and blowing in the wind. Her caramel skin contrasted against the dark blue dress she wore. She smiled, in her hands was a letter marked with Lord Iroh's special seal. How many men would have a steaming tea cup? The young woman found the door she as looking for, and rapped on it softly.
"Enter," called a honeyed voice from inside. She entered. An older woman sat behind a large mahogany desk. The sound of cricket-flies could be heard from the window as the young woman crossed the room to hand over the letter. The older woman read over the letter very carefully. When she finished she set it down. "Wren my dear. How do you feel about returning home?" The girl named Wren smiled slightly.
"If it pleases you, Lady Ursa."
Katara sat across the table from Zuko, the doctors medical reports all over it. She was combing over them at her friends request. It was simply amazing. Azula's mind had fractured into two parts, a Sub and Dom. The submissive personality was now in control. But for how long? From a medical standpoint it was all quite fascinating. Zuko sat for as long as he could before asking.
"Well?" Katara jumped slightly, forgetting she was supposed to be explaining this to him.
"It's just as it says Zuko. I've ran as many tests, even used my bending. As far as I can tell this is permanent." Zuko lowered his head.
"I was afraid you'd say that."
"What do you mean?" Katara asked.
"I, I might have to put my sister on trial."
"What?! Why?!"
"Katara, this is Azula we are talking about. She's hurt countless people both in the earth kingdom and here in the fire nation. I can't just ignore that." Katara reached for Zuko's hand.
"That wasn't her though. At least not who she is now."
"To our people it wont matter. She is as much a war criminal as my father. She must held accountable for her crimes..."
"How about seventeen years of being forced to do things against your will, and being powerless to stop it. You have to keep in mind Zuko, there are two different Azula's in there. The one we know, and the one that is in control now. I think your people will accept that answer," Katara soothed. She smiled a little. "And if they don't believe you, I think they'll believe me. The worlds greatest healer I think they call me?" Zuko returned the smile.
"Something like that. You're right Katara. I will deal with it when the time comes. For right now I need to focus on the needs of the Fire Nation..." Suddenly General Iroh entered the study, slightly huffing from his hurry. "...Uncle? What is it?!"
Iroh eased himself into a large chair with Katara's help. He smiled appreciatively at her. He then turned to Zuko. "We must make preparations nephew. We have some very important guests arriving in a few weeks time."
"Who are these important guests Uncle?" Zuko asked, interest peeked.
"These people..." Iroh chose his words wisely. The letter he'd received was specific on his instructions. "...have news about your mother Nephew." Katara could barely contain her gasp. For two years Zuko had been searching for his mother with little luck. She gazed at her friend, the hope written all over his face.
"Are...are you sure Uncle?" his voice full of remorse. Iroh nodded.
"Yes my nephew. The Grand Blade master will have all the answers you require."
It took The Grand Blade a month to arrive, much to Iroh's relief. He was beginning to think it was a bad idea to give his nephew the hint he had. Almost everyday Iroh was grilled for information by Zuko. The carriage was covered with the White Lotus insignia, the young driver wore a elbow length blue cloak with white trim. Katara shifted nervously beside Zuko and his Uncle. She felt a little like an interloper in this, but both Zuko and Iroh assured her she was welcome. The driver pulled the reigns stopping the dragon-mooses and hopped down. Her form was entirely female as she opened the silk screen back to assist the Grand Blade. An older woman emerged, she wore a head scarf similar to her servant.
As they settled in the study, Zuko felt his palms sweat. What if this was another dead end? What if they came to tell him his mother was dead, again? Iroh finished with serving the tea with his normal decorum. Even Katara seemed completely at ease, but Zuko felt himself leaning towards panic. Katara noted her friends body language and decided to break the ice for him.
"My Lady. About the news you came with..." the woman's hand stopped Katara from continuing. Iroh chuckled.
"The Grand Blade has a question for you Fire Lord." Zuko nodded, doing his best to keep eye contact with the woman's honeyed eyes. Iroh continued. " She wishes to know why it is so important that you find her. A man your age with a country to rule and an heir to produce. Why is finding a single woman more important?"
Zuko felt anger boil through his veins,how dare this woman ask such a question! But held his temper and let it exhale through his breath. "I lost her at such a young age..." Katara extended a hand to her friend, knowing his exact feelings. "...She was my world... losing her was a pain I never wish to relive. I must find her, tell her how sorry I am..." She leaned in again, Iroh repeated. "For what?" Zuko released his held breath, "For not being stronger. If I had not been stronger, she would never of had to leave. She never would have had to do what she did..." He lowered his head in shame, for tears poured freely from his good eye.
"Zuko..." spoke a voice he had not heard in at least twelve years. He glance over to see the golden honeyed eyes he'd stared into for all of his childhood.
"Mom?" he breathed. The eyes smiled as the older woman removed the scarf. The same face of his mother was revealed, though a bit withered and aged by the time that had passed. Her once dark chocolate locks were dull and slightly graying. But still Zuko saw the same beauty he always had. "My son, I did what I did so that you could live. Your grandfather would've killed you in cold blood to make a point..." her hand found the rough skin of his scared eye.
Tears flowed from Lady Ursa's eyes freely as she gazed at her son. Zuko lunged forward and embraced her. "I love you mom. I never got to tell you..."
"I knew Zuko. I always knew..." Iroh kept his unshed tears in check as he handed Lady Katara a handkerchief which she accepted. Ursa pulled away slightly with a smile, "I chose now to make myself known to you, because you're task to rebuild the Fire Nation is nearly completed. We knew it was time to make ourselves known to you once more." Zuko cocked his good eyebrow, "we?" His peripheral vision caught the other woman moving closer into the room. She stopped just behind Iroh and raised her hands to her hood. As it lowered back, dark mocha tresses cascaded down with it. Her cherub like face has also aged. Her light blue eyes shined as she smiled at him. Her caramel skin looked silky smooth. Her white teeth glistened as she spoke. "Hello Zuko." Zuko gaped once more as he rose from holding his mother. "W-Wren." from there his world went black.