The corridor before Princess Azula's cell was dark. Zuko nervously glanced around. He didn't want to do this.

His uncle prodded him gently forward. When they reached the iron door, Zuko turned around to face Iroh. "Do I have to wear this?" he asked, pointing to the black fabric clinging to his skin, underneath his imperial robes.

Iroh said, "Yes. It's the only fireproof armor in existence strong enough to hold its own with your sister."

"I can hold my own with her," grumbled Zuko. "Besides, it's itchy."

"You should at least try to be grateful. The Northern Water Tribe worked on that fabric for years. It was a good coronation gift."

"It's a stupid gift. The only way to fight fire is with fire, not some stupid enchanted fabric."

"You shouldn't speak that way about your allies. Now go on. She's ready for you."

Zuko sighed as a guard opened the door and bowed to him. He glanced once at his uncle, then strode into the room.

It was dimly lit. There was a single lamp hanging from the ceiling. Azula was on her knees, chains holding her arms to the ground. She didn't even look up.

Zuko cleared his throat. "Um. Azula. Can you…hear me?"

She looked up at him. There was a sick, dead look in her eyes.

"I…I wanted to tell you, that I have just been crowned Fire Lord." She stared at him. "And…that you could have a chance at redemption, if you just tried to turn yourself around, and you could be a great princess, and that could be…" He trailed off. She wouldn't stop looking at him. "Well?" he asked. "What do you say?"

She didn't move.

"Azula? Do you have anything to say to that?"

She just sat there.

"Come on, Azula, please. Say something."

"I hate you."

Her voice was a faint, hoarse whisper, like there was something stuck blocking her throat. "I hate you," she repeated.

"Azula- this – this isn't my fault-"

"You took my title. You killed me. I hate you."

"Azula, please, don't be like that-"

"I hate you!"

She opened her mouth and blue fire came raging at Zuko. Instinctively, he put his arms up to bend the fire away from him, but a few flames licked at him anyway. Six guards were in the room in a second, holding her down, and dragging Zuko out the door. Once he was safe, a physician began nervously checking him over for burns or bruises. Zuko ordered him to stop at once.

"Looks like the Water Tribe's armor served you well after all," said Iroh gravely. "This is not good, Zuko. I thought…"

"It doesn't matter what you thought," said Zuko darkly. "This is ridiculous. She needs to be confined, solitary confinement. Somebody confine her!"

The guards nodded and hurried to do as he said. Iroh just looked at him sadly. Zuko realized he was shaking.

"Zuko. Maybe she just needs your-"

"She doesn't need anything from me," he shot back. "And, as I recall, I am your Fire Lord, and you will address me accordingly."

Still trembling from head to toe, he left the mental facility where his sister now lived.

He thought briefly of his father, in the high security prison in the heart of the Fire Nation, and then of his sister, his stupid, foolish sister, only fifteen years old and her life already over, and then of his mother, somewhere in the world, whether dead or alive he could not say, and then his uncle, who must be sitting in his rooms somewhere, mourning for the strangers who had not been a family for so long…

And it's true, isn't it? he thought to himself bitterly. Strangers.

That's all they are to me now.

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D'AWW.

FIRE NATION IMPERIAL FAMILY ANGSTING = ADORABLE.

I loved writing this one. I don't know, there was just something about it that was just so amazingly sad. Haha. Um. Yeah.

Part III in my Families series.

Thanks for reading & please review!