Please review. Let me know how this story going. I am trying to explain everything through, or at least the way I can see this scenario working. Next chapter will detail how Azula and Ty Lee made it to the Spirit World. Until then, enjoy.
Zuko took a long, slow sip of his tea as he waited. It would seem that no matter what he did he could never rid himself of her. For years, she had tormented his nightmares and disrupted his dreams. Those piercing, cold eyes seemed to follow him wherever he went. Seventy long years had passed and she was still there. He saw her in Izumi and even his grandson, Iroh II. The guilt had slowly eaten away at his soul. Azula, Crowned Princess of the Fire Nation. His sister. His adversary. His best friend. His worst enemy. Despite all he had done to help her, she had been lost to the darkness, taking poor Ty Lee with her. His heart ached when he thought of his former wife. It was rare for her to cry, yet he would never forget the night she sobbed in his arms at the loss of her friend. He blamed himself for it for so many years and tried his best to help her forget. Yet, the haunting truth had caught up with him again.
The sound of chains disrupted the retired Fire Lord's inner turmoil briefly. Zuko stood as two earth-benders dismantled a wall as well as the metal behind it. Taking a deep breath, the former Fire Lord allowed his eyes to fall upon the young man who rattled his chains with each full step. His hair had grown around his face and down his back once again. Both men glared at the other as he inched closer.
"Sit please," commanded the Fire Lord.
"I'd rather stand," responded the man with contempt in his voice.
"As you wish, I think I will return to my seat then".
Zuko took a seat in his chair, glaring patiently at the sight before him.
"Are you just going to sit and stare, old man?" Asked Zaheer with slight irritation in his voice.
"I think you know why I am here".
Zaheer scoffed. "You are seventy years too late it seems," was his response.
The former Fire Lord took another sip of his tea. "I have only recently learned of this".
The prisoner shook his locks of hair defiantly, yet kept a calm composure.
"Oh, really? So why make your way here? Why now? Just because I sent a letter? Hmm…are you this kind to all prisoners or am I just that special".
Zuko had wrestled with the question himself. Yet the letter sent by Zaheer contained alarming information that the younger man could not have possibly known.
"I felt that it was my duty. As you now know these accusations you are making are implausible. They have zero validity," was the former fire lord's response.
"Hmph, so you travel your regal-ness all the way here to commune with a prisoner just to tell me that? No, you are hiding something. You know that you and your descendants are frauds. Even after seventy years".
"My sister—." Started Zuko, however, he was quickly interrupted.
"Half-sister!" Croaked Zaheer. "Yes, I know the story of the lies and deception. Stealing the crown and keeping the big secret from the people. You had no birthright to the throne. And once they find out".
Zuko's anger flared as he stood.
"I don't know where you are gathering this information, Zaheer. Even if what you say is correct. What makes you think that after all this time, things will change?"
Zaheer bellowed a sinister laugh. The man seemed almost mad with lunacy.
"We will have to see how this plays out," he sneered. "But I know and you know. The divine right to rule, is something you are born with".
#
Upon returning to his chains in the mountains above Republic City, Zaheer had waited patiently for his time to meditate to the spirit world. He had to talk to the two women he had met before his failed attempt at killing Korra. Maybe they could provide him some insight on what to do next. Taking a deep breath, he levitated into the air and crossed his legs. Closing his eyes, he immediately teleported into the Fog of Lost Souls. Upon opening his eyes, he locked them with the beautiful amber ones he'd seen before. The woman narrowed her eyes and turned away from him.
"You're back!" Exclaimed the bubbly brunette in face-paint standing next to her.
"Hush, Ty Lee," grumbled the dragon.
"Hmm, I see you did not slay the avatar," she stated without turning around.
The man's eyes enlarged.
"How did you know?"
As if on cue, the woman abruptly turned to face him. "You just told me, just now," she said with a smirk.
Zaheer ground his teeth, but said nothing.
"Ok, Agni, calm down. You remind me of someone I know when you do that. Careful, I may kill you accidentally".
"I'd like to see you try," challenged the air-bender.
Azula, taken aback by the statement, immediately readied a stance. Zaheer did the same when suddenly Miss Face-paint somersaulted between them.
"You two stop it, this instant!" She commanded. "Azula! How dare you raise your hand to your son? He did not have to come back, ya' know."
Zaheer relaxed his stance and sat on the foggy, brown dust, careful not to breathe too much of the stuff in. Azula's eyes bulged, causing the little acrobat to place her hands on her hips in defiance. The woman finally relaxed as well, but did not sit. Zaheer had felt as if the wind had been ripped from his chest.
"Stupid woman!" hissed Azula towards the acrobat as she crossed her arms and turned away from the two.
Your son. Thought Zaheer, suddenly understanding the acrobat's words. Could it be real? The air-bender had very little memory of his childhood. At ten years old all that he could remember was awakening on the streets of Republic City. He was poor and orphaned until he was convinced by some soldiers to join the military. Still in shock, he watched as the acrobat tumbled to his side.
"Listen, you can play catch up later. First, you have to get us out of here," she pleaded. Zaheer searched the girl's face for evidence of lying. Get them out of here? As in out of the spirit realm?
"I can't," he answered calmly.
"Why not?"
"Well, in order to guide you. I have to know the location of your bodies. It has been a long time. I doubt you have anything to return to".
The acrobat's bottom lip trembled, causing Azula to huff loudly and pull the girl away to comfort her. Zaheer watched as she cradled the other girl's head in her palms. My mother. The infamous Azure Dragon? The Fire Nation's Crowned Princess? How?
"Ty Lee, you have been here for too long. Let me do the talking ok?"
The girl nodded and leaned against the woman.
"Good". She then turned her piercing eyes on Zaheer. "Now, you, instead of coming here and acting as though you know everything, listen. Ty Lee and I came here with our bodies. When we entered the spirit realm, we were automatically trapped here. I can explain more later, but I'd rather do it without having to battle a pound of fog in my face. We do not know the exit out of here, so we need your help".
Zaheer nodded slowly. "But, I am in prison. Plus things are much different than I am sure you're used to".
This seemed to set the fire-bender off quickly. "Will you shut the fu—ahem". She stopped and closed her eyes before continuing. "I am your mother for a reason. You weren't just born with that head on your shoulders. I will explain once you take us to the portal, got it?"
Zaheer narrowed his eyes. He wasn't sure if he was ready to believe this mysterious woman, claiming to be his mother.
"Don't trust me, huh? Well, it is a family trait that you inherited perfectly dear. Good. You'll need it. Now, if you want to spend your miserable days trapped in this vile place while your body rots slowly, suit yourself. I will start the story from the beginning if you'd like".
She then released Ty Lee, and crossed her arms.
"So, one day yours truly," she pointed to herself. "Learned some information so I devised a plan. This plan involved me spending an entire week with some loser submitting to his will for the sake of producing a child".
Zaheer felt his jaw clench and immediately raised his hand for her to stop. "Enough. Just give me the short version".
The golden eyed woman grinned slyly.
"No, it doesn't work that way".
Zaheer grunted angrily. He was growing tired of this woman's games and the fog was beginning to clog his mind.
"Fine! I'll leave you two be. Good riddance!"
Ty Lee shrieked and it was Azula's turn to narrow her eyes.
"Fine. Suit yourself. I guess we will be here forever, Ty Lee."
As the two began to walk away from him, Zaheer took a look around. The fog was everywhere. He had to teleport. Yet he wanted to know more.
"Ok! Hey, look, if you guys follow me, I know of a place.
Azula smiled slyly as she and Ty Lee followed the air-bender. Zaheer managed to find an exit and pointed to a nearby tree.
"It's there. If you wish to go through, you must wait until the portal is opened.
"And how long will that take?" Asked Ty Lee.
"Not long. Someone should enter through it soon". With that, he teleported back to his body.
#
The air-bender had been right. Soon after he'd vanished into thin air, the portal to the outside world opened and two fairly young women arrived in the Spirit World, hand in hand.
"Boy, I can't wait to leave this place!" Ty Lee exclaimed with a chuckle.
Azula quickly clasped her hands over the girl's mouth and they moved on the far side of the tree so that the girls could not spot them.
"We're not home free, yet". Scolded Azula. "Remember, we were supposed to be here forever".