WHAT! I. AM. NOT. DEAD. YOU ARE A LYING TRAITOR!
The world around her began to spin. White spots appeared in her vison, demanding her to squeeze her eyes close and hold her head in her trembling hands.
Azula could hardly hide the contorted expression forming on her callous face from the thunder and ricocheting bolts of lightning in her mind.
THIS. IS. NOT. REAL. WAKE UP AZULA! WAKE. UP!
Ursa turned to face her daughter. She clasped her hands together in front of her body leisurely.
Sweetheart, I assure you, this is quite real. However Azula if you do not calm yourself, you will burn your physical body from the inside out, and you will never be able to return to it. You will be stuck in the abyss between the living and the spirit worlds.
Azula let her hands fall into fists at her side. Her feet firmly rooted to the ground in her stance. Glaring menacingly at the woman who gave birth to her.
What are you saying woman? Answer me NOW. Am. I. Dead?
No. Azula, you are not dead. But you will be, or at least your physical form will die. If that were to happen your spirit will have nowhere to return to.
So I am not dead?
Ursa swayed her head swiftly side to side. No, sweetheart. Not, yet. Whether you survive this journey will be entirely up to you.
I am done with your cryptic bullshit, Ursa. Since I am not dead, I demand you to tell me how to get the hell out of here this instant!
No.
No? How dare you defy me! I am the Crown Princess of the Fire Nation. You will do as I command!
If you haven't noticed, but you are no longer in the Fire Nation. It will serve you well to remember that. You may be not dead. However, I am. You my dear, Princess, have absolutely no power over me or in this domain, nor shall you ever.
Ursa kept her serene demeanor through her daughter's indignation. She had much to show her in such little time.
Azula, I understand that this must be difficult to comprehend. I am not your enemy here. Time is. Each moment counts and the longer you are separated from your body, it will that much more difficult to return. Azula let her spirit absolve some of the tension that she was so valiantly trying to cling to. I only wish to help you, as I was not given the opportunity in life. I want to give you one last gift.
What could you possibly have to offer me? I have EVERYTHING that I could ever want waiting for me. I have my pathetic excuse of a brother's birth right. I will be Fire Lord. Nations bow to me. I have Father!
Really? You say you all those things are waiting for you? Hmm. What is the last thing that you remember?
What does that have to do with anything? I just need to get back to my body, and out of your retched presence!
Why do you think that you are here? How do you think that your spirit arrived to this place?
For once since reuniting with Ursa, Azula did not have an answer. She went to open her mouth and realized that she had nothing.
Think. What is the last think that you remember?
Enough silence past between the two women to span across vast oceans, before Azula finally responded. Her voice was laced with defeat and confusion. Two things that were completely uncharted territory for the disconcerted Princess.
I…I…I d o n't, re-member. Maundered Azula.
Try, harder. Encouraged Ursa.
Azula closed her eyes, attempting to evoke her lost memories from the depths of her mind. While her daughter's eyes were shut, Ursa elegantly waved her right hand through the air. A yearning smile graced her noble features at the new sight before her.
With her eyes still closed, Azula started to mumble bits and pieces of what she was beginning to remember. Zuko. Agni Kai. Lightning. Water Tribe peasant. Her last phrase made her face scowl in disgust. Then she opened her eyes as her mother said, very good Azula.
Looking around her new environment in disbelief, Mother, why have you brought me here? She choked out, sounding very much like the uncorrupted little girl she once was.
Ursa gently placed her hand to Azula's cheek donning a grievous expression. I think, that being in a place that holds memories of love will help you on your journey.
The touch of her mother's hand did not repulse her, as she believed that it would. Azula shockingly leaned into Ursa's hand, returning the gesture.
"Look, her breathing is evening out," Zuko said with a breath of relief. He had not taken his eyes off of his dying sister. Even with their past, he couldn't let her die alone. He believed that there was a piece of her that was still worth saving. He wanted there to be something in her worth saving. He held on to that hope to give him strength, for her.
Katara stood up from her chair to examine her patient. Uncertain of how she honestly felt about everything that was happening. Katara knew that she didn't want her to suffer, but she wasn't quite sure of anything else. It wasn't like Ron Yah, but she felt some similarities in both situations. The one and only thing that she was absolutely positive was, was Zuko. She did not want him to suffer any more than he already has, and if that meant his sister needed to live, then she would do everything she could to save her, for him. For him. She thought to herself as her healing hands began to glow above Azula's seemingly recovering body.
Zuko was watching Katara's face for any inclination of how she felt his sister was doing. Her oceanic eyes instantly filled to the brim, threatening to burst.
Panic washed over...
Tell me Azula, what do you remember? She asked holding Azula's face in her hands, looking her child in the eyes.
Azula was hurled out of the present back to her previous revelations, and stepped away from her mother's reach. Rage of a thousand demons illuminated behind her eyes.
That waste of life, that you cursed me with for a brother, was trying to take away my rightful place. Pathetic. He needed that sorry excuse of a peasant to help him. Seethed Azula, with venom dripping from her invisible fangs.
"Zuko! She's seizing! Her body can't handle her fever much longer! Hurry please I need more water!" pleaded Katara, as she held down Azula's convulsing body. The water that she did have gloved over her hands was evaporating from Azula's spike in body temperature.
Panic washed over Zuko at her words. Fear engulfed him as he watched his sister body. It looked as if she was reliving the Agni Kai. The way her body was withering beneath Katara's small hands. He grabbed the porcelain basin sitting on the table next to Katara's chair and frantically ran to the bathroom to fill it.
"I can't lose my baby sister. Please give her strength. Help her find peace," he silently prayed to anyone who was listening.