Disclaimer: I do not own the Avatar franchise or its characters. All rights belong to Nickelodeon, Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino. I am just a humble fan that is taking my favorite characters on a journey I have crafted in my head. No copyright infringement is intended.

Princess of Fire, Princess of Hate:

An Avatar the Last Airbender Story:

Chapter III: Child of the Earth and Unbearable Tasks

The Flickering Flame. The most high-profile prison structure within all the Fire Nation. Throughout the history of the building there was never a single successful breakout attempt. It was never even thought that an escape attempt could succeed, the prison was more fortress than jail. There were 24-hour patrol squadrons combing every inch of the massive structure, there was no such thing as a blind spot. The outer walls were covered in glistening obsidian spikes in case anyone was crazy enough to try to climb out of their cell through the windows. It was once asked why the windows were not barred in the first place to cut off any possible escape plan, the head warden stated that he found it amusing to offer the inmates the tiniest bits of hope in regards to escape, only to see their hopes dashed when they tried to go AWOL and escape using the walls.

In the 50 years that the prison was operational, there had been 19 separate escape attempts planned, none of them were well executed and all the participants were put to death-that is if they didn't impale themselves first-many had thought to bypass the spikes altogether and try to leave out the front door. This plan was even more ludicrous than trying to escape out a window. The prison staff didn't let just anyone apply for a job. All of the guardsmen were well-trained in both the art of bending as well as physical combat. It would've been foolish for the institution to employ anyone that would rely on only their bending alone. After all, this was a Fire Nation prison. While it was true that for most inmates the prison itself was able to frighten them into reforming, it didn't have a 100% accurate track record. There were a few times during its history where certain inmates would not break based on the reputation of the structure alone. When these inmates attempted to break out, the guards could not rely on their bending prowess alone. As such, guards carrying scimitars, lances, hook swords and axes were not uncommon to see. Every citizen knew the reputations of the guards that patrolled the Flickering Flame; they were not to be trifled with.

Nearly all the prisoners are rightfully afraid to act out in any way, they do not want to bring attention to themselves. However, not every prisoner was cut from the same cloth. Some of them were not so easily frightened. Such is the case for one such inmate housed in the deepest part of the prison. The wing that was meant for the most vile of criminals, ones that had no hope of ever seeing the outside world again.. Normally, there were no shortage of hard-nosed guards that were on hand to quell any potential dispute, even in the solitary confinement wing. This was where their intimidation tactics were needed the most after all, however, about 10 years ago when the new inmate arrived every other prisoner that was present in the solitary confinement begged to be moved to a different sector, all of the hardened criminals suddenly feared for their very existences.

Normally, the warden of the prison would not pay attention to such outbursts of nonsense. These criminals were not even supposed to be acknowledged, they were the worst of the worst after all. As far as the management of the prison was concerned they were not even human anymore. They were animals, beasts. Every rule is broken once in a while however. The newest inmate was unlike any other criminal the structure ever held in its half-century of service. The management was not one to take anything at face value. Especially concerning the new transfer. Therefore, in an unbelievable turn of events, the warden listened to the other inmates and decided to allow them to occupy one of the "softer" sections of the prison. The prisoners were so overjoyed that they had been model citizens ever since their wing reassignments. All the guards that were normally seen patrolling the solitary confinement section vehemently refused to do their jobs, as with the other prisoners they were all too frightened of the prisoner to even look her way, let alone attempt to restrain her. If this were any other inmate, the guard count would have been a respectable 60. That number has dramatically decreased and only the absolute toughest guards chose to stay and do their duty.

All in all, there were only ever three human beings occupying the solitary confinement wing for the last decade. Two guards and one prisoner. Surely, such a menacing aura like the one the prisoner possessed had to emanate from the most devious, destructive, calculating person ever imagined. Someone that had seen countless battles, someone who was unable to grasp the idea of mercy. The prisoner embodied all these aspects with one curious abnormality to the mental image. Even with all of these deadly traits, the prisoner was still one of the most strikingly beautiful people in the history of the Fire Nation.

If anyone was to take notice of the only inmate in the solitary confinement wing, the first thing they would notice was the identical pair of golden orbs that sat across from each other on her face. The Princesses' eyes were so incredibly beautiful to be sure, but, for those unfortunate enough to take a good long look, the absolute malice and diabolical ferocity would be there to see plain as day. Her lustrous dark brown hair which had once been neatly combed and stylized by attending servants, was now left wild and unwashed, a continuous tangled knot, a maze darting this way and that behind her. The length of her hair was just as unbelievable. Reaching all the way down her back past her posterior and dragging on the floor behind her. Clearly Princess Azula had seen better days in terms of fashion and appearance. But, all things told, she didn't really think that her appearance was the most pressing situation for her attention to be focused on at the present moment.

She had been locked up in prison for the past decade and all she could think of was how to obtain the revenge she so desperately craved. She knew the reputation of the prison, she actually had unruly and insubordinate servants sent here before. In fact, she quite enjoyed the look of absolute hopelessness that her pitiful servants adopted when they realized where they were going and what their ultimate fates would be. It was this look and palpable feeling of absolute disillusionment and desperation that the princess drank in with an unearthly amount of exuberance and relish. People whispered, some more loudly than others, that this could not be the real Princess. There was no conceivable way that this spawn of darkness could potentially rule over an entire nation someday. Some whispered that the real Princess was spirited away on orders from the previous Fire Lord himself, maybe he thought his daughter was too weak. The current Princess must be a stand-in that was found to take her place. One of the more interesting theories was that a dark and malicious spirit found its way into the Princess's body and decided to take root in her being. Infecting and corrupting her soul from the inside, turning her into what existed today. Azula had heard many of these theories in her time. Most of them coming from the always flapping lips of palace servants who didn't know that the little Princess was very adept at hearing things that she wasn't meant to over here in the first place. It was a skill of hers, there was no one better in the art of ease dropping.

All these theories made the Princess laugh. One of the few times in fact that her laugh was genuine. Not used in some sort of deceitful way. The ignorant masses were hilarious indeed. They couldn't believe that the unassuming , precocious, and beautiful heiress to the throne could turn into such a demonic and fearsome individual. Lady Ursa would not weaken her daughter's heart as she had been able to do with little Zuzu. All of the sickeningly sweet and sugary words that were meant to offer hope and comfort always felt flat with the Princess.

"Enough of this reminiscing nonsense." The Princess rose from her cot and started to pace around the cell with no real goal in mind. On her third trip around the perimeter of the makeshift containment chamber, she noticed the mirror hanging on the opposite wall and absent-mindedly began stroking her hair out of boredom, twirling individual strands in a loop with her fingers.

"Guard, I demand to know today's date." the Princess really didn't care one way or the other, it just allowed her the tiniest bit of interaction. All of these people in the prison were beneath her to be sure, but, even so, Azula was not immune to the agonizingly slow feeling of the passage of time in prison walls. Like everyone else, she was susceptible to the feeling of becoming a bit stir crazy. As much as it disgusted her to admit, these painfully dimwitted and useless beings served a purpose to her.

Normally, prisoners would not be given the time of day. For the guards to engage them in conversation would be the same as admitting that they were people; a school of thought that was very much contradictory to the nature of the prison. The best way to break an individual of their free will and destructive compulsions was to make them feel less than human. However, once again, Azula was a different specimen altogether. To ignore her and pretend that she did not exist was a sure-fire way to draw her ire. Even though she was contained, that didn't make her any less dangerous than she was under normal circumstances. The guard, an individual with at least 15 years experience within the prison's walls, shakily turned around as if cockroach mosquitoes were skittering up his spine and stammered out a response.

"J-J-July 15th Princess." All the guard had to do was give a response regarding the date and yet when asked by such a menacing human being as the prisoner behind him, even something as simple as this turned into an excruciating mental exercise. The guard was sweating profusely, in fact, it looked like he was on the verge of passing out. This was made all the more comical due to his appearance. He was a grown man, probably in his mid-30s. He had, to put it rather nicely, a fair bit of weight on him. He was probably pushing upwards of 300 pounds. It should be noted that not all this weight was purely fat either. Due to his extended stay within the prison structure, he had built up an impressive physique over the years. Muscles were very plain to see. He was not only muscular but of a fairly imposing vertical stature as well, his height clocked in at around 6'7". With crimson hair and jet black eyes he stood more like a monolith than a man. Even with all these very impressive statistics, the man was still cowering thanks to a woman who was not only over a foot shorter than him but also 200 pounds lighter than he was. He could not help but feel like a child who is afraid of the bogeyman. Unlike the bogeyman, however, the threat that Azula posed was quite real.

"Did I hear you correctly? Did you say the 15th of July? Interesting, most interesting indeed…" Azula resumed pacing around her cell. However, now there almost seemed like there was a spring in her step. A plan was forming, a most ruthless plan. Azula was just beginning to sit down and concoct a stratagem when the guard did the most foolish thing he could do. Seeing that the prisoner seemed in a most unusually chipper mood, the guard decided to strike up a conversation. Now, of course, this type of interaction was frowned upon. But, due to the drastically reduced number of prisoners and guards in the solitary confinement wing, the guards also craved conversation and human companionship. Due to the nature of the prison and it's 24 hour patrolling schedule, very rarely did the guards get to see their family or take an extended vacation or leave of absence. Sadly, this particular guard chose the absolute wrong inmate to try to befriend.

"You seem in a better mood today than usual my Princess, what's the occasion?" It was at this point that Azula had no choice but to peer up at the guard. She could scarcely believe what she had heard, it was absolutely unthinkable. Preposterous even! She stood and very deliberately walked over to the door of the cell. To those on the outside looking in she seemed to have the qualities of a viper about her, not so much walking as a normal person would do, but rather, creeping silently and delicately across the crusty floor of her holding cell, almost slithering in a way. There was only a few feet and a steel door separating the inmate and the guard at this point. They couldn't have been any closer to each other if they tried. All the prisoner had to do was look in the general direction of the guard and the air around them immediately became stifled and heavy with a sense of foreboding and tension. The guard didn't know it yet, but, this would be his last day on the job.

Azula adopted a sugary sweet tone to her voice, she was coiling and was almost ready to strike… "I'm sorry, I must have misheard you. Did you ask me what the occasion was?" The poor guard was apprehensive to say the least. He knew that nothing was as it seems when it came to Princess Azula. Even so, he could not show weakness in front of his inmate. He had to make sure that she knew he was the one in control, a foolish thought if ever there was one.

"Yes, it's not often that anyone sees you this excited." It was at this point that Azula took the last few steps to the door. She interlocked her hands together and placed them on the inside window frame of the door, resting her head entirely on the makeshift pillow her hands created for her. Her face was the only part of her that was visible through the bars.

"Tell me, how long have you been in the employ of the Fire Nation? You must forgive me, but, I can't possibly be expected to know the life story of every citizen. It was hard for the Princess to feign interest in the affairs and histories of those beneath her, but, on the other hand, she always did like the feeling of suckering someone in right before she went for the jugular. So, barely able to disguise her boredom and apathy as wholehearted interest, she decided to stand there and look as convincingly spellbound as she could and listen to what she assumed would be a very long and drawn out story.

"Well, -the guard began- both my father and grandfather were loyal to the previous two Fire Lords. They both thought that the Fire Nation deserved to bend the rest of the world to its whims. I mean, really, was there any other nation that deserved or still deserves to rule more than ours? The Air Nomads were a bunch of vegetarian, peace-loving beatniks. They traveled the world and tried to get as many people as they could to convert to a life of nothing more than peace and tranquility. They had no brutal bone in their body. They were not warriors in any sense of the word! A charming idea admittedly, but, one that cannot exist in the real world. The Water Tribes were not any better. They may have had a more substantial military presence, but they didn't effectively know how to use it. I mean honestly, do you really think without the Avatar's assistance , the annals of history would have shown a loss for the Fire Nation at the North Pole? I find that highly unlikely. With all due respect to your highness and her lineage, the Earth Kingdom could have been a serious contender to our proud nation, but, that fool of a ruler and his cowardly nature made it impossible for even the mighty Earth Kingdom to stand against us. I realize that Ba Sing Se was able to withstand your uncles' siege, even so, that has more to do with his willingness to put his family first, even before the expansion of the territory we could control."

"Well, it certainly seems as though you know a lot about our history, -it was at this point that Azula took her head off of her hands and adopted a more dignified position-at any point did your predecessors bother to teach you more simplistic information about the ruling family? Maybe their blood type, their favorite color, favorite food, their respective birthdays perhaps?"

"Why certainly! Firelord Azulon's date of birth is June 15. Fire Lord Ozai's is the 28th of August. I made it my duty to learn everything I possibly could about the ruling family. I consider myself one of the most patriotic and proud citizens of our great Nation!" After he had finished speaking all the guard could do was smile. He was so proud of himself, it was not often that he was able to show exactly how much he knew about the history of his people. Not only that, but he was in the presence of royalty! How many commoners that were born of low birth such as he would ever be able to say the same? In the back of his mind, he knew he was still a guard meant to oversee this inmate, making sure she wasn't able to use any tricks to her advantage. But, through their very short conversation, he had come to the opinion that these horror stories centering around the young woman in front of him were just tall tales and exaggerated anecdotes. She did not seem that frightening after all, far from it. She seemed like a very intelligent, beautiful young woman…

Azula knew that she officially had this poor fool right where she wanted him at this point. He was so enraptured by being able to regurgitate his knowledge about the history of their nation that he didn't foresee the trap that was clear as day, he had walked right into it without a second thought. Even though she was a master manipulator, it always astounded the Princess how frightfully easy it was to make certain types of people do exactly what she wanted them to do. Crafting a trap of words was almost the same as one of those insufferably boring tile games that her uncle enjoyed. The few times in which her uncle tried to sit her down and teach her the games, Azula dreaded the prospect of such an activity. They always seemed so unbearably mundane and agonizingly torturous to sit through.

But her entire attitude on the matter changed once her father commanded that she learned these games. This was not done out of a sense to allow the girl to enjoy something, oh no, it was about teaching her strategy. An aspect of warfare that every great leader, past, present or future needs to master in order to be successful in anything that they do. When looking at these games with this specific purpose in mind, Azula saw the merit of these games immediately. Every move one could make was a decision, one that could lead to a triumphant victory or an agonizing defeat. Her father also commanded that she would never be allowed to rescind a move that she had made if she had seen a better option afterward. In a war, one cannot ask for a do over just because they did not foresee any possible consequences of an action or decision that they made.

Just as with any of those games, from Mahjongg to Pai Sho, Azula found herself in the very same kind of situation at this moment. She was preying upon the foolish guards sense of patriotism and his need for conversation. He was so oblivious that he did not notice the trap she had set for him from the beginning of their game. Well, this very boring and one-sided duel of wits was over. It was time for her winning maneuver…

"Surely someone who knows as much about the royal family as you do would know when the other members of the royal family celebrate their birthdays. Am I right in assuming that you continued to study the royal family on your own after your predecessors had passed on"? While Azula outwardly projected an air of kindness and curiosity, inwardly she was anticipating the moment in which she could deliver the coup de grâce, she wouldn't have that much longer to wait.

"But of course. As I previously said, I know all the birth dates of every monarch, their spouse and every offspring they had." I am a foolproof compendium of knowledge. Try to stump me if you so wish, however, with all due respect I think that you'll find it exceedingly difficult to get the better of me in regard to these matters." As if to drive the point home that he considered this question equivalent to a challenge, the guard crossed his arms together and adopted a sneering visage to show that the idea of this challenge was ludicrous.

"Well even though I may not have a chance at getting the better of you, allow me the opportunity to try."

The moment had finally arrived! At long last, after what seemed like an eternity, Azula's moment of victory had arrived.

"Can you please tell me when my birthday is? I know it seems like an odd question, but after being locked up for so long the hours fly by and each day tends to blur into the next before long."

"Why certainly my Princess! The joyous date of birth which you have claimed for your own is in fact today. The 15th of July. Happy birthday Princess! May you have a wonderful day in which you will obtain everything your heart desires most." The guard only took his eyes off her for a moment and yet in that moment he was doomed.

Bingo. I win, much like I always do… Quick as a flash of lightning Azula's hand found itself around the throat of her hapless jailer. The guard didn't have time to register that he was being choked before the first gasps for air were audible. Choking and wheezing, the guard's face was awash with panic, he had no idea what he had done to deserve this treatment which seemed very much a counterpoint to the side of the Princess he had seen only moments earlier.

"Please, I don't understand. I have answered every question you have asked me, what is your reasoning for acting this way?! At this point, the Princess relaxed her grip on the guard's throat, the color began to reappear in his face. She walked to the other side of the cell and faced the opposite wall so that only her back was visible to the guard. Just after she turned her back to him, the guard thought to himself that he could hear a faint crackling noise… it must have only been his imagination.

"I must apologize to you. In my haste, I forgot to ask what your name was." the Princess turned back to the guard a slight smirk on her lips, barely noticeable, but able to be seen if one looked hard enough. Unfortunately for the guard, he was not adept at noticing small facial expressions. The guard was far more nervous now around the prisoner then he had been only five minutes ago. He was a beast of a man and yet the disheveled woman in front of him had nearly ended his life. He finally remembered who he was dealing with and decided all the horror stories he had heard of the Princess of his beloved Fire Nation were all incredibly accurate. Even so, he was too scared to imagine what could happen to him if he outright refused to answer her question as harmless as the answer may seem. He steeled himself and hurriedly gave a response.

"My parents named me Fei Long, they thought the name possessed an aura of strength and courage." Satisfied that she had no more questions for him, the guard known as Fei Long turned his back on the prisoner eager to do anything to take his mind off the encounter he had just escaped. A few minutes passed by and he did not hear anything inside the cell. Maybe she had gone to sleep. Just as soon as he was getting comfortable and allowing himself to relax a voice broke the silence.

"Next time you ask me what the occasion is for my happy mood, try to remember that it is my birthday sooner than you did. Oh, silly me, why am I acting like you will be around next year to remember? You're not even going to be breathing for five more minutes." For the first time in a decade a streak of lightning escaped Azulas' fingertips. The foolish guard never stood a chance. He did not even have the time to turn to look at the lightning bolt. Instead, the blue streak entered through the back of his skull and violently forced its way out his forehead. Azula could see splotches of crimson adorn the wall opposite her as the guard's body fell lifeless to the ground with a sickening thud.

"Well, that is only the first birthday gift I have planned for myself." Azula was very pleased with herself. Her technique was a little sloppy, she had not had a chance to practice in a very long time. Even so, she was still better than most. A true prodigy never loses the basics of their art. For Azula, both destruction and Lightning Bending were to arts in which she was very well-versed. Sitting herself back on the bed, she felt herself drift into a state of contemplation.

It's clear that someone's going to alert the present Fire Lord to what just occurred. He will have no choice but to show himself in person. He needs to figure out what is to be done with an unruly inmate who is already confined to the solitary wing of the most secure prison in all the known world. Perhaps even more so than that, however, the ruling monarch will probably want to come and wish his little sister a happy birthday. He may hate himself, his wife will no doubt tell him not to show up, but family bonds are very important to the new ruling regime. Even if he doesn't want them to be. I'll see you soon Zuzu, that is unless you can ignore your little sister on her birthday.


Four hours later in the garden of the Fire Lord's palace…

As the sun was setting and turning the skies shades of every different color imaginable, Mai and Zuko were sitting alone underneath the tree that served as Iroh's final resting place. They were not discussing anything paramount to the continued existence of the nation, they weren't even admiring the colors in the sky, they were just sitting under the tree enjoying the peaceful tranquility of their day. They only looked up at the sight of a messenger hawk carrying a message between its talons. The Hawk alighted on the Fire Lord's shoulder and seemed to impatiently wait for the ruler of the Fire Nation to retrieve the message so that he could take to the skies again. After the message was retrieved, the bird was quick to depart and resume his journey, wherever it was that he was going.

"Well, don't keep me in suspense, what does the letter say?" Mai had risen from under the tree and went to see what the message pertained to. She didn't have to get incredibly close to her husband to notice the look of anguish and shock on his face. She had a feeling she knew what this was about before she spoke another word, but, she was hoping that her fears were unfounded. As she would find only minutes later, they were not. Zuko had finished reading the letter before his wife had spoken, even so, he was still too startled to speak. Without a word, he began the trek back into the palace in utter silence. His wife following at his heels. It was only after they had both retreated back into their bed chambers that he could finally find his voice again. It was dry and fragile.

"There's been a death in the Flickering Flame. A guard with many years of experience under his belt was found dead outside of a cell in the solitary confinement wing. I don't think I need to remind you that there has only ever been one prisoner in the solitary wing for the past decade. The medical chief of the prison says the cause of death was obvious and brutal. A bolt of lightning or something similar seems to have entered the back of the skull and exited through the forehead. There's only one person I know who can bend lightning with that amount of force and ferocity. I'm going to have to figure out something different to do with her. I just don't know what else could be done. There is one option left, but, even if it's her, that's going too far." The ruler of the Fire Nation proceeded to stare out the window in silence after voicing his final thought. If someone were to look at him they would assume he was in deep contemplation, they would be wrong. Contemplation suggests that an individual is thinking about a subject. Giving something deep consideration and thought. There was no thought process. No gears were turning in Zuko's head. There was only pain, anguish and despair.

Zuko was so lost within himself that he did not notice his wife had come to stand by his side. Taking his head in her hands, she stood by her husband while he processed this new development. After what seemed like hours, she let go of the one she loved and decided to offer her opinion on the matter. She couldn't believe that she was even suggesting this, but, knowing who it was and knowing how much damage she could cause to everything around her and everything that the two of them had created, Mai could only think of one solution.

"You have to do it." She couldn't even bring herself to elaborate more on her thought process. Even this demon that masqueraded in human form should be allowed to live out her days in containment. Mai wanted to feel as though there was some hope that they could leave Azula alone and pretend she did not exist. That would be best for everyone. Best for the nation, for their friends, for themselves. More than almost anyone else, however, she knew it was impossible. After following Azula for so long, after being privy to all of her deranged and demented thoughts, after witnessing her prowess on the battlefield firsthand there was no other action that could be taken. This was not a normal human after all that could be reasoned with or discarded. This was Azula, the most heinous, twisted and unimaginably evil human being ever to carry on the royal bloodline. The time for deliberation had long since passed. They had tried to forget her existence, but, she had risen again. There was only one option left…

"I can't tell you what to do, as the ruler of this nation you have to make your own decision, but I can tell you what I would do if I was in your place. I know it's incredibly difficult to hear, I know she's your family, your one and only sibling, but honestly there is only one way to handle this. You have to take her out of the equation once and for all". The Queen was about to exit the room when Zuko found his voice once more.

"Do you really think it's that easy? Do you think I can just snap my fingers and all the thoughts I have would vanish? Don't misunderstand me, she's an absolutely heinous entity. I would have had her executed a long time ago. I just can not bring myself to do it. Even after all this time, even after all the wicked atrocities she has visited upon us and the world, I cannot carry out what you suggest. It's impossible, and I refuse to entertain the idea." It was at this point that the Queen, who had her back to her husband, turned back around with a look of utter confusion on her face. She couldn't believe what she had heard. Was her husband serious? Was there a part of him that didn't understand how much her continued existence could harm them?! This was the woman who single-handedly wrestled power and control of the Dai Li, the single most feared military regiment in all of the Earth Kingdom away from its leader. Mai could never forget that, she was there to witness it firsthand after all. This was the same woman who almost took over the role of Fire Lord, a position that would have put her in charge of an entire nation. It was only through the actions of Zuko and Katara that she wasn't able to achieve this lifelong dream.

"Sorry to have to be the bearer of bad news your highness, but you don't have a choice! There is no scenario that I can think of where we can be happy and safe while she continues to draw breath. I don't care if you put her in the darkest pit imaginable, she will find a way to get out. We both know that for a fact. Your sister is the most tenacious human either of us have ever seen. Not to mention ruthless, demonic and altogether irredeemable. Come over here for a minute, I want you to really consider something." As she watched her husband absent-mindedly stalk over to her, the Queen knew the route she had to take in this argument. Even though using this card would make her feel as though she had taken a cheap shot. After Zuko had closed the space between them and was staring her in the face, Mai took his hand and placed it on her stomach.

"I want you to think of this very carefully Zu. Do you think there is any hope for a happy life for this unborn child inside me while their aunt continues to live? Do you think that this baby will be able to know what a truly carefree childhood is? Look really deeply inside of yourself and if you can truly come to the conclusion that all that is possible while she continues to live, I'll drop it and you'll be allowed to do what you want. But if there are any conflicting feelings between what you want to do and what you feel you need to do for the realm and for this little one, I suggest you take some time to really consider your options. It's not like you have a plethora of them to choose from." With that, the Queen removed her husband's hand and stalked out of the room shutting the door behind her and leaving her husband to his inner thoughts.

I don't know what to do. I know what I should do, but is that really the only option? Am I committed to the idea of taking the life of the only surviving relative that I have? Uncle is dead. I don't know where my mother is and the bastard that I had to call a father is no longer around to wield his influence over me. I could not bring myself to attempt to reason with him. Why then is this decision so difficult when it pertains to somebody that is possibly even more wicked and unforgiving than he was? Nobody seems to remember that there were a few good memories of our family life . There definitely were not a lot of them, but they were there. I still remember the first time I looked at my little sister. She was so small and fragile, I felt the need to protect her from all the world. I took it upon myself in the early years to assume the role of her bodyguard before she learned how to defend herself. Even after she began down her own dark and twisted path, I still felt the need to try to establish some sort of relationship with her that was not built on hatred and competition. Even 10 years ago, after the Agni Kai outside the palace, when her breakdown commenced and she was crying uncontrollably one small part of me wanted to run over and try to comfort her in her time of need. Am I a fool? Am I holding on and letting her live just so I can possibly salvage some sort of family bond in the living world? What should I do?


Eight hours later…

Zuko had finally made his decision. He knew what he had to do. Much like his mother before him, he snuck out of the palace without anyone being the wiser and proceeded on foot to The Flickering Flame. Before he left, he wrote two letters and sent them out into the world. The first letter found its way to the intended recipient. Somehow, even though she was many miles away, Toph had received Zuko's letter and agreed to offer backup when he met with his sister. The two old traveling companions had met up a few hours before and were continuing the journey to the prison together. It was still unbelievable to Zuko that there was a woman in the Earth Kingdom provinces that was so skilled at her craft when most would consider her blindness a severe disadvantage. Those people were idiots. He had never seen such a skilled master of Earth bending before or since.

"So, Hot Pants, are you really ready to do all this? Your sister is the most self entitled brutal bitch I've ever seen, -Toph could tell Zuko was smirking- you know what I mean! This isn't going to be easy, you do know that right? Do you honestly think she'll just sit there while you give the command to execute her? You're about as dumb as you look if you think that has any chance of happening". At only 22 years of age, Toph had no rival in the field of Earth Bending. Nobody even came close to being her equal. It wasn't often that she was able to slip away unnoticed, a celebrity of her stature couldn't very well do much of anything that wasn't noticed by the populace. After the war, her father, an individual that was none too happy with his preteen daughter gallivanting around the world, saw the power she possessed and admitted that she could take care of herself. Four years ago, he passed away in an accident along with Toph's mother. So, at the age of 18, Toph inherited the title of head of the Bei Fong dynasty. The absolute youngest person ever to receive the title. A person would usually think that with the added weight of responsibility that a title carries, a ruler would adopt a more regal attitude and perhaps do away with any rambunctious or unbecoming tendencies. Toph was definitely not most people. Why should she change everything about herself just to please other people? As far as she was concerned, other people could go jump off a cliff. She wasn't about to change everything about herself and her personality just to please all the old fogies around her.

"Did you just call the ruler of the Fire Nation stupid looking?" Zuko was shocked even though he should not have been. He had known the woman beside him for a decade and yet her wits and unabashed bluntness still astounded him every time. How could a girl of such a young age be so frank with her vocabulary and so scathing in her delivery? Deep down though, that is what made her unique. She was unafraid of any possible confrontation. Always willing to mix it up and come to the aid of her friends even when the situation looked hopeless to most. That is why Zuko contacted her first. He knew that out of all of his friends, Toph would be the only one that wouldn't hesitate to do what needed to be done. That reason was why she was accompanying him now.

" Chill Flame Boy. After all this time you can't tell when I'm joking and trying to lighten the mood? This is a big deal for you. Without Twinkle Toes, Water Mother and Adm. Boomerang present, who else is going to lighten the mood and crack jokes when you clearly need a laugh? I don't see you coming up with any genuine gut busters, so, I guess it falls to me to assume the role of Court Jester on this little excursion. In all seriousness though, are we there yet? I'm bored."

"This isn't meant to be a road trip Blind Bandit, I know you like trying to be funny, but really, this is severely heavy stuff for me. I would appreciate it if you could cut back on the jokes a bit." Zuko resorted to kicking the rubble of the road with his feet. Just anything to take his mind off his current situation. Just as he was ready to zone out and continue the walk on autopilot, a voice broke the silence.

"You do understand that I know just how difficult this is for you right? You seem to think that I don't remember that much about your sister. I remember that Fire Wench quite well. -"You don't mind me calling your sister a wench do you?"- When she heard that her friend had no objections she continued. If what you say is true, and your sister hasn't missed a step in 10 years, it's going to get deadly serious once we gain access to that prison. If I were you, O mighty Fire Lord, I would take all the time that I have to chuckle, chortle and laugh while I was able. Who knows the next time you'll be able to do any of those things. You may as well enjoy it now. But what do I know? It's not like I have an entire dynasty on my shoulders or anything. I clearly don't know anything about the subject. The common people will shut up now so his grace can brood in silence."

Just as Zuko turned his head, he was able to see his friend attempt the clumsiest curtsy he had ever seen. It was so out-of-place that he could not help but snicker. They walked in silence for what seemed like hours after that. Both of the traveling companions contemplating their own personal matters . After some time had passed, Toph spoke up again. There was something she wanted to know.

"If you will excuse the interruption your Majesty, you said you sent two letters out before you left. Clearly, I was one of the recipients, who was the other one? On a random side note before you answer, I received the other letter you sent me. Do you actually think I would be caught dead babysitting some newborn fire brat? Clearly, you don't know me at all. What caused you to think I would say yes?" The young woman was curious what her companion's answer would be, but, at the same time, she did not feel as though a vocal response from her friend was necessary. She had a good idea of what his reasoning would be. As soon as Zuko opened his mouth, she knew that her instincts were correct.

"I asked you specifically because Mai and I both feel as though you are the correct choice when considering who would be best to care for the child when we cannot be there. You're the only one out of the group with enough of a stern hand to discipline the child if need be. Do you really expect Aang, Katara or Sokka to possess the skills or attitude necessary to discipline anything more important than a watermelon? You were the right option. You are, in fact, the only option. You should actually be thanking Mai for the sterling endorsement, she was the one that convinced me you were the right person for the job. As to why I think you'll accept, I'm not mandating you to do this as the Fire Lord, I'm asking you to do this, one old friend to another."

In her mind, Toph was grinding her teeth. She knew that she couldn't very well decline the request. She would be putting her friends out in the cold with nobody to fall back on. But there was that pesky little situation regarding running the entire Beifong dynasty to contend with. Maybe she could just pawn the kid off on The Boulder… it's not like he had anything better to do these days. He wasn't exactly a draw anymore. Even though competing in the Earth Rumble competitions had lost her interest over the years, Toph still kept in regular contact with her colleagues. If only to remind them how superior she was to all of them. Who was she really kidding though? The Boulder wasn't even mentally able to take care of himself. Many fans believed that the Boulder only put on a show that he was dumb as part of the facade. Toph knew that it wasn't an act. She would have to find some way to take care of the dynasty while at the same time babysitting the new little bundle of joy that would someday rule the Fire Nation. She was always up for a challenge, but, the one that she faced now could prove to bring even her to her limits.

"Fine Flame Lips. I'll baby sit your freakin firestarter for ya. Nobody can ever tell me I don't do anything nice for my friends. By the way, thank the Queen for me. It's not every day that somebody that high up on the food chain gives me a compliment. Although, with the words that she uses, it's difficult to fathom she even knows me at all. I mean, she wants me to look after a defenseless creature? I'd rather stick my head in a Lion Bear's mouth that has not eaten in a week. This is going to be absolutely brutal. One quick thing though, I refuse to take on diaper detail. You can make one of the maids do that. Not my scene." With this final statement, the young woman decided that she had enough conversation for one night. They walked in silence for a while until her traveling companion spoke up once more.

"Now that the matter is taken care of, I'll answer your other question. You asked me who the other person was that I sent a letter to. Let's just say this person resides in your corner of the world and might be the only person who can get through to my sister without having to resort to violence. I don't know if the letter will find them in time, but I hope it does. I have not seen this person since the end of the war. It might be that something's happened, but, I'm sure they can take care of themselves so there's no need to worry too much about them." Zuko hoped he was correct in his thought process. He had not seen hide nor hair of Ty Lee in some time. He was hoping everything was okay, but, he could not say for sure. The circus performer could indeed take care of herself, even so, not hearing anything from his friend in a long time made both he and his wife very nervous. They were only two hours away from their destination. He had to hope that the letter would find her in time so that she could join them before they got there…


The Island of Kyoshi. Two hours earlier…

"Alright everyone, that's enough for today. We will pick up the training exercises again tomorrow. I can see that they are working, all of the auras around me are positively glowing with energy! I couldn't be more proud of any of you. Class dismissed!" Ty Lee was settling in to her new position as head Kyoshi Warrior quite nicely if she did say so herself. Ever since Suki retired and moved in with Sokka to start a family, the ex-circus performer took it upon herself to train the next generation of female warriors for the island of Kyoshi. She saw the role as her away of atoning for past misdeeds that she perpetrated under the instruction of her former best friend. She often found herself thinking of Azula in her quiet moments. She didn't harbor any hatred towards her old friend, she often wondered how she was doing. She had heard of the incarceration of course, that was big news around the globe. A member of the Royal Family suffering what could be the biggest meltdown in history? How could things like that not spread immediately? She didn't believe her friend was as evil as everyone said, people called her naïve and foolish, but, Ty Lee was always a decent judge of character, or she liked to think so anyway.

Ty Lee was definitely exhausted. What she was doing was rewarding, but, it always took so much energy out of her after the lessons had concluded. She was looking forward to getting home and being able to relax. Since she had come unexpectedly to the island after the war, there was no place for her to stay. She had originally found a home with Suki, the two of them equally sharing expense costs. After her friend decided to get hitched, however, Ty Lee could not foot the bill on her own. The people of the island took pity on her. As a thank you gift for offering to train future generations of warriors, everyone that lived on the island decided to pitch in and build her her very own domicile. The ex-circus star was very grateful. Her new job was not one that she got paid to do. After always feeling like she never truly belonged anywhere aside from the circus, Ty Lee could finally say, without the slightest bit of hesitation, that she had found her home among these people.

It was all she could do after getting in the door to her house to not flop down on her bed and go to sleep. After deciding to make herself dinner from leftover Pig-Wolf pork chops she had eaten the night before, she decided to go out and check if she had received any mail during the day. As she lifted the latch and opened the container, one solitary envelope greeted her gaze. it seemed to be from some highfalutin sender, the envelope was embroidered in red and gold. It was only after Ty Lee retrieved the letter that she noticed the insignia of her homeland staring back at her. With a wide grin, she tore open the envelope and retrieved its contents. What greeted her eyes was a letter from one of her oldest friends, however, after noting the fact that Zuko bothered to use his full title and referred to himself as Fire Lord, Ty Lee could not shake the feeling that this letter was more than just a way of catching up with her friends. After going back in the house and reclining herself in a rocking chair, the new head of the Warriors of Kyoshi began to read...

Ty Lee,

I hope this letter finds you before too long. There's been a bit of a situation at the Flickering Flame. My sister killed one of the guards assigned to oversee her. After thinking over my options, I've come to the realization that I can't let her live any longer. I know you have decided to distance yourself from your past for a bit. Believe me, I envy you for having that option open to you. However, as ruler, I cannot be afforded the same luxury. I know what I'm about to ask may seem like too much. Let's be honest though. You're the only one she ever truly considered a friend, you might still be able to reach her without the need for bloodshed. I'm not trying to mandate that you help me, I'm not too proud to admit, however, that I definitely could use your assistance. During the years in which the four of us used to play together, I noticed, after a time, that my sister would glance at you every so often. I also noticed over time that you would do the same. I do not presume to know what you feel. If those glances between the two of you meant what I think they did ,however, then I do believe that you're the only one that can get through to my sister before I am forced to take drastic measures. I will be traveling with another of my old friends to the prison later tonight. I hope that you consider joining up with us. Whatever you decide to do, I hope life is treating you well. Mai and I would love the chance to get together with you and catch up. We miss you.

Sincerely,

Fire Lord Zuko

Ty Lee reread the letter over and over. Trying as she did, to make sense of the words that stared back at her. She could understand the bit about Azula murdering someone. That seemed entirely plausible. But for Zuko to condemn his sister to death? That didn't sound like an option her old friend would consider lightly. If he was truly set on this course, he must have deliberated about this for some time. This current stance that he took could not be easy for him to come to grips with. Then there was the matter of what Zuko alluded to in his letter. It had taken her a long time to come to the realization herself, but, as far as Ty Lee was concerned, Zuko had hit the nail on the head. Thinking back, she guessed that the feelings she bore for her friend began the night of that party on Ember Island. Azula had made scathing remarks, as she often did, regarding the fact that Ty Lee was the center of attention. As Azula stated that night, "Those boys only like you because you make it so easy for them. You're not a challenge, you're a tease".

As Ty Lee began to sob, something extraordinary happened. Azula, Royal Princess of the Fire Nation, a person who was unable to care or notice other people's feelings apologized. This was a big moment. It proved to Ty Lee that her friend could care about another person aside from herself. It also proved all those naysayers incorrect; no matter what anyone said or believed, Azula possessed a heart. She tried to hide it from everyone, but, Ty lee was able to notice it. After that night, Ty Lee gradually noticed that she looked at her friend in a different way than she had previously. After a while, she understood what this meant. She never told her friend of her feelings. At the time, there was a war to fight. Even though she may not have agreed with what Azula and Ozai were doing, she knew that her friend needed all her wits about her in order to accomplish the goal that the royal family strived for. After the war ended, Azula was shipped off to prison; Ty Lee never got the chance to explain how she felt. if what Zuko had planned came true, she would never get another chance. Without a moment' s hesitation, the new leader of the Warriors of Kyoshi streaked out the door as fast as she could. For the first time in 10 years, Ty Lee was going home.


Outside the Flickering Flame...

The pair of travelers had finally reached their destination. After a long journey, the prison was finally in sight. As soon as the guards that were standing at the gate noticed the Fire Lord, they could not get out of their own ways fast enough to let him through. Letting his companion through was not something they were willing to accommodate at first, however, once Zuko explain who she was and why she was there they let her pass by without incident. Just as the pair were about to take their first steps into the structure, a pair of arms moved out of the darkness at blinding speed and encased Zuko in the tightest hug he had ever received. The Fire Lord was clearly shocked at first. Who would just embrace him so brazenly like that? After the pair of arms let him go, he saw who they were attached to. Clearly, his letter had been received.

"Ty Lee! It's so good to see you! I can only assume that you received my letter and if that's the case, you have to know what's going on, why I called you here and what I plan to do. Are you okay with that? Will you be able to function as you normally would? I don't want to make you do or be part of something that you would not want to be involved with." Zuko showed concern on his face. He didn't care if the guards saw it or not. His friends would always have a place in his heart, he wanted to make sure that he wasn't asking anything above and beyond what his old friend would be willing to do. Moments after he finished speaking, however, all he could see was that pearly white grin of hers. It was clear that she understood why she was here. Ty Lee embraced him again and planted a quick smooch on his cheek. Zuko was shocked at first, but, his friend had always been straightforward with the love she bore for her close friends. He figured it was her way of indicating that she was glad to see him too.

While this entire exchange was taking place, Toph just stood there flabbergasted. She couldn't believe her feet! This was the other person that Zuko had sent a letter to regarding such an important bit of business? Admittedly, she didn't have many times to talk with Ty Lee over the years. But from what she could gather about the girl, Toph could only feel a flighty, flirtatious nitwit who couldn't grasp anything more complicated than how to braid her hair by herself. Of all the people he knew, why would Zuko choose to send a letter to this particular person when there would be so many other decent candidates to entrust this mission to? She knew she was probably about to open a humongous can of beetle-worms, but even so, she had to have an answer.

"Pardon me your Royal Sunspot, but could you kindly explain why you decided to make her the third member of this little strike force? I'm a bit confused, there seems like there would be many other decent candidates. Or are you just using this as an excuse to play catch-up with an old friend? Maybe this mission wasn't really as important as you had me believe. Toph had to quickly encase herself in a rock suit of armor to avoid the fireball that was aimed directly at her head. When she finally felt safe enough to let the suit of armor disappear, she could see the all too serious expression on her friend's face. Clearly, she had struck a nerve. She did not really blame him either, even she had to admit that the last sentence was going a bit overboard. She didn't think that Zuko was just going to let her comments slide though...

"Did you actually just say that maybe this mission wasn't as important as I made it out to be? Are you serious?! Do you know what I plan to do in there? Can you even fathom how it's going to haunt me for the rest of my life? I know you enjoy being blunt and riling up people when you get bored, but, make sure for this mission you keep your childish tendencies in check. I would never dream of causing serious injury to a friend, but, that doesn't mean I'm afraid to challenge them to a duel if they really get me going. I'm not going to sit here while you make light of my plan and I will not tolerate any disrespect you show to my friends. I would do the same to Ty Lee if she decided to badmouth you for no reason. Are we clear on the rules of this little arrangement? We will have no more disputes? -It was clear that his little rant had put Toph in her place. He didn't like doing that in the least, but, he knew that actions and harsh words were sometimes the only way to get through to her. It was clear that she was sorry and he didn't feel as though she would have any more issues tonight- It's nice to see that we are all back on the same page. I'm surprised though, I thought you would remember Ty Lee's special ability. It's not like you didn't run into it back in the war. Hey Ty Lee, is there any way that you can control the time limit that your special talent can affect somebody? My friend here may need a refresher course in what you can do. If you would be so kind please..."

Quick as a flash, Ty Lee found all the key chakra points in Toph's body. When she tried to mount a counteroffensive, the Blind Bandit found that her bending would not respond. It was as if it had been sealed. She finally remembered what the unassuming girl in front of her could do. It didn't take long for her to connect the dots and understand why Zuko had chosen her for this mission. Toph thought back to what she said as she fell to the ground, -another side effect of Ty Lee's fighting style that she had forgotten about-what an unbelievable ass she had been. If she were able to have an out of body experience right about now, she would punch herself in the face as hard as she could. When she was able to move her body again of her own accord after about a half minute's time, she felt so ashamed. Her face was beat red. Toph rose from the ground and went over to stare Ty Lee right in the face. The former circus performer adopted a fighting stance, ready for anything. The Fire Lord held his hand over his eyes ready to intercede at a moment's notice...

Within the next few seconds, the two Fire Nation natives bore witness to an impossible situation. One of the most respected figures of the Earth Kingdom nobility proceeded to get down on her knees and pressed her nose into the ground, her head coming in contact with the earth below her. Toph Beifong was bowing. A sign of respect and a silent apology. It was only after a good few seconds that Toph allowed herself to raise her head. She could feel that Ty Lee was extending her hand to help her up to a standing position. After all the mean things she had just spoken and thought about this woman, Ty Lee was willing to give her a hand? Toph could recognize the feeling of moisture begin to well up in her eyes. It'd been a long time since she had cried in front of anybody. In the next moment, she could feel a thumb dab her eyes and wipe the moisture away. Ty Lee spoke for the first time since arriving.

"Come on, there's no need for that. You may not remember that much about me, but I remember a few things about you. You didn't strike me as the type to cry over anything. Between you and me, on the scale of things important enough to cry about, this doesn't even rate. So please, don't even think about it. We need you to be at your fighting best anyway, we cannot have you crying so much that you can't feel in front of you. I think after all, and I'm sure the Fire Lord would agree with me, that you happen to be the main powerhouse of this little trio. So please, forget all about it. No harm was done."

With that, the two women walked into the prison leaving Zuko alone outside. With a satisfied smile on his face, he entered the prison soon after. The further he got into the prison, however, it came back to him why he was here. The smile faded just as quickly as it had appeared.


Author's note: Wow... Has it really been almost a full year since I've updated this story? I profusely apologize to any fans of the story than I've attracted. I understand how it is to wait for something that you enjoy and not have it delivered to you in a timely manner. Between not knowing exactly where this entire thing was going and deciding to switch some plot threads around and move them to different chapters, it took a bit longer than I wanted to to get this next chapter up for you guys to enjoy. I can only hope that the flow of the story along with all the character's voices and overall tone are up to your standards and meet with your approval. I want to say that I thank whoever reads this for taking the time to peruse the story and hopefully you are enjoying yourself. I cannot say for sure how long the story will be when everything is said and done, but, all of you can rest assured that updates will come fairly regularly. I can't promise they will appear every week, but, all of you have my word that you will not have to wait another year to see how the next chapter unfolds. Thank you for sticking with me and please read and review if you're so inclined.

Hiei7700