Chapter Four

Azula shoved Sokka into a gray cell. It was small, yes, but not uncomfortably so. The only light was a flickering lamp hanging from the ceiling, which was so low Sokka could have reached up and touched it. In the corner, there was a short mat that Sokka assumed was for sleeping on.

He glared at the empty walls. He would have screamed, but these walls were obviously soundproof. There was nothing he could do…

With a loud sigh of frustration, he struck one of the walls. He flinched – the walls were made of wood? This wasn't right…

The door that Azula had locked behind her opened and closed. Sokka whirled around to see Zuko's mother standing there, smiling at him.

He opened his mouth to say something – and Ursa collapsed.

Sokka gaped as another woman, not much older than Sokka himself, appeared where Ursa had just been standing. She had dark hair and dark eyes, and smiled sorrowfully at Sokka.

It took him a moment to register that she was glowing and levitating slightly off the ground.

"You're a spirit," he said thickly.

"Yes," she said with a sad smile. "I am Onna, the Spirit of Woman. I'm sorry for having to imprison you, Sokka, but you insisted on interfering with the wishes of others."

"Wishes? What do you – how do you know my name?" he asked suspiciously, trying to pretend that he was unfazed.

She laughed. It was a chilling sound. Reaching out, she caressed his face gently. He shivered at her touch. "I see you, Sokka of the Water Tribe. I look at you and I see you better than you see yourself."

"What do you mean?"

"I can see your heart and soul," she said. "And you pine like any other human."

Sokka forced himself to act cool. "I thought spirits weren't interested in the affairs of humans," he said. "I thought spirits rarely crossed from the spirit world."

"Most don't," she replied. "I am one of the few exceptions." She waited for a moment, and when Sokka did not say anything, she continued, "Generally I don't do this, but I am willing to offer you a deal."

He nodded, saying nothing.

"Sokka," she said. "If you agree to cooperate with me, I will grant you your wish."

He raised an eyebrow.

"My wish?" he asked.

"Yes," she said. "Your wish."

He paused. "Cooperate as in…?"

"Allowing Princess Azula to take the throne and title of Fire Lord without any protest."

He grinned. "Fine. My wish is that Azula would die."

The spirit, Onna, smiled at him. "No it's not."

He frowned. "Yes, it is."

"No, Sokka, that isn't your wish," she said. "Remember, I can see your soul. I see everything you've been hiding away from yourself. Every deep and dark secret you don't want to face…and I still don't see your wish."

"What? What do you mean?"

"You're so confused, Sokka. You don't even know what you want the most."

There was a pause. Sokka thought about that for the moment. What did he want?

"Your friend Suki was the happiest woman I had ever met," said Onna. "Her only wish was to forget that we had ever captured her and return safely to you."

So that's why she had gotten back so soon. To be with him…and he had let his feelings for another spirit get in between them…he-

"Ah," said Onna. "The haze around your wish is fading, Sokka."

She held out her hand. A figure appeared there. A figure that was so familiar, but so distant…

"Yue," he whispered.

"Yes," she said. "The Moon Spirit. I could bring her back…it wouldn't take much to find someone to replace her.

"But is that what you really want?"

Sokka looked away.

"You may be able to relieve Yue as the Moon Spirit," he said bitterly. "But even you can't bring people back from the dead."

The figure on Onna's hand changed. Instead, a woman stood there, smiling blankly up at Sokka.

He closed his eyes.

"...don't."

"I can do it," whispered Onna. "If that's what you want more than anything else…your mother could live again, Sokka."

"She's dead."

"Your mother is alive in you and your sister, Sokka. I could give her a body, a life…"

Sokka opened his eyes.

And looked up at the spirit determinedly.

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Toph returned the next afternoon.

She found it strange that there was no one waiting for her. She had sent a letter before her to inform Zuko that the meeting with the Earth King went quicker than she had expected, and she was returning a few days early.

A few of her bodyguards who had traveled with her escorted her to the Fire Lord's throne room, where she was announced and then entered.

When Zuko saw her, his jaw dropped.

"What are you doing here?" he asked incredulously.

"I was expecting a hello," she said mildly. "But, hey, whatever, you're the Fire Lord here."

"But you were captured!" he continued, ignoring her comment. "We got the ransom note from the Earth Kingdom!"

She raised her eyebrows. "The Earth Kingdom received me with welcome, Zuko. No one captured me."

"But…we sent out a search party…"

"I'm flattered, but even if I had been captured, I could have escaped."

"Are you sure you weren't just brainwashed? I heard that they used to do that in Bah Sing Se."

She laughed. "I wasn't brainwashed."

"That's what a brainwashed person would say."

She shook her head. "Right. Well, if you care, I renewed the agreements with the Earth King. They want an increase in trade."

"Yes, of course," said Zuko unsteadily, still a little confused. "I'll be right on that." He took the report Toph had held out to him. "Thanks. By the way, Aang was pretty worried about you. Do you want me to send someone to tell him you're safe, or…"

"No, I'll just go," she said, turning to leave. "See you later."

Zuko nodded.

Mai stepped into the throne room. "Was that Toph?"

"Yeah," said Zuko. "She said she wasn't captured…"

"Weird," said Mai, frowning. "But then again, no one could capture Toph."

Zuko laughed. "You're right. I just hope I can call back our rescue team before they do any damage." He took Mai's hand and kissed her softly. "I'm going to find General Li. He can send out a search party for the search party." Mai nodded.

He sighed and turned to leave.

There was a gasp and he turned back around. Mai was breathing heavily, clutching her stomach.

"I hate to delay you," she said with a grimace. "But I think the baby's coming…now."

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As they were waiting outside Mai's room, it was the first time Katara and Aang were alone together since their initial argument.

At first, when they had seen each other, they had almost automatically put their arms around each other, but then they had pulled away, remembering that they were supposed to be angry at each other.

Aang was the first to say something.

"This is stupid."

Katara was silent.

"I'm sorry, Katara. I'm sorry for getting so mad. I shouldn't have yelled at you."

She turned away from him.

"I don't want to break up with you. I lied, I don't want to see other people. I want to be with you, Katara. I have only ever wanted to be with you. I fell in love with you the moment I saw you. Please say something."

She smiled.

"God, Aang, you take so long."

She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.

He let out a huge sigh of relief and kissed her back.

Twelve hours later, when they had been joined by Suki, Zuko opened the door, beaming, and invited them in.

Mai was sitting up on the bed, sweaty and red in the face, holding a tiny baby in her arms, and looking happier than she had ever been.

Katara, and Suki instantly engaged in conversation with Mai. Aang turned to Zuko with a grin. "Congratulations," he said. "Boy or girl?"

"Boy," said Zuko, smiling.

"Do you have a name?"

Zuko shrugged. "Maybe. I…maybe." He glanced around. "Where's Sokka?"

"I don't know," said Aang. "I haven't seen him since yesterday…"

They caught each other's eye.

And burst out laughing.

"Why – are – we – laughing?" asked Aang, between snorts.

"I have no idea!" replied Zuko.

They spoke for a while longer, and the baby, about the future, about everything good and happy…

The door opened. Toph stood in the door, her face pale.

"Toph…" said Zuko uncertainly, seeing her expression. "What's up?"

"Zuko," she said stoically. "Your uncle is in the infirmary."

"What? The infirmary?"

"He's sick," she continued. "He just…collapsed."

"Is he alright?"

She shrugged. "I don't know anything else. He's unconscious."

There was silence. The baby started to cry.

"You should go, Zuko," said Mai. "You'll have years to spend with us."

Everyone heard what she didn't say. You might have mere minutes left with your uncle.

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"Those idiots. Nothing natural could have caused that."

"Don't be cocky, Azula. You know where that leads to."

"Oh yes, that miserable hole I've spent my last six years in. Well, Mother, I understand that I am eventually going to be chained up again, but that doesn't mean I can't make the most out of the short time I have."

"Make the most of it? By doing what? Killing your only remaining family?"

"Oh, I still have you and Father."

"Silly child. We're dead, darling."

"I was talking about after death. I'll be going to the same place you are now. Zuko and Uncle and that little bastard who is my nephew…they'll be going to somewhere better. But I'll be alongside the demons with you and Dad."

Ursa looked at her daughter pitifully.

Azula looked away from her mother. When she looked back, it was no longer a woman's figure standing there.

"How dare you."

"Oh, here we go again."

"How dare you threaten to kill my son. My son. How dare you."

"Look who's talking, Father."

The apparition was silent for a moment, then said, "I will make sure you live through this, Azula. Because I personally want to make your life a living hell."

Azula laughed. "Congratulations. You achieved your goal a long time ago."

The three guards who were approaching Azula looked at her apprehensively.

She turned to face them. "Stop staring like idiots. What is it?"

The bowed, and the guard in the middle said, "General Iroh is dead."

"Good."

They didn't move.

"Ma'am…"

"What?"

"What are your orders?"

"Orders?" She stared at them blankly for a moment. "Oh yes. I have none. We wait now…there is nothing else we can do. We wait."

They nodded and backed away slowly. As they left, they heard Azula muttering, "He's named, named, could name, it's what, either, father son you lied to me Daddy."

After a few more moments of staring expressionlessly into the distance, Azula turned and began to walk away briskly. As usual, two guards began to follow her.

His prison wasn't far. Well, if you could call it a prison. Azula was all for throwing him in the very cell she had been in for all those years, but Ursa had convinced her to let him have a whole room to himself.

She pulled open the door quickly. There he was, sitting in the corner, his eyes half closed and darting all over the room.

He slowly looked at her when she entered the room. There was a faint spark of recognition, then nothing.

Azula laughed. "Isn't insanity wonderful?" she asked him gleefully. "It gives you this sense of absolute freedom…"

"I'm…not insane," murmured Sokka.

She smiled at him, not unkindly. "Oh, don't worry. You will be soon enough."

Slipping out again, she closed the door. She turned around to leave and-

"Azula."

"Woah! Mother, you scared me."

Ursa grimaced. "You can't go in there anymore."

"Oh, I know he's supposed to be in solitary confinement, but I just couldn't help it." Azula paused, frowning. She sniffed the air. "Do you smell that? It smells like…like rotting flesh."

Ursa waved her hand angrily. "Azula, don't change the subject! I told you not to go in there!"

"Well, I did, and there was no harm done," she said smoothly. "And you don't-"

Azula stopped talking, staring at something over Ursa's left shoulder. Ursa convulsed slightly and attempted to look her daughter in the eye.

"Look at me, Azula."

Azula just kept staring over Ursa's shoulder.

"Azula, look me in the eye when I'm talking to you."

No response.

"Daughter, I am speaking to you."

"You didn't die."

Ursa looked at Azula, startled by her reply. "What?"

"When I tried to kill you, you didn't die."

"What are you talking about?"

"You're not my mother. Why are you here? You're not Mom."

Ursa looked at her carefully. "Azula, you're just confused."

"No," she said. "That is my mother."

Azula pointed beyond Ursa's shoulder. She turned around – and there was nothing. She took a sigh of relief.

"You're not yourself, Azula, come on, let's go have a cup of tea."

Azula slapped her mother across the face.

Four guards had Azula restrained within half a second.

"What?" demanded Azula. "What is this? What's going on? Guards! Arrest her!"

They did nothing.

Ursa lowered her face so she was eye level with her daughter.

"Your wish," she whispered. "Was to take over this land. I am doing my best to make sure that is going to happen. Do not cross me, Azula, and I will make sure that you are Fire Lord within a month."

Ursa turned and walked away. Azula looked away angrily as she felt tears well up in her eyes.

"YOU'RE NOT MY MOTHER! IMPOSTER! I DON'T NEED ANY HELP FROM YOU! I HATE YOU!"

Ursa's figure faded into the darkness.

Azula shoved the guards off her. They left without a word. She stared at the place where her mother had disappeared for a few moments, then turned and faced the door which she had just closed.

Silently cursing her mother, she ripped open the door and strode in. The boy looked up at her defiantly. "What do you want?"

She grabbed his arm. "I need you to come with me."

He pulled away. "Why?"

"I'm going to get you out of here alive."

"How can I trust you?"

"Because I want to kill you."

He looked at her.

"I wouldn't expect a peasant like you to understand, no matter how long you've spent at court."

She went to take his arm again. He didn't let her. She sighed in frustration.

"How am I supposed to save your life if you don't trust me?"

"You tried to kill me!"

"And I failed, didn't I?"

He gaped at her. She took his arm.

"Just to be clear. I want you dead – I don't deny it. But I don't want to die and I don't have to. So get out – go!"

Sokka allowed himself to be dragged from the room by Azula, all the while wondering how long he was going to live.

She shoved a long cloak at him and he pulled the hood over his head as she dragged him from the prison. "Go," she whispered, once they reached the entrance of the prison. "Don't stop moving until you know you're safe."

"No where's safe anymore!"

"Leave the palace! Leave the city, leave the Fire Nation! Find somewhere, anywhere, but stay out of my way."

Sokka looked at the girl for a moment. She was just a year younger than he was, but she seemed so much more adult. There was a crazed, exhausted gleam in her eyes. He could still see her princess-like beauty shining through the hazy veil of madness. In fact, her insanity even added something to her good looks. A wild, passionate look of determination…

"Don't look at me like that."

The comment surprised Sokka. There was something else in her voice, something he had never heard before…was she upset? Hurt?

He turned to leave.

He felt a pang in his heart as he took a step away from Azula. He had changed, hadn't he? He had changed himself, changed what he wanted more than anything…if Azula could do that…

But how could she? Azula had neither the will nor the control to change who she was. She couldn't do it on her own.

She couldn't do it on her own.

He turned back to face Azula.

There was no one there. He looked quickly around him, to see if she was anywhere around. She wasn't.

He took a deep breath and took a step towards the prison.

"I didn't think you were that stupid."

Azula stepped out of the shadows. There was the faint hint of a smile on her face, and she was looking at him with contempt and something else that Sokka couldn't make out.

"I can help you," he said. "There's a way out of this, Azula. You don't have to do it."

"What?"

"I know what that spirit is capable of. She told me that she would grant me my wish if I agreed to cooperate."

Azula grimaced. "So that's what it is. She's a spirit."

"Yeah. I'm sorry…your mother is dead, Azula."

She nodded. "I knew it."

There was a moment of silence. Sokka felt slightly awkward. Azula didn't seem to need any comfort, but he had done the same thing when his mother had died. He had pretended nothing was wrong…tried to stay as cool as usual…

"I'm sorry."

Azula's eyes passed over him, then she said, "If you stay, you'll be killed."

"I thought that was what you wanted."

"It is. I want you to die, but that spirit who is pretending to be my mother will do everything in her power to get me on the throne. And, if I do become Fire Lord, then it will be because of me and me alone. I need to get everyone who needs to be eliminated for me to ascend to the throne to safety. When she leaves, I will find them again and kill them."

Sokka stared at her. What kind of twisted logic was this? "Then why don't you just kill me now?"

Azula laughed. "Do you want to die?"

"Look, I want to help you. If you can just realize that there in things in life other than taking the throne from your brother, things could work out. You might even be happy."

She looked at him ruefully. "What is more important than revenge?"

With a silent, forgive me, Suki, Sokka leaned in and kissed her.

Shocked, Azula's eyes widened. She considered pushing him away, scandalized, but as his hands found hers, she gave in and closed her eyes, savoring the moment.

He pulled back and broke the kiss. Her face still close to his, she whispered, "I'll meet you here at noon."

Sokka nodded and swept away quickly.

Azula stood there, two fingers on her lips. She had never been kissed before. Now that she thought about it, she had never even had a crush on a boy. She hadn't met that many boys her age…after all, she had only been fourteen when they threw her into prison.

She suddenly became aware that she was waiting for a catty comment from the apparition of her mother that always followed her – the apparition of her dead mother, she now knew.

Glancing around, she realized there was no one there.

And, unlike every other time her mother had disappeared, she didn't miss her. She didn't even feel lonely.

She smiled and turned, fading away into the darkness.

EOW MY GAASH

haha. BETCHA DIDN'T SEE THAT ONE COMIN.

And just for the record, I totally support Sokka/Suki. It is my faaavorite pairing. But this Sokkla scene was just too amazing, you know? :]

Why don't you review and tell me what YOU think?

~DragonWriter444