Chapter 4: The Stuff of Dreams

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar.

Azula stared at herself in shock.

What in the seven fires was going on? She could see the child image of herself walking past the turtle ducks. They swam around moving away from where she was sitting. The little girl ignored the animals in favor of skipping stones in the pond.

"Azula."

The little girl didn't answer to the voice. Instead she moved further away.

"Come, precious Azula. Come here."

"Don't call me precious. Don't call me your Azula. You don't love me."

"That's not true Azula," the voice said and the older Azula recognized it as her mother's.

Zuko stood next to the firelady protected more by his mother's prescence than by his own strength.

"Come Azula," Ursa said extending her hand.

"NO!" the child screamed fleeing from her mother and brother.

"Zuko, please go in. I'm to follow your sister."

"Leave the child be Ursa."

Again Azula recognized the deep voice of her father and turned to look at him.

"She is not worth the trouble or the care you give her. She will become weak if you continue to dote on her."

"I do not dote on Azula my lord. She is my daughter and I love her dearly."

"Love is something most do not need Ursa. Instead teach Azula to be strong."

Ursa said nothing as her husband left her. Her marriage had long ago been arranged so that the two of them would unite the blood of Sozen and Roku.

"Like you ever loved me," the adult Azula whispered.

Ursa's eyes turned towards her. Impossible surely she could not see her.

"I can see you quite well Azula. I do not need to know what you are doing here."

The acting firelady stood tall and proud as she gazed at her daughter.

"You have grown beautiful little one."

"I do not need your platitudes. I never did."

"It is an honest compliment Azula but if you can not accept it so be it."

"Since when was there anything about me you liked," Azula asked her voice emotionless.

"I should've taken you and your brother from your father and fled. I feared too much and as a result you have been sacrificed to him. You have become what he is."

Azula's golden eyes flashed. "Don't you dare tell me what I am. You don't know me. You never did."

"You think I thought you a monster."

"It is the truth and I don't care. You were right."

Ursa wrung her hands as she sat down next to the lake. She overlooked the water and the swimming turtle ducks.

"If you did not care Azula you would not hurt your brother. If you did not care you would never have said such a thing."

"Do not pretend you know me."

"But I do know you Azula," Ursa said looking up at her. "I know that somewhere deep you are curled up in a ball of pain screaming for someone, anyone, to make it stop. I know that you are as the child that ran from here, angry and alone. You have none to call friend or lover. You have none that love you for who you are. Only those that fear you or want your power latch onto you. Forever you will be alone."

Azula glared. "And what of you for your morality? You killed for your precious Zuko. You murdered for his sake."

"And I would do the same for you, Azula."

"No you wouldn't. You do not care for me."

Ursa again looked at the water. "When you have traveled your life's road you realize that there are many things you wish you had done differently. Death is the end Azula. From the spirit world you have the time to look over your life and think of all the mistakes you made."

Azula froze. "You are dead then."

"Assassinated by your father's men about a month after I had left."

Azula's heart beat heavily. She didn't know what to feel. Should she feel joy that the woman who never loved her was long gone or should she weep? Ursa may have never loved her like she had Zuko but she had cared for her. She had given her life at least she owed some respect.

"May you find peace."

"I do not believe I ever will. Listen to me well Azula: life is painful. You must try to find love for it makes all the pain bearable."

The world faded from her view as she found herself in the darkness. For a brief moment it was comforting and the she saw a streak of light and raced after it. The light led her through many places but always did it come when she was ready to give up but it led her away from the palace and her father. It led her towards the old ruins of civilizations long gone and into the wilderness. It was hard to follow the light.

It led her through volcanoes and underwater. It led her across ice and rocky terrain. It led her through caves and underground lakes. But she could not ignore it. She could not stop following it and at last it led her to a room where a man stood. She could not see his face but she felt his arms and for once Azula, princess of the Fire Nation, daughter of Ursa and Ozai, sister of Zuko, and Lady of the Cold Fire felt safe.

Her golden eyes fluttered as she woke. Perhaps she had some type of dream. The entire experience was too surreal to be true or real.

She had no ties to the Avatar. Why should she? He was her enemy and deserved whatever fate had in store of him. In didn't matter.

But with his death what would become of her?

Azula wanted to believe that the world would be right. Most likely she would be announced the heir and arranged in a political marriage. The marriage would happen

She would never become like her friends. Mai was a prisoner to her own husband. Ty Lee was the contented wife. Azula would not be either. She would rule herself.

Still she hoped he gave her a long fight.

"You are my own only rival and equal. Don't make my chance too easy."

In the mountains of the Air Temple a young man answered back, "Don't worry I don't intend not to fight."

To be continued….