Chapter Four- Fears

Azula stood above her brothers sleeping form, her old royal pin in hand, ready to stab it through his heart. Four years she had contemplated this very event, taking his life from him when her least expected it. No heroic death for the Great Firelord Zuko, he would die a cowards death, in his sleep. She wouldn't even use fire bending. No, she wanted to watch his blood spill.

Yes, she thought to herself, careful not to speak. She wanted to scream from the roof tops, to make him aware that his fears have finally come to face.

Her slight frame moved to him noiselessly, but lacking the grace she had years ago, it had left with her sanity.

Raising her hand to plunge the blade a hand caught her wrist.

Azula stared daggers at the woman who helped her escape from the prison cell. She still had yet to see her face. Before, in the prison it was masked by her helmet, and now, she wore a black sash over her nose and mouth. She growled lowly in anger.

Her escape had been a quick process, in the middle of the day. They had taken a tunnel beneath the boiling lake. Her liberator said it was completely secret, because she had made it herself. Azula learned at that moment that the woman was an Earthbender.

She willed fire into her wrists hoping to cause the woman's grip to loosen, but she held firm. Even as her flesh burned, she did not loosen her hold.

"Who are you?" she whispered, a little too loudly. Zuko sat up in bed, still half asleep, awoken by the noise.

The woman was fast, moving to the Firelord's side and knocking him in his temple, then squeezing his shoulder, causing Zuko to fall back into a deep slumber.

Azula took that moment to lunge at her brother, shoving past the woman. She was foiled again, as the woman shifted the ground she stood on at the last minute, causing her to miss and stab into the night table next to the bed. Before Azula could make another move, she received several quick punches to her side, causing her to go limp in her arms. She longed to scream, but was shot a warning glare by her liberator, or was she be better described as a captor.

"Our time is finished here," the woman whispered, not for fear of waking the Firelord, but for drawing the attention of the guards in the hallway. She grabbed Azula's arm and made way to the bureau on the opposite side of the room. Finding the secret passage, the moved quickly into the tunnels that led underneath the palace. Azula memorized the path they took, with the full intention of returning to finish the job.

/

Zuko tried to shake the idea that his sister was somewhere in the palace. Escapes were rare from the Boiling Rock, he himself being in on the last known escape. But it could be done.

Azula could have been there in his room the night before, it was entirely possible. He supposed the real question he should have been asking himself is why he was still alive. Unless she hadn't been alone. Had she simply wanted to scare him?

It was too much.

"Guards," he barked as he jumped out of bed, fetching a robe to cover his shirtless form. Two armed men entered his room seconds later, fully alert. "There was an intruder in my room last night. Did anyone report anything on the grounds last night?"

"No Firelord," they answered in unison.

"Then they entered through a one of my secret passageways. Call more troops and search the tunnels underneath the palace, they must be caught."

"Yes Firelord," They turned to go only to meet Iroh entering. They bowed swiftly to the old Prince and headed out.

"Where are they headed?" he asked his nephew.

"To search for the intruder."

"So you've heard then."

Zuko raised a brow. He walked to meet his uncle and shook his head; the old man was still in his pajamas.

"Heard what?"

"Your father was found dead in his cell this morning," Zuko's jaw dropped in shock and Iroh made a move to comfort him, but Zuko took a step back, not wanting to be touched. "It was made to look like he took his own life, hanging himself from his bed sheets. But I have inspected and there was a struggle, Ozai nearly overcame his attacker, but he could not. I have reason to believe it was an Earthbender."

"What, how?"

"The ground below his body was very uneven, like they raised it to hang his limp body and then lowered it in a hurry. But it was a very clean action. The bender responsible was very precise."

Zuko nodded. "I may send Toph down to inspect, just to be certain."

"Very wise, nephew—"

"Have Toph inspect what?" the blind girl asked from the doorway. Zuko motioned for her to come in, and was puzzled when she didn't move. Slapping his head, he chastised himself for forgetting she was blind.

"Come in," Zuko said as he walked over and pulled the pin out of his nightstand. "My father was murdered last night. Uncle thinks an earthbender is responsible. I want you to go down and inspect the cell, see if the ground was disturbed in such a way."

"Of course I can," she said with sympathy in her voice. "I'm sorry Zuko."

Zuko wondered if she knew he still went down to the see his father every week to ask for the where his mother was. And every week his father simply laughed in his face, denying him.

"It looks like whoever it was left me a present from Azula," he held the pin up for his Uncle's inspection; Iroh glowered at it, creasing his brow.

"What are you going to do?" Iroh asked, a hand pressed to his temple, worry in his eyes.

"I think it's time I pay my sister a visit," he said gravely.

/

The sun was setting in the South Pole as Katara read over the letter she was sending to the Firelord.

Zuko,

I think I have something that belonged to your sister, a bracelet charm, and I'm not sure who sent it to me. Something doesn't seem right, I don't think I'm in any danger, but maybe you should take a good look at those closest to you, just to be sure.

Best regards,

Katara

Yes, that seemed clear enough, and if there was any cause to worry, he would send word promptly.

She used wax and a seal provided by her father to prepare the letter to be sent. She walked to the small room in the chief's temple. Pulling one of the pigeonhawks that was trained to fly to the Firenation from its nest, she slipped the message around its leg.

Katara noticed its companion was gone, someone else had also sent a message to the Firenation. She shrugged it off, considering that her father was active in the efforts to restore the world to its former greatness.

She released the bird out the window and watched as it fell a few feet and then took flight. The bird flew off into its Northern destination and she waited till it disappeared on the horizon to turn and leave.

/

For the second time in his life Zuko was walking through the dim red corridors of the Boiling Rock Prison, though this time he was not a prisoner.

The warden had not been pleased to see him again, but showed the required amount of respect when the Firelord had demanded to see his sister.

Zuko stood before the door and looked through the small window. She was huddled into the corner and for a moment he thought she was dead, until he saw her heave a large sigh and shift her weight on the small mat she lay on.

"Has she been acting strange lately?" he asked the guard in front of her door.

"The princess has actually been very cooperative the past few weeks, enough to receive time outside her cell," he seemed pleased to report this. Zuko only shook his head; it seemed out of character for Azula to be so compliant.

"Open the door, I wish to see her," he told the man, and he hesitated, looking at the Warden for permission.

The Warden nodded. Zuko wished to remind them who was actually in charge but he bit his tongue as the door was pushed open.

He entered the cell and nearly gagged. The stale smell of human waste nearly made him sick. He moved to the edge of the room, weary of any type of sneak attack that was sure to come from his sister. Placing a hand on her shoulder he was relieved when her face simply rolled back and a large grin met his gaze, and blue eyes. Anger filled him immediately and he pushed the girl back to the floor.

"Where is Azula?" he growled.

A guard stepped forward. "Sir?" he asked.

"This is not my sister, I want to know where she is?" He breathed smoke at the men, wondering if there had been foul play.

The Warden entered the room, hearing the commotion. He jerked the girl up by the hair until he saw her eyes. She looked a great deal like the princess, except she was missing the golden eyes.

"Sweep the prison for the princess!" he yelled, Zuko stepped back, feeling the anger burning in his eyes. It had been Azula that visited him. The next question was where was she then? She obviously hadn't decided to stay, did she expect him to chase him.

Zuko pulled fire from within him and illuminated the room. Gasping at what he saw. His name was scratched along the wall, scarred into the metal by fire. But something else was written as well. He moved closer to the wall and tried to make out the words. Water, Watertribe. His eyes widened in realization.

She was going after Katara.

Zuko left the room immediately, motioning his guards to follow. He bellowed orders the entire way to the ship. They made way within minutes.

The next evening they arrived in the Firenation capitol. Zuko called his Uncle to his quarters to tell him the news.

"I have to warn her," he said as he paced the floor in front of Iroh.

"I'll have a letter drafted immediately," his Uncle responded.

"Yes, and I'm leaving for the South Pole tomorrow," Zuko said evenly.

"That might not be the best course, Nephew," Iroh said quickly. "We are on sensitive ground with the Southern Water Tribe. Remember our last visit."

"I don't care," he said, making his way to a stack of papers on his desk. Noticing a blue seal he tore open. "What is this? 'Most distinguished Firelord,'" he read. "As newly appointed chief of the Southern Water tribe I, Hakoda, father of Katara and Sokka, invite you to a ceremony in your honor. I wish to offer thanks for the many ways you have aided my family and my people. Signed, Chief Hakoda."

"Well that's convenient," Iroh said flatly. Making his way to his nephew's side, he read over the letter. Zuko saw yet another water tribe seal and picked it up.

"This one is from Katara," he read the contents silently as Iroh raised his brow. Passing the letter to Iroh, the old man read the few sentences and gave Zuko an approving nod.

"I'll take care of things here," Iroh placed a hand upon his shoulder. Zuko had only once told Iroh of his affection for Katara, and that one time was enough. "You set sail tomorrow."