Wanted

By: Agent-Ayu

Chapter 3

Notes: There is a little reference to the Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Lost Adventures.

Disclaimer: Disclaimer from Prologue still applies.


Yu lightly drummed his hands against his leg as he continued watching his patient sleep. His mind wondered to what she had told Jing. "There's only one Azula as far as I know… Jing said she had gold eyes, another trait of very high-class nobles, she looks like she's in her early twenties, and she really does look like Jing's mother. This is too much to be a coincidence."

The doctor leaned in to his patient enough to whisper. "If you're really Azula, you're in for a surprise when my wife comes home in three weeks. The odds of her going off to that training retreat the Kyoshi Warriors set up for our village and you showing up the same day. The Universe might be telling us something."

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The Captain put Azula to work at her request. When she got to the boiler room she was immediately assigned to help weld the extra scrap metal to seal of the damaged areas. It took one firebender to give her a quick lesson of how to weld the metals properly for the best outcome. They didn't mind if it wasn't welded clean and perfectly as long as it was sealed properly.

"This isn't going to hold for long is it?" Azula asked as she was just finishing her side of the welding.

"Not with the water pressure. You can see it's starting to come undone." One of the other firebenders pointed towards his side that was faintly shaking.

"Princess! The Water Tribe replied, they will be glad to help, but…" The Captain dragged off.

"They don't know I'm on the ship."

Every crewmember that was in the boiler room fell silent. Seeing the uncertainty of her crew she tried something that the old her would have never done for them.

"Everyone listen, no matter what happens, we need to get this ship to safety and fixed. If I have to be taken prisoner by them for that to happen then so be it. We all knew that if something like this were to happen we would encounter problems because of me. I caused a lot of harm during the last days of the war especially towards the Earth Kingdom and the Kyoshi Warriors." She looked at every crewmember in the eye. "But I promise I will make sure none of you are involved with whatever the Water Tribe might have in store when they find out I'm on this ship."

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"You… You can't treat me like this. You can't treat me like Zuko!" For the first time in her life she had talked back to her father.

"Azula, silence yourself." Ozai replied a little too calmly then Azula was used to hearing from him.

She was beyond furious. She had done everything he had asked without question and took every berating and insult he threw at her all to avoid being treated like her brother. And yet here she was. "But it was my idea to burn everything to the ground! I deserve to be by your side!"

"Azula!"

There it was, the look of disappointment on his face the look that was normally used for Zuko. Clenching her jaw, Azula closed her eyes and lowered her head as her father continued to talk.

"Listen to me. I need you to watch over the homeland, it's a very important job that I can only entrust to you."

The princess opened her eyes in disbelief. After everything she had done, he still trusted her. "Really?"

"And for your loyalty," Ozai turned around to look at Azula. "I've decided to name you the new Fire Lord."

"Fire Lord Azula! It does seem appropriate." Finally she had taken the throne from her brother. However, it wasn't right. Why would her father give the throne to her if he were still alive? "But, what about you?"

Ozai smirked. "Fire Lord Ozai is no more. Just as the World will be reborn," Azula watched as the Fire Sages place custom-made armor over her father's shoulders and a matching helmet on his head. "I shall reborn as the supreme ruler of the World. From this moment on, I will be known as the "Phoenix King"!"

When Ozai raised his arms, new banners were lifted into the air as well as a giant one behind him. Azula's eyes wondered around her surrounding as some of the Imperial Firebenders firebend into two urns on either side of the giant banner only to have two large fire wings to appear from the pillars. All the citizens were on the ground bowing to the new King and out of show, Azula slowly lowered herself until she was bowing. Everyone remained where they were until Ozai and his fleet left the shores of the Royal Plaza.

Azula raised her head and glared at her father's fleet before standing. This wasn't a reward. Her father had taken everything she worked for from her. While she might soon officially hold the title of 'Fire Lord', the title no longer held any meaning – not with her father being the Phoenix King. There was one thing her father was right about. She couldn't trust anyone, not even him. She could only trust herself.

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The Fire Nation princess let out a deep breath as she opened her eyes. Her first official appearance to the Southern Water Tribe wasn't exactly the way she had liked. Along with the waterbenders, the Avatar had come to help bring them to the Southern Water Tribe by bending a tsunami to carry the ship. Since everyone in the boiler room was not prepared for that, they weren't holding onto anything when being lifted. Some were injured from being slammed against the wall, and others were burned from touching the boiler.

The Avatar had apologized profusely. He honestly didn't believe that the tsunami would have caused a big shift on the ship. The Water Tribe was less than thrilled when Azula stepped off the gangplank of her ship. They refused to treat her injuries until her crew refused being treated themselves until they treated her as well.

"Ow! Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow! This is payback from seven years ago, isn't it?" Azula asked as she winced a little more.

Katara glared at Azula and continued gently pulling on Azula's arm to assess any damage. "Not even close. You tried to kill me on multiple occasion."

"I apologized for that before you sucker punched me. Nice right hook by the way." Azula began rubbing her cheek with her right hand. "Guess I did deserve at least that sucker punch from you."

Without warning Katara yanked at Azula's arm really hard. While Azula was trying hard not to scream, the waterbender took pleasure in torturing the firebender in some form. She wasn't purposely torturing Azula, everything she was doing was for the princess's benefit.

"Oh, stop whining. I had to readjust your elbow."

"So… what exactly would you like me to call you?" Azula looked at the ground feeling ashamed for what she called Katara in the past.

The waterbender looked at the princess. Katara noticed from the time she punched Azula until now that she had changed a lot since their first encounter in Omashu. The Azula she originally knew wouldn't have been ashamed of anything.

"Katara." The waterbender finally replied.

Azula looked up and the two exchanged a small smile of understanding. She was going to have to work hard to show the Water Tribe, specifically Katara and Aang that she had changed. That she wasn't the Fire Nation Princess that chased them across Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation.

After a few more pulling, Katara had readjusted Azula's arm and began healing any other injures. "I have a question. Do you know how you became sane again?"

A question that Azula had asked herself many times before and could only make one conclusion. "I know I'm legally documented as a cured mad woman, but I'm serious when I say this, I think Avatar Roku helped me."

There was a slight pause in Katara's waterbending before she continued. "Why do you think it was him?"

"According to my doctor, for three years I was acting like a raging animal. They had to have me chi blocked for both our safety. Then somehow the day after the Summer Solstice she said I calmed down. Not just a little, but completely. Keep in mind, I was always able to feel the seasons changing and when it was the Summer Solstice, come with being a firebender. I remember feeling really warm because it was the longest day of the year and I saw Avatar Roku, he said he could help me if I listened and trusted him. "

The princess huffed. "Took me what felt like a long time before I let myself trust him. I don't remember much after that. It was like I was in a trance. I saw everything I had done and realized how much of a bitch I was to everyone. Then again according to my doctor I fell ill during the last week of my insanity. She said it was a spiritual illness, something where depending which path I took would determine my future. I guess I chose the right one since when I recovered from my illness I was sane again."

"I wonder why Avatar Roku wanted to help you. No offense or anything." Azula shrugged it off as Katara put her arm into a sling.

"Avatar Roku is my great-grandfather from my mother's side." Katara's eyes widened at that news. "I guess Zuko didn't tell you that. He told me a couple of days after I returned to the palace when he got my medical report from my doctor."

Katara smiled and sat down next to Azula. "You have changed. It's nice, but creepy that we're even talking to each other right now. I guess Zuko was right when he sent Aang and I that letter about your unofficial banishment."

"He didn't tell me that he was sending anyone letters about that."

"More like he was giving us the heads up so we wouldn't be too surprised. Why do you think we didn't attack you? We're bitter still because of the war, but not that bitter. I'm not saying this is bad, but being this calm and no signs of even a little bit of what you were before the Agni Kai isn't you."

Azula shook her head. "No, it's not. And that's what this unofficial banishment is for. When Zuko was banished he traveled the world and somewhere done the line he found himself after he lost everything. That's what I need to do to even begin finding myself and there are many loose ends I need to tie up too."

"You won't be doing much traveling for a while. Most of your crew that is a firebender was injured. You've been traveling for a year, time to take a small break."

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"She imprisoned my warriors and I, used our uniforms and name to infiltrate Ba Sing Se, and she even conquered Ba Sing Se. She wouldn't have been able to do any of that if she wasn't a firebender." Suki angrily.

"Not to mention all the times she tried to kill us." Sokka added.

"That's the thing though, she didn't kill any of us or anyone during her conquering of Ba Sing Se." Aang noticed everyone looking at him. "I don't count since I was brought back thanks to Katara."

Zuko pulled himself out of his thoughts when it was his turn to state his position. "I know my sister and I… had some of our major differences within this past year and most of our childhood, but it wasn't always like that. Everyone except Katara didn't see the way she was after Katara defeated her.

"I saw my sister from when we were little kids. It was one of the few times when she didn't think showing emotions was a weakness. One of our family's physicians has officially declared her insane and there could possibly be a way for her to recover. I don't think she can ever recover if we have Aang take her bending away. She's a firebender, it's part of her."

"Look, we understand what you're saying, but Azula was dangerous enough when she was sane, now that she's insane no one is safe. Not even herself." Katara replied.

The soon-to-be Fire Lord sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Uncle, what is your opinion in the matter?"

Iroh sipped some of his tea before answering. "While I agree with every point that everyone has made, there is one thing we're all forgetting. Everyone here, the world, and Azula are victims of this hundred-year war. Some suffered more than others." The former general looked around the table.

"Like my nephew said, she wasn't always the way you have come to know her. Though our whole family played some part in making her the way she is, that we are guilty. I was her firebending master before her father started training her. Instead of keeping an eye out for her like I did with Zuko, I ignored what was happening. For that I am one of the reasons she turned out like she did."

"Wouldn't losing her marbles be punishment enough? And why not get that bouncy girl to chi block her?" Toph asked bluntly.

Zuko shook his head. "I don't think we can ask Ty Lee to chi block her every time it starts to wear off. It wouldn't be fair to Ty Lee."

"What if we have something that could block her bending around the clock?" Aang asked. "That way she won't be able to firebend until she recovers and this wouldn't effect Ty Lee or any other chi blocker. Would everyone settle for this arrangement?"

When no one spoke up, Aang assumed it was because no one wanted to start a fight if they voiced their full opinion on Aang's offer. Giving everyone enough time to think it over, the Avatar continued.

"This means when she recovers, she will still have her bending abilities. It's time to take a vote. Voting 'yes' means she keeps her bending and we find a way to chi block her during her recovery, and by voting 'no' I'll take away her ability to bend."

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Azula watched Katara teach her students during their daily waterbending lessons. She figured these children were part of the first batch of new Southern Water Tribe waterbenders. This was definitely different than what Zuko described to her when he first arrived here seven years ago when he found the Avatar.

She jumped when something black and white flew in front of her and then wrapped itself around her shoulders. When she turned her head slightly to see what jumped onto her, she came face to face with very big green eyes. "Oh, you're that flying lemur, one of the Avatar's pets."

"His name is Momo." Aang smiled as he walked down the rest of the steps. "This is a bit surprising since he was running away from you last time. Then again so was I."

The princess gave a small smiled and scratched under Momo's chin. "Last time you were shorter than me and your voice wasn't as deep. Now you're Zuko's height. Who's the little girl you've got there?"

"This little princess here is Kya. Say 'hello', Kya." Kya just stared at Azula and Momo as Aang chuckled. "She's almost two, so we'll probably be hearing her talk soon."

"Blue eyes. Good chance she'll be a waterbender since her mother is one, but even some children of benders don't inherit the ability to bend their element. That's what happened to Zuko's swords master. Master Piandao of Shu Jing Island."

Aang lowered Kya so she could walk around a little. "I didn't know Piandao was Zuko's swords master too."

"I don't see why he wouldn't. He used to be in the Fire Nation Army, a good friend of my Uncle's, and he is the best swordsman in the Fire Nation. He trained your friend Sokka, right?"

"Yep. How'd you figure that out? Kya, don't wander too far." Aang went to retrieve his daughter before she walked in on her mother's class.

"Not much to figure out. Sokka didn't have a sword the last time I saw you and your friends in Ba Sing Se and then during the Invasion he has one. Also I made it a point to pay attention to detail and I was able to tell it was Master Piandao's work when I got a close up of his sword at the Boiling Rock." Azula placed her hand over her injured arm and used some firebending to ease the pain with heat.

"Well, you don't have to worry about getting as close up on his sword. He lost it during Sozin's Comet to save our friend's life and his."

"Zuko kind of mentioned that to me in passing, The Battle of Wulong Forest. With the schools reformed without all the propaganda, that battle is definitely in the history books."

Kya reached out to try a pull on Momo's tail, but after having happen to him a lot the past year, the winged lemur moved his tail just barely out of the girl's reach. He moved it back when she retracted her hand and they repeated the process again. Azula lightly bopped her head against Momo's, since her release from the asylum animals had been attracted towards her. The turtle ducks weren't scared of her anymore, and on occasion Izumi's fire ferret took his naps in her room. She smirked realizing that Fire Ferret was probably loving her whole room to himself while she was gone.

"What's on your mind? Last time I saw you smiling was when you attacked us at the Western Air Temple and it wasn't anything like the one you're giving." Aang let Kya go again and the young girl ran towards her mother, who just finished her waterbending class.

Azula shook her head and continued smiling. "Momo just made me think of my niece's pet fire ferret and the turtle ducks back at the palace. The turtle ducks use to fear me because I did terrible stuff to them like toss a whole loaf of bread at them. As for the fire ferret, he loves sleeping wherever he pleases in my bedroom."

Aang sat down on one of the near by benches. "Do you miss the Fire Nation?"

The firebender sat down next to the airbender as they watched Katara play with Kya. "Yes and no. I miss it just because I'm finally admitting to myself that I miss some of the talks Zuko and I have when most of the time it's him doing all the talking. And I miss doing nothing with my niece. That's all we did was nothing. We were perfectly content with that. Gave the kid sometime to unwind from running away from her servants. Kind of reminds me of myself when I was her age."

"Creating havoc since you were two?"

"Naturally."

The two looked at each other and laughed. Never did they think they would be sitting next to each other and talk as if they were old friends. It was a start. She had to start somewhere to find herself and making peace with her brother's friends, the people she was ordered to chase was a very good start.

"So, Avatar how many kids are you planning on having? Still be the last airbender and all."

"Aang. Please, call me, 'Aang'. I'll be content two if our next child is an airbender. We can't have the airbenders die out with me. We need an airbender to keep the world balanced."

Azula eyes began to wander as she started feeling a little uneasy. "I almost did unbalance the world when I killed you in Ba Sing Se. How did you even survive that?"

Giving the princess of mischievous grin he brought his finger up to his lips and shsshed. "That's a secret you'll have to figure out. On a little more serious note, it is kind of a secret because if it got out people would try to go after the source and it will greatly upset some spirits."

"Fair enough. Well, I better go check on my crew and see how they're doing." Azula got up and began to walk away.

"Please send them my apologies again. I really am sorry for all the injuries I caused on you and your crew."

The princess rolled her eyes in a playful way. "Aang, enough. You've been apologizing for three days. We know you're sorry and no one is taking it personal. If anyone in my crew is taking it personal, they'll have to deal with me. My firebending might be weak, but I can still kick all their asses."

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"No."

"… No."

Suki casted her vote quickly and Sokka chose to side with Suki. Azula had baited him during the Invasion by using Suki against him. He couldn't forgive her for that since all the events that happened after the eclipse ended could have been avoided if it wasn't for her.

"My vote is yes. She's my sister. I know if she were in my position she would probably abandon me, but I'm not her. I'll do whatever I can to help her recover." Zuko voted.

"She lost her mind. That's enough punishment for me. I vote yes." Toph replied.

That left Katara; Iroh had recused himself from voting since he wanted to only be an advisor for the six teenagers. Since it was Aang who would have to probably take Azula's bending away, he too recused himself from voting.

Katara didn't say anything for a while as she gathered her thoughts together. She looked at Suki and her brother and then at Zuko. "My vote is…"

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After a couple of weeks the ship was repaired to where it was barely visible from the damage the iceberg caused. Instead of standing on the port like she did in the Fire Nation, Azula helped the crew move the cargo that was originally on the ship back on along with the additional cargo the Water Tribe was giving them. Unlike their arrival, there was only one big family that was with them to send them off, the chief's family.

"That should be just about it! A few more cargo that is coming in and we should be ready to go once we get the boiler room and engines going again." The captain announced before walking deeper into the ship as Azula walked back to the port.

"Chief Hakoda, it was a pleasure meeting you… again and under better circumstances. Now if knew Katara was the chief's daughter I wouldn't have called her 'peasant'." Azula raised an eyebrow at the waterbender.

"I believe you called me, 'filthy peasant' to be exact." Katara corrected as she smirked.

"You made it worse for me. Even during war I respect titles. In Ba Sing Se I did refer to the Earth King as 'The Earth King'. Your father is the chief of this tribe, the leader of the tribe. Essentially social rank wise we're equals."

Hakoda laughed while Kanna and Pakku shook their heads. "If this was the Northern Water Tribe, they would really like you for that attitude." Kanna explained. "But since this is the Southern Water Tribe, we do not concern ourselves with family ranking and nobility. The Tribe is our family overall, we look after each other like family and not as subjects."

Pakku continued for his wife. "I would advise you to stay clear of the Northern Water Tribe as well. While they did agree to the declaration of peace at the end of the war, they are still on edge with the Fire Nation."

The princess nodded. "I heard about everything that happened up there. I'll be sure to tell the captain and helmsman."

The three elders bid the princess farewell before leaving her with Aang and his family. Azula turned toward to Katara first.

"So… what about us? Are we good?"

Katara smiled. "We're good, though when you do find yourself, get some of the old Azula back. It's too awkward seeing you like this after everything that happened last time."

Azula chuckled. "I'll see what I can do." She held out her hand. The two girls shook on their informal agreement. "Avat- Aang, thank you. And next time you talk to my great-grandfather, please tell him I said 'thank you' as well."

"You already have, Azula. We're both connected spiritually to him. Yes, I might be able to talk to him face to face, but he's inside you as well. I think if you asked, he could help you again if you need him." He shook her hand too.

As Azula walked up the gangplank Momo flew around her a few times before settling onto her shoulders. "Sorry, little guy. You're not coming with me. You can stay until we pull out of port." She turned back around to get a confirm nod from Aang. "How about a little tour of the ship?"

By the time Azula and Momo reached the deck, the ship had already begun to pull out of the port. "Alright little guy. Time to say good-bye. It was very nice getting to know you as well, Momo."

Momo chattered as if he wanted something from her. She stared at him until it dawned on her she hadn't given him any lychee nuts today like she had the past couple of weeks.

"Here. Take the whole bag. My treat to you."

The flying lemur licked the princess's cheek a few times before flying back to Aang and Katara with his bag of lychee nuts. She leaned against the railing and held up when had as a sign of waving good-bye to the two benders. Azula gave a small smile when they returned the wave before walking away. It was a start. Her toughest challenge would be facing the Kyoshi Warriors and their people. However, she wasn't ready to face them yet. Maybe in another year the princess thought as went to inform the captain and helmsman about the Northern Water Tribe.

"She's beginning to find her inner peace like Zuko did." Aang mentioned as they watched the ship sail further and further away.

"I'm glad I made the right choice that day. She does need firebending to help her. Taking that away from her wouldn't have helped. I can honestly say I've forgiven her as well." Katara looked down at Kya and smiled.

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"My vote is… yes. For so long I've hated the Fire Nation because they killed my mother, in time whenever I pictured the Fire Nation was only able to see Zuko's face and later Azula's. And if Zuko thinks she will need her firebending to help her recover, then I trust his judgment. Zuko has proven to me that he could be trusted and I forgave him. I would find it hypocritical if I didn't give Azula the same chance. Once she's recovered of course." Katara finally answered.

Aang smiled. "Alright then, it's settled. Azula will be allowed to keep her firebending. Let's see if we can find someone to make chi blocking bracelets."

"And anklets and a chocker." Toph added in.

Zuko gave a sad smile. He was thankful that his sister will be able to keep her bending, but he really hoped she could recover. Both he and Katara saw Azula at her worst. When she was chained to the ground, defenseless, weak, and broken. They heard her screaming for their mother and repeating to herself that she wasn't a monster. After his coronation tomorrow he was going to pay his father a visit. He was going to find out where Ozai banished their mother.