Chapter Seven
Toph stayed in her room for a week after the battle. She refused to get up from her bed. She had personal maids bring her meals, but otherwise was fixed on the notion of not seeing anyone.
Zuko wouldn't move either. He sat next to Mai's bed in the infirmary, clutching Lu Ten to his chest with one arm, the other hand hanging on loosely to Mai's. After six days, the doctors had told him that she was, in fact, going to live, but he still refused to leave her side.
On the seventh day, Mai stirred and her eyes fluttered open. "Zuko…"
"Mai," he said, a smile lighting up his face.
"What happened?" she asked throatily.
"I think," said Zuko. "That that spirit granted your wish, too. You just wanted to have the baby safely, which was your whole wish. When the spirit…left, everyone's wishes were taken back. It's weird; Aang described it better, but basically you suffered the complications of childbirth a week after actually giving birth."
Mai raised an eyebrow. Zuko smiled.
"That was my reaction." He leaned in and kissed her. "I'm glad you're better."
She glanced at Lu Ten and Zuko handed the tiny baby to her. "I'm glad everything's better. So what did I miss while I was sick?"
"Well," said Zuko, sighing. "Sokka got hit by lightning, he's doing alright, Katara and Aang are going to get married, and Aang repealed that stupid decree, and the Earth King sent in a whole set of new guards for the palace, and Toph won't come out of her room."
"And Azula?"
He said nothing.
"Zuko, where's Azula?"
"She's in her old rooms. Apparently, Aang talked to her and…"
"And?"
"He thinks she's changed."
"Changed? How can someone like Azula change?"
Zuko thought of the moment during the battle when Azula had broke down and cried on his shoulder. "Aang got rid of the spirit, and I think that got rid of Azula's wish too. She doesn't want the throne anymore. She doesn't want to be a princess anymore, I think. She just wants to be…a person."
Mai sighed. "I don't know. Azula has always been so bloodthirsty. Could she really change that easily?"
"It hasn't exactly been easy for her," said Zuko, leaning back. "She's not sleeping, and she's barely eating…she's having a tough time."
"Wow."
"Yeah. It all seems too good to be true."
Mai held the baby to her chest, staring at the bed. "Are things actually going to work out now?"
"I hope so," said Zuko, putting his arms around her. "We just need to know not to trust anyone who calls themselves my long-lost relative." He smiled at her.
Mai closed her eyes and leaned against her husband. "I'm sorry about your mom."
"It's okay."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
In that same infirmary, three rooms down, Sokka was shakily standing up, leaning heavily against Suki. His face contorted in pain.
"Maybe you should wait a while longer," said Suki worriedly. "Katara, is there anything you can do?"
"No, I'm sorry," said Katara, rushing forward to support her brother on his other side. He waved her away.
"I'm fine," he said. "Stop making such a big deal over this."
"You were technically dead for five minutes, Sokka," said Aang amusedly. "I think it's okay to make a big deal over this."
"Yeah, well, I'm not dead now," he said gruffly. "Oh come on, Katara, I don't need the both of you."
Katara tentatively backed off. Sokka grunted softly and took an unsteady step forward. "How does that feel?" asked Suki nervously.
"It hurts," he said, grimacing. "A lot. But the important thing is-" he paused and groaned in pain. "-I'll live.
Katara squealed and threw her arms around her brother.
"Ow!"
"Oh, I'm sorry, sorry, I didn't mean to!"
"It's okay," he said, sighing. "Just, please don't do that again."
Aang took Katara hand. "Maybe you should wait a little while longer."
"And what would that accomplish?" asked Sokka, still struggling to take another step forward.
"You know what? I should go to the North Pole," said Katara."
"What?" said Aang, horrified.
"To get some spirit water. That should make you feel better."
"I don't need it, Katara."
"Yes, you do. Look at yourself – you can barely walk!"
"Aang, could you please remove my sister from the room?"
"Sure."
Despite Katara's protests, Aang led her firmly out of the room by her hand. Sokka went back to sitting on the bed. "Can you pass me that cane, Suki?"
She did so anxiously. He groaned once and Suki helped him onto his feet. Slowly, he took a step without her help.
"There," he said, smiling. "I manage just fine."
Suki chewed on her nails restlessly. "Sokka, I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For not protecting you. Dammit, I should have been able to stop her." She turned away from him, looking ashamed.
"Suki, you couldn't have done anything. It' s alright."
"No, it's not alright! She was right there, and I knew what she was going to do, but for some reason I just couldn't do anything."
"It's fine, everything is working out."
"But look at you! You're in pain!"
"It'll pass."
"Sokka!"
"Suki, do you want to feel bad about this?"
"Yes! Yes I do!"
He put his free arm around her. "Come on. It's not your fault."
"Well nobody's doing anything to Azula, and someone has to take the blame."
"You cannot be serious."
"Sokka," she pouted, holding his hand tightly. "I just feel like I should have done more."
"You couldn't have. I'll be fine, Suki, you just have to give it some time." He smiled warmly at her and kissed her.
She sighed and said, "I know, Sokka. I know."
In the opposite side of the palace, under the heavy guard of six men from the Earth Kingdom, Azula sat at a desk, desperately trying to think of what to write to her brother. She wanted to write him a letter, something that explained everything, something that would be easier than saying it to his face…but what was she supposed to say? He wouldn't believe her. He hadn't even seen her since he left her in this place, her old room, right after the battle.
Well. She hadn't seen anybody. The Avatar – Aang, she corrected herself – was the only one who had came to talk to her. And he had been unexpectedly sympathetic towards her. He agreed to let her stay in the palace, but only if she forfeited her claim for the throne. Of course, she did so. She didn't want the throne anymore. She wanted to be…normal.
Normal. She would never be normal. But she could always try.
There was a knock on the door. She got up, her heart rate quickening. Maybe it was Zuko, come to finally talk to her!
She opened the door. Aang was standing in the doorway. He bowed quickly.
"Oh," she said. "Hello."
"Hi," he said. "Have you written anything yet?" She stepped aside and he entered the room.
"I can't think of anything to say."
"Tell him the truth."
"What truth?"
"Come on. Something you wished he knew."
"Wishes aren't doing much good lately, actually."
Aang laughed. "It's such a shame that we had to be enemies. You're really smart. You would have made a great friend."
"Oh yes. Between my brutality and your optimism, I'm sure we would have been best of friends."
He smiled at her. "Hey, you have a second chance now. We can be friends. You just need to be…"
"Nicer?"
"Yeah. That's the word I was looking for. Nicer."
"I need a favor."
Aang raised his eyebrows at her. "What is it?"
She looked him straight in the eye and said, "Take away my bending."
"…what?"
"You did it to my father; I know you can do it to me. I don't want to have this power anymore. No one will ever trust me as long as I have this ability. Take it. I don't want it."
Aang looked at her with compassion. "I can't. I wish I could-" At the look on Azula's face, he smiled slightly. "Yeah, I really do. But…I don't know. It's just something that happened."
"Can you at least try?"
Aang thought about it for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah. I'll try."
"What should I do?"
"Nothing. You don't have to do anything. Just…relax."
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Aang gently took her wrists in his hands. He closed his eyes, trying to remember what he had done back when he had taken Ozai's bending away. Something about the inner light. Or was it inner strength? Dang, if only he could remember what that gigantic lion-turtle had said. Wait. It had been a lion-turtle, right? Oh no. Had it been a tiger-duck? No, that would have been too stupid. Dang it, how could he not remember?
He shook his head, trying to return to the present. He concentrated hard, trying to do something…oh wait, but don't go into the Spirit World. It wouldn't look too good if he ended up passed out on Azula's floor.
A few minutes passed. Nothing happened.
"Sorry," said Aang dully. "There's nothing I can do."
Azula nodded. "Of course. Thank you for trying." She bowed her head slightly. Aang looked at her, wishing he could do something.
"Azula, this is your chance," he said. "I can't help you with this. Just show to your brother – show to the world – that you're not the girl you used to be. Prove to them that you grew up."
She wouldn't look at him. There was silence for a few seconds, then she said, "But I need your help."
He looked at her. "I know you can do this."
"Nobody's ever going to trust me. I'm always going to be a danger. It's not fair."
"Life's not fair."
Aang and Azula looked around at the door, where Katara was standing. "Aang, the whole palace is insisting you go back out there and make a statement," she said. "Could I talk to Azula a minute?"
Aang nodded, kissed Katara gently on the cheek once, then stepped out of the room. Katara closed the door behind him.
"Zuko told me that you used to see your mother," she said lowly. "Before you realized she was dead."
"Yes," admitted Azula. "I don't deny that I was…insane."
"And let me guess. You've gone un-insane?"
Azula stared at her. "What?"
"You know what? You were wrong. Everyone is going to start to trust you, eventually. Because they're so convinced that you're good too. They think that just because Zuko turned around and joined our side, it means that anyone from your family could. But your father couldn't. And that means you can't either."
She turned and left the room. Azula stood there, frozen.
"I…" She began to try to defend herself, but sat down and covered her face with her hands when she realized she had already left. She sighed. What was she thinking? She was Azula…she couldn't be good…not until they believed she wanted to be…
A few days passed. Things began to wrap themselves up – Mai was finally let out from the infirmary, all healthy again, and Sokka was getting better every day. Zuko still hadn't seen Azula, and he didn't intend to until everything was running smoothly again.
The Southern Water Tribe was expecting their leader back in a few weeks. Hakoda supposed he should get going. But, after all that had happened, he knew he had to speak to his eldest son first.
He had left Aijin and Jaren with his daughter and his future son-in-law, Aang. It was a great honor to have Katara marry the Avatar, but he wouldn't have minded who her husband turned out to be, as long as she was happy.
He knocked on the door gently and opened it. Sokka was sitting up in the bed, with Suki sitting next to him, holding his hand. "Excuse me," said Hakoda. He looked to Suki and said, "May I have a moment with Sokka?"
"Yeah," she said. "Sure." She looked at Sokka once, then stepped out of the room, allowing father and son to be alone.
There was a moment of silence, then the two men spoke at the same time.
"Sokka, I have to apologize-"
"Dad, I'm sorry-"
They stopped at stared at each other.
"What?" they asked simultaneously.
"You first," said Hakoda, sitting on the chair Suki had just vacated. Sokka sighed.
"I'm sorry for the way I've been acting. I just…I just felt like you were forgetting Mom when you married Aijin. It felt like you were betraying the whole family. I know, it's stupid, I just-
"Sokka, it's not stupid." Hakoda looked at his son, a faint but sad smile on his face. "I understand. I loved your mother, but do you honestly think she would have wanted me to mourn her death forever?"
"No. I know she wouldn't."
"Exactly. And now I love Aijin, and your little brother."
Hakoda waited for Sokka's usual response. "Half-brother, Dad."
Nothing came. He realized something.
He laughed softly. "That was it, wasn't it?"
"What?"
"Your wish. Katara explained it all to me. Your wish was to just accept things as they are, wasn't it?"
Sokka smiled.
"That was my wish, Dad," he said softly. "But, to tell you the truth…that spirit never got around to granting it. She didn't have to."
Hakoda looked at Sokka, tears in his eyes.
"I love you, son," he said, leaning forward and putting his arms around the younger man. Sokka cringed slightly.
"Whoa, Dad, in pain here, remember?-" He smiled and reluctantly put his arms around his father.
"I love you, Dad."
Nine Months Later
Zuko walked through the palace in darkness. There was no noise; people had no idea how they should feel about what had just occurred.
He found Sokka and Suki's place and knocked on their door. Suki opened the door. "Hi Zuko," she said. "What's up?"
"Hey Suki," he said, glancing behind her. "Could I speak to Sokka?"
She nodded. "Come on in. He's just in the other room." She pointed dark a hallway.
"Thanks," he said, heading that way.
Sokka was sitting down, leaning his head against one hand.
"You heard, then?" asked Zuko, standing in the doorway. Sokka looked up and nodded.
"Unfortunately."
Zuko sighed. "So have you seen the baby?"
"No. Net yet."
There was a pause, then Zuko said, "He has blue eyes."
"Oh, God. You're kidding."
"No I'm not. Everyone knows, Sokka."
"Did you talk to her about it?"
"Yeah, I asked her. She refused to admit it."
Sokka closed his eyes and put his hands on his head. "Man. I am such an idiot."
"You are, Sokka. You really are." Zuko shook his head. "What could have possibly possessed you to do this?"
"Oh please. She was going to kidnap Lu Ten. She needed someone to love her."
"Couldn't you have loved her without sleeping with her?"
Sokka shot him a dark glanced. "It was one night. I didn't expect…"
"Whatever." A moment of silence, then, "Did you talk to Suki about it?"
"I tried to. She refuses to believe it either."
"You can't just leave Azula alone to deal with the kid. He's your son too, and that means you assume some of the responsibility."
"Aw, come on. She could get anyone in the whole nation to help her out. Why me?"
"Because, number one, if you didn't remember, she actually tried to kill us a while ago, and that sort of makes people hesitant to help her, and, number two, you're this baby's father. Can you really just let her do this on her own?"
Sokka rubbed his temples. "What did she name him?"
"Roku. After our mother's grandfather."
"Well. That's not a bad name."
Zuko looked at him.
"What? It's not."
"I'm trying to be serious here."
"Maybe you don't have to be serious. Maybe this isn't such a big deal."
"Not a big deal?" repeated Zuko, barely believing his own ears. "Azula is a mother now! Who knows what she'll do to the poor kid!"
"I think that's what about you before Lu Ten was born," said Sokka with a grin. "Besides, I thought you trusted her now."
"Yeah, I trust her with my life. But…a son? I don't think she's ready for that yet."
"It's just another chance to prove that she can function like a normal human being. Also, I think it'll be good for her. Azula would make a pretty good mom."
"You make such bad jokes."
"I'm not joking! She cares very deeply about a few things, and I think that this kid could be one of those things. She would be attentive, and caring, and possibly over-protective," said Sokka.
"And you know all this how?"
Sokka raised an eyebrow at him.
"Don't look at me like that. I know her just as well as you do."
"Okay, okay. I'll talk to her."
"Don't just talk to her. Help her."
"I'll do whatever I can."
Zuko nodded, apparently satisfied. He turned to leave, then paused and looked around. "Oh, and Sokka?"
"What?"
"Congratulations."
He swept away, leaving Sokka alone in the room, wondering how the hell he got himself into this situation.
WHY YES, I AM SETTING UP THE PREMISE FOR A SEQUEL
:D
Aaaanyways, I haven't actually started this sequel, but I know what's going to happen in it. Of course, since I have this problem with unfinished stories, it will prolly take me FOREVER, but, one day, it shall be done.
And this whole story was inspired by the songs "Shadows and Regrets" by Yellowcard, "All These Things That I've Done" by the Killers, and partly by that line in that one song by the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus that I am trying to find but am too lazy to look up that goes "and the darkness is fading in...and the darkness is real". So yeah. Listen to those. Even though 'tis a bit late (THESTORYISOVER)
Thank you so much for reading! Reviews would be very much appreciated! I'd like to hear thoughts, advice, congratulations (lol or you could just try to pat down my ego a little bit).
love you all!
~DragonWriter444
