Hello fanfic readers so Book 4: Exodus is ending in three more chapters. *Sniff* I'm going to miss this story. What can you expect? Spoiler alert! Azula vs. Mai and Azula vs. Ozai *ding ding* let's get ready to rumblllllle!

I've made a commitment from now on to answer all of my reviewer's comments. So here it is.

LifeTimesWorth- no Jeong-Jeong isn't the baby daddy, but your close.

SerenaPotterSailorMoon- Yes they are getting married and I'm glad you got the warm fuzzy feeling.

Black Diamond07- Azula has always been in love with Judel she finally accepted him as a potential future mate. Glad you're still following the story and don't worry there will be action scenes and battles, so hang on until chapter 12 I've got some surprises.

Passionworks- I'm glad that the love scenes worked out I was so worried. Actually, your half right about Judel's father being a fire sage: that was my original idea. As far as Judel and Azula's future you'll see what happens.

Bricksailor93- Thanks for the review. As far as grammar, it's a work in progress; like I've said scriptwriting teaches you bad habits. I'm slowly getting back to my old ways, but practice makes perfect. Glad I was able to keep Azula in character; I studied her hardcore.

Coming up in this chapter -Judel's father revealed.

I do not own ATLA but I do own my vivid dreams and OC's


Book 4: Air: Exodus

Chapter 8


Azula was miserable. Her ankles were swollen to the size of melons. Her belly protruded ahead of her at arm's length. The heat was normally welcoming warmth; it was too much for a young woman in her last trimester. Aura brought some rags in a small basin soaked with water. Azula breathed heavily as her contractions grew closer. She was irritable that Judel impregnated her, nonetheless, she had to give birth to this child alone. Azula stared out in the window tracing Judel's shape pondering if his journey was going to take long. She felt a strong kick in her abdomen causing discomfort. Aura put the rag over Azula's head with its cooling, relieving, sensation. "How do you feel mommy?" Aura asked pleasantly.

"Miserable, when will this accursed infant leave my body?"

"Babies are like stubborn mule-moose they come when they wish."

Aura had tried to make Azula as comfortable as possible. She calmed the Azula beast by combing her long tangled hair. Azula shut her eyes tranquilly, focusing on her labor.

Azula was a different woman. She was married and expecting a child any day now. She thought, how peaceful to have a new life. "Aura, have you heard from Judel and Ping."

"I sent two messengers hawks, nothing has come of it yet."

"What's taking them so long? He promised he would be here," Azula said cantankerously.

"They had this mission before we met them. I know Judel; if he makes a promise he will keep it to his last breath."

Azula sighed once again; she hoped that single motherhood wasn't in the future. She rubbed her belly and attempted to get up. Aura realizing her obvious struggle, helped her to her feet. Azula waddled over to the full length mirror, indicating her portly frame. Her belly was so large it didn't permit her to see her feet. Her face was fuller. There were small bags of exhaustion under her eyes. "How can Judel love a woman like me, I'm hideous."

Suddenly, a pain surged within her; she doubled over. Her breathing quickened to almost hyperventilation. Then she heard a pop and a gush of water ran down her leg. Her spine felt as if it were twisting and on fire. Pressure built up in her belly. She squeezed Aura's hand as she collapsed on the floor. "Nurse Jie, come quickly!"

An elderly woman ran into the room, "What is it child?" The woman looked on the floor seeing the puddle of water and immediately aided Aura in carrying Azula to the back of the house.

Azula's vision was distorting at the strong contractions. A harsh discomfort shot down her back to her toes. Her world quickened and slowed. Try as she may she couldn't catch her breath. Azula's mind was filled with a sudden terror. Please, Agni let the baby be okay.

She didn't know how she got to the bedroom. She faintly remembers the towels rags being put upon her head. She blacked in and out when she pushed. The voices of the nurse and Aura seemed like a distant dream. All she knew vividly was the cry of her infant. Though the newborn was covered in blood and film to Azula she was the most beautiful creature. She knew exactly what she would name her daughter, Xiourong, meaning, child of treasured beauty.


As Azula held Xiourong, she allowed herself to fantasize what this moment of giving birth to her daughter would be like, if her family were perfect or close to it. Her father would be disappointed that she had a child of mixed descent, but he would be happy that she had an heir before Zuko. Her mother would never stop smiling and teaching her how to care for her daughter. Zuko would be in disbelief that she is a mother at all and gladly accept her as his niece; teaching her how to irritate her mother. Uncle would make a lot of faces, scaring his great niece and then giggle. Alas, her family could never be like this. She stared at her bundle of joy, looking so much like her father; she laid her fingertips on Xiourong's small cheek. "Judel and I will be the only family you need," she declared to her daughter.

The nurse taught Azula how to take care of her daughter's basic needs. These moments were met with frustration, but like the prodigy she was, she acquired the knowledge quickly. Even though fatigue had set in Azula could look at her mellow, virtuous, Xiourong forever. Azula found herself being cautious with the infant. Her tone would be sweeter, but she was still feisty; it was a part of her nature. As she held her sleeping daughter, she thought of her past. What kind of woman would Xiourong be and what would she teach her? Being a parent was serious business.

Azula pulled the bassinet close to her bed, carefully, gently, putting Xiourong inside safely swaddled. She watched her daughter drift off to sleep and she wondered how her mother could have abandoned her. Azula wasn't sure what kind of mother she would be; what she knew for sure, Xiourong would never leave her side. Azula laid in bed, rocking her daughter to sleep as she herself slowly drifted into a slumber.


Azula awoke serene as she watched her daughter being held by her husband. Judel smiled and stroked Azula's cheek. "She's exquisite, like her mother."

Azula peered at the newborn in a blanket cleaned and in fresh clothes. Xiourong opened her pallid moon eyes for a moment and closed them. "She has her mother's attitude." Judel joked.

Azula smirked and looked at her daughters features. Xiourong's nose was a petite version of Judel's; in fact, all of her daughter's features were like Judel's, with the exception of her eyes. Azula watched Judel fawning over Xiourong. It was a new beginning: whatever happened in the past was resolved the moment she gave birth to her daughter. Judel kissed the top of Azula's forehead. "I love you Azula, thank you for giving me a beautiful daughter."

Suddenly, a wave of concern overtook Azula's happy face. As much as she wished that things could remain this way; she knew Judel was going to leave; he had business to attend to. "When do you have to depart?"

Judel sighed heavily and put Xiourong in the bassinet. Azula knew this wasn't good. "Tomorrow"

"Tomorrow!"

"Shh keep your voice down."

"So you see your daughter and now you abandon her!"

Judel sat on the bed next to Azula holding her close. "I would give anything to not go; unfortunately we made a major breakthrough in our research."

"But I…our daughter require your company!"

"I'm afraid the news doesn't end there."

"There's more?"

"If what the guild proposes is true, we will have no choice but go to the Firelord."

It all came rushing back in her head; the madness setting in, her father lying about his promises. She couldn't go back, she wouldn't. Azula didn't care what happened to her; Xiourong's death would mean the end of her. "I know you're scared and I know you don't want to go know that I'll be right behind you every step."

Azula, enraged, slapped Judel not believing the implication. "Why would you tell me this? Why would you bring that up?" Azula yelled.

Xiourong wailed loudly. Judel rocked the bassinet trying ease his daughters crying. Azula with all of her strength rose up. "Azula, don't, you just gave birth."

"Shut up! Don't tell me what to do with my child!"

"Your child?"

"Xiourong and I don't need you; get out!"

The baby screamed louder, sensing the once happy family being torn apart. She jerked her legs kicking her mother. "Why don't I just leave now so everything could be better?" Judel said aloofly.

Judel sneered at Azula and slammed the door behind him. Azula turned her attention to her daughter. She tried to rock the restless infant, but Xiourong only screamed louder. Azula was frustrated. "STOP CRYING!" Xiourong scowled at her mother with her colorless eyes as her lower lips quivered. "Don't look at me like that; it's your father's fault, he was trying to desert you."

Xiourong innocently whimpered at her mother. "I must sound foolish even to you. I had a pathetic tantrum, now he's gone. What have I done Xiourong?"


It had been days since she heard from Judel. Azula's visage revealed the worry that Judel would never come back. The guilt only deepened when she looked at Xiourong. She did not rest, instead she tossed and turned, in addition to this, Xiourong cried all night. Azula felt ridiculous fighting over such a trivial matter. She would do anything to take those words back, not wanting what was said between them to be their last conversation.

Azula could only imagine the worst case scenario, of going back home and seeing all the people she scorned. She needed air from the claustrophobia that was her mind; anxiety was so strong it was begging to be a released. Without an utterance, she left her daughter with Aura and walked down a dirt path, into an open field: she looked around inhaling deeply, stretching her legs, which were weaker from giving birth two weeks ago. She set one foot in front of the other; warming up, circling her wrist and cracking her neck. She brought her legs together and closed her eyes, hands clasped together. She opened her eyes, stepped forward with her hand ahead releasing a stream of blue fire: she wasn't satisfied. Azula the perfectionist had to do everything to guarantee her daughters safety. She was determined to merge all of the styles she learned from the Fire Nation Academy for Girls, her Uncle Iroh, Aura and the Kyoshi scroll. With every flick of her wrist, with every sapphire flare, with every kick of her leg; she thought of her husband and daughter. This was her routine every day; she would take breaks and attend to her newborn, but she was resilient and indomitable.


Azula exposed herself to a waterfall, her opposite element: she would push herself to exhaustion. Azula meditated on a potential battle, with the outcome leading to Azula's defeat. Her mind would trail off thinking of her demise transforming her blue flames to orange. Azula's firebending was once erratic. She pounded at her head; what fuels her firebending? Then she thought back a year ago at the Avatar Festival, her fervent kiss from Judel and the embroiled romance afterward: they were in love. Azula opened her eyes and did her sets, followed by darts, a fan extension, then she felt utter and complete control; she gathered up all the energy with her stomach and pointed her fingers outward; lightning crackled with its intensity. Perfect, not one hair out of place. Suddenly, she heard applause behind her. Azula turned around and saw Judel. "That was amazing, you must have thought about me that time."

Azula stomped over to Judel and raised her hand at first glaring at him. Overjoyed, she jumped on him and hugged him tightly. "Let's never fight again," whispered Judel.

"Agreed," nodded Azula

Judel carried her in his strong arms down the trail and towards the house. Azula rested her head in his arms. "How is our daughter?"

"She is well and strong."

"I missed her t—"his sentence was interrupted by a harsh cough, that made him put Azula down. She stared at him despairingly, something wasn't right.

"Don't look at me like that Azula; I promise you it isn't serious."

Azula stared him down. Normally, she trusted her husband, but he was doing the one thing she had mastered so long ago, lying. What information was he withholding?

"Can you please point your dragon eyes away from me?"

She wasn't going to get anywhere with him if she acted suspiciously. He was going to tell her what was going on eventually. She relaxed herself, only for a moment and let it go thinking ultimately he would falter. She would just ease him into the web. "Did you meet with your father?"

"If you can call him that; the man met me when I was fifteen and he was a total jerk even when I humbled myself. He trained Hiro instead: I had to take the walk of shame; Fat expressed regret on his behalf and gave me a white lotus gambit. All these years he said nothing when he formed the Jaw-Long. "

"Honestly, Judel you're being biased. Piandao was one of the few Fire Nation soldiers, who left the army alive. Admitting that he was your father especially knowing your mother, Yakone, was a water p…tribe is madness."

"I already got that lecture from Fat! "

"You're going to conduct yourself like a juvenile because he didn't acknowledge you. He's taken care of you all of this time and your being ungrateful. Men of his caliber would have made sure you were terminated as a newborn."

"Says the pot to the kettle"

"This isn't about me! This is about you shirking the origin of your birth. Your life hasn't been all that difficult."

"It's not that at all. I have a problem with a man, who tells his son that he's his father, after my mother was killed. He could have at least waited until he saw me in pers—"

Judel was so worked up by the conversation that he coughed gutturally, causing him to bend over. Azula patted his back and saw a green substance in his hand. She was worried. He clutched his chest, gasping for air. He kneeled and began shivering and perspiring. "Im…s…sorry I..l.."

"Stop talking: I'll get the doctor."

Azula was infuriated; she needed Judel desperately for this emotional journey. However, she understood the gesture he didn't want to abandon her. Anger or honor was two opposite emotions to feel. Azula cradled his clammy body. There was no time for conflict.

She paced the floor outside of his room. Now she was really scared, unsure if he was going to be okay. Aura walked by and held Azula. Ping, Hiro and Xing surrounded her in a supportive circle. "Oh Agni he needs to be alright," she sighed.

Azula was a strong tower, not giving up herself to weeping; she knew this day could come. "Judel will make it I just know it." Hiro said reassuringly.

Azula turned angrily at Hiro. "This is your entire fault!"

"Me, what did I do?"

"You promised me that you would protect him and now who knows if he will live. All of you guardians are self-regarding," she said pointing to all the men, "He could have stayed behind and watch his daughter be born. You and that idiotic group couldn't make the sacrifice and let me have the benefit of his company and now—"

The doctor came out of the room as Azula's restless mind was in a quandary. Everyone faced him. "How is he?" asked Aura.

"Judel has contracted an unusual ancient malady that was used to put firebending soldiers out of commission. I proposed he was purposefully poisoned. Does anyone know how he contracted it?"

Hiro pounded at his hand. "The Yu Yan archer that struck him, we thought it was harmless."

"Please tell us there is a cure," said Xing.

"Fortunately, most of it is out of his system. Thankfully, it is not contagious: for now he will live."

It seemed like a heavy burden was lifted off all their shoulders. "However," the doctor interjected, "Giving the unusual nature of this virus he needs to be constantly observed for any muscular or neurological damage."

"How long will that take?" asked Ping.

"Six weeks at minimum."

"Doctor we don't have that kind of time!" shouted Hiro, "Judel has an important mission to carry out with his wife and infant daughter."

"I'm sorry Sir, but he is on bed rest, I will not risk my patient's life. The mission will have to go on without him."

Hiro gritted his teeth and was on the verge of tackling the doctor, when Azula stepped forward. "May I see my husband?"

"Of course, keep it brief."

Azula exhaled deeply and walked into the room. He was lying in bed; his eyes fixed on her every movement. She sat next to his bedside in a nearby chair. He put his hand on hers. "I'm sorry you have to meet the Firelord. "

Azula looked outside for a moment at the grass and trees bloom; it was a serene escape for her troubled mind. "I hope you unders—"

Azula put her fingers to his lips. "Tell me everything I need to know about this mission."

"You will get a scroll from my satchel and will immediately give it to the Firelord. He will know what to do with it."

"That's all?"

"No, one more thing; given the obstacles of the land and people, we have to travel with the infamous Gaang; Katara, the waterbender, Toph, the earthbender, Sokka the water tribe soldier, Avatar Aang and your brother Firelord Zuko."

Azula was boiling mad. Now she had to be around the very people, who caused her countries downfall. "This won't work!"

"Xiourong will be your hope; they will at least know that you have changed."

"I can envision it now; Avatar Aang will welcome me with open arms, with a lei made of lotuses. Zuzu and his deadpanned wife Mai will be so happy to see me and Katara and Sokka will knit me a sweater," she said with the deepest sarcasm.

"Mockery is the stage for which one covers their fears," Judel quoted wisely.

"Your altruism and optimistic outlook will get Xiourong murdered."

"Zuko has given you the chance to turn your life around and you have done that."

"Dum-dum just wanted me out of the way; like my father. Why can't the Jaw-Long perform this duty?"

"Hiro, Xing and Ping have to ensure that no one else finds out about our discovery. Listen, I know you're apprehensive about back to your birthplace, but when they find out you're a wife and mother at least they would be merciful enough to listen to what you have to say."

Azula's features softened for a moment; she has been through so much in the last five years. she couldn't be so feeble as to let this trepidation capture her mind. She reasoned within herself that she had to realize her long-term goal; this was for her daughter's future. If her brother couldn't appreciate that, then he was no better than her. Judel pulled her close to his lips and kissed her forehead. "I love you Azula"

"That blood promise still stands does it not?"

"Of course it does."

"You must swear to me that you will live, so you can watch Xiourong become a General."

"Well, she does have the temperament of a Fire Nation soldier."

Azula kissed Judel taking in all of his scent, making sure she never forgot him. Their intimate moment was disturbed by a knock on the door. "Come in," called Judel.

Aura opened the door holding Xiourong in a white blanket, "Someone wants to say goodbye to their daddy," Aura whispered handing the infant to Azula. Aura lightly stepped out watching the small family in a picturesque scene.

Azula tilted Xiourong, permitting Judel to see her. "She is truly a treasure. I will miss you both."

"Don't talk of goodbyes it's morbid. We will be fine, the both of us."

He smiled brightly, eyes aglow. He looked to his daughter and his wife, holding Azula's hand until he drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, was wrought with much emotion and tearful goodbyes. Azula hadn't want leave her husband in this condition, she had no choice. She was relieved to know that Aura and Ping would at least be there for the boat expedition to the Fire Nation. Azula carried Xiourong in her arms to the ship. She stared at her sleeping child thinking of what lied ahead.

The last conversation her and Zuko had when she left the mental facility came to mind. He sat in front of her, the cold steel desk separating them, his smile warm and inviting. "Uncle once said something to me, when I was confused and angry. He said, I had to ask myself the hard questions 'who are you and what do you want?' Those words stuck with me for a lifetime. Once you're out there and hit multiple barriers you have to ask yourself those questions."

Azula stared out at the restless sea and thought, "Who am I?" She is Azula, wife of Judel, mother to Xiourong, colleague to Aura, daughter-in law to Master Piandao, daughter to Ursa and Ozai, niece to Iroh, sister-in-law to Mai and sister to Zuko. Azula realized the list had become longer for the past six years; she was everything at once, but nothing at all until her daughter was born.

"What do I want?" Azula asked out loud.

She was raised to know history and politics and the art of war. Somehow none of that mattered more than the life she had been leading for four years. She looked at her daughter and placed her in the bassinet as the infant squeaked and nestled herself into her blanket. She wanted to protect her family.

It was a direct route to the Fire Nation. Azula readied the satchel Judel gave her putting it on her back. She affixed her cloak around her. Aura gave Azula supplies for Xiourong and a sling to carry the infant. Aura stepped back looking at Azula for one last time. "I will miss you my friend."

"Aura I am grateful for your hospitality, perhaps Xiourong will have visit her godparents."

"Wow, compliments and thanks; are you really Azula?"

Aura and Azula looked at the other and laughed. Ping approached Azula crying tears of joy, hugging her tightly. "We will take care of Judel."

"I am confident of that fact."

Aura and Ping held hands standing beside each other. "Follow the pathway precisely and it will not take you long to arrive. Fill your water skin often. Beware of thieves and marauders that hide in the newly restored forest. We are here for you in spirit."

They all shared a glance for one last time. Azula put Xiourong in the sling and covered herself with the cloak. She picked up a small bag and walked down the plank step by step until her feet reached land. She looked at the landscape. Six years ago, she wondered how she could rule it as Firelord. Now she conjectured how much her life would change, when she reached her destination.

She clenched her bag tightly, took a breath and walked forward into the exacting wilderness.