The Next Generation : Chapter 12
By: Juria
Notes: Any characters you do not recognize in this story probably belong to me, unless you've never seen Avatar. Other than that, I'm done, so enjoy! Updated Ages: Mia : ( Toph and Zuko's daughter ) 14, Hitome : ( Sokka and Ty Lee's daughter ) 13 , Saito : ( Sokka and Ty Lee's son ) 17, Takumi : ( Mai and Jet's son ) 15 , Yin : ( Aang and Katara's daughter ) 15, Gyatso and Ozai : ( Aang and Katara's, and Toph and Zuko's sons respectively ) 10.
As the days passed, Azula slowly began to get stronger, and began interacting on a daily basis with the rest of the group, the first of her new friends being Toph, after Chan stopped playing the obsessive bodyguard. "Well, I'm not sure if you're officially welcome, but you've got my vote Zaps." she said with a soft smile. Azula returned the smile, before shaking her head when she realized her own mistake.
Then came Zuko, her brother, who said very little, but gave her a reassuring nod as he walked out. Ty Lee walked in next, embracing her like nothing had ever changed between them, while Mai stoically stood outside, waiting for the mushy reunion to end. Then, the two friends stared eachother down, Mai not backing up one inch. Azula sighed deeply, then looked back up at her former friend. Go ahead, let me have it. she stated. For a brief few minutes, Mai said nothing, just sitting next to Azula, staring at her, her gold eyes shimmering like the blades of her knives, staring deep into Azula s soul. "How dare you. You may have Toph and Zuko fooled, as well as Ty Lee, but when it comes to you and me, I don't like you, I don't believe you, and I sure as hell don't trust you!" Mai shouted, walking out before Azula could even respond.
Azula sighed softly as she watched Mai's gothic figure leave the tent. "Nice to hear from you too." she muttered. Jet huffed, quickly stepped inside, apologized to Azula, then chased after his wife before she planted a knife in someone's head. Azula sat quietly, slowly drumming her fingers on the make-shift bed, letting her thoughts wonder. Then, out of the corner of her eye, Azula spotted a pair of feet, cautiously listening from behind one side of the tent. Azula shook her head and couldn t help but chuckle. "Come out, I can see you, and you have all the stealth of an elephant-sloth." she stated bluntly. Slowly, the two feet came to the tent's door, quickly followed by their owner, and soon, Azula saw a girl that looked almost identical to herself as a young girl, except that her eyes were green.
After Azula got over the sudden shock, she managed to speak. "Who are you?" she asked, still having a dumbfounded look on her face. "I'm Mia, and, I guess, you're my Aunt Azula, huh?" she asked. Azula had to blink several times before responding. "I guess so, so go ahead, ask me anything." she said calmly, trying to put a smile on her face. Mia earthbended a chair next to Azula's cot, then sat down, a quizzical look on her face, as if she were deep in thought. "So, want a fire flake cookie?" Mia asked, holding up the cookie like a small child. "Um, sure." Azula said, happily taking the cookie, all the while confused by the sudden, and random, gesture.
After several hours of just random girl talk, Mia finally asked Azula a serious question. "My grandfather, the original Ozai I mean, what was he like?" she asked calmly. Azula sighed, staring off into space, as if trying to remember one of the worst memories of her life. In a matter of minutes, she responded. "He was cold, heartless, and remorseless. He was all of the things I used to be and more. In fact, the only thing he did right was manipulate me, your father, and everyone around him. However, deep down, I want to believe he had some good in him." Azula stated with a solemn, awkward silence following her last few words.
Then, slowly, the tears began to fall. Azula quickly wiped her eyes, trying to hide her weakness from her niece. Suddenly, Azula felt a hand wrap around her own, and looked up into the eyes of her niece, who she could tell didn t judge her and was honest in her words. "I'm sorry he hurt you." she said, embracing and comforting her aunt, whom she'd barely begun to know. "Thank you Mia." she whispered, tightly returning her hug. Once the two girls broke apart, they shared a pleasant, understanding smile, before Mia waved good bye, leaving Azula to listen to others as they visited her.
Through the rest of the night, Azula got to know her former enemies well, as well as their children. Out of all the people who had visited her, aside from family, Aang and Katara were the two that surprised her the most, their forgiveness seeming to be endless, both offering to help her in any way they could. By mid-night, there were only two left to reconcile with, Mai, and her mother.
TBC
Next Chapter: Azula stood up, staring in shock and disbelief at the young girl who commanded this elite group of warriors. "Greetings former Princess Azula, my name is Li, and I've come to finish what my mother started!" she shrieked, lightening pulsating from her fingertips. *But, that's impossible* Azula thought *she's barely 11!* As the streams of blue, crackling death shot from the young child's fingers right at Azula's heart.
