Note: This doesn't really fit with the rest of the chapter, so I'm setting it as a separate "bonus" part. Don't ask me why there's Christmas in the Avatar world, this is an AU.
Arc 3: The Shattering Truth of it All
Chapter 12.9: The Ties That Bind (Epilogue)
It was midnight. The signal of the New Year. Iroh was overjoyed at Zuko's return, and was now celebrating the turn of the year with him. There was a light knock at the door, followed by singing: "We wish you a merry Christmas! We wish you a merry Christmas! We wish you a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!"
Zuko never thought that such a good-natured song could possibly bring evil. He opened the door to bid the caroler a happy new year when...
"Happy New Year, Zuzu."
In a flash, Zuko hid himself and his uncle inside a closet. "Uncle," he loudly whispered. "There is a demon outside!"
Iroh went to the door, despite his nephew's protests. He looked out the window to see who it was. "Zuko!" he exclaimed. "Your father never told me you had a twin!"
"Twin?" Zuko scoffed. "That thing is not my twin. It's just an Azula."
Iroh proceeded to open the door when his nephew stopped him, "Unless you want to endure severe suffering, you don't want to open that door!"
"But Zuko," he pleaded. "You would leave her out in the cold?"
Zuko snorted, but before he realized it... A raven-haired girl was in the room. She wore a designer coat, adjusting the wool hood now that she was indoors. "I am very much obliged at your chivalry, Uncle. At least some people haven't turned from their noble upbringing." Her gaze fell towards her brother, who rolled his eyes.
"Why, thank you, Azula. Although I believe that we haven't met before," the tea shop owner said warily.
The princess cocked her head to the side, removing the coat that had shielded her from the cold. Zuko noted that the top of her hair had turned red since the last time he saw her. "You don't recall?" she inquired.
Zuko cut in nonchalantly, "She was the girl who had kicked you in the leg and called you 'Uncle Fatso'."
Iroh sighed, remembering the incident. His younger brother had assured him that the girl was a visiting member of Ursa's family. (Another lie casually told.) Zuko had hoped that the incident would cause his uncle to send her away, but to his dismay, Iroh welcomed her into the house with open arms.
Another cup of green tea was offered to Azula; as she was still getting used to the Northern Earth Kingdom weather, she gladly accepted. Iroh left to the kitchen to prepare the tea, leaving the two siblings alone.
"What has brought this sudden visit, Azula? Has Father finally gotten tired of you as well?" Zuko smugly asked.
She ignored her little comment and replied, "By now you have realized my slight change in appearance, right?" she referred to her hair. As she said that, Zuko already figured out the story. It was the exact same thing four years ago. The top of his head had mysteriously turned blue overnight, unable to revert with any amount of washes or dyeing. In order to prevent any unwanted questions from being asked, he was sent to live with his uncle in Ba Sing Se. And that wasn't the end of it. Soon after, he had grown a large appetite—especially for meat. And a few weeks ago... he found out that he was a dragon! It wouldn't surprise him if his father had known what was happening the entire time, but if his mother was a dragon, why didn't she tell him or his sister? Why did such a large issue escape his childhood. His mother had always told him that he was special, but a dragon?! And this whole history with the Reibu family. Katara's grandmother never got to explain what the Keeper and the Guardian were. He already knew that he was the Guardian—there was no doubt of it, but who was the Keeper? Sokka or Katara? He inwardly scoffed at himself. He wasn't even sure whether or not he even wanted to be the Guardian. Why should he care who the Keeper was? He had enough trouble on his hands with Jet and his double life as the Blue Spirit. If he even wanted to call it a double life. It only consisted of saving Katara and a baby from Jet, respectively.
"Zuzu!" Azula snapped. "You're the one who asked me a question. At least have the courtesy to appear to pay me some attention."
"Sorry, 'Zula, I was merely thinking of your face when you get to see snow," Zuko remarked.
His sister appeared to be a bit frightened, although her tone of voice said otherwise, "You're trying to scare me, aren't you! Always telling me of places where frozen water falls, burying entire towns under it. You called it the White Death, and claimed that foreigners called it snow. You managed to scare Mai and Ty Lee, but I am far too smart to fall for such childish stories!"
Iroh had heard the last bit of the conversation and as he handed Azula her cup, said, "You have never seen snow, Azula? Why it's your lucky day! The weather forecaster said that it would snow tomorrow."
Azula chocked on her tea. "You mean it's real?" Zuko resisted laughing at her face. Perhaps Azula's stay wouldn't be as bad as he thought it would be.