Chapter 14: A winding road

Iroh had answered in a hawk that he would gladly overtake the position of stewardship while Zuko was on the road, and he was expected within a fortnight. Meanwhile Aang and the others had already settled in and were helping Zuko with the travel preparations. Ozai was being extra guarded in our absence and Azula… Well I was on my way to talk to her.

Zuko had tried to hand her an olive branch earlier that week, but it had not been a very pleasant experience to say the least. After that, I'd asked him if I could go see Azula alone.

I figured I knew some things that could make her listen and maybe even help with her condition. The visit could only take place after a long difficult conversations and minor physical tussle with Zuko -in the end I had gained his ambivalent consent.

I walked through the serenity stone garden in front of the 'institution' as Zuko called it. High summer had passed us and that took the edge of heat that the Fire Nation was so familiar with. Visitors, staff and what I assumed to be patients, were either raking the gravel, cutting bonsai trees or meditating in the bright pleasant sun.

The doors were those of a temple, low and lavishly carved with dragon sculptures. Their eyes were set with ruby red jewels. This was a high-class 'institution' if I'd ever seen one.

"Welcome my Lady, what can I do for you?" I mild looking woman bowed deeply to me.

"I'm here to visit Princess Azula." I said while still glancing around. When I caught the eyes of the woman again it looked like I'd whacked her in the face with a golf club.

I guess dropping Azula's name would do that to most people in this world.

"Oh. Do… Do you have the granted access?" She stammered.

"I have this from the Firelord. I think you'll find what you need there." I stuck a folded piece paper in her hands. She nervously skimmed the document I had gotten from Zuko before I'd left. It was like some kind of hall-pass and it was quite annoying to me that we had that big of a power divide.

"Yes… Follow me." The woman was visually sweating. She spun around and walked deeper in to the institution, not checking if I was really following her or not.

Identical hallways met every few meters. The same red narrow corridor with the same table, decorated with the same flower in a plain blue vase, repeated itself seemingly infinitely. The floor was a deep orange wood and our shoes, the woman and mine, made that hypnotic 'clack clack clack' at our step. Suddenly in the dead quiet I heard a man scream and then laugh hysterically. I looked around but the chilling mania faded almost instantly and my tour-guide hadn't even pulled a muscle in reaction.

We came to a sudden hold in front of what looked like an iron door. The woman tapped on the door and through a sliding slit a man's eyes were visible. He scanned her and then me. The door opened and I could hear how heavy it was as the joints complained in squeaks.

I had though that we'd reached Azula's chamber, but this was apparently only the first dock of three we had to go through to get to the final entry. The woman bowed deeply to me and left without another word.

"You may enter with the guards in a moment." A gatekeeper said. Security was airtight around here. When I finally stepped inside, with my new posy at my heels, the first thing I saw was the view. A giant round window, two stories at least, were overlooking the ocean and the sun was piercing the room as if we were outside.

"Sooo? My weakling brother sends his little harlot to do his bidding? What a good obedient girl you are." Azula hissed in a smile from the only shadow in the room.

A nurse, who was stationed in the chamber, stood and walked over to her. She rolled Azula's wheelchair into the light.

I sucked in air through my teeth. The black haired girl hung her head and twisted in her straitjacket.

"Can I get you anything? Tea, cherries?" She spat. "Maybe not." She laughed in a maddened way. "I'm a little tied up you see." The Azula snapped her head up and the same shade of eyes that Zuko had drilled right through me. I was almost staggered at that hateful glare. It was looking into hell-fire itself. I understood immediately why people found Azula a little intimidating.

"I'm amazed you got a window in here." I said finding my mental footing again.

"Yes isn't it nice of my brother. Of course I can only use it if I decide to take a swim." She smirked disturbingly. I wandered toward the window and looked down. It was a direct plummet to the sharp shore far, far below. Waves crashed themselves violently in to the volcanic black cliffs.

"Leave us." I said to the personal. They all exchanged baffled glances but didn't move. "Did I stutter?" I asked in a tight tone.

"My Lady I'm afraid that is not possible…" A hesitant guard said.

"Have you lost the ability to walk? I command you to leave. All of you." There were still unsure of how to react to my orders but uncertainly the guards withdrew. I shot the nurse a decisive glare and she scrambled to get out too.

Azula snickered hatefully.

"We will have to inform the Firelord." The last guard said before he walked hesitantly through the door. It sounded like the guard was going to tattle on me, 'I'm gonna tell dad'. I just waved my hand at him. The lock sounded and the silence stood in the room for a moment.

"Do you know who I am?" I asked and sat on a chair opposite her.

"Should I?" She arrogantly leaned back and crossed her legs. The straightjacket was fixating her all the way to the top of her hips.

"No. It really doesn't matter who I am. What matters is what I know. And I know everything Azula." I penetrated her gaze. If I showed any weakness she would instantly cut me down.

I sensed some intrigue.

"What is it you think you know?" She sneered but otherwise appeared indifferent.

"As I said. Everything. About your hurt, your abandonment, your longing for Ursa to love you. Does she speak to you right now? Through the voices?" I leaned back in my seat as well.

"We all have our little quirks don't we?" She turned her head and looked bored.

"Maybe that's true. Mine is that I know about that night you cracked. You saw her in the mirror. What was it she said to you…" I lightly tapped my index finger on my jaw. "Oh yes I remember, 'what a shame you always had so beautiful hair'."

"How… How…" Azula's eyes were round and crazy to look at. "You talked to her?! WHAT DID SHE TELL YOU!? She has turned everyone against me! EVEN MY OWN MIND!" She thrashed in the fixation, her hair whipping wildly.

"Ursa is alive. And I'm talking about your real mother not that distorted version your mind made up." I observed her calmly.

"LIAR!" Azula screeched.

"I'm not lying and you know that. I think Ozai told you about Ursa's whereabouts. But he also told you something else, didn't he? I'm not here for that though."

Azula panted and glared significantly at me.

"Are you here to assassinate me then? So you'll be the only one with that information? Is that it?! You want Zuzu to love you because you found his mother and kept the biggest secret in Fire Nation HISTORY?!" Her madness made her face pull in ugly lines as she rambled.

I shook my head gently.

"I want to ask you if you want to come with us."

"HAhahaHAHAha! And why would I do that!? You all conspire to dispose of me!"

"… I know you miss her too. And that secret Ozai has told you, isn't true. Zuko is the rightful heir."

I could see how Azula's face fell. Absorbing the information, calculating weather or not to believe me. She slowly returned to her normal composed self.

"So you know where the evidence is?" She smirked.

"It isn't evidence. It's a letter Ursa wrote in desperation. Declaring that Zuko wasn't legit was because she was so unhappy. Ozai knows that. He is using you to reclaim the throne for himself."

"Well aren't you just the one with all the answers? To think at what lengths you go for my dearest brother. Have you squeezed him yet, don't worry that day will come, and the very next he will discard you. He loved Mai much deeper than you and look where she ended up! Heartbroken over sweet Zuzu." She taunted and blew a stand of hair out of her face.

I wasn't going to take her bait.

"Look Azula-"

"Princess Azula to you, harlot." She snapped with narrow eyes.

I blew a sigh, my patience was wearing a tad thin.

"I know you want to go, if not only for your tactless reasons, so don't play hard to get."

A moment dragged by as she deliberated my words.

"Fine. I'll go." She shrugged. "If you answer my question. Why do you want me to? For Zuko's sake?" Her mean eyes glared at me but a smirk was ever present.

"A part of me is doing it for Zuko, sure, but the other…" I stood and grinned down to her. "Can't wait for your attempt to escape so I can fight you. I've seen and heard about your bending, and I would love see who'd come out on top."

Azula let out a cold laugh.

"Well, I can spare you the surprise, it is going to be me." Her eyes flashed.

I leisurely walked over to the door and knocked.

"Goodbye Princess. I'll inform your staff of your temporally withdrawal from treatment."

Before I left I turned in the entrance.

"Don't bother to look for the letter. It is no longer in the secret chamber. I've relocated it for obvious reasons." I gave her a sassy wave and the metal door slammed shut.

Departure was upon us. Aang, Katara, Sokka was loading Appa with provisions for the trip. Katara bended water into the huge bellows tied to Appa's sides, and Aang was swirling bags of apples in precise tornados. Sokka was once again on Appa-duty and tried to comb out the giant animals bangs.

"You need a haircut my fluffy fellow! No -AH- don't lick me!" He yelped as Appa's tongue wriggled over his nose in a deep friendly growl.

Zuko, threw the tents and sleeping gear onboard and I was packing some more rope, you could never have too much rope! Azula skulked around, arrogantly sneering at everything, and of course not lifting a finger. Ty Lee and Yuki were watching her closely.

The Gaang had not been pleasantly surprised when Zuko and I had told them Azula was our sixth passenger instead of Toph. Sokka had even tried to her attack her on the sport, well who could blame him, but she'd just snorted and 'zapped' Sokka's boomerang right out of his hand with a tiny lightning. It looked quite comical but evoked a very serious reaction from all of us. Ice, fire and air had incased her instantaneously.

So, that was a great start of our adventure!

"We're all set over here!" Aang called.

"Then I guess we can leave now." I called back and threw the rope onboard.

Appa roared happily and Sokka crawled up to take the rails.

"All aboard the flying marshmallow express!" Sokka called and patted Appa by his horn.

I stood a little tentatively and waited to crawl up.

"You've never flown Appa have you?" Zuko asked close behind me.

"No not really." I murmured.

"Don't be afraid. It's nice." Still standing at my back he took a hold of my hips and gave me a boost up. I could have gotten up myself, but the gesture was very sweet.

Azula rolled her eyes and jumped up in the saddle followed by Katara.

I was just thankful Azula didn't feel the need to say something.

High in the skies everything seemed to lighten up. The clouds had turned a faint pink in the sunset and Aang and Katara kissed and chatted lovingly with each other. Sokka complained and glided the flying bison high above the Fire Nation ocean. Azula had sunk within herself and was staring at the clouds deep in thought. I hung over the saddle and looked down, feeling the calm rhythm of Appa's tail, and grinning like an idiot. There was so much space on Appa's back that it could easily fit this many people comfortably.

"I can't believe you got to fly on Appa every day!" I sighed, reeling myself in.

Zuko was lying next to me, but with distance between us. We still hadn't talked about what we should call each other and how open we were going to be about our current romantic status. For my sake we could keep it a secret a little while longer.

Zuko's eyes were closed and he had his arms behind his head.

"It wasn't every day. But yeah, I like it too." He smiled. I hadn't seen him this relaxed since, well, maybe ever.

"How did you feel the first time you flew on him?" I asked.

"Donno? Maybe a little tense?"

"HA! A little?! You had just kicked Azula off the cliff at the Northern Air-temple and-" Sokka stopped dead and peered fearfully over his shoulder at Azula. She hadn't heard, or she may have but she didn't react. Azula just sat there and looked at the light that was fading. My guess was that she actually was enjoying herself a little too. Sokka exhaled and wiped his forehead.

Zuko sat up.

"Sokka's right. The first time I rode Appa was when I was fighting my sister and these guys saved my life. That's kind of depressing." He said.

I laid a light hand on his shoulder. I wanted to kiss him, but not necessarily with an audience.

"It could have been worse. The first time Toph rode Appa she was sick for three days!" Aang tried with a comforting smile.

"Yeah, and even Sokka was air-sick the first time." Katara offered. "You are doing remarkable well Kai." She added.

I shrugged and withdrew my hand from Zuko. I had no intention of mentioning my experience with airplanes. This was much nicer though. Being outside and having the warm evening wind in your face instead of someone's air-coned cough, was magical.

"The sky is beautiful up here. What's not to like?" I sighed happily.

"It is. But not as beautiful as you my moon-flower." I turned to Zuko as Aang said that to Katara and she gave him a sweet kiss. We caught each other's eyes and there was a very clear look between us. It was the 'I kinda wanna kiss you too' look.

We both bowed our heads in a snicker.

"What's going on back there?! All I hear is gross yucky smooching!" Sokka almost screamed in mortification and twisted around on Appa's furry head. Laughter broke out among us. All but one. Azula was still in her self-induced catatonic state.

We were all just waiting for her to snap, but as darkness fell, she still hadn't attempted to microwave us. I struck me as very odd because if I hadn't been along, she would have made a move by now. I guess the story had changed a little now when she didn't have the letter to drive her traitorous ploy forward. What she didn't know was that I had the letter folded safely in my chest binding. I kept it close so that Azula couldn't activate someone in the palace to find it and make a scandal out of it.

At the time I didn't even consider it to be cruel. Or stupid.

Aang clapped his glider together in the air and touched down on Appa's back.

"We're here alright. I did a quick scouting and everything looks nice and peaceful." He beamed at us.

"I suggest we fly over there and make camp." Zuko pointed to a forested mountain slope a little outside the village of Hira'a.

"Why not just go in the village now?" Aang asked.

"I don't like arriving to a small village in the dead of night like common thieves. We could end up scaring people away." Zuko reasoned.

"Oh. You're right. Sokka put Appa down in that clearing if you'd please." Aang called and the big beast started to circle effortlessly down to the forest.

We landed with a slight bump and I jumped out to stretch my legs. We had been flying all day and were all a little tattered –not to mention Appa. He roared exhausted and flopped on his side once we'd unburdened him.

Aang stroked the animal whose giant tongue was sticking out. "It's hard for him to carry this many people and rations too." He looked tenderly at Appa. "Good job buddy."

"At least if the creature perishes we'll have food for years." Azula snorted.

"Hey!" Aang said in an insulted tone. Appa agreed in a growl.

"Without the sky-bison we would've had to travel for days through thick jungle and cross bandied territories. You should be thanking Appa." Zuko stepped up to her.

"Were you afraid sweet Zuzu?" She sneered mockingly.

Zuko shook his head at her childish behavior.

"Why do you always have to diminish me?"

"Or maybe it was because you wanted to impress your little girlfriend? Well, I'll tell you now dear brother, you don't have to be working so hard! Ha! Just look at her blush!" She hissed in a cold laugh. I was blushing a little but distaste colored my face even more.

"Azula!" Zuko exclaimed.

The Gaang peered at me with curious eye. I huffed dismissively at the 'girlfriend' comment, and begun to ready our camp. I was pretending not to see the glance Aang and Katara exchanged.

Soon the dispute dissolved as Azula had wandered over to a nearby tree to continue her vacant stare.

The others were sitting around the campfire as soon as Zuko had got it going.

Katara had whipped up a lovely soup, and everyone was pleasantly full, though I couldn't speak for Azula that hadn't touched her plate. She was truly thinking very hard about something and I for one, would love to know what it was. It couldn't be good, I'll tell you that.

I played absently with the flames in the bonfire, bending little bits of the bigger one to make them dance on the ground by my feet.

I heard Zuko breath a quiet chuckle as he sat down besides me.

"That's a curious way of bending." He looked intrigued at my flame dancers.

"Its my way of fidgeting. I learned it from Iroh on the ship."

"Really?"

"Yeah, it was a meditation technique he called 'dance of the leafs' or something. I never got the meditation part though." I pushed my lips.

"He didn't teach me that?" Zuko said wonderingly.

"I think he had been trying to… But you wanted firebending stances." I offered a brow lift.

"Ah…" He looked as if he vaguely recalled it.

"Yeah! I keep forgetting you two go way back!" Sokka swung his spoon. "To think that you could stand to be Zuko's roommate at that time! Seriously, pew! No offence pal." He shrugged.

"None taken." Zuko shrugged too.

"It wasn't all bad." A smile pulled at my lips as I looked in to the fire. "Have you told the others about the white woods?" I glanced at the Gaang and then up at Zuko.

"Ehm… No?" He ran a self-conscious hand over his neck.

I shook my head lightly.

"I meant, that there is something going on here. Maybe tied to a powerful spirit and you all would do well to be extra attentive to your surroundings." I said and Aang leaned in and looked interested. "I saw it in some sort of prediction."

"I did feel something earlier, but I thought it was just the uneasiness of having…" Aang frowned jokily and rolled his eyes to Azula who wasn't in hearing range. "… Something else on my mind."

"It could have been the spirit-stuff. When I was living on the ship, before I got most of my bending under control, I had two episodes of 'spiritbending'. Or I call it spiritbending but I really don't know what the hell it was. One of the times was about this place, about these woods. Only the trees and the ground, even the sky, was completely white." They all listened in intensely. "It wasn't ominous, or even scary just freaky… And I think I had the 'vision' for a reason. Which reason though, I have no idea. It could be a warning of danger?" I ended and chewed my cheek.

"Maybe it was a vision about finding my mother? I mean isn't that possible with divinations Aang?" Zuko asked.

"It is possible that visions could be triggered by positive emotions too. But then again almost anything is possible in the spirit world." Aang looked thoughtful then added. "To really know anything about the meaning we kinda have to know what was in the vision?"

"Me and Kai were trapped in a white forest and then we came to a lake with really clear blue water and then…" Zuko's words ran dry.

"There was a light but nothing major happened." I finished a little rushed.

"Did you see the woods too Zuko?" Aang asked astonished. "I have never heard of taking more people in to the spirit world at once! Especially not together." There was no point in mentioning that Aang's future son and granddaughter would posses that exact ability.

"We were… Together when it happened both times." He answered and I saw a faint pinkness on his face. I don't think Aang or Sokka noticed it though.

There was a silence where the tinder cackled.

"I think it's time for bed Aang! Sokka you too!" Katara suddenly stood and took to ushering the boys to their beds.

"You know I am actually the oldest!" Sokka protested but had to suppress an annoyed yawn and after a huff he slumped inside his shelter. Acting like his own body had betrayed his point.

"Goodnight you two." She called as she pushed Aang, who was still waving confused at us, into their tent. I glanced over the fire at Azula who was laying a little ways away from the camp. She appeared to have fallen asleep against the tree.

"That was strange? Its not that late is it?" Zuko eyed Katara's tent suspiciously.

"I think she was trying to give us some privacy." I said in a low voice, tents weren't very soundproof. "So I could do this." I leaned in and gave Zuko a light kiss on his lips. He led a hand on the back of my neck and kissed me back a little more insistently.

"How nice of her." He said in a small smirk as we pulled back. "I've been wanting to kiss you all day." Zuko added.

"Then why didn't you?" I bit my lip in a smile.

"I… Uh… Didn't know if you wanted me to? I mean, we haven't told the others yet?" He glanced away, and it was very cute. I had to breath out a snicker.

"That was very considerate of you. But I would never not want to kiss you." I leaned in for another and this time he pulled me close in a deep kiss. I felt a jolt of want in me. I had my palm on his strong shoulder and Zuko drifted a hand over my knee and up.

I wasn't going to do Zuko in front of his sister and in earshot of his best friends. That seemed quite distasteful. Maybe making out like that was on the brim of being a little vulgar as well.

I was almost winded when we drew back.

"Ehm… Are you going to guard Azula or should I?" I changed the 'subject' and started to stand.

"I'll do it." He said simply and stood too. "But she's asleep…" His eyes flicked to the woods, they flashed in the flames. He could throw me against a tree in the shadows and no one would know… My cheeks flushed.

"I don't think we can trust she'll stay put." I whispered and pointed to Azula who hadn't moved an inch. "It wouldn't be very responsible of us."

"We won't go that far away." He brushed my hair away from my neck. I shivered but shook it off. There was a time and a place, and goddamn, this wasn't it!

I blew out a frustrated sigh. I was mostly frustrated with my own righteousness.

"If she escapes she'll go directly for the village. She might even burn the whole thing down in search for Ursa." Zuko glanced, also a little frustrated, in his sister's direction.

"Will she find her there?" He asked earnestly.

"No… She will not find Ursa without us…" Ursa was in a witness protection program so to speak, and had no recollection of her life as the queen, or of her children. And that was in addition to having a completely new face! I winced. Still hadn't told Zuko about that.

"But she'll burn the village down just the same…" I finished.

"You're right." Zuko sighed. "I'll take the first watch." He caressed my cheek and pecked me lightly.

In a defeated nod I wandered to my tent, but before I slipped inside I saw Zuko cover Azula with a blanket. In a tender way found myself even deeper in love.

There was yelling and turmoil outside and my tent flap was open. I snapped up. In an instant I leaped out with flames at the ready. The sun blinded me and it took a moment for me to see that Sokka was knocked over and rubbed his head in a scowl.

"Are you okay?" I ran to him to see if he was bleeding but found no major injuries.

"Kai! I just looked away for a second and she tripped me!" He said in baffled explanation.

Azula's blue flames colored the dark woods and shouting grew dimmer.

With fire tracing my step I sprinted after her and the others. Water gushed, wind howled and flames roared louder than I'd heard before.

I hurdled over a branch and ducked under another. What had suddenly made Azula ready for her assault? Had her insanity finally gotten the better of her?

The sound of Zuko's voice echoed. I had to be close.

In four long jumps I arrived at the battle.

Katara had ice spires confining Azula, but only for a split-second as Azula breached a column of blue fire to melt it away. Aang used a thick wall of earth to shield him and Katara from the flames. Zuko cut in from the side to grab his sister. She threw herself back, and that's when I saw she had a piece of paper in her hand.

I slapped a hand on my chest and cursed. Azula had lifted the letter from me. She was going to dethrone Zuko with this accusation! I cursed again and dashed over to them.

"Why do our relationship have to be like this Azula?!" Zuko shouted as he blocked her next attack blue flame with an orange one. She laughed chillingly.

"It doesn't have to Zuzu! I here have the key to make everything right again! AHAHhah, she thought she could take me down this easily! No mother I say! NO!" Azula threw fire in a circle around her.

"Azula you're not making sense…" Zuko said in worried bewilderment.

I cut her circle over with my flames right before they reached Zuko.

"Kai!" He exclaimed, I think a little anxious to see me.

I rushed over to Azula and got in, much cleaner than I would have presumed. I almost got a hold of her wrist, but she had lured me in and spun on me.

"Good morning oracle!" Azula hissed in a wicked grin over her shoulder.

She opened her hand with lightning and the electricity shot directly passed my face. I gasped and fell back on the ground. My blonde strays flowed in the wind, frizzy with charge.

Aang and Katara readied another attempt to fixate Azula, but she was powering up another bolt. I instinctively stretched my hand out to bend her blood but Zuko yelled.

"Don't hurt her!" Aang and Katara dropped their attack with worried expressions but I had the sense that Zuko had been yelling to be more than the others. He didn't want to risk I sautéed Azula's brain.

I had promised myself never to use my gift on another being again and I found logic on the other side of panic and closed my hand.

Azula shot a lightning aiming for my face, and I scrambled out of the attack.

She leaped back and positioned herself at the end of a cliff. She was smirking viciously at us.

"Were you trying to get to this?" She met my eyes. I clenched my teeth, got up and dusted myself off.

"Azula step away from the edge and join us to Hira'a. We'll find our mother together." Zuko tried reasoning. She ignored him.

"Isn't it a bit unkind to know everything? I mean if you know everything, then surely you must keep secrets from everyone here. What cruel disloyalty. I almost admire it. Especially concerning my innocent brother." She spat.

Zuko glanced questioningly at me.

"Stop now and find peace Azula. Or…" I cautioned but didn't know the end to my threat if I couldn't hurt her with my bending.

"Or what? You know my destiny is in this letter! You know oracle, that's why you brought it isn't it?! You wanted me to steal it so I can take what belongs to me!" Her yellow eyes were round and wild.

"What is she talking about?" Katara mumbled.

"WHAT AM I TALKING ABOUT?! THIS!" Azula formed a third lightning bolt and shot it straight at me. I was hurling myself out of the way but this time it caught my hip and fiery electricity burned and melted my skin. I shrieked in sudden pain.

"NO!" Zuko yelled and lunged himself at Azula. He crashed into her and they tumbled to the very threshold of the drop. Zuko got to his feet and grabbed her by the collar. Azula gasped as he held her over the edge.

Katara darted over to me and pulled the cork of her water flask.

"WHY! Why do you do it!? You're my sister! Why does it have to be this way?!" He shouted desperately and shaking with anger.

"ZUKO!" Aang objected horrified.

"I would hate to slice your statement in half!" Azula laughed coldly.

"What does that mean?" He drew her over ground again in bewilderment.

"It means the throne is mine, not yours, BY RIGHT! You're not my brother! You're just a litigate lovechild our peasant mother produced! And I have the PROOF!" She hissed and scratched at his arm with the hand that didn't grip Ursa's letter.

I narrowed my eyes.

"Don't listen to her." I called to him from the ground were I kneeled. Katara was healing with her icy water on my hip and it immediately made the burn more tolerable.

"You know what this is about?" He shot me a hurt look.

"Yes. But it isn't true. You are the Firelord and you are the child of Ursa and Ozai."

"I don't understand…" He let go of Azula who was panting as she fell to the ground. Zuko plucked the letter from Azula's weakened hand, she was about to charge when Aang bound her in earth and rock. He opened it.

My heart sank to the pit of my stomach. Zuko's yellow orbs scanned the letter and his surprise grew with every line. I closed my eyes shut and sighed.

"Zuko before you-" I started.

"How could you keep this from me?" He looked at me like I had knifed him in the neck. Betrayed.

"What is it? What does it say?" Katara asked and stopped the water glow on my side.

"It is what Azula said… Its proof that I have no claim on the throne." Zuko dropped his hand.

"What!" Aang exclaimed in terror.

"But more impotently it's a lie." I assured everyone in a wince, the injury kept burning without flames. "This was Ursa's way to uncover that Ozai intercepted her letters. It isn't true at all. I'm sorry Zuko! I couldn't risk telling you, there's no knowing how things would have turned out!" I tried, but he wasn't listening to my reasoning.

"So. If you saw the need you were going to use this to manipulate me?" Painfully he glared at me from under the tasseled bangs then looked away. The way I could see I'd hurt him made my own pain double.

"No I would never do that! I was just-" I tried but a sound made me shut up.

And just then there was a howl, high and chilling, sounding through the woods.

.

.

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