A/N: This AU is one in which Sozin was much more successful when conquering the Earth Kingdom, causing a butterfly-effect that caused a rougher and different world where the war is against rebels rather than people of different descent. In this universe, each character is two to three years older. That is mostly for the purpose of how sexual this fic is and despite its darkness I wanted to be more appropriate. I've tried to make that AU a background and not a focus, but, for this chapter, I want to discuss it a bit more openly instead of just as hints and unimportant setting.

Chapter Twenty-One: A True Myth

Ty Lee is late in two different ways.

She only now is finishing fixing her braid after spending the morning and early afternoon extremely ill and throwing up on one of her styling servants, and now rushes to meet Azula in the front hall of the palace. They have to get to Fire Lord Ozai's speech and its formal reception.

It is supposed to be the most important announcement in history, save for Sozin's ninety-nine years ago. Fire Lord Sozin conquered the Earth Kingdom and annihilated the airbenders; Fire Lord Ozai probably has something just as sinister in mind.

Ty Lee would put nothing past him, but she will smile through her sickness and anger. She will be happy and cheerful and positive just as she always has been. That is her armor and oxygen.

The other way she is late is one that she previously hoped for, but now she panics over. She does not know where to go from here; she only thought out her plan of a pregnancy to this point, not beyond it.

"Hurry, will you?" demands Azula, seizing Ty Lee by the wrist and racing out the door.

They both look beautiful after hours of preparation. Ty Lee hopes Azula does not notice the wear and tear on her appearance from the sickness. It is not time for her wife to know. Not yet.

Azula secretly worries about the scrolls and the astrological notes she hopes are not true, but she refuses to let it show. It has helped Ty Lee hide the more obvious symptoms of her condition.

They both arrive at the Royal Plaza. Ty Lee grabs Azula's hand when she sees the same place she was when they forced her to oversee executions. The princess does not think much about it, and lets Ty Lee cling to her as they meet Fire Lord Ozai, Fire Lady Mai and a number of court members.

Ty Lee presses her body softly against her wife.

Azula does not know what to make of it.

Ozai gives the typical introduction, smoothly rambling about the integrity of their nation. He then, at last, moves on to the announcement.

"The Colony Kingdom has slaughtered our people and sown discontent. Despite our conquest and attempts to civilize the people there, they remain resentful and bite the hand that feeds them. My grandfather is mixed up with myths, yes, but one of them is true. While none may believe it until they see it, Sozin's Comet will return. We have kept this information private to protect ourselves from those who would use it against us.

"We are preparing an act of liberation that will mirror the phoenix we so admire. We will burn those who defy order and unity, and raise a better, stronger empire from the ashes. No longer will we have colonies and a homeland. They will be one strong empire rebuilding and building…"

He says more, including the announcement of an execution tomorrow and a brand new festival in a week, but neither woman of his family hears it.

Mai thinks about what she fought for a lifetime ago.

Ty Lee thinks about the family she loves and the world she left behind.

Azula thinks about the eclipse the scrolls discussed; if Sozin's Comet is real, as was transcribed, then it probably is too.

[X]

Across the ocean, Katara stands with Zuko and a handful of fellow rebels. They are in a grim stone room in the Rebel City, behind guarded doors with only their most trusted allies.

"The Fire Nation expects victory. We won't give them that," Katara passionately says. Her gaze coasts over Zuko more quickly than it does the others in the room. The air almost seems to get colder. "We know that after Fire Lord Ozai's announcement, he will be killing more of our own, and giving out important intel. We have the Ruthless Sun working security at the event, and they are on our side. They'll break out the prisoners and get them and the information to us."

Iroh assertively yet calmly says, "I was waiting to avoid alarm and gather my own information, but my own instincts lead me to believe the announcement will be about an invasion."

"I assumed too," interjects Sokka. "We know from Ty Lee and that little honeymoon that he's been planning the invasion for months, if not more."

Iroh politely shakes his head. "No, I believe the invasion will take place next year."

"Next year?" Katara cocks an eyebrow.

"Sozin's Comet," states Iroh, and Zuko stifles a laugh despite his professionalism. Maybe Uncle is as crazy as some allege.

Katara inquires, befuddled, "Sozin's what?"

"Comet," says Iroh with a straight face that baffles Prince Zuko. "It's a legend, to tell the truth. Not many people believe in it, but I do. It's rumored to return every century. If my brother knows more than I do, he might…"

In a whisper, Katara prompts, "He might…?"

"When Azula took Ba Sing Se, she took the astrological records with her, alone with information of strengths and weaknesses from the past, along with a number of other unrelated scrolls that should not be of any real importance," says Iroh. "They talk about that advantage for him, but I wonder if they have anything for us. You must make sure the Ruthless Sun retrieves them along with the prisoners."

"I will," elegantly promises Katara, not seeing Zuko's bewildered expression.

She hopes Iroh is right. Or maybe she hopes he is wrong, depending on what they find.

[X]

"Zuko," softly says Katara after the meeting, standing in a damp corridor beneath dancing shadows, "I've noticed that you haven't really looked me in the eyes lately and we haven't spoken very much. I never asked about your captivity in the Fire Nation, and I don't need to if you don't want to talk about it. Is something wrong?"

The disgraced prince thinks for a few moments. He does not know how to tell Katara why he struggles to look at her. Yet, he knows lying or evading the question would only increase the shame.

"I slept with Ty Lee while she and Azula were held here," he admits, rubbing his neck. He averts the golden eyes Katara fell in love with against better judgement.

Katara's eyes widen, but, other than that, she does not respond to him. He now looks at her, right into cobalt irises, and she is the one who turns away. He wonders if he will ever gaze into them lovingly again, which tears his heart to shreds.

"I…" Katara forgets what she was going to say.

She just walks away from him, out of the room, out of the fortress, into the cold morning air.

It should not hurt as much as it does.

[X]

At the party after the speech, Azula entirely neglects her wife. She goes through the motions and greets those loyal to her, but her future subjects and aids are only distractions from her troubled thoughts.

After a solid hour of worries, she looks up and notices her bride for the first time today.

Ty Lee stands, rubbing her arm, a flush on her cheeks that have been unusually pallid lately, as two boys chat her up at once. The fear turns into rage, surging through Azula and making her sick. She crosses the room, gliding between the partygoers, and she lights her fist bright blue in front of those two teenagers who think they have a right to even look at Princess Ty Lee.

"If you want to keep your pretty faces, you will leave," Azula snarls, and they are gone in an instant.

Ty Lee glowers, her face contorted in anger. Before, she loved seeing a boy get his throat ripped out from Azula's jealousy, but now her internal confusion becomes frustration. Princess Azula has never seen that expression on her face before, and she never would have expected Ty Lee's next words.

"Screw you!" Ty Lee screams, and storms from the room, sobbing.

Azula stands, rapidly blinking, stunned, for a few moments before her mind catches up and she follows her wife out of the hot ballroom and into the cold corridor.

Not far away, June is drunk, which she never has been before, therefore, Mai has no idea what to do about it.

Mai remembered when they used to go to bars. They were both in the Ruthless Sun at the time and stopped in the rowdiest, shadiest places they could find whenever they were not fighting the war against the rebellion.

June won an absurd amount of drinking contests without so much as a slurred word. Maybe it is lack of practice, or the anger in her that Mai had never seen before. June was never as apathetic as her ex-girlfriend, but she cared about nothing. Perhaps they cared about each other.

"Are you wasted, June?" Mai dares to ask. She knows she will receive some snide remark, but she has to ask anyway.

The news about the comet has not affected her like some people, even if she had no clue, but she doubts her bodyguard cares very much about an assault on the Colony Kingdom.

"Open bar in celebration of this marvelous military endeavor," slurs June. "I'm just taking advantage. You should approve, since you support this shit so much."

"I have no choice," Mai says.

"Of course. Fire Lady Mai never has a choice. Poor her and her struggles of not making a new little tyrant while the world burns, the Fire Nation itself gets eaten alive and people everywhere starve while they wait for their imminent death."

Mai blanches. Any compassion she felt for her ex-comrade vanishes on the spot, not that she had too much. Regardless, she takes June's arm to escort her away before she sees her husband was predictably listening in. He would never let her be near a sloshed ex, of course. June does not see it, or, at least, does not care. Mai purses her lips.

"Perhaps you should leave," says the Fire Lord. He is rather generous after such a successful announcement.

June turns to Mai instead.

"You were different. You were strong. You had actual guts and were the brains of our relationship. Look at you now. It's disgusting. All of this is disgusting. So is burning a fucking continent alive just because they say some things that aren't nice about you. You people are pathetic and I can't believe I ever loved you, Mai. I can't believe I even fucked you more than once after meeting the new, vapid Fire Lady You."

Ozai pries Mai's steely grip off of June's arm. Only now does the Ruthless Sun leader to think clearly through the haze. She knows she might not live through the night. She knows it will be easy to execute her tomorrow.

"June…" says Mai.

And June says loudly enough for half of the party to hear, "Don't even say my name, my honorable Fire Lady. We were rebels once and now you're endorsing the worst thing anyone has done since Sozin."

"You should return to your room," growls the Fire Lord to the bodyguard he had hired, and Mai is surprised at his restraint. She wants to punch June in the throat at the moment.

Guards take the prompt and escort the drunk and disorderly girl from the party. Mai avoids Ozai's gaze. She has just been outed as a cheating ex-rebel and does not feel very safe in any sense. He takes her by the hand however, which confuses her until he loudly says, "I would never let someone say such crude lies about you, now would I?"

The party resumes. They are deplorably trusting of authority.

He takes her to dance, and pretend all is normal.

Meanwhile, Azula and Ty Lee barely notice June being escorted past them outside of the main event.

Ty Lee kisses Azula and Azula is the one to pull away.

"I am not invested in whatever flighty affections you have. I have an empire to think about, not our two-second attention span and lack of commitment. Go flirt with half of the Fire Nation and fawn over shiny dresses," purrs Azula, her poisonous, composed arrogance burning Ty Lee's soul.

Azula glares, twisting the knife of her words. Ty Lee's heart sinks. Her hand twitches to grab her wife, but she fears Azula's wrath too much to continue the gesture.

"Why don't you love me?" Ty Lee blurts out. Her soft, sweet whisper does not soften the blow of the strong words, and she hopes she will not seem too forward or too fierce.

"We simply have not had the time, between dealing with the rebellion, and dealing with the rebellion, and, oh? What else? Dealing with the rebellion," coldly says the crown princess. "I do want our relationship to work, of course…"

Azula does not know the names of the feelings she has for the girl in front of her. She never cared about romance, even with Mai, and she never thought she would have to pay it any mind. Yet, the introduction of her wife and the complexity of occasionally feeling compassion towards someone terrifies her.

"I know," Ty Lee silkily says, leaning against the wall and further softening her posture. "I didn't mean to say that like that. I just think about it a lot."

"If anything, I should be asking you that question."

"But I love you so much." Again, Ty Lee fears she has gone too far. Azula gives no indication of her thoughts either way. "I think you're the most perfect person I've ever met. I can't help but love you even though it might not be as perfect as you."

Princess Azula chews on her lower lip.

She finds that almost impossible to believe, but she can tell when people are lying, and Ty Lee appears to be honest.

"I have no time to think about something as petty as our marriage when I just found out a myth is presumably real and I have to make sure I inherit an empire." Azula takes a step back, prepared to leave Ty Lee to her own devices. Yet, for the sake of control, she adds, "To make sure we inherit an empire."

Azula begins to turn. Ty Lee begs, "Please don't go," and Azula turns back to her.

"Stand on one foot," orders Azula.

Ty Lee complies, befuddled, but unable to defy her. Her mind does not even consider other options.

Azula commands, "Now stand on one hand."

Ty Lee flips over fluidly and remains in that position. She crumbles when the linen of her clothes falls down around her head. Azula smirks and suppresses laughter at the spectacle.

While Ty Lee is still collecting herself, Azula demands, "Now walk to me," and Ty Lee obeys. "Now kiss me," and Ty Lee obeys.

They stand, close enough to feel each others' breathing, and again are met with uncertainty. Neither girl was built for this, albeit for very different reasons.

Ty Lee asks quietly, "When do we start making moves of our own?"

Azula thinks of the eclipse and quietly replies, "Sooner than I anticipated."

"I do like the idea of building empires, especially ones I get to be Fire Lady of, but I'd really rather not have them be built on the skeletons of everyone I love."

Azula smirks at her wife, turns, and returns to the party.

[X]

That night, Ty Lee paces in the dark corridors. She has lost herself in thought as she considers the possibility. It is what she wanted, but she feels inexplicable fear when she thinks about the potential child inside of her.

"What brings you out at night?" asks the dry voice of her mother-in-law. Ty Lee jumps, but regains her grace and turns around to face Fire Lady Mai.

"I just…" Ty Lee rubs her neck. "I just can't sleep."

She smiles and bats her eyelashes. That usually works to keep her safe, but Mai has seen through it from day one.

"You're worried about something. Did she hurt your feelings?"

"I'm pretty sure I'm pregnant," Ty Lee blurts out, a shrill confession that stings the air.

"With whose baby?" Mai inquires, not staggered at all by the statement.

"Zuko's," whispers Ty Lee. "He's the only guy I've slept with in years. I did it on purpose, but I didn't think once would even be enough. I hoped for this but now I'm scared and I'm really confused."

"So, while you were held captive by rebels…?"

"I did it because it was a…" Ty Lee grimaces. "It seemed like a good idea at the time."

"Maybe it was one. You lack options. If I had to choose between the two men, I think you know my preference, but you seem more like Zuko's type to me."

"Should I tell her?"

"Honestly, no, but she has to know eventually. Now, let's pretend we never saw each other." Mai slinks away in the direction of the dungeons.

Ty Lee returns to her bedroom, trying to gather her courage as she walks.

The moment she enters the room, "I'm pregnant," Ty Lee chokes out, unable to stop herself.

Azula feels her blood boil from the sheer rage. "How?" she asks, even though she wants nothing more than to strike her wife down with lightning. Maybe Azula is beginning to get attached to her.

"You remember when we were with the rebels?"

"How could I forget?"

"I slept with Zuko, and now I'm pregnant."

"You slept with Zuko, and now our relationship is over."

"But we're married. And I—"

Azula storms out of the room before Ty Lee can finish.

Ty Lee lets the tears roll down her cheeks as she wonders why Azula is so angry.

She had to have a baby somehow, didn't she?

[X]

Azula finds her father in the dead of the night. He is up looking at letters, and she intends to scream her frustrations at her wife, but she cannot voice them once Ozai looks up.

"Do you need something, little princess?"

Princess Azula tries to think of an excuse. She ends up speaking about something worse and more secret than Ty Lee's condition.

What she found in the scrolls she stole.

"Do you know about the eclipse?" she whispers. He does not speak. "If the Comet is real, then that means it probably is too."

"Of course I do. I was the one who asked for the contents of the library."

"I have been to the Rebel City. I know they have a strong following and a very capable man trained exactly as well as us in charge of them."

"If we had anything to fear from the eclipse, I would have told you. Trust me."

"That is hard to do when you have secret meetings behind my back and send me to the Colony Kingdom to die as a wedding present. You are my father and I love you, but I know you have seen me as a weapon since I was young."

"I've been through enough today with my wife, I do not need this from you."

"Just tell me I can trust you. Please."

He pauses and turns to fully face her.

"You cannot trust anyone, little princess. You know that."

[X]

In the dungeons, "I cannot believe you," Mai hisses. "You cannot…"

"You cannot pull a favor?" June rolls her eyes. "I was pretty sick of watching the new you. She's not the person I remember from the Ruthless Sun. Being executed is better than the idea of continuing my new job."

"I made my decisions. I ripped my arms open and I took that marriage brand, and I regret none of it. I like almost nothing, but I like being alive."

"You probably like not being burned to death too, or being stuck in some dead end factory town."

"I do."

"I'm just pissed off that I'm not the main event and just got added in to this mass execution. I kinda hoped when I signed up for the rebels that I'd get a more exciting death."

"We never were good rebels."

"It was fun." June shrugs. "Even you thought it was fun."

"I inherited the rebellion business, and, therefore, never took it seriously."

"Have you ever taken anything seriously?"

That brings a flicker of a smile to Mai's lips. "No, I haven't. I can't save you, okay? I don't even know why I'm torturing myself by seeing you."

"We're alone this time, right?"

"Yes, but I'm not having sex with you, even if it is your last night alive."

"I want to tell you that the Ruthless Sun is still loyal to me, and loyal to their next paycheck. Your brother-in-law pays very handsomely, and we're getting busted out of here before tomorrow, just like Zuko. So, don't worry about me."

"I wasn't in the first place," Mai lies.

June winks at her.

[X]

Ty Lee sits, crying by herself, when Azula walks into their bedroom.

Azula does not apologize, nor try to console her wife.

She just lies down beneath the blankets and curls up into a ball.

Azula pretends to be asleep. She hears Ty Lee singing while getting dressed for bed, and is startled her wife is up before her. It must be the first time.

"War was just a legend, and pain was never known
The people worked together and built cities made of stone
And they stood proud over the flatlands until water burnt them to bones—"

"Why did water burn them to bones?" Azula asks, sitting up and ending her ruse. She doubts she will sleep tonight. "My grandfather wiped out the Water Tribes years ago. They were never on Sozin's side, since the song is about his invasion."

Ty Lee turns to face Azula, shrugging. Her eyes sparkle in the sunlight that pours through the open window and Azula feels her heart begin to race. She does not understand the nausea that has hit her like a punch to the gut.

"I don't really understand the song. I just think it's pretty. Like you. I don't understand you but I think you're pretty," Ty Lee says, closing her eyes and smiling. She seems to be pretending that she was not weeping last night, which Azula loves.

"No one understands me but me." Azula smirks.

"Can I ask you something about you?" Ty Lee whispers. Azula shrugs and nods. "Are you upset about me being pregnant because you're upset about." Ty Lee takes a few deep, panicked breaths, but she refuses to back out now. "There's not any prettier words. Are you upset because of the forced sterilization."

Azula's lips part, as shocked as if she had been slapped in the face. Ty Lee is not nearly brave enough to mention those private words they shared on their honeymoon right before being kidnapped by the rebels. Azula cannot believe her.

"Of course I am not. I am livid that you did this without my permission." Azula rises from bed. Ty Lee gazes at her and her beautiful form. She may be gorgeous, even if Ty Lee does not feel sexual attraction to the grand loveliness of a monster. "You are my wife and when I say jump you say how high and you may not walk five steps without asking my permission, much less screw my brother to get yourself pregnant."

"So… you don't care about being a weapon?" whispers Ty Lee. "I wondered if that was why remembering Ba Sing Se hurt you so much. Of course, I think it's really attractive and amazing that you can do such powerful things, but it would be a really bad… I can't imagine being raised that way. Not raised as a kid…"

"Ty Lee," snarls Azula, clenching her fists. "This is not a topic I discuss with anyone."

"Okay. I'm super sorry, love," Ty Lee hastily says, faintly smiling and batting her eyelashes. "I was thinking about when you talked to me about babies. You talked to me about wanting to make moves of your own. So, Sozin's Comet isn't a myth, and your dad wants to use it. But why can't you use it? Why should you still be his weapon and his possession?"

Ty Lee walks forward and touches Azula's waist. It does not have the effect it would on most people; Azula is steely against her charms, but it does help retain Azula's attention.

"I could use the Comet to claim my own empire, but I am content with his decisions," Azula purrs. She does not know, but she will not let Ty Lee believe she has any control over her wife.

"An army would follow you. You could build one. We could rule the universe." Ty Lee kisses her.

Azula shoves her away. "I have to go get some air."

She rushes out into the cold night.