-Inside the Jasmine Dragon-
"It must have been hard to forgive Azula after all she'd done" said a lady from a nearby table "I dont know if I could if I were you"
"I almost didn't" said Iroh "Only after talking to Sokka and watching with my own eyes did I relent.
"What made you change your mind" asked Tai "From your other stories she did a lot of unforgivable things to you and Zuko. How did you know it wasn't another trick". Why would you believe she changed now?"
"I knew my niece from the time she was very little." Said Iroh "I knew how she could well she could lie and deceive, but never once did I ever see her cry sincerely. Looking into her eyes I could see the guilt she battled with"
"I guess that a lot for anyone to deal with" said Kanna "But still how could you forgive her?"
"Honestly I wasn't sure that I could" said Iroh "But if Sokka was right, and if she had truly changed.
It would wrong not to give her the same chance that I gave Zuko"
"But Zuko was generally good hearted" said Hui "He was different"
"In his quest to regain his honor, Zuko was quite cruel before his redemption" said Iroh "As was I in heyday"
"You?"asked Lan "I don't believe it
"Oh yes, in my time as a fire nation general, I laid siege to this very city for 600 days" said Iroh almost ashamed
"What changed?" asked Hahn "You don't seem that way any more"
"Sometimes a painful catalyst happens to reform someone. For Zuko it was seeing first hand the effect the war during his time as fire nation fugitive and when he returned home he saw for himself his fathers true character" said Iroh
"And for you Iroh?" asked Kuei
"I lost my someone very precious to me" said Iroh sadly
A moment of awkward silence enveloped the crowded tea shop. Nobody really knew what to say. The few former fire nation soldiers knew that Lu Ten was not a subject Iroh liked to talk about. Mercifully the King broke the tension.
"So, what do you think Azula's catalyst was?" asked Kuei
"At the time I didn't have a clue" said Iroh thankful for the subject change "But I had to know if it was indeed genuine..."
Chapter 24
-The Leap of Faith-
News of the upcoming siege was being being kept on a need to know basis via order from General Kang, a city wide panic was the last thing they needed while fortifying the defenses on the outer wall.
The lower ring had an inkling of what was going on due to the many refuges being called to defend the city. But Sokka noticed during this time in the upper/inner ring, everyone were blissfully unaware what was coming. While he understood Kang's reasoning, the fact that they didn't know unnerved him a bit.
Then there was the situation his companion with the fire nation princess. Granted she seemed pleasant, sincere and even dare he say, playful. It was a lot to swallow considering her past record, but if Zuko could change there might be a chance for her. But if this was all a big act or one big plan to betray them … Sokka shook his head of the negative thoughts.
"We'll cross the bridge if and when it comes" thought Sokka optimistically "Hopefully we'll never have to"
Leaving Azula to read her scrolls on the steps, he walked into the Jasmine dragon. Iroh did pretty well for himself. His seemingly insane idea to use Momo as a hook to sell more tea really paid off. Who wouldn't want to have their tea served to them by an authentic winged lemur?"
"Sokka!" said Iroh Bowing curtly then giving the boy a hug "It's good to see you"
Looking out on the the porch she saw a young girl on sitting on the steps completely engrossed in reading one of her scrolls.
"Hmmmm, that doesn't look like your girlfriend" teased Iroh Not quite recognizing the girl "Does Suki know?"
"Uh...you better sit down..."said Sokka "It is a long Story and I only have time for the short version.."
"Its so beautiful" exclaimed Te looking over the side
In a mass of floating rock which in itself was a impressive sight, was the legendary fifth Air temple. Roughly the size of Omashu, It looked like a mountain with two distinct peaks each having a massive green and white spire rising out of it. Nestled between the two Peaks, in a small shallow valley was a giant wide area . In it cleanly separated into sections, appeared to to be stables, living barracks, air ball courts, farm land with a orchard. Directly in the center was really the point of interest, in a group of maybe 100 to 150, were air benders engaged in a perfect synchronized form known as the walking circle.
"Its amazing" said Katara "They're still around"
"Yeah" said Aang happily "I have so many questions to ask"
From the temple a group of 4 air bison mounted by 5 teenage air benders flew to meet up with the airship. While the bison looked the same, everyone noticed the difference between Aang and these new air benders. First was their robes, sky blue and white in contrast to Aang's orange and yellow. The other was their tattoos. The ones on their hands were the same as Aang's but the ones on their heads were not.
Instead of a solid arrow there was a thin void in the middle of theirs, thus cutting theirs in half.
"No chance, this is an honor guard here to welcome us?" said Zuko
As if to answer his question a bison flew up right on the port side carrying two very angry looking air benders. One a boy and one a girl.
"You!" yelled the boy "Your trespassing on sacred ground, you are to follow us now!"
"Technically its not sacred ground if were in the air" yelled back Xi'an
"Cute!" yelled the girl unimpressed "Try anything funny and you wont be in the air for long"
"You heard him Zuko" said Katara "Follow them in"
Zuko sighed as he turned the wheel into the direction of the sky temple.
"Can we just once enter a place where everyone isn't hostile?" muttered Zuko
"...And so that's how we wound up here" said Sokka
It was a lot for Iroh to take in, the fall of the fire nation, the gross defilement of the spirit world and the avatars, a giant army marching toward Ba Sing Se. Iroh wouldn't have believed it but he felt it himself. Just a feeling of dread for the past few weeks that something wasn't in this world or the next.
Hearing a sniff, Iroh looked over toward the entrance where a certain winged lemur was handing Azula a napkin to dry her eyes.
"Have you ever seen her cry before?" asked Sokka
"Not since she was a small child" said Iroh handing "Perhaps its best I talk to her"
"Do we have time for that?" said Sokka "We're needed back at the wall soon"
"I'll make time and don't worry" said Iroh "I'll give Kang what he wants myself"
"Your coming to the wall?" asked Sokka
"Of course, this is my home now and I will defend it" said Iroh "But I need to see for myself what is going on with Azula"
"For what it's worth I think shes changed a lot" said Sokka sincerely "I should be heading back anyway"
As Sokka left the tea house out of the side door, Iroh walked out the front to meet his niece. It was strange from many views. He, unlike his nephew and others, was very perceptive to Azula little mind tricks. But he saw nothing in her that even hinted that she was the same mean spirited little girl that terrorized much of the free world. Still, If what Sokka had told him was true, it would be cruel not to give her a chance. He and Zuko had found redemption, maybe the same would hold true for Azula However given her behavior in the past, he would tread very lightly
"Hello Azula" said Iroh kindly as Momo hoped on his shoulder
Azula looked down at the ground not wanting to make eye contact with Iroh. For all that she done to the old man, from nearly killing him to bringing him home in chains, It wouldn't surprise her if he ran her off or even challenged her to an agni kai. He had every right to she reasoned. Getting up from the stairs she started to walk off not wanting to face the guilt of her past or the increasing strange feeling of remorse. Better to just leave
"Azula!" said Iroh gently but sternly "Stop!"
"What is it uncle?" sighed Azula stopping closing her eyes "If want to tell me you hate me, don't waste your time... I already know"
"No" said Iroh making sure to grab a medium sized box " I was on my way to deliver a package to a dear old friend. How about you walk with me?"
"What?" said Azula confused
"I find that a nice walk clears the mind and refreshes the soul" said Iroh
"I cant, Sokka and I are needed back at the outer wall" said Azula uncomfortably
"Sokka's heading back as we speak" said Iroh "And as luck would have it, I'm heading in that direction anyway"
Azula sighed in resignation as she knew she had no choice but to walk with her fuddy-duddy uncle.
"Sokka gave me the short version" said Iroh "I've heard you've great strides in trying to redeem yourself "
Azula kept silent as Iroh spoke never taking her eyes off the ground. Azula's behavior was not lost on Iroh. This was far removed from the Azula he knew, a very vocal princess who had no qualms about asserting her superiority over overs. Who wouldn't hesitate to use force to strike fear to any who defied her. Never once in the past did he ever see Azula show one ounce of guilt for anything that she has ever done and now he could sense it coming off her in waves.
"Don't patronize me, Uncle" said Azula sharply still not taking her eyes off the ground "I know what you really think of me"
"Oh?" said Iroh " And what is that Azula?"
"Don't act you don't know. I know you don't care for me" said Azula " I know you and mother always favored Zuko"
"Funny, Zuko said the same thing about your father's favoritism to you" said Iroh
"So it seemed" said Azula sadly "I was the perfect daughter, the perfect princess, the best heir a fire lord could wish for... and in the end it wasn't enough. I was just a tool to him and nothing more "
"So you blame your father for all your actions?" asked Iroh "For every act of cruelty and malice?"
"I don't need to justify my actions to you uncle" said Azula angrily "I'm fully aware of my wrongs! I realize now that while dad may have set me on the wrong path, I followed it freely. But how do you make up for all the wrong you've done?"
Iroh for the first time saw Azula not as the cruel crazy right fist of her father but instead as lonely scared guilt ridden girl.
"Do you know about winged lemurs?" asked Iroh "Amazing Animals"
"What are you babbling about uncle?" asked Azula "Another of your long kooky anecdotes?"
Well, she still had an rude and condescending air about her. Iroh knew it was wishful thinking that she changed that much. But still..
"Winged Lemurs are very compassionate and forgiving creatures" said Iroh as Momo to flew to Azula's shoulder "Even to those that have done them wrong. Perhaps we could all learn from them"
"Does that mean..." asked Azula softly stammering "that you...forgive me?"
Iroh pulled her into a loving hug. It was a feeling completely unknown to her up until now. She struggled at first but found herself unable to hold her emotions in any longer, letting her tears flow freely as she sobbed in her uncles embrace. Her father never hugged her, never showed her any sort of affection. It was still an alien concept to her but one was starting to feel so right.
"I'm so sorry Uncle" said Azula between sobs "Please believe me, I'm so so sorry"
"It's alright" said Iroh hearing her honest sincerity "You can cry all you need to my niece"
Softly shushing her, comforted her as she cried herself out.
"I think that's the first time you called me your niece " said Azula wiping her tears
"Its the first time in you've allowed me to" said Iroh kindly
"We better head back to the wall before Kang has a fit" said Azula finally feeling better
As Iroh released the hug, he nonchalantly checked his back for anything sharp sticking out of it. While he truly did forgive her, this was Azula he was dealing with and old habits die hard
At the hidden air temple, Aang group found themselves forced to land near the bison stables. From there they were quite forcefully taken from their airship by a group of angry teenage air benders. They then were led down past growling bison, through the crowded courtyard full of curious air benders. Finally being lead to main spire where the council chambers was located.
How do we find ourselves in these situations?" asked Aang
"Just lucky I guess" sighed Xi'an "At least its not my fault this time"
"Quiet all of you!" said the girl air bender jabbing Xi'an in gut hard with her staff "I'll be the one asking the questions!"
"Hey we didn't know we were trespassing!" said Zuko
"She said quiet!" said an older air bender boy
"Who are you and why are you here?" said the girl sharply
"Katara of southern water tribe"
"Te of the earth kingdom"
" Zuko of the fire nation"
At Zuko's admission the rest of the air bender in the temple gasped as the group of angry air benders pushed their staffs in closer
"Fire nation!" sneered the girl air bender "I knew it! You're planning an invasion aren't you!"
"No" said Zuko "We come in peace I swear!
"What about you? Whats your name!" said the boy jabbing Aang with his staff " and whats with your clothes? That's has got to be the worst Sky Nomad disguise I've ever seen!"
"Sky Nomad?" said Aang cocking an eyebrow "I'm an Air Nomad! Avatar Aang of the southern air temple"
Aang's admission brought a round of laughter from the whole courtyard.
"Nice try kid" said the air bender boy "The air nomads were rendered extinct over 100 years ago and Avatar along with them
"What is going on here?" yelled a stern older voice entering "What is the meaning of all this?"
Entering the room were four older Sky Nomads, two male and two female. From the way they carried themselves, it was obvious they were in charge.
"All of you back away!" said one of the females
"But Sister Xue" argued the girl "They're trespassers! They are outsiders"
"And how do we know their intentions?" argued the boy
"Kai, Sun" said Sister Xue "We asked you to bring them to us, not to interrogate or intimidate them"
"But..." argued Kai, the girl
"We will discuss this later" said the elder male monk "You and your group are excused"
Kai and Sun stomped off with their group in tow but not before both shooting Aang's group a dirty look. After they left, the group of air benders took their places sitting on their raised square stools.
"I am Monk Lu" said the Eldest monk
"I am Monk Shyu" said said the second male monk
"I am Sister Xue" said the the eldest sister
"I am Sister Yen" said the second sister
"I must say, I find your appearance here quite troubling" said Monk Lu "No outsider has braved the great storm"
"The fact you have is a very unnerving turn of events" said Monk Shyu " How did you find our temple?"
"Quite by accident, sir." blurted out Te "We followed a baby bison here"
"I told you that little one would be no end of trouble" snorted Yen to Xue
"If we treaded on sacred ground, we apologize" said Katara "It wasn't our intention"
"Then why are you here?" asked Xue "No one chases a bison into a hurricane for fun"
"The air nomads are all but gone" said Aang "I'm all that's left. That why we followed it"
"How is that? The attacks on the temples happened long before your were born." said Shyu
"Isn't it obvious?" said Zuko "He's the Avatar"
A mild gasp followed by looks of disbelief formed among the council.
"That is impossible" said Monk Lu "The Avatar died with the Air nomads"
"Its a long complicated story" said Katara "But Aang is indeed the Avatar"
Sister Xue looked curiously at Xi'an. Gracefully stepping off her stool she walked over for a better look.
"What is your name?" said Xue studying his strange colored eyes
"Xi'an" He said looking away and down. Even now he was still a bit self conscious anyone paid too much attention to his eyes. She gently lifted his chin in almost a motherly way taking a very good look at him
"You are the avatars guardian aren't you?" smiled Xue "Yes , I believe you are. I can see it. You have the Guardian eyes"
"Humph, first this Avatar nonsense" sighed Monk Shyu "And now the guardian?"
"Wait, Shyu" said Monk Lu holding up a hand " Perhaps we should allow them to prove it"
"You cannot be serious!" said Sister Yen
"What like a display of bending?" said Aang stepping into a bending stance "Easy enough"
"No" said Sister Xue "A mere demonstration wouldn't suffice. Judging by your companions, I assume they're all benders. The feats of avatar and guardian can be easily faked if others bend for them"
"So what do you intend us to do then?" asked Xi'an
"A very simple task" said Sister Yen "If you are who you say you are it should be no problem"
"And that is?"
"All you have to do is open a door" said Sister Xue
"A Door?"
The best to describe the wall was organized chaos.
"Longshot and Smellerbee is it?" said Kang "Okay I want you two boys on the eastern side with the other archers"
"Hey! I'm a..."sighed Smellerbee "Aw forget it!"
"But sir! They're Fire nation" said Longshot "I wont work with Fire nation"
"Then you have two choices" said Kang " Get off my wall or do the job I asked you to do"
"But..." argued both Longshot and Smellerbee
"No buts" said Kang "We have to defend this place. I sure your reasons for hating the fire nation are more than valid. But your gonna have to push it down and fight along side them. I need every strong hand I can get and I need them to follow orders is that clear"
"Yes sir" said both
"Okay then head to the east side" said Kang turning his attention to the scouting reports given to him just a few minutes ago. The invasion force was moving faster then originally thought
"Not many are left who still cling to the ancient ways" said a voice from behind
"Those who do can always find a friend" smiled Kang turning around
"Its good to see you brother Kang" said Iroh bowing respectfully
"I haven't been part of the order in a long time, grand lotus" said Kang bowing back
"You two ...know each other?" asked Azula in confusion "And are... friends?"
To many the friendship of the Hammer of the East and The Dragon of the West would seem not only strange but inconceivable. Azula could remember many a time that Firelord Azulon would be wishing death on The Hammer of the East. But there it was.
"When things are not so crazy" said Iroh to Azula "I'll tell you the tale if you willing to listen"
"You'll exaggerate like you always do"snorted Kang
"And you will always be the perpetual grouch" shot back Iroh
"Did you get my package?"asked Kang
"Yes I did" said Iroh handing him the box "It must be very important for you to ask for it"
"It is old friend" said Kang lifting out two Huge hammers with ornate engraving from the box "I promised myself i'd never use these again"
"If what you say is true" said Iroh "It's a promise that need to be broken"
"Azula, I'm gonna need you to help the Kyoshi warriors with few unruly fire benders are refusing to work with them. With everything else going on the last thing we need is infighting" said Kang
"What makes you think they'll listen to me?" asked Azula
"You scare people!" said Kang bluntly "You do have that reputation"
"I don't scare you" said Azula slightly taken aback
"I'm used to you kid" said Kang " And besides I like ya."
"Well there is a problem I have with the Kyoshi warriors" said Azula
Rolling his eyes, Kang put two fingers in his mouth and sharply whistled down to where the Kyoshi warriors were.
"Suki, Ty Lee, Mai" yelled Kang "I need you three up here, Now"
"I'll take my leave now" said Azula
"No you stay" said Kang sternly
Mai, Suki and Ty lee made their way up. All three glared at Azula while she returned the evil look right back. The action was not unseen by Kang
"Azula will be joining you in helping modifying and strengthening the airships" said Kang
"We don't need any help" said Mai "We have it completely under control"
"Yeah we're fine Kang" said Ty Lee "We're just having a slight problem here and there"
"I'm sure she could be better suited some where else" said Suki
"You know, I could go on into a long drawn out speech about team work" said Kang raising his voice "But I have a feeling you ladies wont listen and I don't have enough hands to bonk your heads together. What ever problem you 4 got with each other, throw it to the side. This is no time for petty matters"
"It wasn't exactly petty" sighed Mai
"I don't know and more importantly I don't care "said Kang to all the girls "Agni kai or what ever else you do to kill each other later. I need you all to do your jobs. Its gonna be hard to fight these things as it is, we don't need to make it easy for them by fighting among ourselves too. I'm not asking you to kiss and make up, but you WILL work together, period. Do I make myself clear ladies?"
"Yes sir" said Suki
"Mai?"
"Yes sir" said Mai obviously not happy
"Ty Lee?"
"Yes Sir" said Ty Lee nodding
Princess?
"Yes, General Kang" said Azula in a defeated tone "Crystal"
"Good, now go and get it done "
As they left Iroh looked on in disbelief. There was no doubt about it, his niece had changed. No way would the old Azula ever allow anyone talk to her like that with out serious repercussions.
"Nicely put" said Iroh
"Yeah I just wish it didn't have to be 30th time in an hour I'd have to say it" said Kang " I guess it cant be helped, a lot from both sides are still reeling from Sozin's war. "
"How does our chances look?" agreed Iroh
"I try not to think of that "said Kang realistically "I try never to think if the odds, just whats at stake. Ba Sing Se fell once, we cant allow it to fall again."
"How long do we have?" said Iroh
"To the scout report said 2 days if you factor in them resting. They don't rest so ... they'll be here at night fall...And we better be ready"