Author's Note: Apparently FanFiction did not send out notifications for my last chapter update. So please read chapter 24 before you read this one if you haven't done so already!

Chapter 25: Depression (Part 2)

The silence was suffocating. No one dared speak or move. The Fire siblings couldn't even bare to look at each other for assistance.

Not even the quick-witted princess could spin a reasonable lie to cover this up. What could she possibly say? Although in her twisted fantasies, back when no feelings were involved, she had imagined how funny it would be if her mother were to walk in on one of their transgressions, now that it was actually happening… it wasn't funny at all. It was a nightmare.

Zuko was sweating buckets, feeling sick to his stomach from all the waves of shame and humiliation washing over him. This was not the way he had wanted things to end with Azula. Of course if he had his way, things would never have to end, but he was well aware of the reality of their affair. He had hoped that their depraved relationship would have eventually shifted to one built on the joint responsibility of governing the Fire Nation, where they could work together every day and maintain the close bond they unexpectedly formed over the past several months. But unfortunately, this wasn't the case.

"How…" Ursa whispered, her eyes bleak and her skin colorless. "How long?"

Azula huffed and stared down at her lap while Zuko clenched his jaw.

"How long has this been going on?" she asked again, more deliberately.

The way she was looking at them was reminiscent of the scalding icy stare Ozai donned when formulating punishments.

"Someone'd better answer me RIGHT NOW."

Zuko flinched.

Azula brought her eyes up to her mother's. "A while," she responded, trying to be as vague as possible.

Ursa's glare hardened.

"Months," Zuko exhaled. "Almost a year."

"And here I thought you were finally growing up," she snarled, her attention entirely directed at her son, as if her daughter wasn't even in the room. "Look at me when I'm talking to you!"

Petrified, he looked into her dark stare.

Azula could feel him shaking.

"I kept silent all those years, watching girl after girl enter the Palace like their lives were about to change, with all the hope in the world, only to leave minutes later brokenhearted. I thought you were simply trying to figure out which qualities you wanted in your future Fire Lady. But now I can see you were not thinking about your future one bit."

"Those girls were just trying to use me to gain power! They never cared about me at all!" he countered. "And besides, I am thinking about my future."

"Clearly you're not! Not if you're doing this!" She continued to focus her attention anywhere but on her daughter, a fact which was not lost on the princess.

Azula felt a familiar blackness stirring within. "Why is she ignoring me? Why won't she acknowledge me?"

"How could you be so irresponsible?!"

"I – "

"What if Kiyi had walked in here instead of me?! What would you have told her?!"

"I don't know!"

"Well fortunately, she's never going to find out about this."

The Fire siblings knew exactly what she was going to say next.

"This. Ends. Now."

Zuko cast his eyes down at his tremoring hands while Azula glared at her with defiance. She'd be damned if she let her mother boss her around like this.

Ursa turned for the door, but before she exited, she stopped in place and abruptly spun around. Her eyes narrowed in on Azula. "How could you do this to him?"

"Excuse me?!" the princess spat.

"How could you do something so heinous – seducing your own brother?!"

"Oh! I get it! This must be all my fault!" Her body began quivering with fury. "Clearly I'm the one responsible for corrupting your dear, innocent boy. Isn't that right, Mother?!"

"He never would have done this if you hadn't tempted him!"

"This isn't Azula's fault!" Zuko stepped in, jumping to her defense.

"Zuzu, you don't have to – "

"Who initiated this?" Ursa spat, presumptuously.

"That's not important!" he shouted, his blood boiling.

"If this really isn't her fault, then tell me who initiated it!"

The Fire siblings' burning silence was the only answer she needed.

"You haven't changed one bit," she growled at her daughter. "You're still the monster you've always been."

Gripped by heartache and panic, Zuko turned to look at his sister. He could see the fire leave her eyes.

"I can't even look at you right now." Ursa turned to leave the room.

"Well good. You don't have to," Azula cried, trembling. "I'm leaving."

She exited the bedroom, slamming the door behind her.

"Azula," Zuko breathed, putting an arm around her. "You know she didn't mean – "

"Yes she did." She pushed off his arm and stepped out of bed. "Don't make excuses for her. She'll never see me as something other than…" She couldn't even finish her sentence.

He sighed. "Are you really leaving?"

"Yes." She threw on one of Zuko's robes and collected her clothes from the floor. "I can't be here right now. Not with her." She took a strained breath as she fought back tears. "Fuck her. I'm going to pack."

"Azula, wait." With the sheets wrapped around his lower half, he stood up. "I'm coming with you."

"Don't be ridiculous, Zuzu. You can't."

"Sure I can. We'll just… take a vacation." He grinned awkwardly.

"And who's going to act as Fire Lord in the interim, hm?"

"No one. We won't be gone long."

"Speak for yourself."

"Okay, I won't be gone long," he corrected.

"Well, it would certainly piss off Mother," she said under her breath.

"What was that?"

"Nothing," she smirked.

"So that settles it. I'm coming with you."

"Fine," she conceded, smiling softly.

"So where are we going?" he asked before noticing she was laughing. "What?"

"Nothing, nothing," she chuckled. "It's just… Mother was right about one thing…"

He raised an eyebrow at her.

"You really are irresponsible."

"Mai! I'm glad you're here!" Ty Lee shouted upon barging into the kitchen of the black-haired girl's home. "I tried the flower shop, but Auntie Mura said you had the day off, so I – "

"Ty Lee," Mai interrupted, stirring a pot of soup. "I'm glad you're here too. I need a taste-tester." She grabbed a wooden ladle and filled it with broth and noodles. "Try this."

She took the ladle and, after cooling it with a couple puffs of air, drank the contents. "Mmmmm! This is great!"

"Really?" she questioned, noticing the afflicted look on her friend's face. "Or are you just saying that to be nice?"

"No, no!" she blurted before coughing a couple of times. "It's delicious!" She coughed again. "Just… a little too spicy for my taste."

"Sorry," Mai laughed.

"It's okay." She cleared her throat. "I didn't even know you could cook!"

"I'm learning. I've been trying a new recipe every day."

"That's so cool!" Ty Lee gushed. "Well then I'm definitely coming over for dinner sometime soon."

"Yeah, sure," she smiled. "So… what brings you over to this neck of the woods?"

"Oh!" She wondered if her friend could sense her discomfort. "I just wanted to check up on you and see how you were doing, you know… since the last time I tried to visit you, you weren't in the mood for company, but I figured it's been a few weeks since the wedding, so I'd – "

"Oh. Well thanks for the concern, but I'm doing just fine."

"Well that's great!" She grinned sheepishly. "So, have you… talked to Kei Lo at all?"

"Why would I talk to him?" Mai grumbled. "We're over."

"I don't know, I just thought… you might miss him or something."

She rolled her eyes. "Noooo, I don't miss the man I dated for years, the man who was always there for me, who made me laugh, who I thought I was going to marry." Her sarcasm was tangible.

Ty Lee's heart sank. "Does that mean… you're not over him?"

"I miss him. Of course I miss him. But if I'm really being honest…" She sighed. "I don't miss being with him."

Her brown eyes lit up.

"I miss being around him, I miss how he made me feel, but I don't miss being his girlfriend. Our breakup was a step in the right direction. But a part of me wishes he could still be in my life. As a friend."

"Well who says he couldn't be your friend?"

Mai shrugged. "I doubt he'd want that. Besides, it would just be so… awkward. To reach out to him after everything that's happened."

She shifted her eyes from left to right. "Well what if… I reached out to him?"

"You'd… really do that for me?"

"Of course I would! But…" Ty Lee sighed exasperatedly, her nerves getting the better of her. "I need to be honest with you. Please don't hate me."

She cocked her head to the side. "I'll try not to…"

"The truth is… I wanted to hear that you were over Kei Lo because… I want to ask him out."

Mai's golden eyes went wide. "Like on a date?"

"Yes. Mai, I… really like him. I tried really hard not to like him but he's just such an amazing guy. But your friendship comes first! I won't ask him out if that's something that would upset you. It's just that I've liked him for some time now – but I never acted on it or flirted with him or anything like that – and I feel like such a horrible friend for even asking, but – "

She shook her head. "I don't know what to say. I had no idea."

"I know, I'm sorry – "

"Look… Ty…" She took a deep breath. "You have always been one of my best friends. You've always had my best interest at heart. I know you'd never do anything to intentionally hurt me. And… I appreciate your honesty. I'm sure it couldn't have been easy to admit that you have a crush on my ex."

"Feel my hands, I'm shaking!"

She chuckled. "I may not be one hundred percent over Kei Lo, but… we are never getting back together. And… you both deserve to be happy. And if that so happens to mean that you can find happiness together, then how could I say no to that?"

"Mai!" Ty Lee cried, tearing up. "You really mean that?"

"Yes," she smiled softly. "You should ask him out. If that's what you want to do."

She pulled Mai in for a hug. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! You're the best friend ever!"

"Okay, okay, you're welcome!" She quickly hugged her back. "And… since we're both being honest… I've kept a secret too."

"You have?"

"Yeah… so perhaps you didn't notice due to all the other drama going on, but… after Kei Lo broke up with me, I went out to the gazebo to get some air…"

"And…?"

"The thing is… I wasn't alone. Ruon-Jian was there."

"Oh Spirits…"

"Yeah... He comforted me, and we stayed up practically all night talking and stargazing."

"That's so romantic!"

"I guess. Well anyway, I ended up sleeping with him that night."

"WHAT?!"

Mai's cheeks reddened. "No, not sleeping with him – we just fell asleep together in his bed. We didn't do anything. Okay, well we did kiss, but that was all."

"And… how was it?!"

Her blush deepened. "Let's just say that I liked it enough for me to give him my address. We've actually been dating – casually, very casually – ever since. Please don't tell Kei Lo."

"I won't!" Ty Lee promised. "Your secret's safe with me."

"Thanks. So… what do you think of all this? Am I awful for moving on so fast?"

"No! Mai, I think it's wonderful you're moving on."

She smirked.

"And not just because of Kei Lo," she quickly added.

"Suuure."

"I mean it!"

"I know, I know," Mai laughed. "Anyway, on a different note… how's Azula doing?"

"Uncle!" the Fire siblings simultaneously greeted upon entering the kitchen of the Jasmine Dragon.

"Why if it isn't my favorite niece and nephew!" he beamed, extending his arms to give them a hug.

"Kiyi's your niece too, remember?" Azula sneered, hugging Iroh.

"Oh, yes! My old brain can hardly keep up. Don't tell her I called you my favorite."

The princess snickered.

Iroh pulled Zuko in for a deep hug and released him. "What a wonderful surprise to see you both! What brings you all the way to Ba Sing Se?"

"Nothing but your delightful company, Uncle," Azula lied.

"Mother kicked us out," the Fire Lord blabbed.

The princess elbowed him sharply in the ribcage.

"Ow! What was that for?" He scowled at her.

"Why on earth would your own mother ask you to leave the Palace?"

Azula crossed her arms, waiting for the revelations to hit them.

"Oh, uhhhh, we... errr…" Zuko stammered, blushing. "…did something bad. We… stole something…"

She glared at him, pretending she could shoot lightning from her eyes. "Couldn't you have just said we were doing drugs or something?! Spirits Zuzu, you are so dense sometimes!"

Iroh's nostrils flared, his hands balling into fists. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath to calm himself down. "I see. She found out."

"Found out what exactly…?" the Fire Lord shrugged, awkwardly scratching the back of his head in a failed attempt to play dumb.

The princess rolled her eyes.

"Would you really like me to say it out loud?" Iroh threatened.

Panicked, they both quickly shook their heads.

"You two were supposed to stop – you absolutely cannot continue to do…" All he could think of saying was 'each other'. He shuddered with disgust. "…what you are doing!"

They both looked down at their feet in shame.

"It's disgraceful and you both know it." He sighed. "Zuko, my nephew, I know it must be difficult to think about choosing a Fire Lady and settling down, but you are almost twenty-five years old. You need to think about your responsibility to your Nation."

"I know, Uncle."

"And Azula, my dear niece, you have come so far. You have battled your darkness. I've watched you blossom right before my very eyes. I'm so proud of you for the progress you have made – "

"Thank you, Uncle."

" – But this is very disappointing."

"I know – "

"What ever happened to Sokka? You two light up the skies whenever you are together."

"I…" she whispered, her stomach knotting. "I think he broke up with me."

"Azula," Iroh exhaled. "I'm so sorry to hear that."

"We got into a fight. He hasn't spoken to me in three weeks. So I guess that means we're done."

"Perhaps you should be the one to mend your lover's quarrel." He cleared his throat in typical Iroh fashion, indicating he was about to say something metaphorical. "The otter-sloth who climbs the highest tree finds the juiciest pineapple."

"Thanks, Uncle," she smiled. "Pineapples don't grow on trees, but I understand what you're trying to say."

Zuko stared at them blankly. "I don't get it."

"He means that the best things in life are worth fighting for," she explicated.

"I meant…" The Fire Lord blinked a couple of times, secretly thankful for the explanation. "What's a pineapple?"

Azula and Iroh both looked at him incredulously and then at each other.

"Anyway," the princess muttered, ignoring her brother's ignorance and changing the subject, "before Zuzu had to go and ruin this lovely reunion, we wanted to ask you something."

"We are on our way to Makapu Village and were wondering if you'd like to accompany us," the Fire Lord finished.

"Makapu Village… why does that sound so familiar?" Iroh inquired, stroking his long, gray beard.

"It's where Aunt Wu, the fortuneteller, lives," Azula informed. "Zuko says you've traveled there before, while he was still hunting the Avatar."

"Hmmm…"

"Remember Aunt Wu thought you were handsome?" Zuko chimed in.

"Many ladies find me handsome, nephew. They simply cannot resist my charm." He let out a hearty laugh.

The princess brought her hand to her mouth to stifle her own laughter.

"Well I know you'll remember this – June the bounty hunter's shirshu led us there.

"That certainly does ring a bell…" Iroh smiled slyly.

"So, will you join us?" Azula asked, growing impatient.

"Well…" Although he was more than content running his tea shop and hadn't planned on taking a vacation, he saw this as an opportunity to divert them from their misdoings. "What could be more enjoyable than spending time with my favorite niece and nephew?" He winked at the princess.

She groaned in response.

"I'll just have Jin take over the shop during my absence."

"Excellent," Zuko cheered. "We depart for Makapu Village in the morning."

"So Snoozles, whatchya think of the latest batch of lily livers?" Toph asked Sokka just after she dismissed her class. "Pretty pathetic, huh?"

"Uhhhh…" Considering her students were still within earshot, he thought it best not to answer. "They can still hear you, you know."

"Yeah, I know," she laughed.

He groaned.

"What? They know I'm just playing around with them. They'll make fine metalbenders eventually. WITH A LOT OF PRACTICE!"

He laughed. "You know, Toph, I've got to say, I'm really impressed with what you've done here. You've graduated, what, over a hundred metalbenders at this point?"

"Yeah, I'm pretty great," she sneered.

"Have you ever considered doing something more with them?"

"Like…?"

"I don't know, like… organizing them? Into a military or police force or something?"

"Hmmm, police force," she repeated, tilting her head to the side. "I do like the sound of that."

Always a fan of his ideas finding appreciation, he grinned pompously.

"But then again, that sounds like a lot of work, and I happen to like the sound of not working even more."

His shoulders slumped in defeat.

"But I'll keep the idea in mind," she smiled, jabbing him unnecessarily hard in the upper arm.

He smiled back, rubbing the pain away as best he could. "Hey so… what was so urgent that you needed me to stop by? I know I'm a great motivational speaker and all, but I doubt that's all you wanted."

"Oh you know, we just haven't hung out in a while. Just you and me."

"I see," he smirked. "You just missed me that much? Couldn't stand to be away from me, eh?"

"Yeahhhh," she groaned, rolling her eyes. "That's it. I just missed you too much."

"Can't say I blame you," he laughed before adopting a graver demeanor. "But seriously, is everything alright? It's not like you to send for me – you usually just show up unannounced – "

"Well if you're gonna beat it out of me, there is something I wanted to talk to you about."

"And that would be…"

"Zappy."

"Really?" he asked with disbelief. "You want to talk to me about Azula? You never want to talk about this stuff."

"Well it's important, okay?"

"Okay… well just so you know, I don't have much to say. I'm not mad at her anymore, but I'm still trying to figure things out – "

"Maybe I have something to say about her." She grinned slyly. "I have… information you don't have."

"Fire Lord Zuko and Princess Azula!" Aunt Wu greeted in the waiting area of her establishment. "Welcome. It is an honor to meet you both." She bowed to them. "Although…" She looked Zuko in the eye. "…it seems our paths have crossed before."

"Yeah... I was hoping you wouldn't remember that," he muttered, shuffling his feet. "Sorry for, uh, disrupting your peaceful village all those years ago."

"Yes, you made quite the entrance. But lucky for you, I'm more invested in the future than the past," she grinned. "Speaking of which, I've been expecting you."

"How stereotypical," Azula thought, suppressing the urge to roll her eyes.

"Really? You predicted our arrival?" Zuko asked a little too enthusiastically.

"No, no," she laughed. "The whole village was talking about your visit. It's not every day the esteemed Fire Lord and Fire Nation Princess come to town."

Azula smiled, warming up to the elderly fortuneteller. "Well, we are very pleased to meet you, Aunt Wu. We've been eagerly looking forward to using your highly-revered services. You have acquired quite the reputation."

"Well let's hope I am able to live up to it then," she smiled. "Now, who's first?"

Zuko and Azula looked at each other, both pleading with their eyes to go first.

"She is," he conceded.

The princess smiled warmly at him. "Thanks, Zuzu." She let Aunt Wu escort her to a private chamber with a small fire pit in the center, surrounded by a few pillows and a smattering of glowing candles. But what immediately caught her attention was a bowl full of bones resting atop some oddly shaped furniture.

"A simple palm reading is enough for most of my visitors, but you are no ordinary guest. Bone reading is my specialty and the most reliable method of telling your fortune," Aunt Wu explained. "The bones never lie."

"Do I just… take one?"

"Yes, go on ahead. Choose wisely."

Azula grabbed a bone, feeling unexpectedly anxious. "So how does this work?"

She gestured for the princess to have a seat on one of the pillows. "After you throw the bone onto the fire, the heat will make cracks in it, and I read the bone cracks to view your destiny."

"Okay," she sighed, sitting lotus-style on a gold and brown striped pillow. She was about to toss her bone into the fire pit, but she stopped before it left her hand. "Would it… be okay if we were to use my fire instead?"

"Why, no one has ever asked for this before. And I've had visitors from all over the world, including firebenders."

"Well…?"

Aunt Wu smiled. "I think it's a stupendous idea."

Azula's eyes sparkled. Waving her arms in a sharp circular motion over her head, she turned the fire in the pit and the candles into her signature azure flames.

"Your fire is breathtaking, my dear," she marveled. "Now, before we begin I must ask, is anything troubling you? You seem to have a lot on your mind."

Normally the princess wouldn't open up so easily to a stranger, but Aunt Wu made her feel strangely comfortable. "Actually yes. You see… I feel like… like I'm being torn between two very different… pathways in life. And I'm not sure which road to take. I guess I'm just hoping to gain some insight into the pending choice looming over me."

"This wouldn't happen to have anything to do with love per chance, would it?" The fortuneteller gave her an all-knowing look.

"I'm sure everyone comes in here asking about love," she laughed. "I hate to be so… weak."

"Princess Azula, asking about love does not make you weak," she replied with empathy and wisdom. "It makes you human."

The firebender smiled at her. This was exactly what she needed to hear after her spat with her mother.

"Now what I want you to do is to think about your decision and throw your bone onto the fire."

"Okay," she exhaled. "Here we go." She tossed her bone into the pit.

After a few seconds, the bone cracked straight down the middle and then proceeded to pop and divide in distinct patterns. One of the halves curved and bent into a crescent-like shape while the other exploded and fragmented into a disordered array of shards.

"Oh my!" Aunt Woo gasped. "I do see that you have arrived at a giant fork in the road and how heavily your predicament has been weighing on you. This is a tough choice indeed. I see tremendous happiness from both sides – one, an epic romance. Soft, sweet, simple, stable. The other a torrid, tumultuous, chaotic love."

"Well? Which one do I choose?" Azula inquired, her pulse racing in her chest.

"It's not so clear," she sighed regretfully. "Both sides come with significant hardships, one more so than the other, but the path with fewer difficulties… well, that path could bring about more… grief in the long run."

The princess could tell that Aunt Wu was struggling to find the right words, as if the gray-haired woman was trying to sugarcoat something, but she thought it wise not to pry. It seemed she was not going to get the clarity she sought anyway. "So what you're saying is… neither choice is the right one."

"No, not at all, my dear! You are fortunate to have so much love in your life."

"Yes, I truly am," she whispered, beginning to feel a bit choked up.

"Princess, may I see your palm?" She extended her hand to the firebender.

Azula nodded and placed her hand face up in the fortuneteller's.

"Now I see," Aunt Wu said, tracing a curved path down the princess's palm. "You have not always had love in your life.

She shook her head, fighting back tears.

"And now here you are presented with two gentlemen vying for your heart! Life can be funny like that sometimes."

"More like cruel," Azula grumbled, pulling her hand away.

"If you choose to see it that way."

"How else could I possibly see it?"

"Well, I see it this way." Aunt Wu smiled at her. "You cannot go wrong."

She glanced at all the bone fragments scattered around the pit and then back up at the older woman.

"No matter what choice you make, it will be the right one."

A tear dripped down her cheek.

"But I'm curious about something." The fortuneteller eyed her inquisitively. "When you thought I would be able to give you a clear answer… did you have a preference?"

The firebender remained silent.

"Was there a voice calling ever-so-slightly louder for one or the other?"

She closed her eyes and nodded. Two more tears streamed down her face, which she quickly wiped away.

"Then somewhere deep down… you have already made your decision."

She nodded again, her face torn with agony. "Yes." She swallowed hard. "Yes, I have."

Sokka gave Toph a puzzled look.

She snickered. "I don't even have to see you to know you're looking at me all stupid."

"Just tell me what it is you wanted to say."

"No need to get snippy. Geesh."

"Sorry." He was dying to know what Toph knew that he didn't.

"Look… after Kori's wedding, during the party when we were playing that game…"

"Yeah…?"

She sighed. "I don't really know the best way to tell you this, so I'm just gonna come out and say it."

His stomach was doing backflips.

"During the last question, you know, the one about the desert island… Azula didn't pick Zuko. She picked you."

His heart stopped. "But… that can't be true."

"Well apparently it can be, because that's what happened – "

"But I flat out told her I knew she picked Zuko and she said, 'But how'."

"Who knows what she was gonna say – you wouldn't let her get a word in!"

"Well how can you explain that?!"

"She was probably gonna say something like…" She straightened her back and held her head high, putting on an air of haughtiness, poise, and indignance. "…'But how is that possible considering I picked you, my little wolf-fox'."

"Okay, I admit, that is a pretty good Azula impression," he chuckled.

"Seriously sometimes you two give me worse oogies than Twinkle Toes and Sugar Queen…" She smirked. "…who, from this point on, will be referred to as Twinkle Queen."

"I don't like the sound of that," he cringed, scrunching up his face.

"Well it's either that or Sugar Toes."

He blinked. "Twinkle Queen it is. But, getting back to Azula… I still don't buy it. If she really picked me, then who picked Zuko?"

Toph remained silent, fidgeting in place.

"Everyone got one vote except, well… you." His cheeks reddened with embarrassment. "So who picked Zuko?"

"Mai did."

"…What?!"

"I was just as surprised as you. Let's not forget, she was pretty drunk – "

"Mai and Kei Lo broke up that night…"

"Yeah…"

Sokka took a deep breath, unsure of what to think or say. "How do you know for sure Azula picked me? And that Mai picked Zuko? Unless…"

She grimaced.

"You could see! You could see everyone's answers the whole time!"

"Yeah… I learned a lot about everyone that night," she jeered.

"Toph, you sneaky little weasel-snake."

"So does this… change anything?"

He didn't answer.

"You said you were still trying to figure things out. Does this help?"

"Well, yes! And no… I don't know." He sighed. "This doesn't change the fact that she hesitated answering. It doesn't change what she and Zuko have – "

"Snoozles, I'm only saying this because I'm your friend. But if anyone is pushing her into Zuko's arms, it's you."

He glared at her. "How could you say that?"

"Well let's see! You started out as friends with benefits and then you started seeing other girls."

"Yeah, but I told her about – "

"Did you ever stop to think that maybe she wanted more? Maybe she wanted a commitment from the only guy she let touch her, the only guy to ever get close to her? The girl who felt that no one could ever love her."

"I – "

"What she had with Zuko wasn't real and she knew it. But now it is. Why? Because he's been there for her. Because he makes her and only her feel loved. He makes her feel important."

"And I don't?"

"Have you ever even bothered to tell her how you feel?"

"Toph…" He closed his eyes and breathed out slowly through his nose. "I've thought time and time again about telling her how I feel, but I have good reasons for keeping it to myself. And I believe I've shown her how I feel – I try to show her every time I'm with her! But when you put it like that… I feel like a complete idiot."

"And they say you were supposed to be the smart one…"

"What should I do?"

"Uhhh…"

"Tell me what I should do!"

"Afraid you're gonna have to figure this one out on your own, buddy."

"No…" He covered his eyes with his hands, letting his fingers slide down his cheeks. "I know what to do. But the real question is… what if I'm too late?"

Azula could sense immediately that something was off about Zuko after he returned to the waiting area. He was smiling politely, but she could tell it was forced. She wondered what the fortuneteller could have possibly said to him to completely change his disposition.

As obvious as it was to the princess, the Fire Lord's apprehension was entirely missed by Iroh, who had joined his niece during Zuko's reading after a full day of shopping. "Zuko! Good news!"

"What?" he asked flatly.

"I bought us all matching hats!" He grinned with pride as he distributed two identical, unflattering straw hats to the Fire siblings, matching the one currently lying atop his almost entirely bald head.

Azula flashed her brother an awkward smile as she put it on. "Would you look at that, Zuzu?" She didn't even want to think about how ridiculous she looked.

"I can hardly contain my joy," he droned, putting on the hat.

The princess couldn't help but giggle at him.

"I see you did some shopping, Uncle."

"How could you tell?" he laughed, looking around at all the bags of knickknacks by his feet. "It's been a long day. I could sure use something to eat!" He patted his belly.

Aunt Wu joined the group in the waiting room. "Why, don't you all look dapper," she smiled, seeing the family in their matching hats.

Iroh bowed to her. "It is lovely to see you again, Miss Wu."

"And you as well." She returned the bow. "If I'm not mistaken… you're the handsome gentleman who refused to hear your fortune."

"I believe there is great beauty in the unknown," he smiled. "I did not mean to offend."

"Not at all," she assured. "Did I overhear you were looking for a place to have dinner?"

"Yes! Any recommendation would be greatly appreciated."

"There's a small, cozy tavern on the north side of the village. The Winking Mongoose-Lizard has the best roast duck in town."

"I'm sold!" he exclaimed, salivating. "But my sense of direction has grown poor over the years... and I sure wouldn't mind some company from a beautiful woman such as yourself…"

Zuko and Azula looked at each other, not quite able to mask their disgust at watching the elders flirt.

"Perfect timing," Aunt Wu grinned. "I was just closing up for the day."

Iroh turned to his niece and nephew. "Will you two be so kind as to bring my belongings back to the inn?"

Azula picked up a couple of bags. "Of course, Uncle."

The Fire siblings watched Iroh and Aunt Wu exit into the blue sky.

"Well, what about us?" Zuko spat. "Don't we get to eat?"

"We can find our own dinner, Zuzu. Let's let Uncle enjoy his date."

"Fine," he huffed, picking up the remaining bags from the floor.

The two stepped out into the warm summer breeze.

"How about we drop this stuff off at the inn and then find food," the princess suggested.

"Whatever."

"I'm honestly shocked that Uncle left us alone," she laughed, trying to lighten his sour mood.

"Yeah."

"Zuko… what's wrong? Did Aunt Wu give you a bad fortune or something?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

She sighed. "Her prediction may not come true, you know."

"Knowing my luck, it will."

"I wish you'd tell me about it." She reached for his hand.

He pushed it away. "I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because I think it's about you," he thought, his chest constricting. "Because I just can't, okay?!"

She paused to think. "Well, I'm sure she must have told you something positive."

"She did," he exhaled.

"Why don't you tell me about that then?"

He nodded with a bit of reluctance, but he knew it would feel better to tell someone. "She told me that I was going to become one of the world's greatest leaders, that the Fire Nation would become prosperous and peaceful under my rule – "

"That's great news!"

" – and that my legacy would follow my footsteps."

"Your legacy," she whispered, her stomach wrenching.

"Yeah," he smiled weakly. "She said that my legacy had a very strong presence in my reading, and that…" His smile spread. "…she'll be a girl."

Overwhelmed with emotion, Azula brought her hand to her mouth before she was able to speak. "A daughter," she smiled warmly. "You're going to have a daughter!"

He nodded quickly, his smile now overtaking his features. "I can hardly believe it."

"Did she… say anything about the mother?" The words slipped out uncontrollably.

"No." He shook his head.

They arrived at the inn and set Iroh's sundry purchases, including their new hats, down on the floor against the wall.

Zuko slumped down on one of the beds.

"Don't you want to get dinner?" the princess inquired, concerned.

"Actually, I'm not that hungry."

It seemed his dispirited mood had crept back up again. She sat down next to him. "I really wish you'd talk to me."

"Fine," he groaned. It was weighing too heavily on him not to tell. "Aunt Wu said that I'm going to face a substantial tragedy, that…" He took a deep labored breath. "…I'm going to lose somebody I love."

A shiver crawled up her spine. "Zuzu," she breathed, placing an arm around his back. "That's awful. I'm so sorry."

He dropped his head into his hands and began to cry.

She hugged him tightly, laying her head on his shoulder and pulling him close against her. She held him there as he wept until the sun vanished beneath the horizon.

Author's Notes:

(1) Sorry this had to end on such a depressing note, but the chapter title is Depression after all.

(2) I must say, this was one of my favorite chapters to write. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it!

(3) This is not the last of the Ursa confrontation. Be prepared for more of that in the next chapter.