Chapter 36

Azula hadn't even raised an eyebrow in response to what War Minister Qin had told her a moment ago. That she had been pardoned by the Fire Lord and appointed as heir of the Crown.

If she hadn't been given the document confirming Qin's words and seen the personal seal of the Fire Lord she would have suspected a trap or a hoax. Yet she could clearly see that the seal was genuine, her execution miraculously averted and instead she had been given the highest of honours, to be the next in line to the throne.

Her dear parents would be furious, to say the least. It was a strangely pleasant thought and made her smile slightly.

"This is wonderful news, Azula!" Ty Lee chirped happily and gracefully leaped over to the unsuspecting War Minister and hugged him.

The poor man blushed like the sun and became very flustered over the breach of etiquette. Azula didn't come down on her friend immediately as she usually did when the acrobat got out of line since she herself was relieved of what just had occurred.

Ty Lee had managed to make her way to Azula's side a little while ago. She had made a tearful apology over her failure to keep their friends out of harm's way. In a way Ty Lee's failure was behind Azula's own disaster. Yet Azula could not blame someone else for her own shortcomings and she would never admit it, but it was nice to have a friend close by.

"That is enough, Ty Lee." Azula finally commanded and rose from her chair.

This was great news and with this move grandfather's powerbase would become so strong that no one would dare to challenge it. The Fire Nation would no longer be a divided nation and Fire Lord Azulon's legacy would be a strong and unified realm.

"Sokka must have had something to do with this wonderful turn of events, Azula!" Ty Lee said as she cartwheeled across the floor. She laughed happily and she actually had tears in her eyes, of all things.

Azula gave her friend a stern look but didn't have the heart to come down on her friend any further. It was hard to stay angry at a friend that was so obviously happy you didn't end up executed for treason.

Yes, Sokka most likely had something to do with convincing grandfather to change his mind. Say what you want about Sokka, he was a very resourceful man.

Heir to the throne…

Yet, it was too good to be true… Fire Lord Azulon did not possess a forgiving heart. She had seen this with her own eyes when he had his own son, her father, whipped for asking to become crown prince. Azulon had never forgiven his remaining son this offense and it was one, if not the main reason for her own family to turn on each other.

So why had her grandfather forgiven her this offense? She had rebelled after all… What were he and Sokka planning?

"The Fire Lord expects me to perform the ceremonial vows as soon as possible I am sure?" Azula gave the Minister one of her trademark smirks and her cold searching eyes made him stutter as he answered.

As everyone else, he was wary of the princess. He had known many dangerous men and women during the years but few matched Princess Azula. The young woman was still a teenager, she would become truly terrifying when all grown up…

"Ah, ah… Well, the Fire Lord is still incapacitated, your highness." The War Minister managed to begin. "It is Lord Ember that insists that the ceremony will be done as soon as possible and after we hope your highness can be of assistance with making sure the nobles sworn to Prince Ozai…"

Azula muted out Qin's monotone voice as anger and fear coursed through her body and soul. She could see it clearly now, her grandfather was not behind this move in the Great Game. No, he most likely didn't even know what was going on, incapacitated as he was. It all made sense if you really thought this through. It was all Sokka's doing, he had told the world a lie so grand that no one even considered questioning it. Just to save her…

Sokka, what have you done?

She understood Sokka's reasoning and if Azula had some time, she would bring in nearly all her father's nobles and become indispensable for her grandfather's cause. She needed to act now, not tomorrow or next week. She needed to show results immediately! If the Fire Lord became so well he could once more take part in ruling the Fire Nation, he would direct his entire wrath at Sokka when this whole situation unravelled…

Azula made up plans and contingency plans to secure her grandfather's and thus her own powerbase as she listened to War Minister Qin. Ursa would not take her daughter's rise to power lying down since Azula by this move had replaced her precious Zuko to be next in line to the throne. Her mother would make a countermove very soon, if she had not already done so. It was to be expected but she would be prepared and with the newfound power at her disposal, ready to strike back hard.

The Minister once more started to stutter and sweat as he told the princess about the current state of affairs but Azula was not aware of the cold determination that shone in her unforgiving eyes…

§§

"Azula has been proclaimed heir to the throne!" Ursa gasped in shock as she stared at Ruon-Jian, her face deathly pale and her eyes large and disbelieving.

Her lieutenant looked as usual utterly unaffected by the news he had just delivered to his liege lady. Prince Zuko, sitting by his mother's side, took the news of his sister's elevation far better. He blinked and then raised his remaining eyebrow as he silently regarded his mother's peculiar lieutenant.

"Yes, your highness." Ruon-Jian replied smoothly as if her outburst had been a question for him to answer. His smirk ever present as he delivered the news that destroyed all hope for Ursa's ambition to rule the Fire Nation. "Lord Ember made the announcement in Fire Lord Azulon's name a short while ago…" The swordmaster continued but was interrupted by an outburst from Ursa.

"She is a rebel and a traitor!" Ursa snarled, now in rage, her usual composure finally gone. "Why would Azulon allow a traitor to live and even be chosen to become his heir?" Ursa shouted angrily.

"Death is the only thing that wretched traitor deserves, her name removed from the chronicles of our family." Ursa continued in a furious outburst. She was now standing and shook with anger, her eyes wild and feral.

Ruon-Jian calmly waited until his liege lady's outburst was over, nothing seemed to faze the man. Zuko on the other hand regarded his mother in growing alarm. This was a side of her he had never seen before and it was upsetting to see. She actually wanted her own daughter executed?

"Lord Ember also declared that all nobles associated with Prince Ozai would be offered an amnesty if they swore allegiance to Princess Azula and Fire Lord Azulon." The smirking swordmaster continued as if Ursa's outburst had never occurred.

"With a few notable exceptions, of course, Admiral Zhao being among them not granted pardon." He continued, his deepening smirk fitting the ominous implication for those unfortunate to be denied an amnesty.

An oppressive silence descended upon the room, the two young men's attention firmly focused on Princess Ursa. One watched in detached curiosity and one with growing dread…

"If the old fool won't execute her for her crimes, I will." Ursa stated coldly, her eyes utterly merciless. Then she stated ominously.

"I will rule the Fire Nation and no one will be allowed to stand in my way."

§§

Sokka walked toward his quarters after a very long day. Azula had gone through the ceremony to become official heir to the Fire Nation and afterwards he and Azula had worked assiduously to convince her father's nobles to swear allegiance to her and the Fire Lord. It worked like a charm, Sokka thought with a slight smile, Azula could be very convincing after all. Not like they didn't deserve to squirm as the princess got them into line. To tell the truth, they deserved a fate far worse than that...

All in all, everything was progressing according to Sokka's plan very well indeed. Sokka had seen to the capital being secure and had made sure to confirm the loyalty of the armed forces commanders. With the royal pardon in play, nobles flocked to swear allegiance to Azula and the Fire Lord which meant that when the dust settled the faction loyal to the crown would be the strongest by far. Nothing could challenge it as long as it did not fracture.

That was Sokka's greatest concern. What would Azulon do when he found out that Sokka had not only ignored his orders but had done the exact opposite and made Azula the crown heir? Azulon might consider Sokka a friend, a close friend at that. But he was a king and a ruler above all things else and he neither could nor would forgive Sokka such a breach in loyalty.

Strangely, Sokka was not worried about his own fate. He had saved the woman he loved and most likely the world from a cruel fate and if he was executed because of it, it was all worth it. What Sokka did worry was that the Fire Lord would tear up what Sokka had done and throw the Fire Nation down a never ending spiral of war and death. And Azula would be executed.

As he approached the door to his quarters it suddenly opened and Zuko stepped out to the corridor. Sokka stopped so he wouldn't collide with the scarred prince.

Zuko didn't immediately walk away but stood with his eyes shut as he rubbed his scar. He didn't look very happy at the moment and Sokka deduced that Zuko had talked with Mai once more. That made Sokka grimace in turn, the sad situation between Mai and Zuko was just heart-breaking.

When Zuko suddenly notived that Sokka stood only a little bit away from him, he blinked a couple of times and then managed a smile.

"You look tired, Sokka." Zuko said after a little while. Sokka looked exhausted to tell the truth but it had been an eventful day after all. "You need to rest if you are to defeat my father."

Sokka made a noncommittal answer, it had just occurred to him that Zuko might be rather angry about Azula becoming heir. Would Zuko consider Sokka an enemy now?

"I admire your latest move in the Great Game, Ember." Zuko continued after the two young men had studied each other thoroughly.

"Whatever it takes, you keep your honour and stay loyal to your family and friends. I admire that greatly." Zuko continued with an inscrutable expression.

Zuko's words made Sokka blink. Zuko admired Sokka's honour and loyalty? What on earth was going on here? Before Sokka could ask, he was struck speechless as Zuko stepped up to him and clasped his shoulder.

"Stay true to yourself and be safe, Sokka." Zuko said with a sudden smile and then walked away without looking back.

Sokka was left staring after the prince. What in the blazes was that all about?

He grumbled as he entered his room. Crazy princes and royalty! Why could they just not get along like a normal family?

The room was dimly lit and Katara slept on the sofa. She had collapsed after a long day healing and caring for the wounded, she had become something like an icon for the soldiers in the palace. A plate with food made his stomach growl reminding him of how hungry he was. He made his way over but before he sat down to eat, he tenderly straightened the blanket his sister nearly had tossed to the floor.

"You finally made it back." Mai said softly from the doorway to the room she shared with Katara. She had a strange look in her eyes and she held on to an unopened envelope. Had she received that from Zuko?

"Yes, barely mind you. Remind me again why anyone wants to rule over anything?" Sokka replied somewhat ironically as he eyed the envelope.

"Azula being pardoned and elevated to heir was a surprise." Mai continued, her eyes inscrutable. Sokka knew her well enough by now that he could tell that she had her mind on something else. What had Zuko told her?

"Will she stay engaged to Chan or is that betrothal cancelled now?" Mai asked as she walked over to where Sokka stood.

The question took Sokka by surprise. He hadn't even considered that Azula's betrothal was over and done with. All thoughts of Mai's mysterious letter were gone in an instant. Immediately thoughts of what that could mean for Azula sprung into Sokka's head.

"I don't know." Sokka managed to say after a little while. "I believe she will call it off. She was only betrothed to Chan because of her father's interest to forge a bond with Zhao." Sokka mused and when Mai didn't reply he looked over to where she stood and met her eyes.

Mai had a worried look in her silver eyes as she gently stroked her belly. With Azula as crown heir Sokka no longer needed Mai's child for his ploy to keep Ozai or Ursa from power. The more she had thought about it, it was in the best interest of the Fire Lord to make sure Azula wed Sokka.

"I will not break our engagement, Mai." Sokka said and interrupted her spiralling thoughts. She looked at Sokka and felt comforted by his gentle smile.

"I will not abandon you or your child. I could never do that to us." Sokka continued and gently stroked her cheek and then embrace her.

Mai felt relief surge through her body after Sokka's words. She had steeled herself to the outcome of being tossed aside once more. He was the only one that hadn't let her down and she trusted him completely. If Sokka left her now, it would break her.

Mai had never been one to enjoy closeness but Sokka's embraces were very comforting.

After she left Sokka so he could eat she put Zuko's unopened envelope on her nightstand. She was not ready to read it just yet.

§§

"I know I made some bad choices, but today I'm going to set things right." The words were spoken softly yet held strong conviction.

Zuko looked down on the painting depicting his uncle Iroh and then picked up his swords and a small bag of supplies. With a final glance around his opulent quarters Zuko pulled the hood of his cloak over his head and exited his room.

For the first time in what felt forever Zuko walked with purpose in mind, every step he took made him breathe easier. This was the right path. Long had he searched for it, he had been lost for such a long time.

He stopped outside an imposing door. He might carry a scar that would forever define him to the world, and he had decided to uphold it for what it was, a token for saving a friend and thus something to be proud of. A badge of honour that said he was a good man with a just soul.

This was his defining moment.

"I am ready to face you." Zuko said and opened the door and entered.

Zuko stepped into a large room adorned with beautiful wall-hangings.

"Prince Zuko, what are you doing here?" Princess Ursa said and looked up from drinking tea. She had several guests that all looked between their official liege lord and the one that actually pulled the strings. When Zuko didn't immediately answer, Ursa spoke up again.

"Why are you here?"

"I am here to tell the truth." Zuko stated grimly and gave his mother a steely look.

"Telling the truth during the middle of a crisis, this should be interesting." Ursa replied with a hint of sardonic smile. Then she made a small gesture that made her guests immediately bow low and leave the room.

"First of all, I will recognize Mai's child as mine." Zuko said matter-of-factly when they were alone, his eyes had never left his mother's.

"Why would you do that?" Ursa asked softly as she wondered where this conversation was heading. Zuko was behaving quite irrationally after all.

"Because it is the honourable thing to do, something I should have done from the very beginning instead of hurting the one I love most of all." Zuko continued in a voice that grew stronger ever so slowly.

"I denounce you, mother." Zuko said in an intense voice. There was no turning back after this. "I no longer seek the throne."

"What stupidity is this?" Ursa said harshly and surged to her feet, her eyes blazing.

"You will not do any of those things, foolish boy. Do I make myself clear?" Ursa snarled in anger as she looked down on her son from the dais where she had been seated.

"That's another thing, I am not taking orders from you anymore." Zuko stated as his mother's wrath washed over him.

"You will obey me or you will regret this defiant attitude until you die." Ursa said menacingly. For such a slight woman she was intimidating…

Zuko did not let that affect him though as he stood strong and refused to let his mother's anger upset him in this defining moment. With a sharp gesture he dismissed his mother's threat making her sit down once more and glare at him. In so many ways his heart was breaking since she had been at his side all his life. He had loved her dearly, she was his mother after all. But he was done being dishonourable, he needed to do the right thing by himself, his friends and to Mai and his unborn child.

"Think again, I will speak my mind and you will listen." Zuko told his mother, his back straight and head held high.

"For so long all I wanted was for you to love me. I thought it was the throne I wanted but really I was just trying to please you." Zuko explained, still eerily calm.

"You, my mother that hurt and drove away the woman I love. You, my mother who knows that Mai carries my unborn child." Zuko said strongly and pointed at his mother.

"How could you possibly justify an action like that?" Zuko demanded of his mother. Ursa looked down coldly on her firstborn.

"It was to give you a chance to become Fire Lord." Ursa answered evenly.

"It was cruel and it was wrong!" Zuko's reply came fast and strong.

"Then you have learned nothing!" Ursa's answered and her voice held no inkling of remorse.

"No, I learned everything!" Zuko stated and his voice carried his conviction. "And I had to learn by observing how my friend acted to keep the woman I love safe after I treated her despicably."

"Growing up, I was taught that I would become a just and fair leader and ruler." Zuko said and sadness tinged his voice now. "Yet you and father all but destroyed any chance of that. At least Azula has someone that cares for her enough to challenge heaven and earth for her. I could have had someone like that but your power mongering ruined what little chance of happiness I had."

Ursa regarded her son during his passionate speech and then gave him a contemptuous laugh.

"You believe your kind-hearted sister will rule our nation better than us?" Ursa asked when her laugh had subsided.

"Yes, she will." Zuko answered with a small smile.

Mother and son glared at each other in oppressive silence.

"After I leave here today I will beg Mai and my friends for forgiveness, they are the ones who have been a real family to me." Zuko told his mother evenly.

"That's just beautiful." Ursa scoffed and continued derisively. "Maybe you can play house with them while our beloved nation crumbles in the hands of Azula and a foreigner."

"But I have come to an even more important decision." Zuko continued and ignored Ursa's harsh jibe.

The prince made a small pause before looking up at his mother.

"I will acknowledge Azula as the crown heir and I will support her as my future Fire Lord." Zuko said calmly, it was the right thing to do, after all.

"Really?" Ursa replied with a malicious smile, one she maintained as she continued. "Since you are a full blown traitor now and want me gone, why wait? I am powerless. You got your swords. Why don't you strike me down now so I never can interfere in your life again? Because I will…"

Zuko gave his mother a cold look.

"Because I know my own destiny and taking you down is not for me to do." Zuko answered and with a last look on the woman he had adored and loved, he turned to leave.

"Goodbye."

The word rang with finality. He was done with his mother.

As Zuko walked out of her quarters, Ursa jumped to her feet once more. Her furious cries followed him out.

"Coward! You will regret this, Zuukoo!"

§§

The blue fire curtain made the throne room even more imposing, if that was possible. Nearly all of the supplicants asking or ordered to attend had been impressed or awed by her blue flames.

As it should be.

Azula looked down on her betrothed and former co-conspirator who grovelled before the throne, Lieutenant Chan and smirked in pleasure. This was a moment she could not help to enjoy, the fool had been such an embarrassment that she wondered at times if he were mentally challenged.

"My princess," Chan said weakly, his voice pitched several octaves higher because of fear. He was so frightened that he could not look at her. His eyes were glued to the floor and he was sweating profoundly, that she could tell by looking at him.

"I plead for mercy for my participation in the Ozai-rebellion and I humbly ask to be allowed to swear fealty to the Crown." Chan managed to say without a stutter, a feat in itself in Azula's book.

"Well, well, well…" Azula purred in wicked delight as she played with her betrothal bracelet. Sokka had admonished her for toying with some of her father's more prominent and dangerous followers yesterday but they needed to understand where their loyalties now lay. Sokka was a brilliant player in the Great Game and on par with Azula herself in many ways but he lacked her ruthlessness.

If you wanted former untrustworthy nobles to stay in line when you couldn't have an eye on them you needed to gain their loyalty. And fear was an excellent tool if you knew how to wield it. And Azula was a master in that regard after all, perhaps the very best. She would have to make an example of some nobles to show the others what happened when you even considered making trouble for the Fire Lord and, most importantly, to her.

"The Crown needs to consider carefully when one so prominent member of the rebellion asks for mercy." Azula replied in a light voice as she pretended to regard her nails. Of course, the irony of what she was saying was not lost on her. But she got the reaction she wanted from her dear betrothed…

"I don't understand. You were a prominent member of…" Chan said and did the mistake of looking up. Azula gave him a smirk that held so much dark amusement that the poor man stuttered and fell silent without even uttering a word. How he feared her!

"I am royalty, Lieutenant Chan." Azula said softly, every syllable conveying how dangerous she was. "Do not presume that you are my equal, lieutenant, you never will be." Azula stated and could not help but relish in his fear of her.

Chan had forgotten about the small crowd of nobles behind him and watching his mounting humiliation. He was focused on one thing only and that was the demon cast in blue light that sat on the throne dais before him and had his life in her palm. If he got away from this alive, he would never set foot in the palace ever again!

"Of course I am not!" Chan hastened to say and bowed low once more. "I would be more than happy to cancel our betrothal…"

"Are you going back on your vows to me?" Azula interrupted him with a cold voice enough to make him shiver in fear.

Azula raised her hand to look at the betrothal bracelet he had given her in what seemed a lifetime ago. Then she gave him a smile.

"Perhaps an oath breaker like you is so untrustworthy, the only choice I have is to order your execution?" Azula asked menacingly. The only sound that could be heard in the large room was the sound of blue flames…

"Azula, I…" Chan managed to say before Azula continued as if Chan never had spoken.

"You disgrace me, Lieutenant, very much so." Azula continued as she gazed down on the young man she had despised from the very beginning.

To Chan she looked like a demon, how could he ever have believed her to be submissive? He would die, his death sentence would be announced and his life would be forfeit. He didn't want to die!

"Please have mercy! Princess, please…" Chan begged before his voice broke down.

Azula coldly looked down on her sobbing would-be husband.

"You are pathetic." Azula stated and tore of the betrothal bracelet and with a contemptuous flick threw the two broken pieces in front of her now former fiancé.

"You will be imprisoned until the Crown decides your fate." Azula commanded and two guards took the snivelling noble by the arms and carried him to his confinement.

She would let him stew for a couple of days and then make him an offer he could not refuse. He would have to cede the majority of his and his uncle's holdings to the Crown in exchange for his life. The word would spread and the other nobles would stay in line. Perhaps she ought to banish him to drive the lesson home? That was worth some consideration.

"What a wonderful display of cunning and skill." Someone interrupted Azula's contemplation.

That someone was her mother, Princess Ursa.

The two powerful women looked at each other for a long time before Ursa made a perfect bow to the crown princess. Ursa's kind smile did not reach her eyes.

"You have always known how to make the world fear you, Azula." Ursa continued and her smile deepened a little.

Azula felt her hackles rise… Her mother's perfect display, her smile and her words were inconspicuous but Azula noticed the mocking tone behind them. So, Ursa had finally come out and was about to strike back?

Azula needed to tread lightly, her mother was a very dangerous opponent. And even if Zuko had abandoned their mother's cause, Ursa would never give up without a fight. Suddenly Azula remembered a comment that Sokka had said some time ago, that Azula and Ursa were very much alike. That comment had infuriated her then but now, looking into those pitiless golden eyes of her mother, Azula could understand Sokka's comparison.

"Thank you, mother." Azula replied and continued with a smirk. "I have always valued your honest opinion."

They both knew that was a lie.

"I was pleased with Prince Zuko's decision to publicly endorse me as the crown heir." Azula continued, her smile deepening. "Have you come to make the same endorsement, mother?"

The answer to this question was what the entire Caldera was occupied with since Zuko's very surprising announcement earlier today. They had all been taken by surprise by her brother's action. Several nobles had followed Zuko's example but Ursa and a majority of her followers had stayed silent on the subject. Whatever Ursa did today, her faction was weakened but far from defeated.

Mother and daughter stared at each other for a long while, the tension in the large room was heavy enough to reach out and touch.

"If the Fire Lord has chosen Princess Azula to be his heir I too recognize my daughter as the legitimate heir of the Fire Nation." Ursa announced loudly, her back straight and her kind smile still in place.

A soft sound of sighs echoed through the throne room as the small gathering of officials and nobles breathed out in relief. They thought it was all over and that Ursa had given up her quest for the throne. As Azula looked deep into her mother's merciless eyes, she knew the fight had only begun.

"I look forward to when Fire Lord Azulon formally acknowledges Princess Azula as his heir." Ursa continued and her smile was no longer kind. No one but Azula could see how Ursa's eyes glittered with suppressed excitement and how her smile held a sneering quality to it.

So, her mother suspected that Azulon hadn't appointed her as crown heir. This was not good but hardly anything Ursa could do anything about at the moment.

"I am most pleased by my mother's wise decision to acknowledge Fire Lord Azulon's resolution to make our beloved Nation strong and unified once more." Azula declared in a strong voice. It was expected of her after all.

Ursa basked in the cheers from the small crowd and took the opportunity to say some words to her daughter that only they could overhear.

"We both know Azulon would never forgive treason, he had his own son flogged for overstepping his place for a far lighter crime." Ursa said in a voice that didn't carry and her eyes glittered with supressed hatred.

"I will make sure your victory will be turned to ashes around you, my dear daughter." Ursa continued and with a smirk that could have been Azula's own her mother glanced at the place where Sokka would sit on the throne dais.

Sudden fear made Azula want to lash out at her mother. The fire curtain blazed for a moment before Azula reigned in her emotions. A childish outburst would only weaken her now, Azula needed to stand strong and counter her mother's schemes some other way. Yet if she hurt Sokka in any way Azula would burn her alive…

"Your desperation is pitiful to watch." Azula replied with a smirk of her own. She would not be rattled by Ursa's barbs, if everything went according to plan, Ursa would soon be banished from the Fire Nation or, better yet, imprisoned for her crimes.

"I look forward to the day I send you on your way, dear mother." Azula continued.

Mother and daughter stared at each other, their hate for each other only noticeable by each other.

Their glare was suddenly interrupted by someone running down toward the throne dais. Why was Ty Lee interrupting her in the middle of a meeting? The thought was fleeting and it was gone in an instant when Azula saw the fear that played over her features, this could not be good news!

Ty Lee performed a hasty bow and started speaking against protocol.

"Sokka has been challenged to a duel!" Ty Lee's desperate words echoed in the vast chamber.

So that was her scheme! Azula rose rigidly, her eyes blazing with fury at Ursa.

§§

Zuko stood on the stern of "The Flying Goose" and watched as his home and his Nation grew smaller in the distance. He felt sadness over his departure, he left so much behind. Yet this was the right thing to do, he knew that in his heart. He had lost himself and he had hurt the people he loved dearly. To leave was the only course of action he could take, he needed to regain his honour and he could not do that at home.

It was time for him to stand on his own and face the world head on, just like his Uncle Iroh had done in his youth. Out there lay his destiny, he could feel it in his soul.

"Take care of my nation and our friends, Sokka." Zuko whispered softly, a small smile graced his lips.

"Did you say something, my Lord?" The captain of "The Flying Goose" asked politely. The captain was a burly native from the Earth kingdom that called several ports his home and had been very pleased to accommodate a prince from the Fire Nation.

When Zuko shook his head the captain once more focused to bring out more speed from the sleek ship. Zuko felt water sprinkle on his face and he turned to watch to where they were headed instead. There was nothing but an empty ocean of course but for the first time in what felt forever, Zuko felt content and at peace with the world.

He had decided to live his life on his own terms and it felt wonderful.

§§

Author's notes:

If I had given names to my chapters, this would have been titled: "Zuko's redemption"

The dialogue between Zuko and Ursa is taken, as much as it was possible, from the dialogue between Zuko and Ozai that took place in the episode "The Day of Black Sun" part 2. Zuko needed to break free and the scene from "The Day of Black Sun" is intense and very good.

You can find quite a lot of great stuff from that particular episode. This is where Sokka confronts Azula for real and shoves her up against a wall. That scene made me a Sokkla-fan, that much I can confess!:)

And you have one of the series best Azula-scene when she is told to tell the truth…

"Stop wasting our time and give us the information. You're powerless right now, so you're in no position to refuse." (Sokka)

"And stick to the truth, I will be able to tell if you are lying!" (Toph)

"Are you sure? I am a pretty good liar. I am four hundred foot tall purple platypus bear with pink horns and silver wings." (Azula)

"...Okay, you're good. I admit it." (Toph)

I hope you enjoyed this chapter!:)