"Why didn't you tell me?" Azula asked in a demanding tone. After some search and questions she found Maitri near her and Lao's home arranging firewood. She stopped her activity and turned to her charge.

"Tell you what?" she asked in a surprised yet still friendly tone.

"About Shen. That he's..."

"Good with women? I think I strongly implied that. Did you experience it for yourself today?" she asked mischievously.

"No, not that!... I mean yes! it was nice I suppose... He held me in his arms for a moment and..." Azula noted with frustration that she was letting herself get distracted. "Why didn't you tell me he's an earthbender!?"

Maitri's smile faded and she took up a serious stance yet she spoke tenderly: "I suppose I should have told you but I didn't want you to be prejudiced against him. He had enough of that in his life. You're not the only one deserving compassion and the teachings of the mother were never supposed to be for our people alone. I just thought you deserved the chance to be with someone nice, someone who might make you happy, no matter his parentage."

"The others know as well?"

"Yes, and they had reservations about him as well but Lao convinced them all to give him a chance. After all, when the war ended he stayed here in the colonies. He chose us and I don't want him to regret that choice. Does it really bother you so much?"

Azula looked inward for a moment and considered everything that happened with Shen, the fact that she worked with earthbenders before and the fact that she was copying a scroll of their wisdom now. She finally said:

"My father would never approve."

"I know you care a lot about him and you desire his happiness... but consider yours too before you make a decision."

Azula kept silent and it was starting to soon become uncomfortable for Maitri so she continued:

"I have to confess something to you my dear and I hope you will not be angry with me for not telling you earlier. I know who you are and who your father is, Azula."

Her eyes widened with shock as she listened to those words.

"How? When? Does..."

"Lao doesn't know that I know but I figured it out. You seemed familiar from the moment I saw you. I'm from the capital, I think I even saw you once or twice while living there. When you mentioned your uncle it clicked for me. Don't mention him by name in the future or others might find out too."

"Why are you telling me this?" she demanded with strained patience. Maitri took her hand into hers and spoke:

"Because, had I just gone by the stories that you were nothing but a depraved madwoman we wouldn't be speaking together now. I gave you a chance and gained a friend. That's why I want you to be open as well, give him a chance and experience the truth for yourself."

After those words she let go and allowed Azula to gather her thoughts. They soon parted though, but with a smile. She knew she needed to give her friend space but she trusted that she would eventually make the right decision.

That night Azula dreamed, wide awake and saw the first glimmers and pieces of her father, alone in his cell, restless and miserable. She tried calling him but he didn't seem to react to her words. Instead she tried wishing him well but she lost the image of him soon after. She tried getting back to him but didn't succeed.

Not knowing what to do she started inwardly praying to Guan Yin for guidance and soon saw the image of the goddess, again bearing Maitri's face. She had the same look of tenderness and compassion as when she spoke to her earlier, calling her her friend. Azula allowed the pleasantness of the image to soother her and she fell into a deep slumber. Towards the end of her sleep she saw the smiling face of Shen.

Upon waking up she knew what Maitri would do but more importantly what she would do.

Allow herself a chance to be happy.