Hey, guys! It's time for another chapter.
To begin with I'll say that we are right on the edge of the battle we're all waiting for. It's the last calm before the storm. I'm very much looking forward to seeing what you guys think of the ending.
Of course, I will add that this is not the end just yet. I have at least one planned sequel to this, probably two. So the saga of Azula does not cease with this story.
But enough of my vague hints haha. Review time.
erikavatar- Yeah it was kind of a loophole to prevent Aang from having to break his principles but it was still good in my opinion. Of course, this story focuses on Azula so I'm going to leave what happens up to the imagination...for now haha. As for who will be Fire Lord, you're going to find out this chapter.
FuryJoe- Thank you!
AzureTemplar3535- Thank you very much for sticking with the story pretty much the entire way through! I think the island is supposed to have a shroud of mystery or some magic behind it that prevents it from being found but that's just me. Not sure on June just yet but I do agree that someone with knowledge of geo-politics will be needed to help rebuild the world and I think I know just the Fire Nation Princess to do so. I disagree on the last part. The Fire Nation wasn't going to hang on to territory illegally gained once the war was lost.
abracursix- She is and it's a positive sign to see but her drive and ambition remain the same. She just has nowhere to channel it, or rather she does for now. After the war is a different story.
Matheus Bezerra de Lima- No worries, man! Believe me, I understand how it feels to wait endlessly for a story to update. Azula may have changed in terms of how she views people close to her, but the fundamental utilitarian philosophy has remained. It's natural for her to think of pacifism as utter bullshit haha.
IChangedMyNane990- Thank you, as always!
Guest- It would be poetic to see Azula give her father comeuppance, however, sometimes things don't always work out that way. I think Azula would benefit from forging her own path towards peace rather than inflicting more pain on people, even if that person is Ozai. Might have given away too much there but you'll see what I mean in the next few chapters. Thank you, as always!
Luna Lillyth- Emotions can fun but also tricky haha. It's interesting, you forget sometimes that there's only a year or two difference between Azula and Aang, given that one acts far beyond her age and one acts exactly his age. The contrast is quite easy to see.
UnOriginal2Tall- Azula definitely needed a heart to heart with Mai and Ty Lee. I like to think of it as the moment where she officially stops seeing them as servants and as true friends. And as for after the war, you're going to find out very soon.
GNTR96- Good to see you as always my friend. Thank you for the kind words.
mdelau4- I am glad that scene lived up to expectations:) it was a very important one to write. Haha I think you're going to be quite amused with June's reaction towards Zuko and company. She's not intimidated by much and I don't expect that to change.
The Rhombus- Azula does care. Even in the show I think she always did but never had a means to show it. Even if it was buried very deeply on the inside. She still has quite a lot to learn though, as evidenced by her feelings on the Avatar and her murderous thoughts towards Ozai. Even if I sympathize there is a deeper lesson here. You'll see what I mean in this chapter and the latter ones.
It's always a joy to respond to you guys. Thank you again for your support.
Now, onwards!
Chapter 25. A Visit to the White Lotus
Sokka looked on with a mixture of interest and apprehension as June went back to her seat and kicked up her feet.
"Hey, I remember her. She helped you attack us."
"Yup, back in the good old days," Zuko half joked.
As he and the group approached her, Azula gave her own look of interest.
"You really must regale me on some of your exploits, Zuko. It seems you led an interesting life while you were away."
He gave a non-committal snort in response, choosing to focus on the task at hand.
June didn't look up upon their arrival to her table but apparently she didn't need to, greeting them irreverently.
"Oh, great it's prince pouty. Where's your creepy grandpa?"
"He's my uncle," Zuko corrected. "And he's not here."
June's gaze shifted towards Azula, her expression mildly interested.
"You two have a strong resemblance. Which member of the family did you bring this time?"
"His sister," Azula said politely but curtly. "Princess Azula of the Fire Nation."
"I hope you're easier to deal with than Mr. Happy, here."
"You have no idea," Azula said, her tone neutral but also indicating she was not someone to take lightly. Whether the bounty hunter caught on or not she didn't know as her eyes found their way towards Katara.
"I see you worked things out with your girlfriend."
The denials were immediate.
"I'm not his girlfriend!"
"She's not my girlfriend!"
Mai stepped in now, not looking angry, but letting her presence known as she grabbed Zuko's arm.
"That distinction, belongs to me."
"Okay, okay, lighten up I was only teasing," June backtracked. She sipped her drink and got down to business.
"So what do you want?"
"We need your help finding the Avatar," Zuko replied immediately.
"Doesn't sound like much fun," June sassed.
"Fun, doesn't really matter much when our father, Fire Lord Ozai, is about to unleash untold devastation on the world," Azula said, her patience for this person already wearing thin. "Can you help us or not?"
"That depends, princess pushy," came the sassy reply.
"On?"
"Money and asking me nicely. Yeesh, are all you Fire Nation types so serious and angry?"
Ty Lee perked up her head.
"Well actually…"
"Don't answer her," Zuko cut in, giving a deep sigh. "Look, what my sister is trying to say is that we're pretty pressed for time. A comet is arriving in less than two days that will allow the Fire Nation to wipe out not only this town, but the entirety of the Earth Kingdom and its inhabitants. We don't have much money, but if we stop my father and make it through, one of us will become the next Fire Lord, and we would pay you handsomely for this personal favor."
June considered this and Azula wondered what would win out: her desire for personal enrichment or Zuko's combination of personal appeal and enticement. In any other moment she would have likely respected, even admired, this woman's ambition and independent spirit. Now, it was merely another hurdle they had to clear in order to find the Avatar.
If we find him
"Alright, your highness, you got yourself a deal. Can't make a living if everything's burned down. If what you say is true, anyway."
"It is," Zuko asserted grimly. "We wouldn't have traveled all this way if it wasn't."
"Fair enough, I suppose," June shrugged. "Alright follow me."
The group exited the tavern outside to wear Appa and the shirshu were having a growling battle of sorts…until the Flying Bison gave an affectionate lick and all previous hostility forgotten.
"Nyla!" June said lovingly, coaxing her creature with a fresh pound of meat. She affectionately cuddled the beast, until she had to duck to avoid its poisonous appendage.
"Whoa there!"
"I've never seen one of those things before," Ty Lee observed. "What's up with its tongue?"
"Apparently it has toxins that can paralyze its victims for extended periods of time," Azula explained to her. "It can also track its prey through sense of smell. Shirsus have the best noses in the world."
"I can vouch for that," Sokka verified. "Couldn't move for half an hour. Not fun."
June interrupted the conversation by asking for something with the Avatar's scent.
"Try Aang's staff," Katara offered, tossing the relic down from Appa's saddle.
The creature took a sniff and began to pace around, first in one direction then in another. It repeated this pattern of movement for another minute or so before giving up entirely in a whimper.
"Well, what does that mean?" Zuko asked, crossing his arms.
"It means your friend is gone."
"We know he's gone, that's why we're trying to find him," Toph sassed.
"No, I mean he's gone, gone," June said. "It means he doesn't exist."
The collective stomach of the group dropped a couple of notches. Sokka looked utterly bamboozled.
"What do you mean he doesn't exist?"
"Do you mean he's dead?" Mai asked. The group looked at her after this remark.
"What? Everyone's thinking it."
"Nope," June said to everyone's relief as she patted her pet's nose. "We could find him if he were dead. Real headscratcher…see ya."
As she climbed to the top of the saddle, Azula couldn't help but feel this was all for naught. What was the point of jeopardizing their plan by coming all this way to find out the Avatar had not only disappeared but didn't exist?
"Well that was helpful," she remarked acidly.
"Wait, I have another idea," Zuko said, stopping June from taking off. "There's only one other person in this world who could help us face the Fire Lord."
It didn't take longer than a second for Azula to know who he was referring to.
"Oh, Agni, Zuko, you don't mean-"
"I know you're not fond of uncle, Azula. But right now, he's the best chance we've got. And this is the only way to find him."
The princess did not protest but pursed her lips in disapproval. The last thing she wanted to do was to see the tea loving former general, however, it seemed that they were out of options. Loathe as she was to admit, he was a powerful bender, perhaps the only one with the know how and skill to take down their father.
That didn't mean she was happy about the prospect of a reunion.
Zuko came back with a smell sample, which happened to be an old sandal that stank to high heaven, causing everyone minus Toph to either hold their noses or retch.
"That's awful!" Suki said through her pinched nose.
"You saved your uncle's sweaty sandal?" Sokka said, mortified.
"I think I'm going to barf," Mai remarked, covering her entire mouth with her hands.
"Well, I think it's kind of sweet," Toph said with a smirk, not bothered at all by the fly ridden garment.
Holding it up to the shirshu, it took one sniff before being able to find the trail.
"Let's do this," June said to them. And without wasting another moment, she turned the beast around, its speed so quick, Team Avatar had to hop on Appa with haste just to keep up.
"Wait!"
With Zuko at the reins, they flew faster than they ever had before, hoping to reach wherever Iroh was before it was too late.
The journey was long and it took the course of almost an entire day. Appa followed the Shirsu over rugged hills, small mountains, forests, grasslands, almost every kind of terrain imaginable. Azula was no expert on Earth Kingdom geology but she knew the direction they were headed in. Seeing the ruined walls of the capital only confirmed what she had suspected all along.
"Ba Sing Se," she said aloud. The site of her greatest triumph. A city under Fire Nation control because of her. Once, she would have beamed with pride over that fact. Now, it was just awkward.
"My uncle is here?" Zuko asked, not daring to believe it.
Indeed, there were several unanswered questions. The first of which being what Iroh was doing near the bulk of the occupational army and why.
"He's somewhere beyond that wall," June replied, her creature scratching against the rock. "Nyla's getting twitchy so he can't be too far. Good luck," she added with a genuine smile.
Without another word, she turned tail and beat a hasty retreat out of sight.
Exiting the saddle, which at this point, was only just big enough to accommodate them all, the group felt exhausted. Travel days were never pleasant, no matter what the circumstance.
"We should get some rest," Zuko said to the agreement of everyone else. "It's been a long day."
It didn't take long for everyone to fall into a deep sleep. All except Azula, who remained wide awake.
Why? Why had all of the things she had gone through led up to this moment? The idea of seeing her uncle again didn't scare her, but something else did. Tossing and turning, Azula realized that it wasn't the potential battle with her father that gave cause for fear, but what he represented: her old life, her old ways, her insatiable lust for power and control. It would be like looking into a mirror. The princess was still unsure what kind of person would emerge from the ashes of the war but squaring off against the old version was terrifying. How would she react? Would old temptations resurface? What was left of her old identity that was worth saving?
It was a familiar dilemma, one becoming more common for her. Fear racked her body while being powerless to prevent its infection from spreading to her mind.
Don't be afraid, Azula, came the soothing whisper of her mother.
Great, more hallucinations, Azula thought sourly.
Do not fear your father, it came again.
"Yeah, that's great, mother. How?"
So wrapped up in her own head she was, that she hadn't realized that had been spoken aloud. Azula gave a deep breath as she looked up towards the moonlit sky. Was the madness returning? Would she lose her sanity in the quest to end the war not only on the outside, but on the inside?
Just then, Toph emerged from her earthbending tent, an alarmed look on her face.
"Someone's coming!"
But it was too late. A wave of fire erupted, surrounding their camp with little to no chance of escape.
"Stay behind me!" she said to Ty Lee and Mai, shielding them with her arms as she adopted an attack stance. Zuko, Katara, Sokka, and Suki also took fighting positions, but they needn't have worried, for upon closer inspection, several familiar faces stood upon the edge of the ruined walls, all wearing the same garb- a blue cloak, complete with white trimming on the edges. Azula only recognized three of the four that bore down on them, but it was enough to know they weren't enemies.
"Well…look who's here," an old man with a cackling voice, laughed insanely.
Azula's heart sank, her fear turning to annoyance.
If the Mad King of Omashu was here, Agni only knew who else they'd run into.
As it turned out, they hadn't just run into any old group of old folks- they were masters and exceptionally powerful. To begin with there was Bumi, the man the Fire Nation had imprisoned in a box of metal to prevent him from using his earthbending. Apparently he had escaped on the day of the eclipse and had taken the city back all by himself, a fact that he was most pleased with. Azula kept her distance from the King. The twinkling eyes and permanent leer on his face was offputting to the say the least. She felt as though he were assessing her in his own whacked out way.
Next was a man she had never seen or heard of before, a water bending master from the Northern Tribe named Pakku, who had taught Katara and apparently was engaged to their grandmother. Go figure.
She was well aware of Jeong Jeong, the famous Fire Nation general who had deserted after losing his nerve to fight, or at least that's how her father had phrased it. At the time, she had thought that to be the height of dishonor, now there was nothing she could say to him without coming off as a complete hypocrite. In her homeland she too was probably on a wanted poster somewhere.
The last was a man that had actually visited the Fire Nation palace on many occasions, Piando, the famous swordmaster who also had been a great war hero at one time during his younger days. He was the one responsible for training Zuko years ago in his youth, and at the time it was the only skill he surpassed her in.
After the exchange of greetings, the masters led the way back to their main camp, which was just outside of Ba Sing Se.
"So wait…how do you guys all know each other?" Suki asked, as they made their way up the hill.
"All old people know each other, don't you know that?" Bumi responded, the gleam in his eyes never ceasing.
"We're all part of the same ancient, secret society that transcends the divisions of the four nations," Piando explained.
"The Order of the White Lotus," Zuko guessed correctly.
"That's the one!"
"And I take it our uncle is a member," Azula surmised. "No wonder he favored that tile so much."
"That's right," Piando nodded. "And not only that but a grand elder."
"About a month ago, a call went out that we were needed for something important," Jeong Jeong said.
"It came from your uncle," Pakku said to the two Fire Nation siblings. "Iroh of the Fire Nation."
"That's who were looking for," Toph said brightly.
"He's in the main camp," Piando informed them. "Probably sleeping, but nevertheless I'm guessing he'll want to speak to you as well…for more reasons than one."
His eyes lingered for a small second on the princess, who suspected Iroh not only expected their arrival but had informed the rest of the White Lotus of her desertion. But how had he come to know that? Perhaps this society had some means of attaining certain information? That was the only reason why they weren't attacking her right now.
After about a ten minute walk, the group arrived at the camp which had a clear eyed view of the wall as well as protection from any suspecting onlookers, as it was hidden by multiple trees and protruding rocks.
"Here we are!" Bumi said cheerily. "Old people camp!"
"We will set you up with proper tents so you can rest for the night," Pakku said. "I'll direct you all to your lodgings."
But Zuko had other thoughts on his mind.
"Where…where is he?" he asked, everyone knowing full well who he was asking about.
"Your uncle is in there, Prince Zuko," Piando gestured towards the main tent, one that was slightly bigger than the rest.
Most of the gang headed off to bed, but the prince headed straight towards his uncle's tent, pausing before the entering the flaps and then retreating.
Azula looked at Mai and Ty Lee.
"Go ahead and sleep. I'll join you in a few minutes."
They obliged while the princess walked over to her brother, who's head hung low, his face full of shame.
"I know what you're thinking, Zuko," she said to him.
"No, you don't."
"Really? We came all this way to find uncle and you don't think it's obvious you want to see him?"
"I'm not sure I want to see him or not," he responded quietly. "He hates me, I know it."
"He doesn't hate you."
"Azula, he gave me all the love and support in the world, and I turned against him!"
His sister looked at him intently. She knew dissuading her stubborn sibling of anything was no easy task, but for his own peace of mind he had to realize that his misgivings were not rooted in reality.
"He's going to forgive you. He knows you're on the right side now."
"You think?"
"The fact that I wasn't apprehended on the spot means he must know what's happened since the day of the eclipse. Zuko, he's always liked you and he's not one to hold a grudge."
He appeared to consider this for a moment before turning back to Azula.
"I still need to face him."
"You can do that in the morning. You said yourself it's been a long day. Come back to the tent. Don't stress out over it."
"You're being surprisingly supportive."
"I'm being logical, dum-dum," she teased. "The important thing is, we found him. Tomorrow, we'll talk."
Zuko nodded, finally being convinced of her sensibility.
"What about you, though?"
"What about me?"
"You don't like him, Azula but he's going to want to see you too."
She snorted loudly.
"And why would he want to see me?"
"Don't forget, you're on the right side now too," Zuko told her. "We both left the Fire Nation. When father is defeated, we're all a part of what comes next."
Azula could see that point. But she was too exhausted to think about it much right now.
"Come on, let's get some sleep."
Zuko nodded. Though the battle had yet to come, the implications of it were already being played out. But first, he needed his uncle's forgiveness.
He just wondered if his sister would be willing to let go of her past just as he had.
Opening the tarp and settling down on a thin cloth, the prince fell into a dreamless sleep.
Azula awoke the next morning by the sound of a White Lotus solider opening her tent.
"Princess Azula," came the formal greeting.
"That's my name," she said yawning. "What do you want?"
"Your uncle seeks your presence in his tent."
Though usually an early riser, she could still feel the exhaustion in her bones from the previous day's travel and did not feel the need to indulge Iroh at the moment.
"Tell my uncle I'm not his dog to summon as he likes. I'll keep sleeping, thank you very much."
The solider bowed slightly.
"My apologies princess. This was not an order. It was merely a request sent by the Grand Master of the White Lotus. Your brother, Prince Zuko, was requested as well. He mentioned it was best that he speaks to both of you at the same time."
Groaning, the princess slowly arose from the hard earth she had slept on most of the night. She supposed her uncle would corner her sooner or later, probably best to get this over with though she loathed the idea of having to see him at all.
"Tell him I'll be there in a few minutes."
Indeed, a few minutes was all she needed to dress herself and do her hair in a makeshift topknot, though it was certainly far from the standard she was used to. Stepping outside, she took in the morning for the first time, covering her eyes from the sheer brightness.
"Morning, Azula," Ty Lee greeted cheerfully, before taking lopsided glance at her friend. "Wow, you must've woken up on the wrong side of the bed. Your hair is everywhere."
"Yes, thank you, Ty Lee."
Just then, Toph interrupted.
"Breakfast is at the center of camp," she told them. "Sokka made some pretty good jerky actually."
"Would love to indulge, but apparently my uncle needs me to pay him a visit."
"Zuko too," Ty Lee informed them, though the princess already knew this. "Mai had to calm him down before going into the tent. He was a wreck over it."
"Yes, well, I don't plan to give him a sob story when I see him," the princess said defensively. "There's nothing I have to say."
Toph gave a small snort, indicating her disbelief.
"I can tell you're lying, princess," she said in her usual straightforward manner.
"You seem so sure you know me."
"I never said that. But I don't need to listen to your heartbeat to know you've got some stuff to get off your chest. After everything you've been through, who wouldn't?"
There were points in talking with the earthbender that Azula almost felt like they were kindred spirits in a way. In another life, they might have been the best of friends. She could appreciate her willingness not to beat around the bush, her raw power, along with her brand of wit that went beyond that of most earthbenders. But that didn't mean she had a clue about anything in her life and what she faced.
"Like I mentioned to you at that play, the guy just wants what's best for you. I'm sure whatever he has to say is important."
Ty Lee clutched her hands in an affectionate gesture.
"You do need to see him," she said gently but seriously. "Zuko was right. He may be the only hope in winning the war and what we should do next."
Indeed, that was the only reason Azula was indulging the former "royal, tea loving, kookiness," as she had put it when she was eight years old. Another part of her past to put behind her, but with more uncertainty to follow.
"I'll see you in a little while," she responded while beginning her trek. "Save some breakfast for me. Minus the jerky."
Reaching Iroh's tent was a short distance. She figured that Zuko must already be inside, as Ty Lee mentioned he had been awake a couple hours prior.
Though her brother would be by her side, it was a small comfort. Her lowly opinion of Iroh had blinded her to the fact that the man was just as cunning and perceptive as any among the Royal Family.
No longer.
Go in my child, her mother spoke to her.
Though ignoring the voices for now, Azula took a deep breath.
Well, you wanted me, uncle. Here I am.
Entering the tent, the sight that greeted her was one of relative tranquility and ease. Her uncle was fixing a pot of tea, to no great surprise, with a small hum and a smile on his face. True to her prediction, Zuko was there as well, sitting patiently as he waited for the tea to reach the right temperature. Even so, the peaceful scene did not put her troubles at bay. There was a lot of baggage lying underneath this meeting, and everyone knew it.
"Hello, Princess Azula," her uncle received in his usual warm, kindly manner. "Please, sit down."
She didn't reciprocate the friendly greeting, instead choosing to give a small nod and accept the offer to sit. Looking over at her brother, she saw that his good eye was a tad red and more than bit puffy.
Oh for crying out loud, Zuko. You didn't get down on your knees and beg from the man, did you?
But she could have guessed that's exactly what happened. Zuko's attachment to their uncle ensured it. The real question was, what did he want from her?
"Thank you for coming, both of you," Iroh continued. "Please, have some tea."
Zuko readily took his cup, but Azula hesitated before finally taking her own. She supposed indulging the man in his weird obsession with the beverage would do little harm. Sipping it, she observed that the man did know his stuff when it came to tea. But she set it aside, more interested in finding out just exactly what he wanted. There must have been some ulterior motive.
"First of all, I would like to say how extraordinarily proud I am of both of you," he said, beaming a great smile.
"Uncle, please," Zuko said, his voice full of shame. "I don't deserve your praise."
"Prince Zuko. You need not continue to wallow in regret. As I have told you, I was never angry with you in the first place."
He placed a hand on the teenager's shoulder.
"You found your own way, nephew. By yourself, without anyone's help. And for that I could not be more pleased."
Azula resisted the urge to vomit. She hadn't come here to see her uncle give endless praise to Zuko whilst she watched from the sidelines. If that was the case, she'd leave right now.
"And you, Princess Azula," Iroh said, turning towards his niece. "I am very pleased with you too."
"In case you get the wrong idea, I'm not here to grovel like Zuko," she said tartly.
"But you're here, nonetheless," Iroh responded, his eyes twinkling. "And like your brother, you made your destiny your own."
Azula inwardly scoffed at the idea of destiny, as she always had. There was no time for this spiritual moralism.
"Can we spare these family reunion sentiments? We're not here to cherish old memories and sip tea until the sun goes down. There's a war going on and we need you to help us take down father."
Zuko winced at his sister's abrasiveness.
"Azula, can't you give uncle one moment of your respect. It's-"
But to her surprise, Iroh held up a gentle hand to stop his nephew from going further. He gazed directly at the princess, his face full of compassion but also a sense of realism, one she knew he was capable of in serious moments.
"My niece, I know you're not fond of me. But I ask of you, don't let personal history cloud the achievements you have accomplished."
"What did I achieve that I haven't already?" Azula asked, puzzled and completely miffed by her uncle's sagely but vague remarks.
"I am not referring to conquering cities or adding to your power. Indeed, you have had both- remarkable for someone your age. But more impressive to me are the sacrifices you have made not just for yourself but for others.
"I was away for much of your early youth," Iroh said, a hint of regret in his voice. "The war required my immediate attention as the Fire Nation's Crown Prince and top general. By the time I retired and returned home, it was too late. Ozai had already driven you apart, taking advantage your insecurities, separating a sibling relationship that had never had a chance to blossom. I must confess, I took pity on Zuko. His father's cruelty and disdain reached heights I had not seen before, and I felt it was my responsibility to provide what wisdom and confidence I could to a young prince without any such care or support."
Again, his posture shifted towards the princess, addressing her directly.
"Azula, I'm aware you never thought much of your old uncle. However, contrary to what you might believe I never hated you. Far from it, I pitied you as much as Zuko, forced to live a life that was not your own. Enslaved to a path that leads to self-destruction."
"I never needed your pity," Azula said, her uncle's words having a quiet effect on her.
"No," the older man said, his gravelly tone more apparent now. "Indeed, one of your many talents Azula, is that you can adapt and adjust to any situation you come across. Your power of will and mind has always been one of your greatest assets…it also been one of your greatest weaknesses. When we last spoke in Capital City prison, I told you that hate, anger, and fear did not have to be your fate, that you could choose a different path rather than the one you felt compelled to take. And you have."
Azula shut her eyes, willing herself not to become emotional. This wasn't what she had in mind when she envisioned herself meeting with Uncle.
"Both of you have suffered under your father's influence," Iroh continued. "And both have you have come to the realization that he must be defeated in order bring balance to the world."
"That's actually what we came here for," Zuko said and privately the princess was relieved they were finally getting down to business. "Uncle, you know that you're the only other person in the world capable of taking on the Father Lord."
"Fire Lord, Zuko," Azula said rolling her eyes, suppressing the lump in her throat with fury. "Please don't mix up the two again."
"Right, sorry."
The prince continued to press his case.
"We need you to come with us. What do you say?"
Iroh made a noise in his throat, his mind in thought before he gave his ultimate response.
"No, Zuko. It won't turn out well."
Azula was afraid of that answer. Their last hope for winning the war wasn't even willing to risk a one on one confrontation.
"You can beat him," Zuko insisted. "And all of us will be there to help."
But their uncle continued to shake his head, as he sipped more of his tea.
"Though I was often considered the better firebender in our younger days, Ozai has become immensely powerful since that time. Even if were able to defeat him- and I don't know that I could- it would be the wrong way to end the war. History will see it as more senseless violence, a brother killing a brother to grab power."
"Power that you don't want," Azula finished for him.
Iroh nodded.
"You are as perceptive as ever, niece. But that it is not the entire reason why I will not face Ozai. The only way for this war to end peacefully, is for the Avatar to defeat the Fire Lord."
Azula's patience ran out as her frustration threatened to overwhelm her.
"But he's not here!" she hissed. "That's why we came all this way to look for you. He's missing and that leaves one person on this earth capable of beating the Fire Lord which is you!"
"A dilemma to be sure. But not insurmountable. You must trust that the Avatar will fulfill his destiny, as you will with your own."
"Typical words from you uncle," Azula said angrily. "Full of wisdom but no solutions. How does waiting for him to just 'show up' help anything?"
"As reluctant as I am to say this, she has a point," Zuko agreed. "We don't have any idea where Aang is and without him we can't win this war. It needs to be you uncle. He stole your birthright and far more than anyone realizes. When this is over, you need to take the throne."
Iroh's age showed for a brief moment in time as a tired look crossed his face. He set aside his cup, his presence suddenly becoming commanding.
"Prince Zuko, Princess Azula, please listen to me," he said in his most solemn tone. "I cannot take the throne. Not simply because of historical implications, but for the future. My time has passed. For the new world to come, I am the wrong man to lead us into that world. Someone young and idealistic must become Fire Lord and that someone must be you, Zuko."
Zuko's eyes widened in shock at this declaration.
"Why me? I've made so many mistakes."
"Indeed, you have. But through your struggles and suffering you have become a man more worthy than anyone alive to restore the honor of our family and the Fire Nation."
There was a split pause at this implication. Zuko and Azula both knew that the day would come where one of them sat on the throne. In days past, the favored prodigious child was the princess, but Iroh's assertion essentially wiped that away. There was no more Ozai to corrupt their purpose. The prince had his, but the question remained, where did that leave the princess?
"Azula," Iroh said softly. "I realize this may be unwelcome for you to hear. You have been groomed almost your entire life to take Ozai's place, but you are not your father. His policies, along with those of our forefathers must be laid to rest. So too must you lay them to rest. Though you have joined your brother in the cause to set the world right, I sense that the end of the war will not be the end of your journey in finding your own destiny."
She absorbed his words, unwilling to feel upset but feeling a great deal of angst simultaneously.
"You believe too much in the preordained, uncle," she responded.
"Destiny is not something that is preordained, my niece, rather it is something we make for ourselves. Despite your denials, you know this to be true as well, otherwise you would not be here. In any case, what you decide to do after the war lies in your hands."
"If there's an 'after'," Zuko muttered.
"There will be," Iroh said, an optimistic smile crossing his face once more. "We all have a part to play. Prince Zuko must be Fire Lord, but that does not mean there is no role or destiny for you Princess Azula. Indeed, you both must work together in order to achieve this."
The two siblings looked at each other briefly before turning back to their uncle, who had one final piece of advice to give them.
"For the longest time, you have been set against one another without realizing it is together that you are strongest. It is long past time you acknowledge that and move the world towards a new era prosperity and peace."
"We buried the hatchet not too long ago," Zuko admitted. "We're done fighting. We know we're in this together."
"Then you know what you must do," Iroh said as he stood up to address them. "Again, I cannot stress how wonderful you both are."
He embraced his niece and nephew in a hug, something Azula still wasn't accustomed to (Iroh had a pretty funky scent at times).
"I must address the others of your group, as well as the members of the White Lotus," he said. "I have a suspicion that you are not the only ones in search of destiny today."
He exited the tent, leaving the two siblings to ponder over the conversation they had just endured.
Zuko was the first to speak.
"He's right you know. You have grown a lot these past few weeks, Azula. And we're better as a united front than a potential fight over who becomes Fire Lord."
"I don't care about being Fire Lord."
The prince hardly dared to believe his ears. Similar to their father, Azula's lifelong ambition had been to be the ruling monarch of their nation. His uncle's belief that he should become the next ruler worried him due to his sister's potential reaction. But to hear her shut down any notion of the previous ambition was unprecedented.
"I know you've wanted be the heir for a long time. You don't have to spare my feelings."
"And since when have I ever done that?" she laughed ironically. "Give me some credit, Zuzu. You can have the crown. It's nothing I want now."
Her brother appraised her before asking.
"And what do you want?"
The answer was short and potent.
"Revenge."
She didn't bother to take in Zuko's reaction as she walked out of the tent. As far as she was concerned, the Dragon of the West, possibly the most powerful Fire Bender on the planet had doomed them all. He wouldn't face their father. Apparently, no one would. So that left one person.
Grimacing in anger, Azula could feel the cold essence of fury and purpose drive her forward once more. None of them understood the full gravity of the situation save for her. All the talk of destiny meant nothing; the princess hadn't a clue where she was going or what sort of purpose awaited her after this ordeal was over but she did know one thing: if the Avatar, her uncle, and anyone else capable of taking her father down refused to do the deed, she would.
It was the only thing she had left to hold onto. Her mind was officially made up.
Princess Azula would kill the Fire Lord Ozai or die trying.
Scents of delicious stew wafted around the circle of discussion amongst Team Avatar. Iroh had sought to address them personally, with Zuko, Mai and the others gathering to formulate a plan.
"What if Aang doesn't come back?" Toph asked aloud. It was a general question, but it felt less awkward to ask now that Iroh was sitting with them, sharing lunch.
"Sozin's Comet is arriving and our destinies are upon us," Iroh said. "Aang will face the Fire Lord, I am sure of it."
He then began a story, something that he had never shared with anyone save his late wife and son.
"When I was a boy, I had a vision that I would one day take Ba Sing Se. Only now do I see that my destiny is to take it back from the Fire Nation so that the Earth Kingdom can be free again."
"That's why you gathered the members of the White Lotus," Suki guessed.
"Yes, it is," came the response. "But we are only one part in winning this war. Even if Ozai is defeated, his airships still have the potential to create great destruction and suffering. Everyone must play their role."
"Then that's our destiny today," Sokka said with increasing confidence. "We've been talking about that fleet for weeks without any real plan to stop it. I say that's our next objective."
"We've already ridden in one," Mai added. "We know how to operate them to a certain degree."
"And we know how to destroy them," Zuko said, wrapping an arm around his girlfriend. "Experience with both I guess."
"We need to be right there when Aang comes back to face the Fire Lord," Katara said confidently. "A group of us can take out the fleet while the rest can slow him down."
"And then, twinkletoes will deliver the final blow," Toph finished, smacking her fist with his hand.
Iroh nodded approvingly as everyone had finally settled on what they needed to do in preparation for the comet. But the moment was interrupted by a panicked looking Ty Lee, who came running onto the scene, deep worry etched onto her face.
"You guys!"
"Ty Lee?" Mai said, concerned. "What's wrong?"
"It's Azula!"
Everyone's hearts stopped for a moment before the questions continued.
"Oh no, what do you mean?" Zuko pressed.
"What did she do?" Sokka groaned.
"That's exactly it, she didn't do anything," Ty Lee said frantically. "She's gone!"
Just then, a White Lotus guard came rushing in.
"General Iroh," he said bowing. "I must inform you that one of the three eel-hounds on camp is now missing."
It didn't take a genius to put two and two together. Azula was nowhere to be found. And on the eve of the comet, it was the worst news any of them could have received.
Destiny was now in jeopardy.
To put it simply: the next chapter is the big time battle. Be prepared. It's a long one.
Until next time, guys!
~The Wasp