A/N Hello Everyone! I want to start by saying that it's been some five years since I've done any writing whatsoever, and I'm bound to be a little rusty. I am also new to this particular fandom and have only seen the series once. While I do try to work with what's already established in the cannon universe, I have limited access to the series at this time, so some cannon dialogue may be off (when used.) This will be slightly AU from the LOK sequel series (which I have not seen, but have heard some things about.) because I'm changing everything that happens from the end of the show onward. I hope this story will delight and entertain, as it's fun to write. I am open to any and all constructive criticism, whether on the story plot itself, the noncannon lore that may appear, or my writing style and grammar. Thank you for taking the time to read this note. Enjoy!:)
"Wouldn't you like to know?" The man behind the bars laughs. "Sorry, but I'm fresh out of informants and fresh out of options. Moreover, I could care less." He went back to staring at the wall instead of his son. His usurper.
"I'll only ask once more." Zuko makes his voice as menacing as he can. "Where. Is. My mother?"
There is no response from the man facing the wall. Infuriated, Zuko summons up as much flame as he can muster in this place. "Last chance!" He threatens.
"I told you: I don't know, and I don't care. Go ahead, boy. I can hear your flames. See if you can make me." He yawns in an exaggerated fashion.
Zuko prepares to strike, then stops. He can't do this. It's what his father had always wanted. Ruthlessness. Cruelty. An iron will and a stone cold heart. If he gives in... He can't give in. Not when he's the Fire Lord. Not when he's come so far. Not when he's become someone his mother would finally be proud of. He lets the flame die.
Ozai laughs. Loud, long, and bitter.
"You still can't fight. Can you? You're still that helpless child, soft hearted and dim witted. This Nation will fall before long! How can you expect to find your mother, when you can't even do what it takes to force me to do anything. If you can't do that, what can you do?" He continues to chuckle to himself.
I won't do it. I won't! Zuko thinks to himself. But he is right about one thing: what can I do? He lets out a frustrated yell, releasing a burst of fire that hits the wall and goes out harmlessly. Then, he wheels and stomps away, slamming the door behind him. What can I do to make him talk without becoming him?
Maybe he told Azula. She was losing it the night of Sozin's Comet, but she had acted as though Mother could just appear before him and Katara and provide them with answers and ideas. The thought had to have come from somewhere...Right?
Taking a few deep breaths to calm himself down, he began walking down the hall to his sister's cell.
*** page break ***
"Where will you go now, you two?" Hakoda asks as the warriors continue packing up. Sokka and Suki look at each other a moment before Sokka replies.
"We figure we'll ride along with Katara and Aang for a while, then find a place to start exploring on our own. I'm getting to be more partial to warmer environments. And Suki wants to see more of the main Earth Kingdom. So we'll just tour around a bit. Go where the wind takes us. Right, Aang?" A burst of air knocks him into a nearby fountain. He comes up spitting water, looking shooting Aang an annoyed look. Suki joins in the group's laughter and Sokka can't really stop the grin from covering his face.
"What about you Toph? Are you going home?" Aang asks. Toph climbs aboard and makes her way to the back of Appa's saddle.
"Nope. You losers are stuck with me. There's no great adventure coming to bust me out a second time. I'd rather not spend the rest of my life being bored." She grouches.
Katara loads the rest of the supplies and hops up next to Aang.
"Hey!" Aang says suddenly. "Has anyone seen Momo?"
Everyone looks around wondering where the little flying lemur could have gone. A loud screech echoes around the fountain area.
"...and stay out you little menace!" A shopkeeper's voice rings out. The sound of clattering cookware and breaking pottery reaches their ears. A rat dog's bark follows.
Momo appears, still screeching, and quickly buries himself in Aang's shirt. Everyone laughs.
"Well, I guess that's everyone." Aang says.
"Bye Dad!" Sokka calls down.
"We'll be sure to visit!" Katara follows.
"Goodbye, good luck, and take care! Stay out of trouble everyone." Hakoda calls back.
"Appa, yip yip!"
*** page break ***
"What do you want, brother? Come to finish the job?" Azula snarls from within her cell. "Did you bring Mother? Here to gloat?!"
"No." She hates how calm his voice is. She prefers him angry and uncontrolled. She hears him sit down outside her cell. She's already decided that she won't give him the time of day. She has a coup to plan.
"I actually came to see if you knew where Mother is, if Father told you."
Azula considers her options. It almost sounds like Father told him that Mother was alive. But... that can't be! She was dead! Father had told her so! Why would he lie to her?
"Perhaps he did. Perhaps he didn't. What is it to you?" She's decided this might be fun. She didn't really have answers, but she was bored. A break from plotting now seemed... appropriate. Maybe even useful.
"You know what it is to me. You should wonder too. Mother loved us both."
"Mother did not love us both! Don't pretend that we each have a stake in this. You do, I don't. Make it worth my time to tell you." She can practically feel the exasperation oozing off him. She can feel a plan beginning to form in her mind.
"You can come along. Ask her yourself." Funny, his tone almost sounds...sympathetic. Gross!
"Is that really what you think I want! You think I care what Mother thought of me? Maybe I did once, brother, but that was a long time ago. No, I want something else in exchange." She turns around. "I want a far better cell than this! So what of it if I go with you and find Mother? I'll still wind up back in here eventually! If I'm to be in prison for the rest of my life, I'd like at least a comfortable place to sleep, decent food, and entertainment of my choosing. I may be a prisoner, but I'm still of royal blood. I won't waste away in this cold, dark, wet, moldy cell with the bat rats and insects. Grant me better quarters and treatment, brother, and I'll give you what you need." She gave him a moment to think. She knows that he won't need long. He hates her. He suspects her, and he should. But he loves Mother more.
Ever since Mai and Ty Lee betrayed her, she'd learned how to factor in others' attachments. It didn't take much to figure out.
She could hear Zuko trying to keep his breathe steady. He was trying to stay calm and calculating. People have to be to deal with her. He knows this. But she knows that he can't hold out forever.
"Tick tock, brother. My offer doesn't last forever."
"Alright! I'll begin making the arrangements." He says through a defeated sigh. "I assume that I get my answer after this is all set up?"
"You know me too well, Zuzu." She smiles maliciously.
"If you cross me, I can always throw right back down here!" He threatens.
"Oh I'm so scared!" The sarcasm drips in her tone.
She overhears him muttering to himself as he goes down the hall, wondering if he'd made a mistake.
More than one, brother, more than one.