"Where have you been?! We've been waiting in this hell-hole for, like, an hour!" One of the women removed her mask and threw it onto the table carelessly.

"Yeah, and how much longer are we gonna have to do this?! I didn't sign up to run a daycare, Azula!"

"Patience, Zirin..." Azula handed the unconscious Kiyi off to another person before slumping into a seat at the head of the table, clearly exhausted and preoccupied. Her eyes were glassy and rimmed red around the edges. "I broke you out of that horrible nuthouse, remember? Watching over a few brats is the least you could do for me. Anyways, ladies, can you give me a moment with Ukano? He and I need to discuss the next steps."

The women, though all equally displeased and impatient, stood up to leave. They knew better than to disobey Azula.

Once they had left, Ukano stood up from his seat and finally spoke. "Princess Azula... Zirin is right. We can't sustain this for much longer."

"Tell me, Ukano. How much do you love the Fire Nation?" She studied the mask in her hand intently.

Ukano stuttered out his reply. "Y-you know my commitment! I emptied my bank account to build this headquarters for you! A-and I subjected my own family to horrors beyond imagining! I'm willing to do a-anything for the sake of my nation! B-but every time I see Tom-Tom in that dark little room, it breaks my heart—"

"Oh boo hoo, get a hold of yourself, will you?!" Azula clutched the mask in her grip and it shattered, chunks and splinters of wood falling to the floor. "Just do one last thing for me. I want the Safe Nation Society to lead a protest in the city streets."

"B-but we just did that last—"

"Yes, yes, but this time, make it as chaotic as possible!"

The former governor sweated profusely, not from the heat of their hideout, but from Azula's crazed expression boring onto him. "The citizens are already turning against Zuko! It'll only be a matter of time before they demand that he steps down—"

"Ukano, Ukano, Ukano, don't you get it?!" The scraping of the wooden chair was piercing as Azula stood up to grab Ukano by his collar, dragging him down so that she towered over him. "For you to get what you want, I need to get what I want. And I. Want. A. Riot."

Azula shoved him to the floor and he scrambled to get back up, dusting his robes before leaving and muttering. "Fine... But I still don't see how this will get Ozai back in the throne..."

She was left all alone in the dark room illuminated by a single lantern hung from the low ceiling. "Idiot. Ozai was never part of the plan."

"For the sake of our old friendship, do me a favor, Azula. Never show your face in front of me ever again."

She rubbed her slightly swollen eyes and willed herself to forget the chance encounter that happened in the Capital.

"Until further notice, no one is allowed to leave the Capital City!" The soldiers barked out as they closed the city gates and locked heavy iron bars in place. "Fire Lord's orders!"

Countless people were already in carriages with their family and their belongings, ready to leave the Capital in fear of the dark spirits that haunt and take their children. Upon seeing their only exit blocked upon the monarch's orders, the stream of complaints began.

"This is outrageous!"

"You've got to be kidding! Our kids are sitting turtle-ducks for those dark spirits!"

"The Fire Lord must be insane!"

General Mak tried his best to appease the people, but more and more have crowded the streets as soldiers entered the shops and establishments, even the private homes of the citizens.

"What is the meaning of this?!"

"This is my home!"

"Forgive the intrusion, citizens, but your safety is of utmost importance to the Fire Lord!"

"You're trying to keep us safe by barging into our homes?!" An old woman raged as the soldiers searched her home, looking into all the rooms, behind cabinets, under rugs and tapestries.

The general jumped down from his ostrich-horse and did his best to explain the situation. "We have reason to believe that Ukano and the Safe Nation Society have information about the missing children. We're looking for anyone or anything connected to them!"

"That's preposterous! The Safe Nation Society are heroes compared to the likes of you! And besides, why search people's homes for a group that's operating in broad daylight?!" She gestured out of her window, right to where Ukano led the members of the Safe Nation Society in a protest.

"A STRONG NATION IS A SAFE NATION! A STRONG NATION IS A SAFE NATION!"

General Mak wasted no time in confronting them in the streets and relaying the Fire Lord's orders. "STOP! Safe Nation Society, by order of the Fire Lord, you are all under arrest!"

The citizens howled their disagreement and hurled items at the Fire Nation soldiers that blocked the Safe Nation Society's path.

"BOO!"

"Leave the heroes alone!"

"Why don't you go attack the dark spirits instead of your own people?!"

Ukano tried his best to hide his pleased smirk. "This is going to be easier than I thought." He turned to his followers and rallied them for a riot. "Can you believe this, Safe Nation Society?! We are fighting to protect our children, and instead of thanking us, the Fire Lord treats us like common criminals!"

Not only his followers, but even the citizens around them were swayed by fear and anxiety brought on by Ukano's words.

"Will we stand for this injustice?!"

"NO!"

"Then resist! Resist the impostor's forces at all cost!"

Chaos broke out in the capital as Ukano's followers and ordinary citizens alike clashed with the soldiers in armor. Fires and punches were traded back and forth as they fought. Weapons were passed around as both sides tried to suppress the other. The houses that lined the streets became the casualties of the riot, set ablaze and reduced to shambles.

From an onlooker's point of view, it was hell.

Ukano made it out of the fray and hurried back to the hideout, seeking Azula. He found her at her seat, twirling a ring of keys in her finger.

"It took Zuko's forces several hours to quell the riot. My followers— all those people who put their faith in me... have been arrested. The city's more agitated than ever. I did everything that you asked, now please, let Tom-Tom go! Let all the children go!"

"Oh yes! Right away! A deal's a deal, after all!" Ukano thanked her profusely as she headed for the doors of the cell that held the children, extending the key towards the lock. "But wait... Let's think this through... What would happen if we were to release all the little darlings? They'd go scampering back to their parents, no doubt. And a few of them would talk about us, maybe even lead the Fire Lord's forces here!"

"N-no! N-not necessarily! They m-might—"

"They would expose us before our plans are ready! Is that what you really want, Ukano?!"

"O-Of course not... B-but—"

Azula pocketed the keys once more and walked away into the dark hallways. "So we are in agreement then! We will keep our young guests here until the time is right. Good talk, Ukano!"

"Azula!" It was Zirin who came running from the other end of the hallway, breathless underneath the mask and heavy cloak. "The Fire Lord... and the Avatar! T-they're here!"

She chuckled darkly before pulling down the mask over her smirking features. "Showtime."

Mai had received a note by messenger hawk from an unknown sender. The neat handwriting only read the following words:

Guest Wing, X

But Mai already knew what the note meant.

With the help of Ty Lee and Suki, they climbed the roof of the guest wing exactly where the rest of the Kemurikage had vanished and scanned the brick wall of the adjacent building for a certain mark. Ty Lee was the first to spot the X and she pushed the brick down revealing a hidden passageway.

Only four people knew of this hidden passageway, Azula, Ty Lee, Mai and...

As soon as the passageway was secured, they called Aang, Zuko and Kei Lo. Together, they ventured through the dark path and emerged half an hour later into the Garden of Tranquil Souls, the graveyard of the Royal Family.

The kids gathered by the door, equally curious and terrified of the howling cries outside the iron door.

"What was that?!"

"This one time, my mom stepped on our frog-dog's tail by accident and he made a sound just like that!"

"There's a frog-dog out there?! I hate frog-dogs!" A child sobbed and latched onto her older sister's clothes.

Tom-Tom was the only one who recognized it. "T-That's not a frog-dog! That's my dad! I think he's crying..."

"That's stupid!" Another kid countered. "Adult's don't cry! It's a frog-dog!"

"Did you just call my dad a frog-dog?! Why you—"

"Can you boys just shut up and move?!" Kiyi had her eyes closed, entirely focused as she tried to remember her brother's moves while he trained in the courtyard. "I think I've figured something out!"

The kids stepped away from the door obediently and Kiyi released a punch towards the iron doors. The steady stream of fire from the child's fist bore a hole through the door in no time, revealing a teary-eyed Ukano, scrambling away. "H-hang on, children! I'll go get a bucket of water!"

The hole Kiyi had created was large enough for the kids to go through. Ukano splashed water onto the edges so they could safely pass through.

"HOORAY FOR KIYI! HOORAY FOR KIYI!"

"MARRY ME, KIYI!"

"No thanks."

He quickly held Tom-Tom in a fierce hug after helping all the other children out of the cell. "Listen, children! A terrible crime has been committed against you! The bad guys must go to prison... and that includes me."

Tom-tom had clutched his father's robes. "What do you mean, daddy?"

Ukano ignored his son's heartbreaking question. "Before that, we need to get you back to your parents! But we need to keep our voices down so we won't get caught by those scary ladies. Understood?"

The children nodded and followed Ukano out of the hideout.

Outside, Azula taunted Mai as they fought. The latter stumbled as Azula shot lightning at her feet. "My friends and I took inspiration from your nightmare when we were younger! You were so afraid that night, that you tossed and turned and screamed! Not a bad rendition, huh?"

"I hate to break it to you, Azula. Those robes... Black and purple aren't really your color!"

Kei Lo came up from behind and shoved Azula to throw her off-balance, but he failed. Azula grabbed him by his robes, igniting blue fire from the palm of her other hand. "Please tell me this isn't your new boyfriend, Mai! I know Zuzu wasn't that great of a catch, but you're really slumming it!"

"Leave him alone!" Zuko was aiming a jab at his sister, fire engulfing his fist as he steadied himself.

"Why on edge, Zuzu? Is it because of Chiyo—Oh wait, she's gone, isn't she?" Azula laughed, but no one noticed how forced it was. "By the way, I met her last night. And I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but looks like she's about to break up with you soon—"

"SHUT UP!" Enraged, Zuko fired at his sister, and Azula countered with her own flames. Embers and smoke scattered as their attacks met. Once the smoke had started to clear, Azula made a run for it.

Zuko ran towards Mai and Kei Lo to make sure they were okay. Mai assured him as she held Kei Lo. "Don't worry about us! Go after that nutcase and make her pay!"

From another entrance, Aang had met with Ukano and was safely escorting all the children out of the hideout. Once he had accounted for his sister and every missing child, he ran after Azula.

He entered a large crypt at the far edge of the graveyard after seeing Azula duck in. He held fire in his hands to illuminate his path down.

"Brother, do you have any idea whose crypt we're in?" Azula drawled as she sat over the stone tomb, playing with the fire in her hands. "It belongs to that wretched concubine of father's. Rather fancy isn't it?"

"Listen, Azula—"

"I have no time for chit-chat, brother!" Azula lunged at him, the fire in her palm shaping itself into a dagger.

Zuko produced his own dagger, meeting Azula's and they fought inside the crypt. Equally matched. Equally unyielding to defeat.

"Getting rid of me won't put you back on the throne, Azula! Just accept it! You will never be Fire Lord!"

"Oh, so you think you are worthy?! Have you been blinded, Zuzu? Can't you see that in the last twenty-four hours, I've shown the Fire Nation citizens how ruthless you can be?"

He was dumbfounded. "W-what..."

"You think all those protests and riots were just that? No, dear brother, I was planting. Soon the seeds of doubt will rise and guess who will be there to sow it? YOU!"

It dawned on him. It was all a trap. A complete, comprehensive trap laid out for him.

And he had completely fallen for it.

Making the people restless, making the people fear, making them angry, and finally provoking him into drastic action... It was all part of her plan.

As Zuko pieced everything together, Azula made her escape, but not before leaving her final words to her brother. "Take your own advice, Zuzu, and accept it. You're weak. And soon everyone will see who you truly are."

They returned to the palace and made sure that the children were safely returned to their families. Restless and unable to shake off Azula's words, Zuko called all the residents of the Capital into the palace courtyard.

"My fellow citizens, thank you for gathering here on such short notice." Zuko stood firmly in front of his people, showing them a façade of strength and control. "The last few days have been traumatic for all of us. Our children were taken, our people grew fearful, and our streets descended into chaos."

He continued as he descended from the palace steps to meet them. "As your Fire Lord, I... I responded poorly to the circumstances. Security and freedom exists in a delicate balance, and I did not maintain that balance well. My recent decisions were based not on reason or wisdom, but on fear. And for that I ask for your forgiveness."

In an act that shocked every single person in the courtyard. Zuko slowly knelt on his knees and bowed to them, hands held out, head parallel to the ground. "You should never feel like prisoners in your own city, or suspects in your own homes."

Never, in history, has there been a Fire Lord who bowed to his constituents, nor asked for their forgiveness.

He stood up and met the eyes of his subjects, with renewed determination. "I resolve to do better. I will continue striving to be a Fire Lord worthy of you, of your respect, and most importantly, of your trust."

The people were silent at first as they listened and let the Fire Lord's words sink in. Murmurs of discussion were exchanged before an elder stepped forward and returned the Fire Lord's bow.

"We entrust our nation into your hands, Fire Lord Zuko! Long may you reign!"

After a lengthy meeting with the council, ministers, and even the Sages, Zuko trudged up to his room, finally allowing himself an escape from the chaos that arose with Azula's return.

He politely declined tea and dinner, longing for a dreamless sleep to hopefully regain some of his strength.

But all thought of rest flew from his mind as he saw the messenger hawk he had sent Chiyo.

The bird resting on the balcony almost flew away as it spotted the Fire Lord running for him, almost stumbling through the carpeted floor.

With fumbling hands, Zuko untied the small scroll attached to the hawk's leg.

A small thud echoed through the silent room as an object fell from the folds of the scroll. He couldn't care less about it as he opened the long-awaited reply from Chiyo.

I'm sorry.

Next to his feet, the golden tear-shaped pendant that Zuko had given her shone mockingly up at him.

Author's Notes

Well, hello there~! TGCW here to inform you that she has gone completely cray-cray—just kidding. NOT. I'm here to remind everyone that I'm tweaking the story a bit more forcefully now, compared to the previous chapters. After the Smoke and Shadow plot, it will be a very, very different plot. But I promise to do my best and keep the essence of the story and the AtLA universe in check. Also I'm sorry for the inconsistent updates. I'm trying my best to keep up, believe me.

Also, it has come to my attention that some of the readers have requested trigger warnings as they might have guessed what was happening in the background and what is about to happen in the later chapters. I understand and I will follow through with those requests. In the event that I miss a warning, don't hesitate to send Azula after me, I mean, inform me.

See you in the next few chapters! And dare I say, buckle up! We're just getting started.

*grins*

-TheGreatestConWoman-