Chapter Rating: T (Language)

A/N: Spoiler Warning, if you have not read "The Search" Trilogy of Graphic Novels for Avatar: The Last Airbender…That is how I am going to finish this story.

I won't spoil everything, and I am rewriting most of it, but I highly suggest you read the original first before you continue.

Published on 09/09/2020

Chapter 18: Embers

The air was thick with the scent of medicine, bitter, burning medicine. Azula sat in a chair, next to her, Sokka held her hand in his, and the Royal Fire Nation Herbalist looked through a list of medicines while observing Azula.

"Your symptoms?" The herbalist asked.

"Chills." Azula replied, the herbalist nodded and pulled Azula's hand out of Sokka's.

"It seems warm to me…" the herbalist raised her eyebrow. Sokka saw a look of annoyance flash across Azula's face; with a swift anger, she took Sokka's hand again, and offered the herbalist her other hand. "Oh!" the doctor exclaimed, Azula rolled her eyes at Sokka, who shrugged and shook his head.

"And for some reason," Azula breathed out. "I can't firebend anymore." The herbalist nodded, turned around and dropped a handful of black pellets into Sokka's hand.

"I can help you feel warm again." She dropped a pellet into a cup of tea. "Listen, young man, if she continues to feel this way, brew her this medicine into tea, twice a day." She handed the cup to Azula, who held onto it as if it was her only source of heat. "Do you understand?"

"Yes." Sokka stuffed the medicine into his back pouch. "Thank you."

"Please remember, Princess." The herbalist turned back to Azula. "This is not a cure, what you face is not a ailment of the body, but of the spirit. If your symptoms do not improve, please see me again in a few days. We may have to try something more intensive."

"Thank you." Azula sipped at the tea and rose to her feet. The herbalist walked into another room.

"Is it working?" Sokka wrapped his arms around Azula's shoulders. Azula downed the tea and grabbed Sokka's hand. He nodded at the warmth that he felt.

"You heard what she said, it doesn't fix the sickness, only the symptom." Azula held out her hand and took in a deep breath, but no flame manifested in her palm. "What is wrong with me?" Her voice shrunk.

"Come on," Sokka pulled her with him. "I have an idea."

…

Sokka dragged Azula around the palace grounds.

"What are you looking for?" Azula asked.

"We need to find Aang, maybe he'll have an answer." Azula gave him an annoyed look.

"What?" Sokka asked.

"If you want to find the Avatar, find his bison." She grabbed him and turned him around. Appa sat near the entrance to the throne room, waiting for Aang.

"Oh. Right. Well, you'd know how to follow the trail of an air bison, wouldn't you?" Sokka shrugged.

"Shut up." Azula spat at him; they pet Appa and Momo as they passed and entered the throne room.

Even as time passed and they entered the heated throne room surrounded by high flames, Sokka felt Azula's hand wrap tighter around his, and it was as cold as ever.

"It'll be alright. Aang will help" He whispered.

The Firelord and the Avatar spoke words to each other that Sokka couldn't hear, so he stood back and waited. When the conversation stopped, they regarded him, and he bowed before them.

"Sokka, Azula!" Zuko addressed them, "how can we help you?"

"It's Azula, for some reason she can't firebend anymore." The Avatar and the Firelord looked at each other, then nodded. "Aang," Sokka stepped back. "You took away the Ozai's firebending, we need your help."

They descended the steps; Aang placed a hand on Azula's shoulder.

"I haven't tried this yet, Azula." Aang nodded to her, "But you have to trust me, I won't hurt you."

"I trust you." Azula murmured. Aang gave an unfamiliar smile, both welcoming and fearful at the sound in Azula's voice, then he placed a thumb on her forehead and at her sternum. Sokka stepped back further, Zuko watched intently. The Avatar took a deep breath, his eyes and tattoos glowed with the Avatar State, an aura overtook the throne room, the flames turned a luminous blue and then the glow faded.

"I can't." Aang's voice echoed sadness, but he gave her a comforting smile. "I can't give you your bending back. Because you haven't lost it." Azula's looked up at him with wonderous eyes, Sokka did the same. "Like how I learned how to firebend, and how Zuko relearned—" He motioned to the Firelord. "Azula," she focused on his eyes. "You need another source to draw your inner fire from." He took her hands, drew a flame into his and passed it into her palm. "Try it, you can still firebend. You're just having trouble with the source of the fire. Something is keeping you from being able to will your fire into existence." The Avatar stepped back.

Azula held the flame in her hand, it danced with a smooth, slow rhythm in her palm. She inhaled, widened her stance, drew her hand back, and thrust it forward. A burst of flames left her hand and flew into the fires that surrounded the throne room, with a burst of energy, the flames left her hand, and no fire remained under her control.

"Good luck, Azula." Aang pat her shoulder and pulled her in close for a hug. "And thank you for saving us."

"Thank you, Avatar." Azula returned his hug.

"I'm headed to the Northern Air Temple, maybe I'll see you guys around." Aang waved to Zuko and bowed to Sokka.

"What about everyone else?" Sokka asked.

"Katara is heading home, Suki is staying as a guard here with the rest of the Kiyoshi Warriors, and Toph is opening a new metalbending academy in Yu Dao." Aang nodded. "Don't worry about them Sokka," Aang whispered while Zuko moved forward to comfort his sister. "Azula needs you right now." The Avatar whispered and turned away.

"Wait—!" Sokka pulled Aang back by his shoulder. "What 'other source' are you talking about?"

"Sokka, I wish I knew." Aang looked to Zuko. "But I don't. I'm sorry."

"What? Why not?" Sokka asked. "The herbalist said it was spiritual in nature, you're the most spiritual Avatar I know. What does that mean?" Aang turned to him with a moment of insight in his eyes.

"Zuko!" Aang called to the Firelord. His lips moved as if he was speaking, but no sound came from his mouth. Sokka and Azula watched in confusion, but saw the Firelord nod in response, as if he heard and understood everything the Avatar had said. Aang placed his hand on Sokka's shoulder again and smiled at Azula. "Don't worry, Sokka. Azula needs your help. You can do this. I know you can."

"O—Okay. I've got this." Sokka nodded.

"You do." The Avatar turned away and walked out of the throne room. Appa's roar expired through the air, signaling the Avatar's departure.

Sokka rushed back to Azula and draped her arm over his shoulders. She leaned her weight against him, and he held it proudly, even as the medicine seemed to be wearing off—and Azula seemed to be losing her body heat.

"What did Aang say to you?" Sokka turned to Zuko.

"Earlier, I told him about some papers that I found in Ozai's private study," Zuko answered. "They were about," the Firelord took a deep breath. "Our mother."

Almost as if a gust of wind had just breathed life into a pile of dying embers, Sokka felt heat engulf Azula's body.

"M—Mother…?" she let out in a pained murmur; her voice more twisted with anger than sadness.

"Yes, Azula." Zuko motioned to Sokka and they began to return to her room. "Get some rest, we'll be leaving tomorrow."

A/N:

Thanks for reading.