Hello Everybody. Final is close and as promised two chapters today. I hope you'll have some fun with these two.

Alone

Azula was alone.

Again.

She was bound.

Again.

Placed in a simple miserable cell.

Again.

The Firebender had stopped laughing as the footsteps of the staff have fade behind the heavy iron door. Her moth was dry and she could feel the big hole in her heart which was seeping all these choking and painful emotions but she was used to it. Azula was used to this pain for so long. So all what these feelings were left was exhaustion. To her luck she has trashed this false promise into pieces. It has given her time to prepare for this moment. It hasn't left her enough strength to cry over this loss.

Azula was used to feel this way.

"Why Azula…?"

Normally she would have felt anger and rage but this time Azula only felt a choking and defeating sickness. Ursa's voice was filled with an unbelievable sadness. The Princess dared to take a look at the milky shabby reflection she could spot at a puddle of water at the ground. Her mother's face was filled with an incredible pain. But Azula couldn't bring herself to cry. The words felt like they were burning her throat when they worked their way free.

"You know who I am, mother."

She could see tears slipping Ursa's eyes in the reflection. Azula had to keep talking otherwise it would tore her apart.

"He was a fool to free me. He hasn't in him to be like me. To handle me."

She felt a lump forming in her throat.

"He should have known better. I only remind him who I am."

Azula struggled for a moment as she noticed Ursa sobbing. It let the voice of the Princess fall down to an empty whisper.

"He would have left anyway. I only spared us more pain."

She felt a tear slipping her eye and Azula couldn't suppress her bottom lip from quivering.

"It is better this way. For both of us."

Azula felt a heavy sting in her chest as Ursa's reflection started to cry openly. She wished she could curl up to a ball right now but there was no chance with the bindings. And so she just let her tears fall free for a while.

She had no clue how much time has gone by as she noticed the lock opening. Dr. Kujing entered the room with two staff members. She hated his observing look. The pity in his eyes and his concerns but she was too weak and too burned out at the moment to offer him the loathing she was feeling right now.

"The ambassador has left."

Azula felt the prang at her heart but only huffed and managed a little smirk. Dr. Kujing was holding his hands behind his back and kept observing her. Finally he nodded and the two men walked to her. Azula was surprised because she was pulled on her feet as gently as possible. She glared at the men, but her look lacked the last will to pick up the fight. She has done enough fighting for today.

"I'll escort you to your new quarter."

Azula closed her eyes to hide the bitterness which was biting her right now. Every dream has an end and every lie will finally be replaced by the bitter truth. The monster would return into a cage which would suite her more. And so Azula didn't pay any attention to the way the men have taken. Her golden eyes kept staring empty to the ground. Better to leave her hopes behind as fast as she could so they couldn't cut her anymore.

And so the sudden light was hitting her out of nowhere.

Azula yelped in shock and surprised and had to pinch her eyelids together as the sun was kissing her face. The group has stopped and waited until her eyes have adjusted a bit before they continued walking through the outer areal of the sanatorium.

It was overwhelming. The smell of flowers, the sunlight, the colors… Azula was still pinching her eyelids but it was exhilarating to see, to smell and to feel all of this again but at the same time she had no clue why. She noticed the group heading for an extra secured little barrack within the wide area. The little house was surrounded by an extra fence and imperial guards were posted around it but it had a decent garden within the fence and the building seemed to be freshly painted. The Princess was guided inside and Azula's jaw dropped a second time. The barrack had a little living room, filled up with nice furnishing which was reminding her of her old rooms within the Palace. She has peeked into other rooms while passing them and it seemed to be that this was set up like a little house for her. The Firebender noticed the staff leaving and her face showed complete confusion as she noticed the shaky hands of the doctor at the bindings. The man gave her a nervous smile.

"The ambassador has ordered to prepare this during his recovery. It was his wish…"

The man bit his lip and he took a deep breath as he finally dared to open the straightjacket.

"It was his plan to continue his stay with you up here but now he only wished to keep his promise and beside my better judgement I want to give it a try."

Azula's jaw dropped. Dr. Kujing has carefully taken some steps back from her. He was obviously concerned and nervous but Azula only felt her knees getting soft. She was stumbling and the man dared to catch her to guide her on a couch. She stared at him with a complete lack of understanding.

"So Sokka has never planned to leave?"

She didn't even cared that her voice was trembling. Dr. Kujing looked painful at her.

"No, he has planned to keep helping you. He has returned to you to fetch his stuff to bring it up here before…"

Azula felt her guards crumble. All these emotions were too much. She looked painful at the Dr. Kujing who was obviously deciding to take a seat beside her, but she stopped him with raising her arm.

"I… You should better leave…"

Dr. Kujing nodded and bowed a bit before he left Azula alone. She heard the door closing as her tears started to fall free. And so she cried out her anger and sadness.

Sokka has really believed in his lie.

But she hasn't.

Katara has been right. This stupid peasant hasn't seen a monster in her. So in the end it has been better to scare him away before she would have turned him into one.

Even if it was hurting her. Like she has said. Never forget lesson one.