Hey, guys!
Sorry for the long wait on the chapter. Nothing I can say on that except real life is a bitch sometimes. With that said. Let's look at the reviews first before I give a quick note.
Matheus Bezerra de Lima- I have my own plans for when Zuko and company discover that letter actually. And yes! Haha wasn't going to change everything from the comic.
abracursix- Azula's mind is ever evolving as we all know. Ty Lee isn't a genius of course but she has her own brand of wisdom. It'll pop up again soon.
GNTR96- Truth is always revealed eventually and Azula knows that. There's only so much time she has before it gets out of hand. It's a race against the clock really. I hope you stay safe as well, my friend.
Silverwolf735- I am extremely flattered by your kind words and favorable review, thank you:) That I made your day means the world to me. Needless to say, I am finishing this arc very soon.
DodemGM- So glad you liked Catalyst and that you like this story thus far as well! It's not so much as not trusting Azula as it is her personality and everyone realizing she's not in the best mental state. And you're on the money, Kiyi is going to play a small but important factor in this story and it's coming up.
UnOriginal2Tall- Of course, trolling seriousness how could I forget? XD It is a possibility what you say but even if it is forgery, she still has to take it seriously. Remember, Azula leaves nothing to chance and this is no exception. As for the theory just wait and see and allow the writer to keep you on the hook for a little while longer ;) it'll all work out in the end.
RealmStriders- Your reviews are amazing, thank you! You and I are kindred spirits in that revolved. I love strong, tough, yet morally ambiguous female characters. And old habits do indeed die hard especially when your sanity is in question. I hope you like this latest chapter as well.
The Rhombus- Ty Lee is the good kind of loyal as opposed to the flawed one and her popularity among the fanbase has soared in recent years with good reason. Azula unfortunately is also not the type to share burdens, a trait she and her brother share. But there are plenty of interesting developments as you stated and I hope you enjoy them.
DragonKnight Shaun- I DM'd you directly which I'm not sure you received. That being said, I highly respect your opinion and thank you for the constructive feedback.
I do want to add a quick thing: this version of the events of finding Ursa will probably not be to everyone's liking and sequels rarely outperform their originals. That being said I have no intention of weakening Azula's character. Even when people change, they still have to maintain it. Issues don't go away in a puff of smoke and this is what I consider to be another trial for her in this AU story. But to all of you who have commented thank you for the feedback whether positive or negative. It makes me a better writer and challenges me.
On with the story!
Chapter 7. Evolving Plans
The next morning Azula sought an audience with her brother. The servants had already fitter her with the proper robes, shoes, topknot and proper grooming (except the makeup, she liked to do that herself). However, Zuko despite being male always took longer given he was Fire Lord and that preparation was extremely detailed and intricate beyond anyone else. Thankfully, he was about finished when he entered his room.
"I desire to speak with the Fire Lord alone, please," she said politely but a curt undertone that stated all too plainly the servants had no say in the matter.
As they finished tying his topknot and cleaning his robes, the entourage bowed politely, leaving the two siblings to talk.
"What's up?"
"You can't tell me you enjoy the pampering as much as I do," she remarked.
"It's a necessary part of the job. But then again you were always keener to boss everyone around."
"A trait I carry to this day," Azula said with a smirk. "However, holding my authority over servants is not why I'm here. It's about our little trip."
"What about it?"
"It's too cumbersome. If we continue at this pace, we're far more likely to run into Onoda than we are our mother. We'll never find her at this rate."
Zuko nodded conceding the point but also gave a small sigh.
"I agree, but the problem is that this trip is visible. Public appearance is extremely important. Besides, isn't this what we brought Aang along for?"
"Wherever you go, he will have to as well," Azula pointed out. "He's the Avatar and you two are inexorably linked. Katara and Sokka are also extremely recognizable as members of the Southern Water Tribe."
"You're going somewhere with this. What do you suggest?"
"Allow your dear sister to do what she does best and provide some actual intelligence from actual field work. I'll bring along Ty Lee and together we can get a better pinpoint on our mother's whereabouts."
The Fire Lord seemed to consider this, but he remained a bit skeptical.
"What about Shino's men? And the archers? Weren't we planning on preparing for a battle with Onoda?"
"I've thought of that angle too and come up with a better plan. We don't know how strong Onoda's forces actually are but based on the reports, strong enough to take control of rural swaths of the south. Rather than risk the town and any potential information we could ascertain from the locals I propose a lighter security force of bodyguards and the elite archers to make it seem as though we're vulnerable."
"Won't we be?" Zuko pressed her. "The archers are good but they can't firebend and likely aren't capable of holding off a concentrated attack."
"That's where the other part of my plan comes in. In order to get Onoda to commit, we have to seem like we're a smaller force. After we leave Yan for Hira'a, we delay the movement of the army and then have them encamped just outside the town waiting to strike. In one fell swoop, the leader and his army will be destroyed piecemeal. It's a tactic grandfather Azulon often used against the Earth Kingdom when capturing the Hu Xin provinces."
"Your namesake," the Fire Lord said, the memory of the towering, intimidating man temporarily flashing in his mind. "History certainly rubbed off on you more than it did me."
"Trust me, this can work. I've gone over all the calculations in my head and covered all angles. This way we can achieve the primary objective with minimal loss to the peasantry. We can ask for more information about mother and Ikem while taking care of this little rebel problem."
Zuko knew that his sister wasn't doing this simply out of the goodness of her heart. Azula rarely did anything out of pure altruism, however, in this case he trusted she had both of their interests in mind. After all they wanted the same thing at the end of the day. It upheld her promise to him to support his rule while furthering the interest to find their mother.
"Alright," he relented. "You have my approval."
He called for one of his guards, took out a piece of paper and began to jot down the order.
"Issue this to Captain Li immediately. No one else is to see it and will be enforced accordingly by Princess Azula."
"Yes, sir."
Once the guard left, Zuko turned back to his sister.
"There's one thing I still don't understand. How are you going to get the proper intel dressed like that?"
"Because I won't be in Royal attire. Ty Lee and I will disguise ourselves."
"Wouldn't it be easier simply to order them to give you the information?"
"Zuzu, you of all people should know that's not the best way to coax information out of people," Azula said with a shake of her head. "They'd get too excited being around any member of our family. Remember that our mother is still officially banished and the order has not been officially rescinded."
"Okay, then. But we're still scheduled to give speeches at the port of Yan today among other things. What about those?"
"Don't worry, I have that covered too. The beloved princess is about to come down with an illness that will prevent her from taking part in any festivities for the time being."
Zuko knew that whatever questions he raised would be answered thoroughly and directly by Azula. There was no sense in delaying the inevitable it seemed.
"Very well. Do what you need to."
"Excellent. I'll be spending the entire day preparing. I shall see you for dinner later on. Good day."
Zuko couldn't help but make one more observation before she left his room.
"You seem much more enthusiastic than usual. Yesterday you barely said a word about any of this."
Azula simply shrugged while placing a playful hand on his cheek.
"I'm merely doing what's necessary. Good things happen when you trust your dear sister. You'll see."
She strolled out of the bedroom and though Zuko did not see her expression, there was a sense of uneasiness in the pit of his stomach he did not like. For all the requests of trust made of him he could scarcely do so with anyone outside of a few people. And he sensed despite her seemingly foolproof plan, that Azula had an ulterior motive.
He just hadn't figured it out yet.
The city of Yan was actually quite beautiful and modern, similar to many others in and around the country. Outside of the capital itself, it was the largest port in the Fire Nation, home to a good portion of the Navy. It also provided a good deal of the domestic steel needed for tanks and other weapons. However, with the end of the war much of that industry was cut significantly, necessitating other forms of income for the city to enable prosperity for the citizenry.
The city and council explained that though the Navy operations provided a base for much of the working men, trade was now the primary economic driver. Now that the Earth Kingdom regained almost all of its former territory, the merchants and businessmen could no longer profit off the colonialism that enabled them to extract endless resources. However, there was still a great deal of homemade production as the Fire Nation was still far ahead of the other nations in terms of technology and advancement. There was also the Southern Water Tribe, currently in the midst of a modernizing rebuild which provided an opportunity to build more domestic machinery.
Therefore, Zuko focused his speech on the need to open the markets to all peoples, emphasizing that a more collaborative approach, combined with Minister Han and Aiko's progressive policies, would ensure stability for generations to come. He also vowed to send more troops to counter the growing threat from General Onoda, to the cheers of the crowd at hand.
Afterwards, in a closed door meeting a mutually beneficial proposal was given to Katara and Sokka to take to their father for approval, giving the Southern Water Tribe access to Yan, while also doubling raw material exports to aid in the current rebuild. A meeting would be set up between the two leaders in two months time. There were a lot of technical details to iron out, but in the end there was a celebration planned for that night in addition to a grand tour given by Mayor Ujano. He and the Council escorted them around with a contingent of soldiers, Aang, Katara, and Sokka. The stroll took place down main street which began from the harbor port all the way to the center of town on the top of the hill.
"...this entire street was built by Fire Lord Suzon, father of course to Sozin. It is one of the first rebuilding projects commissioned in the early stages of the modern era. And to your left, you'll see the statue of our founder Shodai. There is an interesting backstory to that let me tell you. He had a younger brother named Shodang who co-founded our city yet also caused all kinds of trouble…"
The Mayor was a well meaning man and Zuko tried to listen as respectfully as he could but he had a tendency to prattle on and on. Sensing the story would go on whether he was paying attention or not, he used the opportunity to inform his other three friends of the change of plan.
"Listen," he whispered to Aang. "Azula and I came up with a better idea on how to make this journey more productive."
"Really? What's that?"
"Does it involve a nefarious plot to throw this guy into the harbor?" Sokka joked which earned him a snowball to the face from his irritated sister.
"Well more like she planned it and I signed off on it," Zuko said and proceeded to explain the bulk of what was to occur. "And right now she's feigning sickness in order to properly prepare for it."
"That explains why Ty Lee isn't here," Katara surmised. "Azula will definitely want her aid in this."
"Do you really think it's best to leave yourself so open to Onoda?" Aang asked. "He could attack before your army has a chance to get there."
"That did occur to me but Azula is pretty sound when it comes to planning. Plus, worst comes to worst, I have the most powerful person on earth by my side."
Aang nodded but he didn't seem entirely convinced.
"I'd hesitate to use that kind of power in a town full of people but I will if it means saving you and them from Onoda. Hopefully we don't run into that problem at all."
"I hope so too, but you know our little group...uh how does Sokka put it?" Zuko asked.
"Weird stuff happens to us," Sokka finished for him. "Which also endows me with the power to tell way better stories than Mayor Mutton Chops over there. Did I ever tell you the one where I drank cactus juice in the desert?"
That earned him another snowball from Katara.
"You have a chance to learn real culture about the Fire Nation and all you do is crack jokes?" she lectured him.
"I have nothing against learning about Fire Nation culture, it's the way it's being presented. Big difference, Katara."
"Whatever," she huffed. "Come on, Aang. Let's see if he knows anything about some of the local businesses around here."
"Sure thing, sweetie."
The Avatar and the waterbender pulled ahead, hand in hand, seeking more information from the Mayor who had seemed to almost forget they were there in the middle of his informational tour.
Zuko chuckled a bit as Sokka wiped off the snow from his face but then a question entered his mind he hadn't thought of before that felt increasingly relevant.
"How do you deal with it?"
"Deal with what?" the warrior asked back, confused.
"Having a younger sister who's more powerful than you. Seems to me like it's a bit of an unfair disadvantage in having a sibling who can throw snowballs in your face any time she wants."
"Nah, it's cool. We have our ups and downs. But Katara and I are still a team. I come up with the plans, schedule, and jokes while she bends, mothers, and throws the occasional snowball. It's not a bad deal."
"Do you ever feel like you get the raw end of that deal?" Zuko inquired.
At this question, Sokka softened in a rare instance of open love and compassion.
"She's my sister. I don't mind getting the raw end of that deal. At the end of the day I'd do anything for her and she'd do the same for me."
He gave a curious look to his friend.
"Does this have anything to do with Azula?"
"I'd be lying if I said it didn't," came the honest response. They came to a clearing at the center of town which contained the statue of Shodai, a tall man with a wispy mustache and stern looking eyes boring down on all those who witnessed him. "Azula and I's relationship only recently stabilized and even then it's not always easy to be emotionally open with each other. Guess it's not in either of our natures."
"Must be something in the water inside that palace," Sokka cracked. "But...in all seriousness, relationships need time to grow, especially when they weren't given any to begin with. Believe me, I'm aware of what your sister is capable of and I don't think she's up to anything underhanded. What does she have to gain by doing so?"
Zuko didn't know. He had come to appreciate, even love Azula but there were times where she still scared him. The search for their mother unified them presently but also carried the potential to divide. After all, deep down he knew that his sister still believed their maternal figure purposefully withheld affection from her in favor of himself. A point of contention yet left unresolved.
"This goes deeper than that," came the Fire Lord's reply. "I know Azula cares about me and I know she's changed a lot since when we were kids. But even now I have a sense that something else is driving her and I have no idea what that is. I mean how did you feel when Katara went after your mother's murderer?"
They both gazed upon the statue of Shodai, who's marble served as a nice backdrop for the bright blue up above. Even birds felt comfortable to visit.
"I don't know your sister like you do," Sokka told him, starting off slowly. "But I can tell you that the situation is different than it was with Katara. Our mother was dead and nothing could bring her back. There's still a chance for both of you to right the wrong done to you all those years ago. As unhelpful as it may sound, reconciling with a parent you haven't seen in a long time as opposed to one already buried requires a different type of response. Don't ruin that chance."
It was moments like these that made Zuko very thankful for Sokka's friendship, the first true one he'd ever made his own age. As goofy as he was on the outside he carried a tremendous amount of intelligence and ability to discern certain kinds of situations
"Thank you."
"No problem!" Sokka said, leading his way back to the main group where Aang and Katara had already rejoined and were waiting on them. "Now let me regale you on that cactus juice story, I bet you're really going to laugh after you hear it…"
The official word from the Fire Lord and his entourage was that the princess was feeling unwell and therefore would not be attending the official ceremony at Hira'a. However, it was all according to Azula's plan. Only she, Zuko, and Captain Li knew of the true plan, the latter of whom objected slightly fearing that the loss of the army would leave them vulnerable. But in the end, he relented in the face of a direct order.
And what plan would be complete without Ty Lee?
The former acrobat was in the rare position of being the closest confidant and actual 'friend' Azula technically had alongside Mai. Officially she held no position other than being a Kyoshi Warrior and a bodyguard for the Fire Lord and yet was just as visible in and around the palace as any general or courtier. It wasn't something she often thought about but then again the princess held that kind of power.
Ty Lee was actually quite happy to go along and help Azula find her mother. Mostly for empathetic reasons of course but there was a hidden aspect to this unmentioned as of yet. Being part of the Kyoshi Warriors for over two years wore a bit thin at times, though she loved her group and bonded well with the other girls, it clashed with her internal desire to be her own unique person as much as possible, which was why she felt equally grateful to Suki for granting her the leave. Having six sisters that looked and sounded exactly like you would do that to a person. An additional result came the inevitable clash of sibling rivalry. And Ty Lee knew sibling rivalry.
Which was another reason for agreeing to be a part of the trip. The Fire Nation Royal Family held many secrets but she was privy to more than a few and well aware that the controversy surrounding Zuko and Azula's mother was not merely something that united them but could easily pry apart the relationship both had worked so hard to build.
Anyone could see that the young Fire Lord's views and actions were heavily shaped by the trauma he experienced at the hands of his father, after all he had the scar to prove it. But though Azula was much more guarded with her emotions Ty Lee could see that she was equally as shaped by her mother. The difference lay in that Zuko had been able to let go of his anger and rage stemming from the abuse. The same could not be said for the younger sibling nor the parent in question. The Lady Ursa was not a cruel, callous woman to her own recollection, but the clear disconnect between her and her daughter was playing out to this day.
The former acrobat could see that happening in slow motion. She had no problem following Azula's lead in this plan but that was also a big part of her presence: to ensure her friend did not lose sight of herself through the process.
I just hope she destroyed that letter. There's no way she didn't...right?
The inklings of doubt still resided in Ty Lee and she disliked that immensely not only as a matter of trust but because it threw off her aura. Though she had to admit that there was more than one aura out of place, which is why she resolved to keep an eye on her best friend.
Thankfully, she did like flying on Appa which raised her spirits. She and Azula were in civilian clothing as a disguise though Aang retained his usual monk robes. Katara and Sokka also made no attempts to hide the fact that they were Water Tribe.
"So let me get this plan straight one more time," Sokka said for about the third time. "Zuko and Aang will take care of all public relations while the rest of us search about the town for more information about your mom and this 'Ikem'? All the while Azula will pretend she's sick without anyone noticing anything out of the ordinary?"
"You've proved your audio skills are sufficient I suppose," Azula quipped.
"Just wanted to make sure I heard everything correctly before this happens...but aren't you missing something?"
"Don't believe I am."
"Oh right nothing, just a small crucial detail." the warrior retorted back with emphasis. "You're the princess of the Fire Nation. People are going to know who you are when you talk to them."
"If you knew anything about our culture, you wouldn't be asking such asinine questions. The Royal Family rarely makes public appearances and even when we do, only a handful in the capital are able to witness such ceremonies. I doubt there's a single peasant in Hira'a who knows what I look like."
"It's true," Ty Lee told him. "I remember wondering what the Royal Family did until I actually met Azula when we were eight. Then it wasn't such a mystery anymore," she added with a giggle.
"However it was, it's the only real chance to do some reconnaissance without being disturbed by mobs of citizens."
"And Katara and I are just next door neighbors, or what?" Sokka said with a healthy degree of skepticism.
Azula finished pulling her own hair into a topknot while adjusting her cloak to ensure nothing was out of place.
"Remember that with my brother on the throne, all of his allies become popular by default with the common people. They won't hesitate to talk to anyone associated with him or me."
"And what if the trail goes cold?" Sokka pointed out, leaning his head back in the wind up above. "What if no one knows anything about your mom or this guy she sent letters to?"
Azula knew he had a point but at this stage, it wasn't a good idea to think about given the purpose of their mission and just how far they'd come already. Conflicted as she was, there was no way the princess would willingly give up even without solid evidence their mother or her former lover wasn't anywhere near Hira'a.
"Sokka, stop. We're going to find something at this place. Just you wait."
"Oh sure, optimism girl strikes again. I swear you two team up in the strangest ways."
"We just have to make sure that we land in a spot that's not too close to the crowd that will inevitably be there," Azula said. "Be careful Avatar, this is a heavily forested area of the Fire Nation."
"Don't worry about a thing, Azula," Aang called back over his shoulder in his usual chipper manner. "Appa and I have plenty of experiences landing in unfamiliar places. We'll get you to where you need to be without any hassle."
Ty Lee made a silent resolve to make this process go as smoothly as possible. This went beyond a normal field trip for their little gang and everyone knew it.
Best to keep everyone in check
"We're coming up on the town soon," Aang reminded them all. "Hang on tight, we're almost there."
As the flying bison began its descent, the former acrobat began preparing for whatever they might find. Somehow, she was sure that the cutie would be wrong at the end of this journey.
They would find something here.
As Appa touched down on the town of Hira'a Azula felt better than she had in a long time. No it wasn't because the cheering townsfolk or adoration, they didn't know she was there after all, this was a chance to accomplish real field work, a tangible way of actually unraveling the mystery of their mother's appearance. And better yet, they were doing it her way.
It didn't take long for her and Ty Lee to sneak around and slip into the crowd that was awaiting them. Looking around, she saw that the town was indeed small, with scattered shops, buildings, and homes sitting adjacent to a forest which lay to the east. But there was a larger horror awaiting them as well. The town itself was severely damaged- many of the shops and prominent buildings were burned and there was an excess of rubble and debris lying about in the dirt, certainly not an ideal place for a welcome ceremony. Even so, a large crowd of its inhabitants had shown up to greet them.
A construction of a large podium was made for the Fire Lord and Avatar while the mayor greeted them warmly. Decorations, festive food, and a banner was made in accordance with their arrival.
"Welcome your highness to our humble town. It is an honor to have both the ruling monarch and the Avatar, keeper of the peace, grace us with their presence. I am Mayor Jun-Kim."
"The pleasure is all mine, Mayor Kim."
The man, a small, thin man with a wispy mustache and balding, black hair bowed and then beckoned towards the people.
"Citizens of the town. I bring you Fire Lord Zuko and Avatar Aang! We are saved!"
There was cheering of course, but underneath her black and red hood Azula noticed several of the inhabitants with severe bags and worry lines spread across their features, young and old. This had not been the case in the previous two towns and she made a point to find out why.
"My Lord, will you allow us to present you with our most beloved play from our acting troupe?" Mayor Kim asked. "It is a tradition here in our village to perform 'Love Amongst the Dragons'. And it was one of the few things we were able to salvage"
Azula had to resist laughing out loud at the look on her brother's face, which failed to completely hide the apprehension.
"Yes, Mayor. That will be most….enjoyable."
"Then let us begin! Official business can wait until later."
Ty Lee gave a curious look.
"Why does that play sound familiar? And why does Zuko look like he wants to barf?"
"Because it's the play our mother used to take us to every year on Ember Island. You of course remember that particular acting troupe."
Ty Lee frowned, remembering all too well her portrayal as an overweight, ditzy ballerina.
"Yup."
"Father, Zuko, and I were bored to tears with it, but apparently this is where our mother's nostalgia for it comes from."
"Hopefully they do a better job than the other people."
Azula shrugged indifferently.
"Too bad we aren't sticking around to find out. We have intel to gather. Let's go."
Katara and Sokka were no doubt already doing their own investigating so it was time to do theirs. She certainly wouldn't miss another rendition of the play they'd already seen a thousand times before.
Slipping away from the crowd, Azula set her mind keenly to the task at hand, her best friend in tow.
People carried various strengths and weaknesses. For example, awkward as it was to admit it, Ty Lee was much more of a 'people' person than she was despite her ability to detect lying and truth telling. Emotionally, the former acrobat was practically an empath, which was another useful attribute to have during this fact finding mission. Of course, for the princess, her knack for noticing the small details others did not was also invaluable.
Traveling around the town, Azula didn't think much of it. For all the advancements the Fire Nation made in the last one hundred years, there was still no shortage of small villages that largely relied on agriculture or fishing. Many of the residents appeared to live on the outskirts of town, however that seemed to be changing rapidly. A simple play wouldn't draw a crowd that large for a town.
Walking towards the eastern end of the town, Azula noticed more signs of a firefight with damaged property to match. Scorched wood was quite evident and some of the buildings had even collapsed.
Firebending. There was a battle here
Though most of the townsfolk were occupied with the play, a few stragglers were clearing the damage in the street, including an elderly man who looked to be in his mid seventies with white hair and a traditional top knot and beard. He was currently overstepping some of the rubble, lifting much of it with his hands in a surprising show of strength.
He'll do
"Good day to you sir," Azula spoke politely enough as they approached. "My friend and I are travelers from the northern reaches visiting some distant relatives. This is all very surprising. Could you tell us what happened?"
The old man regarded them curiously but his response was even enough.
"The north eh? Consider yourself lucky. Those renegades attack this area at least once a week. We aren't always the target, they haven't tried going as far west as Yan but make no mistake we're the front lines here. Consider the state of my shop."
Azula nodded, acknowledging the point.
"And is this the extent of the damage? Do they kidnap anyone? Attempt further sabotage?"
"A small battalion of soldiers is stationed around here but they got their hands full. The town has to make do with what we have. They won't get me without a fight that's for sure." The old man turned and showed a large burn on the upper part of his back.
Ty Lee's eyes practically brimmed with tears as she clasped her hands together in deep empathy.
"Oh you poor man," she said running up to him. "Are you okay?"
"Don't worry about me missy," the old man said appreciatively. "Been around awhile and seen a few things. It's the town I worry about. People are beginning to lose faith. No one says it out loud but you can see it in their eyes...it's the Fire Lord's duty to protect his people. And allowing these hooligans to run wild is no way to do that."
Azula made special note of that. The same tired, worn expression was in this man the same as everyone else. She was quite familiar with what he was feeling: disillusion. Extraordinarily dangerous to a monarchy.
"I quite agree," she remarked. "We will leave you to your business."
Bowing to each other, the princess remembered one last question, almost in disbelief that she forgot.
"Oh pardon me, do you happen to know if a woman named Ursa lives around here? Or a man named Ikem?"
The old man shook his head.
"Can't say I do."
"Surely there must be a way to know."
It was only one lead, and she would talk to every single person in this town if she had to but why waste time scouring the whole town when there were quicker ways of doing so?
"The town has an official records building back towards the middle of town. Got the birth of everyone who ever lived here. Might wanna be quick. Everyone will be watching that play."
"So why aren't you?" Ty Lee asked curiously to which the old man shrugged.
"Gotta clean up the shop."
That was all Azula needed to hear, beckoning to her best friend to follow.
It really is that simple. Of course, there may be a greater connection here than I originally thought
There was a sudden noise behind her, the smallest of cracks, faint, but loud enough for the keen ears of the princess to detect it. Quick as a flash she turned her head and within a split second thought she spotted a black shadow move about in the distant brush. However, given her ongoing hallucinations it was also equally as likely due to paranoia.
"Azula?" Ty Lee asked. "Something the matter?"
"It's nothing. Let's go find whoever's in charge of the census around here."
Finding the records hall was simple enough, (a brown and maroon building that was two stories and one of the few relatively untouched) what they didn't count on was the stuffiness and irritability of the man in charge. A portly man, with small, beady eyes and a belly that reminded her of the gut her Uncle Iroh once sported. But his demeanor was anything but charming.
"Absolutely not," he said to them. "It is the strict policy of the Fire Nation and all of its bureaucrats to restrict the access of these records to officials and monarchy only."
If only you knew I could have you fired quicker than it takes to snuff out a spark you pathetic little troll
"Surely it would not be violating any protocol to acquiesce to such a minor demand?" Azula tried to reason though her patience was already wearing thin.
"Hmph, if I allowed you to view them then by extension I must allow anyone who walks in here to do so. Proper procedure must be maintained."
The princess rolled her eyes at the naivety.
"Really, no one besides yourself has ever seen the birth record of someone who lives in a place such as this? I find that truly hard to believe."
The man began to sweat a bit and Azula knew damn well that this man had likely received and committed several 'favors' over the course of his short career. Very few were above such patronage, especially among the privileged given that she exercised the same patronage regularly. To be deterred by some fat, semi competent civil servant was not an option.
"I don't have to explain myself to peasants," the portly man sniffed. "Away with you."
That statement nearly broke her temper. Even in disguise, the princess despised being denied her due in rank and had half a mind to summon her azure flames as a method to this man pissing in his robes, ready to take in every moment of the humiliation. However, before she could enact such drastic measures, Ty Lee stepped in at the last moment.
"Aww that's too bad," she said sweetly, stepping closer to the wooden counter, doe eyes blinking flirtatiously.
"W-what do you mean?" the bureaucrat asked nervously.
"Well I was just going to say how much I admire your dedication to your job. It's a quality anyone should value in a man."
"I uh-"
"And," Ty Lee cut in. "I think I'd like to get to know someone like that a little better. Would it really be so bad if you helped out my friend here...cutie?"
By now, the former acrobat was tracing circles around the back of the man's hand, clearly enticing him in a way that impressed even Azula. There was no way someone like Ty Lee would ever engage with an egg headed loser such as this which made it all the more entertaining. True to form, he relented.
"I-I guess it's okay this one time," the records keeper said, blushing while tugging at his collar. "Hang on, I'll be right back."
Azula gazed at her best friend with an amused expression whilst he was gone.
"You know, sometimes I think you're a little more ruthless than you let on, Ty Lee."
"What? It's for a good cause," she responded a bit sheepishly.
This was exactly what the former acrobat had been brought along for...well not the only thing. But one could always count on Ty Lee's feminine charms in a pinch. Men practically ate out of the palm of her hand.
Just then the bureaucrat returned with a whole mess of scrolls and papers jumbled about, very aware that the pretty girl in front of him was wiggling her fingers at him.
"Right um…who was it you said you were looking for again?"
"A woman named Ursa."
The portly man fumbled about, muttering the name to himself multiple times as he traced his finger down the list.
"Ah yes, here we are. Ursa, daughter of Jinzuk and Rina. Born nearly forty years ago not far from here near the north side of Hira'a."
That was certainly something to go off of and Azula pressed for more, ignoring the urgency that must have been apparent in her voice.
"Where do they reside? Are her parents still alive?"
The man again hesitated to reveal more but Ty Lee blowing him another kiss helped push him along.
"I'm sorry but both Jinzuk and Rina died years ago of illness. They were quite elderly at the time. But I can show you their address."
Azula leaned over and took a quick glance at the number and name on the list, making mental note of it.
"Hmmm and what about a man named, Ikem?"
There was no mistaking it, there was true fear in the eyes of this man, but not from her.
"Ikem hasn't lived here for years….I-I have no idea where he went. Here's his last known residence, though."
The princess looked at the scribble on the page and then back up at the pathetic bureaucrat. He was nervous, but unlike most nervous people, she could sense he was not lying. Not directly anyway. Ty Lee's feminine charms wouldn't do much good here.
Not much to go off of. We'll need to do more
"Thank you for your service," she said loftily waving a hand. "We'll be on our way."
"See ya later, sweetie!" Ty Lee called back, leaving the record keeper simultaneously speechless and longing for more.
Resisting the urge to chuckle at the sad hope of the egghead ever seeing Ty Lee again, Azula exited the building only for the familiar sensation of being watched returning, only this time it was much stronger. Being that there was no one else around (everyone was watching 'Love Amongst the Dragons') it was much easier to discern a black masked figure leaping out of sight from her peripheral version. He was good, but she was better.
This time, however, she did not make mention of it to her friend and preferred to move on her way to the next destination. There was plenty to discuss with Zuko but one thing was becoming abundantly clear to her.
Someone was keeping tabs on them and it was symbolic of something much greater at work.
Years had not changed Zuko's taste, or rather distaste, for certain forms of entertainment. While 'Love Amongst the Dragons' was certainly a better performance in the hands of the Hira'a acting troupe, it didn't do much to replace the memories of the horrible version he was forced to endure as a child.
'I'm going to be the blue dragon!'
'Aww Azula, why do you always get to be the blue one? I'm older.'
'Just deal with it dum dum.'
The Fire Lord smiled at the memory. Of course, it wasn't all bad. In those days, Azula wasn't quite as cruel or vindictive as she would later become and father a man content to sleep during such occasions rather than bark out constant cruelty. And mother...well he just hoped to hear her soft, soothing voice one more time. That's why they were here after all.
His heart was practically aching. Though his sister probably did not feel the same way the loss of Ursa impacted them all in various ways. For Azula it was the memory of not being loved enough, for him it was the love itself, a time of life where there was a protector, a guiding star in the impossible, crazy mess that was the Royal Family.
I really hope Azula finds something we can use. For all we know mom isn't even here
His train of thought was interrupted when Mayor Kim told him it was time for intermission.
"My apologies, my Lord. May I have a word with you and the Avatar before the second half starts?"
Trying to appear as though he was fully invested in the play and not daydreaming Zuko adjusted himself. Aang apparently had nearly fallen asleep as well as he shot up with a jolt.
"Of course. You don't mind do you Aang?"
"Not at all."
He indicated to his guards the need for privacy, getting up from his specially prepared seat and went around the bend of the stage.
"I do hope you've enjoyed our production thus far. It's been a tradition in our village for quite some time," the mayor said brightly.
"Oh, yeah. I'm uh very familiar actually. Our mother used to take us to see this particular play every year. It was her favorite."
"She has wonderful taste, indeed."
Zuko was half tempted to ask the mayor if he knew anything about his mother but refrained, knowing that revealing the true purpose of his visit was not wise at the moment. Aang rescued him from such temptation.
"Mayor, I don't mean to be insensitive but what happened here? Your town is half destroyed and though we're flattered by the production we should probably talk about that too."
The smiling facade on Kim's face finally fell. He looked almost relieved.
"We do not want to appear disgruntled or discontent among the Fire Lord," he explained sadly.
"Think nothing of it," Zuko said warmly. "That's why I'm here. To protect you and restore order here."
"Tell us what we can do."
The full backing of the two most powerful people in the world seemed to lift the Mayor's spirits however his face remained weary.
"General Onoda's attacks have grown more frequent. There was one last week you no doubt heard about but it won't be long until he strikes again. All along the southern islands and forestry he continues to ravage the villages and the people living there."
"And he attacks with no true purpose? Merely to destroy?"
Mayor Kim shifted uncomfortable and pulled out a sheet of paper from his robe and handed it to Zuko while Aang peered over. On it was a picture of the Fire Lord's face proclaiming the words, "Destroy the usurper! Citizens of the Fire Nation, take back what is yours!"
Zuko couldn't help but recall his uncle's words about how Onoda was the one of the most ideological devoted generals in the Fire Nation, a perfect disciple of his father.
"We knew Onoda was rebelling against Zuko's rule," Aang mused. "But why attack the people you're supposedly trying to help? That doesn't make any sense."
"Because he's trying to demoralize them," the Fire Lord answered thoughtfully. It didn't take a genius like his sister to recognize that. "He knows that if I appear weak and unable to deal with him effectively that it will undermine public trust in the monarchy."
"May I speak candidly, sire? " Mayor Kim asked him, bowing to show respect.
"Please do."
"It is more than just morale, it is honor. Onoda is trying to convince commoners and nobles alike that you have disrespected our Nation by stopping the war and making peace with the other nations. That since you did not defeat your father in a proper duel it makes you a usurper."
"I'm well aware of that," Zuko countered. "But I do not intend to let this pass unchallenged. Nor allow further damage to our nation or our people."
"They look to you. We all do. The soldiers here are too few to hold back Onoda's men. Each attack is larger and more concentrated than the last. Where is the army? The convoy that was supposedly to arrive with you?"
It was then that the Avatar stepped in a show of good faith to calm the nerves of this man who he could see was cracking under the loss of what little control he had.
"Mayor Kim, please trust Fire Lord Zuko. Trust in me. We have a plan and I swear to you no further harm will come to you. We will find Onoda and we will bring him to justice."
It was then the Mayor's turn to make a personal appeal to most powerful being in existence.
"Avatar Aang, it is said you abhor violence but will do what is necessary to protect the innocent. You have faced Ozai before. Let me tell you, Onoda is not as powerful but he carries the same philosophy. Please be aware if you find him he may not go...quietly."
Aang bowed respectfully, ever playing the humble monk.
"I understand. I will do everything in my power to stop him."
Zuko knew that the airbender would never kill anyone and now carried the ability to rob someone of their bending without taking their life. He was quite certain almost no one else knew that besides the group, but he didn't see the harm in letting the Mayor make his own interpretations. A thought then occurred to him that he realized he should have asked sooner.
"Mayor, you said these attacks occur about once a week give or take. My Council and I have a rough idea of their location but it's been difficult to pin down. Where do Ononda and his men attack from?"
A simple arm pointing east was all the clue he needed.
"They hide out in the forest which borders the southern coast. But it is a perilous place. None of our townsfolk dare to wander there."
Zuko and Aang looked at each other, eyebrows raised.
"Any particular reason why?"
The Mayor could only swallow in fear as the second act of the play was announced to begin.
And that is the end of Chapter 7! As you can see, the plot continues to thicken!
New update later this month before Halloween!
~The Wasp