Earth King Kuei sat on his throne and gave his best friend head scritches. Bosco tilted his head, allowing Kuei to reach that special spot between his ears that felt so good.
The King's fancy doors opened, admitting a single Dai Li agent. The agent seemed to glide up the walkway, stopping before the throne and bowing with his hands clasped behind his back.
"Your Majesty," said the agent.
The Earth King lifted his hand. "Rise, and make your report."
Bosco made an annoyed grunt. Every time the Dai Li came, the scritches stopped. And they were so creepy!
Bosco didn't like the Dai Li very much.
"Princess Azula continues to behave so far, but still shows clear signs of displeasure with her situation. She may or may not be formulating a plan to take you down."
The Earth King considered this. "Not much change from the last report. Does she still practice her firebending?"
"Yes, almost every day. The only exception was yesterday and the day before. She spent the night at a home in the Lower Ring, and did not practice her bending come morning. The day before she slept in."
The King nodded. "What was she doing in the Lower Ring?"
"The princess and her guards went clothes shopping in the Middle Ring. The princess was not aware that passports were required to access the Upper Ring and spent the night with a coworker who we believe already knows her identity. This was confirmed when the coworker woke the princess up using her real name, instead of her alias. The princess lashed out at first, but calmed down upon waking up fully. Her guard was with her the entire time."
Kuei steepled his hands and processed what he was just told. Besides the highest Earth Kingdom officials, the Dai Li, her uncle, and her guards, at least one commoner knew who Azula really was. This commoner also happened to work with her. Kuei wondered how she found out.
"Make sure no one else finds out about the princess' true identity," he commanded the Dai Li agent.
The agent bowed. "As you wish. It is unlikely she will reveal herself further, as she already has obtained a passport with her alias for travel into the Upper Ring."
Kuei nodded, making a mental note to review the process for obtaining a passport. It was important that Azula use a fake name, but the thought of others being able to obtain a passport with an alias made him uncomfortable. Untold problems could come about with that.
"Thank you. Do you have anything else to report?"
"There was an unusual increase of activity in the Lower Ring on the night the princess spent with the commoner. A number of people seemed to be sneaking around using earthbending. However, this seems unconnected with the princess, as they ignored the house she was in entirely."
The Earth King waved his hand dismissively. "It was probably just some common criminals trying to stay out of sight. Nothing for the Dai Li to concern themselves with, leave it to the City Guard."
The agent nodded his assent. "As you wish, Your Majesty. That is all."
"You are dismissed." The agent bowed once more and promptly turned, gliding his way out of the throne room. Kuei sat back on his throne. Bosco made a questioning noise.
"Two years ago, I was forced off my throne by a girl a little over ten years my junior. I was a foolish and weak king, blind to the machinations going on right under my nose." Kuei turned to Bosco, looking his furry friend in the eyes. "I will not allow it to happen again."
Bosco grunted an affirmative noise. He wanted to support his human however he could.
Kuei returned his hand to Bosco's head and once more began to scratch him absentmindedly. Bosco leaned into the affection, but the King's mind was far away.
"Never again," he promised.
0-0-0
Zuko yawned as he looked through his mail. Reports, requests, nonsensical noble drama, all stuff that he didn't feel up to opening.
"Zuko, do you really have to do this at the breakfast table?"
"I'm the Fire Lord, Mom. I've gotta—" he yawned "—do my duties."
Kiyi giggled from next to him. "You said duty!"
"Kiyi, no potty talk at the breakfast table," said Ursa. "And Zuko, no Fire Lord duties at the breakfast table."
"But Mom—"
"No buts. Whatever it is can wait until after we've eaten. If there were anything truly important, they would inform you directly instead of giving it to you in a bundle of letters."
Zuko yawned again and internally conceded the point. Kiyi giggled some more.
"You said 'no butts,' Mommy."
"Kiyi," said Noren sternly. "What did your mother just say about potty talk?"
Kiyi sighed and rested her head on her hand. "Not to do it at the table," she grumbled.
Zuko set aside the messages he was reading and took up his chopsticks. Just as he was putting the food in his mouth, a servant came hurrying through the door.
"Your Majesty, a letter from General Iroh has arrived," said the servant.
Zuko swallowed quickly. "Thank you," he said, taking the letter and opening it.
This time his mother did not tell him to put it away. Zuko knew she was as eager as he was to hear updates about Azula. Recently, it seemed like Azula was doing tenuously okay. She clearly wasn't happy, from Iroh and Suki's letters, but she wasn't going out of her way to cause trouble either. Zuko remembered long days of working at Pao's Family Tea Shop, and how tiring it could be. Maybe that's why Azula wasn't trying anything; she just lacked the energy.
Zuko shook himself from his thoughts and turned his eyes to the paper.
Dearest Nephew and Sister,
I wish I were writing with better news. Azula has been having an extremely difficult time recently.
Not long ago, she and two of her Kyoshi guards went into the Middle Ring for shopping. Unfortunately, a passport is required for entry into the Upper Ring, and Azula did not know this. I myself neglected to get a passport for her, since I didn't expect her to leave the Upper Ring.
Azula was fine. She spent the night at Jin's house, and in the morning, I was able to take her and get a passport.
However, that night I heard her crying and whispering her name. I believe having an official document with her pseudonym is having an adverse effect on her. It sounded like she was having a crisis of identity. It hurt my heart to hear her crying, but I was unable to try to comfort her. I knew that any attempt to do so would only cause her to lash out, and draw herself in further. As difficult as it was to make that decision, I believe it is better for her to come to me when she is ready, rather than force consolation on her unwillingly.
I know you two have not written for fear of arousing Azula's anger and potentially unbalancing her mental health. I now think that may be an error. I can see that beyond the crisis of identity, Azula clearly misses the Fire Nation. She puts Fire Nation spices on every meal, and continues to wear her hair in the traditional topknot. I think it might be nice if you sent some things from home to help her through this difficult time. Something familiar.
I also think it would be ideal to have a Fire Nation passport made up for her. Hearing her whisper her name over and over was truly heartbreaking, and I think it might be beneficial for her to have a written, official reminder of her name.
I know this letter is full of sad news. If it is any consolation, Jin continues to get along with Azula. I think, in time, she may prove to be a true friend to Azula.
Please, do not give up hope. I remember taking care of another teenager, full of anger and resentment. His progress was not linear, and neither will Azula's be. She will have good days and bad days, and I will try to be here for her through it all.
Love always,
Iroh
Zuko frowned at the letter, and passed it to his mother to read. As Ursa's eyes scanned the letter, tears began to slip down her face.
"Mommy? What's wrong?" asked Kiyi.
Ursa sniffed and wiped her eyes with her sleeves. "Your sister is having a very difficult time in Ba Sing Se. I just… I feel so badly for her."
Zuko also felt badly for Azula, but tried to keep in mind the words Iroh had written at the end of the letter. "Trust me, Mom, Azula will make it through. I did. I made many mistakes and faced many obstacles on my road to growth, and so will she. But I had Uncle, and so does she. She'll be okay."
Ursa took in a quick breath, pursing her lips and closing her eyes. Noren took her hand in his, gazing at his wife with sympathy and love. Zuko rubbed his chin, thinking to himself.
Kiyi looked at all the grown-ups around her.
"Why are you guys so sad? I thought Azula was mean to you, too."
Zuko cringed, but he knew it was an innocent question. Kiyi had witnessed Azula try to kill their mother, and was later kidnapped by Azula for… some reason. Zuko still really couldn't wrap his head around Azula's goal that time. He sometimes wondered if she even understood her goal herself.
Plus, Kiyi was only seven. And she was raised in a healthy family. How could she comprehend the complexities of Azula's situation?
Before he could explain, Ursa placed her arm across Kiyi's shoulders, and looked Kiyi in the eye.
"She's family, Kiyi. I'm her mother, I can't just give up on her."
Kiyi scrunched up her face. "But no one is trying to make Ozai good."
Zuko wondered how she knew about that, then dismissed it. He had changed the school curriculum in his first year as Fire Lord, and children were much more perceptive than anyone gave them credit for.
Ursa winced at the mention of Ozai's name, but leaned down to be closer to Kiyi.
"That's different, Kiyi. Ozai was a grown man. He had every opportunity to choose to be good, but he ignored them.
"Azula, however, is still a child. She's older than you, but still a child. And she was raised to believe that fighting was good, and that kindness was weak. It will be very hard for her to learn that kindness is not a weakness, and that she doesn't always need to fight. She needs to be shown a better way. And even if she doesn't choose to take it…" Ursa choked up a bit, but soldiered forward, "…we owe it to her to give her the choice. To choose kindness rather than violence. Does that make sense?"
Kiyi furrowed her brows. "I guess?"
Ursa smoothed Kiyi's hair and kissed her forehead. "Azula is proof that I'm not lying when I say there is nothing that will ever make me stop loving you. Because I will never stop loving her."
Kiyi nodded.
Zuko stood up, taking his plate with him. "I'm sorry to leave in the middle of breakfast, but I should get to work. I'm going to request a passport be made for Azula, and for the process to be expedited if possible. We should get that to her sooner rather than later."
Ursa nodded. "I'll see if I can find any of her old toys. Iroh said it might be good for her to have something familiar."
"Do you really think she'll appreciate toys?" asked Zuko, remembering how Azula burned the doll Iroh sent her during the Siege of Ba Sing Se.
"She probably won't admit it, but if she misses home as much as Iroh makes it seem, then she'll likely be happy to have familiar things. I'll try to find her old blanket, too. And write down some Fire Nation recipes. That'll taste better than just putting spices on everything.
Ursa was talking as much to herself as she was to Zuko. Zuko nodded and left the table, plate of food in one hand, stack of letters in the other.
"I'll see you guys at lunchtime," he said, before striding out into the hallway.
0-0-0
The former Dai Li agents holed up in an abandoned warehouse in the Lower Ring. Since there was no longer a war to deny, Dai Li presence in the Lower Ring was vastly reduced, and so chances of detection were also greatly reduced.
It hurt to be acting like common squatters, but this humiliation would pay off in time.
Long Feng sat down at an earthbent desk and penned a letter to the Dai Li agents still in the Fire Nation.
My Brothers,
Our organization has been reduced to a shadow of what it once was.
We have been humiliated by a weak king and a mere child. This cannot stand.
I call on all my brothers-in-arms to ready themselves. Swear allegiance to me once more, and I will make sure we are avenged.
The world will tremble at our feet. All we must do is wait for the proper time to strike.
Then, we shall take down the puppet King and the Fire Lord in one fell swoop.
Keep an ear to the ground.
—Your Leader
Long Feng didn't even consider signing his own name. That would be basically giving himself away. He also did not mention the Dai Li by name. His agents would be able to read between the lines, and if his message was intercepted, it would likely be vague enough that it couldn't be traced back to him.
Long Feng handed the message to an agent, who bowed and left to take it to the Fire Nation personally. As the Dai Li were still wanted fugitives in the Fire Nation, this was not the kind of message one could just strap to a messenger hawk and let fly. It would take a long journey to establish contact, and it would take longer still to hear a reply.
Oh well. Neutral jing. Waiting for the proper time was the ethos of earthbending.
Long Feng steepled his fingers. Now he would have to figure out exactly how to go about retaking power. So many variables to consider, so many ways he could doom himself.
But Long Feng was nothing if not patient.
Author's Note:
So, we finally get a peek into how others are perceiving the situation, and at what Iroh was writing at the end of Chapter 10.
I want to make something clear: this fic is meant to be canon compliant even with the comics, (at least, the comics that have been released as of the publishing of this fic). I know people have issues with the comics, and I can see where they come from and believe everyone has a right to their opinions. Still, I enjoyed the comics.
I'm not trying to bash Ursa or Kiyi. I think Ursa was trying her best in a tough situation, but hindsight is 20/20. Even in the comics she apologizes to Azula. As for Kiyi, I love her so much! She's so cute and sweet to Zuko! I'm worried that she comes off as annoying here, and I don't want that. First of all, as anyone with experience with young children knows, children like toilet humor, so that's why she's doing that. Also, as I mentioned, Kiyi watched Azula attempt to kill their mom, and was later kidnapped by Azula. Naturally, she would have problems with Azula, and not fully understand why her mother cares so much about Azula (Kiyi is only seven, after all).
I hope this came through clearly in my writing, but I'm just putting that here in case it didn't.
Please tell me what you think of this chapter! Comments are greatly appreciated!
:D