Azula marched up to the front of the small weathered shop, glaring at the rotting wooden walls. The door had fallen loose from its hinges, giving way to a simple curtain that now hung in front of the entrance, while the sign out front had faded to a point where its words were no longer legible. What a disastrous looking establishment. Not surprising, considering its location in one of the poorer districts of Harbor City.

"So, this is the place?" she muttered, with a disgusted grimace. They really needed to do something about the poverty-stricken slums of this city. Disgraceful, all of it, a blemish on the grandeur of the Imperial capital.

"According to our reports, yes," Anraq said.

Yula folded her arms. "It doesn't look like much, if you ask me."

"Looks can be deceiving, as the saying goes." Azula glanced over her shoulder, shifting her gaze between Anraq, Yula, and Zuko standing behind behind her. A procession of Imperial Guards waited in formation on the other side of the street. "Let's pay a visit, shall we?"

Azula led the way through the curtain. The moment her fingers brushed against the dusty fabric, she pulled her hand away and cringed. Such filth. Anraq, Yula, and Zuko followed her inside, while her guards remained out on the street. The shop interior was in no better condition than the outside, cluttered with various trinkets. Pottery, paintings, theater masks, worn tapestries, a full menagerie of random junk. A thick layer of dust caked the shelves and most of the merchandise. Azula's stomach churned at the sight.

With a quick glance around the shop, she found a man sitting behind the counter, his back turned. He stroked a paintbrush across white canvas, leaving behind careful and precise lines of dark ink to create the basis for a future painting. He didn't slow his brushstrokes as the group entered, fully concentrated on his work.

"I need to speak with the owner of this establishment immediately," Azula stated, stepping in front of the counter.

The man finally paused his brush. He sat straighter in his seat, but didn't turn around. "Ah, Dragon Empress Azula, Fire Lord Yula, Lord Zuko." Without even looking, he somehow knew who stood behind him. "And Anraq of the Southern Water Tribe."

Anraq lifted his brow in surprise. "You know who I am?"

"I am quite well-informed about the goings-on in this nation," the man replied. "It didn't take much digging to discover the identity of the empress' waterbending bodyguard."

Azula moved closer to the counter, narrowing a glare at him. "I don't appreciate people spying on my associates, Shopkeeper."

"I did no spying," he said, with a simple shake of his head. His brush began to move again, tracing another series of black lines across the canvas. "I simply have many connections to many people. Now, to what do I owe the honor of this visit?"

"First, you will tell me your name," she ordered. "And you will face your empress when speaking to her."

The man pulled his brush away from the canvas again. This time, he set it down, and turned in his seat to face them. He was an older man, wearing fine red and gold robes, with graying hair and the faintest signs of wrinkles creasing his face. His expression remained calm, and balanced. Perhaps his most notable features were his eyes, both of them seared as if by fire, with no color to them. Stark, dead white orbs, lifeless on his face.

"My apologies," he stated, with a simple bow of his head. "My name is Shin Tsang. A pleasure to formally meet you, Dragon Empress. How can I be of service?"

Azula stared at him, studying his burned eyes. Was he blind? No, couldn't be. How else would be be able to see them, let alone create a painting? If not blind, then how did his eyes function? They appeared to have been destroyed somehow, yet still his gaze followed her when she moved, as though he could see perfectly fine.

She shoved the thought out of her mind. Forget that. They were here for more important matters. Digging into her Dragon Empress robes, she retrieved one of the golden sun-shaped masks they had recovered from the assassins. "According to my sources, this is the only shop in the city that sells these masks. Is that true?"

"Ah, my Solar Festival masks." Shin Tsang took the mask and held it up to his face, examining it. Again, as though he could see. "Yes, I make these myself. They're quite popular during the summer solstice."

"Well, now a group calling themselves the Sun Warriors are using these masks," she countered. "They made an attempt on my life a couple weeks ago."

"Truly?" His brow lowered in thought, a frown creasing across his face. "I must admit, that is disturbing."

"Is it?" Azula leaned closer to him, glaring into those burned eyes of his. "How do we know you're not one of them? Perhaps you're personally providing those masks to them. Or maybe you're their leader. We should take you in right now for questioning."

Shin Tsang breathed a quiet sigh. "There's no need for that, Empress. I merely make and sell the masks. What happens to them after they leave this shop, I have no control over. I will cooperate in whatever way you wish of me."

Anraq stepped forward and took the mask back from the man. "A list of everyone who's ordered a mask like this in the past couple months will be enough, thank you."

Considering the Sun Warriors claimed they were trying to liberate the Fire Nation from Azula's empire, they most likely hadn't been formed until after the empire had been created, almost two months ago now. That narrowed their search.

"Oh, you won't be needing a list," Shin Tsang said, with a shake of his head.

"What are you talking about?" Azula reached forward and grabbed the man's collar, yanking him off his chair. "That's what we requested! You'll give us what we want or I'll throw you in the palace dungeon!"

"There's no need for threats, Empress." Shin Tsang's expression remained calm in the face of Azula's demands. "As I said, my masks are popular during the summer solstice. Beyond that, there isn't much desire for them. This time of year, when we're closing in on winter, I don't receive any orders at all. Except one."

Zuko hummed a contemplative breath, stroking a hand along his beard. "Are you saying there's only been a single order for one of your masks in the past couple months?"

He nodded. "That's correct, and I think you might find it interesting."

Azula released the man's collar, but retained a critical glare. "And why is that?

"Because it was a particularly large order," he explained. "Six weeks ago, a man named Ishida requested several dozen masks to be delivered to a warehouse on the other side of Harbor City. I worked night and day to complete the order, but only finished it a couple weeks ago. Right around the time these Sun Warriors would have attacked you, as you said."

"A warehouse?" Yula glanced towards her master. "The Sun Warriors could be using it as some sort of base."

"That's it!" Azula paced across the dusty floor of the shop, raising a hand to her chin. Her eyes flicked back and forth, churning with thought. "This Ishida must have ordered them for the Sun Warriors. Who is he?" She marched back in front of the shopkeeper and grabbed at his collar once more. "Tell us where to find him!"

Shin Tsang eased a deep exhale. "I'm afraid I only know his name, nothing more. However, I can give you the location of the warehouse I delivered the masks to."

"That will do fine, thank you," Anraq said. He stepped next to Azula and grabbed her hand, gently pulling her away from the counter. With a relenting huff, she allowed him to separate her from the man. "Azula, can I talk to you?"

She shot him a pointed glare. When their eyes met, a knotted pulse lifted into her throat. She pulled her hand away from his grasp and turned towards the exit with a flip of her golden cloak. "Very well. Zuzu, Yula, get the location of this warehouse, won't you? We'll be waiting outside."


Azula paced around the side of the shop with her arms folded. The Imperial Guard on the other side of the street didn't follow, remaining in formation until otherwise instructed. At least they knew how to do their jobs. When she was sure they were out of earshot, she turned to her bodyguard with a frustrated glare. "What is it, Annie? We're in the middle of an important investigation here. We don't have the time to be chitchatting."

He stared back at her, deep into her eyes. "I just wanted to ask if you're alright."

"What?" Azula shifted her eyes, looking away from him. "I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well, it just seems like you're getting a little obsessed over this."

"Obsessed?" She snapped her glare back at him. "I'm trying to put a stop to traitors who stand against my empire, and who have already attempted to assassinate me once! Until they are no longer a threat, nothing is more important!"

"I understand, Azula, but..."

"But what?"

Anraq's gaze softened. He took a step closer and reached out to her, holding a hand against her arm. "I think you're letting your anger control you. You're snapping at the smallest things, you're paranoid... I don't like seeing you like this."

Azula's first instinct was to tear away from his grasp. Her muscles tensed, but she didn't pull away. Had he been anyone else, she would have had him thrown in the dungeons for touching her out of turn. Not him. Every time he reassured her, she found herself leaning into it, embraced by a calming warmth that set her nerves at ease. The thought pulsed fire through her chest. How stupid. She was the Dragon Empress. She couldn't let herself be placated by some Water Tribe peasant.

With a deep breath, she steeled her gaze, pushed his reassurance out of her mind. "Careful how you speak to me, Annie. I may like you, but that doesn't mean I'll stand for insults."

"I wasn't..." Anraq paused, and pulled his hand away. "You're right, I'm sorry. I was just trying to help."

Her arms tightened across her chest, watching him shrink away. The steel in her gaze wavered. No, damn it, there she'd gone again and snapped. Why did she do that? She was supposed to doing things differently with Annie. Not like everyone else. Not like she had before.

"It's fine, relax," she insisted, reaching out to touch her own hand to his shoulder. That was how it was done, wasn't it? A touch to the shoulder, a gentle squeeze... Yes, that was how Annie reassured her. She could do the same for him. "Perhaps you're right. I need to be more composed in these matters. An empress can't afford to be paranoid or deluded." She calmed herself and stood straighter, inhaling a deep breath. "Which I most certainly am not."

Anraq nodded slowly, giving her a curious stare. "Of course not."

"Thank you, Annie. For your concern." Another deep breath, and she pulled her hand back. For a split second, her eyes softened with a foreign emotion. Something she'd seldom experienced before. Was that... appreciation? That's what it was called, wasn't it? Yes. She appreciated him, didn't she? How strange.

Yula appeared through the shop curtain a moment later, followed closely by Zuko. "We have the location."

"It's a secluded warehouse in the industrial district across Harbor City," Zuko said. "Shouldn't take long to get there."

"Very good." Azula inhaled another deep breath to compose herself, and returned to the palanquin at the center of her Imperial Guard. "Let's see if we can't flush out these Sun Warriors."


Thick sheets of rust coated the metal walls of the old warehouse, while most of the windows had either been boarded up or were broken. A forklift that had seen better days sat near the entrance—no wheels or lifting blades, and the steering wheel had been completely removed. The chain-link fence surrounding the property had half-disintegrated with rust, little more than a mangled mess that had been cut open and ripped to pieces. If anyone owned this warehouse, they hadn't used it in a long time.

"This is the place," Anraq said, with a careful look around. "Looks abandoned."

Azula marched towards the entrance. "Which makes it the perfect location for a hideout."

One of the Imperial Guards hurried to her side. She knew him as Captain Han, the head of her personal escort. "Empress, wait. Please, we insist that you remain outside while we investigate, for your own protection."

"No, I'll be leading." She didn't even look at him, continuing on her way towards the chained doors at the front of the warehouse. "If we find any Sun Warriors inside, I want to be there. I'll show them exactly what happens when they try to defy their empress." With a single blast of fire, she exploded the doors clean off their hinges. "Now, let's get on with this."

Darkness engulfed them within the interior of the warehouse, a darkness swiftly expunged by the open flames of multiple firebenders. Light poured through the shadows, illuminating the open warehouse floor. The storage chamber they found themselves in split down the center with a long partition, each side further divided by several rows of metal shelving that stretched from floor to ceiling. The shelves were empty for the most part, save for the occasional long forgotten storage crate or barrel.

"Looks like a pretty large building," Zuko said, with a careful glance towards both sides of the central partition. "Plenty of places to hide."

"Captain Han, take the Imperial Guard and investigate the east side of the warehouse," Azula ordered, as she set off towards the left side of the building. "Annie, Zuzu, Yula, we'll take the west."

Captain Han raised an uncertain brow. "Empress, are you sure? I don't think we should be separating, in case—"

"You heard me, Captain." She shot a sharp glare towards him. "Are you trying to disobey an order?"

"Uh, no, of course not. My apologies." He stiffened straight at attention with a firm a salute, before turning around to march towards the right side of the warehouse. The other guards fell into formation behind him. "Men, on me!"

Azula led her group towards the left, keeping her hand outstretched with a bright blue flame flickering in her palm. Combined with the light from Yula and Zuko's flames, they burned away any shadows in their path. Anraq watched their backs, his hand poised over the cork on his hip flask. No telling what they might find in here. Best to stay on guard.

"Keep an eye out for anything that looks out of place," Zuko said. "If I had to make a guess, I'd say they wouldn't be hiding out in the open. Chances are they have a hidden room, or an underground chamber."

"Man, why is it that secret organizations always have to hide out in the dark?" Anraq muttered. "For once, couldn't their base be a nice, well-lit office building?"

Azula glared at them over her shoulder. "Would you two be quiet? You're going to give away our—ow!" A sharp prick pierced the side of her neck. She immediately plucked a small object from her flesh and examined it—a blow dart. "What is this? Who's there?"

Yula's gaze snapped upward, eyes widening at the sight of several figures descending from the metal shelving. "Look out!"

Several men wearing sun masks landed between the group, crouched low and poised to attack. Anraq and Yula shifted their stances to attack. Too slow. The assailants popped several rapid, precise strikes to pressure points along their arms and legs. They both stumbled, as feeling siphoned from their limbs, replaced by a dull tingling.

Anraq fought the numbness, managing to wave one of his arms above his hip flask. The cork remained firmly in place. "What? I can't bend!"

"They're chi-blockers!" Zuko shot a blast of fire at the nearest assailant, but the masked man ducked and flipped out of the way. "Don't let them hit—aaghh!" Another chi-blocker lunged in from behind and delivered a series of paralyzing strikes to his ribs.

Zuko, Anraq, and Yula all fell back, defenseless against the assault. No bending, partial paralysis already setting in. With several more quick strikes, the chi-blockers dropped them to the floor.

Azula jumped backwards and unleashed a pair of massive fireballs from her fingers. The chi-blockers dove away to evade. Flames exploded through metal shelving, blasting a hole clean through the wall behind it. "How dare you! I'll destroy every last one of you!"

She slung fireball after fireball, keeping the chi-blockers at bay. Her gaze wavered across the others on the floor, crippled and helpless without their bending, unable to move. Distant memories raced to the surface. Mai's face ignited in her mind. Standing across from her, betraying her, distracting her. And then Ty Lee. Darting in, snapping quick strikes to her arms and legs. Collapsing, paralyzed, unable to bend. Unable to stop her only friends from turning against her. That helplessness surged through her again now, lifting nauseous panic into her throat. She would not allow these masked freaks to touch her!

The more she attacked, the weaker her flames became. Exhaustion washed through her, staggering her stance. She stumbled, and her arms dropped. Vision blurred. What was happening? Why did she feel so weak? One more attempt to lift her arms. Her knees buckled, legs giving out as she collapsed to the floor, motionless.

"What is this?" she uttered, voice cracking with distress. She strained against the paralysis, fought to move her muscles, to budge them even an inch. No use. She could only flick her eyes back and forth, watching the Sun Warrior chi-blockers approach her. "Why can't I move?"

"That would be the shirshu toxin coursing through your veins, Empress." A new Sun Warrior appeared, this one wearing white and gold robes. He leaped down from one of the twisted, melted shelves Azula had destroyed, and stood calmly with his hands held behind his back. Like the others, a golden sun-shaped mask hid his identity. "I must say, you are quite resilient for it to have taken that long to neutralize you."

"You fools! You think you can kill me?"

The man shook his head. "No, Azula, we're not here to kill you. That was never the plan. You're needed for something far more important."

Azula continued to struggle, desperation mounting with each passing second. Futile. This toxin, whatever it was, had completely paralyzed her. Fog swam through her mind. The Sun Warriors converged on her and placed a dark bag over her head, tying it tight around her neck. Moments later, her vision shifted out of focus, and the world faded.


"Don't you touch her!" Anraq heaved himself into a sitting position, as feeling slowly returned to his body. He guided his arm forward, but no water followed. Still couldn't bend. Didn't matter. Azula was in trouble, and spirits damn him if he couldn't stop these freaks from hurting her.

"I'm afraid you can't stop us, Anraq." The white-robed Sun Warrior glared at him with soulless voids, eyes shadowed by the mask. "You have no power now. Soon, the empire will be finished, and the Fire Nation will be free of this corruption." With that, he turned from them and gestured for the other Sun Warriors to continue. They lifted Azula's body off the floor, prepared to carry her away.

Zuko crawled next to Anraq, still shaken by the attack. His old hands quivered, fumbling at one of the pockets of his robe, unable to properly reach inside. "Anraq... in my pocket. Use it."

Anraq reached into the pocket and pulled out a small gold whistle in the shape of a dragon. "What is it?"

"Something that can help. I only hope there's enough time."

Anraq pressed the whistle to lips, giving a sharp, firm blow. No sound came out. No whistling, at least. Merely a dull hiss of air. He pulled it away, panic roiling hotter through his body. "It didn't work!"

"Oh, yes," Zuko assured, with a single nod. "It did."

"Hands off the Empress!" A wave of fire burst through one of the holes in the central warehouse partition, followed soon after by Captain Han. The other Imperial Guards followed closely behind. "Men, attack!"

The white-robed Sun Warrior glanced upward and gestured towards the ceiling. Another half dozen Sun Warriors leaped in from above. Not chi-blockers this time. Firebenders, as they descended with jets of flame scorching downward.

The team of both chi-blocker and firebender Sun Warriors clashed with the squad of Imperial Guards in a flurry of flames and precision strikes. Captain Han fell first, struck along the arms by a pair of chi-blockers. A wave of fire erupted against his chest, blasting him off his feet. Two more Imperial Guards fell victim to the same combination, while several others managed to push the Sun Warriors back. For a brief, fleeting moment, the battle appeared evenly matched. Not for long. Another wave of Sun Warriors emerged from the shadows and struck from behind. Within moments, the entire squad of Imperial Guards fell defeated.

The white-robed Sun Warrior stepped around the fallen guards and made his way back towards the unconscious Azula. "Now, where were we?"

"No!" Yula pushed herself up onto her elbows. She thrust her fist forward, a desperate attempt to firebend. Not even a dim ember. "Put Master Azula down at once!"

"Rest assured, Fire Lord, she will be well taken care of," he said, turning his gaze towards her. "Then, we'll be back for you."

Anraq staggered to his feet, arms held tight across his ribs. When he steadied himself, he waved his arms forward. Still nothing, as the water in his flask remained stationary. "Azula!"

The ceiling exploded in a shower of flames and twisted metal. Sun Warriors scattered, ducking for cover. Azula fell free from their grasp. As the Sun Warriors shifted their attention towards the gaping hole in the ceiling, they were greeted by the gaping maw of a large, seriously pissed off dragon. A searing jet of fire burst from the dragon throat, scorching a handful of fleeing Sun Warriors. They screamed, crumpling to the floor with fire incinerating their bodies.

The dragon slipped through the hole in the ceiling and crashed to the floor of the warehouse, putting himself between Azula and the Sun Warriors. He breathed out another inferno from his throat, and another group of Sun Warriors went up in flames. Those lucky enough to escape the first couple rounds of dragon's fire sprinted back into the shadows, disappearing from sight. The white-robed Sun Warrior gave the dragon a long glare before he too retreated.

Zuko shakily stumbled to his feet, arms still limp at his sides. He approached the dragon with a smile. "Good boy, Druk."

"Whoa..." Anraq uttered, staring up at the great beast. A dragon. An actual, real life dragon. Dear spirits. "So that's what the whistle was for."

"Yes, quite," Zuko stated. "I have Aang to thank for giving me the idea, with his old bison whistle."

Yula sat upright, shifting her attention towards the devastation wrought by the dragon around the warehouse. "Glad he's on our side."

"Indeed. Now, you two take Azula back to the palace with Druk, and hurry." Zuko ambled towards the fallen Imperial Guard, some of whom were now beginning to recover. "We'll clean up here."

"Are you sure?" Anraq lifted Azula into his arms, and removed the bag from her head. "Those Sun Warriors could still be hanging around waiting for the dragon to leave."

"I'm sure. Druk can only carry so many at once, anyway. We'll be fine."

Anraq looked from Zuko to the dragon. "Well, alright. If you say so."

Druk lowered against the ground, allowing Anraq and Yula to lift Azula onto his back and climb aboard themselves.

"He's beautiful," Yula said, rubbing a gentle hand along the dragon's crimson scales. A gentle rumble surged from the beast's throat, in appreciation for her compliment.

Once they had Azula secured, Anraq gave the dragon a firm pat. "Let's go, Druk."

The dragon rocketed into the air, surging out the hole in the warehouse ceiling. Within seconds, they soared through the sky towards the royal palace in the caldera.


Azula groaned as consciousness returned to her. She blinked. Dark splotches bubbled in front of her eyes, blurring her vision. "Where I am? What happened?"

"Relax, everything's fine." She knew that voice. Annie. "You're in your bedchamber. We were able to get you out of the warehouse and escape the Sun Warriors, with a little help from your brother's dragon."

"Those Sun Warriors... They will suffer." Azula attempted to pour hate and venom into her tone, but her voice leaked out in a shrill, scratchy whisper. The furthest thing form intimidating. She forced herself upright, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. She had to get up, had to stand. Had to go after those Sun Warriors again. "When I get my hands on them, I swear I'll... I'll... nnghh." Her body fell limp, and she crumpled back against the mattress.

Anraq hovered above her. She could see him now, still blurry in her vision. He brought a hand down to her forehead, and brushed aside several loose strands of hair from her face. "Careful, Azula. You're still a little weak from the toxin."

"I am not weak!" She swatted his hand away and made another move to sit upright. No luck. She collapsed once again, lying flat against the mattress with her chest heaving.

"I know, I just meant..." Anraq sat down in his chair next to the bed, with a deep sigh. "I'm sorry. Please, just try to take it easy until you fully recover."

Azula swallowed, resting her head squarely on her pillow so she could stare at the ceiling. Annie was right, as loathe as she was to admit it. She could barely move. Exhausted, dizzy. Maybe a little rest would do her some good. "What happened to the Sun Warriors from the warehouse? Did we eliminate them?"

"Druk toasted a good deal of them, but the others got away," Anraq explained. "Zuko and Captain Han were able to capture a few of them alive."

"And we're interrogating them?"

"As we speak."

"Excellent. I want you to get every last bit of information out of them as you can. When you're done, I want them disposed of."

Anraq lifted an eyebrow. "You mean...?"

"I mean executed!" She snapped her gaze towards him, and forced herself up on her elbows. "They are traitors to the empire! Treason is punishable by death, it always has been. These people have to know that we will not give them leniency for their actions."

"Of course..." Anraq gave a slow nod, and rose to his feet. "Now, just get your rest. Please."

"You're not staying?" Azula's tone shifted, any trace of her biting anger vanishing. Her voice cracked with desperate insistence. Pleading, panicked. "You can't just leave me alone like this, when they could attack again at any moment."

Anraq met her gaze. A silent pause drifted between them, as they stared at each other. Understanding crept into his eyes, a gentle acknowledgment of what she was asking. Why she was asking it. Easing a gentle sigh, he lowered himself back into the chair. "Of course, Azula. I'll stay here as long as you need me."

She continued staring, until finally lying once more against the mattress. This time, she let her eyes close. "Good."


Shin Tsang opened his eyes. His dead, burned eyes. While he couldn't see the same as others did, he knew where he was. The Spirit World. He could see in a much different way, after all. A better way, far more enlightened than normal people. Darkness engulfed the world around him, the air thick and heavy with choking, coiling fog. A singular stone pillar towered before him.

Standing out of his meditative pose, Shin Tsang marched towards the base of the spire, where a sealed door marked with glowing glyphs awaited him. Even on this side of the door, the presence beyond permeated through the spire into the air, coiling around him with cold, deathly embrace. The first time he'd experienced this presence, it had terrified him. Now, it enthralled him.

"You come empty handed again, Shin Tsang." The cryptic voice echoed all around him, as if coming from every direction at once. Haunting, yet exhilarating at the same time.

"Indeed I have." Shin Tsang removed his sun-shaped mask, and smoothed the front of his white robes. He knelt in front of the sealed door, head bowed. "It appears our efforts so far in capturing Azula have proven fruitless. We have been close, but in the end she is powerful, both in body and because of her allies."

"That is to be expected." The voice was smooth like silk, yet carried a distinct chill, frosting deep through Shin Tsang's body and spirit. "The essence she carries empowers her. If you cannot get to her physically, you must attack her mind."

Shin Tsang lifted his head. "How do you mean?"

"Azula's body has always been strong," the voice explained. "She was a prodigy. Now, she is more powerful than ever. Her spirit, however... Her spirit is weak. Strike not at her physically, but mentally. Use her fear and obsession against her. Break her down. You must have seen it already."

"She did express clear signs of paranoia when I spoke to her today." He raised a hand to his chin, thinking. "It should only require a small push to break her. The question is, what is the best way to do that? What does she fear most?"

"A simple answer." The voice paused, silence lingering in the void. Without warning, it came rushing back with a booming echo. "Betrayal."