Zhau-Li followed Iroh as close as he could to the back entrance of the royal palace where they entered through the servants entrance. And from there picked up some servants clothes from the clothes line.
Through their entire journey no more words had been spoken since Iroh had made Zhau-Li swear to always follow orders.
And now Zhau-Li continued doing so, only went behind one of the sheds to quickly change into the green attire.
Even though it was a servants uniform, it was still fine silk as this was for palace servants. The ones who would be seen by visitors to the palace. Unlike all the maidens and chefs whom were not to be seen by royals or visitors.
As Zhau-Li stepped back out the old General had already changed to an identical uniform in his own seize.
Zhau-Li had to admit he had thought they would be storming through the front door, but had to also admit this was probably a lot smarter. If the King truly was in danger and they were only the two of them. It would be a lot smarter to sneak in.
Clearly General Iroh knew what he was doing and Zhau-Li did his best to absorb his tactics.
General Iroh had been famous for his tactics in particular. He had taken down armies three seizes his own by playing his hand in the right ways.
Iroh waved Zhau-Li towards him. "We have two prioritize." he said. "Locate the king and do not draw attention to ourselves." he said. "If the king truly is in danger, we must not be discovered. That would trigger the assault."
Zhau-Li nodded seriously.
"We get the king out of harms way. Only then will there be room for retaliation." Iroh continued.
And Zhau-Li nodded again. "I understand sir."
Iroh nodded and they both moved in through the servants entrance. Zhau-Li had already been invited back here ones, to fetch drinks and items for the royals. As well was it here he was allowed to take breaks when Zuko worked.
It was honestly fascinating how two worlds like this lived side by side in the same building! Separate hallways running parallel to the official ones allowing servants and maids to run back and forth completely unseen.
And there were exits going to all different parts of the castle. The guest chambers, the banquet hall, the royal chambers themselves.
Which was where Iroh and Zhau-Li headed first.
The royal chambers where the king lived… They were like a house inside of a house! Bedroom, living room, private library filled to the brim with books and parchments, private bathroom and a play room filled up with chewed up bear toys.
But no bear and no king.
"Sir may I ask a question." Zhau-Li whispered.
"Yes." Iroh turned to him.
"Is the fire nation palace like this too?" Zhau-Li asked honestly curious as he looked out the window to see a big private garden. The exit to which were right there in the living room.
Iroh smiled amused. "It's very similar." he admitted. "This though has even the fire nation palace beat in seize." he admitted. "Which is unfortunate for us at this moment. We have to find the King in this place. Where do you suppose would be the next place to look?" he asked.
"At this time?" Zhau-Li asked. "The throne room I would think." he tried a little nervously. "Or one of the meeting rooms. The throne room should probably be the first place to check."
Iroh smiled. "Exactly. Come on." he nodded his head and they headed out the way they came. Out into the hall and from there through the small hidden door to the servants hallway.
They worked their way to the entrance hall that came before the throne room as there was no direct servants entrance to the throne room itself. Obviously for security reasons.
As they reached the giant stone door two guards were standing in front.
Both Dai Li.
Zhau-Li gasped. Iroh how-ever kept his head down and Zhau-Li swallowed as he copied.
"We are here to deliver documents to the king." Iroh informed in a polite tone. "A message from General How."
The Dai-Li soldiers looked down at the bowed Iroh and then nodded as they stepped aside and with earth bending opened the door.
Iroh nodded and walked inside with bowed head. Zhau-Li doing the same.
Then Iroh looked up and he gasped. Zhau-Li did the same and his eyes widened. The sight that met him making him utterly speechless and shocked.
On the throne, was sitting a young woman. Just a teenager wearing earth kingdom clothes, a sadistic smile on her lips and her eyes shining in gold. But unlike Prince Zukos eyes which seemed filled with with passion and concern. These seemed cruel and cold.
On each side of her was two young girls wearing the same clothes and in front of them. On his knees was King Kui, with a massive boulder levitating right over his head and a Dai Li soldier keeping it in the air.
If he let go. It would crush the king.
The young woman on the throne smirked. "Hello Uncle." she said.
Zhau-Li gasped. Iroh was her uncle? Then this had to be… His eyes turned to the girl. The protege of the fire nation. Mistress of the blue flame. Zukos only sibling… Princess Azula.
"Niece." Iroh greeted her. "It is a surprise seeing you here."
He glanced down at Kui who was sitting with a bowed head.
Azula smirked. "Go ahead. You can applaud." she said. "Six hundred days and you failed. It took me three." she said. "The palace has surrendered to my demands. They could not withstand the power of the Dai Li. And of course. I have the king." she glanced at Kuei. The big shadow of the boulder over his head covering his body.
Then Azula turned to Iroh. "Of course I wont have to tell you that if you make one wrong move. The King will be crushed." she said. "You already know I'm not lying."
Iroh lowered his head. "What do you want?" he asked.
"Kneel." Azula asked.
Iroh did so and Zhau-Li did the same. Both with bowed heads.
Azula smirked as she stood up from the throne. "You're so predictable uncle." she commented. "Sending the entire royal guard out to look for Zuzu. That's just what you would do. Isn't it?" she asked as she walked until she stood right in front of Iroh who was still on his knees. "Give up a life of luxury in a palace to go live on an old dingy boat which was going to spend most of its time on arctic waters." she pulled out a fan and then placed the tip under Irohs chin. Lifting up his head so they were now facing each other. "I always knew you would do these things. But I must admit. I never understood why."
Iroh smiled bitterly. "And it's exactly because you don't understand that you are unable to find happiness." he said.
Azula frowned annoyed. "I always hated your riddles." she said removing the fan from Iroh and then turned to Zhau-Li. "And who have we here?" he asked.
"No one." Iroh said. "Just a servant I asked to help guide me through the servants hallways. I couldn't find the way on my own."
Azula frowned deeply as she looked at Zhau-Li, her sharp eyes making Zhau-Li shiver as cold sweat sprung from his forehead. And then of all things she touched his scar on his chin making him gasp.
His gasp seemed to please Azula as she smiled. "He's prettier than most of the servants around here." she commented. "To bad about that thing though. It's an eyesore." she commented looking at the scar. "Though I guess it explains why my Uncle would try to protect you. He has a thing for taking wounded animals under his wing. Don't you Uncle?"
"You already have me niece. There is no reason to play around." Iroh said.
"Then why try to lie?" Azula asked. "I had been told Zuzu had gotten himself a little servant who matched his own disfigurement."
Zhau-Li eyes widened as he looked at the ground.
"Do stand up servant." Azula asked and slowly. Slowly Zhau-Li did. "You serve me now." she said.
Zhau-Li squinted his eyes. "What have you done to Prince Zuko?" he finally asked.
"I think you are mistaken." Azula said. "He is no Prince. Merely a traitor. And what happened to him is no concern of yours. Now pour my girls some tea, they are parched."
"Oh I'm fine." Ty Lee said only for Azula to glare right at her and she halted. "Tea sounds great!" she changed it.
Zhau-Li hissed and turned to Iroh who caught his eyes in a stern look and then nodded.
That made Zhau-Li turn back as he headed for the tea pot to pour tea as asked.
Azula lifted her hand. "Cuff my uncle." she said.
Two Dai Li stepped forward and stone cuffs now wrapped themselves around Irohs wrists.
Azula smirked as she stood above him. "Father will be pleased. Finally he'll see you where you belong. In prison." she stated. "Don't worry about Zuzu, he wont be far from you. Though, neither of you will feel the light of Agni upon your skin again. Nor see each other. I hope you have managed to say what-ever you needed to say to him."
Zhau-Li shivered as he had picked up the tea pot and had now poured tea for both girls then placed himself… Right next to the king who was sitting on his knees beneath the boulder.
Iroh sighed deeply. "I pity you niece. This will not bring you the happiness you seek." he said.
Azula rolled her eyes. "Does it ever get cold up there on the moral high ground?" she asked. "As if you didn't try to lay waste to this city yourself."
And then as everyone's eyes were on Azula. Zhau-Li acted. In a second he grabbed Kueis arm and yanked the king away from the rock and ran.
"HEY!" The Dai-Li shouted and send the rock right at them which Zhau-Li barely dodged but managed to take both him and the king to the ground.
Only for one of the girls, rge one with long straight black hair and a cold face step forward as she looked down at them. "Yeah that was really stupid." she said in a deadpan voice. "What did you think would happen?"
And then suddenly a bear came and threw himself right at the girl who screamed.
Azula turned around and Iroh got up on on his legs, sweeping Azulas legs away from under her. "Run." he said. "TAKE THE KING AND RUN!" he shouted.
Zhau-Li gasped as he got up on his feet and pulled Kuie with him. "STOP!" Kuei shouted. "NOT WITHOUT BOSCO!"
And then they were blocked by the other smaller girl who aimed her finger at Zhau-Lis chest. Without even thinking Zhau-Li brought up the only thing he had as a shield. That thing just happened to be the king himself and the finger hit shoulder making his arm and shoulder become numb.
Surprised the girl looked up. Only for a palace servant to come from behind and smack her over the head with a silver tray.
Iroh who was still in cuffs was now dancing around with Azula who sends waves of blue flames across the room making everybody scream as they tried to avoid the flames.
Zhau-Li had to throw himself and the king down on the ground as a blue flame came right above them.
"AZULA!" The taller black haired woman shouted. "The banners are catching fire!" she gestured.
Didn't seem like the Princess was hearing her as she went for Iroh with vigour and a mad look in her eyes.
"My… My palace." Kuei gasped.
Zhau-Li had no energy to waste on a response as a crackling sound filled the air, the energy of lightning making the hair on Zhau-Lis neck stand up and he looked at the princess who grinned with lightning coming from her hands.
Iroh breathed deeply and then suddenly he broke free off his cuff's, just as Azula aimed. The lightning came for the General. He how-ever reached out his hand and somehow caught it.
Azulas eyes widened in shock and then Iroh looked up and he fired… Fired right at Zhau-Li who's eyes widened in shock. Only for the lightning to fly above his head and hit the wall behind which blasted right open creating a big hole to the outside.
"RUUUN!" Iroh shouted and Zhau-Li did. Dragging King with him over the rubble as girls and the guards screamed running after them.
A massive bear roared as it came to its masters side pushing itself past any Dai-Li and the black haired girl.
"GET ON BOSCO!" Kuei screamed and Zhau-Li jumped on pulling Kuei with him and they were both off.
Back at the destroyed palace throne room Azula glared at Iroh. "You idiot. It's not like they have anywhere to run." she said. "The city is allready mine. The Dai Li is breaking down the outer wall as we speak and is letting fire nation soldiers inside! With the Dai Li and my soldiers working together the royal guard is nothing. You lost."
Iroh looked up at Azula. "As long as there is hope. Nothing is lost."
Azula hissed annoyed as she turned away. Then turned back around and kicked Iroh to the floor. "Take him away!" she demanded. "Somewhere deep deep underground where I wont have to hear his babbling!"
And the Dai Li came grabbing Iroh, encasing his hands and arms in stone before taking him away.
Bear complete with Earth King and former fire nation soldier busted through the doors where the Avatar had been living in Ba Sing Se and zhau-Li jumped down.
"It's time to go! QUICK!" Zhau-Li shouted. "Gather what you can carry. You have to go now!" he shouted and everyone started to shout and move around while Zhau-Li ran to the floor boards in the washing room. Then removed them to reveal a large tunnel.
"What the?" Kuei blinked by the sight.
"Prince Zuko asked young Ms Beifong to make a tunnel going all the way to outside the outer wall!" Zhau-Li explained. "You must go your majesty."
Kuei gasped as he looked up. "I have never been outside the walls." he said.
"It's okay." Smellerbee said as she stepped up with Longbow and a zombie Jet behind her. "We know how to survive in a forest! Stick to us Sir King man and follow our rules. Then you'll be just fine."
Kuei halted and then nodded. "Bosco can come too right."
"Sure. That's a cool bear-bear." Smellerbee smirked. "His noes should be good for sniffing out honey. ALL RIGHT LISTEN UP!" Smellerbee shouted. "Y'all follow me now! We'll get you to safety!" she shouted as she grabbed Jet's hand and jumped down the tunnel. Then she looked up at Zhau-Li. "What are you gonna do?"
"Someone has to stay behind and tell the Avatar what happened when he comes back." Zhau-Li replied.
"I thought you would say that." Smellerbee smirked. "Servant boy. Well then. Don't get caught." was her final greeting as she headed forward with Jet in tow.
Kuei looked at Zhau-Li. "Thank you. You saved my life." he said.
"Just say you will help restore the fire nation rather than destroy it ones the war is over." Zhau-Li asked.
Kuei nodded. "I understand." he said and then jumped down as well. "Come on Bosco."
The bear roared and followed and then the fire nation refuges. One by one.
Adults, old people and children for yet another long travel and as the last one had vanished Zhau-Li replaced the floor board. And then he hurried outside before soldiers would come to ransack the house.
It was a good thing the King had gotten out. But as Zhau-Li saw a fire nation banner being raised at the palace.
It was easy to tell that things were bad… They were really. Really bad.