A/N: Important note: For OG readers of Chp 2, I went and retconned a few things about Zirin's limited backstory we got to more aptly fit the Zirin endgame. Not massively different, but slight tweaks. Now I'm the villain in your history. Love and be loved. Read… and review!

Half-Measures

[Summer 102 AG]

Azula raises her hands up but quickly puts it back down. She had reached up to feel for her hair, like a phantom limb though it was gone. Her roughly shorn hair was feeling the wrath of the cool sea breeze. She stands amongst her Kemurikage girls on the pier of the Garsai District. The trek had been long to arrive here. Lin is striding towards them at last. She has absolute confidence that her proud wave will not be stilled here.

"Good news and bad news, Empress."

The Kemurikage girls, in their street clothes, all stop what they're doing and move closer to listen. Azula stands diametrically opposed to the short Lin. She crosses her arms and says, "This trip will not be for naught, Lin. Tell us the good news."

"The good news is that they will take you. All of you."

Sighs of reliefs, murmurs of excitement, general positive reactions echo across the gathering of short haired girls. Azula narrows her eyes at him. He takes this as his sign to go on. "But they said the reward won't change despite your numbers. They have a set amount they'll reward you, and it's still required that they actually succeed in the mission for any one to get paid. Them and you."

Relief finally washes over Azula and she releases the tension in her shoulders. She quickly replies, "That won't matter."

"What's the expected stay?" Zirin asks, striding up to stand beside the Empress.

"Uh, three days. Day and a half out, day and a half back."

"And you?" Zirin asks.

"By the time I'd make it back to Baochou, I'd be late to turn back around. It's probably better if I just conduct some business here. Maybe head to Yu Dao, or Dongshi. I have an old friend in Jang Hui, Dock. I can go visit him."

"But you'll be here when we return?" A ginger haired girl asks.

"Of course, Lady Ruki," he replies with a smile towards her. He turns to Azula now and adds, "I am bound by oath to the Dragon Empress, after all."

"In three days time we shall return with the payment and return to Baochou with you, Lin. You'll meet us at our previously agreed upon rendezvous point." Azula tells him.

"I would never doubt it," he replies with a nod. After a pause where no other comments or questions are shared, he turns and points before saying, "They're waiting at the end of the pier when you're ready."

Without another word Lin leaves them. Azula looks down the pier through the early morning rising sun. She motions for the girls to follow as she begins walking. As she does, she turns to Zirin and commands, "Introduce me when we get down there."

Before Zirin can accept Ruki squeals, "Oooh, can I do it instead?"

Both girls look at Ruki. Zirin looks to Azula for permission. She nods and the lilac eyes grow wide as the girl smiles from excitement at this honor.

"You stand before Azula, Princess of the Fire Nation, Mother of the Kemurikage, and the Dragon Empress."

The toothy middle-aged men standing opposite of Ruki and the gang all scoff and snicker. One of them, their leader perhaps, asks, "Princess? Mother? Which is it? And who the fook are the Chem… th-the what now?"

The present pirate crew starts mocking them, "No, no, Seker, she definitely said something about Kimera."

Another chimes in, "I heard her say 'gay,' is that right, now?

A third says, "Yes, Kimera-gay, I believe that's what she said."

Ruki wrinkles her nose at them and scowls. "The Kemurikage may not have much effect on you pirates, but children and warlords alike in the Fire Nation grow up fearing them."

The leader, Seker, replies, "Aye, so you scare babes in their crib, huh?"

The Mother steps forward, arms crossed over her chest. "In time, all will come to fear us. From Caldera to Ba Sing Se. From the North Pole to the tiniest, most obscure Southern Water Tribe."

Narrowing his blue eyes at Azula, Seker replies, "Ah yes. You're much more like a Princess."

"That's Empress to you," Zirin shoots from the back.

"Aye?" Seker says, turning back to his comrades. "A lil fight in this one. I like that."

He turns back around and Azula steps into his personal space. He doesn't react, doesn't move. He looks down at the Dragon Empress and she whispers to him, "If you like that, then you're gonna love us."

Seker's grin widens and he laughs heartily. "Ah Lin wasn't wrong, your crew'll fit right in."

Seker steps back and turns to the side, opening his arms to invite Azula and her whole crew forward. "Welcome aboard the Va Moata!"

A few hours into sailing and Azula is not at ease. It is foggy and perpetually overcast. The waters have been choppy, making for a wildly unpleasant experience as water routinely sloshes aboard the ship. None of her Kemurikage feel that they can trust the group they are with. They are, afterall, pirates. In a private conversation on the matter, Ruki was quick to point out to some of the other girls that they are all fugitives of the Fire Nation.

All of this is what leads Azula into Seker's wheelhouse. She strides in proudly, wanting to dig for information on the trip and what will be asked of them exactly. He is focused on the seas in front of him and doesn't acknowledge her immediately. She recalls an old exchange and tries to channel it here, "Tell me, Seker, do the tides command this ship?"

"Well, you know what they say about smooth seas."

Azula blinks. "I don't."

Seker side eyes her and smiles devilishly, "Guess you'll find out soon enough. Suffice it to say, we can't control everything."

Azula furrows her brow as the exchange had not gone how she had expected. "I've found in life that I can bend many things to my will."

"Aye? So a fire bender is bending the ocean to her will now?"

"I've bent you, haven't I? And you carry me across the seas now."

"Aye. And without much effort I'll have you tossed overboard as well. We'll see how you bend us then."

"I'd like to see you try."

"As would I."

At this comment Seker turns away from the sea for a second as they make eye contact. She knows that he enjoys the verbal jousting and indulges him. He appreciates having an intellectual equal around for a change, even if she is half his age.

"What is it you want, Empress?"

"I thought I was 'Princess,' to you?"

"Well I surely won't be calling you 'Mother.'"

"I would hope not, Captain."

He lightly chuckles at this but says nothing else. Azula finally picks up the conversation, "Lin told us some of what to expect but didn't know details. I'm coming to you for that information."

"I see," he replies without looking back at her. "You and the other fire girls should prepare for a fight."

"That's no problem for us. We're used to that."

"Aye, perhaps. But these aren't babes or men in castles. This'll be different."

"We can handle different," Azula assures him. "Just give me an idea of how different."

"We've lost men. Good men. Men with families. The others seeking out the bounty are closing in."

"Why's that?"

"Many of us have been on the hunt," he says while scratching the back of his head. "While now. Running out of places to look. So the circles getting smaller and the competition is getting larger."

"What's the bounty?"

"Can't share that with you, Princess."

"Hmm? Why not?"

"Are we paying you to ask questions? Or to sink enemy ships?"

"You're not paying us anything unless we find the bounty, so you may as well tell me what we're looking for?"

Azula braces herself as the ship bounces off of some rocky waves. "Don't you worry, Empress. We find that bounty, it'll be well worth your troubles."

"Sounds like this is something important to someone wealthy." Azula muses aloud.

Adjusting some instruments away from Azula, Seker simply replies, "Not exactly, but you're not wrong either."

Azula holds tighter to her grips as the ship sways. She asks him, "So you want us to sink your enemies' ships should we encounter them?"

"When we encounter them. I just want your Chemyuri girls to burn their wooden ships down. The ones who can firebend anyways. I've been at this a long time, and Firebenders aboard aren't common. I doubt they'll have anyone to save them."

"And that will leave them to drown at sea."

"Aye, Princess," Seker says while straining his eyes to see through the light glistening off of the water. "That's the point."

It's late in the evening and the boat still rocks precariously. Some of the Kemurikage have become seasick from all of the motion. Azula stands with Zirin after sunset, a soft twilight hanging over them. The stars are visible if you look for them. Zirin is latched onto a railing to steady herself as she outlines a plan for Azula about how to recruit more girls to their ranks, but the Dragon Empress' mind is elsewhere. She thinks about what Seker said earlier about smooth seas and what he wouldn't explain.

"-all under your leadership, as the Mother of Kemurikage. You can do it. You can be that catalyst for them."

Azula comes out of her daze and looks at the dark haired girl. She nods, "When we get back, you have my permission to go forward with executing."

Zirin swells with pride. "Thank you, Azula."

From behind them there are cautious, struggling steps. Azula turns away from the water and sees a ginger walking up to them. "You found us, Ruki. How goes it?"

"I'm not a fan of these pirates."

Zirin raises her eyebrows at this in agreement. Azula narrows her eyes and turns to Ruki again, this time asking, "What's going on?"

"They've been snickering and calling us a 'Feast for Dolphin Piranha,'" she explains. When neither girl replies she elaborates, "It means they think we're just dead weight waiting to be killed the first time we get into a fight, specifically since most of us can't bend."

Azula shakes her head and stares into the soft lilac of Ruki's eyes. "Don't let it get to you, or any of our girls. We all have a role. We'll prove our worth in time. All of my Kemurikage are worthy of being here."

Zirin stomps her foot. Both girls turn towards her. She shakes her head from side to side while staring out at the rising darkness. With a kilt of joy in her voice she says, "That's exactly the kind of thing I love to hear. That's exactly what will help us to grow and expand once we have enough money. You are exactly what we need, Azula."

She turns and they share eye contact. Azula smirks at this, bathing in the compliment. Ruki interrupts the moment to observe, "I can't believe they can even afford to pay us. Have you seen this ship?"

Zirin chuckles, "I feel like it's being held together by tape and glue."

"I did some digging on that earlier," Azula says. She crosses her arms and leans against the railing. "Whatever it is, it's important to someone important. They put out a bounty and it's attracted all this attention. Probably someone with a lot of money."

Ruki clenches her jaw. She anticipates blowback from one of these girls, nevertheless she will speak her mind. Tentatively she says, "Maybe we shouldn't rob them?"

Zirin shoots wide eyes at the younger girl. Azula tilts her head. Ruki goes on, "Of the treasure, I mean. We should still take the money. But if they can collect the reward from someone important, maybe we should let them? You said yourself, Azula. The Dragon Empress is meant for those in need. These guys aren't the ones we should be robbing of a better life."

Azula ponders the proposition. Seker's is clearly not trustworthy, but she can appreciate his plot of land in life isn't great. She almost respects him. He's doing his best and appears to be a good leader. She replies, "I'll consider it."

"No!" Zirin blurts out. She whines, "No more half-measures!"

Before Azula can say anything Ruki wheels on her, "You keep saying that, Zirin. But life isn't so black and white, you know? We can't always operate in extremes."

Zirin looks between the two girls. She can sense that Azula agrees with the affable, softer girl. She groans and storms off, muttering as she goes, "You don't get it."

Once the brunette is out of earshot, the purple eyed girl turns to her Mother figure and says, "She needs to calm down. That 'no half measures' stuff is getting irritating quickly. Like, I admire her passion, but she needs to fall in line."

Azula turns towards the water and grips the railing with both hands. She says, "Speaking of not operating in extremes: Seker wants us to sink the ships of any enemies we come across. We'll do what we have to survive, but if we can avoid-"

"I understand. I might even have an idea already."

Azula nods and smiles. They lean against the railing and stare out at the night sky.

The flames of the Throne Room dim as the night drags on. The only people left in the room are two teenage girls, dressed in green armor and white makeup, and a man who is meant to sit on the throne.

Fire Lord Zuko continues his work tirelessly, ever a diligent leader. He pushes forward despite the hour, thinking that a good leader should lead by example. He can't expect his guards and servants and people to sacrifice if he is not willing to do so himself. Moreover, he had been putting off having a delicate conversation. He decides to hesitate no longer.

"Suki," he says to start. It's been almost an hour in silence as the Fire Lord devised plans and filled out forms. Surprised by hearing her name, the brunette recovers to stand at attention. "Please leave us."

Once again surprised, Suki turns her head to her fellow guard. She makes eyes at her friend and winks before whispering, "Good luck."

She hastily makes her exit. Zuko says nothing as he watches her go. Once she exits he finally speaks again, "Ty Lee, please join me."

He extends his arm to a seat beside him. The former circus star cautiously steps towards the war table and then takes a seat next to the Fire Lord. Zuko bows his head slightly, pinching the bridge of his nose. He asks her, "How are you?"

He puts his hand side and opens his gold eyes to look into her grey-brown ones. She replies, "I'm good. How have you been? This work seems important for you to be working this late"

He shrugs and looks around at some of the papers on the table as he replies, "All of this? No, it's not bad. I asked some architects to put together a preliminary sketch of a gift for Aang. They asked about costs and materials to work with so I've got to try and decide those things. We've got a serious… thing in a few months. There's some residual bender supremacist things in Cranefish Town…"

Zuko trails off, thinking that the girl sitting next to him probably doesn't care about this as much as he thinks she does. "Anyway, I was talking to Mai the other day-"

"Glad to hear that."

"Yeah, me too."

"You two just need to get back together already."

"It's not that simple."

"Your auras are a perfect match though."

"Well," uncertain of what to say Zuko settles on, "thanks for saying that."

Ty Lee smiles in response. He continues, "So she mentioned that you have a new patrol partner with the Kyoshi Warriors. I believe her name is Ayon?"

"Yes, Fire Lord."

"Can I ask you a personal question?"

"Of course."

"Is there anything going on between you and Ayon?"

Ty Lee bursts out laughing. "No. Spirits, no. I mean, she's gorgeous. But she likes boys. And I don't see her like that. She's more a sister to me than my own sisters."

"I see," Zuko smiles at her. "Well, I'm sure you'll find someone. In time."

"Thank you for saying that, Zuko. It brightens my aura."

There is a pause where the only sound to be heard is the flickering of the candles and flames all around the throne room. Ty Lee gulps and asks, "Did you keep me around privately to ask about my love life?"

Zuko huffs. "No. No, I don't suppose I did. I'm just delaying the inevitable."

"What's going on?" She asks, anxiety spiking as she awaits his news.

He turns back to her and looks her in the eye as he says, "You were right."

Ty Lee doesn't know exactly what he means and so she just blinks back at him and retraces her steps in her mind. Zuko can tell she is confused and continued, "I sent some confidants to investigate the Shinzong village attack from last week. They returned with first-hand accounts of someone who called herself a "Mother" of the attackers. They also said the 'Mother' seemed to summon lightning within a small building."

A wave of memory washes over Ty Lee, followed quickly by another wave of terror. "You think it's her? But she's not a mother… right? That's not-"

"I don't know, but it is odd. Still, it only makes sense that it be her."

"Do you want me to investigate? Go down South?"

"No. Not yet anyway. But I may. I want to investigate why Chan Yu lied first. I also want to flush her out, so I'm sending some Imperial Firebenders into various towns to poke around."

Zuko can tell that Ty Lee isn't assuaged. He assures his childhood friend, "She's down south. We know she is. We'll get her."

"So why is this a secret, Zuko? Why kick Suki out?"

Zuko laughs at his own expense. "Mai always said I loved my secrets more than her. But don't worry. Suki and others will be brought into the fold soon. For now though, just keep this between you and me."

Azula looks out across the foggy landscape and tries to imagine the collapse of an empire. She envisions how it might have played out. What led to it. How it happened. She wonders if it was easy or a difficult fight. She even imagines what might have been if it had gone different, or if she had been there to help.

Striding up behind her, she turns to see the familiar face of her right hand woman. Zirin stops beside her and stares out as well. Many knots away, rising high into the heavens, is a forest of rock pillars. Red-orange sediment formations, countless numbers of them, which are obscured by the early twilight, distance, and mist that clouds their rocking boat.

"Do you know what that is, Zirin?"

Shaking her head the girl replies, "No, Empress."

Azula sighs and furrows her brow. "That is the Wulong Forest. They say it's where the Avatar took my father's bending away."

Zirin's indifferent expression doesn't change. "He should've killed him."

Azula exhales through her nostrils. "I don't disagree. Ozai was a terrible man and a worse father."

"Do you think you could ever forgive him?"

Azula stares at the distant tower of rocks. She wonders which one of them the Avatar stood upon and did it. She wonders about where it occurred. She wants to be in that place. She wants to stand in it and try to imagine it. The fire leaving his veins. He had been nothing even when he had his fire. Now he is nothing without the fire. An old man, filled with regret, waiting to die alone.

"No."

Within a few hours, the ship comes to a halt and the passengers get to work. Seker has brought along two waterbenders, who go to either end of the boat. They work in tandem to bend a small whirlpool a bit of distance away from the boat. They push and pull over and again. Azula, Zirin, Ruki, the other Kemurikage, Seker and some of his crew not at work, all stand on the edge of the boat and watch this happen.

The water spins and spins. It goes further down, revealing more of what is below. They are purposeful in their approach. The whirlpool needs to be wide enough for observers up above on the ship to see down to the ocean floor, but not wide enough that the whole boat could be sucked into the whirlpool.

From behind Azula she hears one of her girls ask a pirate, "What makes you all so sure this is the place?"

He curtly replies, "We're not."

Azula peaks over her shoulder. It had been Ukuyi who had asked. The bald, golden eyed, fire bending girl wears a look of disappointment. Azula turns around to face her and the tall pirate who had answered. She tells them, "Captain Seker brought us here because he has faith. Remain vigilant, this will be the right location."

Azula promptly strides off. Ukuyi watches her leave with wonder, even the member of Seker's crew felt inspired by this. Zirin turns her head ever so slightly to watch Azula leave out of the corner of her eye. She marvels at the Empress' leadership.

Utter chaos upon the ship.

Under the cover of the dense fog and early morning light, another ship appeared out of thin air and a battle erupted. Despite being on the defensive, Seker's crew and Azula's girls had been caught unawares. The invading pirates are using Earth Benders and canons to fire at them. Seker's ship takes damage while Azula takes cover.

She peers out from behind the pillar and watches the enemy boat approaching. To her dismay, Seger had been wrong about one crucial detail: the attacking pirates had brought a metal boat, rather than wooden. Azula looks around and doesn't feel it safe to engage, but she also knows none of her Kemurikage will attack for her. She lunges out from behind cover and sends out a wave of blue fire from her fist.

Once this happens she sees other streams of red flame shoot out at the enemy, bathing it blue and red. The boat is unmoved though. It runs up beside them and metal planks drop down from above to crash onto the edge of the Va Moata. Azula comes out of cover fully, planning to blast a hole in the hull of their ship with her lightning but before she can get anywhere a large man falls from the sky lands next to her. He had swung upon a rope and flown towards her. He quickly turns to her with a dagger. Azula dodges two quick strikes but on his third swing he nicks her right forearm.

She spins and falls to the ground, grabbing the gash. Searing pain shoots up her arm. Water splashes up on the Va Moata. Feet clatter all about as the boarding party arrives at its destination. Azula turns and looks up at her assailant. He grins down at her and says, "They've got little girls helping them now, huh? Pretty low, even for them."

He reaches his blade back, ready to stab her. Azula prepares to shoot lightning at the man. Before either can occur a body comes rocketing at the man and shoulder charges him. He goes tumbling back to the edge of the boat. Another body comes flying and shoves the pirate over the edge!

Azula looks up and sees the dark skinned Captain Seker had come to her aid, and the secondary help had been Zirin. Seker reaches a hand down, "C'mon, Empress, ye've got work to do."

Azula grabs the hand and pulls herself up, grumbling as she stands, "I had that under control."

Azula takes stock of their situation. Seker charges off to fight invaders. Zirin grabs a sword off the ground and regroup beside the Empress. "Ruki and some other girls boarded their ship. Should we join them?"

"Why did she do that?"

"I don't know. Should we-"

Before another word can be uttered more pirates come rushing up to them. Zirin raises her sword and parries a blow. Azula feels fire rip through her veins before opening her palms. Lightning explodes and hits the ground in front of him. The man steps back, terrified of what's happened. Before he can recover, Azula steps up and delivers a blow to his chest. He staggers back and she throws her shoulder into him. Like the previous pirate, he tumbles over the railing and into the waters below.

When Azula turns around, Zirin and her attacker are gone. Jets of flame shoot up into the air. Rocks hurtle through the sky. Her mind races through what she should do and tries to calculate what to do next. She never hears a man sneak up behind her..

He reaches up to grab her head, but his hand slides off. She effectively has no hair, having had Ruki cut it off. She whips around to his shocked expression. He tries to raise his weapon to her but she grabs his forearm. With a single mental command lightning courses through her, into her hand and shocks him.

"Graah!" He moans as he collapses onto the deck.

When he falls Azula looks up and is horrified by a sight not far off. An invading pirate grips Ukuyi by the throat. She watches as he lofts her to the edge and then throws her overboard.

"NO!" Azula shouts.

She begins running at the man but before she can get to him, Seker appears and runs a sword through him! She runs to the edge and looks down at the waters below. Her eyes search through the darkness. She sees the bald head appear, retching for air, being dragged into the whirlpool the water benders had created.

"Empress." A voice says beside her.

"What!" She screams turning to Seker.

"Look!"

Azula turns back to the whirlpool. Ukuyi is being dragged further into it, but through the opening, down at the bottom of the ocean floor, she sees what he sees. Lodged into the ground was an object as black as midnight, yet somehow glistening through the dark all the same.

"That's it. That's what we're here for."

Azula steps away from Seker and vaults to the edge of the boat. She stands up and looks down at the whirlpool. "What are you doing?"

Azula looks down at the water below. Her memory flashes of a blue eyed girl who had encased her in a watery prison and chained her up. Water had been her downfall. Now she looks down and fears falling. She gulps.

She jumps.

Ukuyi was a late blooming Firebender. She had developed a nasty mean stroke from her mother, so when she began spitting flames from her palms it only made the destruction worse. She didn't have a normal childhood, ending up in the psych ward because of her rage and misery. Like many others she now travels with, she was denied basic experiences growing up, like learning how to swim. Now, desperate for air, flailing about, she looks up and sees a miracle.

Azula is floating down to her with blue flames under her feet. She reaches a hand and Ukuyi grabs it. With much effort, Azula pulls her up and out of the water. The Dragon Empress pulls her into her arms and cradles her like a child. Instead of turning towards the boat though, they float further out. Then they descend.

They hit the damp ground and Azula puts the girl down. "Azula, you came back for me?"

Azula approaches the object and replies, "A good mother would never leave her daughter to drown."

She stops in front of it. Sticking out of the ocean floor is a sword, black and bright. Sharp and undisturbed. Azula grabs the handle.

"What is that?" Ukuyi asks her.

Azula pulls it out of the ground. It is lightweight but feels powerful in her hand. She replies, "This is what we came for."

Azula floats back down to the Va Moata, holding Ukuyi in one hand and the sword in the other. Fighting still ensues but she quickly finds Seker. She shouts at him, "I've got it, Seker. Now get us out of here!"

Seker takes a second to scan the girl and sees that she holds the blade. He looks at her and smiles. Without a word he dashes off. Azula turns to Ukuyi, "Make sure Ruki and the others are on board. We're leaving!"

Both girls run off in separate directions. Azula wields the blade with ease, easily disarming an attacker. When he loses his weapon he quickly jumps overboard rather than continue to fight her. She goes looking for another enemy but suddenly the ship lurches forward. The water benders push the boat off at the command of Captain Seker. The whirlpool quickly dissipates and they traverse through it's now open waters to make their escape.

As soon as Azula begins to worry if Ruki made it back, she sees the girl celebrating with some of the other Kemurikage. Knowing they are safe, Azula turns back to the enemy boat. She prepares to finally blast it with lightning but she doesn't. The boat doesn't move. It stays perfectly still and does not chase them. As the Va Moata drifts off, she stares bewildered as it remains stationary and never follows them.

Cheers erupt all throughout the boat as total victory is realized among the crew.

The sun was high up above them in the afternoon light. It won't be long before the clouds grow violet and the sky becomes golden. Azula and Zirin walk up and stand beside Seker on a landing above the main deck. The three of them look down as the Kemurikage and the crew work in unison to bid farewell to the fallen crew members.

Azula's entire group had survived the onslaught. Partly due to luck, partly due to skill. Not all of Seker's crew has been so lucky though. However, all aboard had survived due to Ruki and her quick thinking. Seeing that it had been a metal boat, she took a few of the other non-bending girls and vaulted onto the enemy ship. They fought and snuck their way around before dropping the anchor of the ship and quickly breaking the mechanisms to raise it.

Technology had saved them from a wooden boat burning down, but it had also damned them with no recourse to Ruki's plan. Azula was quite proud of the younger girl, and all of her girls, for proving their worth to Seker and his crew.

Now they all stand side by side, the girls paying their respects, the men saying their goodbyes to friends. Azula notices no tears being spilled and quietly says to the Captain, "I'm impressed that your men are unmoved. They've been hardened by their journeys."

Seker wears a solemn expression. He prepares to join his men. He turns back to Azula and tells her, "That's just the thing, Empress. Smooth seas don't make skilled sailors. My men have endured rough seas. They've seen the absolute worst shit of the world. They've endured worse and they'll keep coming back, better than before."

He pauses and collects himself. Then he adds, "Until one day when they too will return to the ocean."

He walks off without another word, leaving the two alone. They stay there a few moments, standing in silence. Zirin ruminates on something before finally speaking. "I've been thinking a lot about what Lin said."

Azula chuckles and says, "Oh? What did he say?"

"About legacy. About leaving something behind that lives beyond us. I don't think we get to choose what stays and what fades away, Azula."

Azula listens. She takes in what Captain Seker and Zirin have both just said. She had almost lost one of her girls today. Now she feels like these ruminations on death would stay with her forevermore.

The next day, as they draw closer to the port of the Garsai District, Azula sits with Zirin, talking about nothing in particular. Ruki approaches and takes a seat beside them. She interrupts the conversation to say, "I have an idea."

The Dragon Empress gives her full attention to the ginger. "You, thinking? A dangerous concept if there ever was one, young Ruki."

Ruki ignores the chide and says, "I think we should separate the girls by bending or non-bending."

Zirin raises her eyebrows and so does Azula. She quips, "You didn't strike me for a bending supremacist, Ruki? I'll bite, what's the catch?"

Ruki summons her courage. "I think the Firebenders should remain as the Kemurikage and the non-benders should become the Fire Warriors."

Azula smirks at this idea. Zirin observes, "What's that, like the Kyoshi Warriors?"

"Exactly," Ruki replies with a smile. "Think about it! A legendary group of all-female, non-bending warriors, meant to protect the Fire Nation. When we rise in power, who could deny all the good that we would do?"

Azula's smile broadens. "I love it, Ruki. You'll make a fine leader for them as well."

Ruki looks distraught for a moment. Then her face solidifies and becomes resolute. She tells her, "No."

"No?" Azula questions, sitting up. Surprised, she continues, "Why the Agni not?"

"There will only be one Leader of the Fire Warriors. And that's you, Azula."

The gold of Azula's eyes dive deep into the lilac of Ruki's. Her compatriot has given this much thought. She is absolute in her belief of the Dragon Empress. She nods slowly as she says, "Thank you for choosing me to be your Leader, Ruki."

She extends her arm. Ruki looks down at it and then takes it. Rather than shaking hands, each latches onto the other's forearm and they shake it together. Zirin watches this whole exchange and adds, "I really admire you, Azula. I admire you for who you are right here, right now."

Releasing her grip of Ruki arm, Azula now turns to the dark eyed girl. "Is that so?"

They share eye contact. Zirin says, "I love the fire in your eyes and how it rages."

Azula says nothing in return. She finds this compliment odd at this exact moment because she doesn't see any light in the dark of Zirin's eyes. Before it can become awkward, Ruki interjects, "Hey Zirin, since we've got some time. How about you finally tell us why you say that thing about half-measures?"

"Ruki," Azula tried to object.

"Are you sure you want to know?"

Both Ruki and Azula look at the dark haired girl. They look back at one another and then to her again. Ruki replies, "You said before that we don't 'get it.' Help us."

Zirin collects herself. She closes her eyes. She takes a deep breath in through the nose, and exhales out through the mouth. She begins, "My father was a bastard."

The younger girls both lean in, hooked by the story. "My mother was a talker. She always loved to talk. We would be at the market and she would strike up a conversation with a total stranger. It was marvelous to behold."

Zirin grips her pants tightly. "She told me and my siblings all the time about how she was going to leave him. Like I said she could talk about anything with anyone. But what she couldn't do was fight."

Azula swallows and Ruki shifts in her seat. "So she would do this, or that, but when he beat her, she would never fight back."

Azula nods. Ruki wants to hug the girl. Zirin continues, "So, one day, I came home and I heard her muffled cries as he beat the living shit out of her. So, I grabbed a kitchen knife. I burst in the room and caught him off guard. I pinned him to the ground and put the knife to his throat."

Azula sits up straight. She feels excitement but also fear. Ruki only feels fear. Zirin says, "I told him I was going to kill him for hurting her. He swore that he didn't mean it. He swore he would never do it again. Said that he loved Mom and he loved me and all of my siblings."

Involuntarily Azula shakes her head. Zirin tells them, "So I put the knife down. That was a half-measure."

She looks up finally at both of the girls. She says, "Two weeks later, I was sent to the institute because of 'gender-betrayal thoughts.' Soon after Mom had an 'accident' and her head was cracked open."

Azula feels this heavy in her chest. She doesn't know what to say or how to react. Ruki barely holds back tears, a fury building within her.

Zirin stares out across the early morning light and the passing sea. She says to the abyss, "No more half-measures."

Azula nods in understanding. Ruki flies to the girl and latches onto her, resting her head on the back of Zirin's neck.

The boat comes to a landing at last. Azula sits on the main deck, wielding the sword in her hands. She stares down at it. Despite it's all black material, it still reflects light. She strains her eyes and even in the darkness of the blade she sees her own reflection. She reflects on all that they have done and all that has happened in the last few days. She thinks about what Ruki said about giving the bounty to Seker. She thinks about what Zirin said about no more half-measures. She admires the beauty of the weapon. She thinks it would make a fine weapon at her side.

The Kemurikage and the Fire Warriors all surround her, standing beside her in her seated position. Captain Seker approaches with a few of his burly pirates. He greets her, "Well, Dragon Empress, we've made it back! Safe an' sound. Yer girls proved us wrong and did a fine job at sea."

Without saying anything else he motions to the pirates beside him. They approach, carrying two large bags of coins. They put it down beside Zirin, clinking as they land. Azula looks at the bags and then the sword. She finally turns to Seker and says, "Thank you for the voyage and the coin. But we'll be keeping the sword as well."

The tension rises instantly. Seker turns his head to the side and says, "That wasn't the deal we set with Lin."

"I know what the deal was. I'm telling you what the deal is now."

"I've killed for that sword and I'll kill for it now."

"Like I said before, I'd like to see you try."

Azula stands up and spins the blade in her hand. The Kemurikage and the Fire Warriors brace themselves. Seker whistles for attention. The whole boat goes into a cacophony of flames and fists.

Captain Seker falls to the ground and lays there, exhausted. His face is bloodied and his pain is everywhere. Azula stands over him, heaving, but victorious. She turns to Ruki, "Grab the money, and anything that isn't nailed down. We're done here."

Seker mumbles something that Azula can't understand. She says, "Well, Captain. We'll be on our way now. It was a pleasure."

She wipes the sweat and blood off her face. Ruki leads the way to disembark. The other girls all exit as well, ahead of Azula and Zirin. With great difficulty, Seker rolls over onto his side. He watches as Azula begins to walk away. He shouts, "That doesn't belong to you!"

Azula comes to a stop. She is still breathing heavily. She looks over her shoulder at the bloody and defeated man on the deck of his own boat. "You wanted to know, right? Who sent us to do this? That sword belongs to Sokka, the leader of the Southern Water Tribe. It's his sword."

Zirin looks back from the solid land. Azula listens and thinks. She remembers that boy. The one with the Avatar. She thinks of how they had defeated her father. How his sister had defeated her. She wants to take the sword and run them all through with it. Yet when she looks at Zirin and Ruki and Ukuyi and all the others, she can't do it. Keeping the sword will only invite the challenge of the Avatar to come after her. Will only leave Seker and his men to chase after them. She can't put them all in danger.

She drops the sword onto the deck.

The Kemurikage and the Fire Warriors disembark onto the pier. They find shelter while Azula and Zirin head out to look for Lin in their meeting place. Once they are alone though, Zirin starts on her, "What the spirits was that all about, Azula?"

Azula huffs and doesn't reply, "You wouldn't understand."

"Oh, I understand perfectly! If we had just killed them, we'd have the money and the sword."

Azula stops and stares fireballs at Zirin. They are both exhausted, sweaty, sore, and deranged. Azula wishes she had the sword so she could cut Zirin open right now. "I said no kill-"

"And I said no more half-measures!"

"Oh just shove it, Zirin." She says taking a step towards the girl and standing nose-to-nose with her.

Zirin pushes Azula backwards and then steps up to her. "Shove it where exactly?"

Azula stares into the dark eyes, heaving for breath, emotions running high. Zirin feels a slight smirk dawn on her lips being this close to the Dragon Empress. Azula looks down at the smirk. She stares at the lips. Zirin wraps her arms around Azula and brings her to an embrace. Their mouths meet, their lips part.

Azula has very little experience with this but she uses that experience to the best of her ability right now. She quickly raises her hands up and runs them across the brunette's body. Zirin reaches her hands up and feels through the short hair of Azula. She tries to pull what little she can. They release their embrace and lock eyes, desperate for air.

The fire drives them back in again.

It takes about an hour or so, but the whole group is loaded onto Lin's boat, along with their new coin influx. As Lin starts it up, Azula comes and stands beside him. She takes a deep breath and says, "Take us home, Lin."

The stout, dark skinned man replies, "We can't exactly go home, Empress."

A bit shell shocked from everything else it takes a moment for it to register what he said. Azula turns to him and asks, "Why not?"

"While you were away I received a messenger hawk from Ai Zhou that Fire Nation soldiers were searching for a band of troubled girls."

"Oh Agni," Azula groans. She wonders when things would become easier.

"She didn't tell them anything, but she knew I was transporting a group with the same description and wanted me to know."

Azula huffs. Lin asks her, "So, where do you want to go now? Earth Kingdom, Ba Sing Se, South Pole, North Pole?"

"No. We go home. There's a village in North-Central Fire Nation. Legend says it used to be haunted by Moon Monster. Do you know where I'm talking about?"

"I do. It's near Ember Island. I believe it's the Xue Wu Village?"

"Exactly. Take us there," she replies. Lin begins to drive his boat. Azula adds, more to herself than to him, "We'll make a home for ourselves there."

At the back of Lin's boat, Zirin sits alone. She is daydreaming about the development of her relationship with Azula. If she concentrates, she can almost still taste her lips on her lips. Almost still taste her tongue on her tongue. She looks up and watches the Dragon Empress stand beside Lin, discussing where they will go next. She never hears the other individual come and sit beside her.

Beleaguered, Zirin looks at the lilac eyes that are next to her. Neither one says anything for a moment. Ruki looks back up at Azula, far beyond earshot. She turns back to Zirin. She narrows her eyes and whispers to the older girl.

"No more half-measures."

A/N: This chapter was L-O-O-O-N-G. This chapter's OST is "The Downeaster 'Alexa'" by Billy Joel.

Love always. Tyzula forever.

Notorious