When Azula had been just eleven years old. She had witnessed an event.
Her own brother. By right the crown prince of the fire nation. In just a single day, Zuko had lost everything and Azula had watched it happen.
Of course she had already known that it was going to happen eventually. One day little Zuzu would screw up and he was going to loose everything.
And then it happened. One day. That was all it took. Just one.
Azula had smiled that day. Finally Zuko got what he deserved. He always got everything. Mothers love. Irohs adoration.
Stupid Mai who would always become all gooey eyed around him. Oh how everyone just adored little Zuzu. And how Azula hated it.
A pathetic little cry baby who could do no wrong. That was Zuko and he deserved what was coming for him!
Then suddenly, in the middle of the night as Azula tried to sleep a thought suddenly occurred to her.
It took one day for Zuko to be banished, stripped off his rank and loose everything…. If it was that easy to do it to Zuko.
Then… What stopped Ozai from doing the same to her?
Immediately Azula has shoveled the thought aside. It wouldn't happen to her because she wasn't like Zuko.
He was a little wimp who cried when animals got hurt. Who messed up his fire bending almost as it was on purpose. Who would stand around looking clueless and that would make everyone hearts melt.
Azula didn't make mistakes like Zuko did! She was perfect, and would continue to accomplish her goals to perfection. So there was no way Ozai would ever turn on her like he did with Zuko.
It was impossible!
Yet… In the dead of night. When everything was too quiet, the thought kept sneaking itself back into Azulas head.
No! It wouldn't happen. Azula wouldn't allow it to happen! She would be perfect! She would make sure of it. Nothing less than perfection would surface.
She would be the perfect princess. The perfect daughter. The perfect soldier. And then there would be nothing to fear.
It had seemed simple… So simple.
But then… He had re-entered Azulas life!
It was supposed to be simple! Ozai had given Azula a simple order. Bring Zuko and Iroh back so they could be put in prison for life where they could no longer screw up.
Because of course Zuko had managed to screw everything up, even when banished. He was Zuko! Screwing things up was what he did.
Unlike Azula.
So when… When had things started to go so wrong? It could be her… It just couldn't be.
All of these thoughts went through Azulas mind as she stumbled across wilderness of one of the fire nation islands.
Azulas royal armor had long since fallen apart leaving her with the cloth underneath which had become tattered and dirty.
She had thrown her crown away in a fit of rage and now her long hair was freely falling around her face and shoulders in dirty tangled lumps.
She had lost everything…. But how? How was it even possible.
She had done everything right! She was sure she had. So why… how?
Azula squinted her eyes and felt that looming shadow coming over her, a rasp voice.
"You failed me Azula." Fire Lord Ozais voice spoke, booming in Azulas ears.
"No! I didn't!" Azula cried. "I am not like Zuko! I am not Zuko!"
The shadow was so big, towering over Azula. All consuming.
Then suddenly the fire. Azula was ready to swear she felt it towards her face, how it would burn her to leave a permanent mark, disgracing her forever and she screamed as tears ran down her eyes and then… There was nothing.
And Azula realized… She was alone. Completely and utterly alone.
And somehow that was even more terrifying than the looming Ozai.
"Hello?" Azula asked. "Ty Lee? Mai?" she asked as she backed away. "Father." and she sniffed. "Mom."
But no… Of course not. Azulas mother had been the first one to leave… And then they rest followed. They had all left her… Left her alone.
With the voices, the shadows and the fire.
"LEAVE ME ALONE!" Azula roared a she tried to cast her fire. Only for there to be a pathetic splutter of sparks from her hands… And Azulas eyes watered.
She was broken… Azula was broken. That was the only explanation. She was supposed to be perfect. That was her role… And now she was broken.
Azula grabbed her head as she sniffed, squinting her eyes and then she jumped up as she started to run again at full speed, as if trying to escape all the voices.
"Almost perfect isn't good enough!"
"This is your failure Azula!"
And then Azula remembered… The oddest action. A warm body grabbing her… Shielding her.
"I wont let him burn you!"
It made no sense! Zuko of course had always been like that. Self sacrificing and all about protecting the weak… But not her… never her.
So why… Why.
Suddenly foot steps sounded and the sounds of a female voice. "Oh my goodness!"
Azula hissed. Leave me alone! Just leave me alone!
"Dear child are you all right?!" Sounded the frightened voice. "You look awful! Do you need help?!"
Azula hissed. "No… I don't need help. I can handle myself I… Urgh." she hissed as she grabbed her side.
"Oh no you're hurt!" The woman gasped. "Let me help you please!" she asked.
Azula seethed and then finally looked up only to blink… The womans face was not a face Azula knew. It was plain and utterly ordinary. Nothing special about it.
But then there were the eyes. Only two people in the world that Azula knew had eyes like that.
Bright and golden, like they had a life on their own.
Those two people… That Azula knew to have eyes like that were Zuko and…
"Mom?"
The woman blinked confused. "I'm sorry sweet heart." she said. "I don't know where your mother is. But perhaps I could help you find her."
Azula frowned deeply, the voice was soft and kind. The woman seemed soft spoken as she reached her hands towards Azula. "Please. Let me help you."
"No!" Azula retrieved from the woman. "I don't need help. From anybody!" she seethed.
"Everyone needs help sometimes." The woman replied in a light smile. She didn't seem the least bit upset and that only made Azulas frown deepen. "What were you even doing out here?" she finally asked. "We are right at the border of the forgetful valley! That place is dangerous. Filled with spirits." then she halted. "Did you… Run through forgetful valley?" she asked.
Azula shrugged. "Who cares. If I did I'm fine. As you can see." she hissed.
"You're not though. Are you?" The woman asked. "Look. My house is not far from here. Come and get something to eat at least."
Azula frowned, deeply suspicious but then she saw those eyes again… Bright golden yellow. And the way this woman spoke. So softly.
"Who are you?" Azula finally asked. "What's your name."
"Oh. How rude of me. Please excuse me." The woman smiled. "My name is Noriko. And who might you be."
"I'm…" Azula halted then looked down. "No one." she said.
Noriko frowned. "Surely you have a name."
"My name is none of your business." Azula sneered.
"Oh… Okay." Noriko blinked a little startled. "I'm sorry." she flustered. "Please though. Come rest in my house. Just a little bit."
Azula frowned deeply. "Why would you even offer that! You don't know me! You don't know anything about me!"
"I know you need help." Noriko replied. "What other reason do I need?"
Azula grimaced. "You sound like Zuzu. Always coming back for the hurt animals." she muttered then halted.
"Zuzu?" Noriko asked. "Who is that? A little friend of yours?" she asked.
"No one! It's no one." Azula seethed.
"I… see." Noriko halted then reached out a hand towards Azula. Offering it to her. "Please." she asked again. "I just want to help you."
Azula seethed as she turned her head away, but then realized… She was starving. She felt weak. She was dirty and she was tried of being dirty.
Azula knew she shouldn't rely on help from peasants. That was wrong. She didn't need help… That would be imperfect.
But those eyes… Bright and golden and Azula swallowed as she looked at the out stretched hand towards her.
… It was to figure this out. Azula decided. She wasn't accepting help. She was finding out what the story was behind the eyes.
The soft voice.. The way this woman spoke. There had to be a reason, it couldn't be so simple.
And finally Azula accepted the hand, allowing Noriko to pull her up and Noriko smiled. "Come on this way." she gestured.
Azula frowned but then finally followed the woman. She halted a bit then finally asked. "Are you related to a woman named Ursa?" she asked.
Noriko blinked as she turned around. "Ursa?" she asked. "I'm afraid not. There was an Ursa living in my village, or so they say. But that was before my time there."
Azulas heart almost stopped, then breathed. "Where is she now?" she asked.
"I don't know dear." Noriko spoke truthfully. "I only know what I was told. Ursa the daughter of the town mayor was to marry the love of her life Ikem. But then the fire lord arrived and took her away, forcing her to marry his son Prince Ozai. Many years later Ursa returned to look for her lost love Ikem, but he had vanished into the forgetful valley and she too headed to that same valley to look for him. Neither has returned."
Azula halted, it was like her world froze as she tried to wrap her head around this new information. "What?" she asked.
"It sounds like a story from a play doesn't it?" Noriko asked kindly. "Romantic but very tragic. I hear Ursa was a beauty beyond compare. Like the dragon empress." she chuckled. "One could only dream of looking remotely like that huh?" she asked jokingly.
Azula… Was not reacting. She was just wide-eyed looking at Noriko.
Noriko quieted by Azulas look. "I'm sorry I couldn't help more dear." she said.
"Take me to your village." Azula then finally asked.
"Well… All right." Noriko replied a little wide-eyed. "Like I said my house is not far." she said as she turned and allowed Azula to follow her.
Azula though frowned… She would get to the bottom of this… Was this where her mother had run to after all? Left her for this and this.. This Ikem. Who in the name of Agni was Ikem!?
Azula didn't know but she was going to find out! No matter what.