In the little house owned by Noren and Ursa where they lived with two girls. Things had fallen into a routine.
In day time. Noren and Azula would both be out to work on each their play. Ursa would stay home and take care of Kiyi as well as preparing dinner. Sometimes she would visit either her husband or oldest daughter to see how they were coming along. Occasionally bringing treats for both of them.
Evenings would usually be a quiet affair they would eat. Talk about their plays or maybe about the latest gossip and then while Ursa, Noren and Kiyi would sometimes play cards or perhaps Ursa would sit down to work on costumes while the other two made masks.
Azula would retrieve to her room where she would write.
Azula never joined the others after dinner. Dinner was already more than enough interaction as far as Azula was concerned.
Her mood was often fluctuating. Sometimes she would be very frustrated with these people. Other times quiet.
Only sometimes did she actually enjoy dinner. But Ursa insisted they should all eat together… Like they were some sort of big happy family.
Thankfully no one ever bothered Azula when she went to her room to write. Kiyi had been curious but Ursa had told the little girl to not bother Azula.
This evening though… Kiyi tried her luck and opened the door to look inside at where Azula was laying on her stomach on her bed. Writing.
Azula lifted up her head as she glared. "Didn't mom tell you not to go into my room."
"It used to be my room." Kiyi pouted.
"Well it's mine now." Azula shrugged. "Scram."
Kiyi didn't though. She tilted her head. "What are you doing?"
"Writing a play. Obviously." Azula rolled her eyes. "And it will be the best play. Just you wait and see."
"What is it about?" Kiyi asked.
"Well erhm… It's." Azula hesitated.
Kiyi frowned. "You don't know?"
"Of course I do! I'm writing it." Azula said.
"So what is it about?" Kiyi asked. "I bet it's bad."
"It's not!" Azula exclaimed. "It's about…" she swallowed. "The daughter of the shadow spirit."
"Oh?" Kiyi asked.
"The shadow spirit." Azula pointed at her scroll. "A great and amazing spirit! Who reaches the entire world as his shadows are to be found in each and every corner." she said. "And then he has a daughter. She's a great shadow herself and the shadow spirits greatest agent! Her role in life is to do the shadow spirits biding. What-ever he asks she'll do. And she always deliver to perfection! She's perfect! Flawless! But then…. One day. After having served faithfully for a thousand years she fails her mission and thus failed her purpose. The shadow spirit is not pleased, he does not tolerate failure so she must run! But not only is she a shadow herself, but the shadow spirit is in each and every corner! All the places there are shadows he is and she must either find a way to appease her father or escape."
"Woooooooow!" Kiyi gasped. "That sounds so cool." she said.
"I told you it would be good." Azula snorted then halted. "You really think so?"
"Yeah." Kiyi stated as she walked over to Azula and then jumped up the bed. "It's so sad though. It doesn't sound like the daughter did anything wrong."
"She failed her mission." Azula pointed out.
"Well… If she hadn't failed any mission for a thousand years. It's really mean of the shadow spirit to get angry over just one!" Kiyi stated. "He's a big meanie!"
Azula smiled, and then she swallowed just as her throat seemed to turn into a knot. Then she whisked away a tear as she looked away.
"How does it end?" Kiyi asked curiously. "It seems like an impossible situation."
"Well…" Azula looked down. "Agni the great sun spirit is a part of the play too and I think… By the end. The daughter steps into his light. Where no shadow can exists… And since she is a shadow herself she vanishes."
"I don't like that." Kiyi exclaimed. "That's too sad!"
"That's because you are not brilliant enough to understand." Azula stated. "Beside. Just becoming one with the light doesn't seem like that bad of an ending." she commented wisfully.
"It's a horrible ending." Kiyi stated firmly.
"It's not!" Azula replied back.
"Yes it is." Kiyi stated just as the door opened and Ursa gasped.
"Kiyi!"
Both girls turned towards their mother who looked startled at them.
"Azula. I am so sorry. I took my eye off her for just a second." Ursa sighed.
"It's okay." Azula shrugged. "We are doing fine."
"Azula is telling me about the play she's writing!" Kiyi cheered. "It's sad though."
"Oh. Really?" Ursa asked now a soft smile on her face. "You sure are lucky. Azula hasn't even told me what she's writing about."
"It's nothing!" Azula exclaimed as she shoveled the scroll under herself as if to make sure that Ursa wouldn't see it.
"Don't you intend to make it a play?" Kiyi asked. "So everyone can see it? Then why can't mom see it?"
"It's not finished dumdum!" Azula exclaimed.
"Azula is writing about the daughter of the shadow spirit!" Kiyi informed loudly.
"Hey! Quiet you!" Azula exclaimed as she covered Kiyis mouth with her hand.
"Oh. Really?" Ursa asked as she moved inside and sat down on Azulas chair. "That sounds very interesting."
"It's nothing. It's stupid." Azula pouted.
"But you said it was brilliant." Kiyi blinked.
"Well it will be! I just… I…" Azula tried.
"Can I see?" Ursa asked kindly as she reached out a hand as if the accept the scroll.
Azula gasped as she held the scroll then she swallowed.
"Oh… That's okay to." Ursa retrieved her hand. "I am just… Really curious." she admitted. "I really wanted to see it."
And Azula sighed deeply then finally offered up the scroll and Ursa smiled as she took and then actually started to read.
For a while there was quiet as Ursas eyes went over the scroll. Though suddenly her smile turned to that of a sad frown. Her eyes turned misty and finally she had to turn her head away.
"Mom?" Kiyi asked.
Ursa wiped her eyes with her sleeve. "It's wonderful Azula." she finally said offering the scroll back. "You should be very proud of yourself. This is a great story and… The dialogue is very." she swallowed. "Sorry it just felt a little too real." she smiled weakly.
Azula was quiet as she held her scroll.
"You're very talented." Ursa assured.
"I'm cheating." Azula then admitted and Ursa blinked.
"How so?" Ursa asked.
"I'm just trapping the voices in the scroll." Azula informed.
"What do you mean?" Ursa asked.
"The voices." Azula pointed around herself. "The things they say. I trap it in the scroll…. It helps." she admitted. "I can sleep better now."
"Oh Azula." Ursa moved forward and then just embraced her deeply. "That is wonderful. Simply marvelous and wonderful." she cried. "And don't you say that's cheating! This is all you. You're a wonderful writer." she sniffed.
Azula just blinked utterly confused as Ursa hugged her tight.
"It's good you don't talk to yourself as much anymore." Kiyi said. "I don't think that's healthy."
"I do not!" Azula began then groaned. "Shut up." she finally ended.
"Azula listen." Ursa said as she sat back. "When-ever you hear a voice. Trapping it is good. Okay! Don't be afraid of telling me that is what is going on. If you need anymore scrolls or ink or anything. Just say it! I'll get some for you."
"I am running out of scrolls." Azula admitted.
"Okay. I'll buy some new ones tomorrow." Ursa said and then kissed Azula on the forehead. "I love you darling."
Azula looked down, feeling the red creep over her face just as Noren leaned against the door frame and then smiled.
Azula glared at him.
Noren smirked. "Azula perhaps I could have your assistance."
"With what?" Azula asked.
"Well you see." Noren sighed. "The woman I cast as the dragon empress. Her mother god sick and she had to leave the village so I have to recast the role. I keep saying Ursa should play it! She won the role long ago but never got to play the Dragon Empress. She already knows the play by heart so it'll just be easier for everyone. But Ursa keeps saying she's too old. Could you talk some sense into her?"
"To old?" Azula asked as she looked at Ursa. "There are plenty of old hags on stage playing roles that are way younger than them! Just remember Ember Island. I swear it's the same lady who played the dragon empress for at least forty years! She seemed to be in her sixties!"
Ursa sighed. "I just think… There are younger women better suited."
"That's dumb." Azula stated. "If you want it. Take it."
Ursa chewed her lip.
"Ursa…" Noren smiled sadly. "You used to love standing on the stage. It used to bring you so much joy. I know you have been scared ever since… They took you away to the palace. But… I think it's time for all of us to take a step forward right?"
"MOM WOULD BE THE BEST DRAGON EMPRESS!" Kiyi shouted.
"Well obviously. She played the role enough times while reading out loud those old scrolls." Azula stated. "Just do it all ready."
"Do it mom!" Kiyi exclaimed.
Wide-eyed did Ursa look from one to the other then finally up at Noren who smiled as clearly he knew as much as the others… He had already won.
"All right then." Ursa said. "Just this ones. I help out."
"YAAAAY!" Kiyi embraced Ursa and Azula smirked.
"My play is still going to be the superior play though you know." Azula commented.
"Then it's a good thing I'm not in that one so I can see it." Ursa smiled warmly as she pulled Azula in now hugging both girls. And then she smiled, a warm, honest and very real smile that went all the way to her eyes as she hugged them both.
Azula was stunned… Simply stunned. She had no memories of her mother smiling like that. Of Ursas smile being so… Real.
Not even when she smiled at Zuko had it seemed to shine so brightly. Even then there had been sadness but now. She was happy.
And Azula swallowed as she leaned closer trying to draw on the warmth and the moment while she thought about the play.
The sun spirit Agni… Embracing the shadow spirits daughter and just… Take her away.
Kiyi might not like that ending but that is how it was going to end and Azula closed her eyes as she sighed. Thinking about all of those plays they were going to put up and how much fun it would be.
So this is what it felt like being happy…. It was kind of nice.