Chapter 7: The Dream
Azula PoV
Uggh I cannot believe this. I failed my father and the fact I got defeated by the waterbender who goes by the name of Katara. Well, she did a clever trick about freezing me into the well, but of course, Zuzu takes all of the credit for taking me down and become Firelord. Here I am in this lonely cell, and my nation will probably think I am a lunatic now. I guess maybe my mother is pleased by this, she always prefers Zuko over me. I remember Mother was reading to Zuko at night and comforted him with nightmares. I waited for her to do the same thing for me, but she never comes for me whenever I have a nightmare or if I want to hear a story at night. She could have easily read the entire history of the fire nation for me.
Why am I thinking about my childhood right now, I got to find a way of getting my mother to be quiet. At least she is gone for now, but she will come back. How ironic isn't it, I'm supposed to be the perfect child and here I am in this mental asylum. I guess maybe I shouldn't be born, I have failed to protect my country from invaders, and now Zuko will give the enemy all of this nation resources and money. I can't even please Father anymore, all I wanted was for Father to never leave me. Well, he did leave me before he becomes the 'phoenix king'.
Really father, I thought you are smarter than this. Did Father ever love me, I just don't know but I guess I never deserve his love because I'm a failure. Mai and Ty lee left me even though they promise to never me when we made that pact when we're kids, but that was before when I use fear to make sure they are still my friends. That's what father always taught me, you need to use fear and control to never have people leave you. I did use fear and control and look what happen, they left me and prefer Zuko as well. I just don't know anymore, what can I do to have people in my life.
Is the hallucination of Ursa is right about how I was never vulnerable with them and that is why they left? Is that how Zuko and Katara defeated me because they were vulnerable and trusted each other. Who knows maybe, I just cannot afford to be vulnerable, or else I'm weak. It did hurt that Mai and Ty lee left me because they were the only friends I got. All this time were they faking to be my friends or maybe they begin to fake being my friends when I tried to control them. Wow Azula, you cannot keep your friendships intact. Maybe Mother is right about me being a monster, I don't even deserve to exist in this world.
What is the point of my existence, I thought perfection will give me happiness, and yet I am not satisfied. I should have known that Father is incapable of love, but really I have no choice. Nobody wants me anyway, they always prefer Zuko over me. Was love the one thing I always wanted, is that why I always wanted to make Father and Mother proud, and why I bring Zuko back into this nation. I thought if I brought Zuko back, he would fulfill his duties as the prince, not betray his country. Granted I wasn't sure if that lightning killed the Avatar or not, but Zuzu and I made a pretty good team, and yet he's alive.
Because of that waterbender is why he is alive, so that's why I threaten Zuko because I know that my brother will do whatever it takes to finish the job, I guess that's one of the few things I admire about Zuzu, his determination is astonishing. Great now I am admiring Zuzu, fine I admit his social skills are better than mine. He got everybody to love him and do what he wanted. It's too bad he turns traitor as well. Should I have reached out to Zuko as well, maybe he would not have left me, I've always feared being alone. I did everything that Father wanted and it is still not enough. All of this thinking makes my head hurt, and now I'm depressed and in turmoil. That means I cannot lightning bend and I can feel my firebending has slowly gotten weaker, am I losing my touch. I have prided myself to be one of the best fire benders in the century, I can't lose my bending. It is all I have and the one thing I cannot lose. I feel exhausted, I lost balance, and I fall asleep.
"Where am I, and is this a dream," I said questioningly. Suddenly a very mysterious and strong presence has arrived. How did that presence get in my head? A mist that is cover in black and green smoke has a feminine shape has appeared before me.
"You must be the famous Azula, I heard so much about you with the whole killing the Avatar and almost dooming the rest of the human race. Luckily, you fail on that, anyway I have come to make an offer you can't refuse." The feminine voice said.
"Please do tell me what is it that you offer and how do I know that you are even real?" I said in a cautious tone, perhaps another person has come to torment me.
"Don't worry, you pretty much tormenting yourself anyways, is that what you are thinking? Yes, I know you train your mind and heart so that no one can read your mind or even know that you are lying. Well, I am the Spirit Ruler, which means I can read your soul perfectly and you can't hide your intentions from me, but luckily for you, I'm the type of person who's not into invading people's privacy unless the situation calls upon it. I know you have trust issues, so I know it will be hard to convince you especially, since you much pretty lost everybody, you ever care about? Anyway, what I'm offering is a second chance of living and finding out the real truth about your nation. Your history books have withheld a lot of information. You can still be a hero for your nation, and maybe you don't have to be a weapon for your father again. Heck, this journey can show you the correct philosophy behind firebending and how rage and hatred will pretty much hinder your potential. Maybe you can make a good friend along the way, and might even found out what love is?" The voice said.
So, this presence is the infamous Spirit Ruler, the Avatar's equal. The explains why this presence is so strong, but what does she mean about the truth of firebending and the truth of this nation's history? This has got to be a catch, has Zuko send this girl after me.
"No your brother didn't send me, I came on my accord. Your actions can either cause the destruction or prosperity of your nation. Don't worry you don't need to kiss up to your brother because I'm pretty sure you are done kissing up to fire lords. Now then I will say it again, are you still going to be a slave to Ozai or are you going to be the savior of your nation? The choice is up to you." The voice said in a neutral tone.
Is that what I am to my father, a slave, am I no better than the maids and servants who served me, Zuzu, Mother, and Father. If I take this offer, I could still help my nation thrive and maybe I can become a stronger bender. This voice promise I could get friends and figure out the true meaning of love. I want to ask the voice if I could still see Ursa.
"Yes, you could see your mother if that is what you want, but you can also find the woman who takes care of you when you were a baby and still want you as part of her life. The one who always care for you while your mother was too busy with your brother and your father being power-hungry. She will reveal herself to you if you take this journal. Here I will restore your memories of her right now, so you don't think I'm lying." The voice said as she fires a beam towards my forehead.
I can see the memories of a nursemaid holding me as an infant, she also shares a bed with me whenever I can't sleep. The nursemaid's name was Kaen and she always makes my favorite foods and gives me a lot of historical texts of soldiers. She comforts me whenever I get in trouble with mom, she helps me and Lu ten pull pranks of the nobles, and she always watches me whenever I practice firebending. This entire time, a nursemaid has shown more love towards me than both Ozai and Ursa. I felt tears coming out of my eyes, I was loved this whole time and I forgot about it. I remember my father banishes her for some reason, and I was so angry at both Ursa and Ozai. Kaen was more than a nursemaid, she was my real mother.
"Alright Spirit Ruler I will take the offer of this journey, but I'm not sure if I can trust you yet. So, who's joining us, and how you can get me away from my brother's watch?" I said urgently.
"I will put you in sleep trance for a whole week, don't worry you're not going to die, and if we can't pick you up by then, I will release the sleep trance and you can find a way to get out of the institution. As for who joining us, Toph Beifong will join us along with two others you are not familiar with. Oh, I forgot I did not tell you my name, well my name is Hei. Have fun sleeping for the whole week." He spoke as she flashes another beam towards my forehead, I feel drowsy and I feel at peace. My dream world went black
I can finally sleep for the whole week without worrying about hallucinations and annoying therapists. All right I will take Hei's gamble, what else do I get to lose. I'm going to have to trust Hei if I don't want to deal with my brother and if I want to be the savior of my nation. This is weird, actually putting your trust in someone else. Maybe this is what I need to learn if I don't want to be lonely again. I just fell asleep in a dreamless slumber.
Agni PoV
The watchman was running towards Azula's room and yelling "The princess is in a coma, let's take her to the infirmary.". The watchman carried her body to the infirmary and lay her in the hospital bed.
Soon, my child, we will meet again. It seems my liege have decided to put you in a sleep trance. I know you will find me and I will teach you the truth about firebending. I guess Hei give you the memories we have together when I disguise myself as the nursemaid. My disguise name was Kaen, which means flames. I tell you the royal court is not very intelligent. I guess they were too busy killing each other for a chair, I guess Iblis has proven me right about how this family only cares about power, but it seems that Azula's brother Zuko has become the new Fire Lord. The only people who follow my philosophy about how fire is life are Iroh, who is the charming general, the Sun Warriors, who isolate themselves from their country to continue on my traditions and preserving the dragon, Avatar Aang, the Fire Stages who still follow Avatar Roku, and of course the new Fire Lord, Zuko. I am confident that this young man will surpass his predecessors. Soon, my daughter, you will see that fire is life as well.
"Dr. Fuego, how can deal with the fact that the princess randomly has a coma. The machine shows that she has a steady heart rate. What should we tell the Firelord?" The watchman said cautiously.
"Don't worry Mako, the princess is fine. Just tell the Firelord that his sister is taking a long nap, which will take about a week. Besides the Firelord is too busy to even visit his sister. Everything will be fine" I said in a comforting manner. I found all of the fire nation citizens as my children. I'm surprised the facility lets me be a doctor with a ridiculous name like Fuego.
"I trust you, doctor, all right we should tell the Firelord that the princess is 'sleeping'," Mako said in a commanding tone.
Once my master will take you around the world and show how Iblis's philosophy is wrong for this country, you will inherit me and Iblis. You will become the fire spirit, but you will learn humility and forgiveness first. Who knew these humans can be loud sometimes. Until we meet again, my daughter.