Chapter 42

Azula stared at her mother for a full minute before reacting. Zuko was going to challenge their father. Of fucking course he was, the suicidal idiot. She thought Ursa may have been anticipating a positive reaction to the news, but Zuko's predictability was infuriating. When she finally found her voice, it came out with an irritated scoff.

"That loved up, honor obsessed, idiot! What is he thinking? If it was Uncle then maybe they'd stand a chance but that moron couldn't even beat me by himself. How does he expect to defeat father?" She threw her hands in the air and stomped a few steps away. "Oh could he be any more predictable? As if father won't be expecting him. What does he think is going to happen?"

Her mother seemed mildly shocked by her outburst but had obviously chosen to let her vent. Azula chewed on the inside of her cheek as she tried to understand her brother's thinking and absently wondered if there was anything she could do to help. She scoffed to herself. As if he would ever accept her help with anything. Turning to her mother, she angrily realized she had tears in her eyes.

"That stupid idiot! He is just going to get himself killed! I would have thought getting married and having a baby might have made him more eager to live! Ugh! He is going to run off to his death and I am stuck here on this Agni forsaken rock, and even if I could somehow get to him and think of some way to help he'd kill me as soon as he saw me."

By now Ursa was beside her and had wrapped an arm around her shoulders. They stood there for several more minutes with their foreheads together as Azula grieved the loss of her brother's trust.

"He may not trust you anymore but, hasn't he already had the chance to kill you? After your fight on the day of the comet? Neither he or his new wife used their opportunity to kill you. Instead he made sure you were cared for. Zuko doesn't want you dead Azula."

Azula laughed out loud at that.

"Maybe he doesn't but his boomerang wielding brother in law and the rest of their gang of friends sure do. Besides, he has a child now. Do you really think that will make him more likely to have me around? Not likely. If he thinks I am a threat to his family he won't hesitate." She wiped her eyes and met her mother's concerned look. "What would I even be able to offer him anyway? I can't bend and none of them trust me not to betray them when it counts. Damn if I didn't feel totally useless before…"

As she walked over to a nearby bench and sank down, her face in her hands, Ursa crossed her arms and offered her opinion.

"If you had your bending back you could help him defeat your father. I know it would take a lot to get him to believe you really wanted to help him but I have to believe it's possible. Maybe, the two of us could go to Ba Sing Se together and speak to him. If we could just get him to see how much you've changed and how much you want the same thing he does…"

Azula thought about what she was saying. There was no way he would ever believe her on her own but if their mother was there too?

Just then there was a shout from inside and she never had the chance to think on it any further as she followed her mother to see what had happened. The mind healers were gathered in the main room with several nurses, a newly returned Yun Sui, and three men she didn't know. Yun Sui still wore his travel cloak and he stood beside the head mind healer, both wearing thunderous expressions as the strangers spoke. Azula stood behind her mother and tried to listen without drawing attention to herself. One of the new men was clearly a palace official, the other two were soldiers. The last thing she wanted was for her father to learn that she was alive.

"You can't be serious, the service we provide here is unique to the Fire Nation and important! If you shut us down what will become of our patients? Do you intend to cast the mentally unstable out onto the streets? They are cared for here, this is inhumane! What is Fire Lord Ozai thinking? Surely if I could have an audience…"

The harried looking official had evidently had enough and put up a hand to silence the head healer.

"Healer Fong, I am quite aware of how important your work here is. My own aunt spent time here nearly a decade ago, it saved her life. Trust me when I tell you that I understand and that I am truly sorry. Unfortunately this facility is funded by the crown. As such, thanks to recent tax increases and coin grabbing, it is being shut down. Several other facilities share your fate. Three hospitals and all war orphanages have been closed as well, patients and children turned out onto the streets."

Ursa was practically vibrating with rage beside Azula. Looking around the room she saw that her mother was not the only one. The two soldiers looked impassive but their shoulders were slumped and their hands hung limp at their sides.

Turning back to watch Healer Fong, Azula was only a little shocked to see that all the fight had gone out of him. He looked around at his employees and hung his head.

"How long do we have before we need to be out?"

The weary official pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.

"Three days. The property has been let to some wealthy Lord. I am sorry."

Healer Fong nodded, fists clenched, as the official and two soldiers turned to leave. Just as he was almost out the door, he looked back over his shoulder and spoke again.

"It would be best if you all left without a fuss. The army have orders to arrest anyone not cooperating."

After they were gone, Yun Sui ushered Azula and her mother to her room. He appeared less ruffled than Azula had expected and sat calmly on her window bench for several moments before speaking.

"Perhaps now is a good time for the pair of you to head to Ba Sing Se. I will find lodging and remain here to keep in contact with Lieutenant Jee. I've returned at just the right moment it would seem."

Stalking over to them from where she had been angrily pacing, Ursa seemed to be trying not to scream.

"How dare he. How DARE he! How can he be so fucking ruthless and cruel?" Azula's eyes widened at her mother's language. "Closing down hospitals? Casting homeless children into the streets? Oh I wish I could…" She clenched her hands in front of herself as though strangling someone, her face a mask of fury. "I don't know why I'm surprised. He maimed his son and abused his daughter, Agni knows what he's doing to his new child bride. This latest bout of insanity is hardly unlike him."

"Mother…"

"I'm sorry my dear. I'm just so angry. Of course we will go to Ba Sing Se, Yun Sui. But… Before we do, I would ask you to return Azula's bending. Who knows if we will see you again and from what I understand, your chi blocking is an uncommon skill. She needs to be able to protect herself, both of us."

Yun Sui turned to Azula, his stare penetrating. She grit her teeth and refused to drop her gaze as he watched her. Azula knew she had changed, that she was a different person than she had been more than a year ago.

"Of course. It is my opinion that Princess Azula is no longer a danger to herself and others, well except perhaps her father." The fire sage suddenly looked much older as he offered her a grave smile. "I am so proud of you Princess. You have come so far in such a short time, I know you will find happiness one day. I believe in you. Come, stand just here," He gestured to the space in front of him as he stood. Once she was standing before him, Yun Sui dropped into a horse stance and closed his eyes, his hand gestures reminding Azula of her old friend Ty Lee. After a deep breath, she watched him jab two fingers precisely at various places along her chi paths. With each jab, she felt her inner fire burn brighter. It was as if she had been dead and suddenly now roared back to life.

As he finished, Azula grit her teeth and groaned, falling to her knees. Fire burned in her blood and roiled in her gut. Tears slid down her face as she reveled in the sweet heat. She hardly noticed her mother on her knees beside her, her arms wrapped around her shoulders. Cupping her hands out in front of her, Azula took a deep breath and let her fire spill forth. It had been so long since she had bent, it took far too much effort to contain the flame to her hands but the warm glow brought fresh sobs.

"Agni, it's so beautiful…" Unable to contain the fire, she stood and ran to her balcony. Taking another breath, she twisted her body in a complicated bending pattern. It came back to her so easily, like breathing. At the end of the movement, a burst of blue flame erupted out her window and into the sky.

Watching the wonderful fire dissipate, Azula smirked to herself. Nothing felt at good as firebending did, and she was pleased to know her 15 month restriction hadn't dulled her skill. Standing upright, she looked back at her mother, a wide smile splitting her face. She was pleased to see her joy mirrored there.

"I can't wait to get out of here so I can really do some bending. Oh Agni I wish I could explain to you how wonderful this feels mother!"

Ursa beamed at her. Yun Sui had collapsed back onto his bench and was laughing gently. He wiped his brow and looked up at her.

"You will be wonderful my dear. Now, you and your mother must pack and be off. I will go down to the docks and find you passage to the colonies. The man I have been in contact with there will help you get what you need to get to Omashu. It will take almost three weeks to get there, and then another month to Ba Sing Se if all goes well. King Bumi has sent me word that your uncle Iroh has a tea shop in the middle ring where you should meet him. He will be able to provide you with the paperwork to get into the city and through to the middle ring. Azula, I truly am proud of you. If you continue the way you are, you have a bright future ahead. I know you will be able to reconcile with your brother, I know it."

He patted his chest fondly as he stood to leave. Azula chewed the inside of her cheek as she struggled with his words. She so wanted to believe him.

"Yun Sui…Thank you. For… believing in me and, well everything else."

She felt uncomfortable as he smiled and left. Now that she was finally facing her freedom she was nervous. It had all sounded great, finally getting out of this Agni forsaken sick house and having her bending back. The more she thought about it now though, the pressure to stay the course and 'be good' was overwhelming. Her mother seemed to guess her mind, coming over to where she stood by the window and pulling her into her arms.

"It's going to be alright sweetheart. You are going to be fine." She pulled back and looked into her eyes. "I believe in you too. Don't worry about facing Zuko or your father. Lets just take this one day at a time. Together. I'll be here with you."

Ursa kissed her temple and left too, going back to her own room to pack her few belongings. Alone for the moment, Azula looked around and wondered what she even had to pack. She hadn't brought anything with her but the clothes she'd had on when Yun Sui had brought her. Turning back to the window, she watched the sun set to the west and hoped desperately that her mother was right about her.