Chapter 47

Zuko was sure he wouldn't have been more shocked if Agni himself appeared before him. Her hair was cropped short, curling under her chin, and she wore travel stained greens and browns. No disguise could ever mask her identity to him though, those piercing golden eyes were so like his own after all. His sister sat awkwardly, pinned down thanks to Toph's bending, and he had never seen her look so… nervous.

As soon as he'd recognized her, Zuko had put himself between her and his family. Having her so close to his daughter was flooding his senses with dread. Behind him, he could almost feel the anger and anxiety coming off of Katara in waves. Sokka had stepped closer to him and reached back for his boomerang, also shielding Katara and Kya from view. Blood rushing in his ears, Zuko couldn't think about anything but protecting Kya from her aunt. Sokka spoke first.

"Azula?"

Zuko watched her eye Sokka's weapon with resignation. To his continued surprise, rather then reply to Sokka, Azula turned a half hearted glare on Momo.

"You were supposed to stick with me until they saw me, you furry food thief."

"Hey, don't talk to Momo you crazy-lady, jerkbender!"

She ignored him and heaved a tired sigh and looked up into Zuko's eyes. "Hello brother."

He thought Iroh was calling out to the few patrons who hadn't already fled and closing the shop. Zuko was so hyper focused on his sister's movements and thinking how to get his family away that he couldn't be sure what Iroh was saying. No one else moved or spoke until they were alone. As soon as Iroh closed the door behind the last guest, Zuko sprang forward and gripped Azula by the front of her shirt with one hand, the other pressed a blade against her throat. She didn't flinch but her frown deepened. His voice was deadly and sure.

"Give me a reason Azula. I may have spared you the last time we met, I won't hesitate to protect my family now. What are you doing here? How are you here? What happened to Yun Sui?"

Before she could answer, Momo flew from his perch on Katara's shoulders to chatter angrily in his face before landing in Azula's lap. He reached up and nipped Zuko on the wrist, causing him to pull the blade back from his sister. Sokka tried to pull him away.

"Hey! What's wrong with you Momo? We like Zuko, not Azula, if you're going to bite anyone bite her!"

Momo twisted against his hands and bit him too. Katara must have passed Kya to Iroh because suddenly she was beside him in a stance he'd only seen once before. A strangled cry drew his eyes back to Azula. Katara's voice was cold and cut through the chaos.

"What are you doing here Azula? I might not be able to tell if you're lying, but I can end you in a heartbeat if I don't like your answer."

Azula looked past Zuko and met Katara's fierce gaze, her face turning red as she strained against the invisible hold. Her eyes widened in terror at the sudden loss of control over her body.

"What.. what is she doing to me? Why can't I move? Zuko, what is she doing to me? It… it hurts!"

Seeing the panicked fear on Azula's face for the first time in her life only made him worry more. If she broke free, he couldn't imagine she wouldn't retaliate.

"Don't worry about what I'm doing, Azula. Answer my question."

Katara must have tightened her grip on his sister because she gasped loudly and made another strangled cry before she answered in a shaky voice. Zuko watched Azula closely for any sign she was overpowering the blood bending.

"I'm here to help you... w when you go back to the Fire Nation…" Her voice was strained as though it took great effort. "I want to help you kill our father." Sokka scoffed and would have interrupted were it not for his sister's silencing glare. "His wife has given him a new son. He's called Sozin." Zuko's frown deepened. "I know you have no reason to believe me but, I want him dead. Father, not the child. To answer your other questions, I have something for you in my pack."

Momo dove into her pack and pulled out a letter. Zuko took it and cocked a brow at the seal.

"This is from King Bumi? You've been through Omashu?"

Azula nodded slowly, as much as she was able. Sokka leaned over to look at the seal. He had a doubtful glare as Zuko opened the letter and read it quickly. When he realized who it was from, he fell on his backside and ran a hand down his face in disbelief. Telling no one to move, he cast Azula a questioning glare and read it again.

To my precious son,

I wish with all of my heart that I was with you. I have heard that you are married and now have a child of your own. I hope I will not be long in meeting your new family. Give my new grandchild my love and know that I could not be more happy for you.

Please, I believe you do not outright wish Azula dead so I beg you, read this and carefully consider before deciding anything.

Your sister was forced to go on without me from Omashu when I was struck down with illness. Do not worry, I will be fine. King Bumi's personal healer assures me that I will be fit again, likely by the time you read this. Lover's revenge is long lasting and debilitating but not fatal. Unfortunately, I did not feel we could delay an extra month and so sent Azula on alone, trusting her to seek you out despite her fear of your wrath.

Fourteen months ago, the man you entrusted your sister to sought me out. At that point I believed both of my children to be dead. When Yun Sui appeared telling me that my daughter was alive and that she needed me, my world which had ceased to turn with my children's deaths, burst to life again. I have been with her ever since, even after I learned you were alive as well. I hope you will forgive me for this choice, but I knew she needed me more. You had your Uncle and new family beside you. Azula, as always, had no true support or love.

Getting passed the betrayal she felt after Ozai celebrated her death alongside yours, and the decade of hurt that I caused took months. She has had to face painful truths about her relationship with Ozai and her own personality. Something I believe you might understand. She may share more detail than I can here if you give her the chance. Please know that she has worked so hard to overcome her past and the personality flaws your father instilled in her. I am so proud of how far she has come and the person she is becoming.

Please my son, I do not ask you to trust her on my word or forgive her your shared past, that isn't my place. All that I ask is you give her a chance. Your people need you more than ever now and she can help you.

All of my love,

your ever loving mother, Ursa.

Stunned, Zuko tried to hand the note to his wife. Katara cocked an incredulous brow. She looked down at her hands still holding Azula's blood captive, and back to Zuko. Iroh took it instead and held it so she could read it.

"It is from your mother?"

"So it says…"

While he had been reading his mother's letter, Azula had sat frozen in an uncomfortable looking position before him. Momo chirped in the talking-like-people way he had from her lap while Sokka attempted to argue with him. Zuko turned to watch his wife read his mother's words. Her brow furrowed in a way that made him want to reach up and smooth the worry from her face. If what the letter said was true, could he give his sister this chance? His panic for his family's safety warred with his desire to believe his mother's words. Azula always lied after all. If he did as his mother had asked, it would be a huge risk to them and he wasn't sure he could do it. Besides those important questions, he had a dozen more about his mother and he felt himself beginning to grow overwhelmed by emotions he had long since tried to bury.

Sokka made a startled sound that pulled him from his thoughts. Momo had reached into Azula's pack again and pulled out a small pouch. Hopping from her lap, he flew to Sokka and dropped it in his hands. Temporarily startled at Momo's sudden movement, he emptied the pouch into his hand.

"What is.. ahh. 'Sent her on alone, old friend. I hope it is as thrilling as I guessed.' A Lotus tile and a note from King Bumi." He laughed at the missive before handing the tile to Zuko. "Sounds like that was for you from Bumi, Iroh."

"Indeed. Well nephew, it seems she has been sent to us by our allies. What should we do with her?"

Blinking quickly to banish the confused burning in his eyes, he looked to his wife again. They shared a long look that conveyed her own confusion and unease. She glared hard at Azula before giving him a small shrug and dropping her stance. Her body now free Azula collapsed awkwardly to her side. Her feet still encased in the stone floor she curled in on herself as much as she could and took slow, shaky breaths. Katara took Kya back from Iroh and clutched her tightly to her chest, watching Azula as closely as Zuko was. Glancing at Sokka, he watched as several emotions crossed his brother-in-laws face while he took his turn to look at the letter. His resulting silence was unhelpful. He would choose that moment to attempt silent contemplation. Sighing and pushing down the of worry, Zuko stood and faced his sister.

"What do you think Toph?"

The blind girl had been quiet so far, even though she had been the one to recognize Azula and capture her. He wondered what she could see that they couldn't.

"I've never been able to tell if she's lying. She's too good at it. What does the letter say?"

"My mother asks that I not kill her and that I allow her to help us when we return to the Fire Nation to defeat my father. She claims Azula has changed."

Cocking her head to the side as if listening she finally spoke. "She has been genuinely panicked. Momo likes her too anyway. Why is that buddy? Did you come with her?"

He chirped in response.

"Hmm. Is that so? Where did you find him princess?"

Azula cast a wary glance at Katara before pushing herself back up and answering.

"I didn't. He tumbled into my camp two weeks out from Omashu and stole my dinner. I recognized him as the Avatar's pet so I told him I was looking for you. I guess he understood because he stuck around."

Toph looked thoughtful, her hands crossed under her chest and her unseeing eyes on the floor.

"Well Momo likes her. Maybe you should let her live. Appa liked you before we did remember, animals know things people can't pick up on."

Sokka was apoplectic beside him, gesturing wildly at the prisoner in question. Ignoring him, Zuko made a decision. His voice came out sharper than he intended but it was a tremendous effort to keep his emotions in check. He could feel his internal fire roiling with the need to eliminate the threat to his family.

"Fine. Katara, take Kya to Natuk and Sitka's and stay with them until I come for you." At her irritated glare, he gave her an apologetic shrug. Her sudden stiffness and hard look revealed her fury at being ordered to leave, but for now he was glad to see she listened. He reached out to stroke his daughter's hair before they left and turned to Sokka.

"Go with them, please. If she's here, who knows who else could be out there."

"Whatever you say, brother."

With one last smug glare for Azula, he followed his sister.

As soon as Katara and Sokka had left the tea shop, Zuko let out a ragged breath. It took several seconds to let go of enough of his panic so he could focus on his sister. Whatever she had expected, this clearly wasn't it. Azula looked extremely relieved despite still being pinned to the floor. She watched Zuko and Iroh in turn with wide eyes as she scratched behind Momo's ears. Turning slightly so he was facing his uncle, Zuko pinched the bridge of his nose. What were they going to do with her? Could they really ensure she wasn't a threat? The very idea seemed ludicrous.

"Toph, can you get her to the palace? I have no idea how to do that without people noticing. That's the last thing we need."

"Of course I can. But it won't exactly be subtle."

"Perhaps if we wait until dark? For now, nephew I think it would be wise if you had a conversation with your sister. I'll be in the back if you need me. Toph, perhaps you will help me?"

The earth bender laughed and followed the old man out of the room, leaving Zuko alone with his sister. Only his mother's letter giving him small faith Azula wouldn't turn on him.

"Has mother really been with you this whole time?"

Azula sighed and seemed to consider her answer before speaking.

"Yes. The last time you saw me, I… I wasn't myself. She's helped me a lot. When she told me that she had learned you were alive shortly after arriving, you can imagine my shock that she chose to stay with me. I thought she would have sought out her favorite child as soon as she could. But, she stayed with me."

Zuko watched in fascination as his sister displayed more honest emotion than he'd ever seen. He wondered if it was genuine. She had always been a masterful liar, but she had always kept her face carefully blank. He was less surprised by his mother's choice to stay with Azula. As she had said in the letter, he didn't need her like his sister did.

"Why are you here now? What was so important that you had to leave her in Omashu?"

She rolled her eyes and huffed a humourless laugh.

"I didn't have a choice there. King Bumi practically shoved me out of the city. It was important because, I don't know how much you've heard recently about things back home but it's gotten rather bad. Father is squeezing every last coin he can out of our people. Ever hospital, orphanage, care facility and shelter has been closed, the colonies have been taxed to starvation and the home islands aren't far behind."

Zuko hung his head, righteous fury for his people burning in his chest. He needed to stop their father and end his people's suffering. Guilt that he had waited so long extinguished the fire of fury with self loathing. His people were suffering and he was doing nothing to help them. Meeting Azula's eyes again, he knew that couldn't be it. No matter how reformed she claimed to be, she would never risk her life for peasants.

"That's not why you're here. You don't care about those people, what else is there?"

Sighing dramatically and looking away, she muttered to herself before speaking.

"Well it was disturbing to see children starving in the streets as we passed through the colonies, but you're right. I don't care enough for those people to risk this meeting. No matter that mother has been trying to teach me empathy. No, I didn't come all this way for them." She huffed and closed her eyes as though preparing herself for what she had to say. When she opened them, Zuko was once again struck by the emotion there.

"Like I said, I'm here to help you kill father. What he did to me, the way he used me… how he always treated you. He has a new heir now and after all of his recent failures and how poorly we lived up to his expectations, I shudder to think what he'll do to him. He's named him Sozin for Agni's sake!" She swallowed thickly. "He's our brother too and he's just a baby. I can't explain why I care about him but I do. I think about him and all the rumors about how father is treating his new wife, at least you had mother when we were children. He needs us Zuko. You have a baby now, how would you feel if she was being raised by father?"At his pained and confused expression she elaborated. "Mother does these exercises with me to think about other people's feelings. Anyway, that's why I'm here. For Sozin. I want to help him and I want to help you killl our father."

Zuko watched her for any sign she was lying, but saw only open emotion. As many times as he'd been betrayed by her duplicity before he was wary to believe what she said. The letter was the only thing stopping him from killing her outright to protect his family. If what she said was true, she was right. The time for them to act was at last upon them.

He stood and stared down at her, fists clenched at his sides. "If it weren't for mother's letter I wouldn't think of believing you, even now I'm doubtful. Not once in the history of our relationship have you been truthful, not without some ulterior motive that always ended in pain or humiliation for me. You will stay in the palace under guard while we corroborate your information with our informants and decide what to do. I wish I could easily trust your word Azula. I wish we didn't have the past that we do." Bending down so his face was level with hers, his voice was suddenly steel. "Don't make me regret giving you this chance. You only have the one."

With that, he called for his uncle and Toph to take care of her and left the tea shop. Hopefully Katara wouldn't be too angry with him.

A/N There you go folks! I hope you enjoyed it! Please drop a comment to let me know what you think! The next few chapters are giving me grief but I think I have it worked out.