"How many people died?"

Ty-Lee watched Yuatak look down. The wife of the Phoenix King neglected her tea and cake. She understood that she probably overworked this girl to death, sending her back and forth between messengers from the Royal Plaza and herself.

"Your majesty," Yuatak began. "...my apologies, but there are no survivors."

Ty-Lee's chest clenched.

"With the exception of Princess Azula. Princess Illah captured her...and your majesty?"

The Phoenix Queen blinked. "Yes?"

"Were you aware of Prince Zuko's return?"

Ty-Lee froze, staring hard at the servant before her. Kiyi's letter, and the urgency that still came behind her perfect handwriting, did not include any mention of Zuko.

"Princess Illah sent this letter on the day King Ozai announced the agreement…she never mentioned him." she trailed off. "Why his involvement?"

"I had to look into things. King Kuei wasn't the one who agreed to the deal. The deal happened after he was murdered."

Ty-Lee stopped, she let her mind fight to put the pieces together.

"Queen Ty-Lee, it is clear that Prince Zuko was responsible. Princess Illah and he did not meet until close to the raid," Yuatak said. "...they both followed a plan, and had no time to communicate closely. I would not be surprised if Princess Illah purposely did not tell you about him because his arrival came as a shock."

Ty-Lee still did not speak and forced her hands to stop trembling. King Ozai did not keep everything from her, but the fact that he kept this piece from information from not just she but Kiyi, for some time, made her turn back to Yuatak.

"She's livid," she said.

"Your majesty," Yuatak said. "I heard others speak about the prince. I think you should be careful of him. They said he and Prince Iroh found difficulty living on their own before reaching the Earth Kingdom. Somehow, the soldiers who accompanied them during their banishment turned on the two before they stripped themselves of their identities. Prince Zuko turned to a life of crime, and became involved in a drug dealing ring. Somehow, King Ozai got in touch with him - Prince Zuko led his men to the Upper Ring, and they ambushed King Kuei in his palace on the day the agreement between the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation happened, which occurred weeks ago before we received notification of the agreement."

"...was it just King Kuei who was killed?"

Yuatak's eyes told more. The Phoenix queen did not move, but said, "We will speak later, you may leave."

Ty-Lee could tell the young girl was upset and relieved her of her duties for the night. Servants cleaned up her tray and she rose. The first part of the deed was done, and now, King Ozai would have some control over the rebellions breaking out in the Fire Colonies.

News of the raid of the Southern and Northern Water Tribes reached Capital City. Illah sent her another letter confirming the victory. Still, she did not mention Zuko - or Azula. News of the raid of the Upper Ring reached the Fire Nation - a half the population in the Upper Ring were murdered, including the former King Kuei.

Ty-Lee found herself listening to soldiers laugh at the gory details surrounding the raid days later. For the first time in a while, they began to address Azula as the princess and not a traitor.

"I heard they fucked all those girls in front of their daddies!" A guard laughed, unaware that she eavesdropped on them. "You should have read my brother's letter about the dead chief's daughter. They found out she was a waterbender and she tried fighting Prince Zuko off!"

Ty-Lee remembered the wide look on the guard's face as he grinned. "That stupid bitch bad no business fighting with a king's son."

"He's no innocent little prince anymore," the guard replied. "That boy's a real criminal now."

"Criminal or not, he gave us the Earth Kingdom. Now that Princess Azula and Prince Zuko have returned, the Fire Nation will thrive."


Illah stomped up onto the vessel. She still held the latest letter from King Ozai in her left hand, crumpled up. It came so quickly, that she asked twice how long it took for the letter to arrive because the agreement with the Earth Kingdom happened too fast.

Why would the king not inform her of the agreement with the Earth Kingdom earlier? Why did he give her this piece of information at the last moment?

"Because he is not obligated to," Zhao had answered back with a grin.

This raid was supposed to be her moment, her road to glory, but it was overthrown by that agreement and the sudden arrival of a prince she did not expect to still be alive. The soldiers, were too eager about the banished prince's arrival in her vessel. She remembered meeting that man and being so heated she could not speak.

Illah never lost control. Ever. But she remembered seeing the former princess get on the boat with the boy, after Illah flew down to kill her father-in-law and blasted the boy.

That was what pissed her off more...more than having to be informed last minute that Prince Zuko would join her. All she did was take one look at Princess Azula. She was not sure why, because her mother looked nothing like the king's daughter - but Kiyi just had a flashback of her dead mother the day soldiers raided her village.

"You must be Illah,"

Illah looked up at the king's son, who almost towered over her with his cronies from the Earth Kingdom standing behind him. They had eyes like the mad men on the streets of Capital City. Zuko's long black hair stood in a loose top knot and his lips twisted, along with that scar on his face. The former prince of the Fire Nation spoke like King Ozai, and it irritated her.

"That is Princess Illah of the Fire Nation to you," she said. "I am of royal blood now, and I demand you acknowledge that before you say anything else."

"Princess Illah of the Fire Nation then," he murmured, his eyes glinting as her fists clenched. "Be a good girl and tell me where my sister is."


"Princess Azula," the young girl she had been given said, lifting up a tray of food for her. "You have not eaten yet...my mother is the best cook in the palace, and she made your favorite."

Azula kept staring at the wall, listening to the girl's voice. The bed's curtains covered her body. She could never look outside, but she knew deep down that she was knocked unconscious for too long.

Her body melted on cold silk sheets, and the warmth of the room, accompanied by distant laughs coming from above, made her reach down to touch her stomach. She waited until a kick made her heart slow down. The maid kept talking, and she kept thinking. She knew - it had been too long since Princess Illah took her.

Katara.

"Leave us," Azula lifted her head up to the voice - her brother's voice. She found his shadow, standing by the tray the young maid held.

She spotted shadows retreating behind the door, but never looked hard enough to know who they were. She could not afford to ignore him for long, and with the possibility that Sokka was-

She clenched her eyes closed. She had to think. Think.

"Father will accept the child as a Fire Nation citizen, for as long as you cooperate," Zuko said. "...and if he turns out to be like the people of the North, we will improvise-"

"If any of you touch my son, I will kill each and every single one in this family."

The room stilled. Azula let these words slip out as easily as she meant them.

Zuko blinked. "You were supposed to be better than me...look at where your dream in that Water Tribe got you - protecting a savage's spawn."

Azula stood, leaving the bed and drawing the curtains apart. She stepped before her brother. The side of her head still ebbed with a soreness from the blow she was dealt with, but it was manageable.

"That peasant they call Illah is not my concern," she murmured. "My son will not be meddled with. You all will do that over my dead body."

Her brother paused, staring back as the light peering inside the room from the hallways lit up the side where his scar was.

She felt her stomach move, closer to the bottom - but she did not put her hand over it.

"Your sister-in-law is nearby," he said.

Azula froze, watching Zuko's gaze widen. Katara letting her go into the council room flashed before her. If they found out-

"We know...so I had to keep her," he said, blinking lazily at Azula. "She fought with me...that was how I found out."

Azula tightened her fists. She could not afford to lose Katara in this. "Allow me to to see her...she is the only one who knows how to help with my-"

"You will never see her again," Zuko murmured. "The palace has capable midwives who can help you with your pregnancy. Chief Hakoda's daughter is in my possession from now on - until father figures out what else to do with her. Her being the only waterbender of the South demands it."

Possession?

The former princess's stomach dropped as Zuko unfolded his arms and opened the doors. Before he stepped out, he stopped.

"You were not the only one who changed," he said, before attempting to walk away. "I lied about Uncle Iroh when I saw you again - he's been dead for years."

Azula froze. "...what did you do to Katara?"

Zuko straightened his back.

"I owe you no explanation," he said. "

Azula tried to find the little boy who cried anytime she picked on him, who moped anytime she performed her katas perfectly - but he was nowhere to be found. All she saw, were the reds of his eyes and shadow of a beard - all she sensed, was her father's presence.

"Zuko," she said. "Were you responsible for the agreement between the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation?"

Zuko tilted his head. "As the new king, I should be."

It was one thing to look into the eyes of a criminal, but it was another, when the criminal responsible for the massacre of an entire city, could not perform a basic kata when he was young enough to not care if she saw him crying.

Her father brought Zuko back, not because he wanted his son back. He allowed Zuko back, because Zuko turned into the worst version of him.

"King Kuei did not agree with the truce," Azula said. "You were responsible for it...and if you are king, then he is dead. Think reasonably of what you've just done."

"Mother is gone," he replied. "But she lives in you - and I now see how weak I would have become."

Azula did not speak. She waited until Zuko's footsteps faded into the distance and until she heard the doors the hallways bolt shut. The maid scurried back into the room, armed with a bright smile and gesture towards her forgotten tray.

"Come over here," Azula said.

The little girl scurried forward, Azula held her arms and smiled at her eager expression. This child had no idea what just transpired, and she would do.

"What is your name?"

"Haruki,"

"What a beautiful name," Azula said, sweetening her voice. "I need you to do me a favor. Let this be between us both - don't tell anyone."

Haruki skipped in glee. "I promise."

"I want you to find the waterbender for me."

The girl's smile left her face. "The savage?"

Azula paused, staring into the girl's eyes. She held herself, before saying, "Have you already seen her?"

"Yes…" the girl said, now shifting uncomfortably. "I hear her screaming every night."

The Fire princess froze, before nodding. "Thank you. You may leave, but I will find you again. Is that alright with you?"

The little girl beamed. "Mm hm!"


The Day of Princess Azula and Prince Zuko's Return

The Fire Nation tradition of receiving guests always glowed in red.

Ty-Lee never complained of the two hours she would spend simply waving at civilians from her palanquin for two hours before stepping foot into the palace.

She never whined about the additional three hours she'd spent being received by her husband's closest political allies before the servants took her to the spa chambers to prepare for bed. Now at twenty and eight summers, she understood why Kiyi wasted no time commenting on how stupid the tradition was.

Azula would take a full day to come into the palace, that was certain, but Zuko would come secretly in order to make the arrival as political as needed. The people cheered for Azula - Zuko's work would be behind the scenes.

"The world needs to know I can take my children back as I please," her husband had said.

Someone of his status had to make grand speeches, walk through crowds and stop now and then to kiss the tops of babies' heads and greet the lucky worshipper who caught his attention. But today, watching him at the foot of the Royal Plaza in his regular garb with a wide smirk summoned the astute feelings of horror in Ty-Lee.

She leaned over the balcony, watching the gates of the Royal Plaza part for the incoming vessels responsible for the death of the Southern Water Tribe. The crowds that filled the streets, waiting for the arrival of Ozai's once banished heirs, roared as soon as they spotted the vessel Azula was imprisoned in.

Long live the Phoenix King! Long live the Phoenix King!

Light footsteps crept up behind her. Yuatak bowed as soon as she turned. "Princess Azula has arrived."

Ty-Lee kept her position by the balcony, overlooking the heavy crowd cheering at the arrival of the first vessels passing through the harbor. She took a deep breath.

"I will get myself ready," Ty-Lee said. "Prepare the dining hall for the guests."

Yuatak nodded. "Yes, your majesty."


"Shit."

Red stained the Southern Water Tribe's once blue sea. Once Bao saw the floating corpse of the former fisherman Jarrak, he clenched his fists and knew he was the world's greatest fool.

"I thought you made deal with Ozai!"

Bao snatched the item from his accomplice, Koah. He walked on the boat until the floating body of Jarrak turned into more bodies - that of a toddler, young Tuk - oh Yue. The seas were bloodied, and the red snows were barely covered by the incoming snow.

"Bao!"Koah yelled, "Are you not answering me?!"

Once the boat reached the shores, Bao stepped on a bloody snowfield. Arrluk was the first one he saw, staring up at him from a pool of his blood. All that Bao knew, smothered in red. He looked up at the watchtowers, and the guards hanging over them with nooses around their necks.

Ozai promised to take Azula - only Azula, and leave immediately afterwards.

"Bao!"

Bao kept his watch over Arrluk's body, unable to respond to Koah, who left him and rushed further into the village. At that moment, Bao knew he should have taken his family along with him. But because he did not want to make anyone suspicious, he left them - sure that everyone would survive. Now had no home to turn to. The Southern Water Tribe was gone-

A twinkle. Bao focused on the snow capped mountains.

Did he see something?

BASH!

Blood exploded in front of him. A massive hand, deadlocked on his hair, hauled him up before smashing him in the snow. Bao scrambled, lashed out, but the force pressed him onto the red stained cold. No voice uttered, but Bao was dragged back and whirled around.

A bloody face stared back. Dark eyes obscured by red dripping from his hair. Bao tried to yell for Koah before the man rammed his head against his. Bao tasted a tang, and knew his teeth were knocked out. Another look at the man whose short hair covered his eyes made him hesitate.

No...

Bao inched back, his head felt as if it could fall. "Sokka! Let me explain-"

RAM!

The skies started to close over Bao when Sokka threw a wild kick at his head, but suddenly, he heard a blow and Sokka was snatched out of view. Bao turned over to vomit, listening to the soft crunches of Koah's footsteps. Bao turned to find Sokka on his back, and a large ice in Koah's hands. The winds howled.

Sokka wore no shirt. He was severely burned from the body down, so burned that Bao marveled at the fact that the boy still beat him to a bloody pulp. Bao's head dipped - suddenly, he saw Kya leaning over her son's body when he had a flu. He saw Katara, jumping excitedly when he told her they would go penguin sliding. Then Hakoda's kind face smiled at him, before it dissipated.

That was when Koah began to shed tears. "Bao - they killed everyone."


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