Chapter 2-
The day of Azula's trial was upon them. It had been a week since the news of Azula's trial had gone out. This week was used for people from all over the world to arrive at the Fire Nation. No one in the 4 nations was going to miss this. Well no one important.
You can't cramp the whole world into one courtroom but you can cramp a whole world worth of representatives into a room. When word had gone out of Azula's trial the Gaang was spread around the world. Aang and Katara were down in the South Pole helping re-build. Sokka had been in the North Pole with his father helping settle resource trade between the sister tribes. Toph was in Ba Sing Se with the Earth King settling the groundwork for her metal bending academy. Suki had been on Kyoshi island with her warriors. And lastly Zuko and Mai had remained in the Fire Nation.
After countless peace talks and trade deals Zuko had finally gotten around to the matter of his sister. The most dangerous prisoner to be held in all the four nations. After he had received word of his sister 'sanity' and availability for trial he got to writing letters inviting each member of the Gaang along with each nations world leader and at least two other representatives from each nation...not including the air nomads of course.
The trial was scheduled for a week later. This gave enough time for everyone to arrive and get settled in the Fire Nation. Zuko had planned a dinner for the crew to celebrate the last trial of the war. After this trial all war criminals would have been dealt with and Zuko could focus on restoring honor to his nation.
The night Zuko had sent out the letters addressing his sisters trial he couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt and shame. His little sister, baby sister was going to be put on trial and judged...which some part of him knew she had little to no chance of actually winning.
He was unsure of how he should feel, Zuko loved his sister despite everything. He never got a chance to visit her after the war and he simply dropped her off at the asylum wished her the best and left. He had checked the hospital out before and ordered her to be treated well as the rest of the prisoners but he never really checked on her to make sure she was ok or how she had been doing. He knew Azula was hurting after the Agni-Kai but he didn't know why. He always expected her life to be perfect but clearly after what happened he realized he might not have been quite right.
Yet he still never got the courage to ask. He really does care about his sister, but she had to answer for her crimes. Though technically he didn't really know what her crimes were. He was leaving the fate of his sister to people who surely wanted her dead or imprisoned for the rest of her natural life. Zuko had already spoken out against her having a death sentence saying that he would not allow it and as she is a citizen of the Fire Nation she was under his protection.
He also strongly disliked the idea of having her bending removed. He has already had that fate sealed for his father he would desperately hoped it wouldn't have to do happen to another member of his family.
Zuko didn't get much sleep that night. He was scared for Azula but he knew that this must happen if she was ever to recover.
Later that week the guest had arrived in groups. Suki and the Kyoshi Warriors were the first to arrive followed by Toph and the Earth representative.
Two days later Aang and Katara arrived.
Finally, Sokka, Chief Hakoda and Arnook arrived with the water tribe representative and guards. Zuko greeted each party with a warm welcome. He showed each one were they would be staying I. The palace which had serious redecorations since the last time most of them had been their. The posters of previous firelords had been taken down and replaced with maps and pictures of dragons.
After everyone got settled in it was time for dinner. The members of each nation sat together at a rectangle table. The food served was delicious and the atmosphere was overall pleasant...but the topic of tonight's conversation was on everyone's mind and it was heavy, the fate of Princess Azula was to be determined in a few days and opinions were quite hostile. The conversation started with some lit small talk until everyone arrived. Zuko started with a rather brute statement.
"Avatar Aang, as you know my sisters trial will be taking place in a few days I want to know your opinion for what I should expect regarding your energy bending." Zuko said.
"Well, if you're asking me if I will take Azula's bending away my answer is dependent on the trial…" Aang said trying to sound as formal as Zuko had, "but if you're asking me if I can or WILL take away Azula bending if it comes down to that I'm not sure."
"WHAT?!" The Earth King shouted.
Everyone glanced over to him with a slight concerned look.
"That monster took over Ba Sing Se by herself, she is cruel and evil and terrible and she doesn't deserve the right to bend." The Earth King said firmly with his arms crossed.
Zuko gazed at the Earth King with an angered expression.
"How DARE you say that about my sister and a member of the royal family." Zuko protested.
"Fire Lord Zuko what is the meaning of this outburst we all know it to be true." Chief Arnook said, "if this trial is going to be tampered by your biased opinion maybe you should look for someone else to represent your nation."
"Yeah Zuko, I'm sorry to say this but your sister is sort of the most evil person alive not including your dad of course, and she crazy so you can't let you feelings get in the way." Sokka said.
"I-" Zuko started angrily.
"Enough!" Aang finally exclaimed, "Look I understand it's upsetting to hear things like this said about your family but Zuko this trial has to be fair and you can't let personal feelings get in the way.""Also energy bending is new and dangerous so I'm not sure I could take Azula's bending even if I wanted to."
"I will respect all of y'all decisions no matter what but at the end of the day Azula still is a Fire Nation citizen and Zuko's vote will count as a ultimate that being said King Kuei and the Chiefs get to decide Azula's fate if she is to enter their nations." Aang said
Tension was steady for the whole night no one said a word till diner was over. Aang gave Zuko a worried smile and walked to his room. With everyone asleep for the night Zuko laid in his bed next to Mai fitful and unable to sleep. He just couldn't stop thinking, what was going to happen to his sister.
