A/N: Now I've walked through hell for you. What's an adventurer to do? Love and be loved. Read… and review!

Dear Asuna

[Winter 116 AG]

Azula stands upon a field ablaze. She smirks at the work she has done. All around her is fire and flame. She slowly lifts both of her arms in a flexing motion, palms pointed towards the sun. She summons all of the flames to rise. Higher and higher, consuming the grass, and consuming the skies. Lightning flies down and strikes her, but doesn't kill. She feels it radiate through her body. She looks down at her muscles and the lightning encompasses her. She summons a wave of flame behind her using only her mind and three flaming dragons rise above her. She feels powerful beyond measure.

"Asuna?"

She turns and Ruki stands opposed to her.

Ruki shrinks and transforms. Baby Yasuko stands on two feet and asks, "What have you done?"

"I have ascended." She replies.

"No," Alane replies. "You have become the dragon."

"I have always been the dragon."

Katara approaches her, "You are with Agni now."

She feels the fire fading. "I… am."

Katara becomes Zirin. She stares for long into those black eyes. The abyss stares also into her.

"You will burn."

The fire surrounds her. She shrinks and falters.

"No. I am-"

Ty Lee shakes her head. "You will burn."

The fire all around is at once extinguished and she is shrouded in darkness.

Azula opens her eyes. She does not gasp for air. She does not shoot up awake. She is alone. Her love is thousands of miles away. She rolls over and faces the darkness of her home. She faces the darkness of herself.

She wonders what this nightmare had been about. What deeper meaning had it been trying to convey to her about her life. She wonders if the nightmares will ever end. She wonders when her love will return to her.

The two women, clad in green armor and thick white makeup, stride into the throne room. It's late in the night, perhaps even early in the morning. One wants to rest while the other wants answers. They approach the lone figure in a room on fire.

Sipping on a cup of tea, Firelord Zuko greets them. "Greetings, old friends."

They bow, and in unison say, "Good evening, Firelord."

They rise up and after a moment of haughty formalness, Ty Lee breaks character and smiles at him. She asks him politely, "How may we serve you tonight, Zuko?"

He turns his head slightly, with a smile, and replies, "Serve me? I thought you two requested this meeting?"

"Us two?"

"That's not necessarily true, Fire Lord." Suki replies.

She steps forward and the childhood friends turn to the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors. "I requested this meeting alone."

"Oh," Ty Lee starts, surprised. She begins stepping away, "Apologies, I'll see myself-"

"No." Suki cuts her off.

They both look at her again.

"Suki? What's this about?" He asks.

"Forgive me if I overstep, Fire Lord, but I have an urgent matter that I would like to discuss with the both of you. It's in regards to your sister."

"Oh Agni. Kiyi?"

"Is everything alright?" Ty Lee asks, concern rising. "Is there some plot against her?"

"No," Suki says, putting a hand out. "Not Kiyi."

Zuko becomes somber. Ty Lee becomes alert.

"Suki, don't-"

"Fire Lord, I have reason-"

"-this is not-"

"-lieve that the Drago-"

"-can't just say these-"

"-press is still ali-"

"THIS IS MY LIFE."

Suki shuts up and Ty Lee's eyes go large, staring at Zuko. He huffs for a second and collects himself.

"This is my life, Suki. This is not some game. Not some story for you to tell. This is my life. Azula was a part of my life, but she is gone. We put her in the ground almost two years ago. She is gone. Stop meddling in my life."

"Fire Lord, please," she begs him. "Just hear me out."

'No! Don't! Let her rest. Don't hear her out, Zuko!'

"What good will it do, Suki? More unsubstantiated rumors? Some unconfirmed evidence? Anonymous tips? We chased her all over the world."

"This is different."

"Alright," he spits, exasperated. "Let's follow this trail. What's the latest theory now? Hmm? She somehow escaped the showdown with another king pin, limped her way out of the city without being found, was nursed back to health by some unknown healer, and then disappeared into thin air? While the Kemurikage remained steadfast and strong within Republic City? And she is puppeting them from a distance, plotting her next move, waiting for the time to strike?"

"I know," Suki tries to reason. "I know how it sounds."

"Or," he cuts her off. He calms down a little, but also becomes sadder as he stares off. "Azula faced off against someone she wasn't prepared for and was betrayed by someone in her inner circle. A beautifully tragic woman with more secrets than we could ever know."

On the one hand Ty Lee wants to commend them both for being so close to the mark. On the other hand, she wants to get out of this room and never broach this topic again.

"This time it's different, Fire Lord."

"How so?" He asks. His voice is a mixture of agitated and exasperated. "What's different?"

"This time," she says, teary eyed and smiling, "we have her."

Ty Lee freezes. All eyes turn towards her.

"Huh?" She asks innocently.

"Tell him, Ty. Tell us both. Tell the truth." Suki demands.

Zuko shakes his head. "Oh stop this, Suki. This is ridiculous. Ty Lee-"

"Tell us she's alive, Ty."

Ty Lee's grey eyes burrow into Suki. She tries to read them. She can't tell if she knows something or if she's bluffing. This would be a massive bluff, so she suspects that Suki has proof. At the same time, though, Ty Lee has always been careful. Never goes the same way twice. Always double backs when feasible. It is an impossibly long trip, it would be very easy to spot a stalker or someone following her. She has never suspected, but perhaps she had become soft over the years. Perhaps peace and happiness had made her predictable. She says nothing.

Suki shakes her head, "Tell us, Ty."

They stare at one another for a moment. Ty Lee doesn't say anything. Her tongue feels paralyzed. When nothing is said, Zuko intervenes.

"I know about Ty Lin! I know she's not in the Earth Kingdom. I met her, I found her while-"

"Suki, enough! What Ty Lee does with her free time is not your concern."

Suki grows angry and hysterical.

"Ty Lee, I'm so sorry, please, will you excuse us?" Zuko offers. "I have some things I need to discuss with my head guard."

Ty Lee nods. She slowly bows and takes a step back. She turns and steps away. There is a sense of relief, but also disappointment. She wishes that Suki had known more. Or said something else. Or had more proof. She doesn't want to hide this away. She listens to hushed tones as Zuko begins berating her.

"You can tell them…"

Ty Lee stops.

"... But only if they ask."

She turns back around. Zuko looks back at her for a moment, then back at Suki. When he feels Ty Lee still looking at him he stops mid-sentence and looks again. Suki looks back at her as well.

"It's true." She says. Her eyes water. "All of it."

"Ty?" Zuko asks, utterly confused. Suki's eyes look ready to bulge out of their sockets. He turns to face her. He steps towards her. He advances and puts his hands up, "Ty?"

Misty eyed and smiling, Ty Lee looks at her Fire Lord. She reaches out and takes his hands in hers. She sobs a little and tries to swallow. She wears a broken smile and nods her head ever so slightly.

"She's alive, Zuko. She is alive."

His mouth hangs open, his eyes searching hers for authenticity. He gapes at her and is unsure of what to say. "You mean? She's really?"

Blinking away tears, Ty Lee smiles. She nods her head again, "Yes. She is alive. And well."

"How? How long? Have you known? Is she hiding? Is she still? What, what proof? How do you know?"

Suki walks up behind him. "You've known all along, haven't you?"

Ty Lee shakes her head.

"I knew it. I knew it!"

"Ty Lee," Zuko pulls her attention back to him. "Where is Azula?"

Ty Lee takes a deep breath. "Well, her name isn't Azula. Not anymore."

Dear Asuna,

How is baby Yasuko? Please send my regards to Lonou and Roland. I miss them so, and look forward to my next visit when I can nestle Yasuko under my chin once more.

I hope that you will forgive me. I understand if you will not. But our childhood friend who used to live in the shiny house, the one with the funny scar, finally came asking for you. They had some help from the fan girl, you know the one? She used to be your favorite 'prisoner' when we played that game as teenagers?

They asked me endless questions about the love of my life. I spared some details, but told them most of our story. They want to meet you. The boy, the fan girl, and the miscalculating girl. I promised them only if Asuna approves! I hope that you will. I can ensure that they abide by your house rules. Things like no shoes inside and no uninvited guests.

I'll wait for your letter.

Love,

Ty Lin

Asuna bites her nails. A nasty habit that she had been rid of for a while, but now it's back in full force as she reads and rereads the letter from her girlfriend. Her paranoia of Fire Nation soldiers or criminal masterminds in Republic City intercepting her mail had been long since past. At some point they just got into the habit of writing their Lanxi names. A part of her always feared her old life would come back to haunt her. Now that she is facing it, she doesn't want to accept the reality. This latest development has opened the floodgates of paranoia again and she wonders about the likelihood of Ty Lin penning this letter at knife point by the Kemurikage.

'On the other hand, if this is real? Then it offers a unique opportunity.'

She sits and thinks on it for a long time. She weighs how likely she believes that the letter is legitimate and what the expected outcome would be depending on what she writes and how it's received. She finally pens her reply.

Dear Ty Lin,

Bring them before the new year. No fan girls, but the other two can. If I recall correctly, they always felt like an old married couple. I'm sure that hasn't changed.

I'll be ready.

Love,

Asuna

A/N: This Chapter's OST is "Dog Days Are Over" by Florence + The Machine.

Love always. Tyzula forever.

Notorious