"Hello Zuzu." greeted Azula with Tai standing next to her.
The group opposite to her took a fighting stance except for Zuko. Well at least he didn't take a stance but Azula could see that he preferred to remain in such a posture so that he could act quickly and defend himself if she were to attack him. Zuko had gotten even thinner and his hair had gotten longer, now almost covering his eyes. The water peasants stood to his sides along with the blind girl and the girl she imprisoned. She could also recognize a lot of leaders all from different nations. The Avatar was nowhere to be seen. Nor was her Uncle. There were a few more people as well, but she couldn't recognize them. But it was sure from their poorly hidden disapproving face, that she had little friends here.
"Azula", he greeted back.
A tall old man, with a Water Tribe braid, Pakku, Azula recalled his name from the scrolls she had read, informed them that she is also an ally now, much to their reluctance.
"We heard about you in the Ember Island's play." taunted the blind Earthbender, Toph. "They also said that you were crazy and a coward. Seems pretty spot on, don't you think?"
Azula bit her tongue as she struggled to fight the urge of saying a comeback.
"Where is Aang? Where have you kept him?", demanded Suki.
"He's not with me. I haven't even seen-" said Azula before she was interrupted by Katara.
"You're lying." She said with venom in her voice. "So Aang just happens to disappear and you just happen to be here."
"Pretty much." Azula shrugged. The water peasants steal a glance from Toph and then Katara just raises an eyebrow.
"Alright, this is just ridiculous now" argues Sokka, "first General Iroh became an ally, then Zuko joins us-no offence"
"None taken."
"then another one of our greatest enemy joins us. What, should we set up a tent for the Fire Lord as well?"
"It is unlikely that he will join you." said Azula nonchalantly.
"Our ideas match for the first time Sokka", Master Pakku said, "but she's only here because of Grand Lotus Iroh's suggestion. We respect him and his decision."
There's a brief silence and the four of them look at Zuko. "I trust Uncle." he finally said.
"We're keeping an eye on you." warned Katara.
Another brief silence followed until Master Piandao broke it. "Your uncle is this way, Prince Zuko."
"I wish to see him too." said Azula.
Eyebrows were raised and looks were exchanged, nevertheless Master Piandao agreed, "Then follow me, Princess Azula."
They walk in silence for a while till Piandao informed them, "Your uncle is in there, Prince Zuko and Princess Azula." as he pointed to a tent on the other side of the camp.
Azula's breath hitched, would he want to see me?, she wondered, after everything I've done, is forgiveness too much to be expected for?
Deciding that it's better to find it out rather than dwelling on it Azula walks towards the tent. Zuko followed her.
Azula stops right in front of the tent's entrance as doubts and fear caught up to her. She released a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. Maybe she shouldn't disturb uncle after all. Zuko will definitely let him know about her arrival and surely that's all he wanted to know. Azula knew he hates her so why bother him. He doesn't want you here, Azula reminded herself, you heard what Tai said. He just wants me as an ally rather than an enemy.
She was about to turn back when she heard Zuko sigh. He sat down, his hands gripping his hair tightly.
"Are you okay?" Katara asked concerned.
"No, I'm not okay. My uncle hates me, I know it."
Katara sat down next to him as Azula watched.
"He loved and supported me in every way he could, and I still turned against him. How can I even face him?"
Azula looked down in shame.
"Zuko, you're sorry for what you did, right?"
Azula nodded sadly before she remembered that it was her brother whom she was talking to.
"More sorry than I've been about anything in my entire life."
"Then he'll forgive you. He will." Katara assured.
Azula's lip quivered a little bit and she felt tears starting to prickle her eyes. How much she hoped so. She quickly composed herself and turned to her brother.
"Zuzu do you remember when we were kids we would play tag?"
Zuko smiled a little at the memory and nodded.
"Well then, you must also remember how neither of us liked to lose and when any one of us did, it would be another intense fight of throwing stuff at each other?"
Zuko chuckled and recalled "and then father would lose his mind when we broke something important and yell at us."
"Heh true, while I got my share of disapproving glares and being a disappointment you got the worse share of curses and yelling. well, I got off a little easy because I... I was the better child then."
"How is this supposed to help exactly?" spat Katara.
"Let me help you to realize that interrupting with irrelevant comments to interject into a conversation that one is not having with you is considered dishonourable even in water peasant culture."
Katara opened her mouth to speak again but Azula decided to continue her initial conversation with Zuko. "But now Zuzu you're better than me. You joined the avatar like Uncle wanted you to. You've shown bravery. You know your destiny. And well I," she sighed, "I ruthlessly brash to all of you. I fell down from a prodigy to a failure." She paused for a while. "The point is even if Uncle is mad, at least you will not get the worse end of the stick. Well I think it's better than facing him rather than dwelling more on it."
"Even my idiot brother is better at therapy than her" Katara murmured to herself.
"Well you're right Azula" Zuko said quickly as he got up before Azula could glare at her, "facing him is better rather than dwelling more on it", and together they stepped inside the tent.
"Uncle?" Zuko said timidly.
Uncle Iroh was asleep snoring loudly with Zuko and Azula standing at the entrance. They look at each other and smile. Their Uncle was known to be a loud snorer even then. The fire siblings sat down next to him as night passed by.
Zuko would doze off every now and then but then wake up suddenly and shake his head in order to stay awake. But Azula could see fatigue catching up to him so she suggested him to take a nap with the promise of waking him up if Uncle happened to wake up. Zuko had finally agreed and laid down leaving Azula alone with her thoughts. Fatigue was catching up to her as well but every time she tried to sleep nightmares of burning and bleeding bodies would haunt her. Over the last few days, the nightmares would feel so real she could almost taste the blood in her mouth from fighting the fire nation soldiers, smell the burning flesh of the couple. A shudder ran through her spine as she recalled the memory. Thousands of thoughts and nerves ran through her before she finally decided that some fresh air would help her calm down. After glancing at her Brother and Uncle for the last time and hoping that neither of them would wake up before she came back, she left the tent.
The air felt cool and fresh. Azula sat on a rock that was perched higher than the camp and looked down at the earth kingdom. At night, the kingdom looked so peaceful. Far away, she could make out the walls of Ba Sing Se. Memories flooded back, some good and some bad. Deciding to stay on the good side, she thought about Mai and Ty Lee. Ty Lee's over enthusiastic attitude and Mai's over bored one. A sad smile was on her face. She missed them. She hoped they were alright. She leaned back onto the rock and looked at the stars. In the Fire Nation school, they were told how the ones that left this world were up there as a star. Is Mother up there, Azula wondered, as a star, watching all of us? If it was so, would I be able to locate hers? Surely, Azula thought with a smile, it would be the most beautiful one. Zuzu would agree.
Would Iza be up there too? Azula kept wondering as she sniffed. Tears were rolling down her cheeks now, but she was too mesmerized with the sky. Eventually she wiped her eyes, it was starting to get too cold now, she would have to get back soon. She looked at the Earth Kingdom again, and recalled the day before the eclipse when she was called to attend an important war meeting.
Azula had been called to attend a war meeting when she was training for the next day- the day of the eclipse. Azula had already arrived before time to the throne room and was waiting for Zuko while sitting to the left of her father. Finally her brother arrived. It was his first war meeting after his banishment.
"Welcome, Prince Zuko. We waited for you." Zuko walked up to their father, bowed and sat down next to him.
"General Shinu, your report." The Fire Lord continued.
"Thank you, your majesty." He stood up and walked up to the opposite side of the Fire Lord across the table. "Ba Sing Se is still under our control, thankfully to Fire Lord Ozai." The fire lord smiled proudly while Azula fought back the urge to scowl. "However, Earthbender rebellions have prevented us from achieving total victory in the Earth Kingdom."
"What is your recommendation?"
"Our army is spread too thin, but once the eclipse is over and the invasion defeated, we should transfer more domestic forces into the Earth Kingdom." General Shinu replied.
"Hmm. Prince Zuko, you've been among the Earth Kingdom commoners. Do you think that adding more troops will stop these rebellions?" The Fire Lord asked turning to Zuko.
"The people of the Earth Kingdom are proud and strong. They can endure anything, as long as they have hope."
"Yes, you're right. We need to destroy their hope."
"Well, that's not exactly what I-"
"I think you should take their precious hope and the rest of their land and burn it all to the ground." Azula interrupted him wanting to catch the Fire Lord's attention.
"Yes ...Yes you're right, Azula." He stood up and walked to the world map. "Sozin's Comet is almost upon us, and on that day, it will endow us with the strength and power of a hundred suns. No bender will stand a chance against us."
"What are you suggesting, sir?"
"When the comet last came, my grandfather, Fire Lord Sozin, used it to wipe out the Air Nomads. Now, I will use its power to end the Earth Kingdom ...permanently. From our airships, we will rain fire over their lands, a fire that will destroy everything; and out of the ashes, a new world will be born, a world in which all the lands are Fire Nation and I am the supreme ruler of everything!"
The War generals applauded.
Azula put her face in her hands, smacking herself. Grimacing she gripped her hair, What was I thinking? Well the answer was she wasn't. She wasn't thinking entirely. All she considered then was the fear and power to be gained from it. She didn't consider anything else. So desperate, Azula thought to herself, so desperate I was for Father's so called love and attention.
She stayed in that position for some more time before she sensed someone approaching.
"Oh you're here too." Said the peasant girl.
Azula turned to look at her but said nothing. Katara's eyes widened slightly when she saw her tear stains on her cheeks. There was flash of pity in her eyes as she went and sat down next to her.
Azula chose not to say anything and hugged her knees as she looked straight ahead. If Katara was going to attack her here, then she was ready. Perhaps the silence became too much for her because the girl looked at her and demanded, "Why are you here? What is your masterplan this time?"
"No masterplan. I'm just here for my family and I want to defeat the Fire Lord."
"So that you can take the throne yourself?"
"Never had the pleasure of thinking about that"
"Sure." She scoffed. "I don't believe you one bit."
Azula turned her head to glare at her and demanded, "What is it with you?"
"Oh what is it with ME?" She shrieked furiously. "I wasn't the one who followed us around the world. I wasn't the one who attacked us countless times. I wasn't the one who killed Aang and I DEFINITELY wasn't the one who convinced the Fire Lord to burn down all of Earth Kingdom and-"
"Okay, okay, I get it! I... I know I've hurt you and your friends. A lot. And believe me if I could take it all back I would. I do not expect any of you to forgive me but just know that I am extremely sorry for my actions." Azula sighed.
Katara looked at her and considered her words, thought about them over and over yet she said "I still don't believe you one bit."
Azula closed her eyes in resentment and leaned back on the rock again. "What do I have to do to convince you?"
"I don't think there's anything you can do."
"You forgave Zuko."
"Are you trying to turn me against him?"
"That is not what I meant, water peasant!"
Katara got up angrily and put her foot on the rock and her elbow on the knee so her face was merely inches apart from Azula's.
"Let me tell you something right now." Katara spat as she glared at her, "If you make one step backward, one slip-up, give me one reason to think you might hurt anybody here, you will not be so lucky to have a second chance anymore. Because I'll make sure to bring you down where you belong."
"Okay." replied Azula coolly as she glared back.
With a deep breath and hands tightened with fists, she said, "Okay." before turning around and walking away.
Azula scoffed to herself as she made her way to her Uncle's tent soon after.
Agni poured his rays down on the White Lotus camp. The sky was beginning to turn red indicating that Sozin's comet was soon to arrive. Zuko, already awake, and Azula, who still couldn't have the pleasure of sleep, sat nearby as Iroh woke up stretched. Azula and Zuko immediately straightened up a little as they realized he had woken up. He glanced back slightly and saw them, but said nothing. Zuko was the first one who cut the silence.
"Uncle," he began, "I know you must have mixed feelings about seeing me. But I want you to know," tears fell down his cheek as Azula looked at him with pity, "I am so, so, sorry, Uncle. I am so sorry and ashamed of what I did. I don't know how I can ever make it up to you. But I'll-" He got cut off as Uncle Iroh suddenly pulled him into a hug, while starting to cry as well. "How can you forgive me so easily? I thought you would be furious with me." Zuko asked through his sobs.
"I was never angry with you. I was sad because I was afraid you had lost your way."
"I did lose my way."
"But you found it again. And you did it by yourself. And I am so happy you found your way here."
"It wasn't that hard, Uncle. You have a pretty strong scent." he said as Uncle chuckled.
Azula, who was crying now, wiped her nose with her sleeve. She froze when he turned to her, "You too, Azula. I am so happy that accepted my proposal too. And I am proud of you for standing your ground against Ozai." he said as he stretched his arms out for a hug.
But Azula got on her knees and hands as she bowed her head down. "I am so, so, sorry, Uncle. I do not even know where to start. I have ill-treated you for so long. I even got you imprisoned and I'm so ashamed for that. I was wrong about you. And Zuko. About everything. And I-I-" she broke off as she sobbed harder.
"It's okay niece. I am not angry at you." He said as he pulled her in for a hug as well. "I'm sorry too, Azula. I thought you had lost your way. I didn't spend enough time with you and left you to Ozai. I thought you couldn't be saved. But you proved me wrong! And I am so proud of you for that! I just hope you can forgive me."
"Of-Off course, Uncle..."
Azula glanced at Zuko as her Uncle released her. Zuko was wiping his eyes and smiling. Azula couldn't help but choke out a laugh too.
"We are such a sad family, aren't we?" she mused.
Their Uncle chuckled as he said, "Tell me about it, niece."
A few hours had passed when a war meeting was called. All of them sat on the ground in a circle. Iroh sat with Azula next to him and Zuko next to her. Toph and Katara sat to Zuko's left and opposite them were Sokka and Suki.
Azula recieved a lot of glares and disapproving glances but she chose to ignore it. Being the right hand woman of the Fire Lord, she realized, didn't help either.
"Now, I understand that there are a lot of us that are not pleased with some of us present here or perhaps are not on good terms or at least didn't start on them." Uncle Iroh said as looked around the camp. "But, even then, there is one thing we all share in common ending the war and restoring balance." There were several nods including Azula's. "So, let us put aside our differences and focus on our shared goal."
Katara and Azula looked at each other. There was an unspoken agreement to not like but count on each other solely for this mission.
"Uncle," Zuko began, "you're the only person other than the Avatar who can possibly defeat the Father Lord."
"You mean the Fire Lord.", corrected Toph.
"That's what I just said!" Zuko retorted angrily as Azula fought back the urge to laugh
"Hmmm..." Uncle Iroh was deep in his thoughts.
"We need you to come with us!" Zuko continued.
"No, Zuko, it won't turn out well."
"You can beat him!", said Azula, "And we'll be there to help."
"Even if I did defeat Ozai, and I don't know that I could, it would be the wrong way to end the war. History would see it as just more senseless violence, a brother killing a brother to grab power. The only way for this war to end peacefully is for the Avatar to defeat the Fire Lord."
"And then... then you would come and take your rightful place on the throne?" Zuko inquired.
"No. Someone new must take the throne. An idealist with a pure heart and unquestionable honor."
Iroh looked at the fire siblings, somewhat worried.
"So which one of you is going to be the Fire Lord," Suki inquired.
Azula and Zuko looked at each other.
"We'll figure it out later."
"Yeah, let's save that for later."
"I am sure both of you will work it out." Their Uncle said and smiled.
"Well, what if Aang doesn't come back?" wondered Toph.
"Sozin's Comet is arriving, and our destinies are upon us. Aang will face the Fire Lord.", he said, "When I was a boy, I had a vision that I would one day take Ba Sing Se. Only now do I see that my destiny is to take it back from the Fire Nation, so the Earth Kingdom can be free again." He looked at Azula. "And I will need your help with that, Azula."
Azula took in deep breath said proudly, "I will be honoured." It felt as if that would be the big final step of fully redeeming herself. Many lives in Ba Sing Se were troubled because of her. Now, she can help all of it get better.
"I'm glad."
"What about us?" asked Sokka, "What's our destiny today?"
"What do you think it is?" Uncle Iroh replied.
Sokka thought for a moment before he answered, "I think that, even though we don't know where Aang is, we need to do everything we can to stop the airship fleet."
"The fire nation fleets have become more advanced and dangerous and they will be a serious threat." Uncle Iroh agreed. "And after even Azula leaving the palace the Fire Lord would have surely got even more security and more soldiers to look out for his back."
"We can handle them." said Katara confidently.
"And that also means when Aang does face the Fire Lord, we'll be right there if he needs us." remarked Toph.
Uncle Iroh smiled and nodded.
"Nothing runs faster over land or swims quicker than a giant eel hound. I must say that finding them with Azula's help took much less time than it originally would have." said Piandao to Sokka as he handed him a map, "The air ship base is on a small island just off the Earth Kingdom shore. You should be able to intercept the fleet within a day's journey."
"Thank you, Master."
Both of them bowed to each other before Sokka hugged Piandao. Zuko and Katara bid each other their goodbyes. Azula turned her gaze away from them to her Uncle. "So Uncle, what are you going to do after the war is over?"
"After I re-conquer Ba Sing Se, I'm going to re-conquer my tea shop, and I'm going to play Pai Sho every day." He flipped a Pai Sho piece and catched it as he spoke.
Azula laughed. "I'll visit it as often as I can." She sighed, "I wish I knew what my destiny was."
"I'm sure you will figure it out soon enough. And even if it takes some time, that's okay too. Look at me, I could figure out that my destiny was running a tea shop only when I became an old man."
Azula laughed with her Uncle. Zuko walked over to them with a smile.
"I must take your leave now Uncle."
"Our best wishes and my blessings will always be with you Zuko."
Both of them bowed to each other and hugged. Zuko looked at Azula.
"I will be waiting for you Azula. Take care Zuko." He left after placing his hands on Azula's and Zuko's shoulder and giving them a comfortin squeeze.
"I know that we couldn't talk much but I am proud of you Azula." Zuko said as he put his hands on her little sister's shoulder. "So please take care of yourself and Uncle."
"Definitely. Try not to die, Zuzu. We have a lot of catching up to do."
"I will try my best."
"Zuko..." Azula began, "I'm so sorry for everything I've caused-"
"I know." Zuko assured her. "I know, Lala. I'm not that much of a dum-dum anymore." He grinned.
"Yeah. Yeah you've really grown a lot." Azula said.
Azula hugged him and he hugged her back. Was it their first time hugging each other? Azula couldn't tell. But it definitely was in a long-long time. Her fear of losing her big brother again came back as she realized that if anything happened to him, she wouldn't be able to protect him from Ba Sing Se. But she pushed those thoughts away. She trusts him. She now knows that he can handle himself. She only prays to Agni for his blessing on him.
"Goodbye, Azula."
"Goodbye, dum-dum."
"I just told you that I'm not that much of a dum-dum anymore."
"Doesn't change the fact that I'll be calling you that nevertheless."
Zuko sighed in defeat.
At a distance, Katara could be seen bidding her goodbye to General Iroh with a bow.
"Goodbye, everyone." He replied as he bowed back. "Today, destiny is our friend. I know it."