Azula doesn't understand this.
It's been a month since she helped Zuko find his mother, and now Ursa, her new husband Ikem, and her daughter Ki-(the replacement, Azula reminds herself. That's what she will always be to Azula. She can't become attached to her. She's been attached to people before and look how that turned out)have moved into the palace to live with them as one big happy 'family'. Azula scoffs at this. They are anything but a happy family. A son who refuses to accept that his mother is anything but perfect, a mother who doesn't know what to say to her eldest daughter (and really, why would she? It's not like she ever cared for Azula. She isn't Zuko after all.) And another daughter who is afraid of her mother because of a spirit who changed her face.
Happy 'family' indeed.
Ikem isn't so bad, Azula supposed, and she and Zuko were slowly working their way towards a healthy sibling relationship once again. She hasn't said a word to Ursa and she prefers that it stays that way. Azula would have been perfectly fine with this, if only the replacement hadn't been insistent on following her everywhere.
It began a week or two after they returned to the palace. The replacement had been avoiding Ursa like the plague due to what happened back in Hira'a. Of course Ursa is hurt by the fact that her daughter is afraid of her. Azula can hardly blame the replacement for feeling like this. What child wouldn't be terrified of their mother after her face was changed into someone that they don't know? Add onto finding out that you have two messed up half siblings like Zuko and herself and you get a recipe for disaster. Of course she doesn't say any of this to the replacement. Her feelings don't matter to her. If they matter then that means she is becoming attached, something that Azula will not allow.
She's sworn to it.
And yet, despite her best efforts to ignore the replacement, the little girl decided to watch Azula train for some reason. Azula was in the middle of breathing exercises when she heard a small voice cry out "There you are, Lala!" Azula turned around to see the replacement before her. "Can I watch you train? Zuzu is busy and so is dad", suddenly the girl's facial expression changes "and I don't want to be around mom."
So you decide to come to me, the one person who refuses to acknowledge your very existence?
Instead of saying this however, Azula sighs and says "Fine, you can stay here. Just don't get in my way, got it?" The replacement cheers and quickly settles herself down onto the ground, waiting in anticipation for Azula to begin. Before Azula gets to it, she remembers that she has something to say. "By the way, my name is Azula, not Lala. Are we clear, replacement?"
And just like that, any joy that was on the child's face is replaced with sadness as she mutters a small "ok" and nods.
Great, now she'll start crying.
Azula won't apologize for what she's said though. No matter how much the replacement's sad facial expression pulled on her heartstrings and-
No
Do not get attached.
After that, the replacement began to follow her everywhere. Constantly asking her things, including if Azula could become her firebending teacher. The replacement had learned that she was a firebender one day when she had sneezed and fire came out of her nose. The first few times Azula said no. Why should she waste her time with training this child? She has better things to do (she doesn't) than to teach the replacement firebending. The child finally catches on and stops bugging Azula about it.
Only to turn around and decide to ask Zuko instead.
Azula overhears the replacement saying this to her parents one night during dinner(she absolutely refuses to eat with them. She would rather eat in her room) as she passes the dining area and makes her way towards the throne room to discuss something with Zuko. Upon hearing this, however, Azula is almost tempted to march right over there and ask the girl What in Agni's name is wrong with you? You told me you wanted to learn from the best, not from Zuko. Alas, she holds the urge back and continues to the throne room once the conversation is finished. If she makes her opinion known on the matter, the replacement will get her hopes up and think that Azula will train her instead. Which she will not do.
I said that I wouldn't, and yet here I sit in the replacement's room waiting for her to come back from dinner.
After speaking with Zuko about the new reform that needed to be passed, Azula found that she could not get the conversation that she heard earlier out of her head. For the life of her she can't wrap her head around why anyone would want to learn firebending from Zuko of all people. It took him forever to master the basics without whining about how he couldn't get it right on the first try(she didn't get it right on the first try either, but did you see her crying about it? Nope). Ki- the replacement deserves a better teacher than that. And who better than Azula herself?
As she ponders this, the door opens up and a small form slowly makes its way inside of the room. Perfect. Now she can say what she has to say and leave. Azula clears her throat, "Replacement. I need to have a word with you about something." Upon hearing her voice, the replacement flinches. Good, Azula thinks if she's afraid of me that will make her want to be around me less, which means she won't follow me around like some lost child anymore.
She tries not to think about how the thought makes her feel sad for some reason.
Pushing the thought away from her mind, Azula continues "I've given this some thought, and I decided that I will be your firebending teacher. As a member of the royal family, it won't look good if your firebending isn't up to par." Zuko knows this better than anyone, but Azula refrains from saying this.
The Replacement stands there in shock for a couple of seconds, before her mouth slowly twists into a smirk.
What
"Why did you change your mind? I wouldn't want to force you into anything.I can find someone else to teach me." Is this child deaf? Did she not just hear Azula clearly explain her intentions here? "I just told you why. You are a member of the royal family now and that means that your firebending needs to improve. You won't find improvement by training with Zuko, I assure you that." There. She's said her peace so now the replacement needs to accept her generosity and-
The replacement's smirk grows larger.
"I never said anything about asking Zuzu to train me. So how did you know that, Azula?" She's really growing tired of these questions now "What do you mean how do I-" "You were listening to the conversation I had with mom and dad earlier, weren't you?"
Damnit
The Replacement continues "I overheard you tell one of the servants earlier to bring your dinner up to your room because you had to meet with Zuzu. And since the dining room isn't that far away from the throne room, I figured dinner would be the perfect time to talk to mom and dad about this."
Wh-
"I'm really glad that you agreed to train me though. Now I don't have to worry about Zuzu not being able to train me on some days because he's too busy. I'll tell mom and dad the good news. See you tomorrow!" And with that, the replacement swiftly leaves the room.
Leaving Azula staring at the door, trying to comprehend what just happened.
Did that little shit just play me?
…Huh
Perhaps the replacement isn't so bad after all.
I take it back, Azula thinks, the replacement is indeed bad.
Ever since Azula agreed to train the replacement, the girl has been more clingy than ever. Asking even more questions like "Why is your firebending blue?" or "Can you teach me how to bend lightning too?" (That last one almost made Azula spit out her drink when asked.Why in the world would she teach the replacement how to bend lightning when she's 7?) and other questions that she can't remember. No matter what Azula tries, the girl won't leave her alone. Being mean and snarky towards her doesn't work. The replacement seems to take it in stride. Sometimes it seems like the girl actually looks forward to it. Which doesn't make sense to Azula. Why would anyone look forward to someone being mean to them?
Well, Azula thinks, I suppose I should look into this.
Her first stop was the throne room. The replacement spends time with Zuko, so he should have some answers for her.
Zuko does not, in fact, have answers for her.
"Shouldn't you know the answer to that,Azula? She spends so much time with you after all. You two are basically attached to the hip at this point."
It figures that Zuko would be no help to me whatsoever.
Azula then sets out to find the replacement's father, but the guards tell her that he went out for a walk not too long ago.
Which leaves only one person left.
And of course it's the one person that I do not want to talk to.
Azula finds Ursa sitting by the turtle duck pond(because of course she was, where else would she be?) throwing small pieces of bread into the water. Instead of just standing there and waiting for her mot- Ursa to finish, she decides to rip off the band-aid and get it over with. "Ursa. May I have a word with you?" Her voice startles Ursa it seems, because she jumps and the loaf of bread in her hand falls on top of one of the turtle ducks. Azula holds back a laugh. Wouldn't want to give Ursa even more of a reason to think of her as a monster. Laughing at what just happened would certainly do just that. Ursa clears her throat before saying "Of course, Azula. What do you want to talk about?"
Right to the point. Good. "It's about your daughter. Ever since you all came to live here she's done nothing but follow me around. Even when I'm mean to her. She doesn't even follow Zuko around like this. I was hoping you would have the answer as to why this is happening."
Ursa stares at Azula for a few seconds before she starts chuckling, and the chuckling eventually turns into full blown laughter. Why is she laughing? Azula didn't say anything funny. "I don't see anything funny about this. Your child is becoming a stalker. Are you perfectly ok with knowing that you are raising a stalker, Ursa?"
There. That should get her to stop laughing.
The laughing only increases.
Sensing her daughter's growing irritation, Ursa wipes a tear from her eye before giving Azula her full attention "I'm sorry about that, dear. Now why do you think your sister is a stalker?"
Is Ursa going deaf too now? Perhaps this is where the replacement gets it from "It's because she won't stop following me everywhere, and she only does this with me. What else could it possibly be if she's not turning into a stalker?"
It looks like Ursa wants to laugh again, but instead she takes a deep breath and says "Azula. Has it ever occurred to you that your sister looks up to you and just wants to spend time with you?"
Well no, Azula hadn't thought of that. But why would she? She isn't exactly the most pleasant person to be around.
Ursa continues "Little girls who have older siblings do this, even more so if they have an older sister. You are Kiyi's older sister so she looks up to you. You're like a role model to her. That's why she keeps following you everywhere, Azula."
Whatever answer Azula was expecting, it certainly wasn't that.
Azula ponders over the recent conversation with Ursa as she makes her way to the training grounds for her regular session with the replacement. Why on earth would she see her as a role model, let alone like her? She's always mean to her and calls her a replacement. Who would want to be around someone like that?
The last thought makes her pause. Replacement. Azula calls the child this every day without fail, and yet the girl doesn't so much as bat an eye at it. Why is that? Why doesn't she get angry whenever Azula calls her that?
Well, Azula thinks as she spots the girl in question doing her morning stretches I can just ask her that right now.
The replacement sees Azula walking towards her and beams "Morning, Azula! What are we going to be doing today?" Azula sits down on the ground and pats the space next to her, indicating that she wants the girl to sit down next to her "First off I want to talk to you about something." The replacement blinks "About what? A new fire bending form?"
No you fool, if that was the case I would just show it to you, not waste my time talking about it.
"No, it's not about that. I wanted to ask you something. Why don't you get angry with me whenever I call you 'Replacement'?"
The replacement flinched.
Azula takes notice of this and continues "See? It clearly bothers you. So why don't you get mad about it? Why do you follow me around constantly and ask me things when being called a replacement bothers you?"
The replacement is silent for a moment before she says "It's because I know why you call me that."
Azula barks out a laugh "Oh really? You know why I call you that? Then please, enlighten me."
Azula figured that the replacement wouldn't be able to look her in the eye as she gave her answer, but she surprises Azula by doing just that. "It's because of mom, right? And everything that happened? I know that you see me as the daughter that mom wanted you to be when you were my age. And I know that the relationship between the two of you wasn't a good one. So I get why you see me as a replacement and why you call me that. And as for why I follow you around constantly and why I always want to be around you?" The replacement moves a little bit closer to Azula before very carefully wrapping her arms around Azula's waist, "It's because you're my big sister and I love you. I want to get to know you better. I already know a lot about Zuzu but not about you. And… I want to get to know more about you."
It's because you're my big sister and I love you.
When was the last time Azula has ever been told that? She can't even remember. She remembers during the comet that Ursa has told her that she loved her, but since that was a hallucination that meant that Azula had said that to herself.
Which means that doesn't count.
For the first time in years someone tells her that they love her. And how ironic is it that it came from the one person who Azula has sworn to never become attached to? Slowly, Azula wraps her arms around the little girl and smiles. Perhaps the replacement-
No
Perhaps Kiyi isn't so bad after all.