Hello Good People of Fanfiction!
I'm really sorry I didn't release this chapter way sooner, I got very busy with my life, I had no time to write fanfiction, but I think I'm free now to write a couple more chapters for this story and for "Spirits Game"
So stay tuned.
I hope you have a blast with this one, and don't forget to review afterwards
Happy Reading :)
They finally arrived at the prison, Mai and Ty Lee dropped them off, they wished them good luck and decided to wait for them on a nearby cafe, probably for the best as they wouldn't like to witness what's about to happen inside the prison.
Zuko and Azula took heavy steps towards the entrance, they were met by two guards on the gate who, as per protocol, questioned why they decided to grace the Caldera City prison with their presence.
"Who are you and what are you here for?" The female guard asked, her demeanor reminded her of Rose, Toph's mansion guard, maybe it's because women of power all sound like big bitches, as they should be.
"My name is Azula, and he's Zuko. We're here to visit out father and uncle."
The female guard smirked, "Look at you.. You don't look like rich kids anymore."
Oh, Shit.. She recognized us. Zuko said internally.
"You know who those guys are, Finn?" The female guard asked her companion.
"No idea." he retorted.
"Whaaaat?! You don't watch TV, son? this is PRINCE Zuko, and she is PRINCESS Azula. The son and daughter of the magnificent Lord Ozai."
Her companion thought for a moment before he eventually caught on, "Oh yeah I remember them now.. Especially her, she used to bully us whenever we visited them in their mansion with our chief of police. I would have recognized them sooner if it wasn't for how miserable they look right now."
Oh No.. Azula screamed internally, she did bully them when she was younger, and much more powerful.
The male guard, whose name is Finn, approached Azula, Zuko instinctively stepped in front of Azula and stared down the guard, he's so used to protecting his sister that he didn't care if he stood in front of the Caldera City police for her.
"Don't worry, Son.. I'm not gonna harm her." The male officer said, "You're already beaten up so bad, I can see it in your sad little beady eyes.. it's pointless hitting a dead body, you know?" The male officer added salt to the wound, he then turned his attention to Azula and continued, "I'm just gonna tell her something, Never trust time, kids. it goes around as fast as a spinner." The officer finished.
"Thanks for the pep talk.. now can we see our father and uncle?" Zuko responded.
The female guard chuckled, "Slow down, hot stuff.. no need to get all emotional.." Zuko's cheeks almost got red at how sensual she sounded, "just go to the reception area, take a number, and wait to be called." She said.
"Thank you so much." Zuko responded, he took Azula by the hand and entered the place, aware of the demeaning looks the guards are giving them, but he never paid attention to them.
He went to the reception area and took a number and waited with Azula beside him, she looked in dire condition after the theatrical display at the entrance, she was staring at the ground with an emotionless face.
"C'mon, Sis. I thought we got used to this." Zuko said, trying to lighten the mood.
"Never in a million years." Azula said without hesitation, maintaining the emotionless face with her eyes still staring the ground.
Zuko decided not to speak anymore, and waited for their turn in silence, the receptionist finally called his name, as soon as they were called, the entire area knew of their presence and started giving them looks, even the receptionist looked wary of them as she called the names.
"Don't pay attention to them, just follow me, okay?" Zuko said as he stood up and took Azula by the arm.
"Okay." Azula responded, not fully sure if she believes herself.
They arrived at the reception desk and delivered their number,
"What are you here for?" The old receptionist asked, giving them disgusted looks, apparently she knew who are they here for.
"We're here for a visit, for Iroh and Ozai Sozin." Zuko responded, hesitating as he did.
The receptionist's facial expression never changed as she said, "They're special prisoners, do you have recommendations?" She asked.
"Yes.", Azula immediately brought out the papers, "Those are recommendations signed by Lord Ukano." She delivered the papers to the old receptionist.
They waited for a couple of minutes as the lady read the papers, they were so anxious and they hated every bit of their time here, but they had to visit them to get over this emotional trauma, or maybe create a new one with the amount of disgusted people staring at them at the moment.
"Alright, Fine.. take this key, it's for Locker number 5, put your personal belongings in the locker, then take the door on the left and wait on a bench until they bring out the prisoners." The lady said as she kept the recommendation papers and gave Zuko and Azula the key to locker 5, they understood the protocol so they thanked the lady, took the keys and did exactly as she said.
They waited on a bench for well over half an hour, they spent the entire time sweating and taking deep breaths, they are finally about to see their father and uncle again, what are they gonna say to them? how will they receive them? is it with hugs? or with shame? they waited and waited and the questions kept growing uglier and tougher in their minds, until finally the door to the room opened and two prisoners entered with an officer.
they turned around to look at them, what they found wasn't what they all expected. as Ozai was the one that ran to them and hugged the both of them.
"My Children.. it's so good to see you again!" Ozai said as he hugged the both of them tightly.
Azula and Zuko were stunned motionless, What's happening? Is that really Ozai? Is that their cruel father who never gave a damn about them? Did he just give them a bear hug? What's happening? Zuko glanced at the person behind him, which is Iroh, who was looking at them with a warm smile.
Zuko mouthed, "What's happening?" to his uncle, who just shrugged and kept looking at them with a smile. Finally Ozai broke the hug and looked at them, Zuko found something that he never thought he would see in his entire life, their dad had tears in his eyes as he was looking at them fondly, he really missed them.
"I.. I-" Azula was about to speak, but only came out as stutters as she was still flabbergasted by her father's display.
"Welcome back my nephew and niece, it's so good to see you again." Iroh said still keeping that warm smile.
Zuko returned the warm smile, now that's a sight he was used to, that's a sight that didn't stun him one bit, he stepped away from his father's space and went to his uncle, they hugged each other very tightly, Azula didn't do the same with her uncle, instead she only returned his warm smile, which was more than enough for Iroh.
"I know you have a lot of questions, my children. but Please, Allow me to speak first." their father said, another thing to make Azula and Zuko even more stunned.
Why's he being so polite with us? What's going on?! Azula and Zuko thought internally at the same time, Azula and Zuko were very stunned but they gave their father the ok to keep going.
Ozai took a deep breath and started speaking, "First of all.. I understand what you're going through right at this very moment. Your cruel father giving you a hug after all these years? 'Yes, we came here hoping that he wouldn't meet us with his stone cold face, but we never expected he would be THIS happy to see us', That's what you are thinking, right?"
"This is exactly what we are thinking." Zuko responded without hesitation.
Ozai chuckled lightly, another thing to add to their list of things they thought they would never see,
"I understand, My children.. and I'm sorry." He said, his facial expression turning to that of regret.
"After my arrest, I was enraged. I was going through my prison cell, looking for ways to escape and having revenge on the police officer that did this to me, especially that he betrayed my trust, Zhao was more than a friend to me, you saw how I treated him, he was like a brother to me.. and yet, he betrayed me.. I was at my lowest point and I just wanted to have revenge.. Until, your uncle became my cell mate." Ozai stopped and regarded at Iroh with a fond smile, one which Iroh returned immediately.
Ozai continued, "Your uncle showed me how to be a real human, it was hard at first, You know how difficult your father can be, especially with all those events happening at once, my friend betraying me, your mother helping him and then leaving me, you leaving me as well, I felt I had no one, Not that I blame you for it, I deserved every bit of what happened to me, but still, back then I felt at an all time low.. Until my brother came and gave me a second chance, He made me see and realize things that I've never noticed, things that make our lives beautiful, things like.. instead of having revenge, how about I revitalize my bond with my children? the same with your mother, but now that she's married, I don't thing our bond will be FULLY revitalized, but at least I'll get to apologize to her one day.." Ozai said, shame taking over his face.
All the while Azula and Zuko were silent, listening to their father, not because they had nothing to say, but because what their father said only stunned them even more, they've never seen their father display any regret, now they are looking at him and in their minds they are shouting 'WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING?'
Azula came out of her daze first, "You expect us to believe all this?" She said to her father, who appeared to have expected that reaction.
"I don't expect you to believe any of this, not in the slightest.. I don't deserve your forgiveness, I know this.. But I still want it, Azula.. No.. I need it. Even if I don't deserve it, I can't live without it.. I can't live with myself knowing that my own children despise me.. Another thing I learned from your uncle is that you should ask your children for forgiveness every day, because you are bound to make mistakes, it's what fathers' do, it's in their nature. I know I wasn't a real father to you, but right now I'm trying to make amends, I'm trying to be a better person, my children.. all I did in my life, every thing I've accomplished is nothing compared to a look of approval from you. So, Azula.. Zuko.. I don't expect you to forgive me right away, I just want you to find it in your heart to forgive.. that's all I'm asking.. I appreciate you listening to me." Ozai finished.
Azula and Zuko couldn't believe what they just heard, had they heard it from another person, they would have smacked him on the head, but they are seeing it, it's right in front of them, their father is definitely becoming a better person, he realized his mistakes and he's asking for their looks of approval.
Still, they were about to refuse, if it wasn't for their uncle's interference,
"Zuko, Azula.." He called them, getting their attention, "What your father is trying to say is that he's changed, he no longer thinks about money and power, he's gotten to a stage in his life that he's just looking for family, What my little brother is experiencing right now, happens to every man at a certain point in life, when he thinks that he's all alone, when he thinks that nobody is there beside him, all the money in the world can't make that terrible feeling go away, so, I'm only asking you to have it in your hearts to forgive him."
"After all he's done to us and the family, Uncle?" Zuko asked.
"Yes, Zuko.. Everybody deserves a second chance." Iroh said.
"To you, maybe.. Because he wasn't cruel with you as he was with me.. he wasn't cruel with Azula as he was with me.. You were at an all time low? I ALMOST KILLED MYSELF, DAMMIT!" Zuko shouted with tears falling from his eyes, Ozai and Iroh both gasped at this, only Azula stood there motionless, remembering that terrible day with tears in her own eyes,
"If it wasn't for Azula, I would have killed myself, my responsibility towards her made me think again. had I died, she wouldn't have had anyone to take care of her, she would have lost everyone dear to her and nobody knows what could have happened to her, You imprisoned yourself so that your little brother doesn't feel alone in this prison that he bestowed upon himself, Uncle. I continued living so that my little sister doesn't get to live in a cruel world that wasn't of her own making, she was so young, she didn't deserve any of this!" Zuko said, all the while Iroh and Ozai were listening as it was their turn to get stunned by Zuko's words.
All the while, Azula was just staring at the ground, motionless, with tears falling freely from her eyes. at this point Zuko was standing and shouting as he said,
"I left college, She left her school, We left our country, our livelihoods because of a mistake made by the same man you are asking us to forgive, Uncle. Now tell me one good thing he's done.. anything other than that fake display of emotions he did earlier, tell me one good thing he did that could make us even consider forgiving him.. Do you think it's easy for me holding grudges, Uncle? It's not! But I just can't find one good reason to let go of that grudge! I can't!" Zuko finished, he noticed the tears on his eyes, he wiped them away and sat down immediately.
The entire room was stunned into awkward silence, nobody was able to speak after Zuko's outburst, for a while.
Azula was the first to recover, "I want to forgive you.." She said all of a sudden, grabbing everyone's attention with her broken voice, as she was looking at her father with teary eyes, She then turned her eyes to the ground,
"The same as Zuko, it's really hard for me to hold grudges, and against my own father of all people.. But you can't revitalize your bond with us unless you give us something that could be worthy of throwing away that grudge for good, that you make us forget about it.. that's the only way to make us forgive you.. and the way I see.. that grudge can never be forgotten." Azula said turning her eyes back to lock them with her father's again.
Ozai was silent for a moment, before he smiled, "I'm glad you got to lash all your anger at me.. I deserve this." He said, getting confused looks from both Zuko and Azula, He stood up, "Guard!" He shouted, calling for the guard to bring him back to his cell,
"The only way to make you forgive me is to make you forget what happened.. I can't do that, Azula. I deserve to be hated.. and I'll get to live with myself knowing that I'm hated the rest of my imprisonment, and by the time I get out of prison, and with my guilt, I'll either think of something to make it better for you.. or kill myself, as you almost did, Zuko.." Ozai said, looking at both of them, and he could swear he saw glimpse of emotion cross their face, that gave him hope.
He smiled again as the guard arrived to take him away, "It's making it better for you then. I've been a good person in my last year and a half in prison, so I bet I'll get a sentence reduction for good conduct, I'll be out in two years or so. I'll see you then, my children." He said as the guard took him away, the guard almost took Iroh away as well, but Iroh decided to stay.
"May I have another five minutes with the children, Please?" Iroh asked the officer, who in return nodded his head and left the room.
Iroh then turned his head to look at the children with another warm smile of his, "Your father sure took his time, I barely had any time to talk to you." He started.
Zuko smiled, "I actually only came here for you, Uncle.. But after What I just saw.. I'm reconsidering my whole life choices." Zuko said, and Iroh chuckled.
"Yeah, You could never imagine what I had to do to get him to be like this, he was very difficult at first, we even fought at one point.. I beat him up." Iroh said, bragging about it.
Zuko chuckled, and he could swear he noticed a smile play across the lips of Azula, "You sure did, Uncle." Zuko said, still chuckling.
"I'm sorry, Uncle." Azula said all of a sudden.
Iroh turned around to look at her, "What for, My niece?"
Azula had tears in her eyes again, "Everything.. I'm sorry for everything I did to you, I never treated you with the respect you deserved, it wasn't until recently that I realized how much you cared about our family, I'm sorry for thinking badly about your motives.. I now understand that you and Zuko are the cleanest of us, you are the only people that actually gave a damn about this family, and I thank you for it.." Azula said, with her cheeks soaked with tears.
Iroh stood from his bench, he got to her side, and gave her a hug, Azula didn't understand what happened at first, but then she wrapped her arms around her uncle and returned the hug, Azula was positioned between her uncle and Zuko, and so Zuko wrapped his arms around the both of them, and for a brief moment, they thought of themselves as one happy family once more.
The feeling Azula felt in her uncle's arms was the reason she thought about forgiving her father, she needed her family, every single one of them, even her Ozai.
That's what she needed from the beginning, that's the reason she fell in love with Aang, it's because she felt like he treated her like family, that's why she loved Toph, Katara, Sokka and Suki.. because they made her feel like family, and that's why she forgave her mother, because she needed her family.
One day, they'll get back together and become one happy family for the rest of their lives, Just not yet. All Azula could do at the moment was hope for it with all her heart.
I'm sorry it took me this long to release this chapter, my life got really busy that I couldn't keep up with this story or the other one "Spirits Game"
But I think it's okay to write a couple more chapters right now for both stories, I'll work on both stories simultaneously and release chapters for both of them.
I'm Just One Girl is about to be finished, only a couple more chapters to go, it's been a good journey, a real one, and thank you for every step of the way :)
Please don't forget to review this chapter and please stay safe :)