Chapter Twenty Five

Friends Left Behind

Aang tied the reins to Appa's horns. His dear friend grumbled, to which the Avatar replied, "I know, I know. You don't like spending so much time at sea. We'll be airborne before you know it."

Appa groaned, and Aang took it to mean that he understood. He lifted the saddle to Appa's back with his bening, and stood inside of it. Sokka threw up their packs and supplies, while Katara spoke with Pakku and the other Water Tribesmen. Master Pakku gave her a small chest, and a vial of some kind. Aang guessed that it contained water, or maybe perfume?

A slight movement from Sokka's direction drew his attention. He turned his head just in time to see the warrior sprint a dozen feet and leap into the air. He sailed through the space between the ground and the saddle gracefully, and landed softly. Aang was impressed.

"That was… pretty cool." He said, looking his friend in the eye. Sokka tilted his head at him curiously. Aang couldn't see anything behind Sokka's eyes, as if looking at a painting of a man, rather than his friend. A shiver ran down his spine, but the nomad suppressed it. He decided to try and speak to Sokka again, hoping to get a response this time. "Are you feeling any better?"

His voice trailed off as he spoke, realizing that it sounded as if he had asked if Sokka was sick, rather than grieving. Sokka only shrugged in response before sitting down at the back of the saddle. He took out his boomerang and gazed at the inscription. He had taken to doing that of late. They had been at sea for a week, and it had been two since Yue… left. Sokka still had not spoken. He had eaten, finally, but only after Pakku had told him it wasn't a matter of hunger; It was about not starving to death. Sokka had simply nodded and taken his meals, letting his silence carry his grief.

Aang still bore his own grief, and guilt. Katara had helped him with it, and it didn't weigh on him as heavily. He wasn't sure if Sokka would be able to move on, wrapped in the void as he was. In truth, Aang had no idea if the emptiness had any effect on the emotion attached to the fact. He had never entered it himself, and he didn't really know that much about it. He understood that the passage of time would dull the sharp edges of cutting memory, but did you have to feel them for them to dull? It very well may be that you must let the pain run its course to overcome the sorrow. Or it could be that time and distance alone were enough.

He was moved from his internal monologue when Katara climbed up beside him.

"Master Pakku said that he'll be going to the south pole. Arnook and he want to help defend our tribe." Katara recounted.

"That's good," Aang said. He glanced at Sokka, who didn't react to the news. He returned his attention to Katara. "What did Master Pakku give you?"

"Oh, just some waterbending scrolls, and water from the Spirit Oasis." She said in answer.

The three of them flew through the sky for a number of hours. Aang and Katara chatted amicably, occasionally trying to get Sokka to join in. He didn't seem to be particularly interested in the conversation, although it was rather inane. Perhaps if they spoke of their plans, he would cut in on the conversation. Dwelling in the absolute detachment of the void, it didn't seem that Sokka felt the need for communication unless absolutely necessary. He would nod, shake his head, or shrug, but he did not show the need for audible speech. Had Aang or Katara gained access to his internal monologue, they would have known that he simply didn't think that anything they asked him warranted a spoken response. Their questions seemed unimportant, and slightly irrational. He could not feel the emotion behind the words, and it was nearly as if he had forgotten them altogether; all that he allowed himself was the cold steal of reason.

Aang was questioning Katara about the naval practices of the southern Water Tribe. Apparently, Chief Hakoda took the watch incredibly seriously. He held that the task was one of the most important when at sea. It was this strict adherence to the duties of a maritime sentry that allowed him to sail through contested waters so efficiently. The sailor on watch could see the smoke of a Fire Navy ship from miles off, as long as he did his duty, and woe onto any under Hakoda's command who shirked it.

Eventually, they arrived at the Earth Kingdom fortress under the command of General Fong. They were greeted by the General personally, as well as by an unexpected friend.

"Haru!" The Avatar exclaimed, delighted to see the young earthbender.

"Hey Aang!" replied Haru. He waved to Sokka, who merely looked at him calmly. Haru frowned, but was still glad to see his friends. Katara climbed off of Appa and gave the young man a hug.

"Nice mustache." she said, and Haru smiled in pride. Katara's brow furrowed in curiosity, and she asked, "What are you doing here?"

"I've joined up with the army. I'm just a messenger, though. My parents said they'd only allow it if I didn't join the infantry. Dad said I'm not old enough." Haru explained.

"What made you want to do that?" Aang asked. Haru turned to the young airbender, and when he saw the impatient body language of the general, he said, "Uh, we can talk about that later."

"Greetings, Avatar Aang. I am General Fong." The general said, now that the airbender was noticing him. Aang and Katara bowed to the general. Sokka remained in the saddle. A fact that did not go unnoticed by the general, who frowned in his direction.

Noticing this, Katara explained her brother's actions. "Please excuse my brother. His betrothed, Princess Yue, did not survive the siege at the north pole. He's taken it pretty hard, we all have."

Fong glanced between the siblings, and realized their resemblance to a certain man.

"I see. I'm sorry for your loss, Lady Katara, First Son. I have met Chief Hakoda and worked with him on a few occasions, and I hope you will give him my regards when next you meet."

Katara stared in surprise, not having realized that the general had met with her father.

"Oh, uh, yes, of course. You can call me Katara though, we don't really use titles in the southern Water Tribe. It's just the chiefs and their heirs, with a few exceptions."

"Anyway," Aang cut in, "Will we be leaving for Omashu soon? I need to master the elements as quickly as possible."

"I have a matter I wish to discuss with you, and that may change your plans. At the very least, should you accept my idea, they would be delayed." Fong said.

Aang was curious, and he allowed the general to lead him away to his office. Office was a loose term, for the man worked at the top level of the fortress, taking up the entire top floor of the building. He, Katara, and Sokka stood before the ornate desk that the general worked at. Fong explained his idea of trying to learn how to trigger the Avatar state purposefully. A tempting idea, very tempting.

When in the Avatar State, Aang was a force of nature. If he could master it, then he might not have to wait until hastering earth and fire. He could in theory go directly to the Fire Lord and… end the war. He looked over to Katara and met her eyes, she didn't seem to know if they should. He looked over to Sokka, and when he met the man's empty gaze, Sokka nodded.

"Yes," He said with a bow. "I think we should try."


Iroh watched his nephew climb the stairs that led to the masters. He sat with the sun warriors, who had graciously agreed to allow Zuko meet with the dragons Ran and Shao. The warrior chief sat beside him, and spoke.

"It is good to see you after so long, old friend. I am surprised that you would take your nephew with you to this island, and allow the masters to judge him."

"I am confident that he will prevail, and the masters will deem him worthy. Prince Zuko has grown much in the past months, and has seen the error in his father's ways." Iroh replied without taking his eyes from Zuko. The young man in question knelt on the top of the stairs, holding part of the everburning flame aloft. For a moment nothing happened, and then the dragons burst out of their caves and Zuko let loose a surprisingly high pitched squeal of surprise. The two dragons flew around him, and then unleashed a powerful gout of colorful fire.

It was over nearly as soon as it began, and when the dragons were gone, Zuko stood alone. He stared into the sky. Eventually, the prince walked down the steps and returned to his uncle. Iroh watched him curiously, and waited for the young man to speak.

"Fire… it's life, it's a gift from Agni himself, it the power of the sun. Did you realize…" His brow furrowed and he whipped his head around to face Iroh. "Why didn't you tell me they were dragons?!"

The chief of the Sun Warriors stepped in to answer his question, "Iroh took a vow of secrecy, he could not reveal to any the identity of the masters, for their own protection."

Zuko nodded. He understood, as dragons had been hunted to near extinction. "I'll keep the secret too, then. It wouldn't be safe for them."

The chief nodded, and the royals bid farewell as they returned to their small ship.

"What do you plan to do now, Prince Zuko?" Iroh asked. Zuko shrugged, staring into the distance over the open ocean. He had a few ideas, but he wasn't ready to commit to them yet. He supposed that until he decided, they had better go into hiding in the Earth Kingdom. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth when he thought of revisiting a friend he had left behind.

"I can't say for sure. But for now, there's a friend waiting for me in the east."


She was tired of all the bowing and scraping, Mai's family was evidently hoping to gain her fathers favor through Azula. What more favor he could grant them was a mystery, as Mai's father had already been named governor. Still, she had to admit, it was nice to be off of a ship. She had spent a little over two months traveling with the Admiral, and she was glad to be on solid ground, even if she had to deal with the nobles vying for favor. It wasn't that hard, actually.

They had only gotten to Omashu that day, and Mai had begrudgingly allowed her mother to inquire of their adventures. When learning of their involvement with the siege, despite the fact that they had barely been involved, she became fraught with worry. Azula thought that Mai was a touch surprised by the development.

She had sent for June, a bounty hunter of some renown. She was said to be able to track anyone anywhere, so long as she was provided with a sample of their scent. Azula had the letter Iroh had written her, and she assumed that it would be proficient.

Azula considered speaking with the mad King Bumi, but decided it would be best to wait to know for certain that Iroh had lied about the forty first division. If the King was in on whatever plot her uncle had concocted, she wanted to be sure of the facts beforehand. If she could verify that the two had coordinated their stories, and that they were lies, it could indicate a larger organization. So, she had to learn the facts, and then interrogate the King.

"Governor Ukano," Azula addressed Mai's father, "Tell me, what records of past military operations do you possess here?"

Ukano started, not having expected such a question. "Uh, we have records regarding several operations having taken place in the past few years."

"Do you have anything concerning the forty first division?"

Ukano tensed, and his eyes darkened. Azula took his reaction in, and was surprised at his dismay. She decided to press the issue. "Well? I do not have all day."

"Uh… no, not records so much, but I was present at the, uh, incident. Has the Fire Lord sent you to look into the battle?"

Azula was surprised to hear that the Governor was involved, but she didn't show it. She shook her head, but narrowed her eyes. It wouldn't be prudent to let the man think he didn't have to answer her.

"My reasons for investigating that subject are not for public knowledge. I assume that you can tell me what I wish to know?" She asked, her tone scathing. Ty Lee watched her curiously, but didn't say anything. Neither of her friends knew of Iroh's letter, and she wasn't sure of sharing it with them.

"What do you wish to know, Princess?" Ukano asked nervously.

"The level of experience of the soldiers in that division, the goal of the operation, and the outcome of the battle to start." She said, inspecting her nails for dirt idly as she spoke. She lounged in the former King's throne and waited for the Governor to answer her questions. The man in question swallowed dryly, and glanced around the room. Seeing nobody who could help him out of his predicament, he was left with no choice to comply.

"Well," He started out with a shaking voice, "The forty first was composed of-" He stopped speaking and swallowed again. "N-new recruits. They were used to distract the battalion of Earth Kingdom forces, and the operation was- the battle was lost. Our veteran forces were overtaken by a second battalion that had been unknown to us. We the experienced soldiers were able to escape, but none of the forty first were able to- the division was lost."

Azula whipped her head in the Governor's direction, her eyes scathing.

"And what was the purpose of the battle? What objective was being pursued? She demanded. Ukano seemed to shrink in his frame and grow smaller under heer unforgiving stare.

"I- I do not know, I was not given that information. I was not in charge of the force involved, I was under the command of General Zon, who perished in the battle. As far as those under his command were aware, the only objective was to kill as many Earth Kingdom soldiers and burn as many fields as possible. The only major settlement was Ba Sing Se, and as you know that city has been beyond us, even if the war has been in our favor for the last two decades."

Ty Lee gasped and covered her mouth when she heard of the nature of the mission, but Azula ignored her. She glanced over at Mai, who appeared not to have reacted, save for the lines formed at the corners of her eyes. Azula showed no outside reaction to the news, but she was internally shocked at this alleged proof of Iroh's veracity.

"Do you know who approved of the operation?" She asked, dreading the answer.

"Fire Lord Ozai, though it was suggested by General Zon."

"When did it take place? Was it before my brother's banishment?" Azula asked, her throat tight with the expectation of an answer that she did not want to hear. Mai glanced between Azula and her father.

"It was just a week after the banishment, it was said that Prince Zuko was present at the meeting."

Azula closed her eyes and nodded. "That will be all, Governor."

She stood from her seat, and her friend followed suit. The trio descended the city, and Azula didn't share the destination with her friends. She led them up and towards the statue of her father that was being built, and to the place where the old earthbender was being kept prisoner. She ordered a soldier standing guard to lower King Bumi so that she might speak with him.

The king laughed and snorted as he was lowered in his iron coffin, descending and rotating at the same time. By the time he was low enough for Azula to speak with him, he was facing the opposite direction. A pair of firebenders spun the prison so that he faced toward her. Azula eyed the two benders, and ordered them to leave her alone with the prisoner.

"What do you know of this?" She asked, showing him the tile Iroh had left her. Bumi immediately stopped laughing and stared at her.

"It's a Pai Sho tile, it's used in…" The King began to ramble on about the history of Pai Sho, and the various strategies that the lotus tile was used in. Azula stared in disbelief, and cut of the king.

"I know what Pai Sho is, believe it or not. If this is all you have to offer, then I don't know why my uncle said to speak with you." She began to turn her back for the king when Ty Lee spoke.

"Iroh told you to talk to this guy? When?" Ty Lee asked. Azula rolled her eyes.

"He left a letter for me to find, along with the tile. It said that the reason Zuko was banished in the first place was because he spoke out against the plan to sacrifice the forty first division. That and Iroh's opinions on the war. " She started to walk away, but Bumi spoke again.

"Iroh sent you? Iroh of the Fire Nation?" Bumi asked.

"What other Iroh's would I know?" Azula snapped, walking to the ancient man again.

"Iroh of the Water Tribe, Iroh the bandit, Iroh the cave hermit, Iroh the thatcher, or Iroh the turtle-duck." He listed, glancing up and away as if trying to remember all of the Iroh's he knew off. Azula stared at him in astonishment. The man was mad after all.

"It was Iroh of the Fire Nation." Ty Lee answered his question. "Do you know him?"

"We met at a Pai Sho tournament a few years ago. We got to talking because I saw that he looked much like Fire Lord Sozin did when I saw him, but that was over a hundred years ago."

Azula raised an eyebrow. "How old are you, and why would my uncle want me to speak with you? And when did you see Fire Lord Sozin?"

"I think I'm around one hundred and eleven years old, but you lose track after sixty four. Aang was about a year older than me when we first met, and he was frozen at twelve the year the war started, so I think I'm a hundred and eleven." The bizarre man cackled with laughter at his rambling thoughts.

"I met Sozin when I was, oh around ten I think. My father, King Bumo, was sent by the Earth King as a diplomat. It didn't go well, and we had to cut the trip short. The war started around that time, you see."

"Yes, I am aware of the timeline of the hundred years war, thank you. You still have not explained why my uncle asked me to speak with you."

"Well, to be honest I'm not sure. He never mentioned you in any of his letters, but they stopped coming a few months ago. I assume it was to tell you of the world before the war, if anything. I'd offer you some rock candy, but I'm indisposed at the moment!" He chortled again, though none of the Fire Nation girls present could tell what was so funny.

"And what, if anything, was so interesting about the world before the war that he thought I might want to know?"

The old King thought about her words. He scrunched his nose in consideration.

"Well, a century ago, everyone loved the Fire Nation. We all read your books, watched your plays, and the wealthiest among us purchased your silks and fashions at the time. The ingenuity of you people was prized the world over, and many of our brightest minds would study at the Capital University."

Azula frowned. Capital University? She had never read or heard anything about that.

"That all changed though, after Sozin ordered the Air Nomads to be extinguished." His eyes grew sad at the memory. His next words were spoken softly, and in a small voice. "I lost many kind and noble friends that day, and for a century I thought Aang was among them."

"Everyone hates the Fire Nation now, no matter where you go. Some few of us remember the time before, but there are probably less than fifty of us left who are old enough to remember. Soon enough the Avatar will defeat the Fire Lord, and then we will have… well, if not peace, then at least an armistice."

Azula raised an eyebrow. "You think the Avatar will defeat us so easily?"

Bumi fixed her with a serious gaze for the first time. "Yes."

"It's sad that I have to be the one to break it to you, but the boy's no serious threat." She said, but even as the words left her mouth, she could remember the look of fear and awe on her brother's face when he saw the Avatar flying across the north pole.


Aang bowed his head before the general. He had just told the man that he didn't think he could trigger the Avatar State on purpose, and now the general in question bowed his head for a moment. Sokka stood silently at one side with Haru, and Katara had elected to stay in their room.

"Are you sure about this?" General Fong asked. Aang nodded, and then said, "I am. I can only enter the Avatar State when I'm genuinely in danger."

"I see." Fong said. He stood abruptly, and nodded at his soldiers. Fong blasted his stone desk at the Avatar, forcing the airbender to fly across the room and out the opposite wall. The earthbending general rushed himself to the opening through his bending, and ordered his men to attack the Avatar, before jumping to the parade ground below.

When the general nodded to his soldiers, they moved towards Sokka. They attempted to restrain him, but he slipped out of their grasp like an eel. They lashed out to trap him with bending, but he dodged their attacks. He put a hand on the pommel of the sword on his hip before leveling his empty gaze on them. The pair glanced at each other, and then stepped towards him. Haru moved to stand beside Sokka, but the young warrior shook his head, causing him to stop.

The earthbenders raised stones from the floor, but before they could begin their attack something about Sokka changed. His eyes were concealed by darkness, and his shadow stretched across the floor. The pair of soldiers paused, looking at each other with trepidation. The older of the two lifted a fist to strike, but the young Water Tribesman drew his sword. The pair could see a single word burned into the silver-blue metal with the deepest black: Regret.

"Agh! My back!" Cried out one of the pair, fainting injury and collapsing to the ground. The other leapt at the chance to avoid a battle with the seriously creepy swordsman, and desperately feigned first aid. Sokka sheathed Moonlight and rolled his eyes. He sprinted to the stairs after motioning for Haru to stay put.

When he eventually made it down to the parade grounds, he saw the general attempting to trap Katara underground. Aang was pleading with the man, and Sokka sprinted towards him.

General Fong twisted his fist, and the Avatar's waterbender friend was pulled underground. She would be fine, of course, he had no desire to make an enemy of Aang or Hakoda. Even so, the performance was exquisite. The Avatar shed tears, and then suddenly the wind began to howl. Stones blew away and the boy began to glow.

The brief sense of accomplishment gave way to fear as the Avatar turned his terrible gaze on Fong. The general had never been a coward, but in the face of this force of nature, of the sheer power and fury of the Avatar, he realized that he had gotten into more trouble than he could have realized. He turned to flee, forgetting the girl trapped in a cavern beneath the surface.

He was stopped in a moment, for a sword was leveled at his throat. The blade was white, no, not white. It was covered in a thin layer of frost, save for one space. A word was burned into the blade with a black so dark it seemed to devour the light. Fong looked down and read a single word: Regret.

He flicked his eyes up to the man holding the sword, and saw it was the girl's brother. Fong could not look away from the man's eyes, they were empty, save for the distant echo of anger; as if war-drums that were heard from far away. Fong twisted his hand, bringing Katara up from the underground.

"She-" Fong coughed as dust entered his lungs, "She's fine, she was never in danger. It was a trick to trigger the Avatar State."

Sokka eyed him, but sheathed his weapon. He turned and helped Katara to her feet. Katara ran to where Aang hovered in the air, and took his hand. The boy lowered to the ground as he left the Avatar State.

The three of them denied the need for an escort, and bid farewell to Haru. Sokka's eyes didn't leave the general until they were in the air, and Fong would never forget that haunting and empty gaze.


Admiral Zhao sat back in his office in the Fire Nation capital. He had arrived that morning, and had a rather tense discussion with Ozai. He had explained the siege in its entirety, and done his best to further sow the seeds of Azula's downfall. He didn't think there would be much more to be done, for it seemed that his cousin had already begun to hold the Princess in low regard.

Now he sat before a new man, one with a metal arm and bore the tattoo of an eye upon his brow, and he had said nothing. Zhao was not certain that the man could speak, and he didn't care to find out. Placing a sealed envelope and a heavy coin pouch on the desk, he said, "Do give the Princess my regards."


Author's Note:

I had much trouble writing this chapter. Not very much happened in this update that wasn't very close to what happened in canon. For that reason, it was not particularly interesting for me to write. I even find it hard to go back and proofread/edit. It might be the weakest chapter I've put out, but that can't be helped. It contains the seed of elements that come to fruit later in Part Two.

I did rather enjoy the Team Azula POV, though.

Another reason that it's been difficult is that I have taken up a new book series: The King's Dark Tidings.

It's fire, pick it up on audible if you feel so inclined.

11/20/2022