I am so sorry that this chapter came out pretty late ! But due to IRL stuff , I've been pretty busy and there hasn't been much time to write for this story . Hopefully updates will be more frequent since I'm currently on semester break boys !
XD
Now about this chapter ... I actually wanted this one to be a continuation of the previous chapter but I really wanted to get this one out of the way first since I have been dying to get this flashback scene out.
And I think you all will like it too ...:)
Big thanks to HammerTide for once again beta reading the chapter and proving good feedback.
With that said , let's get this chapter started !
" Lady Mai , we're approaching our destination " The rider called out to her and all she returned was a simple nod. Not like he could actually see her.
Mai sat in the ornate carriage in total silence not saying a single word , not like there was anybody else to really start a conversation with. The driver of the carriage was focused on getting her to their destination. The only silence that could really be heard was the sound of Mai occasionally twirling her knives just to do something with her hands.
Maybe coming alone was a mistake ... but she knew Zuko would be against it and Ty Lee would ask to come with her.
And she had to do this or rather some part of her felt like she had to do this.
" My Lady , we have arrived ..." The driver announced as he got off and opened the door for her.
Mai stepped out from the carriage and peered up at the place she had just arrived at.
The asylum that Azula had been placed in.
It had been a grand total of six months since Zuko had decided to put Azula in this place to help her get better. And that was just how long it had been since she had last seen the Fire Princess, not counting their last ' meeting' at Boiling Rock. When she and Ty Lee betrayed Azula to save Zuko and Azula threw her in prison...
She had heard the stories... from both Zuko and the Avatar's posse, about how Azula started to lose it , how she had fighting like a wild animal during her Agni Kai with Zuko , how she had broken down after the fight ...
Mai could not deny that she did not like the haunting look on Zuko's face whenever he talked about it.
So that brought her here to this place ... to see what happened to her former friend in the flesh.
She tried to ignore the somber feeling that was coming off of this place. Ty Lee would probably say something about this place having a bad aura or something...
She walked through the doors to meet a doctor she had already paid off to make sure her little visit didn't get picked up by Zuko. The last thing she needed was him getting on her case about this...
She may be his girlfriend but he will not control what she does...
" Ah , Lady Mai glad to see you " The doctor said , giving her a toothy smile.
" Spare me the pleasantries just tell me what I want to know ..." Mai rolled her eyes at him.
" Y-Yes , this way please ..." The doctor got the message and led the way.
Mai walked down the hallways beside the doctor , passing by the cells of the other patients...
Mai thought they looked closer to prisoners than actual patients to be honest.
As they walked , Mai tried her best to ignore the sounds coming from the cells. Some were of screams of the more loud patients spouting off incomprehensible nonsense, others were off patients just screaming their heads off ... and others were just full on quiet sobbing.
That last one , Mai tried to ignore the best she could.
" How is her ... condition ? " Mai tried to drum up some conversation to ignore some of the sounds.
" O-Oh well uh ... the princess's condition isn't improving unfortunately..." The doctor read off some of his notes " She's been prone to acts of screaming and violent outbursts so we have been forced to keep her sedated and restrained at all times "
Sedated and restrained ? Fits of violence ?
Is this what has become of Azula ? Was Zuko really not exaggerating ?
The doctor lead her to a cell that was opened for some reason and Mai could see a couple of nurses and orderlies wrestling with a patient.
" This is her cell and you can clearly see her state ..." The doctor said somberly.
Mai stepped into the cell and could not believe what she was seeing...
It was Azula ... but at the same time it wasn't.
Her hair was long and dishevelled , no longer elegantly tied up ... she had lines underneath her eyes indicating she had been crying for quite some time... and from how she was trying to desperately fight off the nurses and orderlies restraining her to the bed , this was clearly not the first time she had done this...
And her cell was another story all together... there were scorch marks all over the room indicating she had been firebending through her throat or some way else ... there was no window or light in the room befitting a firebender ... and her bed seemed to have built in restraints to it.
" GET OFF ME YOU BASTARDS ! "Azula struggled in vain against the orderlies as they tied her down " Let me out of here ! Let me ..."
Azula's voice died down as the nurse injected with some kind of sedative to calm her down...
And all this time Mai hadn't even noticed she had turned as still as a statue watching the scene in front of her.
" I'm afraid that this is the Princess's current condition and it doesn't seem to be improving..." The doctor said somberly.
Mai didn't speak at first , but struggled to come up with the words " Does ... does she know I'm here ? "
" No , I don't think she's lucid enough to notice you my lady " The doctor answered.
Mai watched as Azula's resistance faded and her eyes started to faded to unconsciousness and-
Mai couldn't stand it anymore , she walked out of the cell and leaned up against the wall to catch her breath. Clasping her hand over her mouth to stop the feeling of bile in her stomach from rising up.
" Lady Mai , are you alright ? " The doctor asked.
" Is ... she restrained all the time ? " Mai asked.
" Yes , I'm afraid , with her firebending skills and fits of violent rage we find it easier to keep her sedated and restrained most of the time " The doctor explained.
Mai didn't speak for a while as if contemplating what to say next.
She stood up straight to make herself look a bit more proper " ...Listen well doctor , you will only keep Princess Azula restrained to her bed if you absolutely have to but you will permit her to at least stand up straight. And you will also allow her to go outside and feel the sun on her skin , do it restrained and sedated if you're that concerned "
" B-But Lady Mai we-"
" Perhaps I did not make myself clear , I do not care if this makes your job harder ... but because Fire Lord Zuko has entrusted his sister's safety and well being to you is that understood ? " Mai glared at the man enough to make him shut up and nod.
" Good ..." Mai walked away but not before turning around one last time " And if you try to tell the Fire Lord about this conversation , I will have you and every person in this asylum burned to the ground "
Mai didn't even need to turn to hear the gulp as she walked out of the asylum.
She didn't say a word to her driver as she got in and the carriage started moving again.
Mai didn't want this feeling , she hated this feeling ...
She did not want to feel sympathy for Azula , she did not want to feel regret or sadness.
When she came here , all she wanted to feel when she saw Azula was contempt ...maybe satisfaction.
At the fact that the proud princess had fallen from grace. She had lost everything and they had gained everything.
Azula had always been cruel and uncaring towards others , she had gotten what she deserved...
But can't one say the same about her ?
Mai knew herself well enough to know that some deep dark part of her mind wanted to feel that satisfaction and contempt ... but she couldn't.
If Mai was any less of the noblewoman her mother and father trained her up to be , she most likely would have thrown up from the mix of emotions and feelings she buried in the pit of her stomach.
She didn't want to feel them ...and she didn't want Azula to know that she cared.
Mai's eyes flashed open and she found herself staring at the ceiling of her room once again. She lets out a sigh as she sits up on the bed , rubbing her eyes to try and shake off the drowsiness of waking up in the dead of night.
She couldn't believe she had another nightmare about Azula of all things ... though she supposes it would be closer to a memory than a nightmare . Though any dream that has Azula in it could be considered a nightmare for her.
" Can't sleep ? " Mai turns her head to Zuko who seemed to be awaken by her movements.
" Sorry Zuko I didn't mean to wake you " Mai says gently.
" Its alright , I don't mind " Zuko uses his arm to sit up a bit too " Bad dream ? "
Mai considers for a moment before answering " Something like that ..."
She wasn't about to tell Zuko that she had a dream about the time she went behind his back to go see Azula . She had done her best to keep that matter as quiet as possible and she wasn't about to start now. Thankfully Zuko didn't press any further than that.
" Wanna try to go back to sleep ? " Zuko suggested.
" Doubt I'll be able to sleep ... I think I'm gonna get a glass of water or something " Mai stood up from the bed to walk out the door , giving a simple wave to Zuko as she left.
She had already prepared a response for the Kyoshi Warriors outside their door " Yes, I am fully capable of-"
And yet she received no reply...
As she saw the two bloodied bodies of the Kyoshi Warriors stationed just outside their room.
Mai's eyes widened in shock and the fighter in her jumped into action as she went into focused mode " Zuko get out here now ! " Mai quickly yelled to Zuko who most likely tried to go back to sleep.
" W-What !? " Mai heard the sound of someone fall out of bed . Guess that means Zuko's up.
In less than second , Zuko was already out of the room " M-Mai , what's going-" His voice died in his throat as he saw the bodies of the Kyoshi Warriors " W-What the hell !? "
" I found them like this , I don't know what happened but..." Mai was trying to keep her cool but almost failing to.
But she could already make a guess of what was happening. Assassins.
" Agni damned , where are the guards !? " Zuko shouted in frustration.
" F-Fire ...lord ..."
A weak voice called out to them and they both turned to see that one of the Kyoshi Warriors was still alive !
Mai felt like slapping herself on the forehead , she hadn't even bothered to check their pulses to see if they were still alive.
" Are you alright ? What happened here ? " Zuko knelled down next to her , keeping pressure on the wound.
"W-We were attacked and-" The Warrior's eyes widened " LOOK OUT ! "
Mai turned and moved out of the way just in time to avoid a spear straight to the head.
She saw several black robed masked figures step out of the shadows , all wielding deadly weapons . Their intentions clear.
Mai knew this was going to be a bad night for her.
" Death to the usurper ! "
With that battlecry , their attackers charged at them all at once.
Zuko quickly firebended and used his flames to keep their attackers at bay , while Mai withdrew her emergency knives and flung them at their assailants. She managed to hit a couple but some were quicker than others and managed to jump out of the way.
" Shit ! " Zuko cursed as he tried to juggle keeping the wounded Warrior from bleeding out and defending.
" J-just deal with them ! Forget about me ! " The wounded Kyoshi Warrior tried to pull the whole self sacrifice bit on them.
" Not a chance !" Zuko of course objected as he sent another blast of fire at them.
Mai had to admit ...that the odds weren't looking too good for them. Zuko was preoccupied balancing defending and saving , while Mai was steadily running out of sharp things to throw at their enemies.
It's only a matter of seconds before they overwhelm us when they get a good hit in...
Mai had to quickly think of an idea and soon or they were all going to die.
" Zuko , how is she ?" Mai said as she jumped back to avoid a katana strike.
" Not good ! The bleedings stopped but she needs a doctor and now ! "Zuko yelled as he briefly had to deflect and kick back against another assassin.
" I think the Fire Sages would be more appropriate honestly..." One of the assassins jeered at them and Mai had to grit her teeth as she threw a knife at his head.
She had to think of something ... they had multiple enemies so-
An idea came to mind and Mai knew that she had to act on it now. Wasn't as if they had any better solutions at the moment.
" Zuko ! Keep them busy for a second ! I got an idea ! " Mai yelled out as she threw her last set of knives at their attackers.
" W-What ?! But-"
" Just trust me ! "
Mai yelled as she ran back into the room ...and quickly grabbed the jug of water that was kept on the nightstand nearby.
She didn't waste anytime , running back out of the room to help Zuko . Who seemed to have temporarily left the side of the Kyoshi Warrior to fight back against the assassins better.
" Getting tired already , Fire Lord ? " One of the assassins mocked.
" Just getting warmed up ..." Zuko held his fists up in defense.
" Surrender now and maybe we'll spare your fam-"
The assassins didn't get to finish whatever half-baked jab they were going to deliver ... as Mai suddenly splashed them all with water.
" What the-! "
" What is the meaning of this ! "
" Zuko now ! " Mai shouted.
Her boyfriend didn't even need to guess what her intention was , quickly as he could he sent a bolt of lightning towards the water that had spilled from the assassins when Mai splashed them.
The assassins couldn't dodge the attack on the count of all of them being drenched in water ... and Zuko's lightning had successfully electrocuted all of them.
Their crumpled bodies fell to the floor . By how their bodies were literally smoking ... it was clear the attack had killed them all.
Mai let out a breath of relief as her shoulders sagged from tiredness. She was not expecting to fight off assassins in the dead of night but she just did.
She turned back to Zuko who already went back to the wounded Kyoshi Warrior to help her.
" Mai are you alright ? "Zuko looked at her worriedly.
" I'm fine Zuko I'm...fine " Mai knelled down next to him to help him.
It was okay. Everything was okay ...
They were safe ...they were fine.
What followed after defeating their would be assassins , was probably some of the most sleepless and drowsy filled hours in Zuko's life.
First he had to call his useless excuse for guards to secure the palace and make sure no other assassin had gotten in . Then he had to immediately check on his mother and her family to make sure they were alright , thank Agni that they were. After that he had to wake both Suki and Ty Lee to help with the situation since he doesn't really trust the competency of his guards at this moment.
It was a very stressful to say the least and judging by how the light of the sun was starting to rise ... he wasn't going to be getting any sleep for the night ...or morning he should say.
" So ..." Zuko said dangerously with barely restrained anger " Can one of you tell me how exactly an assassin managed to get into my home , kill one of my elite guards , severely injure another and almost kill me and my girlfriend ?"
The captains that had been on duty for the night all looked down in shame. Even Suki out of the corner of his eyes had shame in her eyes , though he could also see sadness over her fallen sister.
Zuko had called for an urgent meeting with the captains that had been on duty , though the meeting was more akin to an interrogation to find out exactly how their defenses had been breached.
" My lord ... I'm afraid we have no knowledge of how the assassins had managed to get in " One of his captains spoke " We did a full sweep of the palace your majesty and we could figure out how the assassins got in "
" Well ... we did find that some of our guards had been knocked unconscious to the East Wing of the palace so that could explain it " One of the other captains spoke.
That answer didn't satisfy Zuko ... it seemed easy . Too easy.
He glanced at Mai and Suki... it seemed they were thinking the same thing.
Either the assassins had found another into the palace ...or one of his captains had betrayed him and let the assassins in.
He needed to talk to his real advisors about it.
" You're all dismissed for the time being . Leave " Zuko said angrily and his captains had enough wisdom to leave the room as quick as they could.
Zuko let out a sigh as he looked at Ty Lee , Mai and Suki . All of them eyeing him with worried looks.
" I can't believe something like this happened ..." Mai looked tired , more so than usual.
" Its terrible that somebody tried to kill Zuko ! " Ty Lee shouted.
" And its even worse that we lost Sakura and Yoko's badly injured..." Suki said sadly and everyone gave her a sympathetic look.
" I'm sorry Suki , I-"
" No its alright ... you don't have to apologize " Suko held up a hand " Though I will need to take her body back to Kyoshi Island for a funeral .."
" We'll help in any way you need Suki " Ty Lee said putting a hand on her shoulder.
" Thank you ..." Suki said in gratitude.
" Getting back to the matter at hand ..." Mai spoke up " We need to figure out how this happened ...and who sent the assassins ? "
" When I first became Fire Lord ... I was no stranger to assassination attempts " Zuko admitted somberly " We never really figured out who was behind those attempts since they were all done without the presence of an actual assassin most of the time . But this attempt ..."
" They really came close to hurting Mai or me ..." Zuko didn't mind if people hated him , wanted him dead ...
But going after those he cared about ? That's where he drew the line.
" Is it possible it was an inside job ? " Ty Lee suggested.
" You think one of the captains know something ? "Suki mused.
" Maybe ...they were all pretty nervous though it could have been an act " Mai shrugged " I'm not exactly a lie detector like Toph "
" Should we call her here then ? We could use her help to sort out this whole matter " Suki suggested.
" No ...Toph's been busy with her new metal bending school and I don't want to burden her " Zuko shot that idea down " Plus she's all the way in the Earth Kingdom , it would take at least a week before we can get word to her and even more for her to get here ..."
" And there's the matter of who could have organized a strike like this ?" Zuko said out loud.
" There...is someone who could have done something like this ..." Mai said gravely , turning all eyes to her.
" Who Mai ?"
" ...It could be Azula for all we know "
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...
Zuko wanted to shout in surprise but honestly ? Even he had to consider it ...
He hated himself for even thinking about it ...but he knew that the possibility of Azula being behind the attack couldn't be ignored. She knew the palace like the back of her hand ...and if there was anyone capable of it , it was her.
" You can't be serious Mai ..." Ty Lee said in shock " It can't be Azula , it can-"
" Why not ? " Mai interrupted " Insane or not , she's still as dangerous as ever. She's not above sending minions to do her dirty work and if there's anyone who could pull off something like this ...it would be her "
" B-but still-"
" That's enough . Both of you..." Zuko said in a louder tone than usual " Look ...its been a very long night and I think we should try to get some rest without throwing wild theories around ...okay ? "
They all looked at each other before simply nodding . Mai giving him a hard look as she left .
Zuko fell back into his seat ...could it really be Azula ?
For her own sake ...he really hopes not .
Ursa upon hearing of the attempted assassination ... was reasonably upset.
" Ursa my love , please calm down ..." Ikem tried to sooth her worries to no avail.
" How can I be calm when my son almost lost his life ? " Ursa said in irritation.
She knew that every newly crowned Fire Lord had their fair share of dissenters and critics ...some of which were powerful enough or petty enough to want to try and take said Fire Lord out. When she was still at the palace , she had heard stories of how Fire Lord Azulon had around 20 assassination attempts during his first month alone.
She has no doubts that Ozai suffered the same , though she wishes some of the assassins had been successful.
And now her son is dealing with the troubles of being Fire Lord...
She had never had to deal with the very high likelihood that her son could be assassinated at any moment of the day and that struck a cord of fear in her heart.
" What if Zuko had died Ikem ? What if Mai had died ? What if what if-" Ursa was rambling when Ikem suddenly took her hands into his own.
" I understand Ursa ... but panicking isn't going to change what has already happened nor will it improve the situation " Ikem said softly " All we can do now is try and stop something like this from happening again "
Ursa felt like she had been smacked in the face by Ikem's words ...he was right , flailing about like a chicken without a head will not do anything. She needs to calm herself down at the very least.
Taking a few deep breaths , Ursa calms herself if just a little .
" Feeling better ? "
" Much better , thank you ..." Ursa gives Ikem a smile " Can you please go check up on Kiyi ? Just make sure that she's safe "
" Will do love ..." Ikem gave her a comforting kiss before leaving.
She looked out the nearby to see the light of Agni start to rise and she has no doubt that Zuko is still wide awake trying to organize the palace.
She rubs her own eyes a little to get the tiredness away , she was used to staying up late even back in her early years , usually to help make the props for a play or something.
She needs to have a talk with Zuko about this.
She recalled hearing that he was having a meeting with his captains to discuss the attempt on his life just a few short hours ago. She suspect that he was still there . Hopefully.
As she walks down the grand halls of the palace ,she does not see a soul or more specifically a guard in sight . No doubt Zuko had ordered all of the guards stationed to secure the palace and make sure that no other assassin had managed to sneak in. It almost makes her wonder what Fire Lord Azulon or ...Ozai ...would have done had his guards made such a vital mistake that would have cost them their lives.
Execution seems the most likely.
She pushes away any thoughts of her former husband or father in law away from her mind instead focusing on how the palace guards could be so incompetent that several assassins managed to break in , kill one of Zuko's elite guards and almost get him and Mai.
Ursa considers the idea of asking Zuko to completely replace the palace guards with more trustworthy ones , but decides against it . This early morning has been hectic enough as it is .
To her fortune as she enters the meeting room , she finds Zuko seated at the table . Alone.
Ursa
" I thought I told you all to- " Zuko didn't immediately notice her presence ,rather he looked at her in irritation before he realized who she actually was " Mother ? What are you doing here ? "
" Just came to check up on you ..." Ursa said gently as she sat next to him " Are you okay ? "
" ... I'm fine mother ..." Zuko clearly lied.
Ursa tried not to notice it but she did . His posture . The look on his eyes and face ...
It was just like Ozai was when he was irritated about something.
She hated herself for thinking Zuko could be anything like Ozai ...but there were a few similarities here and there. Like how they acted when they were irritated for one.
" Zuko ..." Ursa said gently " Even I don't need the ability to read minds to know that something is troubling you ... I won't force you to talk but you can talk to me you know ? "
Zuko shifted , he clearly had something he had to say , but didn't want to.
" ...Is it about the assassination attempt ? " Ursa guessed.
" What ? No ...its not about that ..." Zuko cracked " Trust me if it was just about some asshole trying to kill me , I would be shrugging this off before breakfast but ... its something else ..."
" What then ... ?"
Zuko was quiet for a moment , as if contemplating what to say ...
" ...Mai thinks Azula was the one behind the attack tonight ..." Zuko said it .
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For a time , the two just sat there in silence . Zuko worrying over whether he said the right thing or not . And Ursa pondering her son's words.
She was shocked ,definitely . She had never thought that Mai would think that her former friend, her daughter ...could do something so horrible. And she couldn't believe that Azula would do something like that either.
" Do you believe her ? " Ursa asked quietly.
No ...maybe ? I don't know ..." Zuko leaned back in frustration " There's not enough to say for certain that Azula was behind anything or not ... and that makes me very worried " Zuko said with a grave look on his face " If evidence was found that she was behind it ..."
" In all fairness , your father killed your grandfather to assume the Throne and got away with it " Ursa couldn't help but muse.
" That was different ... if Azula was behind it than ..." Zuko rubbed his head to try and nurse a headache " I just don't know what to do mom ..."
" You don't need to do anything Zuko ..." Ursa said which seemed to surprise him " Look , you said it yourself that we can't be sure whether or not Azula had a hand in this ... so the best we can do now is just make sure this doesn't happen again "
" You're right mom ..." Zuko smiled a little at her " Thank you ..."
Ursa gave a comforting nod to him.
She may have said to Zuko that they couldn't be sure whether Azula was behind this or not ...but Ursa already knew deep down that this couldn't be Azula.
Because if Azula was really behind this ... she and Zuko would already be dead.
Now that this chapter is finally over , I can at last talk about one of my favorite characters in this fic ...Mai.
I've been wanting from the very start to make it clear or reveal that Mai doesn't actually hate Azula . At least not in the truest sense of the word. I with a capital H , really , REALLY HATE what they did with Ty Lee and Mai's relationship with Azula in the comics . Instead of you know , making their relationship a complicated mix of love, genuine admiration, respect, fear, resentment and even hatred, to just pure, boring "This bitch is crazy and we're afraid".
Like whoever wrote the comics couldn't comprehend the idea that people can have complicated relationships with each other . And in Mai's case in this fic that phrase could not ring any more true with her relationship with Azula.
I apologize if the fight scene in this chapter wasn't very good , but I'm not skilled at writing fight scenes honestly. But I really wanted to convey in this chapter that Zuko is in a position of danger and he knows it.
With that said , I'll see you all in the next chapter !
Angel Out.
