Chapter 7: Evil Within

"Wake up Zuzu, for her sake."

Zuko turned over and opened his eyes. The light from the full moon shone brightly through the windows, illuminating the Fire Lord's royal chambers. Zuko struggled to get out of bed, the soft sheets beckoning him to remain in place.

Sleepily, and with gentle movements, Zuko sat up. His body may have been slow and tired, but his mind was more active than it had ever been. A vast sea of knowledge swirled inside his head, which was far too small to record everything he had witnessed. More peripheral information began to slip away, leaving the young Fire Lord with the more serious moments from his dream.

That was, if it could even be called a dream. Zuko had dreamed before, and such events were nothing like what he had just experienced. It wasn't an illusion, it was real, and in that sense, it was more akin to a vision. Zuko had little understanding when it came to such matters, and he suspected that the spirits he had encountered in the catacombs were to blame. He would need to consult someone else if he wanted answers, perhaps his uncle or the avatar.

"But I can't tell them everything…"

Zuko felt a foreboding feeling sweep over him. He had just experienced the history of his family, and like Roku said, there was surely some kind of lesson to be learned there. But despite all that, it wasn't the past that Zuko was most interested in. It was what he had seen of the future, and most importantly… who he had seen.

"Dad, is everything alright?"

The voice, and the words that accompanied it, echoed in his head. Zuko didn't forget the voice, and he never could. It wasn't just anyone's voice… it was his daughter's.

"I… I saw my daughter? How is that even possible?"

Zuko felt a small kernel of pride, knowing that he would one day create something wonderful. But he also felt a sense of dread. The girl's mother was someone he knew well, much too well in fact. She had tormented him for years, whispering lies and manipulating him. Her alluring voice, her chocolate-colored hair, her dark gold eyes, and even the way she carried herself were all unmistakable of one woman… Azula…

It didn't seem like it could be true, but then again, everything else in his vision was, so why would that be any different? Was it merely a possible future he had seen, perhaps one of many? And yet, Zuko couldn't help but find it… intriguing.

Zuko had seen his sister as an enemy, an obstacle to overcome, for most of his life. Living with her again was a surreal experience. The last time they had lived like that was very different. Zuko had been frightened by what would happen if his father found out the avatar was still alive, and Azula had held that information over his head, keeping him in line. Now things had changed. Zuko still had many worries, but his father was not one of them. There was no higher authority to cower from, no rival ready to blackmail you at a moment's notice.

Yet even back then, Zuko had begun to notice things. He hadn't lived a peaceful existence with his sister since his banishment, and he couldn't help but perceive how she acted differently around him. She was more open, even if it was just a tiny amount, and she seemed almost more pleasant when he was around. And these characteristics were even more evident now.

There was always a mutual pause when they passed one another in the halls. Azula didn't ignore him or look down upon him. Instead she acknowledged his presence and seemed almost comfortable being around him. Zuko's council meetings had also vastly improved with her at his side. He didn't feel anxious or unnerved when she sat next to him. Instead he felt emboldened.

And while Zuko's perceptive skills couldn't compare with Azula's, he had still glimpsed some changes in her own attitude. She seemed more cheerful when he was around, and she was becoming more willing to engage in discussions about their personal lives. Not to mention, Azula's longing glances at him hadn't gone unnoticed…

"What am I thinking? This is crazy…"

Even as Zuko told off his conscience, he knew he was lying to himself. Azula's beauty was more evident to him than ever before, and occasionally his mind began to wander places it otherwise shouldn't have. Sometimes after an argument with Mai, he would feel a strange desire to speak with Azula and shift his focus towards other things.

"Mai… how could I forget about you so easily?"

Zuko remembered that he had never apologized to his girlfriend after their previous fight, and she likely wouldn't take another excuse about him being too busy. Deep down Zuko knew he wasn't fully committed to their relationship, but neither was Mai. Much like in the past, they just couldn't seem to settle down. Zuko did care about her, and he certainly felt a strong attraction to her. She was beautiful, intelligent, and she could even be cute when she wanted to. But somehow it didn't feel right. So Zuko continued down a path with her, hoping for things to get better.

"I'm not being compassionate. I just don't have the courage to break her heart again."

Zuko's mind returned to Azula, and no matter how much he tried, his feelings got the better of him. What if she felt something for him as well? Could they really be happy together, after so much pain? Would they even be able to be together?

"She's Azula, and that's bad enough for most people. But she's also my sister."

Such relationships were not unheard of, nor were they forbidden in the Fire Nation. But they were certainly still frowned upon. They were considered a relic of the past, for uneducated and uncivilized peoples, not fit for a 'modern' society. The first Fire Lord had married his sister, and allegedly so had several of his decedents. But that fact had been largely forgotten, disregarded by historians in order to improve the Fire Nation's image.

But Zuko was the Fire Lord, and as the Fire Lord he held a great deal of power. He was already unpopular, and he hadn't been overthrown, although there were certainly those trying to get rid of him. Once they were dealt with things would settle down and he might have more breathing room. And that offered up many opportunities…

Zuko shook his head. "I feel like Azula, scheming and plotting ways to maintain my power."

His sister had always left a strong impression. No matter how much Zuko tried, Azula refused to leave his mind. He had gotten a taste of something he desired, and he wanted… no, he needed more.

The spirits might not have given him straightforward answers to his question, but perhaps they had fulfilled their dept in other ways. Maybe they were pointing him in a second direction, guiding him towards things he was otherwise to ignorant to see.

But that wasn't all. The more Zuko thought about it, the more he realized that his question to Roku may have been answered as well.

"Where is she?"

He vividly recalled Azula's tantalizing words in all their glory.

"Why don't you go ahead and play with your grandmother while we wait?"

If the vision was indeed true, then his daughter could have only one grandmother. Ursa was alive, and with them in the future. He must have found her at some point and brought her back, but how?

"Fret not, you already have what you need to find her, you just haven't realized it yet."

What did Roku mean? Did he really already possess what he needed to find his mother? Zuko dwelt on the former avatar's words, desperate to discover what he meant. And then it clicked.

"Azula…"

The vision showed him many things he did not yet have, like a daughter and a mother. But it also showed him something he did have. He had his sister, and perhaps she was what he needed?

Zuko laid back down on his bed and closed his eyes. He began to slowly drift asleep, his sister weighing heavily on his mind.


Azula wandered through the empty palace corridors, with only a small flame illuminating her path. "Zuzu really needs to hire someone to keep these braziers lit." As the thought crossed her mind, Azula made several quick flicking motions and sent sparks into the empty braziers, igniting them. "That's much better."

Her mood quickly soured when the braziers continued to glow a bright orange, instead of her special azure fire. Ever since the Agni Kai during Sozin's Comet, her fire had burned much weaker, and she didn't understand why. Zuko had offered to help her, as if he could possibly know more about firebending than she did. It was a laughable notion, quite amusing actually. She had an awful feeling about it though. Her firebending was still nothing to sneeze at, but it had lost that obvious touch that put her above everyone else.

"I'm sure it will return in time, I just need practice and patience."

Azula's night had been a restless one so far, and she thought some fresh air would clear her mind. As she made her way towards a balcony, she passed a patrol of guards. Upon noticing her presence, they immediately corrected their formation, in an effort to appear more professional. Zuko had upped the palace security recently, partly on her suggestion, although the new recruits were of questionable quality. Mai had also been angered by the change, and she cited it as evidence of Zuko's growing paranoia. "What does she know of paranoia?"

Regardless, Zuko was still in the doghouse, and he played along with her bad attitude. It was really quite pitiful in Azula's opinion. Under normal circumstances, seeing her two traitorous friends so miserable would've given her immense joy. But instead, she only felt hollow. "I really am slipping, aren't I? Pathetic."

Azula had no interest in their lover's spat, although she did feel somewhat jealous of them. Thankfully, their poor behavior was bound to end soon. Mai's father was visiting the capital in a week, and Zuko wouldn't want to make a fool of himself in front of him. Azula personally found the man insufferable, and she was amazed that her father had appointed him to rule a colony during the war. Perhaps royalty didn't always necessitate competence.

She reached the balcony and undid the window latch, the panes swung open with a loud squeak. She was immediately hit by the breeze. Autumn was here in all its glory, soon the less resilient flora would wither and the rice fields would be ready for harvesting. Firebenders were naturally attuned to the summer, and their powers waned in the following season. It represented a gradual decline, before the world succumbed to winter.

Just as Azula was taking in a deep breath of the autumn air, her thoughts were interrupted by a loud thud. The hairs on her neck stood up, and she immediately dropped into a defensive position. There was no repeat sound, but after listening carefully, Azula thought she heard a scrapping noise coming from above. "Something is on the rooftop… or someone."

Azula weighed her options. It could just be a wild animal that had found its way onto the palace roof, in which case there was nothing to worry about. But it could also be a person. Although the palace was built in a location not ideal for climbing, they did occasionally get thieves. Such individuals were not normally worth her attention, but she was so unbelievably bored. Perhaps it couldn't hurt…

Azula took a deep breath and ran forward, leaping off the balcony. Quickly heating the air surrounding her, jets of fire formed around her hands and feet, propelling her through the air. She landed on the roof with the agility of a cat owl. She briefly caught a glimpse of a shadowy figure in the distance, although it rapidly disappeared from her vision.

Azula cautiously navigated the roof and made her way over towards the spot she last saw the figure, but there seemed to be no fast getaway. She was about to give up, but then she noticed that one of the clay roof tiles was dislodged. She picked it up and discovered a hole in the roof, revealing a secret entrance below. It was tight squeeze, but she could just barely fit through. "Here goes nothing."

Azula descended into the crevice, carefully maneuvering herself around the rusted scaffolding. She noticed a piece of torn fabric on one of the sharper edges, and reasoned that it must have come off whomever she was pursuing. She could hear movement in the distance. An intruder was definitely in the palace, the only question was who.

Things were going swimmingly until she reached a cross section. When she had been a young girl, Azula had memorized all the secret passages in the palace. But as a teenager, she had little interest or use for them, and her knowledge had become quite foggy. "I don't have time for this. I can't lose whoever is here."

Azula took a deep breath and concentrated on the wall. She needed to break through without causing too much excess damage. She had been practicing this move for years, and now she was skilled enough to successfully pull it off. She performed the motions that had become second nature, the one skill Zuko lacked. A storm of electricity erupted from her fingers and soared towards the metal plated panels. The blast annihilated the walls and revealed her location within the palace. She was in the residential quarters. A terrible thought crossed her mind… "Zuko"… this must be an assassin.

Her instincts were urging her forwards, but Azula felt uneasy. "If Zuko dies, the throne is mine. I could do… anything." Her brother, who had been a thorn in her side for years, who had been a rival to compete with, and had betrayed her after all she did to restore his honor. His fate was now uncertain.

The thought was so tempting, but it felt wrong somehow. Under normal conditions, she would take the option which benefited her most. But right now, she wasn't sure what that option was. After all, the culmination of all her scheming and manipulation had been failure. She had lost all her allies and been defeated by a less skilled firebender. She must have done something wrong, that much she knew, and she was determined to never repeat her past mistakes if she could help it. No, she couldn't let Zuko perish. He was her Fire Lord, her brother, and perhaps even her friend. And that had to count for something.

Her indecisiveness had cost valuable time, and Azula only hoped the palace guards had heard her earlier lightning blast and been placed on high alert. She ran towards Zuko's chambers with a sense of determination she hadn't felt in a very long time. "You can thank me later Zuzu, after I save your sorry butt."


Zuko turned over in his bed. He was awoken by a strange sound which he couldn't quite place. It was almost like a distant explosion. He laid in bed for several moments before groggily opening his eyes.

Deciding that he had definitely heard something, even if he wasn't sure what it was. Slowly, Zuko summoned his strength and sat up. Between all the visions and disturbances, this night had felt like an eternity. Zuko stood up and walked over to his desk. It had gotten unusually cold during the night, and Zuko moved to pull on his robe. But before he could reach it, there was a series of loud thuds behind him.

Zuko wasted no time and immediately shot a plume of fire in the direction of the sound. His blast was quickly dispelled, but the flash of light revealed three figures shrouded in dark robes and wearing featureless masks. "Assassins… why am I not surprised?"

The figure in the front attacked first, sending several small fireballs in his direction. The attack was fast, but not very powerful, so Zuko easily countered. As the lead assassin was busy firebending, the other assailants began to creep closer. Zuko couldn't make it out with the mere flashes of light, but one seemed to be carrying a knife, and the other held some kind of staff. "I guess they're not firebenders."

The bender paused momentarily, probably to regain their breath, and Zuko took advantage of the opportunity. He shot a large blast of fire in their direction, and they only barely managed to counter it. They staggered backwards and bumped into some of his furniture, clearly not being able to see very well in the dark room. Still, the attack had left Zuko open, and the knife wielder decided to take a swipe. Zuko managed to dodge, but just barely. The assassins had caught him at a bad time, and he was too tired to properly maneuver.

Zuko had the power advantage, but he was cornered. And while his life certainly took precedent, he really didn't want to burn down the palace with one of his more devastating attacks. Assuming he was even awake enough to perform them. He desperately needed to find a way to widen the playing field.

A wild idea suddenly crossed his mind and Zuko though it just might work. It was now or never, and with a deep breath, Zuko turned around. His opponents moved in to strike, but were suddenly shot backwards by a massive explosion. Zuko blasted a hole in the wall and leapt from the palace.


Azula had thankfully been correct in her assumption, as she passed a patrol of guards on her way to Zuko's chambers.

"Princess, what is happening?"

"Someone has broken into the palace. I believe they are after the Fire Lord."

Upon hearing what she had to say, one of the guards took out a horn and blew into it. The sound reverberated throughout the palace, and soon many more horns sounded in response. At this rate the whole city would be on high alert. "That might be for the best."

The guards hastily moved to follow Azula, and she led them towards the Fire Lord's chambers. They ran as quickly as they could, the guard's armor clinking as they moved. Azula was expecting a fight, but when they burst through the door to Zuko's room, all they were met with was a smoldering hole.

The guards turned around before Azula even had to give the order, and together they bolted towards the bottom of the palace. "I hope that was Zuko's handiwork, and not the assassin. I'll never forgive him if he dies!"


It had seemed like a good idea at the time, but Zuko quickly regretted his rash decision. As it turned out, the palace was much taller than he initially anticipated. And his original plan of using firebending to break his fall now seemed more like one of those ideas that only seemed good in theory.

Zuko had been training in the technique for several months, and he was beginning to feel more confident in his own capabilities. The ability to fly was a trait only powerful firebeding masters possessed. Men like Jeong-Jeong and Ozai were very skilled at it, but Zuko was still a novice. As the ground quickly grew closer, Zuko shot out plumes of fire from all his limbs. But evidently, it wasn't enough.

*Snap*

Zuko's landing had not been clean. While he had successfully slowed down his descent, the moment his foot touched the ground he heard an awful noise. Zuko hoped it was only a bad sprain, but deep down he knew that was wishful thinking.

He managed to turn around and began to gaze at the massive hole he had made in the palace. He could make out three figures standing in the newly created opening. Then, much to his horror, they began to descend. One of the nonbenders had brought grappling hooks, and the three assassins were quickly making their way down.

Zuko shot an arc of fire in their direction, hoping to sever the ropes, but he missed. The pain in his foot had intensified and spread into the entirety of his left leg. It was clouding his focus, and messing with his bending. Zuko tried again, and this time he managed to burn the rope the firebender was using. Still, the fall wasn't lethal, and by the time he had readied another strike they were all on the ground.

The firebender attacked first, sending a flurry of small fireballs in his direction. Zuko put up a wall of fire for protection, and he began to analyze the attackers. While before they had been obscured by darkness, under the moonlight, Zuko could see they were all female. He didn't have much time to dwell on this though, since the woman with the knife quickly moved in for another strike. She managed to graze his exposed shoulder, but Zuko delivered a swift kick to her midsection and sent her flying backwards.

The firebender then moved to get in closer, which was a mistake on her part. Zuko was much stronger, and he easily blocked her jabs. He didn't need to defeat all of them. He just needed to hold them off until reinforcements arrived.

As if on command, Zuko heard the city war-horns blare through the night. "At least somebody has picked up on what's going on."

The assassins seemed to stiffen up upon hearing the alarm, and Zuko could sense the fear penetrating their defenses. The woman with the staff recovered more quickly than her companions, and she leapt in Zuko's direction. He slammed his fists downward and sent a wave of fire at her, but she managed to separate the flames with her staff. Zuko was briefly overcome with confusion, and the woman thought she saw an opening.

She twisted her staff and caused a sharp point to emerge from the top. Zuko noticed that it was glowing, having absorbed the heat from earlier attack. He expected the woman to lunge forward and try to poke him, but instead she remained rooted in place. He had only the slightest warning, when the woman twisted her weapon again. The searing hot tip shot forth from the staff, and Zuko barely managed to dodge.

The point soared past his head, and Zuko quickly grabbed hold of the rope attaching it to its source. The assassin clearly didn't expect him to do that, and he yanked the rope before she could react. The woman stumbled forward, and Zuko managed to grip her staff. Then he struck her in the face with it, and heard a cracking sound as her mask broke. She let out a final groan and slumped to the floor.

Feeling a sudden surge of confidence, Zuko decided to taunt his remaining attackers a little bit. He shot several fireballs in their direction, causing them to back up. "Is that all you've got?"

Clearly miffed at his statement, the firebender launched another flurry of attacks. Without the sun for power, her flames were pitiful. But even so, Zuko's leg hindered him from efficiently dodging. At this rate, it was a battle of endurance. Whoever could last the longest would come out the victor.

"I need to tip the scales somehow, throw a curveball their way." Just as the thought had crossed Zuko's mind, he realized that a curveball was literally the answer. He shot another blast of fire at his attackers, but they both managed to dodge. Little did they know, it was all part of the plan.

"What comes around goes around!" Before they could grasp what he meant, Zuko's fireball split in two and impacted the assassins on the back. The nonbender let out a pathetic whimper, while her compatriot merely grunted. Zuko used the opportunity to catch his breath; the pain in his leg was becoming unbearable.

The last assassin conjured fire in both her hands and soared forward. She summoned all her strength and sent forth a torrent of flames, desperate to overwhelm the Fire Lord. Zuko dispelled her attack, his face grim from both pain and anger.

"I've had enough of this!" Zuko growled. He fought through the pain and moved towards the woman. She tried to repel him with several more fireballs, but she had already spent most of her energy. Zuko opened his fist and blasted the woman with fire. She had put up a good fight, but she simply lacked the power to mitigate Zuko's fire.

Her robes caught ablaze and she fell over trying to put them out. Zuko approached and towered over her like an armadillo bear ready to pounce. She move to stand up, but instead she caught a fistful of fire in her face. She fell back over, causing her mask to come lose and fall to the ground, leaving her face exposed. She coughed and spit from the smoke, before slowly removing herself from the pavement.

Just as the firebending assassin was staggering to her feet, a fireball landed between her and Zuko. Azula had arrived, flanked by half-a-dozen Imperial Firebenders, not to mention plenty of guards. The assassin's eyes widened in shock, and she began to twitch nervously.

"Sorry to break up the performance, but I believe your little plot has run its course. I suggest you stand down now if you know what's good for you." Azula's confident demeanor was imposing, and Zuko knew from experience she could usually get results with it.

The assassin spoke not a word, instead opting to stare at Azula, a curious expression on her face. Azula's confident smirk was quickly replace with a frown and Zuko watched intently as she went from surprised, to angered, to suspicious all in the span of a few seconds. Zuko wasn't sure what was going on. It almost seemed like Azula recognized the woman.

The assassin broke Azula's gaze, her eyes scanning the surrounding area. Just a few feet away, she noticed her partner's knife laying on the ground. Her body language was vague, but it was just enough for Azula to pick up on. "Don't try it. It will only end badly."

The painful silence lasted for several seconds, but the assassin ultimately decided to ignore Azula's advice. She quickly dove for the knife and managed to pick it up. But just as she was about to strike, one of the guards hit her in the head with the pummel of his glaive, knocking her out.

"Oh man… that's gotta hurt." It took him a few moments, but Zuko quickly recognized the guard's voice.

"Dai, is that you?"

"Glad you recognized me boss! We're just here to save the day… err… night."

Zuko chuckled. "Thanks, mind giving me a hand here?" Dai moved to support Zuko, giving his injured leg some much needed relief. As Zuko was getting resituated, Azula strolled towards the second assassin, who was still awake. But before she could say anything, Azula ignited a ball of fire in her hand. The assassin let out a small shriek, and the guards moved to pin her down.

Azula briefly stared down at the assassin Dai had incapacitated. Her expression was hard to read, and she didn't stay long enough for Zuko to discern anything. With that taken care of, Azula went to speak with her brother, having already realized something was wrong with his leg.

"How did that happen?" Only seconds after uttering those words, Azula's eyes drifted toward the hole in the palace. "On second thought, I'm not sure I want to know."

"I tried to use fire jets."

Azula let out a small chuckle, which was rare for her. "Oh Zuzu, why am I not surprised you'd try something so idiotic?"

"Hey, I'm alive aren't I?"

"Mostly."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"What I mean is that you won't be walking on that leg for a few days."

"Whatever, I'll deal with the fallout tomorrow." Zuko grunted as Dai held him tighter. "By the way, what was with that one assassin? It seemed like you were looking at her funny."

"It's not important at the moment. I'll make sure to tell you in the morning. Right now you could use some rest."

Zuko looked at her suspiciously before letting out a sigh. "You're probably right." He stood up with some assistance from Dai. It was only then that Azula noticed that Zuko was wearing nothing but shorts. He looked radiant, and his pale skin seemed to glow in the moonlight. Azula's faced briefly flushed and she turned away.

"Go put a robe on dum-dum. You'll catch a cold."


Author's Note

Sorry for the slight delay, I've been busy lately. Despite being shorter, this chapter took the longest to write. It's got quite a bit of action, and I hope you enjoy! : )