Chapter 8: Royal Strife

Zuko awoke to the sound of birds chirping, their cheerful tunes beckoning him to cast aside his weariness. And when he opened his eyes he saw that he was in the palace infirmary. An older man was sitting next to his bed, hands folded in a praying position.

"Great Sage Shyu, what are you doing here?"

Upon hearing Zuko's raspy voice, Shyu awoke from his trance with a joyful smile on his face. "My Lord, I see that you are awake. What can I do for you?"

"Why is the Great Sage in the infirmary, shouldn't you be categorizing scrolls or something?"

"Ha ha, you've never been one to disregard levity my Lord! In truth, I'm here because you're here. The Fire Lord's health and well-being is of paramount importance to the Fire Sages!"

As if on cue, Zuko moved to sit up in his bed. Shyu immediately got up and assisted him. "Speaking of health, how is my leg doing?"

"It's only a minor fracture my Lord, you'll be perfectly healed in a week or so."

"A week is too long. I have very important matters to attend to!"

"With all due respect my Lord, Princess Azula has already taken charge of the situation."

Zuko paused for a moment, his mouth slightly ajar. "She's done what?!"

"Please don't panic my Lord! I intended to fill you in on the goings on!"

"I'd rather attend to such matters myself if you don't mind. Now help me out of this bed!"

"I thought you might say that." Shyu reached down below his chair and pulled out a crutch. He handed the piece of wood to Zuko and slowly helped him out of bed. "This one is about your size, may it serve you well my Lord."

"Thank you Shyu, but I'm afraid I must be going now."

Shyu chuckled softly. "Even now, I can't help but remember you as that stubborn little prince who showed up on our island all those years ago."

Zuko paused at the old man's comment. It felt like his banishment was a whole lifetime in the past. "Yes, I remember. I had just been banished, and uncle suggested that we go to Crescent Island to learn more about the Avatar. That was when I first realized I had changed…"

Zuko lightly caressed the scar surrounding his eye. The nerves had never fully healed. He recalled the feeling of devastation when he had first saw his new face. He remembered the rage he felt, and the sadness in Iroh's eyes when he looked upon what Ozai had done to his nephew.

"It used to define me, the only one of its kind. But now I have two…" Zuko lowered his hand to his chest, and the star-shaped blemish Azula had given to him. She had forever altered him, in more ways than one.

"Azula… why do things have to be so complicated?"

"If I remember correctly my Lord, didn't you challenge the former Great Sage to a duel?"

"Yes, uncle had to step in and save me. I was in over my head."

"You still put up a good fight, even then."

"Keep that story between us, the last thing I want is for people to know I once attacked a sage."

"Oh don't worry about it. I'm sure he didn't mind. We sages don't get a lot of action."

"He certainly looked like he minded."

"Oh, that's just the way he looks. He frightens most of our visitors, except for you my Lord."

"Sorry your temple got destroyed during my second visit."

"Well, sometimes things just happen. Although I really could use a replacement…" Shyu put extra emphasis on that last part, hoping Zuko would pick up on his meaning. The Fire Lord merely mumbled something unintelligible in response.

"Is everything okay my Lord? You seem very subdued this morning."

"I had a long night…" Zuko paused, wondering if he should continue on. The vision he experienced had been so potent, and Zuko was unsure what to do. On one hand he was intrigued by what it suggested, but on the other hand he felt things might be easier if they went a different way. He was already unpopular, and he really didn't want to rock the boat, either with the public or Azula. Not to mention, he felt entirely unsure about his feelings. They felt both right and wrong at the same time, and Zuko wished they would just go away. But things were never that simple. Perhaps Shyu could offer him some valuable advice.

"What do you know about visions?"

Shyu's eyes lit up instantly. "Visions often foretell events that are likely to occur. Although I would caution that it isn't a science. Some people think that visions can be influenced by the subconscious thoughts of the individual experiencing them."

"Not exactly what I was hoping to hear…"

"Have you ever experienced a vision?"

"I have my Lord, although it was a long time ago. I saw myself aiding the Avatar against my own country, and being punished for my sedition, like my father before me. Eventually I did end up helping the Avatar, although that whole punishment part thankfully never came to pass."

"Was that vision what drove you to help Aang and turn against the other sages?"

"Actually, it wasn't. I knew both my father and grandfather were loyal to the Avatar to their dying breath, but I wasn't always so certain. When you're young, you don't necessarily want to be in the middle of things. It wasn't until we confirmed that the Avatar had in fact returned that I decided to betray my fellow sages."

"Did you ever attempt to disrupt that vision?"

"What do you mean my Lord?"

"I mean… did you ever try to do the opposite of what you did in your vision?"

Shyu's eyes suddenly flared to life, and his lips tightened. "Never my Lord, you don't tamper with destiny!"

"Why not, what's stopping you?"

"You are not the first person to have that idea. But make no mistake my Lord; it's a very dangerous proposition. Many great men have tried to twist fate to their own designs, and they always meet a grizzly end."

"Why is that the case?"

"Let me tell you a story my Lord. Many centuries ago, in the Earth Kingdom, lived a young and powerful criminal named Qiang-Wei. He was a rising star in the underworld, wiping out rival gangs and amassing great wealth. He had everything he ever wanted, and his future seemed bright, at least to anyone except himself. You see, Qiang-Wei had a vision that one day his reign would be threatened by another man originating from a small farming village."

Shyu briefly stopped to take a sip of tea before continuing. "As far as I'm aware, there was nothing in the vision that indicated any harm would come to Qiang-Wei. It only showed that he would end up with a rival sometime in the distant future, and that person would come from an insignificant village. Nonetheless, Qiang-Wei felt threatened by this vision and decided that he wanted to alter the stream of fate. He sent his agents out across the continent, and managed to indentify the village from his vision. So he destroyed it."

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but that seems like a drastic example. Obviously destroying a settlement would have consequences. I'm guessing he was killed by the government, right?"

"No, he was not. Unfortunately such acts of barbarism were common in that time. Even then the Earth King had little authority outside Ba Sing Se, and nothing was ever done to stop these roving bands. When Qiang-Wei destroyed that village, he did erase the future he had seen. But he inadvertently created something far worse. You see, he missed one resident. A poor wanderer, past his prime and with no powers, named Jie-Yong. The man was away and returned to see the place he had frequented, that was once populated by people he considered good friends, nothing more than a pile of ash."

"So he went on a quest for revenge?"

"Yes… and no. Being a wanderer, Jie-Yong had many friends from many walks of life. Among them was a powerful assassin, who killed not for riches, but for his own personal whim. The assassin pitied Jie-Yong, and the poor man was able to convince him that Qiang-Wei was becoming too dangerous and needed to be stopped. So one night, after the crime lord and his men were finished celebrating another one of their conquests, the assassin slipped into their compound. The criminals awoke the next morning to find that Qiang-Wei's throat had been slit in the night. His little empire crumbled to pieces, and chaos erupted in the underworld. Over the coming decades, countless more innocent villages were destroyed, and thousands of government officials were murdered by power hungry criminals."

Shyu briefly paused to give Zuko a chance to speak, but the young Fire Lord didn't know what to say. "That my Lord is why you shouldn't mess with destiny. Because no matter how much thought you put into it, not even the wisest man can account for all the unintended consequences."

Zuko watched the old man intently, as if to catch any knowledge trying to escape. Shyu raised his eyebrows in response. "Were you asking me all this because you experienced a vision my Lord?"

"Perhaps… but that's all I'm going to say."

"I assume it was a vision you didn't like?"

"I… well… I'm not sure. It could be, depending on your point of view."

"If it's any comfort to you my Lord, I would suggest that you try to forget about that vision, and not attempt to counteract it, no matter how bad it might seem. Instead, let the past inform your journey forwards."

"Why would I do that? My family is a disaster of epic proportions!"

"Calm down my Lord! I wouldn't be so colorful, but the royal family has certainly had its… failings over the past few generations. I'm certain the future will be much brighter!"

Zuko nearly winced out loud at Shyu's comment. If the old man had noticed him tense up, he didn't bring it to attention.

"It was nice seeing you again Shyu, and thank you for the advice, but I really must be going now."

Just as Zuko was about to step outside the infirmary door, Shyu hollered his name. "My Lord, there's one more thing…"

"Sure, I'll include a new temple on Crescent Island in the next budget."

"Oh… well that's very generous of you, but that wasn't what I wanted to say."

Zuko turned his head around, trying to hide his impatience.

"My Lord, the Capital has been in lockdown since last night, and nobody has entered the palace. But you do have a visitor waiting to see you. She's a young woman, rather dour looking if you ask me."

"Mai… this ought to be rich."

"Thank you Shyu, I'll speak to her right away."


Azula was wandering around the palace, in what had become something of a habit. Picking up gossip from the servants and giving them the occasional sinister look kept her busy, but it paled in comparison to the events of the previous night. Azula had actually gotten the opportunity to do something productive, no matter how simplistic. I wasn't until now that Azula realized just how much she missed being in the thick of things. Despite being recent history, her exploits during the war seemed like they had happened ages ago. And while most of those memories carried a sour tinge, she couldn't help but feel nostalgic for the finer moments.

Her conquest of Ba Sing Se had already become a legend around the world, and it was definitely her crowning achievement. Who could've predicted that a fourteen-year-old girl would've been able to accomplish what the Fire Nation's greatest military minds couldn't? It seemed fictional, but it was all real. Still, despite its grandiose mark on history, the fall of Ba Sing Se wasn't her favorite moment from the war. Her mind couldn't help but focus on her trip to Ember Island, it was the first time in a while that she had felt truly happy, and it was her last good memory before everything came crumbling down…

But Azula didn't like to dwell on such things. Thinking of the time she had spent with her friends became painful after they had betrayed her. They had their reasons, but it still hurt. Mai loathed being in the same room with Azula, and the feeling was mutual. Ty Lee had managed to avoid contact, and now she was with the other Kyoshi Warriors, doing who knows what in the Earth Kingdom.

But Zuko was different, he had just as much to be angry about, yet he didn't seem to let this anger manifest. He was quick to get her out of prison, when he could've always left her there to rot. It was strange being around him, the person who had stood as her rival for so long. She found her bitterness towards him slowly slipping away, and it frightened her. She wanted so badly to hate her brother, her mother, her father, her friends, and everyone else. But no matter how hard she tried, it seemed an increasingly difficult task.

During her time in the correctional facility, Azula had been taught how to see things in a different light. Instead of trying to contain and ignore her emotions like her father had instructed, Azula learned how to minimize them. What she felt wasn't necessarily the issue; instead it was what she chose to do with those feelings. She learned to see things from different angles, and filter her emotions through that understanding. It was hardly the simplistic solution she desired, but it worked well enough.

Of course, sometimes she abandoned this approach and went with her gut. She had done such last night, and Azula firmly believed it was the right decision. Despite their past, some part of her cared deeply for Zuko, and those feelings had found their way to the surface during that critical moment. It felt good saving him, instead of trying to kill him. She had honor, unlike those lowly assassins…


Earlier that day…

Azula approached the Capital's prison, a dozen Imperial Firebenders in tow. The prison was constructed in a smaller pocket, separate from the main caldera. Even so, it rose far into the sky, allowing the city residents to glimpse where their nation's prisoners were being held.

"I know Zuko used to sneak over and visit uncle, but this is my first time being here."

Azula normally would have been quite exhausted from the excitement during the night. But after she got a look at that one assassin, any tiredness vanished. Azula didn't know the other two assailants, but she did recognize the firebender. The woman had been a prisoner at the Tower, and part of Zirin's little band of scum. Azula could vividly recall the betrayal, when that woman had shot Azula with fire, alongside her compatriots.

"What in Agni's name is she doing here? Whatever the reason, I want to watch her squirm; I want to see her heart fill with dread!"

Azula came to a halt and departed her palanquin. She briefly glanced up at the great pillar of rock standing before her. Her father was in there somewhere, reduced to living as a lowly prisoner.

"I'm sure Zuzu wouldn't approve of me coming here, but he's mistaken. I have no desire to see father… ever again."

"Princess, do you wish for us to accompany you inside?"

"Of course, I might need the extra hands." Azula smirked, she loved bossing the guards around, and it had been too long since her last interrogation.

"I'm going to enjoy this."

"Greetings princess, I'm Warden Ming. Can I assume that you're here with the Fire Lord's approval?" Ming raised one of her eyebrows ever so slightly, letting Azula know what she suspected.

"Certainly, but you don't need to hear that from the Fire Lord explicitly. He's resting right now, and doesn't want to be disturbed. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes princess… where do you want to start?"

Azula briefly pondered which woman she wanted to interrogate first. Her firebending acquaintance should be saved for last, and that left the two nonbenders. One had already been incapacitated by Zuko when she arrived on the scene. The other had been awake, but cowering on the ground.

"The first one must have slipped up for Zuko to defeat her first. I doubt she's very intelligent. The other one was certainly cowardly, but she had the intuition to lay low during the battle."

"The stupid one is useless to me. I'll interrogate the coward first, and then the firebender."

Ming's face briefly scrunched in confusion, before she remembered who was standing before her. "And… which one would that be?"

"She's the one who was still awake when your men apprehended her."

Ming nodded and led Azula to a secure cell. The woman had been separated from her companions, which meant they had no idea what was going on.

Azula entered the cell and came face to face with one of the assassins. She immediately tensed up after seeing the princess, and that gave Azula plenty of time to analyze her. She had been stripped of her cloak and placed in skimpy prison uniform, leaving her features exposed for Azula to see. She was short in stature, with pale skin and light brown hair. Her body appeared to be in good shape, with a tiny bit of excess weight noticeable on her chest and legs. Azula reasoned that she either hadn't been in prison recently, or was a new offender.

Her eyes flickered up and down frantically, trying to keep Azula in her sight completely. The princess smiled sadistically, knowing all too well the effect she was having on this girl.

"As I'm sure you can tell… I'm here for answers. So you'd better speak up soon, or else…" Azula conjured a small flame in her one hand, but it was still enough to make the woman shriek in terror.

"You seem awfully skittish for a prospective murderer." Azula leaned in closer, causing the failed assassin even more distress.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry…"

"No you're not. You're just scared, right? That's good, because you certainly should be. After all, I'm sure you know what fire can do. Your friend must have shown you before. How did the two of you meet anyways?"

"I… I… I don't… what?"

Azula gently grabbed hold of the woman's chin and crouched down to be on her eye level. "My my, making the princess of the Fire Nation repeat herself are we? That's a very dangerous game. But I suppose I can humor you. After all, I only want to know how you met your firebending friend."

"I… we… we met on the street. She… uh… she offered me a job. She said it would pay well and it would help people. So I… I… um… I joined her. She said I was very good with a knife, and very good at jumping. Please don't hurt me!"

"That seems awfully convenient, running into her on the streets. Am I to assume she just casually suggested that you tag along and help commit treason?"

"Well… no. First she took me to a… um… a secret meeting. It was hosted by a group calling themselves the New Ozai Society. The people there talked about how we could save our country by overthrowing the Fire Lord and… well… it made a lot of sense to me."

"Who else was at this meeting?"

"I… don't really know. There were some men there, but they didn't stand out. Other than that, there were my three friends."

"You said three, correct?"

"Yes… we um… we tried to break in previously, but we were seen and one of our own was captured."

"That must be the woman Zuko interrogated a while back. At least there seems to be some kind of trail."

"Is that all you can tell me?"

"Yes… um… I think so. Please don't hurt me, I'm sorry!"

Azula smiled and let go of the woman. She stared up at the princess, her eyes filled with dread. Azula leaned back down and whispered some parting words in her ear. "You're going to die here. Not now, not tomorrow, and not even next year. You're going to spend the rest of your life in this little cell, and there's nothing you can do to change that."

The girl whimpered like an injured hound and fought back tears. Azula felt a slight twinge of remorse. "Perhaps I pushed this one too far. She has an awfully weak will. Who knows, maybe she'll beg her way out of prison someday."

"I'm done here. Take me to see the other prisoner."

The guards led Azula away and took her to another cell. The firebending assassin was sitting in the middle of the floor, her limbs loosely chained to the wall. There was nothing to stop her from bending, but Azula doubted there was much to worry about.

The woman raised her head and stared at Azula with a look of pure loathing. Azula met her with a confident smirk. "She's going to tell me everything I want to know, and if she doesn't… then I'll break her."

"Fancy seeing you again, isn't it? If I recall correctly, the last time we met you were blasting me with fire after I helped you escape."

The woman held firm, clearly anticipating some kind of torture. "Don't be shy. I'm not here to torment you. That is, so long as you tell me what I want to know"

"I have nothing to say."

"Now now, that can't be the case. I'm sure plenty has happened since you betrayed me. Perhaps you could start by telling me where Zirin is?"

"It's none of your business. And even if I did tell you, I doubt you would be able to do anything about it."

"Confident, aren't you? Very well, I've waited a year to get my hands on that traitorous wench; I suppose I can wait a little longer. But if that topic is off limits, how about you tell me who you're working for?"

"We work alone. We don't need to depend on others."

Azula laughed. "What an obvious lie. The entire purpose of the war, which I'm guessing you were a big fan of, was to make the Fire Nation stronger by uniting the world. Besides, you couldn't have pulled off such an operation without resources. You'd need detailed maps of the palace, which are quite hard to come by, alongside adequate training. So I'll ask you again, who are you working for?"

"I'm no snitch!"

Azula lunged forward and grabbed hold of the woman's throat. She masked it well, but Azula could still notice a nervous quiver in her eyes.

"Don't make this difficult. Your little plot, whatever it might be, is bound to fail. The Fire Lord will put a stop to it. And if he can't then the Avatar certainly will. Do I need to remind you that the Avatar defeated my father when he was only a child? I can scarcely imagine what he could do now."

"That… doesn't matter. We're doing this because it's our… duty to the Fire Nation."

"Is it? My ancestors poured their blood, sweat, and tears into uniting the peoples of these islands. In doing so, they established a system in which the people's loyalty was placed with one individual, the Fire Lord. And in case you haven't noticed, my brother is Fire Lord."

"He's a… usurper!"

Azula tightened her grip around the woman's neck. "Yes, he is. And I'm going to tell you a little secret. So was my beloved father."

"You lie!"

"No, I don't. Fire Lord Azulon's dying wish wasn't that my father would succeed him. Use your brain for once. Do you seriously think my grandfather, the feared conqueror of the Earth Kingdom and champion of our nation, would suddenly betray his firstborn son? My father stole his brother's throne, just like Zuko stole mine. They're not really so different. Zuko has just as much a right to rule the Fire Nation as my father."

"But… the Phoenix King was overthrown."

"Are you even listening to me? Yes, he was, and so was Azulon. My father didn't just wait for the Fire Lord to die and then fabricate a will."

"What… are you saying?"

"I didn't see it with my own eyes, but it makes sense regardless. When my father attempted to seize the throne, he was shot down. Fire Lord Azulon ordered Zuko's death, as punishment for my father's disobedience. I informed my mother about what was going on, and the next morning the Fire Lord was dead."

"You mean… he was…"

"Yes, my mother murdered him, and my father used that to claim the throne. He has even less legitimacy than Zuko, because at least my brother fought an Agni Kai. He did things the honorable way, unlike my father."

Azula could practically see the gears turning inside the woman's mind, as she tried to rationalize what she had just been told. Simple intimidation wouldn't work for this prisoner. Instead Azula would have to tear her down, piece by piece.

"I… I…"

"Face it, things aren't as they seemed. If you truly care for the Fire Nation, you will tell me who you are working for."

The woman remained silent, but Azula felt she was close. "It seems you lack the vision to understand what will happen if you realize your goals. So let me paint the picture. Say you succeed in overthrowing my brother and me, and reinstalling my father to the throne. Let's also say that you are somehow magically able to quell any resistance. What happens next?"

"I… I don't know."

"My father doesn't even need to restart the war. The Avatar wouldn't stand to see him back in power, and he would return to face him. And without any bending, my father is completely powerless. In the end the Fire Nation would be left in chaos, and the other nations would surely take advantage of our situation. And I might add… that's the best case scenario. It's far more likely you fail and all your little rebellion amounts to is more senseless violence."

The woman's eyes drifted downwards, a look of sadness on her face. "Yes, now I've got you!"

"So, tell me who you're working for."

"We were working for a proxy, although I don't know his name, he fled the city shortly before our first attempt. I do know he was working on behalf of General Mung."

"Funny you should mention that. I received a report earlier this morning that you might find interesting. Apparently General Mung was confirmed dead in a recent battle with our forces. They even dragged his corpse out of the rubble just to be certain. So why don't you continue talking?"

"I… Zirin had many more contacts, but I don't know who. She's probably in the western Fire Nation right now… in one of our bases. I… I don't know their exact locations."

"Is that all you have to say?"

"That's… all I know… I swear!"

Azula slowly let go of the woman's neck, and she took in a big gulp of air. Azula was pretty sure her tactics had worked and the assassin had said all she could.

"That's it. I don't think Zirin trusted me with more."

"Evidently she made the right decision. Whatever, Zirin's time will come. I've waited this long, and I can wait a little longer. Right now we need to snuff out this rebellion."

Azula leaned back down and looked the woman straight in her eyes. "If I find out a single thing you said was false… you will beg for death."

The princess whirled around and left the prison. Neither woman had been very helpful, but now Azula was pretty confident that Zirin was crawling up through the traitorous ranks in the rebellion. Confirmation that there were bases in the western Fire Nation was a good start, although everyone already suspected that was the case. Her next priority was finding the leaders. In coordination with Zuko and Captain Rei, she had begun and audit of the Fire Nation's wealthiest families. They weren't guaranteed to find anything, but it was better than nothing. On top of that, Zuko's insistence that it was someone their father knew personally narrowed down the list of suspects quite a bit.

There was still much work to be done, but Azula could feel the tides turning. "We'll crush all who oppose us, and it will go down in history as our most glorious accomplishment!"

Azula didn't want to think about what might happen afterwards, if her brief rise in power would come to an end. She needed to stay focused on the present, and she was determined to succeed.


As Azula rounded a corner near the throne room, she heard some kind of commotion inside. "What is going on in there? Zuzu isn't supposed to be out of bed yet." Careful not to give away her presence, Azula slipped through the slightly adjourned door and hid behind the thick crimson curtains. "It's a good thing Zuzu's guards aren't on duty."

Sure enough, Zuko and Mai were standing at the base of his throne, seemingly engaged in yet another one of their petty spats. While she had initially encouraged their relationship when Zuko returned from his banishment, seeing the two of them together now made her stomach churn. It was true they were both dreary and hopelessly miserable, but Mai lacked passion for virtually everything, and Zuko was prone to violent outbursts. Together they were a walking disaster.

"Zuko, I'm sorry you got injured, but it was kind of your fault. What else do you want me to say?"

Zuko was leaning on some kind of crutch, and Azula had to stifle a laugh. He looked noticeably less intimidating. The Fire Lord took a deep breath before he continued.

"I want to know where you stand. Do you care about what happens to me or not? Do you trust my judgment or not? Do you want this kind of life or not? " Zuko paused to regain his breath and Mai interrupted.

"Zuko, I do care."

"So you say, but you've yet to act like it. I hear you muttering under your breath, complaining about everything I do. I see your vapid expression whenever you're around me. I feel your total lack of passion for anything we do together."

"Maybe you're just too ignorant to sense my feelings." Mai's voice was beginning to get louder, and her expression became even more grim than usual. Azula notice her former friend glance around the room, and she quickly concealed her face behind the curtains. She couldn't see them anymore, but Mai and Zuko's voices only continued to grow in volume.

"Or maybe you can't realize that they're slipping away! Things aren't like they were a year ago, I feel drained whenever I'm around you and I know you feel the same. What do I have to do to fix our relationship?"

"You can start by spilling all the little secrets you've been keeping from me. I know you went to see your father in prison without telling me, and I know this isn't the first time you've done it."

"Mai, the situation is under control."

"You know I don't want you seeing him, he's a terrible influence on you, and I don't care what you think but there's no way he has any truthful information about your mother."

"Mai, this is hardly…"

"I'm not finished Zuko, I can't believe this!" Mai reached into one of her many pockets and pulled out a slip of parchment. "My Aunt and Uncle both wrote to me about some government officials that had interviewed them. So I went looking and found this!"

Mai waved a piece of parchment around, eliciting a confused response. "How did you…"

"You did a terrible job shuttering me off from information Zuko. I went searching and I found out that your defense office is auditing my family's assets. And you did all this without telling me of course."

"Please Mai, this isn't what you think, all of the wealthiest families in Fire Nation are under investigation. And I'm sorry for inconveniencing your family, really I am. I didn't know officials were being sent out in person."

"So you're not just secretive but clueless as well?"

Zuko let out a long sigh. "Look, I didn't think this was so important…"

"Oh, you didn't think it was important? Just like you thought visiting your murderous father wasn't so important; or bringing your psychotic sister back to live with us!"

"Don't tell me you're still upset about that!"

"I am upset about it Zuko, and I don't understand how you aren't! She tried to kill you multiple times, and she tried to kill me. If Ty Lee hadn't saved me than we wouldn't even be having this stupid conversation!"

"Mai…" Zuko's tone hardened, his composure was beginning to slip.

"You don't understand Zuko; we would be dead, as in gone, forever. She isn't normal and you know it just as well as I do. If you seriously think she can change like you have, then you're just as delusional as she is!"

"Shut up!" Zuko's voice boomed across the walls, his anger fueling the fire in the room. "You don't understand Mai, you don't understand anything! I have to do this, not just for her, but for me, and for my nation. I've accomplished so much in these past years, and I need to continue down this path. I have an opportunity to make the Fire Nation, our home, a better place. I want to help Azula, because she's family, and if I'm worth fighting for then so is she. If you can't see that, then you're the one who's delusional!"

"And what about me Zuko, what do you want from me?"

"I want you to care, to see the things that I see!"

"I don't see what you see Zuko, all I see is a web of secrets and lies."

Zuko paused, and a tense silence enveloped the room. "You don't care Mai. Maybe you want to care, maybe you think you do, but I can't see it."

"Maybe you're just too stubborn to see it. I think you're making a big deal out of nothing like usual."

"Really, is that so? You know what I think Mai? I think you're lazy. You sit around and complain about everything I do, but you never step in when you have the opportunity to. Honestly Mai, I'm worried about the future. I'm putting everything I have into this life, but I don't see you doing the same. We're supposed to be in this together, but I can't do everything on my own."

"That's great Zuko, you've rambled on and on about what you want. I'm just an afterthought to you, aren't I? Perhaps I'm an accessory to make you look better?"

"You're crazy! That's not what I want at all. I want you at my side, through the good and the bad, not solely at your leisure. And that can only happen if you care!"

"I do care Zuko!"

"Then prove it!"

A loud slapping sound reverberated throughout the throne room, and it was followed by a moment of deafening silence.

It was then that Azula became aware of the Imperial Firebenders standing right next to her. They weren't alone either, as she could see several more shadowy figures hidden behind the curtains. Thankfully, they didn't seem bothered by her eavesdropping, their attention solely focused on their master.

Not being able to resist any longer, Azula stuck her head out from the curtains once again; just enough to see what was going on. Zuko sported a shocked expression on his face, accompanied by a distinctly hand-shaped mark. His expression quickly morphed into a violent scowl, and Azula could feel the temperature of the room rise to a dangerous level. Her skin began to sweat, and the air in the room became difficult to breath. Suddenly, Zuko grabbed Mai's wrist and gave her a menacing glare. His next words were quiet and precise. "Don't ever do that again."

It took Mai a moment to respond, and although she now loathed to admit it, Azula could tell her former friend was surprised by the severity of Zuko's tone. But she didn't back down. "Let go of me Zuko." Zuko's grip held firm and he continued to stare at her, his touch burning hot. "I said let go of me!" Zuko didn't let go, and he stopped Mai's attempts to squirm out of his grasp. "What is your problem Zuko?"

"My problem is you Mai! I've been trying to make this work, but you're making things very difficult!"

"Oh, I'm the one making things difficult? Says the guy who broke my heart and dumped me three times!"

"Hey, you were the one to break things off the second time!"

"Yeah, after you freaked out and went berserk in front of a crowd!"

"That hardly warranted you acting like a stuck-up wench!"

Mai let out a strange sound of desperation. "I can't deal with you when you're like this!"

"You're like this, not me!"

"That's rich Zuko. You think you're so funny don't you?"

Mai finally freed herself from Zuko's grip, but the two lovers continued to sling accusations at each other. As funny as their performance was, Azula couldn't sit around and watch them all day. They all had much more important things to be doing. Once a lull was established in their argument, Azula decided to step in and reveal herself.

"Ahem, I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

"Azula…" Mai's tone was laced with venom, and she shot a murderous glare in Azula's direction.

"Mai…" Azula responded in the same manner.

Zuko was the first one to break the ice. "Um… how long have you been standing there?"

Before Azula could respond, Mai cut in with a sardonic remark. "I bet she heard the whole thing."

"That's and awful accusation Mai, and for the record it's only been for a little bit."

"I don't believe you."

"Come on Mai, it seems to me that the two of you have been going at this for a while. So I couldn't have possibly caught the whole exchange."

Instead of responding, Mai simply continued to glare. It was like her beady orange eyes were trying turn burn a hole straight through Azula.

"She's in a good mood; this ought to be fun."

"Really Mai, there's no need to be so cross. We all know Zuzu isn't the sharpest blade in the armory. And he's a terrible fit for a stuffy girl like you."

"Say that again, I dare you!" As she spoke, Azula could see Mai's hands disappear into her baggy robes. No doubt to retrieve one of the many knives she concealed within the fabric. Zuko didn't seem to notice.

"Observant as always…"

"You know what Mai, maybe I will. It's not as if traitors like you are deserving of my respect."

Before Zuko had a chance to realize what was going on both girls had dropped into a battle stance. Mai threw a handful of sharp objects in Azula's direction, which she narrowly managed to dodge. Azula responded by hurling a volley of fireballs at Mai. She quickly avoided Azula's attack and moved in closer, knife in hand, and managed to slash Azula's shoulder. Azula let out a brief grunt of pain and turned to face Mai, a wild look in her eyes. Both girls began to prepare their next moves when suddenly…

"Enough!" Zuko's crutch fell to the floor, and his voice broke their concentration. He unleashed a massive wave of fire across the room, separating the girls from each other. They turned to face him, fire and weapons at the ready.

"I said enough!" Neither seemed to hear his voice, Mai stared at him with an expressionless face, and Azula's eyes were ablaze with a murderous glare.

"Don't get in my way Zuko, this traitor will finally get what's coming to her."

"Bring it on!"

Mai leapt over the fire and threw a handful of darts at Azula. She ducked to avoid them and responded by reaching out her leg, knocking down Mai in the process. Mai rolled over to avoid Azula's fire and hurriedly retrieved a tanto from inside her outfit. The blade almost seemed to glow from the fire, and Azula noticed that it was sharper than a razor. Mai's face was blank, but her eyes burned with searing hot rage. She lunged forwards and used her weapon to take several jabs at Azula, forcing her backwards.

Azula only had time to conjure a small amount of fire. Her former friend had evidently been practicing quite a bit. Thinking as quickly as she could, Azula concentrated her fire into two blades. Mai's tanto slashed her knuckles, but Azula fought through the pain and twisted her fist. With a sudden burst of heat the blade shattered in half and clattered to the ground. Azula smiled slightly, smoke pouring from her nostrils. Mai remained firm, her hand diving into her robe to retrieve a spare.

The two women prepared for their next attacks, but before they could strike, another blast of fire knocked them down. As they attempted to regain their composure, they were stilled by a metallic sound. Half a dozen imperial firebenders had surrounded them, weapons in one hand and balls of fire in the other. As the girls composed themselves they saw Zuko appear from behind the fire and limp towards them.

"I order you to stop!" He didn't bother trying to conceal his anger, but Azula also noticed the disappointment in his eyes, and it stung much harder than she expected it to.

Mai reluctantly put away her weapon and stood up. Now all the attention was on Azula.

"No way am I letting her come out of this looking good."

After letting out a small growl, Azula also got up from the scorched floor. Her gaze alternated between Mai and Zuko, the hatred in her eyes was on full display.

Zuko's expression was grim, a mix of scorn and disappointment. "I want both of you out of my sight."

Mai was first to speak, an indignant look on her face. "Excuse me? You can't seriously think I'm in the wrong. She obviously attacked me!"

"That's what traitors deserve."

"Enough! I don't want to hear another word, not one. My disappointment can't even begin to be expressed in words. Mai, I wouldn't have expected you to act so petty. You're usually so reserved."

"What? You're always berating me for being too cold. Yet when I finally decide to express myself you don't approve?"

Zuko's eyes briefly flared with anger, but he managed to contain it. "There is a time and a place for that. And you certainly shouldn't be pouring your emotions into attacking someone I care for."

Mai was about to respond, but she was cut off. "Aw… isn't that sweet? You care for me Zuko?" Azula's tone was mocking, and it got Zuko's attention.

"You… I expected better from you, I thought you had changed."

"I have changed, surely you can see that! She was clearly provoking me!"

"That doesn't give you free reign to attack her! If you're just going to behave like the Azula of the past then I don't see why I even bothered!"

Azula's eyes winded from a mixture of anger and another emotion she didn't entirely understand. "I'm done with this nonsense." The princess pushed past the guards and made for the exit.

"Azula…"

Azula suddenly whipped around, and Zuko saw moisture on her face. "Leave me alone!"

"Azula… wait!" Zuko's tone immediately softened, but Azula had already stormed out of the room. He made to follow her, but was stopped by the sound of Mai coughing. He turned around and expected to be met with her wrath, but instead she seemed… curious. Mai stared at Zuko intently, and her eyes suddenly widened as if she had realized something, before returning to their normal stance.

"Mai…"

The dour woman held up her hand, signaling for Zuko to stop. She looked at him again, her expression hard to read. Her eyes flickered towards the direction Azula had gone, before returning to her boyfriend.

"I'm… I'm sorry…"

"No. Love hurts Zuko…" Mai gave him a weak smile before turning to leave. Zuko hesitated for a moment, unsure who to follow.

"Sometimes I really hate choices…"


Azula walked as fast as she possibly could, without any concern for where she was going. There was no way she was going to let Zuko and Mai glimpse her weakness, not again. So she decided to remove herself from the situation.

"Why does it hurt so much? What is wrong with me? Why do I feel so strongly?"

Azula didn't stop walking until she nearly collided with a tree.

"What a stupid tree! Why must you block my path?"

Azula was tempted to burn it down and let out some of her feelings, but instead she opted to finally take in her surroundings. Much to her shock, she was near the turtleduck fountain, and the denizens were eyeing her suspiciously.

"Stupid turtleducks, what are you looking at?"

The animals stared back at her, with what she suspected were looks of vindication. Even they could see the irony in her situation. The once fearsome Princess Azula, who had toppled an entire nation, was now too weak to face her own problems.

"This sucks… it all sucks!"

Azula was tempted to run back the way she came and scream at her brother and former friend again, but she doubted that would do any good. She had already made the choice to retreat, and she would suffer whatever the consequences were for that. Perhaps Zuko would abandon her again, after she failed him.

"Why do I care about what he thinks so much? I don't understand…"

Azula kneeled down by the fountain and began to pluck the grass. It felt slightly damp in her hands, but she didn't mind. Tears trickled down her porcelain cheeks, as she did her best to push down her sobs. Slowly, and not without great effort, her breathing returned to normal. She wiped the salty water from her face and lifted her eyes upwards.

"This is just silly… all this… for Zuko? It's not like I… I… do I?"

Azula's thoughts were disturbed by the sounds of rustling grass. She didn't need to look up to know who was standing behind her. "Go away." Her request was meek at best, and lacking the aggression that normally accompanied her words.

"I don't think I ever would have thought to look here."

"Then how did you find me? Did some lowly servant tell you?"

"No. You kind of… well… you left scorch marks on the floor."

"Oh… well… that's rather embarrassing."

An awkward silence developed, and Azula wasn't keen to break it. She didn't know what to say, and even if she did, she wasn't sure she had the will to do so. Luckily for her, Zuko was a bit more adventurous.

"Do you mind if I join you?" Azula slowly nodded her head without looking up at him. Zuko sat down beside her, his eyes fixed on the fountain.

"I always seem to find my way back here; despite everything that life throws at me…"

"Are you going to burn it down like our house?"

"No, I'm done trying to destroy the past. There're a lot of things that make me sad, that bring me pain, but there's nothing I can do about it. All we can do is attempt to makes things better in the future, and that future has been calling me here."

"We…?" Azula turned to face Zuko, and she noticed that his eyes were fixated on her, his expression surprisingly calm.

"Yes. I think… no… I know we're in this together. And I wanted to apologize for earlier. It doesn't excuse what you did, but I certainly could have acted with more… delicacy."

"That's alright… it's just words, nothing to get caught up about."

"I know, but still… I may have overreacted."

"So did I."

"Azula…"

"Zuko…"

The Fire Lord chuckled. "I guess sometimes we're of the same mind?"

"I guess sometimes we are."

"Azula… I have this feeling that things are about to change, and it… frightens me." Zuko waited for one of his sister's signature snide remarks, but none came.

"Yes… I understand."

Zuko smiled. It wasn't drawn by joy or excitement or anything like that, Zuko just seemed… content. Azula didn't return it, but she did feel herself relax. Slowly, Zuko extended his arm and wrapped it around her shoulder, bringing her into a slight hug. Azula rested her head on his, unsure what to do next. Ultimately, they opted to do nothing, other than sit in tranquil silence.

Azula didn't notice her eyes beginning to droop, the fresh autumn air and Zuko's soft breathing lulling her to sleep. Zuko noticed her dozing off, but opted not to wake her. There was something oddly nice about their little moment, and he wanted to make it last.

Eventually Azula's eyes fluttered open, and she looked up at Zuko with a curious expression. "How long was I out?"

"Not very long, as far as I can tell."

"Good, because I wanted to tell you something before I forget."

"Oh? And what would that be?"

"I received a letter earlier this morning. The Avatar is on his way here."

"What!?"


Author's Note

A very long chapter this time! This went through lots of revisions, but ultimately I couldn't come up with a good place to divide it. Hopefully it's enjoyable. I'd like to thank everyone for the support, since it really does mean a lot. I've got more chapters in progress, so stay tuned!

P.S. I usually listen to music while writing and I wrote Zuko and Azula's final conversation to the piece 'This Broken Soul', which is part of the 'Spyro: The Eternal Night' OST. I think it makes for a really wonderful experience. : )