Chapter 9: Of Food and Fire

"Move faster you miserable wretches! We're nearly five minutes behind schedule!"

"But princess we're…" The poor servant girl trailed off after she looked into Azula's dark gold eyes. The Princess of the Fire Nation had a reputation for demanding perfection, and she wouldn't accept any excuses.

"I'm sorry princess. We'll try to work faster."

Azula glided towards the woman and faced her head on, her eyes sparkling with light. "You will not try to work faster. You will work faster! Am I understood?"

The servant sheepishly nodded her head and returned to her station, quietly urging her compatriots to follow suit. Azula stared at them for a while longer, knowing they would work faster under her gaze.

"This venue will be perfect in every respect. I will settle for nothing less."

The time had come for the meeting with Mai's father Ukano, and Zuko wanted everything to go as smoothly as it possibly could. Instead of the drab and sterile meetings he was accustomed to, Zuko had opted to turn the meeting into a dinner, hopefully to lighten the mood. Azula appreciated her brother's dedication to his job, but she didn't have high hopes for the event.

Azula had many opinions on Mai's family, Ukano in particular, most of which were negative. She believed him to be one of the most incompetent men in the Fire Nation, possibly the world, and had repeatedly compared his intelligence to that of a wooden block. His crowning achievement when it came to stupidity was letting thousands of Earth Kingdom citizens escape, based on reports of a plague that didn't exist.

Meeting with Ukano also meant spending more time with Mai, something Azula was less than enthusiastic about. However, Zuko needed her at his side, and she felt oddly compelled to aid him in that regard.

Azula was awoken from her thoughts by the sound of paper falling to the floor. She turned around and witnessed Minister Masao hastily attempting to gather a pile of scrolls he had dropped on the floor. He shot the princess a toothy grin upon noticing her attention and stood up.

"Is everything in order minister?"

"Yes princess, all the guards are at their correct stations and I have men ready to escort Ukano when he arrives."

"Very well, is that all then?"

"Umm princess… the servants seem to have misplaced Lady Mai's dress."

"And why is that my problem?"

"Well princess, I just assumed that because you're in charge of the preparations…"

"You assumed wrong minister. I am not responsible for managing her wardrobe." Azula let a little venom seep into her voice and she stepped closer to Masao. She had recently passed him in height, and he seemed to shrink even more in her presence.

"My apologies princess, perhaps I should speak to the Fire Lord instead. Where is he?"

Azula rolled her eyes and pushed Masao out of the way. "You people are useless. I'll do this myself." She briefly turned her head backwards. "Make sure they keep working in my absence."

Masao nodded ferociously and began inspecting the dinner preparations. Azula sighed to herself. "Zuko better not ruin all my hard work."


Zuko paced back and forth in the throne room. He wasn't sure what to expect from the meeting later. While he wanted to be on his best behavior for Mai's sake, he also couldn't deny his personal misgivings about her father.

Ukano was one of the wealthiest men in the Fire Nation; most of said wealth having been inherited, not earned. Despite this, he still carried much respect within the homeland. Being a close acquaintance of Ozai, Ukano had access to connections most of the nobility didn't. He had used these connections to become the head of a colony during the war, which he famously mismanaged.

Ukano had married a woman named Michi, who hailed from a rural farming village. Her family greatly rose in prominence as a result of that union. Michi's brother, better known simply as 'The Warden', was the director of the Fire Nation's largest prison. He cared deeply about his niece, as Zuko had discovered during his brief stay in said prison. Michi's sister Mura ran a floral company, but otherwise carried little influence in the homeland. Then there was Michi herself, who had served as her husband's confidant and later given birth to Mai, alongside her younger brother Tom-Tom.

Zuko held plenty of affection for Mai, but none of that transferred over to her family. Ukano had been one of Ozai's loudest supporters during the twilight years of the war. All his sucking up had resulted in Ukano being placed in charge of an entire colony, only to lose control of it a few months later. Zuko had hoped this support was all for show, but Ukano had yet to publically endorse him as Fire Lord, even though he and Mai were dating.

Zuko hoped this meeting would allow him to get a better read on Ukano, and maybe smooth things over with Mai. Although that was assuming Aang's presence wouldn't complicate things.

He hadn't been expecting a visit from his friend, and Zuko was concerned the meeting might get derailed. The young Avatar meant well, but he had a habit of stirring up trouble, and that was the last thing Zuko wanted to deal with. Not to mention the fact that Aang was growing impatient with the stalled peace negotiations.

He had readily agreed to Zuko's first delay, since more time was needed to cement his rule as Fire Lord. But as the months ticked by, things began to get dicey. The Earth Kingdom had been aggressively reclaiming land, and the Fire Nation had abandoned most of the southern and eastern parts of the continent. But Zuko had ordered his troops to halt at the Serpent's Pass, and hold what territory they still had. The Earth King's court had many personal grievances with this move, but their military wasn't in a position to contest. Their claims of wanting to help their countrymen living in the colonies were a clever disguise for their actual desires. The real issue was land.

Zuko knew he likely had to keep some of the captured territory; otherwise the calls for his dethronement would reach unsustainable heights. Aang on the other hand agreed with the Earth Kingdom's position, that all captured territory be returned. A group calling themselves the Harmony Restoration Movement was leading the effort to realize this solution, and Aang had proven receptive to their reasoning. Some of the radicals were even calling for the dismantling of the Fire Nation as a whole.

This would not work, and Zuko was struggling to find a way to explain the situation to Aang. There were several ideas floating around in his cabinet, all of which Zuko had to weigh the pros and cons of.

A more extreme option, supported by the military, was that the Fire Nation keeps all territory it currently occupied. Unfortunately, that comprised nearly a third of the continent, so it had no chance of coming to fruition.

The more moderate option, which Zuko tentatively supported, involved the Fire Nation keeping the Hu Xin provinces. This region had been conquered several decades ago by Zuko's grandfather, Fire Lord Azulon. It was highly built-up, sported a large population of colonists, and was separated from the surrounding land by a massive river. Unfortunately, this option was still not enough in the eyes of the Earth Kingdom.

Another option, which Zuko thought would be most compelling for Aang, was that the Fire Nation only keeps Yu Dao colony. This was the Fire Nation's oldest, largest, and most developed colony. It was established thirty-seven years before the war, without any objections from the Earth King, and it was also the only colony to sport a majority Fire Nation population. Unfortunately, this option was popular with virtually nobody in the homeland.

Regardless of whatever decision had to be made, Zuko was running out of time to make it. He was planning to sail across the ocean and meet with colonial officials in the coming weeks. While there, he hoped to finally arrive at a solution. Zuko knew someone was going to be unhappy no matter what, and he wanted to be there with his people, not locked away in his palace.

Zuko leaned against a nearby pillar and let out a deep sigh. "Uncle, sometimes I wish you hadn't pushed this responsibility on me. You would have made a much better Fire Lord…"

"No, he wouldn't have."

Zuko didn't react with the same shock he once did, instead he merely shifted his head. "Azula, I didn't realize you were here."

"You shouldn't say things like that in the open. You don't know who could be listening in."

"Why bother? It's true…"

"No it's not Zuko. The Fire Nation needs a strong ruler right now, and we both know Uncle is hardly fit for that."

"Don't you think I'm weak?"

"I did, and sometimes I still do. But I've realized there's more to you than that. You have your… moments. You've really blossomed these past few years, and you're a much better firebender than you used to be. That's why you're the right fit for the throne Zuko, you're malleable."

Zuko raised an eyebrow at her answer, but Azula continued on. "Uncle peaked early, and as much as you like him he's hardly the leader he used to be. But you're still young Zuko. You might not be a strong Fire Lord at the moment, but you can still become one."

Zuko stared at Azula for several moments, taking in her words. "I'm guessing you didn't come here to give me a pep talk?"

"No. Apparently the servants can't seem to find Mai a dress."

"Zuko's face scrunched up in confusion. "What? She has a thousand copies of the same outfit! It's all she ever wears!"

"I'm aware, but apparently Minister Masao thought it was important enough to bring to your attention."

"Well it isn't. Mai can find something to wear on her own."

Azula unintentionally smiled at Zuko's comment. She found it so amusing when he was frustrated. "Very well, I'll let him know. Try to conserve your patience, I have a feeling you'll need it later."


Preparations for the meeting were going well, considering this wasn't the usual political shindig. Ukano was an important man after all, and that called for special treatment. The Fire Lord's personal chef was preparing a traditional Fire Nation meal, fit for the nobility. Comprised of fresh ingredients, unlike the processed military food that had become commonplace in recent years. The chef was also preparing a rhino steak for Ukano, a delicacy that was popular with more eccentric people. Mai and Azula refused to eat it, and Zuko wasn't a big fan either.

It had been many years since Zuko had attended a royal banquet, and the last one he could remember had been hosted while his grandfather was still alive. In prior centuries when the Fire Nation was less centralized, such events were commonplace. But after generations of power grabs and military buildup by Zuko's forefathers, this tradition had become irrelevant. Ozai had only ever hosted one banquet, and according to Azula, it paled in comparison to the great feasts of old. But until his guests arrived Zuko was content to sit on his throne, waiting peacefully.

The warmth of the throne room, combined with the crackling of the fire, created the perfect environment for meditation. Although Zuko didn't get to indulge in his free time for very long before Azula crept up behind him.

"What is it?"

"I just received word; the Avatar has arrived in the Capital."

"I wasn't expecting him so soon, but I guess he might as well come to the meeting."

"Are you sure that's the best decision Zuzu? I doubt Ukano thinks very highly of your friend the Avatar."

"Probably not, but I might as well find out for certain. By the way, where is Mai?"

"I don't know and I don't care."

"Azula, I understand you're mad at Mai, I really do. But I also don't want that getting in the way of our professional duties."

Azula chuckled in response and put on an amused expression. "Oh don't you worry, I'm perfectly in control."

"Azula… if you want to talk about it…"

"Shush Zuzu, now is not the time. Besides, I think we have company."

Just as she said that, Azula slipped behind the throne and hid herself within the flames. Mere seconds later, the throne room doors burst open. A small man with a lemur on his shoulder walked through the doorway and entered the Fire Lord's domain. He stopped several feet from the Fire Lord's throne, a hard and determined expression on his face. Then, much to Zuko's relief, his hardened face morphed into a goofy smile he knew all too well.

"Long time no see Zuko, or rather… Fire Lord Zuko."

"Aang, it's so good to see you. And it's good to see Momo as well." Upon hearing his name, Aang's pet lemur gave a playful chirp, before returning to cleaning his fur.

"I must admit Aang… you haven't shown up at the most opportunistic time. I'm hosting a banquet tonight. Perhaps you'd be willing to join me?"

"Sure Zuko, you can introduce me to all your servants!"

"Introduce indeed." Upon hearing Azula's voice, Aang jumped a bit where he stood. An understandable reaction, considering she had nearly killed him during a previous encounter.

"Azula… I didn't expect to see you." Aang's voice had lost its playful tone, and Zuko could notice the tension written on his friend's body.

Azula smiled. "Hmm… why is that Avatar?"

"No… no reason, I just wasn't expecting it is all." Aang quickly composed himself and proceeded to hold out his hand in Azula's direction, a sheepish grin on his face. "So… we can put our pasts behind us, right? I'd like to start over, as friends."

"Friends? Alright Avatar, I suppose I can agree to your proposition." With a quizzical glace at Zuko, Azula hesitantly shook Aang's hand. Momo was evidently peeved by his master's frequent movements, so he hopped over to the next closest body. Azula starred at the fury creature now perched on her shoulder with a look of utter bewilderment. Her eyes briefly flickered towards Zuko, as if to ask him for help. Momo grabbed a tuft of Azula's chocolate-colored hair and began to inspect it.

"Umm, Avatar… could you get this thing off me?"

"That's Momo. Don't worry about him, he's harmless."

"Right… Momo…" Azula eyed the lemur cautiously. "Do you mind?" Momo briefly starred at Azula with his beady black eyes before letting go of her hair and returning to Aang. Azula relaxed a bit and cleared her throat. "Thank you Avatar. I look forward to… collaborating with you in the future."

"That's great! Now if you don't mind, where's the food? I'm famished!"

"Dinner isn't for a few more hours Aang." Zuko smiled slightly at his friend's bluntness. "I'm waiting for an important guest to arrive."

"Alright then, how about we do some training in the meantime?"

"Sorry Avatar, I doubt the Fire Lord has time for such menial activities."

"It's okay Azula. I have plenty of free time at the moment. Aang, I'm surprised you actually want to train."

"Well… it's just been a while is all… and I thought we could spend some time together like old times."

Zuko gave a small chuckle at Aang's comment. Perhaps some training would help ease his nerves before the big meeting.

"Azula, care to tag along with us?"

"If the Fire Lord commands it, then I shall accompany you. But I'm warning you right now Zuzu, don't expect me to go easy on you, because I won't."

"I wouldn't have it any other way Azula."


The trio eventually stumbled upon an unoccupied courtyard in the palace. Other than a few bushes and a single dying tree, the area was completely flat and mostly paved over. In other words, it was the perfect setting for throwing some fireballs.

The courtyard looked familiar to Aang, and he wandered off while Zuko and Azula were getting set up. He walked towards the tree, its bark having become dry and shriveled with no leaves on its branches. As he circled the tree, his foot caught on a root and he fell flat on his back; an intense feeling of déjà vu setting in.

"Come on Aang, you need to be more careful where you walk." Zuko's laughter suddenly died down however when he noticed the curious look on Aang's face. "What's the matter Aang?"

"I feel like I've been here before… in fact, I know I have."

"I seriously doubt that Avatar, you've never been this deep into the palace grounds."

"No, you don't understand. I wasn't here before in this life, I was here during Avatar Roku's time. I even tripped on the same tree root!"

"Really? That's quite the coincidence."

"Yeah… I guess this tree has been around for a long time." Aang gently caressed the withered bark, a thoughtful expression on his face. "It's a shame it doesn't have much life left in it."

The young Avatar noticed his companions were eying him curiously, and he hastily shifted focus. "So, is everyone ready to start?"

Azula replied by summoning a ball of fire in her right hand. "You go first boys."

Her confident expression slipped when she noticed Aang staring at her flames with a shocked expression. "Um, Azula… is it just me, or does you fire look different?"

Zuko tried to nudge Aang and signal for him to stop talking, but the young Avatar was oblivious.

"Yes. It's… not like it once was." Azula tried to fix her expression, but even she couldn't conceal the disappointment on her face.

Aang stroked his chin lightly, playing with the tiny bits of stubble that had grown. "I wonder…"

Zuko hit Aang again, much harder than before, and finally managed to get his attention. "Hey, what was that for? I was just about to suggest…" Aang trailed off upon seeing Zuko's expression, and he realized his friend had just saved him from sharing something that was meant to be kept secret.

Aang nervously rubbed the back of his head in response. "Sorry… I forgot."

"If the two of you are done whispering to each other, we really ought to get started."

Zuko and Aang went through their basic firebending motions, and then moved onto some more advanced sets. Although they both avoided using the Dancing Dragon technique, which was supposed to be kept secret from outsiders like Azula. Aang struggled a bit with some of the moves, having become accustomed to the more fluid motions they had been taught by Ran and Shaw. What he didn't struggle with, and what surprised Zuko the most, was that Aang had no trouble feeding his fire. Zuko could hardly imagine that the boy who could once barely produce a spark was fueling such magnificent plumes.

Unlike Zuko, Azula was not impressed by the Avatar's firebending skills. She expected him to a capable firebender if he was able to defeat her father on his own.

"Wow Zuzu, you really need to step up your game. The Avatar shouldn't be a better firebender than the Fire Lord."

Zuko grimaced at her remark. Even after all these years, she could still find ways to get under his skin.

"Aang, your firebending is much stronger than last time I saw you. Have you been practicing on your own?"

"No, I haven't practiced at all. Ever since I defeated the Fire Lord, my firebending has become much stronger. In fact, it's almost on par with my airbending."

Zuko immediately recognized the significance of this statement. Aang had been raised by airbending monks and became the youngest airbending master in history at the age of ten. So to compare his firebending powers with that said a lot. It also seemed that Aang was slightly disturbed by his affinity for firebending, and Zuko recalled how hesitant he had been during their confrontation with Ran and Shaw.

"Firebending is great Aang, you should be proud that you're so talented."

"Yeah I know, but it just feels so… different."

Azula took this moment to rejoin the conversation. "It is different Avatar, firebending is a gift, and fire is something you not only bend but also create. Firebending like what you've just demonstrated is a sign of the great power you possess."

Aang faced suddenly lit up like it always did when he had just conceived a particularly unorthodox idea. "Azula, could you maybe… teach me how to generate lightning?"

Azula seemed briefly taken aback by the Avatar's request, but she quickly composed herself. "Lightning is a pure expression of firebending, and only the strongest among us can perform the technique. Not even Zuko can do it, and he's the Fire Lord. What makes you think you are worthy?"

"Well… some of my past lives knew the technique. And even though I'm not naturally gifted like the Fire Avatars, I'd still like to give it a try."

"Hmm… very well Avatar, I'll give you a little demonstration. Zuzu should already know this, but I'll explain how it works for your benefit. As I said before, lightning is a pure expression of firebending, it's doesn't rely on the emotions that most people use to fuel their flames. In fact, emotion is arguably a detriment in this situation."

"You might not be the angry type Aang, but there're definitely some potent emotions inside you."

Much to Zuko's surprise, Aang didn't seem to understand his joke. "And what emotion would that be?"

"You know, Katara, won't that get in the way."

"No, why would that get in the way?"

Aang's bluntness shocked Zuko; he had never seen his friend so aloof, especially when it came to Katara. Something was going on, and Zuko intended to get to the bottom of it.

"Ahem, if you don't mind Zuzu, please stop interrupting my lesson."

Zuko deflated and let Azula resuming teaching Aang. "To create lightning, you need to reach out and feel the positive and negative energy around you. These energies naturally want to be together, but you must separate them using long arcing motions. When you bring the energies back together, they will react and creating lightning. Using your middle and index fingers, direct the energy away from your body and towards your target; follow my example."

Azula dropped into a firebending stance, but instead of shooting fireballs, she began making long arcing motions with her arms. Sparks began to fly and soon small strands of electricity could be seen surrounding Azula. She then pointed her right arm towards the sky and fired a bolt of lightning. There was the telltale crackling sound and a flash of blue light, followed by a deafening silence.

Aang looked on in awe at Azula's impressive display. "Wow, that was incredible Azula!"

"Of course it was, now you give it a try Avatar."

Aang dropped into a slightly sloppier version of Azula's firebending stance and began going through the motions. Zuko already knew what was going to happen, since it had happened to him many times before. Aang would make all the correct motions, but the energy would end up exploding in his face.

Which made it all the more surprising when Zuko saw sparks fly, and moments later a small lightning bolt shot into the sky. Aang relaxed his stance and began to rub his shoulder, a neutral expression on his face.

Zuko was in a state of utter shock, his jaw hanging completely limp. Azula also seemed surprised, and slightly angered, but she quickly disguised her reaction. "First try, very impressive Avatar. I wonder if Zuzu is good enough to do it?"

Upon hearing her challenge, Zuko snapped back to attention. "Oh you bet I am, just watch me!"

Zuko dropped into the correct stance and began performing all the correct motions, but instead of lightning, the energy exploded in his face. Azula smirked at his expense, while Aang encouraged him to try again.

Once again Zuko did everything right, he thought he might've seen a couple sparks too, but yet again the energy imploded.

"Face it Zuzu, this is beyond your capabilities. You've always been a terrible firebender."

Azula continued talking, but Zuko drowned her out. He was determined to get it right this time. He emptied his mind and focused only on the energy surrounding him. He felt lighter without the constant stress weighing him down, and he began to feel the energy around his body. Zuko thought of Azula and realized that he didn't feel any more anger or fear or jealousy. Instead he felt something else, something he couldn't yet identify. But whatever it may have been, it didn't hold him back. He separated the positive and negative energies, joined them together, and expelled them outwards.

A bolt of lightning, slightly larger than Aang's, shot into the sky. The air crackled with electricity, before returning to equilibrium.

"Wow Zuko, that was great!"

"I must say Zuzu… I didn't think you had it in you."

Instead of replying, Zuko stared at Azula, a triumphant expression on his face.

Zuko was about to ask Aang how he had so easily generated lightning, but he was interrupted by a nearby sound.

The trio turned around and saw an elderly man in crimson robes walking towards them, his wooden cane making a loud thud when it hit the ground. He stopped several feet away from them, and did his best attempt at a bow, clearly pushing his back to its limits.

"Greetings my Lord, Princess, and the Avatar; what brings you here on this fine afternoon?"

"Who are you?"

"What a fine question my Lord, I am the groundskeeper for this section of the palace. I make sure everything stays in order, and I occasionally answer questions from visitors."

Upon hearing this, Aang immediately perked up. "Greetings my good hotman, what can you tell me about that tree over there?"

The groundskeeper briefly raised an eyebrow at Aang's outdated language, but then proceeded over towards the tree.

"Ah… what a fascinating history I have for you. This is a Dwarf Cedar, it's much smaller than its wild kin, but no less beautiful. I'm not sure why this particular individual is dying, since it should really have several more centuries left."

"When was it planted then?"

"I'm old, but I'm not that old. Rumor has it this tree was planted the day Fire Lord Sozin and Avatar Roku were born. It has remained here ever since, through generations of Fire Lords."

The groundskeeper walked up to Aang and extended his fist. Aang reciprocated the move, and the groundskeeper placed a small pouch in Aang's hand.

"What is this?"

"Inside this pouch is the only cone our tree friend here managed to produce last year. There're only a couple of seeds inside, but I reckon at least one of them will sprout." With that, the groundskeeper gave the trio a small wink and began to hobble out of the courtyard.

Aang stared at the pouch situated comfortably within his palm, a slightly melancholy look on his face.

"Hey guys, I've got an idea."

Aang lit a small flame in his free hand, and his friends moved to do the same. With one last knowing look at one another, the trio aimed their fire at the dying tree.

It immediately burst into flames, as if it had been waiting for this moment. And after a brief display of beauty, the ancient tree was reduced to a pile of ash. Beneath the ashen pile, Aang buried the cone, knowing it would one day grow into a mighty tree.

With that, the trio left the courtyard, and headed back into the depths of the palace.


"Let the feast begin!"

The royal chef had brought out every dish one could hope for. Zuko had received a plate of marinated mutton with an extra spicy rub; Mai had received a similar dish with less spice, and Azula with more. Ukano had received a generous portion of rhino meat, cooked medium-rare. And Aang, being the sole vegetarian at the table, had received a dish of baked mountain yams with a side of spicy sauce. Not to mention the complimentary tea, of which there were unlimited refills.

Aang quickly dug into his yams, while the others took their time with the food. The seating arrangements had been carefully made. Zuko sat at the head of the table, Mai on his right and Azula on his left; Ukano sat next to Mai, and Aang across from him.

"Slow down Avatar, this isn't a competition."

"But…" Aang took another large bite, "I thought everything was a competition to you Azula?"

"Oh, it is; I just like to pretend otherwise."

Aang merely responded with a curious look, and went right back to eating.

"Why don't you try the hot sauce Avatar? Make sure to take a big scoop."

Zuko immediately recognized this trick, since Azula had pulled it on Ty Lee several times before.

Aang took a big scoop of hot sauce and poured it on his yam. He then took a bite and seemed perfectly fine. Moments later the sweating started, and then his cheeks turned red, water poured out of his tear ducts. Aang had just been punked.

"Ouch that burns, ouch that really burns!"

Azula let out a small chuckle as Aang began chugging tea, trying to quell the burning. Once it had stopped and his face had returned to its normal color, Aang resumed his meal.

Apart from the occasional remark or the sound of Aang's chewing, the dinner table was consumed by an awkward silence. Mai continued to give Zuko the cold shoulder, and Azula was casting several suspicious glances in Ukano's direction. The plump old man had hardly said a word since dinner started, and that had Zuko worried. He only hoped that his guests wouldn't start things the wrong way…

"So Zuko, how're the peace negotiations coming along?"

Any noise that had previously been found in the dining hall ceased immediately. Aang's blunt remark had disturbed the peace, and everyone besides Mai looked in his direction. Azula moved to wipe her mouth, but Zuko knew she was doing so to hide a smirk. Ukano's focus was first on Aang, but quickly changed to Zuko, waiting for a response.

"Um… things are going fine Aang. I'd rather not discuss this matter during dinner."

"Hold on there!" Ukano butted into the conversation, for the first time since his arrival. "This is important stuff, why shouldn't we be discussing it?"

"Well, it's just… complicated is all." Zuko looked towards Azula for help, but she gave a glare that screamed "You're on your own Zuzu".

"It's been six months since our last conversation Zuko. I figured you would be ready."

"Well, there's a lot of… um… logistics, and treaties, and… stuff."

Azula gave a brief snort of laughter. "Stuff?"

"You know what I mean."

"What do you mean Zuko?" Aang's question had an easy answer, but Zuko knew if he opened that can of worms it could never be closed.

"He's obviously referring to the colonies." Ukano blurted out in his boisterous voice.

"Oh, yeah… I guess that makes sense."

"Once the Earth Kingdom takes their greedy paws off our colonies, peace negotiations can resume."

Zuko's worst fear had been realized, "Oh no, he's gone and done it now."

"Excuse me? Your colonies are on stolen Earth Kingdom land! Who said you'd be keeping them?"

"Well young Avatar, I suppose you wouldn't know about the political complexities of our lives. But the Fire Nation will not dishonor itself by relinquishing the colonies."

"They're not yours to begin with, they're on occupied territory!"

Aang an Ukano continued to bicker, which was exactly what Zuko hadn't wanted to happen. Unfortunately for him, Azula was enjoying herself far too much to intervene, and while Mai had stopped eating, she continued to sulk in her seat. It was up to Zuko to save this meeting… or humiliate himself trying.

"Gentlemen please, there's no need to argue. I'm sure we can resolve this peacefully."

"How do you plan to solve this Zuko? You can't let the Fire Nation continue to occupy the Earth Kingdom."

"Yes, what is your plan my lord? Surely you cannot let the other nations rob use blind and strip us of our land?"

"Well… I haven't really decided yet. I was thinking we could make some kind of compromise."

Immediately, Zuko realized neither of his guests were interesting in compromising.

"So you're just going to let the Fire Nation occupy Earth Kingdom territory after all that has happened?"

"So you're just going to let the other nations rob us blind?"

"Enough!"

Zuko stood up from the table, his shout reverberating throughout the room. The candles on the dinner table began to burn brighter in response to Zuko's frustration.

"I haven't decided on anything yet. But for the record, nobody is going to get everything they want, that's not how this works. Now if you're both finished, perhaps we can resume dinner?"

Aang and Ukano shared a hateful glare before returning to their respective meals, and silence once again engulfed the room.


Dinner had gone about as well as she had expected. Azula had managed to predict Zuko's reactions to a tee, but the other party guests hadn't acted quite like she would've expected them to. The Avatar had been far more on edge than he normally was, but Azula wasn't concerned about him. Whatever the issue may be, Zuko would surely be capable of ironing it out. Mai on the other hand had seemed more morose than usual. Most people wouldn't have noticed the difference, but not Azula, as much as she now loathed to admit it, she knew Mai better than anyone else. Most curious of all had been Ukano, who was neither nervous nor boisterous. All his reactions had been perfectly normal… too normal. Something was up, and Azula was determined to get to the bottom of it.

As Azula rounded the hallway, she ran right into her target… Mai.

"Ouch, careful where you're going Azula."

"Oh, forgive me Mai. Agni forbid I inconvenience you in some way."

Mai merely scowled in response; her thin lips clearly struggling to hold back venomous remarks.

"Relax Mai, I didn't mean any offence. In fact, it's rather convenient that we've run into each other. Care to chat?"

"Say what you want to say and leave me alone."

"Hmph… pleasant as always… how have things been lately? I mean, with your family to be more specific?"

"Why do you care Azula? Are you trying to blackmail me or something? Because if so you know it's not going to work."

"Oh Mai, you know I wouldn't ever try to lay a hand on the Fire Lords… girlfriend…" Azula made to sure to add some extra venom to her last remark, and sure enough Mai seemed to take the hint.

"My family is fine… Uncle's running the Boiling Rock better than ever before, and since the war ended our floral business has really been taking off…"

Azula motioned for her to carry on.

"Everyone else is doing fine, although I haven't seen them much lately…"

Mai always carried a blank expression, but Azula had detected the slightest twinge of emotion in her last words. Whatever it was, things were definitely not fine.

"Mai, what about your father, how is he doing?"

"You just saw him during dinner."

"Don't take this the wrong way Mai, but your father seemed less… idiotic than usual."

"I… I suppose so, I didn't really notice."

"Is anything going on that I should know about? Or rather…is there anything that the Fire Lord should know about?"

Mai seemed to hesitate for a moment, carefully looking Azula over. After what seemed like several minutes, she seemed to relax.

"I'm not sure why I'm telling you this, it's something I'd normally only tell Zuko… if he cared to listen… My parents haven't been spending much time together. My Father has been away for a while, and my mother and brother have moved into a separate estate."

"That's unfortunate… what has he been doing during this time away?"

"I'm not sure, probably hanging out with his rich friends if I had to guess."

It wasn't much, but it was something to start with. Azula was determined to find out who was working against the Fire Nation, against Zuko. Because as much as she hated to admit it, he was her pathway back into relevancy, he was all she had left.

As the young princess turned to walk away, Mai placed her hand on Azula's shoulder.

"Just so we're clear, I'm only helping you because it might help Zuko. I made a mistake trusting you for all those years, thinking you were my friend. I'm never going to make that mistake again."

For the briefest moment the braziers illuminating the hallway doubled in volume. Mai instinctively reached for a dagger, but just as she was doing so the flames returned to their normal size and Azula turned around.

"I will admit that things have not gone well between us. But… it wasn't always this way. Maybe you didn't feel the same way. It's hard to tell with you sometimes. But I truly believed you were my friend…"

Mai's face remained just as tense as usual, but Azula noticed her eyes relax. "I guess that's the best I can hope for."

Mai moved to depart, her gaze lingering long enough to have a final say. "Take care of Zuko. He's really depending on you."


Dinner had been a complete disaster. Or at least, that's what Zuko thought as he paced back and forth throughout the royal gallery.

"What does everything I try to do fail miserably?"

Zuko was particularly perturbed at Mai. He expected Azula to as unhelpful as possible, and neither Ukano or Aang were known for their communication skills. But Mai hadn't said a single thing during dinner. She had merely sat in her seat looking more miserable than ever, only occasionally moving to peck at her food.

"She's my girlfriend, right? The least she could do is give me a nudge when I mess up."

As Zuko continued to madly pace throughout the gallery, the paintings of his ancestors seem to look upon him with disappointment. The portrait of his great-great-great-grandfather seemed particularly scornful.

Zuko scowled at the former Fire Lord. "What are you looking at fatty?"

"Zuko?"

As Zuko turned around, he noticed Aang standing at the other end of the gallery.

"I said that out loud, didn't I?"

"Um… yeah, but it's no problem. I talk to inanimate objects all the time!"

"Ha ha, very funny Aang, I'm amused beyond all comprehension. How did you even get back here? This part of the palace is off limit to visitors."

"That's never stopped me before!" Aang replied with a cheeky grin.

An awkward silence engulfed the room. Both men clearly had something to say, and Aang was the first to break.

"So… I wanted to apologize about dinner. I know I kind of dropped in unexpected, and I didn't mean to rile up your guest."

"It's alright Aang, I'm sorry too. Things have just been a little stressful lately."

Sensing this was going to be a long conversation, Aang sat down on the carpeting, and Zuko moved to follow.

"It's just been so difficult lately. I have a peace treaty to work out, alongside ruling the most powerful nation in the world. And on top of all that, I have someone out to get me."

"But you're the Fire Lord now, shouldn't the people obey you?"

"It's not so simple Aang. I can't change the Fire Nation over night, there's baggage on every aspect of society."

Zuko motioned toward the paintings looking down on him, the previous five Fire Lords.

"The Fire Nation was once a very different place, but my ancestors shaped it into something no one had ever seen. Even before Sozin, my forefathers molded the Fire Nation into an authoritarian state over the course of several centuries. All of that change, whether they had foreseen it or not, culminated in the Hundred Year War. And now, there's hardly a single person in the Fire Nation that's old enough to really remember a time before the war."

Aang was silent, his eyes fixed on Zuko.

"Think about it Aang, centuries of indoctrination, millions of people believing the war wasn't merely justified, but righteous. I can't change that in a matter of years, I probably won't ever be able to change it. You've lived in the Fire Nation. You know what I'm talking about."

Aang remembered the previous summer he had spent in the Fire Nation while in hiding. Nearly every store he went to, every home, all had portraits of Ozai. The people adored him, and that wasn't something that could be changed.

"Aang, I'm in a difficult position. Most people don't see me as the legitimate heir, and I understand why. I want to do what's in the best interest for my country, but I've also learned through my travels just how bad the past century has been. A compromise may not be perfect, but it's the best solution any of us have got. Not everyone will be happy, but we've got to do something so we can move on to a better future. I want you to keep that in mind when I make my decision."

"Wow Zuko, I've never really thought of it that way. I was raised by monks; I never had a family to live up to, or a nation counting on my decisions. The closest thing I have is being the Avatar, and even then… I'm still just a nomad."

Zuko took in Aang's words, he hadn't thought about what made the two of them different in a long time.

"You know, I never thought I'd be friends with the Avatar, much less that I'd be sharing my problems with you."

"Yeah, me neither."

Another moment of silence passed, and Zuko noticed Aang's smile slowly disappear , only to be replaced with a frown.

"Hey, I know we talk a lot about my problems, but what about you?"

"What about me?"

"Are you doing alright Aang? You seem a little… different."

"I feel a little different."

"How so?"

"I… I'm not sure, it's almost like I'm not myself. Like, I know I'm myself, but I feel like I'm another person too."

"Uh… I'm not really getting it…"

"That's alright; I'm probably not explaining it well to begin with. I've just been feeling so torn lately, like I can't keep my emotions in check. That's part of the reason I came to visit, I didn't want to trouble Katara."

"Aang, are you sure it's not just… you know… hormones?"

Aang let out a brief chuckle at Zuko's remark. "No, I wish that were the case. This is different, it's more… spiritual."

"I'm afraid I can't help you much, that kind of stuff is beyond my understanding. But I do know someone else who might be able to help."

"Who?"

"My Uncle, he's really knowledgeable about spiritual matters. He still runs the Jasmine Dragon tea shop in Ba Sing Se. Perhaps you'll find some answers there?"

"Thanks Zuko, I hadn't thought about asking Iroh."

"Any time Aang, any time."

"But… I wasn't planning on travelling back to the Earth Kingdom that quickly."

"What are you implying?"

"I can certainly go see Iroh when I'm back in Ba Sing Se. But right now, while I'm in the Fire Nation, I thought I might be able to take advantage of one of your famous life-changing adventures?"

Zuko let out a nervous laugh. "Sure Aang… just don't get your hopes up."

The young Avatar smiled at his friend. As Aang moved to stand up, his hand briefly brushed against the wall, coating his fingertips in a layer of dust.

"Wow, you should really hire a maid."

"I'm aware."


Author's Note

Apologies for the long wait. October has been very busy so far, and I'm anticipating the following months will be as well. So expect upcoming releases to be a little less frequent in the future. Nonetheless, please enjoy! : )