A Tale of Fire and Steel

by Clarke SM

The year was 100AG, and the Hundred Year War had finally come to an end. Half the world stood in ruins, but a new era was looming on the horizon. This is a tale of a defeated and broken princess, of a farseeing yet conflicted Fire Lord, and an Avatar struggling with the death of his people and the birth of a new world. This is a tale of life and death, loyalty and betrayal, war and

15. Book 2 Act 1 - Dark Crescendo

Edited by: Bieverdog AO3: GalavantingGoose

Book II

流动

Act I: Dark Crescendo

Chapter I: Zuko on the mount - ATLA OST

Yu Yen - ATLA OST

Path to Oryx – Destiny 2

Chapter II:

In a Box - LOK OST

Sunrise of Flutes – Elder Scrolls Oblivion OST

Third Date – How To Train Your Dragon

Into the Light - Destiny 2 OST

Chapter III:

City of Ruin - Fallout 3 OST

Into Darkness - Skyrim OST

Atrium Carceri & Cities Last Broadcast -An Atrementous City

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Chapter I

Zuko looked out the simple, wooden-framed window to see the central streets of Yu Dao. Rickshaw carts, carriages, and people alike ambled down and up the cobblestone streets. The mayoral mansion was situated in one of the busiest districts of the city. He had already forgotten the noisy disturbances of city life.

Secluded behind the palace walls, he had gotten used to the silence and tranquility, not that it impeded him from seeing the beauty the place had to offer. Beyond the arid plateau on which the city was set, there lay lush green forests, mountains home to the city's water supply, farms, and factories. He supposed they had chosen the plain simply due to its convenience for building. Nevertheless, gales of fresh air rushed down the mountains into the plains. All in all, it made it a pleasing place to live.

Though charmed by its beauty, it took some time for the Fire Lord to get attuned with the reality the colonists were facing. Even then, he had seen enough to know that the treaty he had signed with the Earth Kingdom wasn't at all fair, nor had it taken these people into consideration. He listened to the mayor, who now more calmly explained the story of the city, and how many generations his family had been serving as mayors. From all the history lessons he was forced to learn, he couldn't once recall a detailed description of how the colonies came to be, for most of the Fire Nation they weren't deemed as important. It was all the Fire Lord this and the Fire Lord that; our armies conquered this and crushed that. It seemed to him that they had largely disregarded the people that bore the brunt of the conflict.

For most of the war, due to logistical reasons, the colonies had remained an integral part in the war effort, supplying material, food, and even manpower for their armies. Not that the mainland didn't provide, but stricter laws in the colonies and their second-class status in the eyes of the nobility led to them being exploited for it. Or at least, that's how Zuko saw it. The mayor, on the other hand, spoke with an air of diehard patriotism and, with a proud look on his face, told the Fire Lord about the 'sacrifices' they would gladly endure for the Fire Nation; how they felt betrayed by the Fire Lord's decision; how they weren't even consulted with after all they had done.

After learning more about it, it felt natural that they would be displeased about his decision. He thought about all the other colonies that had been forcefully emptied. His heart was filled with guilt and regret. If only he had known earlier…

He couldn't undo the damage done, but he could stop it from getting any bigger. The day he had arrived, he tried to inform Kuei about his decision. Usually, the replies came quickly; instead, he was met with no reply at all. So, he sent another one… and another one, each day the contents changing more and more. Finally, he informed the king about his decision to halt the Harmony Restoration Movement until a change of terms had been arranged. But this time, instead of a direct reply, what he got was a massive protest from Earth Kingdom citizens at Yu Dao's gates. No matter how much time he spent trying to arrive at a solution, he just couldn't think of any, caught up trying to decipher who and if even Kuei had anything to do with it.

He had to try again, so he turned to his repurposed desk, a writing table swamped with all the papers concerning the colony's activity and citizens. Scrounging around the mess, he found a brush and a blank sheet of paper–

The mayor opened the door softly. He had a grim look on his face, his dark brown eyes aimed at the floor. "There's no use, Your Majesty."

"I just don't get it… Why wouldn't he answer my letters…"

The mayor approached, placing yet more papers atop the towers that had formed around the table. "They simply aren't people that can be reasoned with, Fire Lord."

"There has to be a way."

The man shook his head and neared the window. "Have you seen outside the walls? That's their way; they come to force us out!"

"Those are just civilians. We don't know if the King sent them."

"Pardon me, but you are too trusting of them. This trust is what cost you that treaty."

He stopped and put down the brush. The mayor was right. He had to find another way, but he wouldn't find it there alone. "...I need to get back to the Fire Nation; it's been four days already. Surely, my ministers must have thought of something."

"Whatever you do, Your Majesty, just make it quick… These soldiers you've brought won't be enough to hold them forev–"

A soldier broke into the room, out of breath and barely managing to stand straight in his presence. "Fire Lord, two protesters broke in; they demanded to see you. We told them to step outside; but they just wouldn't listen, and a fight broke out."

"What?! Did you manage to apprehend them?"

The man dropped to his knees, pleading. "We tried, sir, I swear… but they incapacitated a full squadron. A kid and a waterbender, sir. They took us completely by surprise."

He raised his brow. A kid and a waterbender? He lifted him up. "Take me to them. Bring reinforcements just in case."

They ran outside towards the gates, the soldiers taking the rear. The people were gathered, watching the fight ensue, but they cleared the way as they saw the soldiers. He could now see some of them pinned to the walls with ice. Another one was stuck halfway in the ground. The attackers–

Aang and Katara! His guide, seeing his fallen comrades, charged towards them in a fit of rage with a flaming fist. He ran after him as Katara sprouted icicles from the water on the ground. The soldier stopped on his tracks.

She screamed, "Can't you people give it a rest?! He just wants to talk!"

Before she could attack, Zuko held her hands. "Katara, stop!"

She struggled to get free, but Zuko gripped her hands tighter. "Let go, Zuko! You're hurting me! Don't make me hurt you back!"

He frowned. "I'm hurting you?! What are you doing to my soldiers?! My people?!"

Aang stood firm. "Let go of her, Zuko! She said you're hurting her!"

"First, she has to agree to stop attacking my people!"

The Avatar pointed at him. "Your soldiers attacked first! Let her go now!"

"I am the Fire Lord! I have to protect the citizens of the Fire Nation!"

Without bothering to reply, Aang took a deep breath and released a burst of wind so strong that it knocked him down. Zuko replied by shooting flames at him.

Aang quickly absorbed them with a water shield. "I came here to talk to you, Zuko! As a friend! But you've changed! You've forgotten what we fought for!"

Aang's eyes and tattoos began to glow, and his voice became a chorus. "Maybe Avatar Roku is right. Maybe a promise is a promise."

Zuko covered his face, stricken with a panicked grimace as the air all around them began to engulf around Aang.

Struggling to fight against the air currents, Katara walked towards the Avatar, extending her hands. "Aang, stop! If you enter the Avatar State in such an emotional way, you won't be able to control yourself!" She managed to get close enough to hold his cheeks. "You have to calm down. Please, sweetie, for me."

The winds died, and Zuko supported himself on his knees as he stood up. Soldiers had formed around the perimeter; they were afraid. He held his hand out to call them off. As Aang reached the ground, he braced himself on Katara's shoulder.

Aang looked down, then at Zuko, with guilt written all over his face. "I can't believe it. I might've done something terrible without even thinking it through. Zuko, I'm so–"

Zuko extended his hands. "Katara's right. We both need to calm down. And talk."

The Avatar stared at him dumbfounded. "Are you kidding me?!" Katara held him back. "That's what I wanted in the first place!"

"Aang, just calm down okay? Let's just hear what Zuko has to say…"

"Right… Sorry."

"Follow me." He led Aang and Katara through the streets as the soldiers eyed them both furtively. Aang returned a few hostile stares. Perhaps they would understand if they knew the city better. He had told them about the history of the colony and showed them how both nations coexisted in the same place and even worked with each other to create better things.

After all, Yu Dao hadn't become one of the world's richest cities by coincidence. Its location and the differences that characterized its inhabitants were its beating heart. To an outsider, it would have been outlandish that these people managed to get along whilst their nations were at war, building the city from scratch. Aang watched curiously, but the peoples' stares weren't as kind.

Katara in turn pointed out the inequality in the city. It seemed to have been a common factor that those of Fire Nation heritage lived a more comfortable life than those of mixed or Earth Kingdom ancestry. Even so, a better life wasn't restricted to one's origin. They all identified as citizens of the Fire Nation and saw Yu Dao as their home.

He tried to explain to his friends the kindness he was shown by the people, the things that he saw, what he had learned. It was the reason why he had decided to take away his support from the Harmony Restoration Movement. It had all made him arrive at the conclusion that it was wrong; the colonists hadn't been given a chance to speak; a decision had been forced upon them. In his mindless and hastened insistence to find peace, he had ruined the life of countless families, innocents that had nothing to do with the war his forefather had started.

Aang crossed his arms as Zuko spoke, clearly displeased by his answer. As Katara listened closely, her gaze alternated between him and the citizens around them.

"So, I stayed. I saw what my people created here. I saw what the Harmony Restoration Movement would destroy. I changed my mind. Ever since my coronation, I've been having trouble finding peace. Now, I think I've finally figured out why. I'd forgotten about my people. I know you defeated the Fire Nation, Aang, but my people still deserve respect!"

Aang scoffed. "I defeated the Fire Nation?! You mean we defeated the Fire Lord!"

"It'd be disrespectful to take from them a life they spent generations building! I won't let you do it!"

His friend seemed offended. "Harmony requires four separate nations to balance each other out! You can't have balance if one nation occupies another!"

Whilst they argued Katara looked back to see Mayor Morishita, Kori, and her mother, they were watching them.

Katara tapped Aang's shoulder lightly and whispered to him, but he could hear. "Maybe Yu Dao can be an exception."

"What?!" Aang widened his eyes in shock.

"It's just a thought."

Zuko needed to make his point clear; they needed to see. "Exceptions should be made for all the remaining colonies! Most of them have been around for well over a century. They're older than you, Aang!"

"You have got to be joking. That would make peace impossible!"

Katara held her hands out, trying to mediate between the two. "Well, regardless, the Earth King needs to be a part of whatever happens next. If Aang and I can arrange a meeting, will you be there, Zuko?"

He nodded. "I'll be there."

"Talking's good, I guess." The Avatar crossed his arms then shook his head. "You know this isn't right, Zuko. If you don't change your mind about this–"

"Listen, Aang, for a long time I thought I was doing the right thing. But we've been seeing things as black and white. Turns out it's not like that. There's thousands being affected by this. They've lost their homes, everything they've built–"

"You think I don't know that? Unlike you, I've been down here doing the work that needed to be done. It hurts me as much as you, but you know what I also think about? I think about the people that lost this land to the Fire Nation a hundred years ago; all the people that had to flee their homes because of the war; all the people that died so that they could live here." Aang pointed to the ground.

Katara held him back. "Aang, stop. Let's go. We should see what the Earth King thinks about this. Maybe we can reach a compromise."

"Get your people back home, Zuko. It is the only fair thing… the only thing that is right." Aang unfolded his glider, and Katara held on to him as he took off, heading outside the city.

The mayor cautiously approached, with his daughter still watching them nearby. "Is everything alright, Fire Lord?"

Zuko sighed. "I cannot delay any longer. I'll be leaving Captain Sato in charge of the forces here."

"What are we supposed to do?" The mayor stared at him; he seemed desperate.

"Avoid any confrontation. Just keep them out of the walls."

"We cannot hold them outside forever; we only have so many supplies. The farms are beyond the walls."

He paused for a moment. "...Then we will fly any needed supplies inside the city. But do not fight them. Either they will disperse on their own or the King will ask them to leave."

"What if they don't?"

"Let's hope they do." He parted ways with the mayor and left all the forces he had arrived with in Yu Dao, boarding the airship in Yu Dao's square. The ship barely managed to fit amongst the houses, amassing curious crowds for days. He was now returning with a skeleton crew that could barely man the airship. As they passed Yu Dao's walls, he noticed the mob outside the city was dispersing on its own; it felt like nothing short of a miracle. It made him feel confident that there was still a chance for peace; a chance that the Earth Kingdom could listen and understand.

As he arrived in the Fire Nation, a small committee had been formed to receive him. Fang stood at the palace gates along with Mak to greet his arrival. He wanted none of it. He had dwelt on the problem for hours, barely even getting any sleep. And they would probably want to hear the news about it.

Instead, they all bowed, barely even saying a word. Perhaps they expected him to ask for a meeting. Better to get this done now.

"Fang, get all my ministers to the throne room; we have things to discuss." Fang nodded and went on his way.

"Is there something you'd like to say, Mak?"

"There's– It's nothing of importance, Your Majesty." The general stuttered then looked down.

"Fine, I'd like to see you at the meeting too."

"I'll be there, sir."

He headed to the throne room. It would surely take at least thirty minutes to get everyone gathered, so maybe he could rest a while whilst he waited.

"So, the Fire Lord has returned." Mai's voice came from behind him.

He turned around to see Mai leaning against a pillar. "Mai! The mob outside Yu Dao is gone. For now at least, the Fire Nation citizens there are safe."

"You left without saying anything to me! I had to find out where you were from official edicts your soldiers posted around the capital!" Zuko stood in silence. "You're doing it again, Zuko. If you're having problems, you're supposed to talk to me. I'm your girlfriend."

He sighed. "You're right. I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

She placed a hand on his cheek and looked into his eyes with worry. "You've been having trouble sleeping."

"How..." He placed his hand on hers.

"Have you looked in the mirror lately? Your bodyguards are a bunch of incompetent idiots. You're the Fire Lord now; you need real security." She gestured for him to follow. "So, I asked some friends to come help." Five Kyoshi warriors stood at attention with Suki in front of them. Ty Lee stood to her left, smiling at them as she waved her fan. "Hi Zuko! Long time no see!"

Suki elbowed her, and she rubbed her arm. "Ty Lee, behave! We shall pledge our loyalty to you, Your Majesty." They knelt, waiting for his response; but he didn't speak, too dumbfounded to even think.

"Uh… Don't think he's okay." Mai squeezed his hand.

Zuko cleared his throat. "I-it's good to see some friendly faces around here." Ty Lee practically jumped from the ground and squeezed them both tightly in her arms.

Suki glared at her, trying to get her to stop hugging them, but her subordinate took the opportunity to grab her as well. "Ty Lee!"

"I missed you guys so much! I love these group hugs."

Annoyed, Mai shoved her away. "Okay, that's more than enough."

Zuko straightened his clothes as he looked at Suki. "So, how did you guys even get here?"

"Well, when Mai told us, we volunteered to help. She paid for our trip here."

"Please make yourselves at home. Ty Lee, you're familiar with the palace; I'm sure you will find spare rooms. Suki, I'll need you to stay. If I am to officially name the Kyoshi Warriors as my personal bodyguard, I have to announce it."

Mai brushed her hand against his. "I'll see you later, Zuko. I'll help them."

Zuko muttered, "Thank you, Mai."

"Don't mention it." She smiled.

Ty Lee jumped excitedly in place. "It makes me so happy to see you two together, really, even–"

Her friend groaned, grabbing her arm and pulling her away. "Let's go, Ty Lee." The other Kyoshi warriors followed after them.

Suki crossed her arms, smiling confidently. "So… Fire Lord Zuko, how's that working out for you?"

"Well, I'm not planning on burning down any villages in Kyoshi Island anytime soon, so don't worry too much about it."

She gave him a huffed laugh. "I'm glad to hear that… But seriously, though."

Zuko sighed. "...Can't say it has been easy. I'm sure Mai must have told you something."

"She did, but I wanted to hear it from you. Are things that bad around here?" Her tone fell to a whisper. "Unfortunately, yes. I'm trying to do my best from here, but it isn't always that easy… Not everyone likes the changes I've proposed, or forced them to adapt to. I– We'll find a way…"

"I really hope so too…"

The doors for the throne room opened, and he took his place on the throne as the ministers walked down and bowed in front of him in unison. Fang spoke for them. "We are glad that His Majesty has arrived safely from the colonies. Whilst you have been away, we were aware of some troubling developments abroad."

"I'm sure you all have heard… But first, I wanted to announce a change for my personal bodyguard." He gestured to Suki to stand in front. The ministers looked at her puzzled, some even angered. He had learnt to pick up the slight changes in their faces. Even by their silence, he could tell most weren't pleased.

"As the leader and representative of the Kyoshi Warriors, she will today pledge their allegiance to the Crown. Secretary Fang, you may recite the oath."

Fang promptly stepped before her. "Do you vow to shield the Royal Family and the Fire Lord from any harm with your life?"

"I do. We will do everything in our power to protect them." Suki smiled and turned her neck to look at him.

"With that settled… Minister Renhao, could you please escort the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors to her subordinates? Please make sure their accommodations in the palace are met."

Surprised by the request, she stood silent for a moment, but she nodded. "Gladly, Your Majesty."

They all stood in silence as Renhao left along with Suki; and once the doors were closed again, Zuko cleared his throat. "You know the reason why I summoned you here. I've talked to Avatar Aang. He agreed to settle a meeting between the Earth King and me. He'd act as a moderator. Have you thought of any solutions for our proposal?"

Fang stood forward with a document in hand. "I have, Your Majesty, but… should we wait until Minister Renhao is back?"

"There's no need; her expertise won't be required for this matter." He gestured for him to begin.

"Very well… I've found three probable solutions. The only colonies that remain are the ones over a century old. Most have evolved their own political structures under our tutelage and are fairly developed. His Majesty's claim that they are an exception is exceptionally well founded. However, we cannot be foolish to think our 'friends' from the Earth Kingdom will see it as we do."

"The first solution would be to pay reparations for the land lost to the Earth Kingdom so they cede the land legally. I have enough information to know that some in the high echelons of power would agree to said deal, but it won't settle well with their military or their people. And the Earth Kingdom has enough problems on that front as it is. It also suffices to say that nowadays, the military holds a tighter grip on power there. I find this solution unlikely to be accepted, but it is the one which would benefit our citizens the most."

At Zuko's silence, he continued. "The second one would also incur reparations. We will propose, though, that both sides maintain oversight over the colonies. Or the oversight could be varied based on the demographics of the population. Those with a high amount of Earth Kingdom citizens would fall under the Earth Kingdom jurisdiction; and likewise for those with a high amount of Fire Nation citizens. Or, simply, a hybrid vassal state could be created, with a council appointed by both nations."

"You find that likely to work?"

"They won't shy away from the reparations; and although we will gain little benefit, we will keep some semblance of control over the colonies. The problem would fall again on the lap of their military. It will be up to them to determine whether they accept a joint rule. It won't guarantee, though, that the Earth Kingdom won't mistreat our citizens or force deportation from their controlled areas. But they are more likely to agree if they have a say in border disputes."

After the protests he witnessed, he found it hard to believe both could coexist peacefully if the Earth Kingdom tried to push their agenda. It would only work if both sides decided to not interfere as much as possible; if not, it could quickly become unstable. "How about the third option?"

"It would also include a generous payment, as with any negotiation involving the Earth Kingdom, but it won't come from our treasuries. The colonists would pay for it but would become self-governing. They would also act as buffer states between us and the Earth Kingdom. We would lose direct control over them, but our influence is too great to lose our grip completely. They would fall under our direct sphere of influence, appearing as independent partners. Of course, they would also need to have treaties with the Earth Kingdom, but we would be able to sway them if the need arises. After all is said and done, both our nations could pledge to uphold the colonies independence in exchange for reparations and a peaceful solution."

He raised an eyebrow; he had never thought about it that way. The colonies already had some sort of self governance, so that would only be making it official. "And you think they'd accept that?"

"It is difficult to know for certain, but it would be a sensible decision. It would eliminate the direct threat they think the Fire Nation poses and reduce any possible friction between our states. The independent colonies would act as intermediaries and a neutral arbiter–an Avatar, so to speak."

"It's an interesting proposal…"

Minister Qin walked up to stand by the secretary. "If I may speak, Your Majesty, even though Secretary Fang seems committed to resolve this matter diplomatically, it would be in the best interest of our citizens to try to protect our claims and the legitimacy of our colonies. They have pushed us around because they think we won't react, when a year ago they had lost the war. I think a show of force would suffice for them to find our conditions more… endearing."

It was a risky move, one he wasn't sure he'd be prepared to make. "...Are you sure that is a good strategy? We just finished a century of war."

"Your Majesty, their forces are exhausted. We all know they aren't completely at peace; we heard of the rumors about the rebellions. No matter how hard they try to cover it up, it was inevitable that it would reach us. For all we know, their armies are still engaged in fighting rebels. They have no real way to respond to us. They would be mad to start a two front war, even less so with an open rebellion going on. It is clear they are bluffing about their strength."

Zuko scoffed. "It took the Avatar nine months to defeat my father. Do you think he'd be on our side this time?"

Qin shook his head. "I'm not saying we threaten them directly; we merely have to create an excuse for our forces to be back on our colonies' shores. Then you would arrive at the summit and lay down our proposal. Of course, they will know of our move, but they won't have any argument to counter it since we would have made an excuse. There are some Yanshi prisoners still in our custody… If we were to stage a false flag attack, it could be justification enough."

"I see… But I have no intention of tarnishing our reputation. They won't be so easily fooled. We worked on hunting them down together."

The secretary stood pensive, stroking his beard. "Minister Qin has a good point, Your Majesty; but under all circumstances, we cannot appear to be the aggressors. There's a high chance that they will reject our proposal. I think we must be ready for anything that might occur. If we remain the offended party, the Avatar will have to stay neutral. "

"Have the proposals drafted and in my room by today; I'll go over them again… As for the army… I want ten divisions ready to sail, just as a cautionary measure. We cannot assume how the Earth Kingdom will react to this meeting… I believe they still have great interest in… keeping the peace. You are dismissed, except for General Mak..."

The ministers bowed and left; and when the room was empty, Mak stepped forward. The General stood firmly with guilt etched in his face. "I hope you're not angry about the surprise, Fire Lord. Lady Mai insisted that we don't tell you…"

"Huh? No, it's nothing about that…" And the General relaxed. "From your time in the Earth Kingdom… Do you have anyone we can rely on?"

"Yes, sir. We had informants. I also built some friendships with some of their commanders."

"I need eyes on the meeting between the Avatar and Kuei. I want to know what they are up to… We need to know what to expect. You think you can do it?"

He saluted him. "Without a doubt. I won't fail you, Your Majesty."

"Be discreet, General; we wouldn't want them to find out… This is to be kept secret, understand?" Mak nodded. "Good. See if you can contact the embassy, then."

Zuko spent the rest of the day secluded in his 'secure room', with his eyes fixed on the dent in the wooden floor from the attack. His mind was stuck trying to find an answer. There wasn't room for mistakes. His decision could very well start a war, but what if he backed down? He would be betraying his people's trust. He hoped–he begged–that Kuei would see reason. He had already dealt with him… Aang would make him see reason, maybe Katara… He doubted if he made the right choice attempting to spy on them… It was wrong, but he had to know for certain…

The arrival of the documents made no difference to him; for he was still stuck on it, didn't know if they'd even accept either one of them or none at all… He read them over and over again, trying to spot anything that would be a deal breaker to them.

Without him even realizing it, the night came. Having barely slept the night before, he tossed himself to bed. But even in his dreams, he was haunted by his choices. In the back of his mind, he could hear the voice of his father.

"Do you think being Fire Lord is easy?! The throne comes with many pressures, and those pressures will change you! But if you can stand the heat, you'll become something more. Of all the people in the world, I have the wisdom you need: the wisdom of experience! Be honest with yourself, Zuko–do you really believe you can handle it all on your own?

He awoke startled in the middle of the night. Perhaps if he finally listened, he would rid himself of his voice for good. He left with the excuse of a night walk, leaving Suki and Ty Lee posted outside his room. He decided to talk to him alone in secret, not expecting a straight answer nor a solution to his problems. Maybe he would find guidance and affirmation that what he did was right for his nation. But he knew for certain, by facing him, he'd finally rid himself of his voice.

He notified Warden Ming, and she cleared the hallway of guards. He took a tray with tea, barely realizing he was shaking in anticipation. It had been a year since he had seen him–

Zuko stopped and closed his eyes. I can do this…He pushed the door to his cell, and there he was, sitting with a wide grin on his face, his greasy long hair covering his eyes. He placed the tray in front of him without saying a word and served the tea. His father promptly took the cup, whose smile appeared etched on his face. He couldn't look into his eyes…

"I need your advice… Father."

Chapter II

Aang looked to the sky sadly as Appa soared higher. They had recently met Toph again, only to leave. To Ba Sing Se, no less. Sokka went with her after, so it was now just him and Katara. Being without Sokka was both a relief and weird at the same time. For once, he could be alone with her without him commenting about it or nagging Katara to the point of fighting with him stuck in the middle. The downside was the quiet. Well, depending on who you asked. No comments, no idle chatter, or jokes… He only wished they could all be together at least for once… like before. But he had long given up on that.

"Are you sure it was a good idea to let those two on their own?" Katara jokingly remarked as she fixed her hair.

He gazed down at the forests below. His eyes showed sorrow, but he didn't want her to notice. Even still, it was hard for him to not sound discouraged. "It's been a while since we've seen Toph. I'd like to stay if I could…"

She sighed. Aang was sure she was probably thinking the same thing. "There will be time for that later… Don't feel so bad, Aang; I'm sure we'll be able to fix it."

He looked down at his hands. "...What if we can't, Katara? Have you thought of that? We talked about this before. You didn't think it'd come to that; at that time, I didn't either. But we always assumed there would be a way we could sort things out. You've seen Zuko–he is entrenched in what he believes now… It– I might have to…"

She put a hand on his shoulder. "No, don't see things like that; don't give up on it, Aang. We are going to talk things out… you'll see. Kuei will understand–"

Aang stood up. "You're not seeing things clearly. If he doesn't back out, I cannot ignore him. I'd be repeating history… I would be allowing another war. He claimed all remaining colonies should become an exception, Katara! It's insane! The King will never accept it! monkey feathers! I'd even be surprised if the King even let Yu Dao become an exception."

"Sweetie, what makes you think that? If there's an option for peace, it would be in everyone's best interest to do what's fair to all. Nobody wants another war; the last one has already been hard enough. No one has recovered yet…"

"Let's not talk about this; I've had enough of this mess for the day. We still have a long road ahead to get to Ba Sing Se."

Her tone was reassuring. "You're right, just don't get caught up with it. Kuei will listen to us, you'll see…" Still, that didn't ease his anxiety.

"Sure…" He smiled lightly. He still couldn't get it out of his head, would be deceiving himself if he thought he would.

As their journey continued throughout the day, his mood slowly cooled down. Katara was probably right; he was making too much of a fuss about it. Kuei would listen; they would set up a meeting; and they would arrange a solution. He was going to make sure of that. The problem would be finally put to rest, and they would continue on as they did… He wondered, though, if he'd ever look at his friend the same way again. After all, they had been through… Had he not changed at all? Had his newfound power corrupted him? What if Zuko refused to back down?

Before he could ponder any longer, the massive walls of Ba Sing Se came into view. He raised an eyebrow when he saw there was still a half-closed gap in the outer walls. There were scaffolding and propped up wooden structures barely holding pieces of the wall together. He thought that they would have had it repaired by then.

He noticed some of the houses remained burnt down, and the areas were now home to makeshift houses more like tents piled one on top of the other. Others looked like plain earth houses probably built with earthbending. He assumed they were still at work and carried on forward, spotting a clear place to land in the Lower Ring.

As soon as they did, two girls came running to them, wearing plain brown tunics with his face sewn on the front. He knew he had turned into quite a celebrity around the Earth Kingdom, but he didn't expect that kind of recognition. They excitedly introduced themselves as Hei-Won and Won-Yee and told him they had made a 'fan club' and everything in his honor. The 'Official Avatar Aang fan club'... He had to tell Kyoshi about that; they both had something named after them now. Katara seemed to be in a sour mood, perhaps because of the long journey. The girls were even kind enough to offer them a place to stay. He accepted joyfully after they told him they had modeled their clubhouse after the Western Air Temple. He hadn't expected people to be so interested in his culture and be kind enough to do that.

It wasn't much like he expected, only a simple house with an Air Nomad banner hanging in the front and some upside down umbrellas placed atop the roof. That gesture almost made him tear up with happiness. Perhaps the airbenders wouldn't be forgotten. It gave him hope that he could change that. He thanked them fondly and excitedly followed them inside. The house was fully decorated with paintings: one of an air nomad symbol, as well as full portraits of himself, Appa, and Momo. The walls were painted white and had some beautifully hand-drawn clouds. What struck him the most was an airbending pit in the center.

The girls noticed how exhausted they were from the trip, guiding them to a small bedroom with wooden bunks. The room felt disconnected from the house, like they had suddenly entered an entirely different place. It was untouched, retaining the Earth Kingdom palette of green and brown.

He lay down on the bed, happy about the unexpected surprise. Katara didn't share his excitement, but he knew she was exhausted as much as he was. With his arms crossed over his chest, he looked up to the ceiling, trying to imagine himself in the Eastern Air Temple before the war. He soothed himself to sleep. Falling to the melodic sound of a flute.

Aang was awoken by a commotion outside the room. Puzzled, he went to the common room of the house, where he found yet more girls. It took a moment for them to notice his presence. Most were gathered around the center of the room, near the four-square airbending pit. It was yellow with a white border. Seeing it better in the light, he was surprised they managed to replicate one so similar to the originals.

A girl nearly fainted as he greeted them with a crooked smile. They all gathered around him astonished, then they made him try Nomad dishes they had prepared. Soon, Katara joined in, though she wasn't as cheery. The taste was a window to the past. He gave Katara a taste; and she claimed she liked it but sulked in a corner, much like Zuko used to do. Others focused solely on Momo, who, after taking a piece of moonpeach for himself, was chased around the room and spoiled by his fans with more food.

Aang paid Katara no mind as he thanked the girls with some airbending tricks. They clapped and cheered as he demonstrated his airballs as well as his air scooter, but he had a new one up his sleeve. He created a handful of air marbles, spinning them around his hands, and blew on them, turning them into multiple air scooters. They swooped around the pit, carrying the girls in circles around the room until the air slowly dissipated.

A brown eyed girl timidly approached him, holding her hands together behind her back and avoiding eye-contact as Hei-Won nudged her towards the Avatar and introduced her. From behind her back, she pulled out an authentic air nomad flute. He couldn't believe his eyes. Back then, it was the first instrument he had learnt to play. Gyatso had taught him himself.

She handed it to him, and it all came rushing back. He played as he used to: joyfully dancing and spinning around the room, entranced by the music as the girls joined in and danced around him.

Katara softly tapped his shoulder, a hint of annoyance in her gaze. "I hate to ruin the fun, Aang, but shouldn't we get going? We're here to meet with the Earth King, remember?"

He put down the flute. She was right; he had lost himself in the moment. He didn't want it to end, felt like he could go on for hours. It was like being with his old friends again. But he was the Avatar after all… He couldn't forget why they were there and what was at stake. "You're probably right…" He gave the girl her flute and thanked them for having let them stay the night. They accompanied them outside the house and waved cheerfully at them as they went.

Katara brisked towards the city, and he had to jog to catch up. She was always on to the next task. It had become second nature for her to remind them of what had to be done. "Well, you certainly seemed to enjoy those girls' attention."

"Weren't they amazing?!" He stopped, thinking back. It wasn't always that he was reminded of his people. "I know it's just a silly fan club, but for a moment there, it almost felt like... like I was at home again. With my people. Thanks for agreeing to stay there for the night, sweetie. It meant the world to me."

She hugged herself limply, looking down and saying softly, "Don't thank me, Aang. I don't deserve it."

As they walked along the city roads, heading straight for the train, he noticed how little had the city changed. It was still a mess of people going out and about. It felt weird not to see any Dai Li agents roaming the streets as they did. Instead, patrols of soldiers in light leather armor marched along, sometimes stopping random passersby to ask their identifications.

The general mood was uneasy, for even though the inhabitants of the city didn't have to worry about the war anymore, the scars of it still remained visible. Maimed war veterans hung on every corner begging. The city and its people would take time to heal. He couldn't expect things to be fixed immediately.

He did notice some new quarters with Fire Nation influence and that armed patrols circled around the area constantly. The newly built houses had graffiti all over them, with the words 'invaders' and 'go back to the Fire Nation' splattered in black. Some of the houses and stores had even barricaded their doors and windows. The people ambling around seemed afraid, looking behind their backs as they walked the muddied street.

Katara held his hand, urging him to keep walking.

The train station at least appeared to have a semblance of order, having ticket lines as long as in Ba Sing Se. At the car doors, the soldiers checked the passengers, randomly stopping them and questioning them. Luckily, none approached him and Katara.

As they finally squeezed into the crowded train, it began to softly slide down the tracks. When they passed through the Middle Ring, the change was night and day. The houses had been fixed, and buildings new as the dawn dotted the streets. Beggars, Peddlers, carts, and ostrich-horse drawn carriages buzzed with life. When it stopped, most of the people departed, leaving only a few well-to-do passengers. There weren't any guards questioning the passengers this time. The train was back on track.

Soon, they were in the Upper Ring, where luxurious buildings had sprouted from the ashes of the war. The squares and gardens, once filled with fallen soldiers, barricades and weaponry, were now glimmeringly clean. Perhaps they had begun their reconstruction from the center, prioritizing the well-to-do.

The armed patrols of soldiers were now replaced by the king's personal guard, marching or standing tall at the squares or before gardens and mansions, but their purpose appeared more ceremonial than practical.

They stepped off the almost barren train to see a station decorated as luxurious as a palace, with fountains and golden badger-mole statues. That sure was new. The people that had shared the ride with them began to queue towards the exit, where they were now being questioned by the King's personal guard.

A royal guardsman of some rank confronted them, leading a squad of four. "What business do you have in the Upper Ring?"

"I'm Avatar Aang. We're here to meet Earth King Kuei."

"It is an honor to meet you, Avatar. Have you scheduled any visits with the King? We weren't notified."

He scratched the back of his neck. "Uh… I think we did. We sent a letter ahead of us… It's urgent; we couldn't wait to get an appointment."

"I see... I might have to bother you two for a minute. I need to speak with my superiors to let you through if you haven't got an appointment." The soldier stepped away, leaving two others behind him.

"Sure… but please try not to take so long. We really need to speak to the King."

They sat alone in the station. At first, they thought it wouldn't take more than a few minutes, then an hour passed… and another. The train had already come and gone twice, barren of passengers. They had already gotten tired of staring at the soldiers, who behaved more like statues than people. When the sun reached its height, signaling midday, the soldiers parted from the sealed entrance, opening the door. A man in an elaborate white and green tunic with gold trim smiled at them broadly.

He extended his arms like he was greeting old friends, bowing before them. The jewelry dangling from his ridiculously tall hat clanked from the sudden movement. Momo tried to reach out for the jewels, but Aang snatched his hand. "Good day, Avatar Aang and Master Katara."

Katara raised an eyebrow, slightly amused by the ridiculous outfit. Aang could tell she was trying not to laugh. "Master Katara?"

"An appropriate title for a master waterbender, wouldn't you agree?" He raised his gaze slightly, his smug smile eerily unchanging.

Katara, taken aback by the compliment, took a moment to reply. "Thank you, and who might you be?"

"I'm Grand Secretariat Mingzhi." The man laughed when he saw the look of shock in their faces. "Oh, please don't be alarmed; the purpose of my office has always been to be the right hand of the King. He is happy to learn that you have arrived in the city. I am merely here to escort you to him…after some time. I am afraid that His Majesty is currently in a council meeting. It is the main reason why you see the streets are quiet now."

"Oh, that's okay… I guess…" He guessed that would mean more waiting, so he looked at Katara, who was just as puzzled.

The man smiled, already moving past the guards, and waved them on. "Don't you stand there; follow me. There's plenty we can do whilst we wait."

As they passed by the guards, finally walking inside the Upper Ring, the first thing they noticed was the lack of people. Why would everyone go inside during a council meeting? He looked around expecting to see anyone else at all. Instead, all they saw was the King's soldiers.

Minghzi led them through the empty streets nearer to the palace. As they walked, Katara bumped Aang's arm, and he looked forward to see an imposing, bronze statue had been built, surrounded by a gilded pool of water and with braziers lit around it. It looked new.

The closer they got to it, he started to realize it was of him. His statue was wearing his ceremonial robes and necklace and holding out his staff as if leading the world on to a brighter future. His eyes had been decorated with pearls. The man stood next to it, pointing at a plaque.

In honor of Avatar Aang, who delivered us from the tyranny of the Fire Nation and ended the great war.

The man's green eyes looked at him, expectant. And Aang bowed. "I'm honored." He felt thankful about it, but he surely didn't expect all the praise he would receive for doing what he had to do.

"I'm glad it is to your liking." The man looked proud of himself.

Katara hummed. He could tell she wasn't happy about it. "It is beautiful, really. Seems expensive."

Minghzi smiled politely. "That may be so, but one cannot be scant when building a monument for the one that ended the Hundred Year War."

She faced the man. "I understand, only it might be money better spent on the Lower Ring." He pursed his lips.

The man clasped his hands together. "I see what this is about. But, Master Katara, do not worry; His Majesty is not economical when it comes to his subjects either. I assure you he is doing everything within his power to bring the city back to its former glory."

She crossed her arms, a tad annoyed. "It doesn't seem to be enough."

It isn't the time for that. Aang put a hand on her shoulder. "Katara…"

The Grand Secretariat sighed dramatically. "I am afraid great changes are hard to see around the Lower Ring due to its vastness. I am sure you know that it is home to most of the population of Ba Sing Se as well as the new refugee arrivals. To date, there have been exactly three thousand and ninety-seven houses rebuilt, and daily meals are being handed to everyone free of charge."

Aang scrunched his forehead, for it wasn't like what he had experienced. "I didn't see any of that."

Minghzi waved it off. "It would be hard to do so since our rebuilding efforts have been done here and there, not by section. It is more of a patchwork than a grand redesign. Concerning the food, it is distributed at designated areas at the midday mealtime and in the evening. It is only natural that you didn't see it. I am sure that if the Master or the Avatar have any other questions about it, His Majesty will be able to answer them."

It seemed a lot had been done in some areas, but he was still puzzled about one thing. "Well… I do have another question. Uh, is there a reason why you haven't repaired that hole in the outer wall?"

The man raised a finger. "Oh, I am glad you asked. The Impenetrable City they called it. Now that byname is in danger. We have been trying to find a solution; and since the conflict is finished, we can afford the time to research the problem." As they followed the secretariat he strolled forwards, barely taking any pause to breathe as he barraged them with more frivolous smalltalk.

Bored of it, Aang looked around. The buildings looked untouched by the war, when once they had been partially burnt to cinders. The city really had managed to make a lot of progress.

As they continued walking, he paused. A soldier in red armor? He rubbed his eyes for a second. Is that a Fire Nation soldier? When he looked closely, he noticed it wasn't one but at least a dozen of them standing guard before a mansion. A small Fire Nation banner fluttered shyly from the entrance.

Aang pointed towards the house, alarmed. "What's that building over there with the Fire Nation soldiers?"

Minghzi stopped, confused until he spotted the building. "That would be the Fire Nation embassy. Quaint isn't it? Fire Lord Zuko and Earth King Kuei agreed to have it built, or rather repurposed (that building is quite old). But the embassy is one of the newest additions to the city since the war ended."

Katara pointed at the barricades and improvised watch towers around it. "Does it always look like a military base?"

The man nodded, pursing his lips. "As of recently, yes. Some people tried to attack it a while ago. It was a regrettable affair."

Katara raised a brow. "Why would they attack them?"

But the man shrugged, looking as clueless as she was. "Well, I am sure you know how it is, Master Katara. Having been so recently at war with them, it is hard to blame the people that still have strong feelings about them. But I can proudly say we have been actively working with our counterparts in the Fire Nation, all in the best interests of our peoples."

There came the sounding of a gong. "Ah, hear that? The council meeting should be over. Let's not keep His Majesty waiting." He promptly rushed them to the palace. Once inside, he bowed to them, letting them into the throne room and disappearing out of their sight. Momo flew forward as they walked towards the Earth King. He was sitting on his throne, petting his bear with a bored expression.

Aang bowed. "Greetings, Earth King Kuei!" At their sight, the King stood up to greet them with a smile from ear to ear.

"Avatar Aang! Katara of the Southern Water Tribe! It's been much too long!" Katara smiled and bowed as the king fixed his glasses. "I heard you were in the Earth Kingdom dealing with the situation at Yu Dao! Thank you for all your help with the removal of that colony! The remaining few seem to be more difficult than–""

Katara held her hands stiffly. "That's why we're here, Your Majesty. We'd like to set up a meeting between you and Fire Lord Zuko. Yu Dao... is still there."

Aang smiled uncomfortably. "For now." Then, Momo leapt from his shoulder, flying straight over to the sleepy bear.

The King rubbed his chin. "So then, the Fire Lord persists in denying the movement his support! He wants to keep his colonies!"

Aang brought his hand to his chest. "Earth King Kuei, I'm on your side! The people of the Fire Nation don't belong in your Kingdom, so the Harmony Restoration Movement has to continue! With a little convincing, I'm sure Fire Lord Zuko–"

Katara sideglanced at Aang. "Fire Lord Zuko has legitimate concerns about the colonials who still live there! We really need to sit down and talk through our options. Maybe there's something we missed."

Kuei shook his head. "I can't see how we could have missed something. The maps before the war were clear–these colonies were installed on Earth Kingdom soil."

"As I said, Your Highness, the Fire Lord's concern is about the people who currently live there. We are trying to find a solution that could be amenable to both parties that doesn't harm those caught up in between. There are thousands of families there; children. They've lived there their whole lives–"

The King held up a hand. "Stop. That's enough. I thank you for coming all the way here, but I cannot give you an answer right. I shall convene with my council again." When he was already leaving, he turned around. "I had ordered a meal to be prepared in your honor. Why don't you go ahead? Enjoy it. I'll join you once I have arrived at a decision." They bowed, and the King left, not even taking his pet bear. Bosco didn't mind having Momo atop his head and took the opportunity to take another nap.

Aang sighed. "That went down smoothly."

Katara was perplexed. "Do you really not care about those people, Aang?"

"I do, but they don't belong there. They have to get over that. Their home is in the Fire Nation; that is all I know. They aren't the victims here, Katara. They will be fine once they are back in their real home."

A white haired man with a long beard slowly limped up to them, clad in full armor jangling with medals. "Do my old eyes deceive me? Avatar Aang, isn't it?"

Aang smiled and bowed to the old man. "Yes…and your name?"

The man brought a fist to his chest, saluting him. "Oh, my apologies. I'm General Yu. It is a pleasant surprise to have you visiting us. To what do we owe your visit?"

"We came here to speak with Earth King Kuei. We just did, actually."

Yu looked back, maybe expecting the King himself. "Well… That was a short audience; we had just finished a council meeting. Or perhaps time has zoomed by. When you're my age, you'll know what I mean."

Katara was a bit surprised. "You are one of his ministers?"

"Member of the Council of Five, actually. The Earth King needs all the advice he can get lately. The war may be finished, but there is still a lot of work to be done… and a lot more once we have to deal with whatever is left of those pesky colonies. We can't thank you enough for all that you're doing to restore our kingdom." Yu nodded a bow.

Aang laughed nervously. "I've been doing what I can… We have found some issues, but we're trying to work around them."

"Oh how is that? Maybe there's something I can assist you with."

"That is fine, General, we've spoken to the Earth King about it–"

"General Yu, His Majesty is waiting for you to begin a meeting."

The old general narrowed his eyes and turned his ear to the servant, who repeated the message.

"Another one?" I'll be there immediately. Well, Avatar, it was a pleasure to meet you."

As the General was leaving, Katara whispered to Aang. "I didn't see that guy in the Council of Five…"

He shrugged. "Maybe he's new." A servant shyly entered the room and asked them to follow them to their table. Adjacent to the throne room, they found a long table laden with fish, bread, dumplings, salads, noodles, and rice. He was dazzled by the choices.

His mouth was already watering from the smell. "Is all this supposed to be for us?"

"The other guests are in a meeting, but the King said anyone could have as much as you wanted. Or if there's a dish you may desire, we can make the royal chef prepare it for you."

"This is more than enough, thank you…" The servant bowed and stepped away to join another. He was uncomfortable that the attendants had to stand there looking as they ate. Kuei's bear was brought inside the room on a leash by three other servants, and it walked on its hind legs and sniffed before sitting next to him. It buried its head in a fish, devouring it. The servants quickly set another before it. Aang laughed, paying him no mind as he tasted the tofu.

Katara brought a hand to her mouth, closing her eyes. "Mm! Sweetie, you have to try this!"

"I'm still working on these delicious pan-fried noodles!"

"This has got to be the best tofu I've ever tasted! Right, Momo?" The lemur snatched a dumpling from his hand, immediately munching on it.

Kuei entered the room, accompanied by his guards and with a grim look on his face. "Avatar Aang and Katara, thank you for giving me the time to ponder our present situation."

Aang stood up with his mouth half full, saying, "No problem, your earthiness! Thank you for dinner! So, when should we set up our meeting with Fire Lord Zuko?"

Kuei stared at his clenched fist. "I'm sorry, but you're not going to like what I have to say. All my life I've been weak–so weak that my most trusted advisor was able to hide a hundred years' war behind a curtain of lies! Well, I'm tired of being weak! It's time for me to be a man!"

Aang almost choked on his food, his eyes widening with fear.

Katara gruffed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

The King slammed his fist into his palm. "Fire Lord Zuko promised he would see the Harmony Restoration Movement through to the very end. Now he's turned his promise into a lie! Why should I meet with him? So he can tell me more lies?! I will not stand for any more lies! I will order General How to lead my troops to Yu Dao and enforce harmony!"

Katara paled. "Your Majesty, do you even hear what you're saying?"

Aang shook his head, alarmed. "Please, Earth King Kuei! Sending your army there will be seen as a declaration of war!"

Kuei's gaze was resolute. "The Fire Nation residents of Yu Dao will either leave my kingdom peacefully or face the direst of consequences! That is my decision! If you are not with me, Avatar Aang, then I can only assume you are against me!" The King turned around, and his guards blocked the way behind him.

Aang held his hand out. "Your Majesty! Please wait!" The doors closed with a dull thud, and the guards stood before them in stony silence. But they opened again as General Yu marched in, escorted by royal guards.

Aang turned pleadingly to the man. "General Yu, you have to let us through!"

"I'm sorry, Avatar, the Earth King doesn't want to be disturbed."

In disbelief, Katara screamed at him, "You have to make him see reason! He could start another war!"

The General raised an eyebrow. "War? What war would he start?"

The Avatar was dumbfounded. "You went to the meeting; you know he wants to send the army to Yu Dao!"

"And how do you assume that could start a war, Avatar Aang? The Earth Kingdom has sovereignty over that territory, reaffirmed by our treaty with the Fire Nation. We're within our rights. I'd suggest you convince Fire Lord Zuko to evacuate the colony peacefully. The army will merely oversee the operation."

With her eyes wide, Katara tried to step closer to Yu, but then his men grabbed their weapons. "General, this is madness! You cannot allow this! Where is General How? We have to see him."

The old man's tone was dry and cutting, his green eyes fixed on Katara's hands. "General How isn't here at the moment. I will ask you again to leave the palace; my men here can escort you out if you desire." She was reaching for her water bag.

Aang placed a hand on hers before bowing his head. "Thank you, General; we know where the door is." He almost had to pull Katara to leave, for she was still in shock.

The guards stared at them with caution as they walked out of the palace. Katara had been holding her breath. "Has everyone gone mad?! They were going to attack us!"

He looked down. He was disappointed by Kuei, for his method might have been wrong; but the man was still right. "No… I don't think the Earth King would have let them."

Katara's lip quivered. "Then why kick us out like that?"

He held her hands. "He's probably angry we came up with this. He shouldn't be doing this, but it is their land."

She closed her eyes. "What can we do now? We cannot allow this to happen."

He gripped her hands tighter, looking away for an answer that didn't come. He wished he could speak to Roku now… anyone at all. But there was only so much they could do. "We– We tell Zuko… Maybe help to try to get the people out before their army arrives. That way, we can make sure no violence breaks out."

"...Okay, you're right, maybe there's still time…"

Wasting no time, they quickly got their bearings, running towards open space. Aang whistled for Appa, who swooped down for them, gaining the attention of the surrounding guards. They would have to fly straight through the night if they even hoped to get as far as Yu Dao during the day. He felt bad for demanding so much from Appa, but they were running against the clock. However, if anyone could prevent a war it was them.

Chapter III

Hazily, Azula opened her eyes. She knew the place; it was one of the many rooms where the doctor had performed his tests. Its walls were painted white as snow, and the hanging overhead lights blinded her. She felt like she had seen it a thousand times already. Chained, she tried to move her arms, to no avail. Of course they put her in a straitjacket. Her senses came to her slowly, and faint voices grew louder. She felt confused, on edge. Then the fear struck that her mother could come for her at any moment, for it hadn't been the first time she had come tormenting. She froze when she heard the doctor's voice. "Please make sure to run these tests; everything has to be perfect."

"What if she isn't ready?"

"She will be. The last treatments have proven successful, more than I even imagined. The results have been replicated twice–" The doctor suddenly held his breath, and she heard a knock on the door.

"Sir, a message arrived from the Capital." A harsh, straightforward tone. It was a soldier; she was sure of it.

"What is it, sir?"

"He has rescheduled his visit…"

The nurse sounded nervous. "Should we still run the tests then?"

"They won't be necessary. Take her back." When she heard steps approaching, she closed her eyes. Not that it mattered, for she felt the clomp of the nurse's steps and a sharp pinch in her neck' Her heart slowed, she grew drowsy; and the next thing she knew, she was dumped onto her bed again. She tried to sit up, but there came a sharp pang in her head. She backed up against the wall, trying to inch herself up. As she winced in pain, she noticed her roommate on the other side of the room.

Zirin sat staring at her, her legs crossed. She was smirking at her, and after the guards left, she snorted. "Back again, huh? Great, was feeling lonely already."

Azula clutched her head. It was hard to remember; she knew he had been with her before. Maybe a couple of hours ago? Or a few days ago? They were talking, then she started to look at her and... She remembered seeing Zuko, her mother… Remembered hearing the doctor's voice. Her ears rang. She closed her eyes, wiping the sweat from her brow, and looked to her roommate for answers. "What happened?"

The girl sat up, her brown eyes staring at her coldly. "...What always happens to you. At least, they didn't blame me this time."

The throbbing stopped subtly, then Azula stared at her sharply. "How informative."

Zirin only returned a bored smile. Something sparkled her amusement, as she kicked her feet back up, looking at the ceiling. "Boy, they must have fried your brain already. Is there still something up there at all?"

She grit her teeth. "Oh, I don't know. I might snap, and your face could be a smoldering mess."

Zirin rolled her eyes, turning her head lazily. Azula noticed some of her wounds had healed, so perhaps a few days had passed. "Hmm. Good, good luck with the guards after that."

"I think it would be less painful."

She traced her finger along the lines of the padded wall, unphased by Azula's words. "Whatever. While you were over there dozed off, I managed to do something useful."

"Tsk...Go on. Tell me what unparalleled accomplishment the great Zirin has done."

Zirin sat facing her, her face turned serious."There's someone coming over, some high up that must be making the doc nervous."

Azula narrowed her eyes. "And how is that of any help?"

"Well, I heard most of the soldiers will be used to guard the perimeter. We'll be back to normal numbers over here during the visit… Or I think that will be the case. You said I should wait for a chance; now here's one." There was a hint of skepticism in her voice. She could tell Zirin wasn't completely sure about it.

Azula snorted. "That's what you call a chance? One slip up and they'll come rushing in to beat us bloody."

Zirin sighed then laughed off her reply. "There's two ways this could go. It either goes smoothly and, by some miracle, we escape… or we fight. There's a tiny detail, though–this higher up will be in the main hall. The doctor will be there too, which means they'll be locked in with us."

What she proposed was suicide either way. They wouldn't get far before they found them. "Hostage taking. And what will we do when they open fire as we leave the building?"

"We just take them with us to the forest, gut them there, and run. Easy."

Azula softly rested her head on her pillow. "Wake me up when you have a real plan."

"So you think they won't let us through if we have the Fire Lord as a hostage? Funny how that mind of yours works."

"The…Fire Lord?" She got up so quickly. She felt dizzy. Or perhaps the news had made her so.

"Oh, what? Are you going to pass out on me now?"

Too dumbfounded to speak, she tried and failed to think of what reason could her brother possibly have to be there. "No, it's that– This changes things. Maybe he's coming to gloat. Or maybe watch– No, finish me off himself! And she'll stand back and smile." She snarled, and her heart beat faster. Her anger flared as if she was reliving that moment again.

At first, Zirin was taken aback by her sudden change of mood, but she threw on her tough persona. "So, you're that type of crazy, huh? Why would that guy even waste his time coming to see a nutcase such as you?"

Why would he waste his time? Oh, this peasant! "Because I am Princess Azula!"

Zirin wheezed with laughter and had to breathe for a moment. "Oh, I am so sorry, Your Highness. Do you need me to wash your feet?"

Azula trembled in rage before breathing deeply for a long moment. "Believe whatever you want, peasant. If he's coming here, then I'll help."

"Oh please, I've seen a few who claim to be the Fire Lord around here. Another nut who claims to be the princess makes no difference to me. You could be Puppetmaster Zei for all I care."

She lay down on her bed, ignoring her. Then, Zirin gestured lazily at the door. "Besides, if anyone is a peasant here, it's those guards and nurses. In case you haven't noticed, sweetheart, we're the broken dishes our so noble families swept under the rug. They just couldn't afford to make us have tragic accidents."

After a few minutes of silence passed, she cooled off as best she could. "...Why are you here anyway?"

"Oh, so now that you actually want to help, you think we're suddenly friends and all? Ha. Yeah, I don't think so." She muttered, "Princess… Next, you'll tell me you have dragon blood."

"I guess it's a pitiful reason."

"I'll tell you what: amuse me. Tell me how you ended up here, then I'll tell you."

"Fine, I was the heir to the Dragon Throne, destined to rule, then my mother and brother conspired against me to imprison me here and torture me."

Zirin snorted. "Yeah, and my mother's a goose-goat."

"Amused, then?"

"…Ah sparks. Who's gonna care? I was the 'rebellious' daughter of Lord Wen and Lady Kotone." Azula hadn't heard of them, for most minor nobles were undeserving of her attention. "Let's just say I didn't like their ostentatious parties, or their fake guests. You probably know how the game works…"

Not only did Azula know it, she had mastered it. Being the only princess in court, the mind games and the double edged conversations were a daily part of her life. It was as useful a tool as her firebending, not that it served her much. It had made her blind to those closest to her.

"...false compliments there and there. It was boring as ash, but my mother thought doing anything beyond sitting and saying 'please' and 'thank you' was dirty peasant behavior. So, I was just the target of gossip for hanging out with commoners and doing things that weren't proper for someone of my stature."

Azula could tell she was reliving those moments, for the anger was etched in her face. There was, however, a tinge of sadness, maybe regret or longing.

Zirin sighed. "It all went to The Lair the day they announced I was getting married… And that's as far as I'll tell you. Anyway, they considered me a deviant–that somehow… there must have been something wrong with my head–so they put me in here. Needless to say, my parents didn't shed any tears for me. They just abandoned me in this... prison." Her eyes glimmered, but her face remained as hard as stone.

Her cellmate huffed a bitter laugh. "Imagine my surprise when I found out that not even half of the people here had any real problems. They were just more skeletons of parents who wanted to save their 'reputation'." Her eyes were frank yet arrogant. "And to be straight with you, you're not one of them."

Azula hummed. "And here I thought you had something more to it…. But no, you were never important." She glumly stared at the ceiling. "Good news is that isn't of much value at the moment."

"Thanks for stating the obvious. So, now that you want in… What are your thoughts about our little opportunity?"

"What you told me is barely enough. We still don't know how many guards they'll keep in our area, plus you can bet that the main hall will be secured on all sides. There's no way we're going to be able to use the doors. Also, we risk their escape if the guards on our side raise the alarm. We're going to need another way in there. Do you know anyone who passes through there regularly?"

Zirin looked away in thought. "Yeah, actually… Hana does. I barely even see her anymore… but I could get one of the others to pass the message."

"The sooner we have more information on that place, the better."

"Okay… I'll do that–get you what you need." She turned to look at her. "Just let me get this straight: I'm doing this for them, and I'm not falling for any of your tricks now. If you try to double cross me again, I'll kill you. Understand?"

"If you do your part, I'll do mine. My quarrel is with the Fire Lord, not you." Before, she had tried to escape; now, it was the least of her worries. Getting to Zuko had become her priority. She knew that wherever he was, Mother would have to be near. And if she wasn't, she'd somehow come to protect him like she always did.

"Right… because your brother stole your throne…" Zirin looked up in frustration. "And this is what I have to rely on…"

Azula shook her head. "Doesn't seem like you have much of a choice."

Zirin crossed her arms. "I could always take my chances."

She smiled, almost laughing at her imbecilic confidence. "Yet you can't. For all the time you were locked up here, you couldn't find a way out. I doubt you'd even be able to do it if you had a hundred years to plan it. You need me whether you like it or not."

Zirin sighed. "What do you want with him anyway?" She appeared worried, but it was understandable. Anyone in their right mind who hailed from the Fire Nation would naturally be afraid of the Fire Lord or the consequences that attempting to endanger him would entail.

"I need him alive if that's what you're worried about… until I find her."

Zirin looked less tense, but her eyes told her she was still feeling uncertain about her motives. "Okay... Until you… do whatever it is you want to do, what do you say? Truce?" Azula nodded.

Her cellmate took a deep breath; she had gotten what she wanted. She sat down again and held her chin. "Now all you have to do is wait. I know there's not much you can do from here, but I'll take care of getting you the information you need. You take care of the plan."

Plan? She can't be serious. With the scraps she knew so far, she couldn't piece out a plan. It didn't help that she couldn't get any information on her own, for she was trapped in that room. She was only taken out for emergencies or because the doctor had ordered it. So far, they had been extremely careful with her. "I won't be able to do anything from here..."

Zirin scoffed. "And you think I get to decide if they let you out? Do you think the doctor will let you? I don't think so."

"He thinks I'm harmless now; that I can't do anything..."

"Correction: you think he thinks that. You look down on me like I don't know anything, but you're an idiot if you think that man considers you harmless. I mean, look at you."

Azula shrugged. No one else would let her go out but the doctor, but she feared the idea of facing the man, despised it with every fiber of her being. She couldn't help but freeze in his presence, but he was the only one with the authority to free her. "It's worth a try; otherwise, there's no way we can get out."

"If you think that... then... how can you get the ass to see you?" There was only one way she knew how to get the guards' attention. She wouldn't be able to fake an illness without the doctor noticing, and a request for a meeting would be easily ignored or passed on so slowly as to be pointless. But if Zirin attacked her… they'd take her right to him.

She looked at Zirin; but her associate's eyes widened at their simultaneous realization, and her voice shook. "Oh no! Don't even think about it!"

"This way, they'll take me right to him."

"Yeah, and I'll take a beating…" She was right, for the guards hadn't been exactly kind to her. And at best, she'd be bedridden for a week, time they couldn't afford to lose. At worst, they'd kill her, rendering any chance of getting information null. But now, Azula barely even cared about caution. She'd get to Zuko no matter the cost, would do anything to throttle her mother.

Zirin pointed at herself. "How about you attack me? That would be better, wouldn't it?"

She took a deep breath, and they went for it without wasting any time. A few scratches and screaming did the trick. Her roommate desperately banged the door. "Help! Please help! She went crazy! I need help!"

Azula could hear steps sprinting down the corridor, at least four. They stopped right outside, no doubt about to come flooding in. There came a hoarse voice. "Step away from the door." Zirin slid to the side, and the door slammed open. Two immediately restrained her cellmate, and another two took hold of her, quickly jabbing a syringe in her neck. She faintly felt how she was being dragged away, heard the sound of the metal door closing.

When she opened her eyes, she felt a familiar pain–a chill ache. She felt like she was spinning. Nauseated, she found it hard to identify her surroundings. She spotted a metal table with surgical tools and what looked like a water basin. Unsurprisingly, she couldn't move, as her body was tightly restrained, so much so that her limbs tingled with numbness.

A tired sigh came from behind her. "Thought I wasn't going to see you here again. Yet here you are… Guards say you attacked your roommate. Now you know that kind of behavior is not tolerated here." The doctor placed a stool in front of her. Azula tried her best to stop her shivering and began to think her mother might have intended for this to happen. It was the reason why she hadn't heard her voice before. When she raised her gaze, she saw her behind him.

Her lips trembled. "Sh-she–" Her mother walked closer to her, looking at her pitifully.

"Shh… Don't want to hear any of it, not now. Aren't you safe here? Happy? Cared for? You know, I thought you were making progress, but perhaps I had it wrong all along."

Her mother looked down, clenching her fists.

The doctor began to clean the tools, so she knew she had to say something, anything that could make him stop. "I see her…"

He looked at her confused, narrowing his void eyes. "Who?"

Her gaze shifted between him and her mother. "My mother… She's here now; she provoked me. I'm fine otherwise, I swear."

He left his scalpel in the tray, pulling out his notebook. He flitted through the pages and stabbed one with a finger. "Your mother… Lady Ursa, is it? Curious… If I recall well, you told me you didn't see her anymore after the last procedure."

Her eyes shifted. "I–I didn't, I was telling the truth, but sometimes she returns. it didn't happen before; It just happens when I start thinking about her… see something that reminds me of her."

The man pulled out a pencil and sat in front of her again, scribbling something. "Hmm… Tell me, then, what brings her back? You mentioned she talks to you. Does she say anything? "

Azula looked down. "I… I can't tell. I just know that ever since I've been locked away, I see her more often. It helps me to focus on different things… She doesn't talk to me; she just stares at me." She had to find a way to save the situation, still needed to get out. "It didn't happen as often when I could go outside. I think having some fresh air could really help me."

The man was silent as he continued scribbling in his notebook. As he closed it, he finally looked to her. "I suppose that counts as an improvement… I'll tell you what: you will get some time outside and extra therapy. Then, you will answer some questions, and you will be good to go on about your day. You have shown much progress. Let's keep it that way. We will begin now."

Her mother pearlclutched. "Do you hate me and your brother so much, Azula? When we care for you?"

Azula gritted her teeth. The doctor stepped in front of her, obstructing her view. "Are you alright?"

She slightly shook her head. "Yes… Thank you, I feel better already." The man walked away; and from behind her, he brought a machine she knew too well. She anticipated the pain already, clenching her fists so tightly that she felt she was cutting herself.

He brought some nurses to the room, and they attached wires to her body. "Oh, another thing–you are going to be placed alone. We can't have guests arguing with each other, right? A temporary measure. Now please sit still."

A nurse put a wooden guard in her mouth, and she closed her eyes in anticipation as the electricity coursed through her body. But even with her eyes closed, she could see her there.

Every time she was stricken with the agony, she thought the pain would diminish, sting less, but it couldn't have been further from the truth. Her hands balled into fists for a moment, compelled by the current. She thought she could feel the lightning moving through her body, almost as if she could command it. But she couldn't endure it for any longer and let go.

It felt like being in a dream, hazy yet so real to her. Her skin still tingled as if the electricity remained. When she looked around, she noticed she had been locked up alone again, her straitjacket tightly pressing her arms together. She sat down in a corner and took a deep breath, trying to clear her head.

Just as she did so, Mother was sitting at the other side of the room. "Is this what you wanted, Azula?"

She closed her eyes, trying to wish her away, but it was to no avail.

"That man is only–"

"He is doing as you order him. Isn't that right, Mother? He's holding back until Zuko arrives. I know it's just a matter of time… You want me to die here, don't you?! It would be so convenient for you two."

"I do not wish for your death, Azula. You think holding your brother hostage will do you any good, daughter? "

"Don't call me that!"

Her mother looked down. "If anything, you'd only be showing everyone that you truly have lost it… That isn't you, Azula; you are better than that."

"You don't know anything! I know you're scared that I'm coming for you. You won't be able to hide behind Zuzu this time!"

"I never have and never will. Are you looking for a way to punish yourself, Azula? Much of this has been your doing. You think I am somehow working against you when I am just trying to protect you."

She shuddered. "I– No, I won't allow you to turn my mind against me! Not anymore!"

Her mother pursed her lips, and her eyes were teary. "Only you can stop this, Azula. The path you wish to walk will only bring more destruction. Even if you kill me, it won't bring you peace. You will only harm yourself in the end."

"Then maybe I don't want peace." Azula smiled sharply. "I only wish for you to suffer like I have."

Her mother shook her head and disappeared. Just like that, she would appear to mess with her–to stall her. She knew what she had to do, even though, deep in her heart, the things she had done haunted her. But she had always tried to find a justification.

Before, everything she did was for the good of her nation, for her father. But now? Now, it was only for her sake… or rather to avenge what she had lost. After all, her mother and brother were responsible for her ending up in that place; therefore, they were responsible for everything that had happened to her and what she had to do to survive. But the next time she left that place, there was no way she would go back, for she would achieve her goal no matter the cost. She just needed that chance. And she would get it!

She imagined her hands pressing her mother's throat; how she'd squeeze then burn her skin. She would give her a scar to match her precious Zuzu's; and as she crawled away pleading for mercy, she'd burn her. Inch. By. Inch.