Ty Lee felt something warm and wet on her face. The unusual feeling stirred her from sleep. As her eyes crawled open, she saw Azula's smiling face. She was patting a warm cloth on the acrobats' forehead.
"You were getting warm. I had Aang collect a cloud for me to cool you down.", Azula's voice was soft.
"Did you know clouds are made of water, Ty Lee? I never did and I practically lived in the sky my whole life.", Aang chirped.
"It's pretty basic knowledge, Aang." Azula scolded. "Like I told you last time you brought it up."
"Really? They're made of water!?" Ty Lee perked up, seemingly not hearing Azula. "Then, how do they float?"
"Okay! So it's not just me wondering how that makes sense!?", Zuko interjected.
Azula sighed.
"Ty Lee is cute and Aang's the Avatar. How do you make up for it, Zuzu?"
Zuko feigned a groan. "No free passes for your older brother?"
Azula pretended to ponder the question. "Well, I suppose you aren't the worst big brother ever. I guess you get a free pass this time."
Ty Lee tried to laugh, but the laugh quickly turned into a hacking cough. The girl leaned back, groaning and grabbing her ribs.
"Don't laugh, LeeLee.", concern filled Azula's words. "Compressing your abdomen is a bad idea. You could reopen your wounds."
Ty Lee gave a weak smile. "That's going to be a bit of a problem for me, Azuzu." She turned to Zuko. "Especially when Zuko keeps making those faces."
Azula rolled her eyes, not even bothering to look back. "Still having trouble accepting…" Azula took a breath. She pushed her voice into her upper register, making it sound far girlier than even Ty Lee. "...your little sister being all sweet to her new girlfriend."
She didn't even need to look. She could feel Zuko freezing up in disgust. The gagging was a bit much, she scoffed.
Azula regretted her teasing as Ty Lee had another coughing fit. She cursed herself for her lack of restraint. Teasing Zuko was her pastime but there is a time and place for everything.
Prince Sokka was feeling pretty good today. He had a renewed ship. His men were well-rested. And a little crabhawk told him that "Admiral" Hahn was in a navy hospital in the colonies. Guess hunting the Avatar wasn't that easy, was it?
His smug demeanor wasn't lost on Bato. Reading his mind, Bato started. "We shouldn't count our sealchicks before they hatch. We still need to actually get the Avatar before Hahn or anyone else can."
The young prince waved off his second father. "Details, details." He outstretched his arms. "One of our competitors is down and in an embarrassing way. Even if it gets found out that we were taken down too, the blow will be softened by Hahn's blunder."
"I'm not sure Hakoda will grade you on a curve. This contest isn't a colonial rededucation school.", Bato mused.
Prince Sokka didn't want to hear it. "Let's focus on the task at hand. Admiral Hahn found the Avatar after searching Jang Hui. I guess our scouts must have missed something." Sokka giggled. "Considering how dumb Hahn is, I bet we'll figure it out quickly and be at the Avatar's doorstep by sundown."
Bato sighed. "I hate when he gets like this," he thought.
Aang whistled as a mountain came into view. "Is that Ishigaki? Where does everyone live?"
"It's a base hidden within the mountain.", Azula turned to the hidden city. "The most secure nation in the Fire Islands."
"That sounds a lot like something the Earth Kingdom would do.", Aang scratched his chin.
"It is a bit of a melting pot of the two nations, from everything I've heard.", Zuko didn't look up from sharpening his swords.
"It might be more than that.", Ty Lee interjected. "Mai mentioned her father letting the Earth Kingdom have some ownership over the island."
Zuko leaned forward. "Mai is in Ishigaki?"
Azula scoffed. "And her cowardly father is the warlord now? I wonder how that change is working out for them?"
Aang turned to the group. The way Zuko had reacted got the airbender's attention. The fire prince seemed withdrawn. Well, more than usual. Who was this 'Mai' person?
Aang decided to hold his tongue. The airbender had learned that there was a lot of drama in these royal circles. He would talk to Zuko later. Aang has had his fill of Fire Nation family drama over the last few weeks.
Mai was making her way through the dark tunnel called Ishigaki. Her duties as the first daughter were clear: she was captain of the guard and the right-hand of her father. In practice, however, her role was more ceremonial and her influence only held sway with the fire islanders, not the foreign soldiers. Even amongst the islanders, her position was decried as nepotism.
Mai was of noble blood, but not royal blood. Her clan had been a lesser one in the old royal court. Worse, she came from a lineage of nonbenders. Mai was skilled with throwing darts, of course. Most who spoke ill of her learned to hold their tongue, lest the next knife she threw pierce their throat. The real kicker, however, was her father: the regent who sold Fire Alliance land to the Earth Kingdom. Mai had nothing to do with the decision, but she certainly was paying for it.
Her rounds were usually boring affairs. Partially, that was her own fault. She never spoke to anyone unless she had to do so. She also had a habit of ignoring her duties, when she felt the mood. They were dull tasks, after all. Like who cares about some washed up princess in her little hovel-castle?
Mai was supposed to keep an eye on her and her guard. She had put off checking in for almost a month. Why should she care about some washed up princess? The Dai Li certainly had a use for her, but why should she care about it? Mai knew, however, she could only shirk her duties for so long before someone would check in. The Dai Li were always watching.
Mai knocked at the door. "Hey, princess, are you, like, awake in there?" Her voice was flat and lifeless, as usual.
No response.
With a sigh, Mai knocked again. "Hey, open up. I'm here to check on you."
No response.
Mai knocked harder. "I said, open up! Ugh, I got things to do today!"
When she heard nothing but silence again, Mai decided that being respectful had run its course. She removed a throwing dart from its holster under her blouse and placed it in the door frame. With a nudge, the leverage the blade afforded broke the door and separated the hinges from the frame. A slight push opened the door.
Mai would order someone to fix the door later. It's not like she did anything wrong. In Ishigaki, if law enforcement wanted you, you either opened up or they came in anyway.
The young girl was instantly confused. She was certain her father had the residence fully furnished and well-stocked. The prisoner was a princess, even if that meant little in the Fire Islands. Yet the apartment was practically bare. What could have happened? A break-in?
Mai tensed. She drew another throwing dagger and kept the blade at the ready. She wasn't sure what worried her more: getting attacked by some previous intruder or what the Dai Li would do to her if they found out the princess was harmed on her watch. Maybe she can push it all on the door guards? Questions for later: Mai pushed the thought aside.
Mai combed the room. Her eyes scanned the empty walls for a sign of any invader, of the princess, of the dumb guard who was supposed to be at the door. She inched her way up the stairs. As she drew closer, she heard the rumblings of movements. There was the soft whisper of talking. Mai couldn't discern the owner's of the voices. She barely listened to people when they talked, she wasn't an expert of putting voices to a face. The two voices definitely sounded unfamiliar. The intruders? Then again, she never met the Princess. Maybe the female voice was her's.
It was too risky to announce her presence. The sounds seemed to come from behind a door. Light was radiating from the bottom of the frame. Mai took her throwing dagger and silently moved it under the door. From the reflection of the metal, Mai could make out two figures moving about the room. Removing the blade, she put herself in a striking stance. The door appeared unlocked.
Her plan was about being quick, silent, and controlling the situation, just as the Royal Fire Academy For Girls had taught her. Don't give them time to react, keep them pinned down, and identify the targets before striking.
Like a beetlecat, Mai pounced. The door swung open to a disorganized room. The two figures were leaning into one another. Mai couldn't make out their faces. Her daggers remained at the ready. Wait, wasn't that one of the guards? And that woman. Her crown? Ursa? Azula's mom? The Fire Princess?
What are they doing? Were they kissing?
The lovebirds responded in an instant, turning to the door. The guard made a motion for his sword, but stopped the second he recognized the intruder. A sickly green look took over the two's faces. The two tried to avert their gaze from the young girl.
"Okay." Mai dropped her guard. Her dead voice and fish eyes hid her surprise and confusion. "What the heck were you two doing?"
As the large bison flew into the underground cavern, Aang couldn't help but whistle at the impressive sight before him. The cavern seemed to stretch for miles. Even from the docks, the young airbender could be the light of houses stretching for miles into this underground city. The monk's mind went to the western air temple. His former home was built perplexingly upside down, the building springing from the underside of a cliff. The Avatar wondered what happened to his home after his people fled. The boy shook the thoughts from his head. Possessions were possessions, his culture lived with his people at Boiling Rock.
Azula seemed to read the monk's thoughts. "It is a rather impressive garrison." Azula pointed to the first row of houses in the distance. "Last time I was here that was the extent of the housing." The princess chuckled. "I guess the Earth Kingdom did some rather extensive renovations."
Aang eyed behind the princess. He sighed. Moving his voice inward, the monk whispered. "Hey, Azula, who's Mai?"
Azula snickered. "Sorry, airhead, but you're going to have to wait for Zuko to tell you that one." The girl shrugged, knowing her words did not satisfy the monk's curiosity. "Blame yourself: you taught me to be nicer."
The monk rolled his eyes. "And somehow that means more secrets."
Azula tilted her head to the monk. "This isn't the "darkest secret of the Fire Nation" kind. This is just Zuko's business." The princess motioned to the sleeping Ty Lee. "Just like Ty Lee was my business." She turned to her brother, but kept her voice low. "It's his decision when to deal with it."
Zuko questioned his sister's stare. She ignored him.
Appa landed on the edge of the docks. Within moments, a skinny man rushed forward. His outfit was of immediate interest. The citizens of the four nations generally kept to the colors of their nation. It was a strange tradition that was richly honored across the world for thousands of years. The origin of the tradition had something to do with the availability of dye and the types of the plants that grew in each nation. This man, however, wore a mantle of the Fire Alliance over the green robes of the Earth Kingdom.
"Which is he?", Aang mumbled. "Fire National or Earth Citizen?"
"He's a traitor.", Azula scowled.
"Excuse me, but did you have permission to bring your sky bison into Ishigaki today?", the man began to lecture the teens.
"Permission?", Aang jumped down from his bison.
"Yes, permission: paperwork, permits, etc.? Did you even check for air clearance before you arrived? The Dai Li wanted to shoot you down until I convinced them otherwise. Surely, an air nomad would have no ill will towards their saviors.", the man sounded rather high and mighty.
"I think you'll find everything in order.", Azula jumped down, dragging her brother with her. "I'm sure your regent will like to see us safe and sound."
The man stared at the pair. "And you are?"
As they did before at Crescend Island, the pair recited their full titles for the man. He seemed unimpressed.
"And I assume you have documentation backing up your claim?", the man eyed the group.
"Documentation?" Zuko questioned.
Azula pointed to her crown. "Isn't this enough for you?"
"Could be a forgery. I need to see signed documentation either proving your claim to those titles or your right to land here today."
"Well, I'm the Avatar.", Aang chimed in.
The man rubbed his face. "Oh sure, I bet you are." The man looked incredulously at the boy. "I assume you can 'bend' another element to prove it to me. I must see at least two. I have heard of non-airbenders wearing robes to trick people before."
Aang scratched his head. "We're still working on that, actually."
Azula stared at the man. "You are going to let us through this instance. We have wounded who need care."
"You and half the Fire Island.", the man rolled his eyes.
Zuko seemed to be ahead of his sister, carrying down Ty Lee from the bison. "We're not making this up."
The man stared at the group, trying to decide what to make of them. After a long look at the wounded girl, he rubbed his eyes and sighed. "Monk, take the young lady to our healer. A Dai Li agent will escort you." He looked up at the royal siblings. "You two, go with me. The Crown Princess is in our city. She will verify your identity."
Aang didn't show any resistance to the idea, quickly taking Ty Lee from Zuko. Ty Lee, for her part, seemed to still be asleep throughout the whole exchange. Before he left, Aang gave his assurances to Azula that Ty Lee wouldn't be harmed.
Azula nodded. "I expect nothing less, Aang."
With the monk following a robbed figure off into town, the bureaucrat motioned for the royals to follow him.
"I'm surprised." Zuko murmured to his sister.
Azula didn't bother turning to her brother. If it weren't for her going "hm?", Zuko would have thought she didn't hear him.
"The Azula I knew would have threatened this man and demanded entry." Zuko folded his arms. "Either there is more going on here or you have a plan."
"Or maybe the monk's rubbing off on me." Azula turned a devilish smile to the prince.
"He definitely has," Zuko paused, "but I've known you a lot longer. You know something. Don't leave me out of the loop."
"I suppose you may be onto something." Azula played with her brother. "I may have noticed the earth kingdom soldiers - Dai Li, was it? - who seem to be skulking about everywhere and thought that it was best not to rock the boat."
"They aren't that tough." Zuko looked about. "Not as bad as Uncle said. The Southern Earth Kingdom used their secret police to make their army. I don't think it's panned out."
"You're right for once." She scanned the soldiers as they passed through town. "The Dai Li of Ba Sing Se may have been a formidable force, but these warriors seem to be common foot soldiers."
"They're spread thin. Must have lowered the recruitment guidelines." Zuko whispered.
Azula laughed. "You really are putting that little brain of yours to good work today. I think you hit it on the head. That might make escape a bit easier than expected." She looked up slyly. "However, this terrain and their numbers give them a clear advantage if things go south. We aren't in the Fire Alliance anymore and I don't think we're welcome here."
Zuko said nothing. The young prince simply stared out in deep thought.
"We've arrived." The man interrupted the two. He gestured towards a rather unassuming house in the town. The only striking feature was the Fire Nation flag on the front: an appreciated touch of nobility. However, Zuko and Azula were more quick to notice the broken door at the front.
"You put mom in a house like this?" Zuko pointed to the front. "The doors off the hinges."
The man suddenly jumped, both at Zuko's tone and the door itself. He gulped. "Well, I'm sure there is a perfectly reasonable explanation for this once we get inside."
"There better be!" Zuko poked the man's chest before he turned to enter the damaged home.
Azula mockingly blew at one of her bangs. "And he jokes that I threaten people?" The fire princess grumbled "momma's boy" before following her brother and the man inside.
The silence was deafening. Neither of the lovebirds knew what to say. They were both twice her age. In most situations, the two would be lecturing her. But Mai was the daughter of the regent and a member of the Dai Li. And they were a princess and a guard having an extramarital affair. The roles were pretty clear.
"Ugh." Mai groaned. "I'm not going to arrest you or anything. It's not illegal to kiss people in Ishigaki, for now."
Ursa kept her poker face, but Ikem let out a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank the spirits. I thought you were going to arrest me for dating the Fire Princess." It took everything in Ursa's power not to smack her boyfriend.
Mai raised an eyebrow. "You're dating the Fire Princess? The one married to one of the most powerful firebenders in the world?" Her deadpan said it all.
Ikem looked at Ursa. Then back to Mai. "Well, when you put it that way, it does sound bad. But, I've faced him before and lived." Ikem puffed out his chest. Ursa dropped her head into both of her hands. Mai sympathized.
"Yeah, well, I don't care how you plan on getting yourself killed." Mai shrugged. "Just try to have your little sessions on your off hours instead of leaving your post."
"But the Dai Li will notice me entering?" Ikem was puzzled.
"The Dai Li only care if they think they can get something out of it. Ugh!", Mai rolled her eyes. "Princess, would the Prince give anything up to find out you were dating this guy?"
"Ozai would probably want to know. He was always...possessive." Ursa slumped inward. Mai and Ikem didn't fail to notice the gesture. Mai's face softened with pity for a moment. "But, I'm not worth enough to him to sacrifice any of his ambitions. This blackmail would only work on me and I don't see the benefit in that."
Mai sighed. "Alright, fine." Mai shrugged at the guard. "What's your name?"
Ikem was confused. "Ikem?"
"Ikem, I officially promote you from 'door guard' to 'interior guard.' After your shift, present your ID to me and I'll have the reassignment made official."
Ikem pointed to himself. "You can do that?"
"I'm my father's right hand. I can do a lot of things, jeez. Just be happy about it." Mai spat out.
Ursa gave the girl an approving look. It was clever. If Ikem was supposed to be inside, no one would question his absence from the door. It would be easier to explain things if they were caught, in most instances. And Ikem would be assigned to this duty everyday as he was the sole interior guard.
Mai noticed. "Ugh, can you stop? I'm not looking for your approval."
"Well, you have it. Might as well accept it." Ursa chuckled.
Mai groaned and turned to the door. Suddenly, she froze. A familiar voice called out. It was the voice of a young man that Mai knew well. There was no way. It couldn't be him, right? Zuko? Here? Now?
Mai sighed. It is his mother's house.
Zuko's mood didn't improve when he entered the house. In fact, his temper flared at the bare apartment. This is what they gave his mother?
The bureaucrat barely got through the door before he was getting an earful from the young prince.
"What is this!? There isn't even a chair? Is she a guest or a prisoner!?", Zuko barked.
The bureaucrat seemed just as confused as Zuko. "I-I was under the impression that no luxury was s-spared."
"Broken door. Barren apartment. Stupefied bureaucrat." Azula observed. "Sounding more and more like a burglary." The princess crossed her arms. "Seems the mighty Ishigaki is not as safe as it would like people to believe."
Before the bureaucrat could bluster some excuse, a dull voice interrupted from upstairs. "Well, it's good to see neither of you changed."
Mai, Ursa, and her guard, Ikem, descended from the stairs. Mai continued her rebuke as she got closer to the royal siblings. "Zuko's still a hothead and Azula's still an ice queen."
Zuko snapped to Mai. Just as quickly, he looked away. Azula and Mai sighed.
Ursa cut the silence. "There is no reason to get mad, Zuko. I gave all their furniture to the other refugees. It just felt right."
Azula rolled her eyes. "How magnanimous."
"What brought you two here?", Ursa ignored her daughter. Azula expected nothing less.
"Uh, yes." The bureaucrat started. "These two seek asylum here for a sick friend. They claimed to be your child. I need your-"
"They are both my kids. Your job is done. You may leave." Ursa was short with the bureaucrat.
The man adjusted his glasses. "Well, that's all well and good then. You'd be willing to sign that officially-"
"I gave my word, the word of your princess. Please," Ursa's words softened but her look did not, "leave us to our business immediately. Thank you for your service."
The man seemed upset being dismissed so easily. He looked ready to speak when Mai pointed to the door. "You are dismissed," Mai mumbled.
Without a further word, the man left, doing his best not to huff. Once he was gone, Ursa shot her question. "Was the 'sick friend' Aang? Did something happen?"
"No," Zuko mumbled, "it was Azula's…" Zuko looked at his sister. She shot him a cold stare. "...friend, Ty Lee."
"Ty Lee?", Ursa stumbled. "When did she join?"
"At Ember Island. Azula convinced her to leave the circus and join us." Zuko stammered.
"That isn't exactly what happened." Azula mumbled.
"Is she okay?", concern was in Ursa's voice.
"She will be.", Azula didn't look at her mother. "Her wounds are bad, after fighting father, but she'll live."
"Your father!?", Ursa stepped forward. Mai raised an eyebrow. Ikem stepped back, surprised.
"Oh, did you think I was the perfect little daddy's girl? Even after what happened to Zuzu? I bet you thought I liked doing that to him." Azula's words were cold and sharp, cutting at her mother.
Mai raised an eyebrow. Her faced uncharacteristically recoiled in horror. She had not looked at Zuko too closely before. As a matter of fact, she avoided looking at his face. It was a matter of habit for her, but she especially did not want to look Zuko in the eye. When the noble examined the prince, however, she finally saw it: Zuko's horrific facial burns. What had happened to Zuko?
Ursa was following suit. Her daughters words caused a tear to form in her right eye. "D-did you really have to say that?" Ursa struggled.
Azula sighed. "Always making it about herself."
Ikem jumped in. "Hey, I'm not sure what happened here with any of you, but this is a reunion, isn't it? First time seeing each other in months? Maybe we can turn it down a bit. I'm sure we can talk about something better."
Azula eyed the man. "Who's the idiot, mother? Your bodyguard?"
Ikem turned to say something, probably let a secret out in the process, but Ursa stopped him. "Yes, he's my new house guard."
"Good. He seems weak willed and scrawny. Perfect fit. Teach him to keep his mouth shut." Azula didn't look at Ikem as the fire princess mocked him.
"He has a point." Zuko sighed. "Things have been rough since Crescent Island. Maybe we should relax. I can explain things to mom. Maybe you and Mai can talk. You did attend academy together."
Azula whispered to her brother. "We both know that neither of us can avoid the inevitable confrontation, brother. But, fair enough, we can delay it a bit longer."
Azula turned to Mai. "You heard my brother: let's go, Mai."
While a brief look of discontent flashed across her features, Mai followed Azula, like falling into an old pattern. Their departure left Zuko alone with his mother and her guard.
"Is this how things always are in your family?" Ikem mustered.
"No, sometimes me and my daughter fight." Ursa sighed as she brushed away her tears from earlier.
The first thing Sokka smelled was burnt wood. It was not an uncommon smell in the Fire Islands. They were called "the Fire Islands." You kind of expected things to be, well, on fire, from time to time. Still, fire wasn't a good thing, even in the former Fire Nation. When something was burning, it usually meant something had gone wrong. Someone leaving their food on for too long, a warm hearth that simply got out of control, a firebender accidentally setting their guest's underwear on fire, and otherwise.
The young prince tried to take his mind off the smell. Someone in Jang Hui probably just made a fire to keep themselves warm. In the spring. On a warm day.
As the village came into view, everything fell into the place as horror unfolded. The village was in ruins. The burning embers sizzled over the polluted waters. The crew of Sokka's ship were shocked. Jang Hui was no more. All that was left was burnt pillars and a collapses pier. Everything else was flotsam in the lake.
"Who could have done this?". Sokka let slip. "They weren't a military target."
Bato was cold. "There were talks that the North planned on starving them out. Hakoda was against the strategy but Arnook was a strong advocate." Bato cupped his chin. "Attacking the village was never on the table. There was nothing to be gained from it. It would just be pointlessly cruel."
"The village was burned." Sokka pointed at a burnt pillar. "Maybe this was just some overzealous bandits? A protection racket that went wrong."
Bato turned to the shore. "I'm not too sure." The old soldier gestured to the sandy beach. "There are refugees. They might know more. Maybe one of them has the tip that helped Hahn find the Avatar."
"We can probably spare some supplies too." Sokka mumbled.
In quick order, the prince's boat landed on the nearby shore. What awaited the group was an unwelcome surprise.
An old man in tattered clothes ran towards the boat. His fellow refugees screamed for him to get back. As Sokka and his man began to land, they found the old man bowing to them. A light sobbing could be heard.
"Please, we told you everything you wanted. Leave us be!" The old man's voice was horse. "If you are going to hurt anyone, choose me. Leave the others alone. I don't have much time left anyway."
Sokka and his men were frozen. They were no strangers to cold receptions. The Water Confederation was an invading force. At best, the islanders would offer begrudging hospitality to profit off his soldiers. At worst, they would fight them with a passion and determination worthy of respect. Never had any of these men seen such a broken figure among the islanders. It wasn't the nature of the Fire Islands.
For the prince, this confirmed his worst fears. Bato's face grew sour as he saw the prince shake.
"Was it a Water Confederation soldier who did this to you?"
The man looked up from his bow confused. Who else would attack a Fire Islander village. "Y-yes, my lord."
"Who?" The word sounded less like a question and more like a statement. Sokka felt he knew the answer.
"Sho, my lord. I am a fis-", the man answered eagerly, like a dog afraid of being punished.
"No." Sokka cut the elder off. "Who did this to you?"
Sho seemed confused. Looking back to his refugees for a moment, the old man found his words. "It was one of your admirals. He was accompanied by an islander." The man gulped. "His name was Hahn." Sokka could see some of the other refugees shake at the sound of Hahn's name.
Sokka's angier forced his body to mirror the villagers. The prince shot Bato a burning look.
"Have the men supply relief to these villagers." Sokka swallowed his rage. "Then inform the bridge we are heading for the colony immediately. I, I have a report for them." The furious monarch turned back towards the ship. "I will be in my cabin."
Bato watched the prince leave. The soldier did his best to swallow his concern. The prince needed him as his iceberg now more than ever. There was a fire in Sokka, an inferno blazing out of control. The boy wanted justice. Bato had to make sure the prince didn't get himself hurt in the process.
