A/N. I'm so sorry for not updating! My work has brought me to the most remote place of France, without internet and time to write. But I have a chapter and a half ready, so it will probably be more often from now on! No promises however!

In the mirror, from the corner of her eye.

As she turned her head towards the golden framed reflection, she knew she had imagined it. Had to be the case, for there was no one else but her in the room. Shrugging her shoulders, the princess still felt the slight shiver in her spine, one that she didn't like one bit. It felt like… apprehension.

Or fear?

Who said that?

You know.

Closing her eyes, Azula concentrated on her breathing. Agni, it wasn't in her head. It couldn't be. Only crazy people heard voices. And if there was one thing she wasn't, it was crazy. Could a deranged person fool the Avatar, a whole invasion force, her brother, her mother, her uncle… even… her father?

No. No, that was impossible. Could someone like that keep a whole nation under her thumb at seventeen? No. They could not.

A knock on the door made her jump, and from the other side of the room, in the darkness of the shadows, she could have sworn to see a person, standing in the corner looking at her. No. Imagination.

Truly?

Yes, truly!

"What is it!" Azula said, in her voice she used when talking to lesser people. By which she meant, everyone. Except her father. But that would not be for long. She had the beginnings of a plan forming in the back of her head…

Her father would use the comet against the Earth Kingdom, on her suggestion… Agni, she had managed to even fool him. How she had done it, she was still not quite sure, for her father had to be smarter than that… Everyone could see that killing millions of people wouldn't be the answer to all their problems.

Because, problems, they had… Agni, they had! The revolts in the Earth kingdom were only growing in size, during the black sun that fool of a Bumi had retaken New Ozai, and to top it all off, Iroh had escaped from his prison.

There were other things… More personal things. Zuko had joined the Avatar, and they had apparently accepted him as the candidate to lead the nation in case they won their fight. Laughable, of course, but still. It stung to be considered less worthy of the throne than her brother… Even if it was by their enemies.

And them. Them!

They had betrayed her, without a second thought! Of course, she could have known that of the gloomy bitch, but to have the other one betray her like that! If Mai's father hadn't pleaded with the Fire Lord himself, Azula would have known what to do with her.

Humiliate, degrade… And she had just the perfect way to do that.

Her father mostly forbade her to use the most extreme punishments, saying that if you used them too often, people stopped fearing those punishments. But for some people, Azula knew she would use them. That water tribe savage, for example. Oh Agni, how she would relish the hope and fight die inside the eyes of the Avatar when he would learn what had happened to his bitch. Of course, that was in the future… But she already enjoyed imagining it all the same.

"Princess Azula?" A guard spoke from the half-opened door.

"Yes?"

"Lord Ozai has asked for you."

What the soldier meant to say was that her father had ordered her to come at once. But it was framed in a more subtle way. She didn't answer, for there was no need. When the Fire Lord asked, you obeyed. It was as simple as that. And that was the right way of things. She remembered once, when Iroh had still been around, and his son, of course, the prince had frequently disobeyed the Fire Lord's wishes.

Gazing at the door, there was still that feeling that there was someone watching her from the shadows. All nonsense, of course, but still… It was wrong. Shaking her head, she stepped to the doors, opening them herself. Of course, the guard was still standing behind. Too closely, however.

"Step aside. Now." Azula commanded, not wishing to walk around the man. Once, she had seen her Uncle do that, laughing with the guard that it was him, and not the guard, who was at fault. That guard had even permitted himself to laugh at a joke uncle told him.

"Don't laugh." She said as the man stepped aside. The guard, a younger man with a wispy moustache and an even wispier beginning of a beard, looked dumbly at her. As if he didn't know what it meant! No one should laugh at her. With her was already a stretch, and she had only permitted… some people… to joke around in her presence. Not that one had been particularly cheerful in general, but the other one had made up for it with more than bubbliness.

Walking through the corridors, followed by several of the guard of her personal retinue, Azula knew what kind of impression she gave off. Untouchable, with power and everything to back up the stories they told about her. For some reason, she knew her father was jealous of her.

Who had conquered Ba Sing Se? Not even his brother had been able to do that! And the Dragon of the West was known to be the best military strategist in the wide world. But that was long past, of course. She had seen him, and the man was no more than a shell of the once-powerful, pride man she had known.

Who had defeated the attack from the savages? Not her father. It had been her warning and idea of delaying the Avatar that had done the trick… While Father had hid away, deep inside the bunker. He could have ended the Avatar then and there. But no… He had other plans.

As she had been thinking… There was a plan forming in the back of her head. When the problems became too much for her father to bear, she knew to whom he was going to turn to find a miracle solution. And then… Then, she would suggest something that would be fatal. And take over as Fire Lord. She would have all the power and the whole nation behind her to lead them to the end of the war.

She supposed some people thought she liked war and fighting. She didn't exactly love it, but the firebender knew that it was only a way to what she desired. Power, and her own nation at the top of the food chain. To have no more opposition. And if the way to the top was to bath in the blood of the enemies and people who resisted the Fire Nation's rightful place… So be it.

"Princess Azula!"

Looking up from her thinking, she saw the stooped figure of General Hezu. Agni, that man was ancient. He had been… promoted… As commander of the domestic forces a few years back, under her grandfather, but it had been known that he was a friend of her uncle. And of Zuko.

At least, that was what her spies had told her. Hezu had been speaking with her brother right after the War Council before the Black Sun. And Zuko and Iroh had both disappeared that day. Of course, brother dear was with the Avatar, but she hadn't seen her uncle there, in the temple…

Ah… The temple. It had been a beautiful place, she had to admit. How such a worthless people had been able to build such structures, she still didn't understand. After the Avatar's escape, Azula had searched the buildings. There had been stuff in several rooms in one of the temple's building, and judging by them, Azula had been able to puzzle out that the rooms had been occupied by the Avatar and the water wench. Which was useful information…

"Yes?" She answered, not wishing to be held up any longer than necessary.

"Has Lord Ozai sent for you?" The man looked pained, as if the old wound in his leg still hurt. Noting the way his eyes darted towards a bench standing against the wall, Azula stayed standing. No way she was giving him the opportunity to be able to talk any longer.

"Yes."

"Ah… So it begins." The man sighed, nodding as only old and frail people could. Arching an eyebrow, Azula encouraged the old general to continue, which, without surprise, he did, "Lord Azulon did the same when he officially announced Prince Iroh as his heir."

It didn't escape the princess's attention that Hezu had used the rank and title Iroh had deserved, but of which he had been stripped by her father after she had captured him. Foolish, of course. It was clear to her that there was a group of people, Hezu in the front rank, who were loyal to her uncle, and were all waiting for an excuse to put Iroh on the throne.

Or Zuko.

At that, she shuddered. Of course, beloved Zuko would have the backing of Uncle's supporters. Iroh only had to point to her brother and the old guard would follow him, without a question. On what support would she be able to count?

Shirzu? She hated the idea, let alone the man. He was her father's creature, even if he was the commander of the Northern Army since a few weeks. His task was to keep their soldiers out of the way as her father burned the Earth Kingdom. Azula doubted that had actually happened, but well… Nothing to do about it.

"I'm my father's heir." There was no doubt about that, was there? She had to be, seen that he had sworn that Zuko was no longer his son. Laws had been passed, removing Zuko and any children he may have from the line of succession. Iroh had been removed long ago. Lu Ten was dead, and her far removed cousins were non-benders, not even placing them in the line… So she was the only option.

The best option.

His only option my dear…

Shut up. I'm the best person to be his heir!

In your eyes, yes… But does the nation think the same?

"They will have too." Too late, Azula realized she had spoken aloud. She saw how Hezu arched an eyebrow in surprise, before realizing what he had done. The man quickly adopted a neutral face, but Azula had seen the slight shadow of doubt. Her own face, of course, didn't betray a thing, but in her head, the princess knew what the man had been thinking.

He was doubting her, her ability to lead the nation. Noting it mentally, Azula decided that the genera would be the first to go when she would be able to take the throne. She didn't need that kind of people around her, around the Fire Nation. She only wanted the best, and the best was herself. There was no need to have someone else in charge. The domestic troops should be under direct control of the Fire Lord.

It had been under Sozin, she had read in the scrolls hidden deep underneath the Fire Sages temple in the Caldara. It had been with her grandfather, Azulon, that the folly had started. He had been a weak and vain man, she was convinced of that now. No Sozin the Second at least. No, in her own mind, she was the true heir of Sozin, the man who had started it all.

"Princess?" A new voice interrupted her staring at the old man. Turning, she saw the guard standing at the open golden doors gesturing towards the cavernous darkness within. She nodded, ignoring the guard and the general, and walked in. Her own guards stayed behind, for it was considered uncourteous to bring armed men into the Fire Lord's presence. Not that she needed people to help her that, she knew for certain.

No way her father could beat her.

Darling… He is cruel, of course, he would beat you…

You don't know that!

He did with Zuko, remember?

Zuko is weak!

Weak? He chose his own path, throwing his birthright away to help his people… I wouldn't consider that weak.

You always favoured him!

Ah, so you acknowledge who I am, at last?

Concentrating on the flames at the end of the room, she stepped inside. Trying to ignore the shadows, and the figures within. But even when she tried, she still saw the dark form of the woman. Of a man, old but still powerful.

You don't know who I am, right? My dear… If the chance had been given to me, I would have showered you with love…

The voice sounded old, yet kind… And for some reason, Azula felt a strange thing in her heart. A kind of pull towards the man, whom she couldn't place. The crackling of the flames disappeared, and the absence of that noise made her turn her full attention back to the dais. The fire in front of it had gone out, leaving only the torches on the pillars illuminating the room. Under the canopy of gilded wood, her father stood. Normally, he would be sitting underneath it, but now, he was stroking one of the pillars with a hand, looking upwards to the decorated ceiling.

Falling on her knees in front of the dais, Azula spoke.

"You sent for me… Father?" She didn't know if this was what Hezu had said it could be. If it was the case, the princess knew she should have spoken more respectfully, but if this was just a discussion, "Father" should suffice.

"Ah… Azula. Yes." Her father's voice sounded strange… As if he had been thinking and had come to the conclusion he didn't know something, he was supposed to understand. And the slight hesitation was terrifying, coming from Fire Lord Ozai.

"Is there something I can do for you?" She asked, her forehead pressed against the marble floor of the throne room. It should be feeling cold, the dark stone against her head, but it felt hot to the touch…

"You have met the Avatar."

Not another word.

"Yes." She answered.

"Tell me about him."

Lifting her eyes to see her father, she saw that he had his hands clasped in his back. It seemed…nervous.

"He can fight… But only if it is necessary. He would much rather protect his friends. Certainly, the waterbender…" She began.

"Ah yes… You wanted to capture her to make him surrender."

Don't interrupt me!

"Yes."

"Tell me about his personality." Her father asked, ignoring her answer.

"He has all the weaknesses of his people. Protective of the smallest meaningless creature and careless about his own safety." Azula saw the ember eyes of her father, the same that she herself had, the one's full of fire and spirit, widen slightly.

"If he learns our plans from… your brother… he will try and stop it."

The princess didn't miss the fact that her father had not called Zuko his son, but rather her brother. To remind her that she could end up on his level… Swallowing the rancid taste in her mouth, she spoke once more, turning her eyes back to the ground.

"Yes, he would."

"Just like in Ba Sing Se."

Azula had to bite her tongue at that remark. After the inspection of the war prisoners, her father had made her tell him the whole story of what had happened in the walled city. The princess had told her father that the Avatar had come to defend the city, and the water wench. IN her opinion, the Avatar had not come for Ba Sing Se, but had dropped everything out of his hands, wherever he had been… For that woman.

It surprised her how someone could be willing to lay down their life for someone else, but then again, these peasants had peasant brains. She herself was long past that kind of attachment and didn't see the need for it. Who cared that her friends had betrayed her? It was of no immediate concern.

Both rotted away in the Boiling Rock, and when they would manage to capture Zuko, she would make sure to bring her to his execution. Maybe he should be tormented before, with the idea of what had happened to his sweetheart. Of course, Azula had not been permitted to that to Mai. Her father was too important. But one day… One day she would make her scream under the torturer's knives. That would be poetic justice…

"Azula."

Glancing up from her bowed position, she saw that her father had moved away from the dais, and stood a few yards away from her, his hands still on his back, looking at her. Realizing that she had not answered him, she nodded quickly.

"Yes, like in Ba Sing Se. He wants to protect people. Any people. Like his own worthless race did."

They were not worthless at all, my dear.

The same old, wise voice spoke from the shadows. Azula ignored it, knowing that whoever, or whatever it was, had spoken utter nonsense. Of course the Air Nomads had deserved their fate.

"Good. That will mean he must face me on the day of the comet. No one can touch us here, so he must try then. The Fire Sages have assured me there is no reason to believe the boy has mastered the Avatar State."

This time, Azula smiled. She had already known about that visit from High Sage Laruzu, as her spies were numerous, and she had even managed to bribe one of the concubines of her father to slip information to her whenever she heard something important.

But the smile faltered as she remembered the wind in the Crystal Catacombs, the blinding white light and the howling sounds as the Avatar had finally come to realize that she couldn't be beaten by simple bending. That, she had not told her father. She had not told him that the Avatar State had seemed… controlled. She had suggested that the Avatar had panicked, and that the defence mechanism had kicked in. Doubting her father would have read the lives of previous Avatars, she had felt confident he would believe the lie.

And he had, apparently.

"I will go to Ba Sing Se on the day of the comet Azula. As we burn the resistance away, I will finish the day by proclaiming an end to the war. The Fire Nation has won, and it is time to acknowledge that fact. I am going to fulfil the prophecy given to our great nation." Her father's voice sounded low and threatening in the dark room.

The prophecy… She had heard it. It was a legend that the Fire Nation would end all conflicts and let the world rise like a phoenix, giving it prosperity and turning its back to the old ways. Azula doubted her father would be able to do that. Her grandfather, Azulon, had seen that his second son was not the best option as heir, and had refused him. She thought… No, she knew that her father would never bring the Fire Nation to its destiny.

But she could.

"Father…" She spoke, looking straight into his eyes, "If you will go to Ba Sing Se… I beg the honour to rule in your stead over the Fire Nation. As regent, until you return, of course."

Would he be dumb enough to fall for it? Surely not… Surely, he would see through her plea and see it as the power grab it was…

"I have already planned the transfer of power, Daughter… You will rule the Fire Nation, as I will lead our armies against the last resistance. When it is done, we will proclaim the Phoenix Empire together, in the ruins of the Earth Kingdom. We shall build a new nation from whatever is left of the world.

Eh… Sure. Didn't sound crazy to her. How did he plan to build a new world and empire if there was no one to do the work? Agni, the older Azula got, the more she got convinced that her father wasn't the source of wisdom and power she had once thought he was.

Azula hesitated, then stood up, bowing her head to her father, accepting the honour. It was meant as an honour, right?

No, my darling, your father only sees his own glory… He will never give you what you seek.

I won't need him… for long. In a month or two, he can have an accident.

Or he will fall to the Avatar, and you must make a choice. A choice between your father's legacy, or the hand of friendship that Avatar Aang can extend to you.

The princess didn't hear another word from her father, meaning the audience was at an end. Slowly backing away towards the great doors, she hid a smile. Her father had confirmed her as his heir! That was clear to her by what he had promised her. He had planned the transfer of power! Making her the legitimate ruler after his death. So, in any case or outcome, her position was secure. If her father won against the after on the day of the comet, she would be Fire Lord under him, ruling their part of the world and having the whole infrastructure. He would rule a wasteland, and she would have the most advanced nation at her disposal!

And if her father fell… Well, the nobles and the soldiers would know that she was his heir! And the one person with a claim to the throne. Zuko and Iroh would not be considered, as the Fire Lord's will was law. And his will was that she was his heir!

As she arrived at the doors, they were opened, and she turned around, feeling rather pleased with the whole conversation. If only the voices had not interrupted all the time!

"Princess?"

Grimacing, she knew who it was. Hezu had not left his post, but this time, the old man was sitting on the bench close to the portrait gallery. The gallery where she would be able to add her own portrait to in a few days.

"General." She answered with a curt nod.

"I suppose I must congratulate you." The man spoke with an angry undertone. Stopping in her tracks, she realized suddenly that this man didn't support her. Didn't want her as Fire Lord.

"Excuse me?" She would give him a chance. Just one.

"I will not follow you. I will ask for my retirement and let the court intrigues be. I don't want to be a part of what is to come." The general stood up, moving slowly and painfully, holding on to his cane tightly.

"You will follow me. As will the rest of the nation. I am to be your sovereign." She answered thinly, trying to withhold her rage.

"I don't recognize your father's authority to name a successor. I don't acknowledge the will of a usurper."

Behind her, she heard her own guards draw in a sharp intake of breath, as if he was surprised by the words of the old man. But she wasn't. IT was known Hezu was a supporter of Iroh.

"Guards, arrest this fool for high treason." She waved her hand, dismissing the man.

"It is no treason boys." The man spoke to the soldiers this time, "You may arrest me, but I will be free in a few days. When Iroh will liberate this country from your grasp when the Avatar will defeat you idiot of a father. When order will be restored to this world. I will wait patiently to see that day before I die."

As the guards dragged to old fool away, she heard his cane clatter on the ground, as he chuckled. Why did he laugh! Why? Had she looked surprised at his words?

Darling, there is still time. Pack up your things and walk away from this. Your brother will welcome you with open arms, he loves you. Please, Zula… Listen to me. Just once.

"He doesn't love me! Go away!" She whispered angrily.

And went to her apartments, to plan an execution. How long would it take to burn an old general?

Answers :

Handler: Yes! Good guess! I don't have POV chapters for Ozai, Sokka and Toph, but I think I'll do some for the next story!