Disclaimer: Avatar: The Last Airbender, belongs to their respective owners.
With a new goal in mind the duo would soon set off into the world - although success wouldn't come for a good year. In those times, Azula would slowly start to understand what banishment would be likely in actuality. As things that they would have had servants do for them, would need to be handled themselves. Like bathing, grooming and dressing themselves - which as Azula discovered in all honesty wasn't that hard at all, merely a comfort. A rather luxurious comfort that had been taken away - yet with many others onboard managing quite well, so could she. Ty Lee for her part adapted quickly more or less - as she had become Azula' handmaiden-in-exile, since she was the only girl wanting, available and willing to work her skills on Azula.
Although, that didn't mean her skills in fighting were lacking. As Azula would find out when they had to defend themselves for the first time, without having Imperial Firebenders around to guard them. There Azula would see why Iroh was nicknamed the Dragon of the West - as despite his 'big' stature, he was very skilled in firebending. Neither was Ty Lee slacking behind either, as the acrobat was able to do things that essentially paralyzed her opponents with simple jabs in key locations. For being an airhead Ty Lee had learned a LOT during her time in the Royal Fire Academy for Girls, namely in anatomy and not simply looking at boys, as Mai had once quipped whenever she had her nose in such scrolls.
Still, Ty Lee did try to improve and adapt as not everything she could dodge or punch away. As some things required an actual weapon to harm, like against armor or the like - thus she started to learn how to use a sai and then two of them at once as her combat weapon. Despite this, she never lost her bubbly mood and always had time to 'hang-out' with Azula. More so than usual as Azula' attitude had become more friendly - if that could be possible - during her year at sea
As at the current moment, Ty Lee was practicing her fighting with Azula. As individually they were great - but with Ty Lee' expertise close-range and Azula being a master in firebending - if they could work in union, they would be unstoppable. "One, two, three. Duck, punch," counted Ty Lee, as she went through their usual forms - as they were slowly approaching yet another coastal-village in the Earth Kingdom.
Both continuing to practice and hone their form - as Azula followed their typical lessons, ducking under the other girl' kick before throwing a punch of her own, pulling it so that she'd avoid doing any serious damage if it hit. It was a far cry from a year ago when she'd likely have taken pleasure in causing someone pain. She'd become more willing to show compassion to others, or at least less eager to antagonize them - as Iroh had explained: 'being nice was free and it didn't cost you anything, beyond your pride'. At this point, pride was something quite useless in this corner of the world.
That and Azula had changed in other ways over the year. As she was more used to looking after herself without dedicated servants, a necessary trait in a world consumed by war with the potential of trouble if they somehow lost their vessel to pirates, storms or bad luck. She had started to augment her prodigal firebending with unarmed fighting arts - mostly a mix of what Ty Lee, Iroh and a few of the veterans were open to showing. As well as having experienced actual combat over the year, most often from pirates thinking the small, out-of-date Fire Nation cruiser would be an easy mark. They had been perfect 'targets' for her other skills of persuasion, cunning and simple lying or playing harmless. Perhaps most importantly, she'd become more used to not living as a Princess, as exemplified by her sixteenth birthday a few weeks ago. There hadn't been much of a party compared to the last one she'd had, but she hadn't complained and had in fact been content with the lion-shark served as the birthday feast. As much as the crew was 'rough, soggy and threw too many dumb jokes around', they were somewhat growing on her.
The girls called a halt to their practice and went down to Azula's cabin to change into Earth Kingdom attire - when the coast became more visible and they saw some activity in the area. On such occasions as this, the ship had had all its Fire Nation banners and imagery taken down and hidden, so that the crew could claim to be a neutral ship, sailing a vessel that had been captured from the "ash makers". Azula and Ty Lee also disguised themselves as commoners whenever they went ashore, having learned quickly enough that trying to appear local was bound to offer you more information, than heading to shore wearing the typical attire of the Fire Nation. If anything that was a quicker way to be thrown off the lands itself.
While changing, Azula did take a long look at Ty Lee's body when the two of them were down to their undergarments. She'd gotten used to seeing her best friend in states of undress, they always got changed in the same room back in the Academy and the ways times that Ty Lee had come on over. But now? Azula found herself admiring and appreciating Ty Lee's physical form more than she usually did. Wondering why she found her 'lithe' form that mixed balance, strength and agility into one so perfectly.
"You're really beautiful, you know that?" she said, nonchalantly - the words coming out of her mouth before Azula could stop them. What bought that reaction on? And why did I even say that in the first place?
Ty Lee went almost crimson as Azula' fire at that regard when her ears picked up those words at that "Oh? Heheheheehe. Oh...thanks Azula," replied Ty Lee, as she nearly ended up fainting from such a sudden and unfamiliar sentence thrown at her form. Although she quickly recovered her posture and threw some water on her face - or rather the entire half jug of water to hide her flushed frame.
"C'mon then. Let's go ashore..." replied Ty Lee, although before she exited out the room, she also added her piece. "You are beautiful too..."
Once those words left her mouth, Ty Lee quickly bolted running onto the deck. Hoping the cool air would help reduce her body temperature from going volcano. Although she soon got a reason to distract her thoughts as she looked at the village. As nearly a year of visiting various villages, one got used to certain designs. This place had a few things different. A few houses built and decorated in a way more familiar in their homeland. An old way at that but anyone whom had lived in the Fire Nation...or spend time passing the countryside would be able to tell the difference.
"Yo. 'Zula. Check out the huts..."
"Yes. The buildings look like something from Azulon's time." Azula replied to Ty Lee's comment about the huts, as she too could tell the difference like night and day - as many days on the sea, adjusted one' eyes to seeing one matching set over the other.
"I think we are on the right track. Or at least not getting thrown mud at us, like the last place we visited," replied Ty Lee, as they soon enough located the hut of the village elder. After having arrived onto the shore by boat and left their ship anchored off the coast in a hidden place at that. All the while they were getting stared at by the various people here, since they didn't get many visitors, especially from the sea. Luckily they soon got an answer, after a few knocks, as the door opened and a older looking woman opened it. Likely the elder' wife.
"Hi. We're travelers, searching for someone. Have you seen this woman by any chance?" asked Ty Lee, producing out a rolled-up portrait of Ursa. Azula watched the unfamiliar woman hoping to see her reaction, but before she could react a middle-aged man with a mustache, goatee and brown hair worn in a ponytail stepped into view.
"Can I help the two of you?" He asked politely, but then he looked at the portrait of Ursa and Azula saw his eyes widen briefly in recognition.
"Why are the two of you searching for this woman?" he asked. Now he sounded suspicious in Azula' mind. Did he think he was dealing with Fire Nation spies?
"The truth is...she's my mother." Azula answered, making her voice sound soft and harmless - no need to scare off these people or make her think otherwise. "The Fire Nation drove us apart many years ago and I've been wondering where she was ever since. Me and my friend here have spent the last year searching for her."
When in doubt, lie by omission thought Azula or tell half the truth as Ty Lee would quip. She'd always suspected that Fire Nation politics had led to her mother's disappearance and she had been a bit curious, if not as concerned as Zuko, about where her mother was. The woman soon touched the man' shoulder before speaking, stepping forward to look at Azula.
"Yes. We know of Ursa or used to know. She hasn't been seen for years. I don't know how you can find her in all honesty." Ty Lee looked defeated at that, thinking this woman - likely some friend or family member of Ursa might know. "But. There is someone else who might help. In the swamp there is a spirit. Known as the Mother of Faces. It's said that any face worn was made by her. Or something like that. If anyone might know of her...it could be them."
"Hmm. Worth a try. Better than anything else we have been finding," said Ty Lee about such an offer.
"But. Be warned. It's said a fog protects the Spirit from any unworthy to see her. Like how the eyes are the soul of the person - so do, will the fog reveal your inner selves before you. I would advice against going there, it is dangerous..." she added. Azula considered what she'd heard. She had never been a person who believed in spirits before, but the fact was this was the closest thing to a lead that she and Ty Lee had at the moment.
"You don't have any clue about where Ursa might have disappeared to?" she repeated, wanting to get some more information before committing to a search for a spirit. A dangerous one, as they mentioned.
"All I know is that the last time I saw her, she was leaving for the swamp where the Mother of Faces lived. But that was years ago, and I've heard nothing from her since," answered Noren.
"How long ago did you see her?" asked Azula - as soon enough Noren gave her a date which Azula soon remembered wasn't long after Ursa had disappeared from the palace. After asking a few more questions about the swamp, the two girls would leave. Once they had left, they wouldn't see the woman merely look away and start to cry to herself.
Once they managed to find a mostly floatable boat, they were soon off towards their destination. A journey that felt, odd to say the least - seeing how the swamp they were approaching looked odd and smelled odd even too. As it lacked the typical scent of dirt and bugs, instead smelling of wet rain.
"So how far do you think this place is?" asked Ty Lee, as they paddled along the empty swamp. Where not even a bug or insect was present. Although it didn't take them long to find the spoken fog and without much choice they paddled into it, yet she nor Azula didn't feel much different than before. "So? You feeling anything?"
However, Ty Lee' curiosity was soon drawn back to Azula when she heard her laughter. Azula herself had been about to respond to the question before she heard a voice reply though one that made her body shiver. Seeing how it sounded...like her.
"What do we have here? If it isn't Miss Failure and her air-headed partner. Wasn't banishment enough humiliating? Did you have to come here dressed like the very peasant you called others?" The voice, almost disembodied still spoke and sounded from around them. Even though the real Azula hadn't spoken anything.
"Noren didn't say it would take too long, assuming we don't get lost..." replied Azula, keeping her voice down to a whisper. Wondering if someone or something was watching them. Before long, they came to a massive amount of fog and Azula guessed that this was what Noren's wife had warned them about. They continued to paddle into it and were soon unable to see anything more than a meter away. Although the voice remained - mocking and taunting her with her voice. "Who are you, and why are you impersonating me?!"
"Forgetfulness? That isn't like you Azula. As for me? I am me. I am you without the filter of your inner thoughts. I am your inner self. The one you keep locked up and allow nobody to see. The true thoughts, that you hide behind your lies. How humiliating, isn't it? To have all you achieved, all you worked for taken away. All because you were too stupid to check your surroundings. I wonder, if perhaps someone else should been here instead of you? How about Zuzu? Yes. You would've enjoyed his misery. Perhaps Dad should've burned him instead? What do you think Zuko is doing now? Likely enjoying the pampering and attention of Dad. Doesn't it bother you? It does me...and I am you."
"You're a very good impressionist, but you're not me, whatever you might think." Azula replied as she continued looking, though inwardly she wondered how this mysterious person knew so much about her past, and herself in general. "And as for Zuzu, dad's a merciless monster. I should know. If my brother wants to remain in the palace with him, I couldn't care less."
"Hmm. Is that so? Do tell me then, what did you think about Ty Lee and Mai - before you were banished?" That part interested Ty Lee, whom for the most part had remained silent. "Do tell me. How do you explain all those moments - where you accidentally tripped over Ty Lee or embarrassed Mai. You always were jealous of Ty Lee and her ability to show off. You were jealous that Mai - the most dull person in the world could get someone to love them but not you. Your mother, she knew you were a monster and you know it too. It isn't a lie. You treated your friends like servants. When was the last time you did anything for them? When was the last time, you saw them as anything more than your personal tools?"
Ty Lee, whom heard this got angry and yelled out into the fog almost. "Shut up! Don't say that way about her!"
"Oh? Interesting, Ty Lee. Do you ever realize, how I have used you? Such eager stupidity. Do you ever think? You always laugh and joke at everything. Here is a joke for you. When you were at the Palace was there ever a moment that I ever complimented you? Or applauded you? Or even thanked you? You can't name anything, can you? You were such a fool trusting me. I would have ordered you to walk off a cliff and you would have done so. All in the pathetic belief - that I considered you a friend..."
Ty Lee, clenched her fist up - as she stood up in the boat. "You think I am dumb? Jokes on you, I know that!" she yelled. "You aren't the only one who can read people, Spirit. I can read them too - their energy, their aura. Yeah! Joke all you want! It isn't a lie. I knew what Azula was like. I knew she would likely make fun of me and play around with me. You know what? I don't care. At least I had someone who was honest about who I was and not eager to compare me to others. I know...that deep down, there is a possibility for her to get better. I seen that already. So your arguments are false. People can change."
As she said that, she soon took a stance - her fighting one at that. "And you...I won't let you mock the people I like or love. You want a piece of her? Then you will have to go through me..."
"Hmm. Interesting. Such passion. Such protectiveness. I wonder...if she has the same towards you..." As that was spoken, a silhouette appeared inside the fog - in the shape of a girl, with a blue flame in their hand. "Let us see then."
The other girl's words came as an absolute shock to Azula. Ty Lee...loved her? She didn't care about how horrible she'd been? She believed she could change? None of it seemed to make sense. Still even as she struggled to comprehend this, she remained aware of what was going on. As the shadowy figure readied a blue flame in the palm of her hand, Azula stood up and did the same.
"You're right. I wasn't the nicest person to be around in the past. I've always known that, even before I was banished. I always wanted to have my own way, to be the best, the greatest, the most dominant among my peers. And yes, I didn't mind being mean and tormenting people as part of that process. As long as they feared and respected me, I was happy with them," she admitted. "That said, I always knew the value of loyalty and that it only lasts as long as you repay it. And over the last year, I've felt myself becoming a lot more generous in that regard. So answer me this; if you know me as well as you say you do, how do you think I'll react to you threatening my friend after what she's just said?"
Before the shadowy figure could answer, Azula bent a massive blast of blue fire at it, big enough to completely envelop the figure if it didn't try to defend itself. The fire soon blew away...nothing. Despite the fact that something had been there before. Still whether or not she managed to hit the thing, it did get a smile from Ty Lee whom saw this as a sign that she had been right all along. "Yeah. I guess we will need to do some talking, once we get back," said Ty Lee, slightly blushing at what she had said. But like they had practiced on the ship, they had their battle-stance in and ready for anything to come.
"Before one can change their appearance, one must first know who they are..." Those last words had been said by another, one that didn't sound like Azula at all - as their little ship soon suddenly rocked forward gently and were out of the fog - like the entrance had been right then and there. As soon enough, they were before the Mother of Faces.
"Wow..." muttered Ty Lee, as the spirit in question seemed as tall as some of the trees here with a three white masks around her head. As she had to look quite high to see her at that. Luckily for them, the figure in question lowered themselves down and to their height. Despite everything, the voice that spoke - sounded both motherly, protective, wise yet also curious.
"You have gone through the Mist of Revelation. Thus you have been granted an audience with me. I am sure you are curious yet I have a question for you first. What have two young girls, come to me for?" she asked, as her usual job was in appearance and not wisdom or advise as some other spirits.
"Are you... the Mother of Faces?" Azula asked, sounding awestruck as she unknowingly was holding onto Ty Lee's hand. Almost worried if the spirit may try and snatch her or worse.
"That I am, it is within my power...for once a season to grant the ability to grant a person a new identity. Either changing their appearance...or changing their memory. Some have come to me, seeking a change. Others wish to have wounds healed, be they of the body or mind. What have you two come to me for?"
Ty Lee looked rather nervous at that, before she pulled out the scroll they had - which the spirit took and looked at. "We...don't desire anything changed. We rather wish to find this woman. Her name is Ursa. She is the mother of my friend. We were told that you knew where to find them," she explained.
"Ursa. I remember her. I could not understand why a human of such beauty would ask for a new face. To test her sincerity I offered her one as plain as can be. She accepted..." explained the Mother, before showing the two girls two images. One was Ursa, as Azula had seen and remembered her by and the other was-
"-that! Is that the elder' wife?" said Ty Lee, surprised that they had been so close to Ursa and hadn't recognized her at all.
"I know," agreed Azula sounding equally surprised. As it was, she turned her face to ask the spirit a question but the Mother of Faces had disappeared, right then and there afterwards. Azula let out a sigh and soon enough at Ty Lee, having released her hand after the Mother was gone. "What you said just now. When we were surrounded by the fog...did you really mean it?"
She didn't think Ty Lee was a liar, just that she had never imagined to hear such a thing uttered from her at that. As it was, Ty Lee tried to act natural but was failing that completely. As soon enough Ty Lee sighed and nodded, knowing that the fog would likely reveal the truth if she tried to lie or do something else. Plus it wasn't in her to hide her inner self. One likely reason, that she deduced, why only Azula got everything told to her so straight and hard - was likely cause she hid almost everything about her. Except the current thoughts just now.
"Yes," she said, once her courage had reached her throat to utter some words. "Ever since we met in the Royal Academy. You were honestly the first friend who noticed me. Beyond the simple 'look it's sister seven'. Afterwards I guess, it just got fuel to go on and on. I will not lie, one of the reasons why I joined you on this adventure, was cause I honestly believed I might not see you ever again. Sorry..."
"You don't need to apologize. The truth is, I think it's kind of sad that no matter what I did, you were willing to be around someone like me. Simply because I didn't treat you as part of a matched set," she admitted, before she sat down. As she kept her eyes down while resting a hand on the edge of the boat "Then again, I spent most of my life thinking that the only way I could get people to trust me was by making them fear me - and then it turns out that I never needed to do that. Turns out we're both quite messed up people, wouldn't you say?"
Ty Lee smiled in reply to that statement and hugged her in reply to that statement - one that was filled with her typical warmth and more with Azula hugging her back this time, savoring the close contact and was disappointed when they broke apart so soon. "Yeah. But let's be honest. We were both kids and likely doing stupid things. Plus I will admit that your father-figure wasn't the best in teaching how to make friends," she said smiling widely, before it turned serious just as quickly. "Well. Let's go see, how that luck is with your mother. Considering she sent us here, instead of telling us straight away."
Once that had been spoken, Ty Lee grabbed their paddle and soon started going back towards the village. This time the fog didn't seem as thick or hindering like before.
"Did you find her?" asked Noren, once he'd opened the door and seen that it was them again - yet looking somewhat displeased to say the least.
"Ursa? No. But we did find out where she is," replied Azula - having a hint of her old self in her voice. "Is your wife home?"
Noren suddenly looked grave as he heard this and put two and two together. As he was almost ready to slam the door closed and make a run for it, before he felt a familiar hand upon his shoulder.
"Noren. It's over..." said Ursa, as she soon enough appeared. Having been in the kitchen, once she had heard them come back. If things got ugly, then she didn't want him to get hurt. "...no use hiding the fact or secret of our presence."
"Actually. The obvious fact that your building was built in the typical style common in our homeland gave it away. After years of searching, you kind of got used to the old shapes. Until this one," stated Ty Lee, a person that Ursa remembered as Azula' friend back in her youth.
"Huh. Told you that you didn't have to make it as 'homely' as possible," said Ursa to Noren - indicating that his idea for making her feel as in-home as possible was what gave them away. Although that humorous jab was replaced by a sense of finality. "So what happens now?"
"Well. How about, just coming over and giving your own daughter a hug!?" stated Ty Lee, like it was the most sane and rational thing anyone had ever said in the village. "Whatever you might have remembered about Azula. Things have changed. Azula. Show them...your hand."
"My father didn't take kindly to me pulling a prank on him," explained Azula, as she showed the couple her burnt hand, Noren exhaling at the sight of it - as it wasn't so much bad yet more that someone like her had such a thing. "He insisted on challenging me to an Agni Kai over it. After I lost, he banished me. That was a year ago."
"I thought you said Ozai gave you his word that no harm would befall them as long as you did as he said?" asked Noren, as he looked at Ursa with a hint of worry. Azula wanted to ask what Ursa had done, but she thought it best not to press her too much. The truth would come in time or soon enough.
As it was Ursa growled in reply, similar to her namesake - as years of home life hadn't diminished her maternal instincts not one bit. "He promised no harm would come to Zuko. But, it seems that didn't include her," replied Ursa, as she sighed into her hand. Figuring this would come to haunt her eventually. Since she was certain now, that it was a mistake to have left her children behind with that monster. Or having left without even attempting to seek out Azula beforehand.
"I am sorry Azula. I should have done more," she added, as she walked forward and took her hand into her own. "Come inside."
Both the girls would so, Noren closing the door and staying with Ty Lee - while Ursa and Azula headed into the back room. Namely where Ursa kept her garden of medical herbs. "Sorry for showing up so suddenly. We...were kind of lost. Since her getting banished and all, we've been aimless in our quest," said Ty Lee to Noren.
"It's fine. We both expected this day to come sooner or late," he replied, as they entered and sat down in the back room. As soon enough both mother and daughter returned at that.
"You needn't feel too guilty, mom. My uncle and Ty Lee here have done an exemplary job looking after me since I was banished," said Azula to her mother. Although, those words hit harder than she may have realized. Since it almost insinuated that she hadn't been there to do her own duty.
"I suppose we owe you an explanation?"
"Why did you disappear, mom?" asked Azula, once they all were seated around the table while Ursa would be mixing up something. As she got some herbs together and then used them to wrap up her old bandages with new ones. Covered in some remedy, that seemed to soothe the dull pain that remained in Azula' arm.
"In case you haven't figured it out. I was taught as a Master Herbalist before all of this began," she admitted. Then once everyone was sat down, Ursa started telling them everything. Namely, that Noren was Ikem - her old love and fiancee. How she ended up in the Palace, why she did so. What had happened, between her and Ozai - why she had to go and finally enough. How she had ended up back here in the first place. Ty Lee for her part, almost dropped her jaw after it was finished.
"So. You're the great-daughter of Avatar Ruko? You basically got kidnapped so Ozai could have stronger kids? You needed to make a poison to kill Azulon, since otherwise Ozai had to kill Zuko? Then were banished cause of that? Then retreated here and found your old flame? Then changed your face, in fear that you might be one day tracked down by Ozai?" she counted out.
"Yes. That is the shortest version of it," admitted Ursa - somewhat surprised to have Ty Lee turn her nearly hourly story into such an easy sentence.
"Wow...and I thought my family history had been crazy," muttered Ty Lee in reply to that.
"Mom. You told us that you did what you did to protect Zuko, but there's something else I want to know. Would you have done the same for me? If I was the one my father had been ordered to kill?" she asked, her voice low and in a whisper. Azula genuinely wasn't sure what the answer to that question would be, as shown by the hesitancy in Ursa voice. Her mother had always seemed to like Zuko more than her.
Ursa sighed in reply to that, before she spoke. "I always taught, that you were somehow...broken. That I somehow failed in raising you properly. When I left, I thought I had everything planned out. Only in exile did I get a chance to think. How I treated you and how I saw you," she admitted - quite ashamed of her choices. "When I left, you were asleep. I...didn't wake you up. But I did kiss you goodbye. Once I was gone, I hoped that whatever came that you would have a happy life. You were immature, without boundaries. But you were still my daughter. If asked, I would have done so. Exile has taught me well. That some things, you can't change. Some things you should have changed. And finally - that even good intentions can lead to bad mistakes."
"I never thought, that by leaving I would leave Ozai alone with both of you. That is a mistake I came to regret even after I settled down here," she added. Showing that while Ursa still loved her - things remained complicated. She was still plagued by her own mistakes yet tried to do good. As Ursa spoke, Azula gave a mental sigh of relief. Her mother loved her just as much as Zuko - even if she had never told it directly or been able to show it. That and she had a point, Azula hadn't been the best of kids while she was growing up. Plus, she could hardly be faulted for Ozai being a cruel father - and taking up most of her time anyways. "Also. There is something I must ask of you Azula?"
"What is it...mother?"
Ursa soon left and soon enough returned with a bundle in her arms. Ty Lee almost immediately jumped up and got cooing at the sight before her. "Ohhhh! She looks so adorable!" replied Ty Lee, as Ursa soon sat back down and Azula could see what Ty Lee was suddenly so over-the-clouds about.
Namely, in Ursa' hands was a young baby girl. "Azula, this is your half-sister Kiyi..." she explained. Hoping that perhaps Azula would be able to accept such a thing and hopefully break at least one cycle of dislike in their family. On the one hand, Azula wasn't a big fan of babies considering them to be noisy and annoying creatures. On the other, after Ty Lee's enthusiastic reactio, and the things her mother had said just now, Azula couldn't muster up the mentality required for spite, or meanness. Even if a tiny part of her was jealous at the attention.
So instead, she leaned over towards Kiyi and gave her a little wave. "Er...hello." she said, a nervous smile on her face. Spirits only know what I must look like she thought to herself, acting this way over a baby. "How old is she?"
"A year old at that," admitted Ursa, as around the same time as she was banished it seemed that Kiyi was born. As they said, that babies were the embodiment of innocence, Kiyi almost immediately tried to reach out to Azula with her tiny hand.
"Aww. I think she likes you already Azula," replied Ty Lee, as she walked on over behind Azula and with a wide grin, placed her hands onto Azula' shoulders.
"How is it that this is making me feel butterflies in my stomach?" asked Azula, as she extended a finger towards little Kiyi, who took hold of it with both of her own hands.
"I don't know if I can promise anything, but I'll try and be a good sister for you..." she added. Feeling Ty Lee's hands on her shoulders, she looked up at the other girl, as if seeking an opinion on how she was doing so far.
It was hard to tell, as Ty Lee seemed to always smile. Although this time, it was a genuine one and not the usual one she flashed everyone she met or talked with. Indicating that Azula was doing very well, all things considered and her own history. "Aww. Ain't you the sweetest cupcake in this side of the world," chuckled Ty Lee at Azula.
"So. Should I make plans for you guys staying here?" asked Ursa at that - happy to see something going right in her life for once, although it did make Ty Lee a bit more somber upon hearing it.
"I don't think we can. Since for one, we got a ship anchored out in the bay. Plus, this war isn't going to stop itself and neither will Ozai, unless he is stopped," said Ty Lee, knowing that she would drop anything to just simply settle down with Azula here and now. But they had to be smart about it. Something she had to do a lot since she came along with Azula.
"We've managed to avoid the Fire Nation so far, so I can imagine we can hide from them, at least until we've made definite plans for the future," said Azula. "Also, if we're going to make plans regarding my father and the war, we should get my uncle involved with making them. He does seem to know a lot about such matters."
"You know what we need to do Azula. We have to find the Avatar," replied Ty Lee. "I mean. At the current rate, the Fire Nation is winning the war. The Earth Kingdom has barely launched a counter-attack of their own in years. How long until the lands are eaten up, one by one? Plus, you also know what will happen in the following years..."
Namely Sozin' Comet was coming. A massive boost to firebender potential that would allow any offensive to be a victorious one. Thus everyone was playing on borrowed time right now. "Yes. Fire Lord Sozin took advantage of the comet to help wipe out the Air Nomads. It makes sense that my father would try and utilize it in a similar way." Azula said, visibly relaxing now that she was out of the unfamiliar territory of dealing with a baby.
"But the question is, just where is the Avatar? Even if he or she perished in the attack on the air temples, surely it would have led to a reincarnation among the Water Tribes," said Noren.
"That's what I thought as well. My only conclusions are that either Sozin found a way to break the Avatar reincarnation cycle, or that something else is preventing the Avatar from returning or reincarnating." She recalled how she and Ty Lee had once tried searching for the Avatar themselves. "If we're going to look for the Avatar, our best bet is to check the air temples. We know that Avatar Roku disappeared from the history books about twelve or fourteen years before the comet, so if we assume that he died then, that would be plenty of time for the next Avatar to have been discovered among the Air Nomads. That's where we'll find any clues about what might have happened to the new Avatar."
"Hmm. Perhaps we are looking at this the wrong way?" spoke Ty Lee, as she paced around the spot.
"Okay Azula. Imagine if you are the Avatar? Airbender and such. If you had to hide somewhere, where would you pick it?" she spoke. "Air Temples might be a good bet. But they'd likely be searched always. More or less the likeliest places to hide. If you had to hide, where would you want to go that is well away from the war - but not completely cut off from social interaction?"
"Well, other than Ba Sing Se, there's the Water Tribes." Azula answered. "The North's managed to resist us so far and as for the South, besides the occasional raid whenever we hear reports of a waterbender, we leave them to their own devices. You think the Avatar might have gone to one of those places, or at least tried to?"
"Hmm. When your uncle attacked Ba Sing Se, there wasn't any sight of the Avatar. Despite the fact that the city' fall would likely reveal his presence," spoke Ty Lee, recalling her history lessons. "Maybe. Maybe he is hiding in the Northern Water Tribe? You said it yourself, they have managed to resist us for so long. Perhaps they have been getting help? Plus it's so remote and away, any news coming or going could be regulated. Not to mention, he'd likely have had years to train in bending. What do you think?"
"It's possible," agreed Azula. "But there's a problem with that theory, that I just can't put my finger on. If as you say, the Avatar's alive and hiding somewhere, how come he or she haven't made no attempt to stop us in the past? Our position has only gotten stronger over the course of this war. You'd think the Avatar would have wanted to intervene a lot earlier."
"Maybe. I don't know why they haven't. Perhaps he had been too young or too old?" offered Ty Lee. "Perhaps he is waiting for the perfect moment to strike us down? I mean. If Azulon had been taken down another could have replaced him. But Ozai? I doubt Zuko will want to continue this once he knows everything of what is really going on."
"Besides. What else are we going to do? Count butterflies?" she asked. Azula wasn't so sure that Zuko would want to end the war if he became Fire Lord. Zuko might have been the kinder of the two siblings, but both he and his sister had been taught that the war was the Fire Nation's attempt to share their ways with the rest of the world. Unless he could be persuaded otherwise, Zuko would probably try and continue the war, for the sake of his honor if nothing else.
"I'm not saying we should do nothing. Just that we choose a course of action that's based upon sound logic." Azula said with a smile. "That said, I do think it'll be worth looking around in the Northern Water Tribe. But we should also try searching the other Air temples, just in case there are any clues there about the next Avatar after Roku. I don't see why we can't do both."
"Well. We could go at this in a clockwise formation?" offered Ty Lee. As she imagined a map in front of her. Using her hands to point out their routes.
"We could head North. Search the Water Tribe. Move from there to the Northern Air Temple. Swing around to the Eastern Temple. Then from there we can head South to both the Southern Water Tribe and the Southern Air Temple. If everything goes well, assuming we don't run into trouble. We should be able to search them all in a year or two. If by then, we haven't found anything we could just come back here?" offered Ty Lee.
That way, they could search every place of importance. Without compromising their chain of clues. Plus, if they ever needed a break - they had one here.
"An ingenious idea, Ty Lee." Azula said - as she turned to look at Ursa and Noren. "We'll stay the night here and be off first thing tomorrow morning, if that's okay with the two of you."
"Of course. You're my stepdaughter, after all. And the two of you can come back here whenever you want," replied Noren, quite eager to learn as much as he could about Ursa' family and her children.
"Yup. So stepdad, hmm?" spoke Ty Lee, before giving Ikem/Noren a rather deep and scrutinizing look over. Looking almost like she was going to say or speak something stupid or genius. As if she was Azula' mother and judging this man over. Before she smiled and said. "Well. Your a high rise above Ozai, that's for sure. I approve."
"Oh, that's hardly much of an achievement, Ty Lee." Azula joked, which got a laugh out of them all.
"Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up. Wait until your old enough to get the talk...then it will be a fun in a barrel and half," replied Ty Lee, grinning in reply to Azula. As such with a wink, she was back to sitting down and likely leaving Azula blushing at least. Sure enough, Ty Lee's words left Azula blushing, though thankfully no-one else commented on it.
Dinner was an enjoyable affair, with rice from the village's farmland and fish caught from the nearby ocean. But what struck Azula most of all was how different everything was compared to how it had been back at the palace. There seemed to be far less tension in the air and everyone was nice to each other. Of course, a big part of that's the fact that I'm a lot nicer than I used to be. Azula thought to herself, before she looked at Ty Lee, who was sat next to her and gave her a smile.
Ty Lee for her part was happily talking and chatting with the family. As she was almost grilling out the two parents on Kiyi. As Azula might know, once Ty Lee got liking something, she became almost obsessed with trying to befriend it.
"Is she always like this?" asked Ursa from Azula. Talking like a mother between her daughter. Instead of the almost diplomatic coldness they had in the Palace.
"Oh, you get used to it in time, impossible as it may seem." Azula replied with a shrug and a grin. As both mother and daughter could see Ty Lee had graduated to making funny faces at Kiyi. Whom seemed as enamored with the laughter as she was.
Once dinner was over, Ursa did pull over Azula to talk. As she washed their bowls. "Are you honestly considering on fighting Ozai yourself?"
"I'm not an idiot, mother. I remember what happened the last time I fought him." Azula answered, looking at her burnt hand. She knew that taking that course of action would be suicide. "The truth is, besides searching for the Avatar, I'm not too sure what I should do next."
"Do you mean after you found them? Or after you have dealt with Ozai?" asked Ursa, before she dropped everything and sighed over the basin. "Ugh. So much issues and troubles, all of yours now. I should have simply made a poison to kill them both, back when I had the chance. Then perhaps Iroh might have become Fire Lord and this wouldn't have happened."
"Well, there's no point in worrying about what could have been." Azula said, as she did something unexpected and reached on over to pat her shoulder. "And to answer to your question, I may have been banished, but I was still born and raised in the Fire Nation. If I were to join the Avatar or try and deal with my father, I'd be directly opposing everything that the Fire Nation stands for. I'm fine with fighting my father...but I'm not so sure about fighting my country still."
"You wouldn't be having much of a choice. The Fire Lord is your target, right? It is considered the greatest crimes to try and kill one, isn't it?" replied Ursa. Showing to Azula, that what she was doing was already against her country anyway. "Listen. I learned that trying to live for someone else' goal, cause or reason is stupid. I gave up on my earlier years with Ikem - because I was too eager to appease my family' honor...and defend his life. But I learned, that doing something because people want or demand it of you, is stupid. Don't follow my mistake Azula. You are too smart for that. If you want to fight Ozai, you will have to prepare to fight your countrymen as well. But that doesn't mean you have to like it."
"It's just...is it wrong for me to take pride in the fact that the Fire Nation's managed to conquer most of the world? That places like Yu Dao have benefitted greatly from the Fire Nation's presence? Is it wrong to not want to make all of that - and the struggle that we went through to achieve it - meaningless?" asked Azula - as she was still somewhat tied to her homeland. Even if she was pissed at the top, that didn't necessarily diminish the sacrifices of those below them.
Ursa sighed at that, before turning to look at Azula. "It is true, that many are nationalistic. Proud of their accomplishments. But think it from a more objective perspective. Are you glad, that your country managed to build something from nothing? Or are you taking pride in the fact, that each day hundreds are being killed to fuel a war - that has gone beyond simple land and moving more into completely conquest?" she asked, a hard tactic to get Azula to get shocked awake. "It's hard to see it from the outside. We see Chin the Conqueror for example, as a simple tyrant and warlord. While in the Earth Kingdom, there are several villages whom see him as a hero. Others as a madman."
"It isn't wrong to take pride in the accomplishments of our people. But you need to understand, what you are taking pride in Azula. Don't fall into the trap that many others have. Once you dehumanize your opponents, it is much easier to hide the idea that they may be humans with families that are suffering." The words coming out of Ursa's mouth, and all that they implied, came as a shock to Azula
"Of course I'm not pleased that hundreds of people are getting killed in this war every day. I think it would have been better for all of us if there hadn't been any fighting, if the people of the other nations accepted that we were trying to help them!" she exclaimed at that. But...she found herself regretting those words seconds after they were out of her mouth, as she remembered what she'd learnt, seen and experienced over the last year. Seeing how it didn't correlate with what she had been told while she was growing up. When she next spoke, she didn't look at her mother, too ashamed at that, yet her voice was quieter and softer as she said things that had clearly been on her mind for a long time.
"But it's no longer about trying to share our greatness and prosperity with the rest of the world, is it? Nowadays it's just an excuse we've used to justify our conquests and rule. We're not trying to spread our ways as much as we are getting rid of others. We've replaced local cultures with those of our own and we've killed and locked away users of other bending styles in the hope that they'd die out. Did the other nations even ask for our help, to be ruled by us? No, we decided to invade them for their own good, and the only thing we've given them is reason to hate us," she spoke.
"I will admit Azula, that once ago it might have been a simple request of resources," admitted Ursa, after speech from Azula. "If your smart enough to know, you can see that after industry started to be developed in our lands - we were lacking some things that were abundant in the Earth Kingdom. Although Sozin being a man who had grown-up in prosperity and the height of our growing power - he likely didn't bother asking for trade or appearing weak or having his people suffer in any way. I guess it didn't help then, that relationships with the Earth Kingdom had been the lowest ever since..."
"Once it might have been a simple war, over failure to communicate and the Avatar might've found a solution. But. History is written by the victorious one. For centuries the Earth Kingdom had been the dominant force on this world. Then suddenly, they aren't. What else will one think?" she added, looking over at Azula. "A sense of victory comes. Then comes a sense of superiority. Then it morphs into a delusion of greatness. We as firebenders are too prideful to admit defeat. While earthbenders won't admit defeat until the bitter end. Thus, this has continued for a hundred years."
Ursa then turned around to look at Azula. Seeing her conflicted and divided loyalties. "It is true. A lot of crime has been committed. Good people have died. But this doesn't have to be. There are always good people, on both sides. Wishing an end to this war. Perhaps after this one, we won't be having anymore on wars between our nations. Many consider this the bloodiest ever fought on this world," she said, as she leaned over to hug Azula. "But don't let that affect you. You are guilty of nothing. You choose your own future and destiny."
Azula listened to everything her mother had to say and then hugged her back. It was true that this war wasn't as simple an affair as one might think, but it was also true that there was no benefit to its continuation, nor a complete victory on the part of the Fire Nation. When they broke apart, Azula had made her decision, and decided on the path she wanted to take.
"When you put it like that, mother...for now, I'll see if I can find the Avatar and whether or not I succeed in that, I'll come up with a way to stop my father, and end this war."
Ursa smiled at that - finding her quite brave and smart for making such a mature decision. "If anyone can find a solution to this war, I know it can be you. You have my smarts after all," she replied, with some pride in her tone. "I...know seeing Kiyi might have been a surprise. It wasn't to replace you or Zuko. I...had simply grown lonely. I admit, I should have taken you two along. Although whether or not, you two would have come along might have been a different story."
It wasn't hard to imagine either, that she was worried that Azula might go tell Ozai about it too. Since back then, she was more or less a daddy' girl. "Also. Do try and have fun. You can't carry the burden of the world, all by yourself. Make sure you have fun, okay?"
"I think if you had tried to take us along, dad would have come after us or worse." Azula replied, assuring Ursa that she had no hard feelings - beyond perhaps having wanted to see her when she had been her 'young' self. "And you shouldn't worry. Ty Lee's made it her personal mission to keep me in a good mood during the last year."
"When this is over, I should really thanking her family for raising such a fine young lady," replied Ursa. Although, before she retired in for the night - she soon went and got something, before returning to Azula. "I noticed, that burn on your hand. While I don't have any magic healing potions. I do have this..."
Namely, she got out a bag of dried herbs and leaves for Azula to see. "They are medicinal herbs, utilized to help heal burns and scars. It will take time, but I think this might help treat any lingering pain or discomfort you might have. I think after a few years - the scarring should be reduced as well."
"Thanks...mother. And goodnight." Azula replied as she took the bag of herbs. She'd gotten used to how the burn felt, as well as the sight of the burnt skin, and she knew the people she was close to these days didn't care how it looked. But she still appreciated her mother's gift very much. Entering the bedroom she was sharing with Ty Lee, Azula would sit down on her bed and tell her everything that had been said between her and her mother. She couldn't bear the thought of keeping it a secret from Ty Lee.
Ty Lee smiled at that, knowing how Azula sharing her secrets was a big thing for her. "Hmm. Well, that was some major talk you two had. But it does raise a good point. Once this is all over, what are you planning to do?" she teased, looking at Azula with her eyes - and Azula might almost hear the dirty thoughts going around Ty Lee' head.
"Well, I imagine that whoever becomes Fire Lord will overturn my banishment and allow me to live in the palace again. I imagine I'll have to be a lot nicer to Zuzu, though." That portion got both girls to chuckle and laugh to themselves. "Any particular reason you asked?"
"Hmm. Just thinking if I might be included in any of those future plans," replied Ty Lee. "Although, there is an easier way to get on Zuko' good-side. Just help him with Mai and things are golden between you two. Although, I think if you went to hug or smile at Mai, she might faint - since she likely hasn't seen you do that in years. Mai will likely assume you have some secret scheme in play for them both."
Azula laughed at hearing Ty Lee's words about Zuko and Mai, but she was more interested in what she said before that. "Were you perhaps hoping you could share a room with me at the palace?" asked Azula as her heart started thumping, all too aware of where this conversation was going.
"Hmm. Is it too much to ask, yes?" replied Ty Lee in that regard, as she suddenly found her braid much more interesting to play with - then trying to look at Azula with her face having gone as red as a tomato now. It seemed, that she was still being honest - in what she had said in the Swamp and now.
Azula saw Ty Lee's reaction, and walked over, reaching forward and gently taking hold of her chin. "I remember that you reacted like this when I complimented you on the ship this morning. And then, in the swamp, you said you loved me."
"What I want to know is...in what way do you love me?" she asked.
Ty Lee became tongue-tied upon that moment, spouting some gibberish until she finally shut up and simply leaned in to show Azula - instead of speaking it. As before even she knew what she was doing or Azula was prepared for it. Ty Lee had leaned in and kissed Azula - not as a little peck on the lips, she was kissing her lips at that. Then enough letting go and pulling away, allowing her to breathe again.
"Like that..." she exclaimed. Having thrown the remains of her dignity out the window by now.
Azula closed her eyes for a moment before opening them once more. Then enough gently wrapped her arms around the other girl and kissed her back, as Ty Lee got confirmation to what she had suspected for a while. Even as she was trying not to pass out from the act happening between them both.
Neither Ikem nor Ursa made any comments about the nighttime activities of the two girls at breakfast the next morning. Azula didn't tell them anything; while she greatly doubted the pair would reject her over it, she didn't feel the need to mention it to them either, when whey were about to depart.
Before long, the two girls had finished breakfast and were saying their goodbyes to Noren, Ursa and Kiyi. As Azula and Ty Lee would be back onboard their ship, and setting out towards the Northern Water Tribe.
Author's Notes: I changed up this part of the story, since it seemed somewhat odd for Ursa to 'remain' in the Fire Nation. Seeing how she was banished - which should have meant leaving the lands itself. That and her strange reasons for staying in the same lands controlled by Ozai.
Hope you enjoyed the other parts too x3.
Review and all, if you want.
