"Your Princess Azula, clever and beautiful, disguised herself as the enemy and entered the Earth Kingdom's Capital. In Ba Sing Se, she found her brother Zuko, and together they faced the Avatar..."
"And the Avatar fell! And the Earth Kingdom fell!"
"Azula's agents quickly overtook the entire city. They went to Ba Sing Se's great walls ...
"And brought them down!"
"The armies of the Fire Nation surged through the walls and swarmed over Ba Sing Se, securing our victory."
"Now the heroes have returned home!"
Azula walked towards Li and Lo proudly. Her chin high and a smirk on her face. She was a prodigy, no doubt. And even if some doubted that, they had been proved wrong. After all, she had done the impossible. This had to be her greatest achievem- No, this had to be the Fire nation's greatest achievement. Even the Dragon of the West, Azula's smirk grew, so loved by the fire nation, considered so mature by everyone who knew him or heard about him, the one who got the closest to conquering Ba Sing Se was now defeated by her.
"Your princess, Azula ..."
The crowd cheered loudly for the princess who could penetrate the impenetrable. But of course, even Azula accepted, that none of this could have been possible without...
"And after three long years, your prince has returned ..."
"Zuko!"
Zuko came and stood beside her. The crowd cheered loudly again. Azula gave Zuko a proud smile. She realized that Zuko is not that fragile and weak child anymore. He had grown. Had became more smart. His fire bending had improved as well. Not as great as hers obviously. Nevertheless he had regained his honor in front of the whole nation.
Azula will never admit it but she was proud of him and pleased that her big brother is home again.
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"I expected this kind of treachery from Uncle. But Zuko, Prince Zuko, you're a lot of things, but you're not a traitor, are you?"
"Release him immediately."
"It's not too late for you, Zuko. You can still redeem yourself."
"The kind of redemption she offers is not for you." Uncle Fatso objected.
"Why don't you let him decide, Uncle?" Azula snapped at her Uncle.
"I need you, Zuko. I've plotted every move of this day, this glorious day in Fire Nation history, and the only way we win is together. At the end of this day, you will have your honor back. You will have Father's love. You will have everything you want."
She did need him, yes. Not that she couldn't handle everything herself but she didn't want to take any chances. She had come this far, she will complete it. If she didn't need another hand, she would have just ordered the Dai Li to capture him and Uncle. But maybe some part of her wanted her big brother to come back home. It would be easier to convince Zuko than their Uncle obviously. Their Uncle is way too much of a coward. And not everything she said was a lie. He would regain his honor. He would get Father's love. He would come back to the palace.
Isn't that what everyone wants?
"Zuko, I am begging you." Zuko looked from her and Uncle. What is there to even think about?
" Look into your heart and see what it is that you truly want." If Zuzu really listens to Uncle then Azula would be convinced that even years of banishment could not knock some sense into him. If their father couldn't do it, how could she?
"You are free to choose." said Azula and left them alone. She would never admit that she wanted Zuko to be alongside her (if he can keep up obviously) because that would be weakness.
Some time passed and maybe years of banishment DID knock some sense into him.
Because he joined her willingly.
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Many days had passed after the homecoming of the Fire Siblings. Azula truly believed that Zuko would improve. That they would bond. But all that happened was that everything went downhill from there. She doesn't understand why. Zuko and Mai were getting along. Azula even told Zuko not to visit Uncle because she didn't want him to waltz right into trouble like he always does. They even properly talked at Ember Island!
Then why, why did he leave again? And out of all the times why now?
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Thanks to Azula, they would be prepared for the day of black sun. Thanks to Azula they would be prepared for the invasion. After all the planning was done, their father ordered a private audience with Azula and Zuko.
The fire princess does not remember feeling more thrilled than she did at that moment. She was sure that Father was going to praise her. After years and years of hard work, she was finally going to get her father's approval.
Perhaps he would even say "I am proud of you, Azula and Zuko. And I love you." She knew that was not possible but she couldn't help but think about it. Perhaps he won't say it to Zuko, but he would say it to Azula! She has always done her best to please him.
"How does it feel to conquer Ba Sing Se?" Father finally spoke with... distaste? in his voice... no that can't be.
Azula and Zuko just looked at each other.
"Must be really exciting. Perhaps in all that excitement, both of you forgot to acknowledge the real mastermind behind that plan. As if two teenagers could come up with the plan to take over Ba Sing Se from the inside."
"But, it was my plan..." started Azula timidly...
The Firelord stood up angrily.
"Is this what you want your Firelord to look like?! Future Phoenix King?! Less powerful than his own spouse?!"
"But it WAS my idea to take Ba Sing Se from the inside!" Azula protested. "Not even Uncle-" Oh no... she shouldn't have said that.
Zuko's eyes widened. To compare Uncle and Father was not a good idea.
"AZULA SILENCE YOUSELF!" The Firelord shouted angrily. "What a disappointment. BOTH of you. Ungrateful."
"After this invasion, both of you will tell the truth to everyone, how I ordered both of you to take Ba Sing Se and I was the one to come up with it. Do not disappoint me any more." And like that he left.
Azula and Zuko were not stupid. The Firelord was using them again for his benefits . He never loved them. He didn't even refer to them as his own CHILDREN.
If Azula felt her tears prickling her eyes, she didn't show it.
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"Did he tell you anything? Anything at all?" Azula asked again.
"I'm telling you, I know no more than you." Mai said again.
"I might have a guess about who may know more." Ty lee said for the first time.
But Ty lee knew who she was talking about. She was talking about Uncle. Azula realized that Uncle had been right all along. Zuko didn't have anything to gain here. So he left. He left the palace and left Azula alone.
Uncle had escaped too. On the day of black sun. The same day Zuko left.
So Zuko really was like Uncle. But maybe that wasn't so bad. He got away safe and sound. And perhaps even, from what Azula could tell, dumbfounded the Firelord. Something she had been secretly itching to do after their little talk.
But if Zuko was like Uncle did that mean Azula was like... Maybe a few weeks earlier, she would have been proud about it. But now, suddenly that idea didn't seem that bright.
Well, Azula thought bitterly, guess mother was right about me being a monster after all.
It wasn't fair. Why did Zuko get The Dragon of the West while Azula got a Phoenix fanboy? Azula thought angrily. Because the Phoenix fanboy was the cause of everything. He used Azula as a war pawn, messed up the bond between Azula and Zuko, caused Mother to think of her as a monster.
"I want to get back at... him." Azula declared with venom in her voice. Ty lee put her hand near her mouth while Mai's eyes were wide open. Because they both knew Azula wasn't talking about Zuko. She was talking about-
"The Firelord has ordered a private meeting with the princess." Said a guard out of nowhere.
Azula almost flinched. Almost. She needed to get a control of herself, the princess made a mental note. But she has been feeling like she is slipping lately. Like she can't- no. NO. She won't let that happen. She won't let her emotions get to her like that. She has Mai and Ty lee at least and who knows maybe Zuko felt the need to go on a life changing adventure trip or something?
She followed the guard to the throne room. Kneeled and put her head down in front of the Phoenix fan- the Firelord. The guard left.
"You are aware about your brother and Uncle's escape. The same people you were tasked to capture." The Firelord didn't ask. He just pointed at it.
Azula kept her head down.
"You were aware about your brother meeting your Uncle when he was imprisoned. Yet you kept it to yourself"
Azula kept her head down.
"You were disobedient and displeased that day when I ordered you to tell the truth about Ba Sing Se."
Azula kept her head down.
"You helped them escape right under my nose. Even after I've warned you numerous times that trust and compassion is for fools." That wasn't true but it seemed like the Firelord had made up his mind.
"I should throw you at the Boiling rock for treachery against the nation. Unless..."
Azula lifted her head. Not because she was interested in the deal but because the door swung open.
"RUN!" screamed Ty lee. She and Mai had taken down the guards.
"GUARDS!" shouted the Firelord as he shot lightning at Azula.
Her instinct helped her to dodge the lightning. More guards came up as Azula shot lightning at the Firelord.
Oh dear, she really shot lightning at her father.
He easily dodged it but the distraction was enough. Azula was already running down the halls with Mai and Ty lee. But the guards were closing in on them. She could hear her father screaming to put them all in the Boiling Rock and let them rot.
"Azula... go." said Mai as she threw three knives at three guards. Azula was about to protest but-
"Yes. Go Azula. Find your Uncle. I'm sure he will help you." insisted Ty lee.
"But I can't just leave you both" Azula was surprised how naturally and automatically the urge to not leave her friends came to her.
"Azula there's too many of them. Just go" protested Mai.
"...I will come back for you. I promise." assured Azula as she shot lightning through the wall and escaped.
She WILL come back for her friends. She will come back for Ty lee who left her circus which she adored so much. For Mai who was expected to comply by everything the Firelord says for the power and honor of her family yet she sacrificed all for her friend. She will come back for her heroic friends who saved her life.
She will not be a monster. She will not be like Ozai.
But first. She needs to find her Uncle and Zuzu.
