A/N: Thank you for reading The Burning Ring. I hope you will enjoy the final chapter of this, the first book in my Azutara trilogy. I will begin posting the second book, called The Pit of Snakes, next Thursday. I hope you will check it out.
Chapter 41
4 Years and 10 Months after the Hundred Year War
Royal Caldera City
On the evening of the day of Azula's confrontation with her father, the princess arrived at the Fire Lord's private chambers, holding tightly to Katara's hand for the emotional support that she badly needed ahead of the meeting with her mother. While both Katara and Zuko had suggested that they wait a few more days, Azula was desperate to get it over and done with, knowing that she would only become more and more anxious with every moment of waiting.
Katara shot her girlfriend one final supportive smile and squeezed her hand tightly before releasing it, as they entered Zuko's private lounge, where Ursa already waited for them. Azula's mother was still a very attractive woman in her late forties, but it was clear that she had led a very tumultuous life, and her years at the court had left their mark upon her. Her face seemed to reflect the concern about the upcoming meeting with her daughter, as she paced back and forth the room, before coming to a halt as she saw the two girls entering the lounge.
For a moment, they all stood still, not knowing what to say. Katara delicately stepped a little aside, knowing that this was a moment for mother and daughter to discuss things among themselves, but she hoped that her silent presence would still be steadying for Azula. Ursa moved a couple of steps closer, almost as if she wanted to approach her daughter and hug her, but then she wisely decided to maintain some distance. Some fear was evident in her hesitancy, and it was only understandable. Azula had threatened to track Ursa down and kill her on more than one occasion, and while Ursa had been kept appraised of Azula's progress, this was the true test.
"Azula," Ursa finally spoke up in a trembling voice. "I don't even know where to begin..."
"I don't know either," Azula admitted. She seemed to be keeping relatively calm for now. "Just... just tell me why. Why was our relationship the way it was? I need to understand."
Ursa lowered her eyes and let out a deep sigh. "I'll try to explain," she began slowly. "I know I've made so many mistakes as a parent, and you have every right to be angry with me. I am angry with myself, Azula."
"Just tell me," Azula insisted.
"Very well," Ursa nodded. "It all began as my reaction to Ozai favoring you over your brother. He began treating Zuko worse and worse with every passing day, while always putting you up on the pedestal. You deserved all the praise, of course. You were an exceptionally talented child."
"I don't remember you ever telling me that," Azula remarked, a little spitefully. "Did you think I was hearing it enough from my father?"
"I... I really was proud of you, Azula, and I should have told you, but..." Ursa sighed again. "I became so preoccupied with protecting Zuko from his father's wrath, but to my shame, I did so at the expense of neglecting you... and driving you right into the arms of your father. Only later did I realize that it was Ozai's plan all along, Azula. By elevating you so publicly, he intentionally drew a deep wedge between us, and between you and your brother. He wanted to isolate you from us in order to control you."
Color had drained from Azula's face at those words. "That... that bastard!" she exclaimed angrily, clenching her fists. "If only I had realized this before I spoke with him earlier, I would have killed him with that whip and then bathed his body in righteous flames!"
"Azula, don't," Katara stepped in quickly, taking her girlfriend's hand. "Don't turn to anger so quickly. It would only please your father and you know it. You're better than this, so much better."
"Yes... yes, I... he can't hurt us now," Azula's anger deflated swiftly. "He's behind everything that haunts our family isn't he? He worked so hard to break us apart. What sort of a person does that? How did he become that way?"
"Do you remember your grandfather, Azula?" Ursa asked softly. "I believe there's your answer."
"You're right," Azula nodded. "I guess being an abusive parent ran in the family... but it ends with Ozai." She stood silent for a while, before speaking up again. "Mother?" Azula asked hesitantly. "Did you truly think that I was a monster?"
Ursa flinched, as if she had been struck with a whip across her face. "No, never..." she whispered. "I loved you, Azula, and I always will love you... but I should have told you that. I neglected you, and there's no excuse for it."
"But there had to be some reason why you would call Azula a monster," Katara stepped in, forgetting her resolution to be a silent and supportive observer. This particular episode just felt so egregious that it was making her very angry.
"There was an incident at the turtle duck pond," Ursa managed, clearly struggling to deal with these memories. "Azula threw rocks at the ducks, and injured a couple of them. Zuko was inconsolable and in tears, and I was livid... I said things I shouldn't have said, without trying to understand why Azula would have done something like that."
"She saw you and Zuko bonding over the turtle ducks at the pond, and she became intensely jealous of what you had," Katara continued, once again reaching out to hold her girlfriend's hand. Azula's face had reddened as she no doubt felt shame about her actions with the turtle ducks, but Katara was there, supporting her all the way. "I think she probably became so envious that she wanted to destroy what you had. I doubt it was ever petty cruelty towards the poor turtle ducks."
"It wasn't..." Azula managed, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"I should have realized that," Ursa nodded severely. "What mother would not try to understand her child? Instead I just treated you like there was something fundamentally wrong with you... and that's inexcusable. I'm at fault for pushing you into your father's waiting arms, Azula. All I can do is to ask for your forgiveness."
"I really hoped that you would have a better reason for what you did other than just... not being a great parent," Azula sighed, wiping her cheeks clean. "Then again... I think that Ozai didn't just mess up Zuko and me. He must have done something to you as well."
"I'm sure he did, but I don't want to use it as an excuse, Azula. I was a grown woman, I should have known better," Ursa insisted. "I will not hide behind Ozai's actions to absolve my own responsibility."
"I'm... torn," Azula said, running her hands through her raven locks. "Zuko has told me why you abandoned us, but... it still hurts. And then you decided to hide and forget all about us, and I can understand why, but... I mean, I want to forgive you, but I don't know if I can trust you not to hurt me again."
"I would do everything in my power to set things right between us, if only you gave me a chance, my daughter," Ursa pleaded tearfully. "But that is a choice you have to make. I love you, Azula, and I always will... and I desperately long for your forgiveness, even though I know I have not earned it yet. Can you find it in your heart to grant it to me?"
"I..." Azula let out a deep sigh. "No, I can't, at least not yet," she managed, pained look on her face. "But I am ready to start walking that road to forgiveness with you, mother. Given enough time, perhaps we might get there."
"That is... more than I could ask for," Ursa breathed out in relief. "Does that mean you want us to remain in contact?"
"I do," Azula nodded. "Let's start with letters. I'll send you one as soon as Katara and I return to Republic City. And I will look forward to receiving a letter from you, mother."
"That sounds wonderful," Ursa smiled. She gave Azula a hesitant, yet hopeful stare. "I... don't suppose you would allow me to embrace you, Azula?"
Azula froze at the question. While deep inside she wanted it, very badly, the scars left by her traumatic relationship with her mother ran very deeply. Fortunately, Katara was there as always, ready to step in. "Rebuilding trust takes a lot of time, Lady Ursa," she interfered, taking Azula's hand in hers and giving Ursa a polite and disarming smile. "I'm sure that you will get there one day. I sense a genuine desire to rebuild this relationship from both parties, and that can only be a good sign."
"I understand," Ursa smiled back at her, not appearing too disappointed. "You would know that better than anyone when it comes to my daughter, wouldn't you, Katara? When I heard about your involvement... and what you had done for my daughter... I realized that you had to be a very special person. And I can see that I was right."
"I could not agree more," Azula nodded, giving her girlfriend a loving stare. "Nobody could have gotten to me the way Katara did. She's one of a kind."
"It's more than just that," Ursa continued. "You have the kind of emotional intelligence and perceptiveness that is incredibly rare. It is a gift that could be used to help many others, not just my daughter. Zuko told me that you are using your waterbending to heal people at the Republic City hospital. Perhaps you should consider using your gifts to help people who are carrying not only physical injuries, but also mental scars."
"The way Yagoda and the other Northern Tribe healers do?" Katara wondered. "It's... tempting, but I would have to study a lot. But I think I might like that."
"I would support you, if you only promised not to fall in love with any other patients of yours," Azula chuckled.
"Like there's any chance of that happening," Katara grinned back at her as the two girls shared a tender kiss in front of Azula's mother.
"You two are so adorable," Ursa sighed happily. "It makes my heart lighter to know that my children have partners who genuinely love and support them. And speaking of my other children... I think we can ask Zuko and Kiyi to join us, wouldn't you say so?" Azula and Katara both nodded at her, Ursa walking up to the doors that lead to Zuko's private study, calling out to her son. Moments later, an excited and nervous Zuko entered the lounge, leading Kiyi by the hand, Ty Lee subtly slipping in behind them.
"Is everything alright?" Zuko asked hesitantly, releasing Kiyi's hand and she immediately ran over to be hugged by her mother. "Did it go well?"
"Progress was made, and that's the most important thing," Ursa replied for them all. "It's going to take time, but we'll keep working on it. Won't we, Azula?"
"Yes, mother," Azula nodded politely.
Kiyi had appeared a little frightened as she walked in, but when she now heard Azula speaking calmly, the young girl seemed to instantly relax, releasing the hold on her mother's waist and running up to Azula. "Are you really my sister?" Kiyi asked excitedly.
"Half-sister," Azula smiled at her. "But I suppose it counts."
"And you're a real Fire Nation princess?" Kiyi gasped.
Azula hesitated for a moment, glancing over at Zuko. Her brother immediately spoke up for her. "Azula's a real Fire Nation princess," he spoke with pride in his voice. "And she's as proud and brave as they come."
"Whoa... that's amazing," Kiyi gushed. "You're really pretty, too… and not so scary at all. I remember the last..." she began, but then fell silent, blushing. Katara realized that Kiyi had probably been instructed not to bring up that painful incident when Zuko and Azula had finally found their mother, ending with Azula attacking the family before fleeing into wilderness.
"I know what you mean," Azula gave her half-sister a somber smile. "I must have really scared you that time, Kiyi. I'm sorry for doing that. It will never happen again."
"I forgive you," Kiyi gave her big half-sister a beaming smile. "Zuko said you were no longer mean. I'm so glad he was right!"
"I'm working very hard on not being mean, Kiyi," Azula replied softly. "It's not always very easy for me, but I'm trying."
"Well, I want to help you," Kiyi spoke with determination. "I'm always helping my friends. Do you want to be my friend?"
"We're family, Kiyi, but... I think I'd like to be your friend on top of that," Azula nodded, smiling.
"Great!" Kiyi announced happily. "Come with me, then!" she grabbed Azula's hand, starting to lead her away. Azula could only look helplessly at Katara, to which her girlfriend gave her a supportive smile. "I want to show you all my toys!" Kiyi ordered, dragging the hapless Azula away with her.
"It's great to see her like that, isn't it?" Ty Lee spoke up softly, suddenly appearing next to Katara, startling the waterbender a little. She nodded happily at Ty Lee's words. "I think spending time with Kiyi will also help a lot. That girl is adorable, and can melt even the most hardened of hearts... and Azula's heart is no longer hardened. You've seen to it, Katara," she said gratefully.
"I'm glad I could help," Katara had to clear her throat before she replied, watching Zuko speaking fondly with his mother. "This family has been put through so much, they deserve every bit of help and I was only happy to give it."
"Truer words have never been spoken," Ty Lee nodded, putting her arm around Katara's shoulder. "I'm going to stand behind Zuko with the same conviction that you stand behind Azula. And who knows..." Ty Lee gave her a mischievous wink. "Maybe one day, sometime in the future, I'll get to call you my sister-in-law."
"Oh, that would be lovely!" Katara gushed, then immediately forcing herself to get a handle on her excitement, always hard when Ty Lee's bubbly enthusiasm was involved. "But let's not get ahead of ourselves... the most important part is to keep helping Azula and Zuko. They'll face many challenges yet."
"I could not agree more," Ty Lee nodded.
"So, I take it that Zuko's mother knows about you two?" Katara asked then.
"Yes, we spent time together yesterday and Zuko gave her the news," Ty Lee replied, blushing furiously.
"That must have been nerve wracking for you," Katara realized, turning to briefly embrace the other girl. "How did Ursa take it?"
"Lady Ursa was very happy to hear the news," Ty Lee smiled, looking relieved. "She knows me well, of course, and she said right away how obvious it is that I'm good for Zuko. She gave us both her blessing," she spoke cheerfully as they hugged again before going over to join Zuko and his mother.
It was only hours later, after many heartwarming conversations, that Azula and Katara managed to find some time for themselves, slipping out onto a balcony overlooking the palace gardens. It didn't take long before Azula had Katara against the railing, trailing eager kisses up and down Katara's neck, while the waterbender's hands were mussing up Azula's raven curls.
"Seriously, though..." Azula eventually forced herself to stop before things had truly escalated. She looked deep into Katara's eyes, gratefulness pouring from her. "You've put my life back on track, Katara. You've given me back my family, and more. What you've done for me... it can't be measured. I'll never stop loving you for it," she whispered, placing Katara's open palm against her chest, to let her feel the rapidly beating heart underneath.
"I'll never stop loving you either, Zula," Katara whispered back. "Watching you grow as a person every day... it just makes me love you more and more."
"I just wish I could do more for you, or else I feel like I'm getting all the benefits of this relationship," Azula sighed. Her eyes lit up mischievously then. "Though I suppose you get to enjoy the mind-blowing sex we're having, so I guess you really don't have any reasons to complain."
"Oh, I'm definitely enjoying the sex, and I have no reasons for complaining," Katara chuckled. "But you're giving me something very important as well, Azula. Helping you heal and watching you grow as a person... it gives me such indescribable sense of satisfaction. It's very important for me to feel needed and wanted, to know that I'm making a difference with my actions... to know that I'm putting my talents to good use. And you're amazing at making me feel needed, Zula. Our relationship helps me feel so very complete."
"I'll never stop needing you, Kat," Azula whispered to her. "I want you forever."
"Then you'll have me..." Katara smiled at her beloved, whispering as their lips were about to meet in yet another kiss. "Forever..."
THE END OF BOOK ONE