Hey! Sorry I haven't been posting but I am super busy with school, soccer and some other stuff.
Anyways I hope you like this chapter!
I DO NOT OWN AVATAR THE LAST AIRBENDER or the song "In the name of love"
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Toph had led Azula up to the palace followed by Zuko who had to wave off the guards before Toph crushed them. Halfway Azula had tired but she would be damned before she would admit it. Thankfully Toph had picked up on it and slowed down and eventually just scooped her off her feet.(Which was far too easy she noted) They arrived at the palace and walked in about five feet before Mai and Izumi had spotted them.
"What is going on?" Mai was now holding Izumi and glaring at Zuko.
Zuko shifted in front of Toph and Azula and signaled a servant to take them to Azula's room. When Toph and Azula had left he turned towards Mai. "I know you must be surprised but-"
"Surprised Zuko? Really? I'm a bit more than just surprised! You brought her here where our daughter lives! How can we trus-"
"She tried to kill herself Mai! H..How could I just leave her there when she was hurting like that she is still my sister and she has improved so much with her mental health I...I...I just think she deserves a chance. I'm sorry." Zuko took a deep breath, looked at Mai and turned to go see his sister.
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Toph followed the servant to Azula's room even as she heard Mai's voice. Part of her felt bad to let Zuko take the heat but that changed when Azula had fallen asleep in her arms. Toph was pretty strong, she knew that but she was only sixteen and knew that Azula was way too light to be healthy. The servant opened the door and Toph walked in. She walked over to the bed and lay Azula down. She sat down beside her and stroked her hair distracted.
" How is she?" Zuko walked in the room quietly.
Toph jumped not realizing he was there. Did she really zone out like that? "She's fine, just a bit tired." She let out a short chuckle. " You would be too if you had been half starved in a freezing cell slowly rotting."
Zuko started to speak but Toph cut him off. "I know you didn't know that was happening. To tell the truth neither do I but she was way too easy to carry and I know my limits."
Zuko nodded mutely. They sat there next to Azula for some time but Zuko was summoned to a meeting and had to leave. Toph stayed though, She didn't know what it was but something in her told her to stay….so she did. Servants brought her lunch and set aside some food for when Azula woke up and came to take it away as well. She was about to leave so she could stretch her legs when Azula woke. "Hey, are you okay?"
Azula startled at the voice but quickly composed herself and sat up. "Of course I am."
Toph smiled at the confident, sarcastic tone. "Okay well dinner will be soon just so you know."
Azula frowned and got up out of bed. She took a deep breath and turned all the candles blue and grinned. " Of course Master Beifong." She smirked when Toph whipped around and pointed at her.
"No. None of that you can call me Toph. Got it?" Azula walked past her to the door.
Azula walked past her to the door. "Whatever you say Toph."
Stunned Toph jogged to catch up and strolled next to her as they made their way to the dining room.
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They entered the room obviously late and the room grew still. Zuko at the head of the table and Mai to his right and Izumi to Mai's right. Toph walked right in and sat on Zuko's left. Azula quickly followed and sat herself next to Toph.
"So what's on the menu today Sparky?" Toph had already begun to pile food onto her plate.
"Fried duck-goose, rice, and cheese potatoes." Zuko kept glancing between Mai and Azula.
They all ate in silence for a while until Izumi decided to speak up.
"Who are you?" She asked, pointing at Azula.
Azula slightly taken aback took a moment to answer. "Your Aunt Azula. I've heard much of you from your father."
Izumi looked confused, her eyebrows knitted together. It seemed as if she was trying to figure out what that meant. "What an Aunt? She looked at her mother.
Mai narrowed her eyes at Azula then turned to her daughter. "It is what you call your father's sister."
Izumi's eyes widened. She turned to look at Azula as if she was a four hundred foot purple platypus-bear with pink horns and silver wings. Azula shifted in her seat and took a bite of rice. Izumi was now glancing back and forth between Zuko and Azula. Suddenly she stood in her seat. " Daddy! You not tell me you got a sidder!"
"Sit in your seat Izumi." Mai scolded her daughter.
Toph frowned. Azula's heart was racing. What was wrong? Why was she so nervous? Wha-
"Are you okay Azula?" Zuko's voice broke the silence.
Azula glanced up from her plate. "Yes, Yes I'm fine." Azula sounded like her old self giving a flippant wave of her hand. "I'm just wondering why dear Izumi here never heard of her Aunt Azula. When I never stop hearing about her?"
Mai just sent her a glare.
"Oh no matter I suppose I will have to teach the poor thing how to properly fire bend so she doesn't end up like ZuZu over there." Azula rested in her chair with a smirk.
This made Zuko turn bright red. "What makes you think I'd let you train my daughter? Besides we don't even know if she is a bender!"
Toph felt Azula's heart still racing. She was nervous. But why?
Azula simply laughed and faced Zuko. "You know she will be a bender. Plus ZuZu we both know I'm a far superior bender. Besides with you being Fire Lord you won't have enough time to correctly train her."
Zuko's face darkened. "I seem to remember Father having all the time in the world to train you….at least until he got bored and assigned you to Lo and Li."
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All the lamps in the room turned blue. Izumi started to cry. She stood up ramrod straight and turned towards the head of the table. "I will be going Fire Lord Zuko." Azula's eyes watered but she refused to let them fall. She would not give Zuko the satisfaction of seeing her cry. She quickly left ignoring the shouts of her brother. She made her way through the palace and headed to the gardens. She tried not to think of her "training" sessions with her father but the memories came anyway. She walked through the bushes and eventually found herself leaning against a tree. She couldn't really think very clearly and her breaths were short.
"Azula!" Toph crouched in front of her.
Who is that? What's happening….Toph? What wa-
"Azula! Listen to me! 'Kay I'm gonna touch your hands and I want you to copy my breathing." Toph placed Azula's hand on her chest and rubbed soothing circles on the outside of her leg. "1...2...3...4...5…" She continued as she tried to help Azula calm down. Eventually she felt Azula calm some and then to both of their surprise Azula started to cry. At first it was small and silent and then she started to sob. Azula felt Toph pull her into a hug and rub her back. Toph didn't really know what she was doing and just did what Katara did when she was upset. (Which was rare.)
Azula pulled away from the embrace and slowly stood. She helped Toph up and was shocked to find tears on the blind girls face. "You're crying." She gently wiped the girls tears off her cheeks. She tugged the startled girl and led them back to the palace being sure to avoid guards. She led them upstairs and towards a room but was stopped short when they entered the room.
"I can't see!" Toph yanked back into the hall where she could still see some.
Azula seemed to acknowledge this and stood there with her hand out. "Then trust me."
Toph hesitated. Could she really trust her? This was Azula! She tried to kill her multiple times and she was one of the only people who could lie to her. But that Azula would never let herself be carried by the earth bender and she definitely wouldn't let her hold her as she cried. (She didn't think that Azula cried) So she went with her gut and latched onto Azula's hand.
Azula smiled and led Toph into the room. It had a carpet floor with wood underneath which she guessed was why Toph couldn't 'see'. Azula walked them over to a lamp and turned it sideways. The bookshelf opened and Toph hesitated.
"What was that?"
"The wall opened." Azula led them through to an open room with some furniture inside as the wall closed.
Toph could see a little in this room and took a breath of relief.
"Sorry I forgot about your sight being earth based."
"Eh, It's fine Sparkles." She smirked
Azula turned to Toph. "What did you call me?"
" You're Sparkles and Zuko is Sparky."
"There is no way you are going to call me that."
Toph smirked "Whatever you say sparkles."
Azula just rolled her eyes and sat in a chair. "Now down to business. What do you want?"
Toph sat as well. "What do you mean?"
Azula scoffed and glanced around the room lit with her flames. It was a small room with a desk, a small sofa and another chair in which Toph was sitting. "Don't act as if you don't know what I mean. You had me removed from my prison and now I ask what you want in return."
Toph stood up. "I don't want anything from you Princess! I saw how you were in there, how you still are!"
Azula stood and faced Toph and noticed that she was at least three inches taller than her. "And what would you suggest I was like in there? Because I know exactly what I was like. Are you saying that you "saved" me out of pity? I am no-"
Toph cut her off. "I didn't get you out because of pity! I got you out of there because I know what it's like to be trapped in one place because other people think you're broken or that you can't possibly make out in the world." She pauses "If you want something to do that will make us equal. Then try to be civil and useful to Zuko alright? Also try and make some friends." She turned towards the door and stopped two steps inside. Azula silently leads her out of the room and parts ways with her. "Azula…"
Azula turns and shakes her head. "I need to be alone." The tone was empty and cold. Toph turns and walks away.
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I hope you liked this chapter! I had like half of this already written so when. Commented on the first chapter I was like why not? I am super busy this year so this is not the first thing on my mind. So if it's been a while and no update just remind me and I'll get it out as quick as possible. RR