Chapter 34

"Did you hear? We have a new Prince of the Fire Nation." The New Ozai Society member—not more than a girl, really, grinned and sat down on the bench next to Azula.

"What?" asked Azula, trying to conceal her confusion. Zuko had already recklessly named Kazuto a prince. Had Mai been pregnant this whole time and given birth to an actual Prince?

"Yeah, Prince Akira," said the girl enthusiastically. "He's an illegitimate son of Firelord Ozai." She giggled. "All sorts of interesting royals showing up these days. Rumor has it Akira's quite handsome."

Zuko, you absolute moron. Azula got up from the bench and stalked away, fuming. She should never have given the list to Zuko! She thought he had the strength to do what needed to be done, but clearly not. It was bad enough that he adopted Kazuto, but to publicly acknowledge Akira as another son of Ozai was madness! She should have killed them all when she had the chance. Zuko was still weak, still soft, still not ready to be Firelord without her watching over him.

Azula stormed outside the grain storage barn where the New Ozai Society was set to meet. She breathed in the sharp night air. The barn was built along the edge of the volcano, and below her she saw the lights of the capital. They glowed like fireflies in the darkness. In the center of the crater, she could pick out the bright sparks of the palace, and a tightness clenched in the pit of her stomach as she gazed upon the place where she and Zuko had grown up. Where they had grown apart. Where she had briefly been Firelord. But now the palace was Zuko's. Why was it that no matter how many times she tried to leave, she was yanked back to those palace lights? It was as if an invisible tether kept her here, a ghost haunting her former home, unable to move on. Azula climbed to a rock overlooking the capital, and sat on the edge.

She had accepted she would never be Firelord. Now all that remained was to ensure that Zuko would be a strong ruler, that he would rule by fear. Azula had tried to teach him that when she worked with the New Ozai Society for the first time two months ago, designing an elaborate kidnapping scheme to cause unrest in the capital. But it had all fallen apart. Zuko had cracked down on the rebellion, but then had apologized to his people for imposing martial law. And after Mai's father and his cell of the New Ozai Society were arrested, Azula had lost all her contacts with the rebel group.

The lights in the palace flickered hypnotically as Azula stared down at her ancestral home. The fact that Zuko had apologized still made her head swim. Fear had to be the only way, she knew that, but Zuko seemed to be living by an entirely different code. And once again, when she had confronted him two months ago, he hadn't seemed unhappy to see her. He had still wanted her to come home.

The wind whipped Azula's single braid to the side, and she lit a small blue fire to warm herself. It had been cold the night she told Zuko about their siblings, too. But even though she had surprised him by her visit, all he wanted to do was reminisce about their childhood, screaming out wishes from the rooftops of the palace.

Azula, come back with me. I can help you!

Oh Zuko. Didn't he know no one could help her? But maybe she could help him.
Azula made her column of fire soar higher, and the rocks nearby shimmered in an eerie blue light. Over the past weeks, she had reconnected with various New Ozai Society cells, not revealing her true identity as Princess Azula. She knew she could take over the entire group easily using just the power of her name. Or, if she wanted, she could probably kill them all. But the thought of executing so many people just made her feel…tired. And publicly leading an insurgent group against Zuko, even if it was just to teach him a lesson, could too easily make her lose her focus. Being Firelord is not your destiny.
 So she joined new cells using false names, and took notes of which families supported Zuko and which were willing to betray him. Maybe one day she could hand everything over to Zuko. Maybe if he finally ruled by fear her job would be done.

Just to practice, Azula focused on her breath. The stomach was a furnace, and out of that inner fire she breathed out a steady stream of blue fire, the flames hissing like a dragon's flame. Pity all the dragons were dead. When she was a girl, she dreamed of riding one…

"Azula, I'm a dragon!" Zuko yelled, waving his chubby arms menacingly.

"No, you're not," said Azula. "You can't even firebend properly."

Zuko wilted, hands falling limply to his sides. "Why would you say that?" he asked. "I'm trying!" He let out a weak spark from his right hand, but it died immediately.

"Let me show you," said Azula, feeling a little guilty. She summoned a small flame and walked over to her brother. Tipping her hand slightly, she transferred the fire to Zuko's hands.

"Now we're both dragons," she said softly. Father said Zuko was weak for not bending well, but maybe he just needed some help.

Zuko smiled at her, and his loaned fire grew stronger. "Look, Azula!" he said excitedly. He jumped from one foot to the other, beaming at her.

"What's going on here?" Father appeared at the doorway, and Zuko's flame immediately disappeared. Ozai surveyed them both.

"Good work, Azula," he said approvingly, noting her still-flickering flame. "Zuko, where's your fire?"

"I—" Zuko choked, then screwed up his courage. "I'll practice even more!"

"Some people are born with a gift, Zuko," said Ozai scathingly. "And you clearly don't have it. Azula, come with me. We should review your lessons." Azula followed her father out the door, but glanced back at Zuko, wishing she could go back to being a dragon…

"Zamira!"

Azula quickly scrambled off the rock as she saw Lord Gui approach. He was a minor noble, the husband of a key general who had recently joined the cause.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" said Gui, standing beside her and admiring the city. "The height of Fire Nation engineering and progress."

"Yes, it is beautiful," said Azula. Her heart clenched again. "I've always found it hard to leave."

"Well, you won't have to," said Lord Gui. "In a few weeks, Prince Zuko will be gone, and Firelord Ozai will need loyal servants. You used to work at the palace, right? You can return."

Azula nodded. Zamira would want to return home. And truthfully, a part of Azula wanted to, as well. But of course that was impossible. She didn't even trust herself; how could Zuko trust her?

"When will we strike?" asked Azula. "What's keeping us from attacking now?"

"We need to sway more of the military," said Gui. "My wife is doing her best, but several of the newer commanders are oddly loyal to Prince Zuko." He blinked in disbelief, confused Zuko could persuade anyone to join his side.

"The Agni Kai might have gained Zuko some supporters," said Azula. "Even the merchants at the market were talking about it today." She tried to hide her pride. In that one instance, Zuko had dealt his problems like a true son of fire.

"Perhaps," nodded Gui. "But I have a solid report that Prince Zuko has been greatly weakened by the fight. He may even be close to death."

"What?" said Azula. "But…the fight was over a week ago!"

Gui shrugged. "I heard it from a good source." Azula wanted to ask who, but knew that would be too suspicious. If Zuko was dying, she had to go back. But he couldn't be. She would know if he was.

"In any case, we proceed as if he will live," said Gui. He turned to her, and Azula could only see his silhouette in the darkness. "Zamira, it must have been horrible when your attack on the wedding failed. And I know you may not want to fight again so soon after watching your friends die. But I have to ask. Are you ready to fight again for the one true Firelord?"

Azula smirked. "For the one true Firelord? Always."

The stars above flickered faintly, echoing the city below. Whatever it took, she would teach Zuko to rule by fear, so he would be safe.

Maybe then she could rest.