Sokka was no longer sat next to him to read or misread any maps, but that wasn't a problem for Aang. He had been a world traveler long before Sokka had been born. He guided Appa to the island, the reigns firmly in hand.
Miles of clear ocean passed beneath them. Aang loved the sight of water as far as his eye could see. Katara had at times expressed a similar sentiment; it made sense, considering she essentially lived in a frozen ocean. His peers at the temple would complain about how boring it was to sail over water for hours. He wondered now if it was the waterbender in him, how it made him feel in regards to the element.
Aang gazed down at a school of large fish. Yellow scales glistening under the sunlight, blue markings across their bodies, they jumped and crashed through the surface, churning the waters in their wake. He recognized them from a time long past.
He had last seen them when he had taken his friend Kuzan out on a different part of the ocean the Fire Nation sat in. Aang had reflected on Kyoshi island that he may be a bit of a show off, and that was doubly so before he had been frozen. With Kuzan watching wide eyed, his first time on a sky bison, Aang proceeded to jump onto one of the creatures.
That had been the first time he had done any such thing, so compelled by this urge that he couldn't explain. He was never sure what had come over him. Maybe he could blame it on a past life?
When Gyatso learned of this, through whatever means the clever old monk used, he had trained Aang extra hard, to ensure that he 'always had the skills to safely escape such escapades.' If it had been meant as a deterrent, it backfired spectacularly, as Aang had then become quick and clever enough to emerge unscathed from his adventures. But that was more than likely as Gyatso intended.
Appa made a sound deep from within his maw, drawing him away from memories. Aang knew his bison could feel the absent weight he had grown accustomed to carrying from town to town, island to island. His people believed that bison enjoyed transporting peoples, that it was a part of their purpose. They did not subjugate them, but befriended them. Bonded with them.
He released the reigns to pat Appa's fur near one of his horns. "It's just the three of us now, buddy."
Appa made another mournful sound.
"Yeah, I'm gonna miss them too." He though of how the scent of Katara's hair would waft over his nose when he sat downwind of her. "But we'll see them again. Once things have settled down."
They came upon the island after two hours of flight, and Aang scoffed. "Half a day, he says. Don't underestimate sky bison, Zuko."
Appa grunted in the affirmative.
He wasn't sure what he had been expecting of the asylum. A castle blacked by fire, smoke pouring out of it, surrounded by screaming thunderclouds. Buzzard-wasps encircling the entire island.
The idea of the Fire Nation taking good care of its vulnerable citizens seemed odd to Aang, given how its rulers treated their families. He had thought that they would do something cruel, like sending those deemed mad to the front lines, to serve as fodder, a tactic of war he found most ghastly.
He'd thought that every resource and effort had been dedicated to the purpose of total war. But his first view of the island told him this was not the case. Aang still had much to learn of the nation and its people, it seemed.
The facility was large, set at the center of the island, an area which had been cleared of vegetation, as the rest of the island teemed with life native to it. The architecture did share some of the sharp slopes typical of Fire Nation design, but the gentle curves of the roofs and archways reminded him more of Air Nomad building structure. A simply constructed center that spilled out in gentle outcroppings of buildings.
He would have expected more of a military presence this close to the royal palace, but there was only a simple port and a single battle ship, not dissimilar from the one Zuko had chased him in.
Zuko had informed him the head of the institution fought fervently against any additional troops beyond the bare necessity, claiming that an abundance of soldiers would disrupt the very purpose of the island. Aang knew he liked that much about them.
Appa landed on a stretch of beach that was between the port and a series of steps that lead up to the institution. The soldiers, who had been sitting in the shade of a tent, playing a game of cards, started when he landed.
Aang waved from the saddle.
He could hear the awed mutterings of disbelief as they approached. It was still new for Aang, to be received with such fervor. Appa had long been the target of the Fire Nation's endless aggression and attacks. Now he was treated as a majestic, mythical being, one worthy of reverence. Which, in Aang's humble opinion, he was.
When he swept his eyes over the approaching soldiers, he saw no mustaches, or apples in their throats. Aang blinked. They were all women. And in various states of injury, it seemed. One walking with a crutch, another with their arm in a sling.
"Pick your jaws off the ground, ladies," a new voice stated with commanding but gentle reproach. "We knew the Avatar would be coming by sometime."
A woman stepped forward, her uniform crisp, and an insignia with her rank on the collar; Aang had not memorized what they meant. There wasn't much point when they were all attacking him, but maybe he should learn. All he could tell was that the gold meant she was an officer, and he guessed from the way the others showed deference to her, that she was ranked above them all.
She offered him bow, and Aang failed to see a single injury on her, unlike her subordinates. "Greetings, Avatar Aang. I'm Captain Ming. I'm in command of the port and the soldiers here."
Aang jumped from the saddle and landed in front of her with lightness only an airbender could possess, barely disturbing the grains of sand. He bowed in return. "Pleased to meet you, Captain. Fire Lord Zuko has already informed you of the purpose of my visit?"
"Indeed he has. Feel free to come and go as you please. I'll answer any questions I can in the meantime."
"Much appreciated," Aang said. He glanced about, then cleared his throat. "I don't really have a gentle way of asking this, and forgive me if it's insensitive. But are all of your soldiers women?"
She looked confused for a moment, then smiled. "They didn't tell you? There are two institutions and they're separated by gender. That includes the staff and my entire crew. Right now, you're the only man on the island, Avatar."
"Oh, I see." Aang digested that for a moment. "That's interesting. I thought the Fire Nation was completely coed." It certainly contrasted the Northern Water Tribe and the Earth Kingdom in its values. Aang found it interesting that more than any other country, the Fire Nation treated men and women as equals closer to the nomads.
"For the most part, we are," Ming answered. "All of our national departments are fully integrated and available to either gender. The institutions are two of the few exceptions."
Aang again noticed how fresh her uniform looked. "Have you been stationed here long?"
She chuckled, and Aang could tell that she was a more jovial sort, not what he would've expected from any Fire Nation officer. "Not at all. I specialize in the guarding incarcerated personnel. I was in the Boiling Rock some years ago, and I was standing guard over General Iroh before his escape." Ming leaned closer to give him a conspiratorial whisper. "Don't tell anyone, but I think that's why Fire Lord Zuko stationed me here. I must have made a good impression on the General. I think my gentle touch with prisoners won them over."
Aang smiled. "A gentle hand can lead even an elephant mandrill by a hair."
Ming gave him a lidded stare and smirked. "Is that what you consider Princess Azula?" She blushed then bowed her head. "Forgive me, that was above my station."
He laughed it off. "Don't worry about it."
But behind his smile, Aang had his suspicions that the shake up of personnel was directly related to Azula being a patient within the walls of the hospital. They must have been women that Zuko trusted implicitly, or felt were not in the condition to be a threat. The last thing he wanted was a ship of loyalist busting Azula out of the asylum and sailing off to spirits knew where.
By taking soldiers who were of limited capacity and lead by a woman whose character he could trust, Zuko prevented a potential disaster.
He glanced at Ming. "Are there any dangerous wildlife on the island?"
"Nothing that wouldn't scurry away at the sight of a sky bison," she said, looking up at Appa.
He turned to his companions. "I'm not sure how long this will be. You two just enjoy yourselves, I'll call when I'm finished here. And stay out of trouble. Momo."
He chuckled as the lemur squawked in indignation.
Aang decided to take the steps, and he did not bound over them. This was something done at the temple, an unwritten rule, something to teach the acolytes patience in their everyday conduct. To walk steps that they could easily skip with their bending.
He wanted to see what the patients saw as they were admitted. He wanted to see things from Azula's perspective.
Well, at least somewhat. There was also a ramp with a winding slope upward. That must have been where less than willing patients were wheeled to and from the facility. He wasn't about to be strapped up and carted around, but he, more-so than Azula, knew what captivity felt like.
How many times had they been captured again?
Standing at the entrance gate, the sight of the walls were much less forbidding than he anticipated. He thought they'd feel more like a cage, but they were more akin to fences than the walls of a great prison. He felt a sense of refuge.
But what would Azula see?
A place meant to heard cattle, most likely.
The guards simply bowed and unlocked the gate, greeting him as he passed. He thanked them and moved on.
In the building straight ahead from the entrance, he found the receptionist. She looked up from what she was reading to greet him. He saw the recognition in her widened eyes.
"Hello, I'm here to visit Princess Azula."
"Yes, of course. We have been expecting you, Avatar. You grace us with your presence. I'll send word for the Director."
It wasn't a long wait.
An elderly woman with long white hair bound into a braid and milky, amber eyes approached with her arms behind her back. Only because he had spent so much time with Toph did Aang instantly recognize that she was blind.
She stopped before Aang and fixed her head as though looking at him. "Ah, this must be the Avatar. Not even in the presence of Fire Lords past have I ever sensed such strong chi before."
She offered him a steep bow of her head. "Greetings, Avatar Aang. I am the director and head psychiatrist at the asylum, and it is my duty see to the princess personally. So to speak." She turned to two women behind her, and Aang recognized them as the same nurses that had accompanied Azula to the palace. Her eyes never focusing on them. It was quite different from the way his earthbending master would direct her attention, far more mature and refined in her conduct and mannerisms.
"Have Princess Azula prepared for a visitor and bring her down."
They nodded and sped down the hall in perfect unison.
"Please, right this way. I'll show you to a lovely spot where you can speak with the princess."
Aang nodded, and followed behind. She walked with a sureness that belied her age and Aang kept pace with her. That part reminded him of Bumi. He really should take the time to visit his old friend…
"A few days ago we received word from Fire Lord Zuko that you were permitted to visit Princess Azula as you saw fit. We humbly offer our full cooperation."
"I would have been here sooner, but… I had to take care of something."
"No need to explain yourself to the likes of me, Avatar. My staff and I are simply astonished that you have taken such considerable measures to protect Princess Azula. We never imagined that the reason the Fire Lord had the princess return to the palace, something I strongly recommend against, was to barter her to appease the other nations. Honestly, the thought of shipping her off to foreign lands in her condition." Her boney hand clenched into a fist and smoke came from it. "Unconscionable!"
Aang eyed her with raised brows, but said nothing. Even the therapists in the Fire Nation pursued what they believed with passion!
"But you stepped forward. Even though you could have let them proceed without cost to yourself. You intervened when you saw someone vulnerable. That sort of concern embodies the very purpose of our work here, Avatar Aang."
"My people always taught me compassion for others. I can't stay my hand while someone is victimized."
"Even if that someone was a mortal enemy of yours? Few would have blamed you."
He suddenly felt that he was being analyzed. Perhaps she wanted a better understanding of him, as he was going to be speaking with Azula, who was far from stable. She did seem quite protective of her patients. Aang inwardly shrugged. He had nothing to hide.
"It's easy to hold a grudge against someone. People think that every action must always be reciprocated. It's a thought that can come easily. But that would only leave us drenched in endless violence. It has to stop somewhere. Otherwise this world would tear itself apart."
She stopped, muttered something to herself, then nodded. As she continued walking, she said. "Very wise, Avatar, very wise. It takes strength to offer a hand to an adversary."
Apparently he had passed a test of some sort.
Aang noticed the truth of Ming's words as he passed by the staff and all the patients that were being wheeled around. They were all women.
He felt compelled to ask the director, "Are there really no men on this island?"
"Well, we have two facilities and two islands. One for men and the other for women. Does that make you nervous?" she asked, and Aang could sense a faint smile in her voice.
"Not at all. It's pretty similar to visiting the other Air Temples. We were separated by gender as well."
"Ah, I see."
"If I might ask, how close do you think Azula is to being… well?"
"I would say as close as the sun and the moon are to one another."
Aang grimaced, though he could not be surprised. He had been hoping the doctor would offer a more optimistic answer. But having spoken to Azula and hearing her voice some of her beliefs…
For a moment he thought to ask how long a recovery might take, or if it was truly that bad. Something more important came to the forefront of his mind. Because the time didn't truly matter.
"What will it take to help her?" he asked.
"There are a great many things that we may do to help, but they will all be futile if Princess Azula herself does not accept our efforts."
Aang frowned as he listened.
"Her path will continue to be an arduous one so long as she chooses. The greatest factor in recovery is one's own decisions. No one can force you to get better or accept things that will help you. And as of this moment, Princess Azula considers the world itself her enemy. That makes it quite difficult to treat her."
Aang's smile held a bitter edge. "Someone will have to change her mind then."
"And would you be that someone, Avatar Aang?"
"I'll help however I can."
"We… were very surprised that you would take the initiative to help her, given the Princess' expressed sentiments towards you."
"Why? Does Azula talk about me often?"
"…Sometimes she insists that she'll kill the Avatar as many times as it takes."
Aang chuckled. "I guess I'll just have to outlive her attempts. I've got a good record of it so far."
The elderly woman paused mid-step and turned to have a closer look at Aang, her sightless eyes focused on him in such a way that he questioned if she were truly blind. "You aren't afraid of her," she noted in wonder.
Aang blinked. "Should I be? Well, I know she can be pretty scary…"
"Princess Azula is, by a considerable margin, the most dangerous patient this facility has treated in its long and illustrious history. I suppose, however, that if there is one person that need not be wary of her, it would be the strongest bender in the world."
Aang blushed, rubbing the back of his head. "I've had really good teachers. Even Fire Lord Zuko himself!" His face became serious. "Has Azula harmed anyone since she's been here?"
"There have been a few burns, nothing serious. We have taken the necessary precautions."
She must have sensed the twisting in his stomach. She smiled with a mouthful of pearly teeth.
"Really, Avatar, such incidents are merely an expectation when dealing with cantankerous firebenders. No one has been severely hurt. All of her guards and nurses are firebenders. They've gotten worse burns from sparring, I'm sure."
Aang thought of the guilt he felt for burning Katara. The shame had prevented him from wanting to firebend ever again. But it wasn't viewed the same in the Fire Nation. Just a natural part of bending, like accidentally encasing someone in ice, or blasting them off their feet with a gust just too strong.
He nodded solemnly. This, too, he would have to learn and accept of its people.
"I've fought Azula several times. It's hard for me to imagine that restraints are enough to keep her from harming anyone. I'm pretty sure she could take any five firebenders other than her uncle and Zuko."
She gave a smile only shown when a secret was about to divulged. "You are quite right to suspect there are other means, Avatar Aang. There is an extremely rare herb that grows only on this island. The unique soil here allows it flourish, whereas it dies on other islands. It has been tried. This herb makes a key component in a special potion that we have brewed here for decades. We feed it to all of our firebending patients in order to suppress their chi, and thus their bending. After a proper dosage, the full affects of the potion take a week to flush from the body."
He frowned. Katara expressed the discomfort of having her chi temporarily blocked by Ty Lee's strikes. He imagined what that must feel like for Azula.
"That sounds like… poison."
"In many respects it is. But we must protect our staff, as well as protecting our patients from themselves."
Aang nodded, then sighed. "It just seems like a shame. I'm sure that someday she won't need them."
"That is the goal, Avatar. The longer a patient is without incident, the weaker a dosage we administer. By the time of release, we have stopped the giving them the potion for at least a month. The initial dosage is also proportionate to the bender's strength."
"And for Azula? What does she get?"
"The maximum that can be administered without causing harm to the digestive tract. She is far too powerful for anything less."
That wasn't something Aang would ever argue. "I noticed that some of the patients are walking on their own, but others are, um, escorted."
"It is not merely the tea that acts as a method of containing our patients. The longer a patient is without incident, the more freedom they are allowed. Our goal is not to hold them captive for the remainder of their lives, but to rehabilitate them, and reintegrate them into society. We must enforce that proper behaviors are rewarded, and disturbances come with consequences."
It sounded harsh to his ears, and he hated how this would make people suffer. But he knew these things were needed. "Does everyone here make a full recovery?" Aang asked in a hopeful tone.
"No, I'm afraid not." Aang sensed a profound sadness with her simple admission. "There are relapses. And some are far more severe than others. Not every story has a happy ending, unfortunately. Healing minds is far more volatile than healing the body. Though in every field of medicine, it is impossible to save everyone. I am certain that as the Avatar, you understand this quite well."
He did understand, yet it remained something that he could not accept, not truly.
"However, the vast majority of our patients do go on to have productive, stable lives. Even when things are difficult, we prepare them to deal with their problems without oversight. Methods to calm their anxieties and reign in their illnesses."
Aang gave her a grateful smile. "That's wonderful. I'm so glad a place like this exists. You, the staff, you're all doing a wonderful thing, Doctor."
She chuckled warmly. "That is so refreshing to hear from one of such importance. Many don't respect what we do here, Avatar. Some would rather see our occupants simply rot in prison. They insist that many of our patients are merely feigning madness in order to escape harsher punishment."
"…Are they?"
"Some do," she admitted. "The vast majority of people do not know how the truly insane and mentally affected behave. It takes time," the woman said, her glassy eyes sparkling with mischief, "but I'm confident in our ability to differentiate the truly needy from the malingering."
"What is your… professional assessment of Princess Azula?"
Her mouth formed a severe frown of disapproval that in his experience could only come from with years of practiced disdain. Some of the elder monks had been quite good at it. "Truly a tragic case. Her father, Fire Lord-" She paused, unsure of how to refer to the deposed ruler. Fire Lord's and the royal family were considered descendants of Agni, divine beings.
But what did one say to a god that had dethroned another?
"Ozai," Aang said in an easy tone. He had no respect or fear of the former monarch.
"Ozai," she said, with a firm nod. "Ozai created the scenario for an inevitable break. He manipulated his daughter to be a tool of his ambition. In order to do so, he isolated her, and drilled fear into her. And what she feared was to be treated in the same manner she had witnessed her older brother be treated. I do not believe the turn of her friends to have been necessary for her break to have occurred. But it acted as an accelerant."
Azula's bitter words about Mai and Ty Lee came back to him.
"She feels that her mother never loved her. She sees her from time to time. The princess seems convinced that her mother is haunting her. She feels…"
"Abandoned," Aang said. "Betrayed, by everyone."
The monk sighed, the puff of air slightly stronger than a normal person. "She's a victim of this war, but not one can see that," Aang muttered.
The doctor's expression brightened."Exactly so!" She looked at him curiously. "Avatar Aang, if you don't mind my asking, how have you come to grasp these things about the Princess so easily? She is not exactly forthcoming about her life. Much of what I have learned I have pieced together from conversation with Fire Lord Zuko himself."
Aang considered how best to phrase it. "A bending technique I learned allows me to see Azula as she truly is, what lies beneath the surface. She does her best to keep it hidden, but there's no hiding, not from this."
"Oh dear. That sounds even more potent than my own abilities. And I though myself impressive for using my firebending to sense the chi of others."
Aang gaped at her. "I didn't know firebending could be used like that. That's amazing!"
She chuckled. "I'm pleased that my bending can be considered impressive by the Avatar himself. It's a very old and obscure art. But as I understand it, all the bending disciplines have spiritual aspects to them. They are simply not widespread. And since the time of Sozin, the true art of firebending has been lost. Even our own nation has come to see at as a means of destruction. But that is not the case…"
"Fire is energy, and life."
"Ah, it has been so long since I have heard those words. It pleases me greatly that they still live on."
Aang wondered how she meant that, but she continued before he could ask.
"Avatar Aang, before you meet with the princess, I must express may personal thanks to you."
Aang blinked. "What for?"
"You spared Princess Azula the loss of her bending. I cannot thank you enough for the mercy you have shown that young woman. I fear that such a loss of herself… She identifies so completely with her power. I'm not certain there would be any possibility of recovery were this to be taken from her permanently."
"But there is. Right?" he asked, loosing some of the uncertainty building inside of him.
"Absolutely. Patience, kindness, and consideration will do Princess Azula a world of wonders. Without the war, her father, her rivalry with Fire Lord Zuko. I like to think of people as plants that adapt to the soil they are placed in. In this environment, the Princess' more. humane qualities may finally begin to bloom."
Aang smiled and nodded. He liked this elder very much, he decided. She reminded him of Gyatso, with her patience, her gentle virtue. He was certain that she had been airbender in a past life.
She lead him to a small but comfortable room with a marble roundtable. He pondered the artistry of the table, crafted by hand, without the use of earthbending. The Fire Nation could have pursued art for the last century. The world would have been much better off.
Through the archway lie a view of the courtyard with a smoothed stone floor and a small pond.
"Princess Azula will brought here shortly."
"I was thinking maybe we could talk on the roof. It has a really nice view, from what I saw flying in."
She straightened suddenly, her body tense. "Avatar Aang, we do not allow patients access to the roof."
"Oh, I see." He paused, then ventured to ask, "Why is that?"
"Many of our patients are not stable enough to avoid the temptation of harming themselves. Our goal is to keep their ability to do so at a minimum."
Aang frowned "But how could the rooftop hurt-" He paused. He always associated the free wind and heights as symbols of the sanctity of freedom. The thought of people plunging too their deaths or otherwise using such heights to cause themselves injury turned his stomach.
"I see," he muttered. "I shall be more mindful."
He saw her being wheeled toward them down the walkway, and she gave him a smile. He had braced himself, but still felt the stirrings of anger at the sight of her satisfied expression. Aang took a breath, and let the emotion out before it could fester.
He turned to the doctor. "I'd like to speak to Princess Azula without restraints."
Azula perked up at this, a tangible excitement in her eyes.
The doctor pursed her lips. "Avatar Aang, I must protest. That is against our protocol."
"So she doesn't hurt herself or anyone else, right? But her bending is suppressed, isn't it? If she can't be unbound even around me, I think that reinforces certain things the princess thinks about herself. Things that aren't true," he said, returning the princess' imperious gaze with his own.
Those golden eyes narrowed. And he made sure not to look away from them.
"I'll make sure no harm comes to myself or Princess Azula."
"Don't go making promises you can't keep, Avatar."
After a tense moment of silence, the Doctor sighed.
"Very well, Avatar Aang. Ordinarily this would reacquire some rather extensive paperwork and authorizations. But the Fire Lord was clear that we are to assist you. Perhaps you are right. These are quite unordinary circumstances." She nodded to her staff. "Unshackle the princess."
The nurses stood Azula up onto her feet, which were bound together with chains. They undid the straps of Azula's straitjacket with efficient movements, undoing the buckles on her arms in tandem with one another. When her arms hung at her side, one pulled the jacket off of her as the other undid the lock around her legs. The chains fell to ground.
Azula stood free.
She stepped out form the chain pooled at her feet. She lifted her head up and simply basked in walking under her own power. Seeing her relish her freedom, Aang was certain it was the right decision, despite the potential dangers.
She stared at her hands, flexing her fingers. Aang noticed that her hands lacked the claw like nails he'd always seen her with. They had probably trimmed them for everyone's sakes. That must have been quite a struggle, and he was glad to have no part of it.
Azula turned her head to stare at the two who had undone her restraints with a vicious smile. They squirmed under her pain-promising gaze.
Aang cleared his throat.
The was enough for Azula to shift her attention and focus solely on the Avatar. She approached the table, her gait every bit as poised and deliberate as he expected. She stopped just shy of the remaining, unoccupied chair. She examined him with her hands fisted on her hips.
He motioned toward the chair. "Please, have a seat, Princess Azula."
Azula scowled at the Avatar. "Does a gentleman remain seated when a lady seats herself at his table? Especially a lady of my status? If you are going to play at civility, at least be prepared to fulfill the role."
Aang blinked, then grinned sheepishly. "Of course, Princess. Sorry about that."
He stood and walked to her side of the table. Azula looked down at him as he pulled the chair out, waiting for her to be seated. Azula stared at him with an unblinking gaze until Aang's smile became nervous, and he was certain he had somehow done it wrong. She sat with folded arms, allowing Aang to push her in.
He quickly retook his seat and smiled at her from across the table. Azula regarded him with a hooded gaze, still flexing her fingers. He didn't want to imagine what she was thinking at that moment.
"I am entrusting you with the princess' safety, Avatar. I shall leave the two of you to speak at your leisure." She turned to one of the nurses. "See to it that their needs are met." The other left with the doctor as she departed.
They sat in silence staring at one another from across the pristine table. Azula liked to do this, he noticed. Wait, unsettle the opponent before striking, to have not only the advantage of her own sharp mind and nimble body, but to assure that her enemy was at the disadvantage of uncertainty.
"Might we have some tea?" Aang asked of the nurse, smiling.
She took in the scene. He sensed that she felt hesitant, but she nodded. Aang didn't mean to disobey any rules, he was simply doing what he though would make Azula comfortable.
The two of them were left alone.
He thought of how best to engage the conversation.
"How are you feeling today, Princess?"
"Oh, this is but another day in the life of a disgraced, insane royal exiled by her brother."
"You aren't exiled, Princess."
"But I am insane?"
He paused as his tongue almost tripped on itself. "I don't think that either."
She narrowed her eyes. "Out with it, Avatar. Why have you come here?"
Aang gave her a charming smile. "I thought you could use some company. Oh! I don't think I've ever properly introduced myself." He clasped his hands, left over right. "I'm Aang, of the Southern Air Temple."
She looked at him like he was an idiot. He was sure he'd be getting that expression a lot in the coming visits. "I know who you are. You are the Avatar."
Aang chuckled. "Ah, but you see, that's only a part of who I am. They say I'm the master of four elements, but do they happen to mention that I also enjoy a good fruit pie? Wait, that implies there are bad fruit pies, which can't be true…"
"You. Are. The. Avatar. Which type of pie you prefer is irrelevant. We are defined by our titles."
"We're recognized by our titles," he contested gently. "We are defined by our choices. Our actions."
"I am Crown Princess Azula. Blood of Agni and rightful heir to the throne. Everything that I am and should be, and everything I should accomplish is held in the title given to me by birth."
Aang scratched his head. "Aren't you the second born? Are you older than Zuko? You do act older."
Azula sneered. "As far as the family is concerned, Zuko should not have been born at all."
The words sobered Aang. He realized how deep the hatred ran through the royal family. He had never known whom his parents were; the monks were raised in communal societies where responsibility for each child was shared amongst the adults. But he had seen the concern Hakoda had for his son and daughter, and he knew how Katara treasured the memory of her mother.
No wonder it took Zuko so long to come around.
"That would be terrible," Aang said. "I would have missed out on such a good friend. And there wouldn't be a merciful Fire Lord for who knows how many generations."
"I was a merciful Fire Lord. I banished those that displeased me rather than execute them. A mistake I won't repeat."
That bloodlust of hers… Better not to engage it. "Well of course you won't," Aang said nodding. "Zuko's Fire Lord now."
Azula opened her mouth to reprimand the presumptuous airbender, but he simply continued on.
"Who did you banish?" Aang asked.
"Traitors," she hissed. "Incompetents."
"What did they do?"
"Secretly plotting my downfall, I'm sure. And if not that, blundering about my palace, not knowing up from down. I could tolerate no presence that tarnished my image."
"So as Fire Lord you envision yourself as the sole inhabitant of the palace?"
"That may as well be the case, for I alone am worthy. I found none worthy to trust by my side. Even my own advisors failed to believe in my greatness. They too had to be banished."
"Do you regret it? Sending everyone away?"
"Why should I suffer fools, Avatar?"
"Well, those fools may have helped you keep your crown. The Dai Li were pretty helpful to you when you didn't have your bending."
Azula grit her teeth as rage boiled behind her eyes. "Facing the world alone is better than having a dagger at your back."
Aang frowned sadly. "That sounds so incredibly lonely."
The nurse arrived with the tea. She placed a cup before each of them and poured, filling them with steaming tea. She flinched when Azula turned her head to her. Aang thanked her, then dismissed her, and they were left alone once more.
Aang savored his first taste of the blend. "This is almost as good as the tea Zuko makes."
"Something he picked up from Iroh, I'm sure." She eyed the liquid for a moment, then lifted the cup to her mouth.
The elegant manner in which she drank her tea drew his eye. How she pinched her cup with her fingers. The tilt of her head. He wondered why he noticed it, before he understood that he was comparing it to Katara. It was similar, but Katara's motions were more gentle, and flowing. Enjoying the tea for its refreshment. Azula's actions were sharper, more precise, demanding. Ritualistic even.
Her dignity was very important to her. It must gall her whenever she was forced into one of those jackets. Everything about her current circumstances must be vexing, but the restraints especially so. It reinforced his resolve that she would not wear them while in his presence.
When she set her cup down, she focused on him again, pinning him with her intense stare. "I couldn't help but notice that you're all on your lonesome, Avatar. Did your friends abandon you for your efforts?"
Aang hoped he kept the pang of longing he felt from his face. "We have gone our separate ways for now. But that was already determined. It wasn't because of you."
"Was the waterbender so very upset? I imagined she would be clinging to your side, trying to protect you from me. You can tell her to come with you next time. I promise I'll play nice."
Aang slowly set down his own cup. "Katara is no longer in the Fire Nation. She's returned to the South Pole for her trials to be formally recognized by the tribes as a waterbending master," he said, pride swelling in his voice.
His tone irritated her, but mad as she was Azula had the mind to try concealing it. "Oh, she ran so very far from me. She must have been quite upset."
"Yes," Aang sighed, startling Azula with his easy admission. "You hurt her very much. I'm not sure what you said, but I have never seen Katara so distraught."
Azula's teeth flashed. "She brought it on herself, really. It's not like I sought her out."
"Azula," he said. "Did causing Katara pain alleviate your own?"
His question instantly brought forth a surge of rage. "Why should that wretched creature be happy while I remain a prisoner in my own nation?" she snarled. Her mouth abruptly shifted to a satisfied smirk. "Are you angry with me, Avatar?" she asked in a hopeful whisper.
"…I was. Very. It angers me a great deal when my friends are hurt in any capacity. For that reason I did not come to visit you these past few days. I apologize for the delay. I needed time to clear my head. Because it's important that I tell you something. It's not merely enough to say the words. They won't have meaning unless they're genuine."
"And what might that be?" she asked, rolling her eyes.
Aang stared into her until she looked back at him, and their eyes locked. "Azula, I forgive you."
She started in her seat. "You what?" she hissed. The all too familiar anger returned shortly. "It is not your place to forgive me, Avatar."
"Not for everything you've done, no. I can only do so on my own behalf. But for the pain you've caused me, I forgive."
Her hand clinched into a fist so tight she would have surely drawn blood were her long nails still present. "And what is your forgiveness worth? You've just come here to lord your pitiful morals over me. Everyone talks about how wonderful you are for saving me. But you and I both know you're only doing this to gain something out of it!"
"Well… I suppose that is true."
Azula snapped her eyes to him in that intense fashion that was becoming increasingly familiar. Was the Avatar finally ready to reveal his true motives? Make the world make sense again?
"All things and all people are connected, Princess. Sometimes it's obvious, like being brother and sister. Sometimes it's through threads that cannot be seen."
"So you wanted to save the poor, downtrodden, insane princess? I don't need your pity, Avatar!"
Aang smiled sadly. He shook his head. "Pity and compassion are often mistaken for one another, even by those that practice them."
"As if there's a difference."
"Oh but there is." He stared down into his tea.
"Pity would mean that your pain was beneath me. Compassion means that I share it with you. Your pain is my pain, Azula. By helping you, I'm helping myself." Aang grinned, rubbing the back of his neck. "So I guess you really could say that I'm being selfish. I hope you'll indulge that selfishness."
Azula felt such revulsion that she might become ill. What a disgusting display. Forgiveness, compassion, empathy. All traits of the weak. And weakness should be punished.
Clearly the Avatar had gone too long without a proper lesson of the cost of kindness.
"It is so lovely to taste tea without the taint of that dreadful potion. I presume they told you of how they keep my power from flourishing?" Azula palmed the bottom of her teacup with her free hand.
"The Doctor mentioned a potion. Your firebending is really strong, so it's no surprise they need that for you. What does it taste like?"
"Like ashes in your mouth. Did you know? It's practically impossible for me to produce a flame while under its influence."
Her cup of tea began to steam.
"But to generate heat is a simple matter for a master firebender like myself, even under given circumstances."
The faintest hint of a bubble rose to the surface.
"I can't accomplish much with it, but at the very least I can keep my tea from getting cold."
Azula shot her arm out, throwing the scalding tea into the Avatar's eyes.
Aang flicked his wrist in a circular motion. The tea curved in and returned to the cup still in Azula's hand, filling it without spilling a drop. Aang used the liquid to force the cup down despite Azula's resistance. It settled onto the table with a light sound, the glass undamaged.
Azula sat, stunned.
"My apologies, Princess. Clearly your tea was a bit too hot, and your hand slipped. I should have offered to cool it for you. Please, allow me."
With a similar motion to his waterbending, Aang created a miniature tornado and sent it to Azula's teacup. It dissipated over the cup, and with it, the steam.
Azula stared at the Avatar, who gave her a sly but kind smile.
She understood then. The Avatar was not showing her compassion because he was weak. He showed mercy because she was the weak one.
One should never bargain from a position of weakness. And here, in the asylum, without her crown, without her bending, without her sanity, that was exactly where she sat from across the Avatar who smiled. An enemy mocking her and without consequence.
She would need greater strength than she currently possessed to challenge a foe of his caliber. And that would require time. And utilizing time required patience. Azula resolved then and there that building up her strength was her singular priority.
She would wait. She would endure. Step by painful step, she would harbor this feeling in her chest, and when the time came, unleash it tenfold upon the man humiliating her.
Azula drank her tea, savoring the flavor. Loathed as she was to admit it, it was the perfect temperature.
He was on amicable terms with her. Aang would even call her a friend, though he wasn't certain that would be extended to him in return. And truth be told, he had been acquainted with people like her before. He had found her hard to read, but she was merely reserved, not the unfeeling obelisk she might come across to others.
Given those factors, it shouldn't be too big a deal to ask Mai a favor. Yet he was still a touch nervous.
She sat reading quietly in the private library of the royal family, scouring tomes with a cup of tea beside her. As one of her servants was refilling her cup, Aang approached.
"Good morning, Mai."
She looked at him, and raised a brow, but was not outright unwelcoming. "Hello, Aang."
"What are you up to?" he asked.
She sighed and shook her head, but as she glared down at the thick pages on the table, he understood her frustration was not with him. "Trying to undo a century of propaganda. These are accounts of our history that are given to common citizens. These," she said, indicating the much heavier and weathered tomes, "are the more accurate accounts reserved for the royal family. And even then I'm skeptical. I'm checking what our historical records say about Fire Nation history. I think Sozin has warped everything so completely that none of us have grown up with the truth. In order to regain our identity as a nation, we're going to need to learn the truth of things. And that begins with ourselves."
"I see." He thought of what the children of the Fire Nation had been taught of the Air Nomads. What other lies have permeated the society? Only time would tell. "Seems like a perfect task for the future Fire Lady."
"Education has been a great undertaking of many ladies throughout history. It has always coincided with great prosperity and times of peace."
It always comforted Aang that there were others working just as hard as he was toward the same goal, all of them contributing in their own ways.
"Well, if you're in a mood for teaching, perhaps you could shed some enlightenment on me?"
She looked up at him with another raised brow and closed the heavy book she said laid out before her. "And what wisdom may this humble lady bestow upon the great and powerful Avatar?"
"I was wondering if you could give me some advice."
"Is this about Azula?" For thew first time Mai regarded him with an expression he might call weary.
"In a manner of speaking. But it's something in particular that I think I may be lacking."
"What's that?"
"Can you teach me the proper etiquette in how to treat a lady of the Fire Nation? A princess in particular?"
"Proper etiquette," she mumbled. Were her posture not already ramrod straight, as her parents had instilled in her, she may have leaned back into her chair. "I never thought you of all people would be concerned with that."
Aang gasped. "Mai, I'm offended. I will have you know that I am an extremely cultured individual. Just ask Sifu Hotman."
A smile slithered from Mai's reserved visage. "Can you really be considered cultured if you're one-hundred years behind?"
"Well, I never dealt with royalty all that much, other than Bumi. So at least there aren't any bad habits to unlearn? Will you lend me your wisdom, Lady Mai?"
"You're doing this just for Azula?"
"Well," Aang said, stretching the word, "there are other ladies I may interact with in the future. It wouldn't do to cause an incident by being improper."
"Uh-huh. But you wouldn't be asking me this if you weren't visiting her, would you?"
"Probably not," he admitted. "Azula is in a state of identity crisis, as it were. And I can't treat her in the exact way she wishes, but at the very least I can afford her courtesies her title is due. She is still a princess, after all. And if treating her as such helps her gain some peace, then that's what I'll do."
Mai tapped her finger on the desk, considered the request, and weighted what she had to gain, and what she had to lose.
"Very well. In exchange, I need something from you."
"Sure," Aang said.
"I'd like for you to take Zuko out of the palace for a bit. He's been working himself non-stop, and I think he could use some healthy male bonding experiences in his life. Something that doesn't involve prisons or dragons or war."
"Take Zuko out for a day of fun and relaxation. It would be my pleasure." He gave her a wry grin. "These royal siblings sure can be a handful, huh."
"You don't know the half of it, Aang. I've been dealing with them my entire life."
"So, what's my first lesson?" Aang asked, sitting down at one of the long table's many chairs.
"Well, to begin with, always remember that you are at the very least someone on equal footing with Azula, and that is if you are being generous. The Avatar beyond the reproach and control of any ruler. That being said, when a princess enters the room…"
Azula was not what she once was, that much even her clouded mind could grasp.
Even so, she was far from helpless.
The Avatar had sought to pry into her thoughts, the way the psychiatrist did.
His second visit came several days later; she didn't bother trying to keep track of time, as it would drive her up the walls, and she had no calendar.
Azula was ready for him. Her mind prepared like a fortress under siege, allowing nothing in, able to withstand all manner of bombardment.
Once more she was carted out to the Avatar, bound and captive like a village's offering to its local god. Once more he had her bounds undone. How merciful of the mighty Avatar. He wouldn't be so at ease if not for the poison coursing through her veins.
Yet this time he stood as she entered the room, offering her a respectable nod. Her eyes riveted to him in suspicion. Was he mocking her? Or paying proper respect to her station? So much about the monk defied her understanding of people.
She stood and approached the table without preamble. He was standing behind her chair as she reached it, already having pulled it out for her. She sat without regarding him. He pushed her in. He retook his seat and smiled.
He was certainly expecting events to unfold as they had before. But he was quite mistaken.
"Good morning, Princess. Lovely day, isn't it?" he said, looking out at the pleasant weather. Were she not held captive, it would indeed one of the days perfect for training under the sun's giving rays of heat and strength.
Azula said nothing. Her father had trained her extensively in interrogation. She had both participated in exercising the art, and been on its receiving end. Ozai had divested a number of important secrets to her, and he was determined that she keep them even on penalty of death. It was her duty.
In the days following the Avatar's visit, she realized that was exactly what these little meetings were. Interrogations.
There were two ways to defend oneself against an enemy's inquiries. The first was to unsettle them with disinformation.
During the Day of Black Sun, Azula had masterfully weathered their questions, their strings all so easy to pull. Now things were different. She knew exactly what he had wanted then, to find and defeat her father. But she did not know the Avatar's true goals or motivation. That made him difficult to manipulate.
And so she settled on the second method of defense: complete lack of engagement.
She sat and stared at him. He did not have the ability to force her to speak. Silence, alone, was her irrevocable power. She would decide whether or not to allow a conversation. The Avatar was not the master of her life. He would know this by the time he left the island.
He began to fidget under her stare, his attempts at sparking conversation dying on his tongue. She counted the time, something she could not remember whence last she did. It was nearly a half hour of sitting in silence when the Avatar capitulated.
"I can see that you're not in the mood for conversation, Princess. It would be rude of me to go on."
He stood, and Azula felt the stirrings of victory. He would retreat, sullen and defeated, and perhaps try another time. Let him. She would wear him down time and again. She would prove herself impervious to his questions and persistence.
The burgeoning success was dashed as, instead of leaving, he walked to the open archway that lead to the pond. He sat with his back to the open space, and patted the spot on the floor next to him.
"Would you like to join me for meditation?" he offered, smiling brightly.
Azula almost felt her impassive mask crack with incredulity, but she was made of stone.
"It's quite relaxing. It always helps me find my center when I need it. Zuko told me that firebenders usually meditate with candles, but we can try that later."
Azula stared at him.
"No? Well then, if you'll excuse me. Please feel free to join at any time."
He made two fists and locked his knuckled together, closing his eyes. His chest swelled and deflated with the deep and even breaths he took.
The Avatar sat for hours as Azula stared at him. His serene expression remained unchanged no matter the murderous thoughts she harbored.
She thought to strike him. Throw the tea cup at him, launch herself at him bodily, punch and kick. But he almost certainly maintained awareness of his surroundings. He would feel the sudden shift and effortlessly fend her off. Futile attacks that yielded no results would only further demonstrate her helplessness before this spirit given human form. He would only think more lowly of her, and more importantly, she of herself.
To make no mention of reseting the timer on her dosage being decreased.
She had heard the Air Nomads were highly spiritual beings, to the point that they were all airbenders, thus necessitating the death of each and every one to ensure the Avatar was killed. And yet he had escaped regardless of Sozin's extreme measures.
But she had never imagined the Avatar, this manic, cheerful child, to be capable of sitting still for hours on end. She expected him to pout and give up, the long stretch unbearable to him.
Instead of unsettling him with her silence, she began to feel irritation. Azula was not accustomed to being ignored. Worshiped, feared, hated, envied, yes. But her presence was not one to be weathered with indifference.
But her will was not so easily shaken. She maintained her course and sat quietly.
His eyes finally opened as the sun began to set. She could see the peace and harmony he felt within. He stood and shook his limbs.
"That was great! I haven't been meditating the way I should. You know with the war and all. I hope you'll join me next time, Princess." He bowed to her. "I'm looking forward to my next visit."
She allowed herself to be wrapped up once more and taken back to her room. She felt herself boiling inside with rage. She seethed in her bed as the heat of anger tore at her chest, only able to sleep when she had calmed her mind. She'd be dammed if she were to admit it, but the breathing and counting her doctor insisted on were the slightest bit helpful.
By the time of his next visit, she had been without incident for one month, thus affording her the illustrious privilege of walking unbound from her room to meet the Avatar.
Where there should have been concern to see her approach without a straitjacket, his eyes lit up. He was happy to see her free. She had thought the knowledge of her restraints not being near would unsettle him. But then the Avatar had already proven himself leagues beyond her ability to harm, weakened as she was.
Even still he stood to pull out her seat, obeying proper Fire Nation protocols. Once the tea was finished, and it was clear that she was going to maintain her vigil of silence, the monk gave her the same offer, inviting Azula to meditate with him. When she said nothing, he only smiled in understanding, saying that maybe next time she would. He sat once more in the same position that had been burned into her eyes.
After the third visit ended with nothing said between his greeting and his farewell, Azula was forced to admit that her strategy was not going to succeed. As her patience deteriorated, the Avatar simply became mentally and spiritually stronger.
A failed strategy should be abandoned by any decent strategist. She needed a new method of engagement.
So she contemplated his offer. And concluded it could only benefit her to join him. The Avatar had advised her to make the strengths of others her own. She would begin with his surprisingly strong resolve to weather unforeseen circumstances.
Finished with her tea, Azula stood from her chair, took the few steps to close the distance, and sat beside the Avatar, folding her legs, her fingers laced on her lap.
He beamed at her, but when she returned his look with a murderous glare and her body temperature spiked, he faced front quickly, a silly, content little grin still plastered on his face.
This was her choice. It was still on her terms. She had control.
He resumed his meditation.
Azula focused on her breathing. It took her a moment to block him out, as his presence was a bit more distracting to her than she had anticipated. He wasn't doing anything that should have unsettled her at all. She had witnessed him meditating for hours on end at this point.
He was simply… right there. Sitting across from him at the table was one thing. Azula was excellent at measuring distance, calculating how far her flames could travel and the force she needed to propel them at the proper speed, or if she could make a certain leap.
She briefly thought of her foolish brother and how he had simply jumped at her during her ambush as she sought revenge for him turning her friends against her. Foolish Zuzu, literally not looking before he leapt.
One of her specialties was measuring the physical reach of her opponents relative to herself. Keenly dogging their blows by the barest margins, frustrating them and demoralizing them, unsettling their pace. This skill resulted in her being unshakably aware that the Avatar was less than arms reach of her.
It meant nothing, truly, but her mind kept pressing the information to the forefront of her consciousness, as if there was anything to do about it. It was in her nature to strike her enemy relentlessly when she was at the advantage. It was a part of herself that refused to acknowledge that she did not have the means to execute a plan, and while she felt irritation, Azula was also grateful and relieved for this part of herself. She would need it to build herself back up to the perfect, great being she had been before her fall.
Not yet, she told herself. I must still become stronger. He is still too strong for me as I am. Soon.
Finally she could feel the presence of him fade from her mind as she focused on her breathing.
Certain things about her surroundings reached her that she hadn't quite noticed before. The small splashing the fish made in the pound in the center of the courtyard. She became more aware of herself than she had been as her attention focused inward. Azula focused on that and delved deeper.
Aang kept himself from swallowing too heavily. As he also had been distracted by the nearness of his once-adversary. He could actually feel her body heat. It didn't bother him when he was around Zuko; he didn't even notice anymore. Somehow it was different with Azula. Maybe it was the irritation he could always faintly sense beneath the surface.
But as she settled and breathed, Aang could feel her relaxing. He was able to count her breaths and measured them. What he noticed surprised him.
"Wow," the Avatar exclaimed.
She opened her eyes to look at him, but his were still closed, his face the picture of contentment. He wore a small smile.
"I was going to give you some pointers, but your breathing is already so precise. Better than some of the airbenders. I suppose that shouldn't be a surprise given what a powerful firebender you are."
Azula allowed herself to be pleased. She had always enjoyed when her skills were recognized. Whether that be from her father's praise, her teachers awe, Zuko's jealousy, and especially her enemies' fear. This happened to come from the strongest man in the world. A worthy foe that was her sole focus of striking down.
"Firebending comes from the breath," she said quietly, her first words to him in weeks. She saw his eyes open in surprise, and he offered her another smile. She closed her eyes, shutting him out. "Now hush. I need to focus."
"Of course, Princess." She could practically feel his stupid grin in his tone.
Hours passed and Azula could admit that without the strain of trying to pit her will against a force that didn't exist, she felt… relaxed. Not worrying about machinations, or hearing her mother's voice, she could just focus on breathing, and nothing else had to exist, if only between her breaths.
She focused on the sun. The feel of its heat on her skin peeking just on the edge of the archway leading to the courtyard. She had a greater appreciation for it now. It was not the eclipse that heightened her value of it, but being deprived of the strength it flowed into her. Not being able to enjoy it at her leisure.
Her dosage had been lessened. She had successfully restrained herself from lashing out at the traitors who helped incarcerate her, who aided in her humiliation. Even though there was well deserved punishment to deliver to each and every one of them, Azula had dedicated herself to bidding her time.
It was slight, but she could sense the clogged flow of her chi taking direction to normalcy. It was still a trickle; time would unleash the dam of her power in full.
It vexed her to no end that she was indeed behaving as they wanted her to.
Were these all things the Avatar had planned? Was she taking the exact route he laid out for her?
She opened one eye and stared at him, suspicion riling within like an inferno. That happened often of late, swells of emotion that were so difficult to find the right mind to suppress.
His face was disarming in a way that pitiful creatures could be. It would be easy to mistake him as helpless. But it would be a mistake.
No. Of all the things the Avatar was, a brilliant mastermind of manipulation was not amongst them. He simply let her choose. He never pressured her to make the decision to join him, simply offered. It was her own decision and nothing more.
She had been trying to wrest control away from the Avatar, but he had never held it, it had always lie with her. As well it should be.
When she opened her eyes, she saw the Avatar sitting with his chin resting in one palm, elbow propped on his knee. He was staring at her. She narrowed her eyes and straightened her posture.
"Did you have a good meditation session, Princess?"
"It was suitable." She had already deigned to speak with him, own her own terms. Her point had been proven, as far as she was concerned. As much as it could be. "If you had already finished, why didn't you say anything?"
"Eh?" He rubbed the back of his head. "Well, I didn't want to rush you. Each person's meditation takes its own time. Unless we're in a group. Then we usually coordinate."
"I don't know how you expect a person to meditate while someone is staring at them, Avatar. Really, be more considerate."
He looked at her, mouth agape. "I- but you-" he sighed and hung his head. "Yes, I'll strive to be more aware of this in the future, Princess." He picked up a moment later. Nothing seemed to keep him down. "I couldn't help but admire your technique."
Her eyes slid over to him. "Is that so?"
"Yes, it's so efficient, every breath is the same duration as the last. Airbenders tend to draw out breaths as we need, we let it flow freely through us. You have such rigid control, I'm surprised you can meditate like that."
Azula made a noncommittal sound.
"Well… I think I'll call it a day," Aang said, standing.
He waited for her, to see if she would ask for his help in rising, or stand on her own. Of course she stood under her own power, but it was proper he keep the offer at the ready.
She regarded him with an expression that seemed to lack any overt hostility, though it was far from warm.
"Thank-you so much for joining me today, Princess. I really enjoyed meditating with you. It's been a really long time since anyone…" The Avatar cleared his throat. "Anyway, I think that'll be the end of my visit for today."
"Off you go, then,"Azula said, dismissing him as she turned away from the airbender.
"Actually, might I escort you to your room?" Aang asked, the barest hint of hesitation in his voice.
She stopped cold. She turned to glare at him. "What?
The look on her face and unfamiliar territory left him certain he had overstepped somehow. "Er, that is, if you'll allow it, Princess."
"Do you think me an invalid? Or is it that you I'll somehow orchestrate a grand escape between now and arriving at my quarters? Is the watchful eye of the Avatar going to keep me in line?"
Aang swallowed heavily. "That's part of Fire Nation etiquette, is it not? To escort a lady back to her quarters. You've always had the orderlies with you until now, so…"
"So that is the reason," she muttered. Azula fixed an appraising look upon him. "You've been studying."
He gave an embarrassed smile. "I've looked into it, after my first offense. If I'm to maintain balance, I need to understand the people of the Fire Nation as well. So, may I, Princess?"
Azula lifted her chin. "Very well, Avatar. If you are set on imitating proper culture, I shall allow it. Come along then."
Aang followed her. The room wasn't far, the entire facility was a single story, allowing the wheelchairs easy accessibility to each part.
They stopped at the end of a long hallway. Her room was a good distance from any others. When they arrived at her door, she turned and regarded him. Aang knew the next step in this dance.
He bowed. "Until we meet again, Princess." He looked at her expectantly, like a pup.
Azula gave him the barest nod of approval. "Yes, until then. Farewell Avatar." His smile was the last thing she saw of him before shutting the door.
She must have been more relaxed than she thought; she had not intended to extend such curtesy to him. And she had not expected it from him in return. He was an enemy… But if he intended to treat her with proper respect, she was fine maintaining a cordial rapport, until the opportunity to slay him arose. That was actually something she felt quite comfortable with, much like her former perfect self.
In her room, Azula sat in one of her chairs. She should have felt a sense of defeat from joining the Avatar. Her strategy of denying engagement had failed. Since the great betrayal she'd withstood, Azula had lived as if flailing on the beach shore, where water was just deep enough to drown. She now felt as if her foot had touched ground for the first time in months; finally she stood above the water.
The Avatar had presented her something her life had been sorely lacking: choice.
He would be a great resource in rebuilding her strength. A worthy rival and perhaps even a teacher. And when she at last overcame him, she would be more than prepared for anything else.
With this peace, she decided it was time to retire for the day. She was now one step closer to victory. Sleep came far more easily to Azula than any night previous since she had been taken prisoner.
My living circumstances had an abrupt and drastic change that has disrupted my writing. I'm still trying to adjust, but I am determined to push forward.
Anyhow, once a week isn't a feasible update schedule given the length of the chapters. So I will be aiming at biweekly updates.
I have read a few reviews that got the impression that I have smartened Aang up in the fic. I don't think that is the case, and at the least that wasn't my intention. Anytime Aang talks about anything in the show, it strikes me how well educated he is and how well he retains the information that he has taken in. Aang is pretty smart, I'd say he's actually just as intelligent as Azula. Well, that's how I see it.
Thank you for reading/reviewing.
