Reunion

Part Two: The Daughter

Author's note: Just about all of the Azula/Ursa reunion fics I've read take place when Azula is in a very bad place in terms of her life; the mental asylum or some other crisis, very much in need of Ursa's help. I took it a different direction: what if Ursa came back at a time when life was starting to go well for Azula? I thought it would present its own problems.

After breakfast, a young couple went on a run through the woods of Ember Island.

"Is this a good idea in your condition?" the young man asked between breaths.

"I'm in great condition, Little Boy," the young lady replied with great confidence. "I'm not so sure about you."

"You'll see," the boy responded gamely, suiting his pace to hers.

They did a series of high-speed acrobatics through the trees: leaping somersaults, swings from branches and triangle jumps to scale the trunks. "Do try to keep up, Masa."

"Hot on your tail, Azula."

"My tail's a little too hot for you, Little Boy. If last night is anything to go by..."

"Oh-ho! You're gonna get it when I catch up!"

"If you catch up."

They bantered back and forth during their run. Finally they came to rest on a giant branch, perched like monkey-eagles, side by side.

"Wow," Masanori said, slightly out of breath, "what a run."

"Firebending comes from the breath. So we have to work our hearts and lungs."

"You do that for me already, Fire Cat." They kissed. "Hey, watch this!" He leaped and grabbed a thick vine, swinging. "Try and catch me now!"

"Here I come, clown!" She started swinging after him. They went along the vines and branches like bluenosed monkeys.

When Masanori tried to leap from a vine to a branch, his leg became tangled. He dangled upside-down. "Cat!"

"Masa," she said, landing beneath him, "cut the vine. I'll catch you."

"You'll get hurt!"

"Trust me."

Masanori inhaled and shot a fire blast, severing the vine. He dropped a good fiften feet, but Azula did catch him.

"My hero!" He gave her a kiss.

"Get down!" She dropped him unceremoniously on his butt.

"Ow!"

"You could have hurt yourself," she admonished.

"I trusted you."

"It was a...new experience. I might like it."

"'Might?'"

"Maybe I need to try it again," she said with a sly glance.

Masanori laughed. "Do we race back to the house?"

"You know it."

"Clean off in the river when we get back?"

"I was thinking a hot bath."

"Sounds great."

After their bath, which both Azula and Masanori enjoyed very much, they heard the screech of a hawk. Sure enough, the message had arrived.

"Not like Zuzu to send a hawk."

"You know it's from him?"

"It's wearing a royal harness." She reached into the aerie and took the wrapped scroll. She unwrapped it and read it aloud in a bored voice:

"Dear Azula:

It's me, Zuko. I have some very important news. I know this will come as a terrible shock, but you need to know: Mom is back-" Azula's eyes bugged out. Her face lost all color. Her hands shook so much she dropped the letter.

"Cat? Are you all right?" Masanori asked with trepidation.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Azula's voice was even and calm, but this only emphasized the boiling eruption yet to come. "My mother is back. No doubt coming to see me."

"Azula, it will be okay. It-OWW!" He had put his hand on her shoulder as a sign of support and comfort. She clawed his arm in response and he pulled away.

"Don't touch me!" she shrieked.

"I won't!" he screamed back. "I'm trying to help you!"

"You can't," she hissed venomously. "You couldn't possibly understand." Against all of her ferocious will, tears of rage and pain spilled down her cheeks. "Your mother doesn't hate you."

Masanori faltered. His voice failed him momentarily. "You're right: I don't understand. But I'm still here for you. And if I had a chance like this, I'd take it. Now you can show her she's wrong." His face softened. "I'm with you, Azula."

The princess turned away from him. "Why did she even have to come back? You and I are doing just fine without her."

"I know. Maybe...she wants to say she's sorry."

"'Sorry?!' Yes, I see it now: 'Azula, I'm sorry I was a neglectful slag who never cared about you. Now come give Mommy a hug.' She can lick ash for all I care!" Azula clenched her teeth against a wave of nausea. "I thought she was dead."

"Was it easier that way?"

That cut Azula. She turned back to him with blazing eyes. "I didn't have anything to prove to her, then."

"You have proven it, Azula. But you still can't see that. She still has power over you. And she'd know it if she saw you acting like this."

Azula couldn't respond. The things Masanori was saying made sense to her.

"Now," Masanori continued, "tell me: do you really think she hates you?"

"I don't know." It was barely a whisper.

"Let me read the rest of it." He picked up the letter. He read it quietly, then looked up at her. "It says...she's married to another man and they have a daughter."

Azula's whole body began shaking. "She couldn't wait to replace me. I'm sure this girl is a perfect little dolly for her. That's what she always wanted. And Zuzu thinks I want any of this?!"

"Cat, I don't think this is a trick. Zuko isn't like that."

"Oh, she'll have him wrapped around her finger in no time."

"But that's no match for you. It says they're coming here. You can show her how strong you are."

"Yes, you're right."

At the Fire Palace, the Gaang was discussing plans.

"So," Aang said, "who's going?"

"I am," Zuko said.

"Me too," Ty Lee averred. "Azula needs a friend."

Zuko spoke. "Aang, Katara...I'd like you to come, too. Not just because you know Azula and worked a miracle with her."

"But so we can take her down without hurting her," Katara finished.

"I asked you once to help me put Azula in her place. I'm asking again, because her place is with her family." Aang smiled at that.

"I'm with you, Zuko," the waterbender said.

"I am too," the Avatar agreed.

"Mai?" Zuko asked.

"This is between you guys," the assassin said. "Besides, we have two children, in case you've forgotten."

"This is a rotten idea," Sokka said. "In the South Pole, we say not to poke a sleeping leopard-seal."

"Leopard-seal's already been poked, Sokka," Zuko replied.

"Sokka," Suki said, "if it means Azula won't be dangerous, it's a chance we should take."

"I agree with Snoozles," Toph said, laying back with her legs crossed. "From what you guys have said, Princess Pain and this..." Toph made a hand motion. "...boyfriend of hers are doing all right on their own. Why not just let her come to you when she's ready?"

"You're usually the first one to take a challenge head-on, Toph," Katara said. "It's not like you to say, 'do nothing.'"

"Besides," Aang added, "what you're going through with your parents might not make you the most objective judge of this."

"I'm just being realistic, Twinkletoes. Take it or leave it."

"Toph," Zuko said, "we have to do this now. That's all I can say."

Ursa, Pai and Amaya entered the banquet hall. "We're ready, Zuko."

Zuko stood. "Mom, Ty Lee, Aang and Katara are coming with us."

"I understand. Where are your crown and robes?"

"I only wear them for official functions. This is a family matter. Like you say: don't forget who I am. Who I am is Zuko."

Ursa hugged her boy.

"Good luck," Toph snarked.

In the early afternoon, Azula was practicing her firebending. "Practicing" might be too light a description; she was very deep into it, moving in a kind of dance. It was a form of therpy for her, and it worked. That's when she saw the sky-bison spiralling in the air. "Masa!"

"I see it." He stepped up behind her. "I'm with you," he said gently. "No matter what."

The bison landed on the beach. Zuko dismounted first. "Azula. Masa." He gave a Fire Nation salute.

"Get to the point, Zuzu. I know why you're here."

"To help you. Mom, come down please."

Ursa climbed down to the black sand. For the first time in eight years, she was face-to-face with her daughter.

"Why are you staring, Mother? Surprised to see you little demon still alive?"

"No...you were just a little girl the last time I saw you. You're..." Ursa fought tears. "You're so beautiful, Azula."

"The only thing you ever gave me. Do you remember the last time you saw me? I do."

Ursa looked away in shame. "I remember." She recovered. "I'm here, Azula. I came back to tell you I love you. I do, baby. I love you."

"Words," Azula snarled. "You thought I was a monster."

"No, never. Those were lies your father told you, just like he told you I left because of you. I left because of him and your grandfather."

"Oh, I know what you did to Azulon. I pieced it together years ago."

Ursa swallowed hard. "You did?"

"My grandfather orders Zuzu dead. The next day, he's still alive, our grandfather is dead, and you are nowhere to be found. It didn't take long. What you did to Azulon never bothered me. But I knew you wouldn't have done it for me. Hating me just made it easier for you to do what you did."

"But I don't hate you, baby! I just didn't know how to help you. I was stupid and...a coward. I know that now. Your father is the one who thought you were a monster. That's what he wanted you to be."

"We were all just pai sho pieces to him, Azula," Zuko said. "Mom didn't think you were a monster, but you did. But you weren't. If you had been, you never would have cared what Dad or Mom thought. You call yourself a monster? You were never even a player."

Everyone was horrified. What was Zuko doing?

Masanori lost his cool. "Zuko, you shut up! Everything she has now, she got on her own! You're the only one besides me who actually cares about her, so why are you doing this?"

"He's not the only one who cares," Aang said, leaping down to the ground. "I care, Azula."

"I do, too." Katara dismounted. "Aang and I helped you before."

"Me too, Azula." Ty Lee joined them. "I'm your friend."

"Maybe you all do care." Masanori was still hard "But her whole life, everyone used her, then dropped her. Everyone she loved betrayed her. No wonder she doesn't trust people."

All" you ever cared about was your little Zuzu, Mother. Now you have him, and that's fine. I won't get between you." Azula was dismissive.

"Honey, I won't leave you again," Ursa said firmly.

"You never did, Mother," Azula said darkly. "At night, when I felt most alone, I'd think of you. And I'd cry. I hated myself for that weakness. But then, you started appearing to me?"

"What?"

"As I started to go mad, I'd have visions of you. You said all the things you're saying now, and I knew it was all lies, because it was what I wanted to hear."

Ursa was frustrated, but not beaten. "I'm sorry, baby. I know that doesn't help, but I am. I love you."

"Azula," Zuko said, "we've both been given a second chance. Give Mom one. Not just for her, but for you. Has hate really helped you? No."

"Hugs don't solve all problems, Zuzu."

"And being angry all the time does? I tried that, Azula; it just made things worse. Hugs solved a lot more of my problems than anger did."

It looked like they might break through. Suddenly:

"Mommy? Why everyone shouting?" Amaya and Pai were climbing down. They joined Ursa.

"Amaya," Ursa said, "this is your big sister, Azula."

"Hi! You're pretty."

Azula had kept herself in check up to that point. Seeing the little girl, seeing in her all the things she'd lost, a reminder of how she had been without love and happiness since she was that age...she cracked. "The second you're gone, you shack up with some peasant and replace me as quickly as you please!"

"No, Azula. It's not like that."

"I'm looking right at her, Mother. I'm sure she's the daughter you always wanted." She turned to Zuko. "The sister you always wanted. A little brat who says 'please' and likes playthings. I guess I'm not the only one who's lucky." Tears started from Azula's golden eyes-eyes so much like those of the woman and girl before her. "You finally have a daughter you can be...proud of."

"I already have a daughter I'm proud of, Azula."

"LIAR!" the princess shrieked. Everyone flinched at that. "You came to rub it all in my face! But it won't work!"

"Cat...maybe this can work?"

Azula turned her full fury on her intended. "You said you were with me!"

"I am. And that means helping you do what's right for you. I think you mom, your brother...everyone here loves you in their own way. And you love them. I know it. Love can never be wrong. I know because I love you."

"Why?" Azula turned to the others. "WHY?! You know what I am! What I've done! How can you love me?! WHY?!"

"Because that's what real love is, Azula," Zuko said calmly. "Real love is unconditional...something you haven't had much of. I'm guilty of that too., and I'm sorry."

"I love you enough to let go, Azula," Ursa said. "If that's what you want, I won't bother you."

That was the blow that crushed the Fire Princess into sand. She fell to her kness, sobbing. "Mama! Mamaaaaa!"

In a flash, Ursa was holding her. "My baby..."

"Don't go away again, Mama! I'll do anything you want! I'm sorryyyyyy!" Azula cried wrenchingly.

"I am too, darling. I didn't love you the right way. But I'm here now."

"I love you, Mama! I was a terrible daughter! I was mean and cruel! Forgive me! PLEASE!"

"I do, baby."

"Daddy hurt me, Mama! He hurt me!"

"I know. But I'll save you. You're so much better now than you were. You're going to marry that wonderful boy you found. And have a fine baby."

Everyone was weeping with joy. This was the final battle of the war. Ozai was finally defeated. The curse of Sozin was broken.

At the Fire Palace, the rest of the Gaang was on edge-not that they'd admit it.

"Toph, are you nervous?"

"What gave you that idea, Snoozles?"

"You haven't said anything obnoxious in two hours."

"Ha ha. I said it was a bad idea, and I'm not budging." She suddenly sat upright. "They're back...and there's someone else there."

Everyone turned toward the door. It opened and Zuko stepped through. "Everyone, I'd like you to meet someone." He stepped aside as Azula entered, along with everyone else. "This is my sister, Azula and her future husband, Masanori."

"I'm pleased," the princess said with a bow.

"So..." Sokka began, "is she part of the Gaang now?"

"I think," Zuko said, "we're mature enough to leave each other alone. Aang, what's wrong?"

"Azula...smiling. It's not right."

To Be Continued...

And that's my take on an Azula/Ursa reunion.

No doubt, Zuko told everyone not to take any of Azula's bait.

The idea of everyone there wanting to help her out would be pretty scary to Azula. But things being what they are in my little alternate universe, she's come a long way.

One last reunion to go...