Author's Disclaimer: I don't own a thing belonging to "Avatar: the last Airbender!" Nathing.
Author's notes: My friends, here we go…. Oh boy, let's stay strong.
Maraghoul: My friend, first props always goes to you. Thanks to your pm's and encouragement, and helping form the outline of the story from the beginning even to now.
QueenTyzula: I've let slip to you how I want to the story to end, I just hope you like the journey 😝 Zuko's about to get his and I know you're all for that (lol).
Harley Quinn Davidson: Thanks for staying for the ride ^_^ Enjoy!
: well, Azula's mind will be dented, as you'll see…..
CharlieBarrow: Hoping this next stage is liked 😝 Even if I got you to hate Zuko, I must be doing something right 😝
Hopelessromantic34: Hoping you stay tuned.
"Stoking the fire"
Chapter forty-five "Down the rabbit hole"
Azula was glad she was able to endure pain.
She had cried out the first touch of fire against her flesh, but had bitten her lip bloody reining in the rest of her cries. The soldier that had been chosen to apply her punishment was a massive brute of a man, though his eyes were somewhat remorseful. He must have known who she was.
But Azula knew he wouldn't make any deals or give her back her need for control. He sighed mightily and brought a fistful of fire closer to her neck. Azula closed her eyes and grimaced as the fire struck her flesh. She used her bending to try and bend the flame out, or keep it from striking her flesh, but the soldier persisted. When he brought his fist away, an ugly weeping burn wound glowed down her neck and shoulder.
"Where were you staying? Which lords were helping you?" the soldier asked. He had asked this for the better part of an hour. When Azula laughed or cursed him, he applied more fire.
Azula panted, sweat plastering her bangs to her face. Her fingers coiled and uncoiled. A small stream of blue fire exited her mouth, marking her outrage, but it was dulling in the face of capture.
If Ozai could see her now, he'd be pleased she could endure…. wouldn't he? Azula wasn't so sure now. She hadn't slept for a day and her black-rimmed eyes made out the hazy image of her father, tall and imposing in his robes. Fire Lord Ozai had always been a tall man, but he loomed almost as tall as a small giant in her watery vision.
"You're a disgrace," her father was saying. "Azula, look at you. You're crying as much as your brother did. Disgraceful!"
Tears wet the corners of Azula's eyes as she tried to wheeze a deep breath in. Her throat hurt so badly, and spots filled her vision. "I'm not, Father….I'm not…."
The soldier raised an eyebrow. He rubbed the back of his right hand and picked up a towel. He wiped stray pieces of soot off his fist and left the princess crouched over herself in pain.
Her father sneered at her again. "Pitiful…." He sniffed. Azula banished her tears.
Ozai turned and left her to her misery. When her mother threatened to walk into her mind's eye next, Azula cringed.
"Not you….no!" she pleaded. The soldier watched the pained princess over his shoulder. He sighed.
"Get away from me…. Get away!" Azula hissed. She streamed out a few blasts of blue fire around the room. The soldier batted the flames away from his person, frowning.
"Stop that!" he snapped.
Lady Ursa turned into the saddened visage of Ty Lee and Azula lowered her face to the ground. Her arms trembled on the stone floor beneath her. A memory flashed through her mind, unbidden. All three people had been part of it. As a small child, she had gone exploring and was excited to learn there were peeping holes in the royal family apartments.
Just as Azula had been wondering if she should let Zuko in on it, she heard her parents arguing. Continuing on, Azula placed an eye to a hole in the stone work and watched Ozai berate her mother. He was really into it, heated and passionate with his anger. Out of public view, he could be quite volatile and he unleashed his rage full steam in Lady Ursa's face. Her mother had been answering with painfully softer replies and cries. A loud smack filled the air and Azula blinked, noting how her father had made her mother be quiet with a blow to the face. Then he had taken her in a deep kiss, pressing her on to reciprocate despite the fight.
Later, when Ty Lee had come to tumble in the gardens, Azula found herself imitating her father when her friend grew too loud. She had smacked her in the face, her palm landing dead on her surprised friend's cheek. Ty Lee's eyes grew wide and then she had begun to wail. Azula shut her up with a kiss of her own.
Azula trembled, face bowed to the floor as she shivered. It hurt to breathe, and her neck wound screamed with pain. The princess managed to stare up at the burly soldier with dull golden eyes.
"Do your worst," she taunted. As the man set in again, his visage changed to her mother's. Azula's eyes whirled and she clasped her fingers against the stone floor, roiling in the grip of pain.
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"They found Ty Lee!" Ying said excitedly. She re-read the latest message from Lord Zuko again and again to make sure. Satisfied, she folded the parchment and slid it into the front of her tunic. Her sisters in arms cheered, glad that their search was at an end.
"We should make for the capital, post haste," Tsung said. The others clamored in agreement and the Kyoshi Warriors hurried back to the inn to secure their belongings and collect their lizards from the stable area.
Ying excitedly exchanged words with one of her sisters as they trundled their saddle bags to the inn's main room. Another of the Kyoshi Warriors was handling the bill and checking them out. As they hurried to the stables, Ying was swinging up into her saddle when Tsung's voice cut through the air.
"This is good news, for you," Tsung said deliberately. "You'll be in your lover's arms again soon."
Ying frowned. Tsung swung up into her saddle beside her. "I told you, we're not like that! Ty Lee's just my friend."
"Sure. 'Your friend.'" Tsung mocked. Ying glared at her.
"If you don't knock it off, I'll make you regret it," she warned. Tsung shrugged, but she looked away. The ride toward the capital's direction started and the Kyoshi Warriors made good time that day. As they set up camp in the woods, Ying made a mental note to avoid her once friend. It was evident she was trying to get a rise out of her.
But as Ying helped secure her lizard and one of her sisters, Tsung made another sniping remark about Ty Lee. Ying fastened the reins to a low branch, then took off her shoe and threw it at Tsung. She was satisfied with the surprised look on the tall girl's face before the sole of her shoe struck home. Some of the warriors guffawed, noticing the exchange. Tsung held her nose with one hand and reached down blindly for her shoe with the other. She threw it back at Ying, just as hard, and Ying had to leap to dodge out of the way.
Ying had gone to sleep on the far end of the camp fire, but in the morning as the girls applied their make-up and made sure they were ready for travel, Tsung had struck at Ying yet again.
"That's it!" Ying threw her lipstick on the ground. She raised her hands. Tsung raised an eyebrow.
"You're going to fight me?" she asked casually. Ying's fingers tightened into fists.
"Just shut up already! You don't know what you're talking about," Ying complained. Tsung made to brush imaginary dust off of Ying's shoulder.
"Don't I? I know what goes on at the palace…"
Ying turned and punched at her once lover. Tsung took the blow and grabbed Ying's shoulders. The fight went to the snowy ground and a few of the Kyoshi warriors circled, either to break it up or encourage them.
"Stop it!"
"We really should be going….."
"Go'n! Get it, girl!"
"Ying for the win!"
Tsung pinned Ying's arms above her head and straddled her waist. She was smirking in a way that pissed Ying off. But she surprised herself by half raising up and kissing her. Tsung sputtered into the kiss and froze. Just as Ying was afraid she'd berate her, or worse, leave her alone, Tsung was kissing her back. The cheers of the Kyoshi Warriors deepened around them.
Tsung let herself go limp and Ying rolled on top. She cupped the girl's face between her hands and kissed her longingly. Their tongues stroked each other's. When their faces separated, the other girls began gathering up the lizards.
"It's about time…" one of them said. Ying and Tsung smiled shyly at each other.
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Azula curled into a ball around her knees. The physical torture had stopped, but the mental tirades continued. The soldier had allowed a healer in to address her wounds. He was scowling at the burn marks on her neck, arms and bared mid torso. He applied salve and gently dressed the wounds. It had to be at her brother's orders, but Azula almost resented the clean white linen bandages and medicine.
She blinked dull eyes at the concerned bearded man hovering over her. His white beard suddenly darkened to black, and he was her father, leering down at her.
"Stronger stance, Azula. Or do you need a quiet moment to think on your mistakes in this training?" Ozai was saying in her mind's eye. Azula felt as tall as a child, and just as hurt. She made her face go still; her features had to appear slack and neutral.
"I will master it, Father. Have a little faith," she said confidently. Her father had turned, ever the looming shadow in her memory.
"I had faith in your brother once, too," he sniped. "Continue."
Cowed, her younger self had done just that. Her brother had just been marked in his Agni Kai with Ozai, and banished. Azula had felt the crushing weight of her impromptu ascension to heir apparent ever since. At first, she had been excited. But then she had realized what the full weight of Ozai's attention truly was. She bit her lip, pulling back to the present, feeling her longer limbs folded beneath her.
'You're in prison. You can't touch me,' Azula thought. Her mind roiled, mixing Zuko with their father. Zuko had shown an iron will as immoveable as Ozai's and it had terrified and thrilled her.
'Need I be afraid of you too?' Azula asked her brother silently. He wasn't there to answer. The healer grunted in her face and recapped his salves.
"I don't approve of this," he had warned the burly soldier. The large man crossed massive forearms as thick as tree trunks.
"It is the Fire Lord's command," he said. The healer sighed.
"I wish it weren't…."
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Zuko had an uneasy breakfast with the two women of his life, trying not to feel guilty. His soldiers would be interrogating Azula physically at this time, and even his friends and uncle didn't know he'd ordered it. He focused on the burbles of his daughter, and Ty Lee's small whispers to the baby as she breast-fed her. The sight did him good, but knowing what his sister had done, to him, and to her, made him roil with rage.
Mai noted the still expression on his face and touched his arm. "Are you okay?" she murmured. Zuko gave a half smile.
"I'll have to be," he said. Mai was wondering what he meant when her husband finished up his meal. He forced himself to finish the last few bites of his jook and pushed his chair back.
"I'm leaving Suki and the Kyoshi Warriors to protect you. Please, rest, Ty," Zuko suggested.
"Do you need any help with the soldiers later?" Mai asked. Ty Lee watched him, curious. The impact of Azula's actions seemed to set in and she looked far guilty herself.
"I will be taking the oaths of fealty from those who wish to give it," Zuko explained to her. He swept his cloak around his shoulders. "Those that won't swear loyalty will be imprisoned."
Despite herself, Mai couldn't see any fault to this. Zuko had to protect his throne and his family.
"What about Azula…" Ty Lee began to ask. Mai watched her husband's gait grow stiff. His eyes darted away and she recognized his subtle guilty motions. What was he hiding?
"She's locked up, so we're safe from that," he said smoothly. "Please excuse me…."
Mai accepted a kiss on the cheek, but Ty Lee merely watched Zuko with an unreadable expression. She set Izumi to her shoulder to burp.
Zuko left, mind and heart awhirl with guilt and activity. Instead of heading for his uncle and mother, his footsteps took him to the prison.
He met General Mak on the way to Azula's cell, and his reports of the soldiers they had interrogated was good as well as bad.
Several of the soldiers remaining hadn't anything to do with Azula's attack, and would bow before his throne later that day to swear their loyalty. There was a disturbing amount, though, that had opted to help Azula's Kemurikage within the castle. They would be issued sentences for prison shortly enough.
"Thank you, General," Zuko said. "I'm going to see how Azula is faring…."
Mak gave a small frown. He'd heard from the healer that Zuko had given the command to torture his sister. She hadn't given any pertinent information and it was just turning out to be a messy affair.
But Zuko was already peering into the peep hole of the door at Azula's cell. His face was unreadable. Zuko opened the door and spoke with the soldier in hushed tones. Finally, the large soldier bowed, fist in his palm.
Azula watched her brother. Fatigue and pain made Ozai swirl into her brother and back again. She wanted to conquer the moment, but fear paralyzed her. Ozai loomed over her and he stabbed a finger directly in her face.
"Must I teach you a lesson? The crowned heir must be perfect in every way!"
'I will be, Father,' her younger self said in her memory. Azula cringed and curled on her side. Her cheek pressed into the cool stone and she closed her eyes wishing for warmth and comfort. Had she only known that, true comfort, not just bedwarming, only a handful of times in her life?
Azula shuddered as grief assailed her senses. Her vision went white.
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Zuko knelt on high on the dais of the throne room. His orange fire swirled in the wall sconces along the wide room. The carved dragons in the wall behind the sconces watched, stone faces seeming to flicker and move behind the veils of fire. His mother and uncle waited below the dais, and he was glad his wife was with them.
A long line of men and women soldiers in the imperial armor waited in front of him. When each reached him, they gave a low bow on one knee and recited the oath as written out by Iroh and Ursa.
"I, imperial soldier, vow to serve Fire Lord Zuko and protect his family and person to the end of my days…"
The vow was a simple clean-cut one and Zuko darted a glance down toward his relatives. They seemed untensed, even as the wave of loyalty swept through the throne room. His mother still held the hand of an aging blind servant woman, but it didn't bother Zuko any. His mind was already going over how else to hold Azula and force her mind to give up its secrets.
The double doors of the throne room swept open, and Zuko started in surprise when Ty Lee swept in, Izumi cradled in a sling around her shoulder. She was flanked by Suki and quite a few of the Kyoshi Warriors. Mai greeted her lowly, smiling down at their daughter and Zuko's stomach did flipflops when Ty Lee's worried yet serene gaze met his. Zuko thought she would just join the royals in receiving the oaths, but he rose on his knees on the dais when Ty Lee handed Izumi to Mai and fell to hers.
"My lord, if I may request a moment of your time. There is another imprisoned after the events of last night….."
Zuko blanched, face paling further. Ty Lee was worried about Azula, make no mistake about it, despite what she'd done to her, but this was going too far in the face of the surprised soldiers.
He cleared his throat loudly to save face. "We will talk about it in private, my lady. Please, just give me a few more moments with the guard."
"Of course," Ty Lee murmured. Her eyes seemed to bore through Zuko as she rose to her feet. The soldiers gave her a bow as she swept past in her fine red robes and rejoined Mai. The two women shared a glance that Zuko found himself not liking. He clenched his hands into fists on his knees and made his face still as he received several more oaths in sequence. He almost wished he could make the audience last, but it had to end at some point.
The line of soldiers bowed to their knees as Zuko descended the dais by the side stairs. He rejoined his family, and smiled down at his child. Mai rocked her.
"Ty Lee needs a word. And I admit, I'd like to know the answer she's seeking," Mai murmured under her breath to him. Zuko gave her a pouting look but Mai's expression was still and resolute.
"Let's go," he murmured. He clasped his uncle on the shoulder and gave his mother a hug. "Thank you for your help. You look like you haven't slept."
"We haven't," Iroh admitted.
"Which we're going to fix," Ursa complained lightly. "Good night, son."
"Good night," Zuko said ruefully even though it was just coming on mid-day. He gave both of them a bow of the head showing his respect and left, with Suki and the Kyoshi warriors flanking his wife and concubine.
When Zuko opened the front door of the royal apartment he shared with Mai, the glance Suki was able to share with him was equally worried. He rolled one shoulder, all of his expression in his still gaze. Suki swallowed. She gave him a nod to show she understood and crossed her arms, waiting to stay on guard outside. Zuko shut the door.
Inside, Mai was showing Ty Lee where they'd put Izumi's cradle, and the baby was put down. Izumi stuffed a fist against her moving lips as she slept. Ty Lee settled a hand through her dark hair, a sad smile on her face.
When Mai and Ty Lee rejoined him in the sitting room, Zuko wondered if he should stay or retreat. Mai's expression was unreadable but palpable worry was across Ty Lee's features.
"I didn't mean to embarrass you," Ty Lee said, although she certainly had put him on the spot in front of the royal vanguard. "But, Zuko, I have to know what's been done for Azula…"
Zuko frowned slightly. "For her? She's a traitor to the crown. She's in prison, Ty."
Ty Lee gave a sigh of exasperation. "I gathered that, Zuko. But what are you going to do with her?"
"Will she go back to the institution?" Mai wondered. Zuko looked from one to the other.
"I'm handling her treachery the only way she knows how," he said tactfully, but the women pounced on the hint of information.
"Knowing Azula, that's not good news,'" Mai said. "Were she in your place, she'd torture you. Especially when you couldn't fight back…."
Ty Lee's eyes were wide with hurt and sorrow. "Is that what you've done to her?!"
Zuko wondered silently why a traitor was being inquired about so openly. He swallowed noticeably. "I….."
"Dammit, Zuko, tell me!" Ty Lee clutched the fabric of his tunic front. Her fingers twisted in. "Everytime I look at Izumi's face, I see her! I have to know!"
The open emotion regarding his sister punched Zuko in the heart. His chest rose and fell and a steady array of hurt displayed across his features. He really couldn't be surprised, but still….to hear it said so blatantly hurt. "I've done what I had to, to keep her from my crown," Zuko said uneasily.
The tears that filled Ty Lee's eyes were horrifying for him to see. Suddenly, he doubted every decision he made since the bomb had gone off. "You can't!"
Zuko patted her shoulders as she began to cry. He swept an anguished eye to Mai. His wife was frowning at him.
"I know she's not your favorite person in several ways and she did attempt a coup, but could you stop it? Just have her in chains, if it suits you," Mai swore. Zuko swallowed.
"I will halt the torture. But I do want information on who was helping her."
"Oh, for Spirit's sake, Zuko!" Ty Lee cursed. "I can tell you for one thing, that Lord Shun was housing her forces when they captured me!"
Zuko's eyes drifted. "Oh…."
Ty Lee swept to her feet. "I'm going to the prison with you. To make SURE you have it stopped!"
Mai gestured to her husband. "I'll stay with the baby. Get going."
Zuko's shoulders slouched as Ty Lee all but dragged him by the arm. Their once closeness felt eeirely far away and he longed for the easy days where they could comfort each other. He took Ty Lee's hand outside the apartment, and she allowed it, barely.
As they swept into the prison corridors, Zuko led the way to the cell that housed his sister. He rapped heavily on the iron door. The massive soldier he'd ordered to do the torturing was luckily not doing that. He was massaging one fist, but gave a low bow to the Fire Lord and concubine.
"My lord," he rumbled.
"What …..I ordered you to do," Zuko said carefully. "Halt it. Just stop. We'll leave her to stew in her own juices awhile."
The man nodded, looking oddly grateful for the break. "Of course, Lord Zuko." He left the cell, and gave a guilty look to the pair. "I let a healer in to see her already. Just….keep your distance. She's been having a bad time of it."
That was putting it lightly. Before Zuko could stop her, Ty Lee pushed the cell door open. Azula was leaning against the stone wall, knees spread and head lowered to her chest. Her hair was tugged loose from its topknot and her bangs spilled into her eyes. Her tunic was torn open in places, and bright red burn marks stood out against her pale flesh. Some had been bandaged, but the tell-tale signs of torture was evident.
Ty Lee gasped and took a step in. Zuko's hand closed hard on her wrist, but he followed. "…Azula?" she asked.
It felt like no time had passed, that she was still so close to the fire princess. But the haunted expression Azula raised to her indicated she didn't recognize her, nor her brother. She muttered something under her breath but Ty Lee couldn't catch it. "What?"
"I said GET AWAY!" Azula screamed suddenly. It was a hoarse cry of pain and Ty Lee's heart bled. Tears flooded her eyes.
"I want to help you. I want to…" Ty Lee said.
Azula sputtered streams of blue fire from her mouth, and flopped on her shoulder against the wall. "GET AWAY!"
Zuko gripped Ty Lee's shoulder and pulled her back. "She did this when she was put in the institution. We should leave her awhile…"
Ty Lee turned to Zuko, face wet with tears. She slammed a fist against his chest. "Dammit, Zuko!"
But Zuko led her from the cell and had a soldier lock the door. He led her down the corridor, one arm over her shoulders. "I am sorry, Ty…. "
"She's your sister!" Ty Lee jabbed Zuko again. He winced as she slammed her other fist against his chest. "You could have just questioned her!"
Zuko dared to try. He wrapped his arms around Ty Lee and relaxed when she didn't fight against him. "I'm sorry…for your sake."
Ty Lee's fingers twisted in the fabric of his tunic hard enough to dent the fabric. She shook her head against his chest. "You should be!...you should be..."
Zuko's eyes were very sad. He wanted to keep holding her, kiss her hurt away, but he had a feeling just himself being there for Ty Lee wouldn't be enough for her. He felt his heart breaking in palpable ways and it was very hard to turn with her to the royal apartments.
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"We haven't had to do something like that in awhile," Ursa said. Iroh was brewing up a pot of sleepy-time tea, even though they were heavily yawning already.
"I guess Noren went off to bed awhile ago," he said ruefully. "Good man."
Ursa gave a soft smile.
"I asked him to. Besides, Kiyi wanted him close," she said. Iroh checked on the tea kettle's temperature and firebended below the kettle's base to add more heat.
"Royal intrigues are beyond his control," Iroh noted. It wasn't a harsh statement, just a fact. Ursa nodded, eyes tired. She pressed a hand to her brow.
"Truth be told, it was nice to live without all that. Now I find myself back in the thick of it," she lamented. Iroh sat beside her. He couldn't help laying a gentle hand over hers.
"You have a gentle and firm hand for it. There wouldn't be any one else I'd want to help me with the palace stability. Aside from your son," Iroh said, a smile spreading his mustachioed lips.
"We make a good team," Ursa said lightly. She banished the feeling of excitement in the pit of her stomach when Iroh smiled his gentle smile at her.
"And with Azula in custody, hopefully we can finally get her the help she needs," Iroh was saying. "My lady, I must apologize to you yet again…..I failed you where it counts for your daughter."
Ursa blinked. "Oh, Iroh….. it's not your fault. Zuko had you, but Azula always thrived beneath Ozai's thumb."
Iroh blinked, recalling a sniffling little girl who practiced her firebending kata almost ceaselessly until nearly midnight most nights.
"I don't think thrived would be the word…."
"I know she doesn't want to see me….she ran away from me in Hira'a," Ursa said regretfully. "I just wish she were at peace…..and living a normal life."
"When is life for a Fire Nation royal ever normal?" Iroh's lips quirked in a smile, but his eyes were very sad.
Ursa took his hand and squeezed it. "I know your father doted on your strength, but even he couldn't be there for you….. when your son…."
Iroh clasped her hand, to still her coming words. "Only you were truly there for me. You and Zuko."
"Iroh…."
The pair were interrupted by Suki. The Kyoshi Warrior swept in and lowered to one knee respectfully. "I'm sorry to intrude, my lord and lady, but I was sent with information that require your…close attention."
"What is that, Suki?" Iroh frowned slightly. The young woman raised her head and her dark eyes were wide with earnest appeal.
"Ty Lee and Mai just learned of what's been done to some of the prisoners, Azula among them. The situation has been halted but the damage has already been done."
"Out with it, Suki." Ursa's voice was terse despite her serene beauty. "What's happened to my daughter?!"
Suki bowed her head. "I'm so sorry, my lady. The Fire Lord ordered a torturing to glean information and Azula has been affected by this decision…"
Ursa's gasp was loud and filled with pain. Iroh pushed his chair back, toppling it over.
"Zuko wouldn't!" Ursa gasped. Pain filled her heart when she noted the resigned look in Iroh's eyes. What Suki was telling them was the truth. They just didn't want to believe their beloved Zuko would have stooped to such an order…
"Come, Ursa. Let's go see what we can do to help the situation," Iroh said gently. When he offered his hand, Ursa took it.
End for now
End notes: Boy do I love playing with the dynamics between Ursa and Iroh 😝 Maybe abit of a flirt going on there? Like the story, smash that button, do that review thing ^_^ Stay strong, my lovelies.
Most sincerely, pen
5/26/2017