neruchan94: because you used please, I updated this story and I hope you still really like how it's going.


Azula hadn't taken her eyes away from Zirin, who was now looking down at the floor; or at least away from Azula. The princess' eyes were slightly wider after Zirin told her she was placed in that asylum after her entire family was killed. Azula wondered if Zirin was trying to tell her that she killed her own family. That would explain why Zirin didn't tell her in the first place; Zirin may have feared Azula wouldn't have become her friend if she stated the reason why she was in the asylum. But why would she want to tell her now? Did it accidentally slip out of her mouth? There was only one way to find out, so Azula asked "Did you..." She seemed to trail off as she couldn't seem to ask the question. Zirin now looked at her and Azula tried again "Did you... kill them?"

Zirin looked shocked "What? No! I didn't!" Azula's eyes narrowed; either Zirin was lying or Azula was going crazy again. She wanted he truth. Zirin saw this and said "Honestly, I didn't!" She then turned away from Azula and in a lowered voice with her head hung in shame, she said "Everyone just thinks I did."

Azula's eyes lightened back; she somehow couldn't believe Zirin was a killer and she was right. But it still didn't answer Azula's many questions. She was torn over if she could trust Zirin after finding out that she lied to her about why she was put in that asylum. But the princess did suppose that Zirin was a lot more honest with than Mai and Ty lee were. She lightly grabbed Zirin's palm and lead her to the bed so they could sit down. When Azula saw Zirin's face, silent tears were rolling down her cheeks. The princess decided to do what she did when they first met and trust her to tell the truth "Tell me the truth." Azula said softly.

Zirin nodded as she wiped away her tears "Okay, here's what happened..."


7 years ago:

A 10 year old girl with her hair in 2 short braids was walking around her house, carrying a doll she had received yesterday for her birthday. She stopped at a window and held her doll up at it so she could see the sunset "Look Li, this is where we live; the village of Xing Qi. This is probably the most peaceful place in the whole fire nation."

After saying that, the girl heard the shouting of an old woman "WHERE ARE ALL MY BANANA YAMS?! THIEVES!" The girl crouched down from the window, covering her doll's ears. "Oh, that's just Ms Yea Rha; she always complains about food not being soft enough and accuses practically anyone who comes within 10 feet of her to have stolen her food when it goes missing." An idea hit her to get her mind off Ms Yea Rha "Let's go to our family Li."

She ran down the stairs to the living and kitchen and saw 10 people in the room. They didn't see her as they were too focused in their own activities. They also didn't hear her as she told Li each of their names

"That's Mum and Dad in the kitchen" she said pointing to the 2 grown ups in the kitchen preparing supper.

She pointed to an 18 year old boy who was on a sofa reading a book titled Fire Nation Fight Strategies "That's my oldest brother Hacci." She then pointed to a 14 year old girl sat next to him who was looking at firebending scrolls "That's my oldest cousin Konni."

She walked to near a giant red rug with a black fire nation insignia on it where 2 twin girls around 7 were playing with a 3 year old boy "Those are my twin cousins Tota and Tato. They're playing with their only brother Sedan."

She looked to the dining table to see a 15 year old boy and an 11 year old girl playing "Water, Earth, Fire, Air" as they waited for their supper to be brought to them "That's my other brother Zamih and final cousin Kettra." She looked about the room and then left to go up to her bedroom. She said to her doll "The reason our cousins live with us Li is because their parents aren't around any more; they died a year ago along with Prince Lu Ten during the 600 day siege of Ba Sing Se." The girl imagined Li looking sad, so she said "I know; it's sad that Sedan won't remember much about his parents, but don't worry though Li; my dad told me that his twin brother Rasal and his wife Rosi died defending the prince. Even if their efforts were in vain, they didn't go down without a fight."

The girl distracted herself and Li again by saying "Anyway, we're coming up here because someone's missing from downstairs, but I know where to find her." And she was right; she walked into the bedroom she shared with her 4 girl cousins and her 15 year old big sister, who was sitting on the bed the furthest from the door. The 10 year old smiled brightly as she walked up to her and said "Hi Zirin."

Zirin looked to her little sister and said with a sad smile "Hey Mari."

Mari was always puzzled when it came to her sister Zirin; unlike her other relatives, Zirin was quiet and distant and appeared very lonely in Mari's eyes. At times, she didn't know how Zirin was Zamih's twin sister as the 2 were very different from each other other than having a freckled face. Nevertheless, Mari loved Zirin, especially since Zirin was the one who gave her Li yesterday.

"Why are you always up here and not downstairs like everyone else?" Mari asked.

"I tell you Mari, I feel lonely even when I'm around people. I feel like no one truly sees me." Zirin said looking away from her. Mari came on to the bed and said "If that was true, I wouldn't come up here."

Seeing no change in her sister, Mari then jokingly added "Also, I think you'd act like Ms Yea Rha."

Zirin let a giggle escape her mouth at the thought of that and replied "Yeah, I probably would." Mari smiled to see her efforts to make Zirin smile weren't in vain. Zirin then said "I'm guessing you heard her earlier?"

"Ugh, typical ridiculous complaining again about her food missing. I bet she's just sitting on them!"

"Actually this time, her banana yams were in fact stolen."

Mari was surprised at this "Wait, you saw someone steal her food?"

"I am the one who stole her food." Zirin said with what Mari called 'Cool Confidence'.

"Why would you do something like that?!" Mari asked, now eager to hear this story; and Zirin was more than happy to tell her "Well no one knows this, but for the past month, I've been her errand girl."

"You've seriously been working for her for a whole month?!" Mari asked. After Zirin nodded, Mari further asked "How did you possibly survive doing that ?"

"Even I don't know Mari; she said she'd pay me 5 gold pieces a day, but she didn't even give me one bronze piece. She found a "reason" to not pay me whether I was either a few minutes late or when the food I got her is too hard for her teeth or when I argued at her just because I wasn't being paid."

"That's horrible sis." Mari said, thinking all of this to be unbelievable. Still, Zirin had never lied to her before, so she believed her. Zirin continued with her story "What's even more horrible is that she insulted me when I did nothing wrong and I let her... so I finally snapped and decided to do something."

"And so you stole her yams." Mari said.

"That isn't all I stole from her." Zirin said as she went under her bed and pulled up a sack with gold pieces in it. Mari was even more surprised now, but Zirin said "I only took what she owed me, so it isn't stealing. How much did she owe me?"

Mari accepted the maths problem and thought about it before giving her answer "5 x 31 iiiiisss... 155?"

"Well done." Zirin said patting her little sister's shoulder. "And I used some of that money already to get Li for you." Mari looked at Li with her mouth in awe. Zirin asked "Does she like being here?"

"She does." Mari replied "And she likes you; she can be our sister too."

"Yes she can." Zirin said hugging her sister with one arm. "You know, I thought no one could see the real me;only you and Li can... and that's enough for me."

Then, a woman's voice called up to them from downstairs"MARI! ZIRIN! SUPPER'S READY!"

Mari shouted down "COMING MUM!" She then said "See? People at least know you exist." She took Zirin's hand and the sisters went downstairs for supper. When they arrived, everyone else was seated at the table. They sat next to each other with Zirin at the end of the right of the table and Mari between her and Kettra. Before they could eat, a knock came at the door and all heads turned to it. Zirin's father got up and answered the door to see a group of fire nation soldiers. At the head of them was someone he recognised from his navy days.

"Zhao, what are doing here?" he asked.

"It's Captain Zhao to you Jenko." Zhao said inviting himself into the house. Zirin was on edge like the rest of her family. She felt Mari grab her hand under the table. Her father boldly asked him "Since when were you promoted to Captain?"

"Well I suppose not yet, but I will be when I tell Firelord Ozai that I've discovered who was responsible for the death of our beloved Prince Lu Ten."

"Why would you think I or my family would want to hear this?"

"Because it's the same person responsible for the deaths of your former brother Commander Rasal and his wife Rosi."

Zirin's entire family lightened up at the mention of their deceased relatives, mainly her cousins. But something felt off to Zirin. She didn't like how the man her father called Zhao had come into their home and was now circling him like a buzzard-wasp. But she remained seated and tightened the grip she had on her only sister's hand. Jenko's tone lightened like his face as he asked"Really? Who's the culprit then?"

"You are the culprit." Zhao said right to Jenko's face. Jenko was shocked, just like the rest of his family. Zirin's mother got up to join her husband. As she came over, Zhao continued "You had him killed by earthbender bounty hunters posing as soldiers and along with your brother and his wife, the son of General Iroh was killed."

Zirin's mother spoke "My husband would never hurt his brother Zhao!"

Jenko added with his face now fuming "I loved my brother; why exactly would I want him dead?!"

"Because you're a coward."Zhao simply stated. "You wanted out of the navy, but couldn't find a proper excuse and didn't want to appear weak, so you came up with an excuse to retire; so you could raise your deceased brother's children as you think he'd want you to have custody over them."

"I did NOT have my brother and sister in-law killed!" Jenko said with restrained anger.

Zhao sighed "Well, I was hoping you would confess, but since you're refusing..." The group of men outside came in and everyone go up from the table to be prepared for the worst, but nothing could've prepared them for what Zhao announced to his men after his long pause "...No one other than us leaves this house alive men... kill them all."

Jenko couldn't even react fast enough as Zhao shot a huge amount of fire that blasted right through his chest. His wife screamed and dropped to her knees, crying hysterically as he was blown to the wall and burned. Zhao showed no mercy when he shot the same rage of fire at the mourning wife who crying was now mixed with painful screaming until she screamed and moved no more. The 9 kids screamed and ran about the house for their lives. Zirin grabbed Mari and ran while blocking as many flames of death as possible. As she reached the stairs, she looked back to see 2 men holding a screaming Hacci as a third firebender killed him. She saw another firebender sneak up behind Konni who was fighting 2 others while holding a crying Sedan. Zirin tried to call out to her, but couldn't find a voice and the man brought a knife into her back. When her lifeless body dropped her only brother, the 3 men circled him and began stomping on him until he was silent and covered in blood. Zirin seemed to be in a trance until she heard her name being shouted "ZIRIN!" shouted a tearful Mari as a man ran towards them with a fist of fire. Just in the nick of time, Zirin ducked and side-kicked his face into a large vase that shattered and knocked him unconscious. The sisters ran upstairs and into their room. When they shut the door, all they heard were the screams of Zamih, Tota, Tato and Kettra all at once. Then, their screaming ceased.

Zirin and Mari were mortified; their family had been killed right in front of them. Mari covered her mouth with Li in order to muffle her crying while Zirin opened their bedroom window and looked out to see if any soldiers were outside. When she saw none, she went and grabbed Mari. Footsteps were heard and doors were being broken down. Zirin picked Mari up and jumped out of the window, shielding her sister from the ground with her body. She then quickly got up and ran. A soldier who broke into their bedroom looked out the window and called to Zhao behind him "Sir, there they go. We won't be able to catch them."

Zhao's stoic face became a grin of pure heartlessness as he said "We don't need to catch up with them." He looked up to the roof to see the silver sparkling tip of an arrow that Vachir of the former Yuyan archers had readied just in case anyone escaped. Zhao said "Fire on my mark."


Zirin had tripped over, but saw when she looked back that no one was coming after them. She felt they could walk. She looked at Mari who was still crying; not that Zirin blamed her. She took her sister's hands and made her look up at her. Mari flung her arms around her neck "They're all gone." she said with tears coming down her face.

"I know." was all Zirin could find herself to say. She then said "But we got away. And we'll go to the authorities and tell them what just happened. We'll get justice for their deaths."

Mari opened her eyes and saw something tiny sparkle on the top of their house. She tensed up a little, but Zirin didn't notice. Mari saw what looked like a hunched figure on the roof with the silver spark. She then panicked when she looked to their bedroom window and saw Zhao staring at them through it. As she saw Zhao's mouth speak a word that looked like "Fire", Mari realised the figure was an archer and that he realised his arrow. Without thinking, Mari shouted "NO!" as she pushed Zirin as hard as she could away in the nick of time, but then, she felt pain.

Zirin got up from being pushed and wondered what had happened, but as she sat up and saw Mari, her whole world crumbled when she saw an arrow in Mari's chest. Blood was coming out from the arrow wound and also being coughed up out of the 10 year old's mouth as she choked on it. Zirin dashed forward saying the word "No." over and over. Fresh tears were coming down Zirin's cheeks and dropping down on to the eyes of Mari's doll Li who was being clutched tightly in Mari's hands. Zirin cradled Mari's upper body and slowly rocked her, her mind becoming full of fear of what would happen shortly to Mari and fear of what would happen to herself after this. Zirin didn't know what to say or do and Mari could see that, so she spoke the best she could "You're not invisible Zi- Zirin... try to see that." she said with difficulty from the blood in her mouth.

Zirin was sad to hear her sister's dying words and hated seeing her suffer like this, but speaking words like this was all they could do. Zirin said as she stroked her sister's twin braids"You're so brave Mari; just like Uncle and Aunt and Mum and Dad. They'd be proud of you... just like I am... and I couldn't have asked for a better sister." The girls gave sad, tearful smiles.

"I love you." came the last 3 words from Mari's mouth before the life from her eyes disappeared forever.


Zirin didn't want to believe it. She couldn't. She said her sister's name "MARI?" She gasped at the realisation that the only person who could see the real Zirin was gone forever. She ran her hand slowly down Mari's still cheek and leaned forward to kiss her forehead. Though the kiss had passed, Zirin didn't bring her head up from Mari and cried softly into her. Her mourning distracted her from the danger that was running towards her in the form of her family's killer and his minions. Zhao and his men halted at their leader's hand. He came closer to Zirin with his arms behind his back. He stared at Zirin as if she were nothing. But then, he got too close for Zirin and she released her sister and charged at Zhao and his men with 2 flaring flames behind her "AAAAAAAAAHHH!" she roared as she attacked them, not caring if she died. She surprised herself when she took down most of them. She then saw Zhao just standing completely unfazed by her outburst. She charged at him, ready to bring him down with all her built-up anger and what most people would call vigilante justice, but then 2 pairs of hands grabbed each of her arms and kept her still as she was put in shackles, a muzzle and then a net made from metal chains. Zirin struggled, but couldn't get free, so she was forced to lie there and glare at the killer of her entire family. Zhao grabbed the net near Zirin's neck with one hand and hauled her up as his men went away.

Zhao then spoke "Don't worry, we're not going to kill you." Zirin's eyes widened with angered confusion. Zhao then said "After all, Firelord Ozai and I need a scapegoat for all the heinous crimes we committed." Zirin realised what was going on and what he said next confirmed her guess "Or rather, you committed."

Zirin had realised as Zhao sent a large ball of fire with his free hand to her home that Prince Lu Ten had been killed by earthbender bounty hunters, but they weren't hired by her father; they had been hired by Firelord Ozai so he could take his older brother's future place as Firelord. All the crimes that they had committed, they were now going to pin on Zirin and get away with. As Zhao threw her to the ground, she was picked up again by Zhao's men and carried to his ship where she was put in a prison cell. With no one around to see her weak, Zirin silently cried.


"I must have cried myself to sleep; the next thing I remember was waking up in my cell in the asylum wearing a straitjacket. A doctor came in telling me I had been put in here for killing Prince Lu Ten and my entire family and being in denial of it." Zirin said finishing her story. Azula couldn't find the words to say to someone with a past as tragic as Zirin's. The princess knew her father and Zhao had done terrible things, but nothing compared to learning they conspired to frame an innocent for their murder victims, especially when the victims and scapegoat were of the same nation as them. All Azula could get out was "Zirin, I..."

She couldn't answer as she was unsure of what to say. "I can't believe that happened to you ,you were never even crazy; you should never have been in that asylum in the first place."

"Actually, I kinda thought I was crazy." came Zirin's voice as she looked away from Azula again full of shame. Azula wasn't expecting to hear that "What do you mean?"

"When my family was being killed, I was in shock, but not because I was scared or upset; I was shocked because... because I didn't feel anything... at least not until I lost Mari. I thought that... something was wrong with me. I mean, I didn't even try to help them." Tears were now coming down Zirin's cheeks and her throat was caught "I didn't even try to help any of them; I knew something was wrong when they came into our house, but I didn't say or do anything. I could've tried helping them, but I didn't!" Zirin's voice was now sounding hysterical "I didn't help Hacci break free or speak loud enough to warn Konni; I didn't even attempt to protect Sedan, Zamih or my other cousins! All I did was run! And then I stopped! And I got my sister killed!" Zirin covered her face with her hands and began to cry. Azula instantly pulled her into a hug and rubbed her back as Zirin heaved. When she finally calmed down, the 2 broke apart and Azula asked Zirin "Is that why you didn't tell me?; because you didn't want to recall all that?"

Zirin shook her head "No, I didn't tell you the truth because... when you said that I didn't seem crazy, I felt like you could see the real me. And I thought I could prove Mari was right about me not being invisible. But I was scared if I told you the truth on why I was in the asylum, you'd think I killed my family and you wouldn't want to see me any more."

Azula believed every word Zirin had told her; no one would lie about a story that tragic, even though Azula didn't want to believe it was true and no one could fake the crying she had witnessed Zirin do moments ago. Azula finally knew what to say to her friend "Mari was right; you're not invisible."

Zirin smiled and wiped her cheeks so the tears wouldn't stick. Azula then said as she got up "And now I have 2 things to tell Zuko; what I really wanted to tell him in the crypt and the truth on how Ozai and Zhao came to power."

Zirin looked up to Azula with hope in her eyes. Azula continued when she saw this "You're family deserves justice for what happened to them."

"Thank you Azula." Zirin said, seeming to have finally found peace. Before Azula left, she reminded Zirin on when to leave "Wait 10 more minutes, then go wake up the others so you all can go to Hira'a."

"How long until guards will start checking the ships?"

"Probably after another hour has passed. Why?" Azula said, wondering what Zirin wanted to know that for.

"Look, I'm gonna tell them to wait for another half hour, which should be plenty of time for you to think about coming with us rather than stay here. I mean, you could start over with us."

Azula sighed "Zirin..."

Zirin interrupted her "Look, I know you say your destiny is helping your brother become a better Firelord and I believe you, but I think you deserve a lot more than that. We'll wait 30 more minutes for you to come back, but if you don't, then you don't and I'll accept that. At least think it over."

Azula exhaled through her nose "Okay, I'll think it over, but I doubt I'll change my mind." And with that, Azula gave Zirin a final hug and put her mask and hood on before running out into the final hours of the night and heading to the place she previously called home.


Notes on this chapter in case you missed them:

Ms Yea Rha is Yon Rha's mother/ the mother of the man who killed Katara and Sokka's mother- this is just a made up name I gave her
The game that Zamih and Kettra were playing is the game Sokka and Aang played in the episode "City of Walls and Secrets"
Xing Qi isn't the real name of Yon Rha's village- I just made it up as it doesn't have an official name.