Chapter 7: The Dragon of the West

Azula remained in her cabin for most of the journey to Ba Sing Se, emerging only to eat and practice her firebending. Ty Lee (and Captain Shin, somewhat more rarely) made numerous attempts to force the princess out into the open, to no avail. Azula wasn't interested in talking- she found it humiliating having to go to her fat, silly old uncle for help and wasn't interested in being forced to talk about it.

"You know, Azula," Ty Lee's voice came from the other side of the door, "it's not gonna kill you to come out of there. I mean, you said yourself that you really needed me along for this, but you haven't said ten words to me since we decided to go to Ba Sing Se!"

"Go away, Ty Lee," Azula said for what felt like the tenth time in as many minutes.

"I know you don't want to talk Azula," the acrobat said, "but sometimes talking out your problems helped. Remember the beach on Ember Island? We all felt so much better after that."

Azula's lips involuntarily twitched into a smile. "I remember that. Then we went and burned down Chan's house."

"Well, he was a jerk. I do wonder what his dad did when he found out. Do admirals have to pay for new houses themselves or does the military do it? Or do they each pay a little bit? I always wondered."

"Somehow I don't think it was Father," Azula said. "He didn't have any patience for officers who couldn't even keep their own affairs in order. I imagine that Chan wasn't one of the 'most important teenagers in the Fire Nation' for very long after that."

Ty Lee giggled, then fell silent. "We had a lot of fun, you know- well, I don't know if Mai did. She was always so gloomy all the time. Or maybe Mai's only having fun when she's gloomy. Does that even work?"

"Do you have a point?"

"Well, I mean what we did during the war was fun and all, but it wasn't really all that fun for everyone. We were trying to help your dad take over the world, and a lot of people would've got hurt if he did that. But this time we're trying to find someone who's in trouble, and that's a good thing, right?"

Azula sighed. "I'm not doing this because it's 'good' in some abstract way, Ty Lee. I need to save my mother to save my own sanity. I needed your help. But I think you know me better than to think I'm trying to be some kind of heroine."

Ty Le giggled again. "I know you don't mean to, Azula. I didn't mean to wind up friends with the Kyoshi Warriors in prison, but sometimes things just happen. You just have to go with them."

Going with things as they happened had never been one of Azula's strong areas. "I get the idea, Ty Lee," she said. "Go away. I'm trying to sleep."

"Oh." Ty Lee sounded genuinely sorry. "Good night!" Azula lay down in her bed, turned over, and pulled the pillow over her head.

/

The ship sailed north around the coastline of the Earth Kingdom, bound for Ba Sing Se. The capital was located near the coastline of a large inlet, and during the war Fire Nation ships had succeeded in sailing close enough to deposit troops and weapons- most infamously a giant drill commanded by the now-imprisoned War Minister Qin and Azula herself- and Captain Shin foresaw no problem in reaching the area in a time of peace. There was the matter of the great Serpent that inhabited the waters, but like the Unagi of Kyoshi Island, it had learned its lesson about attacking firebenders.

As she ship sailed into Ba Sing Se waters, Azula and Ty Lee stood on the deck and watched the shoreline approaching. The acrobat leaned up against the railing, her eyes wide and straining to catch of glimpse of the great walls of Ba Sing Se- though she had seen them before, the sight of one of the great architectural marvels of the modern world never failed to be breathtaking. Azula hung back, letting memory fill her mind. On the barren plain beyond the shoreline they had fought a great battle with the Avatar and his friends as they attempted to stop the drill- and later she and her friends infiltrated the city in the guise of the Kyoshi Warriors.

That memory never failed to bring a smile to the princess's face. In Ba Sing Se she had met her match, and brought him low- not the Avatar or the fool Earth King, but a calm, calculating man named Long Feng who had held the city under his absolute control for years. Azula had always prided herself on being smarter and stronger than everyone else around her, but the way in which she had played the scheming minister and ultimately forced him and his Dai Li into her service remained one of her finest hours. It was easy being the best when everyone else was inferior- besting a truly worthy adversary proved her skill beyond doubt, and that her royal bloodline was greater than any number of cunning commoners.

Azula was snapped from her reverie as the ship pulled in to dock. The princess sighed and pulled and pulled the hood of the cloak she was wearing up and over her face.

"What's that for?" Ty Lee asked. "You could just wear Earth Kingdom clothes like I am. Then we'd match!"

"First, I'm not in disguise this time, so I'm wearing Fire Nation colors. Unlike last time, I have no need to pretend to be other than what I am. Second, the people of this city may remember my face, seeing as I conquered them once. I don't want to attract attention."

Ty Lee looked at the princess oddly. "So you're not in disguise because you don't want them to recognize you? That doesn't really make any sense, but if you say so…"

Captain Shin stepped up to the two girls. "I'll be allowing the men to go ashore here, seeing as they've been trapped in this ship for weeks now. When should I tell them to expect you back?"

Azula scowled. "I won't be taking long here, believe me. I should be back before nightfall."

Shin nodded. "Very well. Good luck, princess, Ty Lee."

The ship's gangplank was lowered to the shore, and Azula and Ty Lee descended to the dock. The acrobat's eyes focused on one thing and then another around them, but Azula put a hand on her arm and kept her on course. The last thing the princess wanted was to lose her companion before they even made it past the first wall.

An earthbender-powered train waited on tracks nearby to take newcomers beyond the walls and into the city proper. Two guards stood nearby, one eating some sort of fruit and the other simply seeming bored. Azula supposed that since the war ended their job had largely become little more than glorified greeters, and true enough as the two girls walked passed they welcomed them to the city but did nothing to impede their process. The younger of the two guards favored Ty Lee with a smile and she winked in return, but Azula grabbed her arm tighter and dragged her friend onto the train.

/

The shadow crept from the ship after the princess and her friend were gone and slipped onto the docks like a cold fog. Some of the milling workers could tell that she was there as she glided past them, but most simply put it down to a cold breeze and went on with their work. The shadow might not have been a bender, but she possessed powers that no other being- and least no other being of this world- could claim; when she didn't want to be seen, finding her was nearly impossible.

The earthbender train was just pulling out of station when she leapt on to it and climbed to the top, settling herself into a relatively comfortable position. She remembered this city well, as she regarded its great walls with distaste. A place of refuge turned to one of horror, inhabited by people who might be less warlike and aggressive than the Fire Nation, but were every bit as arrogant and complacent. Someday, the shadow swore, she would live to see this place destroyed – but for now, that happy day would have to wait, for here dwelt one who must live to suffer her vengeance every bit as much as the arrogant princess in the train beneath her. First, though, he would be made useful to her. The shadow remembered a calm, cruel voice and heavy lidded, emotionless eyes and smiled, picturing the man she sought and Azula facing each other once again. The princess thought she had defeated him, but he had only withdrawn to fight another day.

Soon the shadow would find him within the city, and then their one-time situation would be reversed. Once, this man had used her, made her his tool; a cold grin flitted across her face as she imagined doing the same to him.

/

The Jasmine Dragon- much as she looked down on her uncle, Azula had to admit the name was appropriate- was located in the upper ring of Ba Sing Se, where it would cater to the wealthy, powerful, and all those with a taste in tea and the resources to afford it. As the train came to a halt past the inner wall, the princess and Ty Lee disembarked, the acrobat preparing to lead the way.

Azula's gaze was drawn to the Earth King's palace towering over every other building in the inner ring. It lacked the angular majesty of the Fire Lord's home, but made up for it in sheer size and presence. The palace was the size of some small cities, but in Ba Sing Se it was simply the beating heart. This city made the princess feel small and almost insignificant, and that was not pleasant to someone who had been raised on the knowledge that the world existed for her pleasure. Yet another reason to conclude her business here quickly and leave.

At last they came to the tea shop owned and operated by Iroh, former prince and general of the Fire Nation and Dragon of the West. A smiling girl of about their own age, dressed in green robes decorated with stylized dragons on the chest and sleeves, met them at the door.

"Good afternoon," she said with a bow. "Welcome to the Jasmine Dragon."

Ty Lee elbowed Azula. "I'll handle this," she said. "You scare people." The Kyoshi Warrior stepped forward and beamed. "I'm Ty Lee. We need a table, please."

The girl bowed again. "Follow me." She led them into the shop and Azula looked around for her uncle, but the distinctive old man was nowhere to be seen- not an easy task for someone of his girth. Probably in the back sampling his product, Azula thought.

The girl motioned at a table. "A server will be with you shortly," she said. "Enjoy your tea!" She turned to leave, but Azula grabbed her arm.

"What are you doing?" the girl hissed. "Are you trying to make a scene or something?"

Azula used her free hand to pull back her hood just enough that the other girl could see her glinting golden eyes. "Tell your boss," she said in a low voice, "that his niece is here to see him." The girl's green eyes widened and she nodded wordlessly, then hurried off into the back. Azula sat down and smirked.

Ty Lee frowned at her. "What was that for?" she asked. "You didn't need to scare her like that. We're already inside- I'm sure your uncle would've come by here eventually."

"I made sure of it," Azula said. "Besides, it's not like I'm ever going to see her again. Why should I bother with being polite?"

The two sat in silence for what felt an eternity, and then a shadow fell across the table. Azula looked up and saw an old man standing there dressed in a green robe and apron, his once-muscular form gone somewhat to fat. He wasn't scowling like she'd expected, and didn't seem angry at all, but neither was there the merry glint in his eyes that had led her as a child to dismiss him as someone unfit for his royal station. Instead he seemed almost… sad.

"Azula," Uncle Iroh said. "I have been expecting you."

/

Hanging out with Suki for the past year and change has been good for Ty Lee; still bubbly and eccentric, she's picked up some greater self-confidence and is more willing to assert herself, even taking charge when Azula is also present. Early on, she's pretty deliberately trying to pull Azula out of her shell (hence why she's focusing on good memories rather than bad ones) but once again, even with added confidence I don't think she really understands the depth of the darkness that still lingers in Azula's soul.

It seems our shadowy friend has a history with Ba Sing Se as well. It's still awhile off before we'll get her backstory, but there are some hints to it here. She certainly wasn't always what she is now! But while her history may be far off yet, we'll finally learn her name next chapter.

Azula thinks more highly on Long Feng in her reflection here than she did in person. That's deliberate on my part; in "Crossroads of Destiny" she was aiming to knock him down a peg; here she's trying to (re)build herself up, and the more impressive she remembers him as being, the more impressive she can feel for beating him. Her refusal to wear Earth Kingdom colors also speaks to her somewhat fragile mental state. She doesn't want to be noticed, but at the same time she deliberately dresses in such a way as to reassert her national identity when walking into her one-time enemy's capital.

And next chapter, Azula has a talk with Iroh, and the shadow has a rather more sinister conversation…

-MasterGhandalf