Chapter III – Tai-Shan Village

Azula slowly opened her eyes but all she could see were shadows and blurred flickers of orange. She sat up on her elbows and pain she had never felt before immediately shot through her left side and shoulder. She screamed loudly before she fell onto her back and tried not to move. She remained completely still for a few moments before she checked her arms and legs one at a time. From the amount of pain she discovered that the left side of her body was injured. She could feel her breaths being restricted by tight bandages, and she could feel them on her left hand and shoulder as well.

"What happened to me?" She asked the still, dim air before she began to search her mind for answers. "The STORM," she blurted as she began to recall the events that led her from the asylum, to the cold waters of the ocean, and finally darkness.

She clinched her teeth and suffered through the pain to slowly sit up. She tried to focus her eyes, but it seemed like she was opening them for the first time. She was in a house the best she could tell, but the only light was a small fire on the other side of the room. She pulled the cover down and tossed it to the end of the small bed, before she slowly swung feet off the bed and put them on the floor.

"What do I have on?"

It took only a few moments to recognize the clothing was that of Earth Kingdom, which created a whole new set of questions in her mind. What happened after she blacked out, how did she end up in the Earth Kingdom, and did they know who she was? She didn't know the answer to the last question, but she knew that she was in a house and not a jail. She also knew that after what she had done in Ba Sing Se, that if they didn't know who she was she couldn't let them find out.

"I have to get out of here."

She braced herself for the pain and struggled to stand to her feet. She took a short step to check her balance before she walked slowly out of the bedroom into a living area. She started towards the door but before she could take another step, the door flew open and light poured into the house. Her eyes tried desperately to focus to the light, and she started to collect herself to firebend. She began to raise her hand before she realized that the shadow was only that of a small girl.

"SHU, SHU, she's awake," the girl turned her head and yelled from the doorway.

Azula could see the shadow of a larger person coming towards them, and her eyes finally focused to the light to reveal the form as an older girl who looked to be about the same age as her, perhaps a little older. She turned sideways to enter the house because she carried a pole over her shoulders with wooden buckets of water on either end.

"You're finally awake," the girl rejoiced with wide smile, shared by the younger girl.

But her joyous expression quickly turned into one of concern, before she sat down the water and rushed quickly towards Azula.

"But what are you doing out of bed," the girl said concerned before she gently guided Azula back into the bedroom and sat her down on the bed. "Lay back."

"I have a feeling I've laid down enough," Azula refused.

The girl nodded her head before she picked up a couple of pillows from the floor.

"At least sit back against these," the girl urged as she put the pillows against the wall, and Azula scooted against them. "Is that OK?" She asked as she pulled the cover back over Azula's legs.

Azula looked at her confused as she opened the shutters and light flowed into the room from the windows. Azula didn't know what to make of the girl, who was tending to her like she was her servant.

"Who are you, where am I?" Azula asked.

"Tai-Shan," the younger girl yelled as she peeked into the bedroom.

"Is that your name?" Azula asked confused.

"No silly, that's the name of this village," the little girl answered.

"Ting, don't be rude," the older girl scolded the younger before she turned to Azula and smiled.

"I'm sorry, my name is Shu, and that is my little sister Ting," she introduced herself, as Ting came into the room, stood next to Shu and smiled. "And like Ting said so rudely, you are in Tai-Shan Village of the northwestern Earth Kingdom."

"How did I get here?" Azula asked.

"My brother and some other fisherman pulled you out the water almost a week ago," Shu answered. "You've been asleep here ever since."

"A wee…a week," Azula stumbled over her words as she tried so digest what she had just heard. "How is that possible?"

"We don't know, but we didn't think you were going to make it," Shu said as she sat down at a small table. "You must have some strong will to have survived your ordeal."

"There are things in my life I didn't want to leave unfinished," Azula said.

"Desire, strong will, I guess it's true what they say about those of the Fire Nation," Shu said before she turned her eyes away.

Azula was taken completely off guard. If she knew that she was from the Fire Nation, what else could she know?

"Wha…how do you know…"

"That you're from the Fire Nation," Shu cut her off. "I knew when I saw you in the other room," she continued as she turned and focused on Azula. "Your eyes, only those of the Fire Nation have amber eyes."

Azula only became more confused by the moment. She didn't understand why this girl would continue to wait on her every need, when she had every reason to hate her.

"You know I'm Fire Nation, and you're still taking care of me."

"It's been two years, most no longer hate the Fire Nation," she answered. "At least not as they did during the war," she continued. "Besides I doubt you had anything to with what happened two years ago anyway, you're a commoner like us."

Azula's fist clinched beneath the cover with Shu's words. How dare she call her a commoner, she was nobility, the future Fire Lord. She was no mere commoner.

"What makes you think I'm a commoner?" Azula asked as calmly as she could.

"Well you're definitely not nobility," Shu answered with a smile before she walked over to the bed. "I know you were pulled you from the water, but I've changed your bandages every day and your hair, hands and feet have not seen the hands of servants," she concluded as she pulled her fingers through some of Azula's hair. "If they have, it's been a long time."

Azula hated to admit it, but the way Shu had taken care of her in the time since she woke up was the best she had been treated since the day she was supposed to become Fire Lord.

"You still haven't told us your name," Shu said.

"My name is Azu…"

She quickly cut herself off, because even if some of the hatred and distrust from the war had died down. She doubted that she would be forgiven as easily for her acts.

"Mi…my name is Azumi," she said with a fake smile. "I thank you for all you've done for me. I don't know how I can repay you," she forced out the words and kept a straight face.

"Repay us," Shu said with a surprised look on her face. "My mother used to tell me that good deeds are their own rewards."

Azula struggled to keep a smile on her face, because she wanted with all her being to tell Shu how absurd her words were. But she realized that she was injured, and until she could manage and travel on her own, it was best that she went along. She didn't worry about them finding out who she was, because if she could fool leaders she could certainly fool some simple commoners.

"She sounds a lot like my mother," Azula said.

Azula could not help but to find it ironic that she did not even have to lie, she could use the truth to keep her secret. Shu's statement reeked of her mother, and Azula did not agree with it anymore at that moment then when her mother had said it.

"I'm sure your mother is very worried about you," Shu said sympathetically.

"I lost my mother when I was very young," Azula said.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean too…," Shu apologized.

"Oh don't apologize, I dealt with it long time ago," Azula assured her. "I lost my father near the end of war so it's just been me and my brother."

"You two must be very close then."

"Yes very," Azula said before she smirked. "When I can travel on my own again, I truly look forward to seeing my dear brother again."

"The closest port with ships large enough to reach the Fire Nation is Chuan-Hu to the southeast," Shu explained. "Or you could go to Ba Sing Se and take the airship," she suggested as well. "But that would be far out of your way to the east.

"I'm tempted, I have never seen Ba Sing Se," Azula said as she shook her head. "But I really wish to see my brother again as soon as I am able."

"SHU, SHU," they heard yelled from the other room.

"Speaking of brothers, that's Chen-Li" Shu said as she shook her head and grinned. "We're in here," Shu yelled back.

Azula listened to the heavy footsteps as they stomped across the floor and drew nearer to the room. Shu walked towards to door as if she wished to cut him off, but before she got there a young man burst through the doorway.

"Shu, you haven't started breakfast," he complained as he held his arms to his sides. "I'm starving, I've been working the fishing nets all morning," he added as he rubbed his stomach.

"I couldn't Chen-Li, I had gotten some water and was about to get some wood for the fire when Ting yelled and told me that our guest was awake," Shu explained before she stepped aside.

"Well it's about time," Chen-Li said uncaringly. "I thought she was going to stay asleep forever."

"Chen-Li," Shu blurted angrily before she cut her eyes at him.

"While you were talking did you ask her how she ended up clinging to a piece of a wrecked ship so far off the coast?" Chen-Li asked as he pointed at Azula.

"That's what I was doing when you interrupted us," Shu answered annoyed.

Azula could not help but smirk as it seemed that Shu got along with her brother about as well as she had gotten along with Zuko.

"However it was, she should consider herself lucky that the currents brought her close to the Earth Kingdom and not the Fire Nation," Chen-Li said as he shook his head. "Fire Nation only cares about themselves. They would have probably let her drown."

"Chen-Li," Shu raised her hand and tried to cut him off.

"What?" Chen-Li said confused. "You know as well as I do how heartless the people of the Fire Nation are," he insisted a he dismissed Shu with a wave of his hand. "They haven't changed, their Fire Lord helped conquer Ba Sing Se," he continued bitterly. "Now he talks peace, what a joke."

"Chen-Li, she's from the Fire Nation," Shu said embarrassed before a deep sigh.

Chen-Li turned and glared at her before he walked closer to the bed, stood there for a few moments, and fumed as he stared down at her.

"Then she can leave," Chen-Li barked.

"No Chen-Li, she can barely walk," Shu objected vehemently. "Where is she supposed to go?"

"Anywhere but here," Chen-Li retorted.

"NO!" Ting yelled before she ran over and stood between Chen-Li and Azula. "You can't kick Zumi out."

"Zumi," Chen-Li said with a strange look on his face.

Chen-Li's look was shared by Azula, as she looked at Ting and shook her head. Azula had never had a nickname in her life, but in one moment she had one for a name that wasn't even hers.

"Chen-Li, this is Azumi," Shu said. "She is a commoner just like us, she had nothing to do with what the Fire Nation did."

"You're too trusting Shu," Chen-Li disagreed. "You certainly live up to your name."

"What does he mean," Azula asked confused, as she looked at Shu.

"Shu, it means kind and gentle," Shu explained.

"My name means graceful," Ting said happily before she turned and did two perfect cartwheels.

It reminded Azula of Ty Lee, and more so how she was second best to Ty Lee when they were kids doing cartwheels.

"Can you do a cartwheel Zumi?" Ting asked with a wide smile before she did another.

"In my condition it wouldn't be worth seeing," Azula said before she looked away.

"Why does it matter what it looks like if you're having fun?" Ting asked with a confused look on her face.

"That's enough Ting," Shu said before she grabbed Ting by the shoulders and started to usher her out of the room. "Azumi is in no condition to do a play with you."

Chen-Li watched his sisters until they turned a corner, then he turned back to Azula with contempt etched all over his face.

"Can you bend?" Chen-Li asked suddenly.

"What?" Azula snapped back as she glared up at him.

"Are you a bender, can you bend fire?"

"Are you a bender?" Azula questioned him.

"We all are," Chen-Li answered as he grew more irritated and impatient. "But you didn't answer my question."

"Why does it matter, I would think the last thing you would want in your house is an untrustworthy citizen of the Fire Nation who could firebend," Azula said.

Azula continued to try and buy time as she thought about whether or not she should admit she can firebend. She knew that if she used her firebending the moment they saw a blue flame they may recognize her, if not by stories of her alone.

"I figure that since Shu was not able to gather fire wood and start a fire to cook, you could start one for her, or heat the water," Chen-Li explained.

Azula started to refuse the request outright, because she was not a cook or a servant. But then she realized she needed a place to stay until she had recovered, and even if Chen-Li didn't trust her, Shu was willing to nurse her back to full health.

"Yes, I can bend," Azula admitted.

She knew that she could perform such simple tasks without showing her true power.

"Then will you help Shu with breakfast?" Chen-Li asked.

"I will try, but I am only a novice," Azula said before she threw back the cover.

She swung her feet onto the floor and looked up at Chen-Li, who she expected to help her from the bed. But instead he turned and started to walk away.

"The kitchen is this way," he said as he exited the room.

Azula grinned as she watched him walk away.

"When I'm healthy I'll show you firebending," she thought to herself as she continued to grin.

She braced herself before she stood and walked slowly out of the room. She held her side as she followed Chen-Li to a small kitchen area where Shu was putting the water in a pot.

"Our guest is going to heat that water for you, and set a fire," Chen-Li explained.

"You're a firebender?" Shu asked.

"Just a novice, but I can do this for you," Azula answered.

She took as deep a breath as she could and put her hand against the side of the pot. But many moments passed and there was nothing. She tried again, but the water did not start to boil. She opened the bottom of the stove and placed her hand over the used wood but it would not ignite.

"I guess you're more a novice than you thought," Chen-Li said before he started to laugh.

Azula cut her eyes at him before she walked by him and made her way back to the bedroom where a fire still burned. She tried to manipulate it, but the flame only shook slightly as if a small gust of wind had passed it.

"I don't understand," Azula said confused as she looked at her hand.

"You're injured Azumi, and there's no telling how long you were in those cold waters before you were pulled out," Shu comforted her. "You probably just need some time," she suggested with a comforting smile. "Here lay back down, I'll finish breakfast."

"WHAT," Chen-Li yelled angrily. "She's probably faking so she doesn't have to pull her weight," Chen-Li accused Azula as he glared at her. "She's Fire Nation Shu you can't trust anything she says."

"ENOUGH!" Shu yelled.

She took a deep breath to calm herself before she turned and looked at her brother.

"Mom and dad left me in charge when they left, and I say that Azumi stays," Shu said sternly before she pushed her brother out the room. "Now go get some fire wood so I can make a fresh fire for breakfast."

"You're still too trusting," Chen-Li said before he stomped off.

As much as Azula disliked what she had seen of Chen-Li, she had to admit that he was right. Shu was too trusting, and she had no idea who she sought to nurse back to health.

"I thought you said people had started to forgive the Fire Nation," Azula inquired.

"I said most," Shu said before she looked away towards the door. "That does not include my brother," she said before she sat at the table again."

"Why?"

"One morning years ago, The Fire Nation landed ships on our coast in search of earthbenders" Shu explained as her eyes began to tremble. "All adult benders went to protect the village from the Fire Nation, while elders and children fled to hide in the mountains" she continued as a tear rolled down her cheek. "All were either captured or killed."

"You parents were earthbenders," Azula said and Shu only nodded her head.

"Yes, and once the Fire Nation had gone, we returned to rebuild our village," Shu explained. "We've all handled it in different ways," Shu said before she looked over at Azula and another tear fell from her eye. "Chen-Li blames the Fire Nation for our parents' deaths and swears that he will never forgive them."

"What about your sister?"

"She was an earthbending prodigy, but she thinks that our parents would have never left if they weren't earthbenders," Shu said before turned and looked through the door at Ting as she played in the other room. "She hasn't earthbended since the day we got word about our parents."

Azula didn't know why she cared, but for some reason she felt the need to ask the questions. She figured that if she was going to have to stay with these people, she needed to know as much about them as possible in case she needed to use the information later.

"And you?"

Shu turned and looked back at Azula before she just shook her head.

"I feel enough lives have been lost to war and hatred," Shu answered before she stood from the table. "The avatar didn't save the world to have us still live as separate nations," she continued as she started to walk out the room. She stopped in the doorway and dropped her head before she sighed. "We need to live in harmony again."

Shu wiped the tears from her cheeks before she turned and tried to smile.

"But enough about the past, I need to get breakfast started," Shu said as she tried to return to her earlier demeanor. "I'm sure after a week asleep you're starving," she said with a smile before she left the room.

Azula didn't know what to make of the family, but with Chen-Li's distrust and her inability to firebend, she knew one thing for certain.

"Things just got a lot more complicated."

Author's Notes: In case anyone is wondering where Tai-Shan village is exactly. If you have a map of the Avatar world, it's on the tip of that part of the Earth Kingdom to the west that sticks down over the smaller Fire Nation islands.