---------------------
Katara's initial reaction was to see if she was alive. When she saw that she was, the second thought was to use her bending to heal her, or, at the least, stop the bleeding. She forced the idea to just let Azula die from her mind. Katara couldn't and wouldn't do that, even to the former princess. Aang had left to fetch, first a guard - and second, Zuko when he was certain that Azula wouldn't be springing to her feet to attack them.
When the three men scrambled into the room, Katara had turned the unconscious Azula onto her back and had closed the wounds on her feet and abdomen. The guard said that they had fired arrows into the courtyard at a shadow, thinking perhaps it was a prowling pygmy puma. It certainly explained the wound to her stomach, but could not account for Azula's torn feet. Zuko's face was a mixture of several emotions, anger, surprise, and perhaps indigestion. Well, maybe not the last, but he certainly looked sickened. However, there was undisputedly absolutely no glint of compassion in eyes as they carried his sister to her old room, which had become somewhat of an infirmary. He ordered that guards were to be stationed inside and out. She would not so much as cough without his knowing.
-----
It was late in the morning before the word came. Azula had finally woken. When Zuko went to see her, he did not go alone. Avatar Aang and Katara had insisted that they come. Mai would not meet his eyes when he announced that she was conscious and would not even suggest that she should go.
The chamber was cool and the lanterns were burning a bit too low. The former fire princess was sitting up, supporting herself with one of the posts to her back. A scowl of indifference was pasted on her face, her lips pursed in somewhat of a pout. She glowered at them when the party entered, but did not speak.
"I guess my guards got you good." Zuko said impassively, not batting an eye. Azula sighed heavily and looked him in the eye.
"I suppose they did."
Her plain statement took Zuko for a spin. No snide, snarky comment? No silly nicknames or insults? Had something about his sister changed? Obviously. But what?
"What were you doing in the courtyard?" Aang spoke after seeing Zuko was just standing there, mouth agape.
"Ah, the little Avatar." She said sarcastically. "Is it so wrong that I wanted to come home?" She crossed her arms and winced. She'd forgotten about the bandages around her middle.
"You're banished, Azula." Katara said with a clear bite in her tone. Azula's eyes narrowed.
"So was Zuko."
"That's different, Azula." The Fire Lord finally spoke, clenching his fists. "You know father was a tyrant, even if you won't ever say so yourself."
"I'm daddy's little girl, remember?" She smirked, laughing solemnly. "And since you're all so keen on my business, I've had a change of heart."
'You have no heart.' Was Zuko's first thought. That she would even imply that she was, dare he say it, nice, was positively absurd. He digested the conversation slowly, picking it apart to find something that wasn't right. Zuko couldn't find anything. She was clearly much more mellowed out, and there was clearly something not so Azulaesque in her eyes. A curious situation it was, indeed. A thread of hope shot through his heart. Perhaps all the years of their bitter sibling relationship could be mended.
"You'll stay in the palace until you're well enough to leave. We'll decide what will happen to you when the time comes." Zuko spoke with the voice that he felt wasn't entirely his; the voice of the Fire Lord.
-----
"She doesn't want to see you." The guard huffed. Azula had been confined to select rooms and halls in the palace for a total of six days. Someone accompanied her wherever she went. When word reached her that Ty Lee was living here, she had wanted to meet with her. She hadn't seen as much as the end of a robe of Mai since she had arrived. Azula figured that she was avoiding her. It made sense really. She wasn't surprised that Ty Lee didn't want to talk to her. There was no sense in regretting it; the past could not be changed. Azula tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and began the short walk to the royal garden.
It was just as she had remembered. The turtle ducks swam playfully in the pond, the enormous tree still stood to offer them shade. That silly fountain was there as well.
"Girls are crazy!"
Azula smiled, recalling Zuko's outraged exclamation. Those memories seemed so distant now. As much fun as reminiscing was, Azula was pulled from her daydreams when she saw her. Mai was suddenly there in her line of vision, sitting in the shadows on the marble bench in her royal robes. Her expression was neither a smile nor a frown, not inviting or despondent. Good old Mai. The Fire Lady motioned for the escort to leave and he did so with a simple nod of acknowledgement. Azula approached her, mindful to keep her accustomed princess strut in check so as not to seem out of place. She was no longer the commanding force here. The tables had turned years ago, but this was the first time Azula had actually been with someone on the flipside. Power to poverty, lackey to Lady, she mused.
"You're looking well, Mai."
"I'm sorry I can't return the compliment." Mai's eyes looked to the bandages that remained on her feet and waist.
"It isn't as bad as it looks. May I join you?"
Mai did not answer, but motioned to the space beside her on the bench. Azula sat down much to her relief; her damaged feet couldn't stand being up for so long.
They did not speak for a time; both were searching for something to say. After about five minutes of silence, it became a joint notion that they should just sit and listen to the turtle ducks splashing about in the pond. For a moment it seemed right. Just two friends sitting next to each other, enjoying the coolness of the shade on a summer afternoon. Out of nowhere, a wave of unease clutched Mai's gut. She almost doubled over, but restrained the impulse.
"You've changed, Mai." Azula's words were fuzzy to Mai's ears, as if she was listening from underwater. When her comment finally registered, the Fire Lady responded quickly.
"So have you."
"I would like to see Ty Lee again." The former princess's eyes darkened.
"I don't think she would…appreciate it." She struggled to get the last few words out. "She won't just forget what happened because you say you've reformed." The nausea Mai felt was not backing off. "Excuse me."
Mai left the courtyard quickly and when she reached the door, Zuko was just emerging. He knew something was amiss when he saw Mai's face. She glistened in a cold sweat and her eyes weren't focused.
"Mai?" he tried to conceal the worry in his voice. He gazed behind her, saw Azula coming up the stone walkway, and glowered. If she saw, she didn't react. "Mai!" He said more urgently. Her pale hands reached out and grabbed his arms to steady herself. Zuko did not wait; he scooped Mai into his arms and carried her carefully to their room, his sister trailing a ways behind.
"Zula, go find Katara, " He paused. "But don't think you can pull something just because you're alone."
Azula frowned, but turned and ran back down the hallway, pained with every footfall, in search of the water tribe girl.
-----
"As bad as you might think it is," Katara smiled, about to burst with giddiness. "Mai's better than ever. In fact, she wanted me to tell you all…" she beamed into the crowd of close friends, plus Azula. The seven second pause that Katara took to choose her words seemed to last forever.
"Come on, Sugar Queen! Spit it out!"
"Yeah, sis, just say it!"
Katara turned to Zuko, who, despite what she had said, still was deeply concerned about his wife.
"You, Zuko, are going to be a father!" The young woman said, laughter of joy filling the words. She gave him a friendly hug, mirth filling her bright blue eyes. The young Fire Lord's eyes were wide and he was absolutely speechless. Three years they had waited and prayed and now their wish had come true. Pride swelled in Zuko's heart as he clasped hands with Aang, then Sokka, and Iroh. Even Toph, perpetually petite, stood on her tiptoes to give him a congratulatory squeeze.
Azula stood back and watched the scene unfold. She couldn't say that she was not happy for her friend and even her brother, but her expression remained deadpan. When the ecstatic crowd dispersed, she spoke softly from behind the Fire Lord.
"Congratulations, Zuzu."
-----
In an hour or so and after dinner, Mai felt well enough to get back on her feet. When Katara had finally figured out what was making her so sick, a wave a relief washed over her. It was the second time in her life that she'd allowed herself to cry.
When she came to Ty Lee's door, Azula was there, standing outside of it.
"She might not be ready."
"She will be."
Mai eased the door open and walked in. Katara, Toph, and Ty Lee were already dressed in their pajamas, ready for the girl's night that had been their idea. There was reason to celebrate, they said and insisted that Lady Mai join them for something that resembled a slumber party from their childhood. There were fire flakes and juice a plenty, Mai could see. A smile curled her lips.
"Mai!" Ty Lee shouted brightly. She was significantly livelier than she had been in the library days before. "I'm so happy for you!" Mai went to her and welcomed a tight hug from her friend. Her gleeful bubble was burst, however, when she looked to the door. Azula stood there, shifting awkwardly, a behavior that was dreadfully unusual for her.
"Hello, Ty Lee."
A strange emotion washed over Ty Lee in that moment of seeing Azula. She could not pinpoint it, but the anger she would have spouted off seemed to drain from her body. Five years of hurt and anguish simply flowed out with the tears she realized that were streaming from her face. For a moment, she was certain that if she tried, she could run to her.
It was the first time Azula had seen Ty Lee since the battle. She knew what the effects of her doing were, but she was not prepared to see her like this; confined to a wheel chair. An elegantly styled braid that swung over her left shoulder had replaced her youthful ponytail and the pink fabric of her dress seemed to be grayed. But her eyes were still that mischievous slate that sparkled in the lamplight, a familiar sight that she was sure had just now returned.
"It's been a while." Ty Lee grinned, despite the tears that trickled down her face. How she could be so jubilant was beyond Azula, but then again, it was Ty Lee. She was still the same through and through. As horribly awkward as it was, Azula went to her and offered Ty Lee an embrace. Ty Lee's hands trembled as she gripped Azula's arms and hugged her tightly in that memorable sisterly fashion.
The night was filled with laughter and joking. Gradually, they all began to feel comfortable around one another again. It was incredibly late when they finally dozed off, drifting into an exhausted sleep one by one. In fact, Toph and Mai were discussing their mutual distain for all things pink and frilly when Toph realized that the Fire Lady did not finish her sentence. She had fallen asleep in the middle of the conversation! When she was still speaking! Toph grinned wide and then joined the rest in a peaceful slumber.