Castle of Sand

Chapter 3: The Fire Phantom

I start to sweat. My body trembles. My breathing becomes erratic. I don't want to turn around.

Zuzu is dead; he shouldn't be talking to me. And I don't believe in ghosts.

"Azula." says the voice. He sounds worried.

I can't think straight. My eyes widen as I consider what to do, how to react. Is this somebodies idea of sick joke? With that thought in mind I turn around quickly, hoping to catch them off guard with a blast of fire. The princess will not be taken lightly, and practical jokes are something I have always despised.

But something's amiss. My firebending has eluded me. There's no even the slightest spark from my fist. I wince because the quick movement hurt my injured arm, and that's when I notice him.

Zuko.

He is standing in front of me and from what I can tell he's not dead, obviously. My eyes are getting hazy and my lips quiver. My legs feel weak.

Zuzu is alive.

But what am I feeling? Am I happy to see him? Relieved? He and I have never been close, and honestly he's always been a coward. He's also a criminal who has betrayed the fire nation. So why am I tearing up?

"Zu…" I can't speak. For the first time in years I'm actually scared.

He takes a step forward. It's dark outside now and we're alone.

"Nice to see you too." he says without showing any emotion. "Azula, I want you to listen very carefully to what I'm about to say. And don't try to argue with me like you usually do."

No. That's not going to happen until I have answers.

"No! What's going on? I saw father kill you. I watched you die, so tell me how you're alive right now."

He takes a step back and sighs, "Here we go, just like always. If you would shut up and let me speak then maybe I could explain things to you."

I ease up. He's acting like his usual self. But still, everything about this is wrong. He's supposed to be dead.

"In case you haven't noticed Azula, we're in the spirit world right now." He pauses. Probably so I can look around.

I do just that, and notice the coloration of everything has changed. It's dark, however I can still see clearly. The landscape is bizarre and we are surrounded a dense forest. How did I not notice this before? Even my skin has changed, and is now strange tint of blue.

"What's going on? Tell me why you're here." I say with a stern voice. I look to my right and see my body lying flat on the ground.

What? What is this?

"I brought you here so we could talk. Your physical body is fine, but for now you'll be speaking with me in this form. Now please be quiet."

My face twists into a scathing grimace. "Fine."

He shrugs, "So Father wasn't at the palace before you left…I guess he's finally making a move. It feels like the Day of Black Sun all over again. He's always got a trick up his sleeve..."

I turn away, not looking him in the eyes. Even in the spirit world he's kept all of his scars. I wonder if he still feels pain or remorse. Or even sadness. I know nothing about the spirit world, that's for sure.

"Good Azula." He smirks, "Taking a moment to think before you speak—I'm impressed. Anyways, I know what his plans are. He's going to assault the remaining earth colonies using a new sort of weapon. Then he's going to continue with another assault on the northern water tribe and wipe them out. Unfortunately Avatar Roku left out the finer details…"

I take a step forward. "Avatar Roku? You expect me to believe that you've spoken to him? He was a disgusting man that betrayed our nation, just like you did. He's also dead. Besides, what does any of this have to do with me?"

Zukos complexion remains the same, as if he is at perfect peace. "Whether you believe or not doesn't matter. I'm telling you this because I want you to find out what weapon father has created and stop him from using it."

My eyes narrow. "Why should I care about what you want? You're nothing but a coward. The fire nation is going to win this war and we will destroy the avatar line for good."

I feel so confident in those words, but I'm not sure they're my own. There shouldn't be doubt in my mind. I want to meet my father's expectations and serve him well.

Zuko's eyebrows scrunch inward as he grits his teeth, "Tens of thousands of innocent people are about to be murdered Azula!" he shouts. "You can deny it all you want, but I know you don't want to inherit a kingdom when the rivers are flowing with blood!"

I shiver. My heart beats faster. What does it mean? If Zuko is right then the fire nation is on the verge of remaking the entire world. We're so close to establishing permanent peace and fulfilling our family's greatest ambition. History will change forever. Still I'm hesitating to must any form of response to Zuko. Am I scared? Am I unsure? I can't allow him to persuade me. I am the princess.

Adjusting my stance, I stand straight and cross my arms. I maintain a sly smirk between my cheeks. "Clearly you don't know anything about me, Zuko. You never have. I'm not naïve like you and mother always thought I was. I'll do everything I can to claim this world for the fire nation."

Zuko's peacefulness returns. He closes his eyes and breathes in deeply, soaking in what I just said. "Are those your words, or father's?"

There it is again. The trembling. The fear. Hesitation.

I shudder.

Why is he doing this to me? Did he and mother really dislike me so much that they need to turn me against father too? Father is stern and sometimes cruel; but he has good reasons for doing what he does. He has a kingdom underneath him. He has a world against him. Leniency won't bring about the change he is fighting for.

Zuko speaks again, "Uncle Iroh saw this long before I did, and I hate myself for not accepting his wisdom sooner…but Azula, father isn't the kind of man you want to admire. He's sick and evil. Don't defend him anymore! You know what I'm saying is true. You know what father really is—just as I do now."

"Shut up Zuko!"

My eyes have tears in them. I turn away and clench my arm because it hurts.

Damn it. If he wasn't dead I'd be insulting him right about now. I wish he would just shut up. I don't need him telling me what I should think.

I feel a hand touch my shoulder, and look up to see Zuko standing mere inches away. His scar is just as prominent as ever.

"Find Uncle and find father. Speak with them both. Then decide whose side you're on. It's clear that I can't sway you. But we're running out of time so I must be leaving." He whispers, "…and tell Mai I'm sorry. Don't let her do anything stupid."

Before I can say a word he vanishes and I'm left alone in the forest. The moonlight is shining down on my motionless body, which is still sprawled out on the ground. The stars are twinkling above.

A shooting star zips passed and I collapse to the ground.

[Break]

I wake up breathing heavy and sweating. I sit up and notice that I'm back in the infirmary. The bed is quite soft and warm. Comfy.

There's a stir to my right, and then suddenly Ty Lee is on top of me, hugging me. It's sickening. I hate hugs of any form.

"Oh, Azula!" She sniffles, burying her head into my neck. "I'm so glad you're okay. What happened? We found you collapsed in front of the palace?"

What? So none of that was just a dream…or was it? Had I actually entered the spirit world? Or could I have somehow fallen unconscious and simply had a nightmare? It sure felt real. But then again, I have been under a lot of stress recently.

"Azula?"

I break away from my trance. "I'm fine. Just a little stressed out…that's all."

Everything is so hazy. All of yesterday feels like a dream. From father being gone, to the missing soldiers and guards, to meeting Zuko in the spirit world; it all feels like it never happened.

"You've been comatose for three days now. There's a lot more than stress involved. Is there something you're not telling me?"

Ty Lee removes herself from the hug.

"I said I'm fine…but three days? Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure. The guards said they saw you roaming the palace grounds anxiously looking for someone, then you just collapsed." She becomes frantic, "You have no idea how worried I've been! I thought you might have been poisoned…or maybe even cursed!"

She keeps going, but I'm not paying attention. When I was roaming the palace grounds I couldn't find anyone. Nobody. But somehow the guards saw me? Am I going insane? Does it have something to do with my transition into the spirit world? Did I really meet Zuko?

I'll brush it off for now. There are more important matters to deal with.

"Where's Mai?" I ask.

I hear lit footsteps behind Ty Lee, followed by a heavy sigh.

"Right here."

There she is. She looks very tired, and her voice sounds just as boring as usual. Good. That's the way I like her.

Ty Lee backs away, but is still sitting on the edge of the bed. "By the way Azula, you're father is gone. He's on his way to the earth Kingdom…and he's left you in charge. He wants you to watch over things while he's gone."

Mai moves closer, "Yes, so give us something to do. I'm tired of doing nothing every day."

Wow, she couldn't have possibly sounded more monotone. At least she's done pouting over Zuzu. Maybe she's reconciled everything.

But the nerve of my father is unbelievable. How could he not include me in what he's planning? Especially when the avatar is roaming free. I can help. I want to help. One of these days he'll see how valuable I am. But until then I'll take Zuko's advice and go see Uncle Iroh. Father will have to wait.

I stare at Ty Lee and then glance at Mai, "We're going to the prison. I think it's time I pay our fat old uncle a visit."

[Break]

At Prison Tower everything is bleak. Everything is filthy. Even the guards are revolting. I don't even want to think about the prisoners.

A heavily fortified structure such as this one ought to be better kempt; of course the prisoners don't deserve it. None of them do. But on the rare occasion I have to come here I'd like for it to be clean. It should be worthy of a Princess.

Warden Poon should be here keeping watch over Uncle, unless of course the old slob bored him to death with his stories of Pai Sho and green tea. Maybe he even threw in the riveting tale of when he first tasted jasmine tea. That one's an epic for the ages.

I enter the disgusting dungeon and pass by many prison cells, along with many useless guards. This place is so dreary. When I find Warden Poon I approach him, and I notice that he's not at his normal post. Instead he's talking to a group of his guards, who all seem to be a little drunk. Is he not on duty?

"Warden." I say, sneaking up on him from behind. He turns around swiftly and performs the proper stance for addressing the princess; however, it's sloppy because of how tipsy he is. I'm not sure I like that our warden is getting drunk while on duty. He should be more lucid when watching the prisoners.

"Hello, princess." he states nervously. "Kind of you to pay us a visit today."

Of course it is. I'm the princess. He should be honored that I'm even speaking with him.

"Yes it is. Although I've got to say this place is a bit drab and filthy…it could stand to be cleaned, don't you think?"

"Of course, princess. We'll take care of that."

His drunken salute is pitiful and irritating. But I guess I'll deal with it for now.

"Yes you will." I state. "Anyways, I'm here to see my Uncle. Take me to his cell at once."

Poon's eyes widen. He trembles. "He…escaped about a month ago on the Day of Black Sun. Firelod Ozai told me to keep it a secret for as long as possible. I'm not sure why, princess."

Fantastic. I suppose I'll have to track him down because of the warden's inability to be competent. Though I have no doubt that father punished the warden rather severely, so I guess I won' do the same. My arm hurts anyways; and I'm too tired.

But one thing is for sure: Father has some explaining to do. This charade has gone on far too long, and he can't keep me in the dark anymore. If Uncle escaped, then I want to know where he's headed. If father is planning an assault on the earth kingdom I demand to know when and why. Crushing their spirits is pointless because we've already taken Ba Sing Se; their kingdom is in shambles.

Father has an ulterior motive.

"Very well." I state, keeping a calm composure. Poon is noticeably shocked. Apparently he expected something fiercer because of his horrible failure. "I'm going to find him. Come along Ty Lee and Mai. We're leaving at once."