Chapter 13
In the early hours of the following morning, a small group could be seen traveling the mountain passes northeast of the Republic City, aiming to circle around the nearby Pohuai Stronghold in order to approach it from a northerly direction and hopefully take its defenders by surprise. On the backs of mongoose lizards, the small group of five were making good time. Toph rode with Iroh at the front, followed by Hakoda, then Suki and Ty Lee sharing their lizard mount. Theirs was a formidable team that was more than capable of overwhelming whatever forces Ozai had at his disposition.
"It seems like we're ahead of schedule," Hakoda remarked from the back of his mount. "We should be in place with time to spare before Appa arrives."
"Good," Suki replied, holding the reins of the mount she was sharing with Ty Lee. Ty Lee had her arms wrapped around Suki's waist, holding on tightly. "We can use that time to do the necessary scouting. Maybe we can locate some kind of a weak point that will be easier for Toph to penetrate with her bending."
"No offense, Suki, but I'll probably have an easier time figuring it out with my earthbending senses," Toph chuckled.
"Well… all the same," Suki countered. "Scouting is always a good practice."
Toph decided not to voice her skepticism at that, realizing that Suki probably just wanted to feel useful. Instead, she finally decided to address something that had been bugging her since the previous morning. "Iroh, can I ask you a question?" she said simply.
"Of course, Toph," Iroh responded amiably. "It's not like you to ask for permission."
"True, but I only did it because I knew you're not going to like this one," Toph snorted. "What I wanted to know is… are you really fine with this plan of using Azula as a bargaining chip in a prisoner exchange?" Iroh appeared to tense a little on the back of the mongoose lizard, and Toph was smugly satisfied to hear some gasps behind them, coming from Ty Lee and Suki.
"I knew that you had sensed our lack of transparency yesterday," Iroh sighed. "I was less certain of this decision than of any other decision I've ever made, but I took comfort from the thought that as soon as On Ji was in safety, we would all go in together and get Azula back before any real damage could be done."
"I'm sure that it will be a huge comfort for Azula to be used in that way," Toph remarked acidly.
"I know," Iroh sighed. "A part of me truly wishes I hadn't taken this risk that might make our relationship worse than it already is."
"Well, in that case you'll be happy to know that I had a chat with Aang late last night," Toph continued. "I told him that unless he tells Azula the truth before they go and see Ozai, then he can kiss our friendship goodbye. I'm not onboard with keeping things like that from our friends."
"You didn't even have to do any of this," Ty Lee spoke up behind them, sounding distressed and disappointed. "As we discussed the plan late last night, Azula herself realized that Ozai had asked for her because he wanted her instead of On Ji. She didn't even hesitate before agreeing to be a part of this exchange."
"It's true," Suki added. "You could have just told her the whole truth straight away. There was no need for any of this deception."
"Well, in that case, I have truly made a regrettable mistake that will require heavy penance," Iroh sighed. "Toph, I owe you both an apology and expression of my gratitude. My influence could have led to Aang destroying his friendships with the rest of the group, but you stopped it from happening."
"Well, Twinkletoes has always needed me telling him off when he's being stupid," Toph snorted. "I just never expected that you would need the same treatment, Uncle Iroh."
"Why are we landing here?" Sokka asked after Aang had asked Appa to touch the ground well before Pohuai Stronghold had appeared in their view. "We're not going to walk the rest of the way on foot, are we?"
"No, that's not why we're stopping," Aang said, shaking his head. He had already made his decision to come clean about the request Ozai had made of him, and that was before Toph had shouted at him for once again sabotaging his remaining friendships. "There's something you all need to know before we meet with Ozai," Aang sighed, looking into Azula's piercing golden eyes. "Ozai didn't just ask me to bring you over for a chat, Azula. He won't release On Ji unless I take you to him instead."
"I already knew that," Azula shrugged, her reaction stunning Aang and leaving him gaping. "Look, it just didn't make sense that he would simply want to talk to me. Also, he's always going to need a hostage to keep you from retaliating. Although, I wonder if a threat to my life would stop you from attacking Ozai."
Aang flinched from the hurtful implication, but he wasn't really in a good position to rebuff the accusation. "If you knew that I wasn't being honest, why didn't you speak up right away?" Aang asked instead.
"Look, I might be a genius level prodigy, but I'm still human and I need time to form my theories," Azula shrugged. "And I also wanted to see if you would keep the deception going all the way. Consider this a test which you barely passed."
"I'm very sorry," Aang said, lowering his eyes. "But your father has the girl I love, and she's carrying my baby. There's a chance that I might no longer be the last airbender. I was so afraid to risk that. And I would have done everything in my power to get you away from Ozai immediately."
"I actually believe you," Azula shrugged. "Which is why I'm not angry. I would have done the exact same thing in your shoes."
"Well, unlike Azula, I'm still angry," Katara scowled. "You should have told us right away. We would have worked together to overcome these challenges."
"I'm not angry. I'm just… disappointed," Sokka nodded sagely.
"You've estranged yourself from the group for too long, Aang," Zuko added, shaking his head. "We used to be much tighter, all of us. Maybe it's time to get back to that. You need to get over Azula and Katara being happy together."
"I… I've been over that for a good while now!" Aang protested, blushing. Zuko wasn't entirely wrong, even if seeing Katara with someone else hurt a lot less these days. "It's just hard, okay? I've made some bad decisions in the past, so I thought maybe it's better if I don't show my face too often. It doesn't help that I always feel a little awkward whenever I visit."
"Well, Azula does enjoy making things very awkward for you," Katara snorted. "But maybe we can work on that going forward. And I'll try not to hold on to my grudges, especially if it means that we can all be better friends in the future."
"There's nothing I'd like more," Aang nodded, managing a small smile. "I've been wanting and meaning to visit, I really have. And once On Ji is safe, we'll be heading to the Fire Nation for a longer stay. On Ji wants to be with her family as the childbirth approaches."
"Well, in that case, I propose that we stop talking and instead go and take care of my father, so that we can all return to the Fire Nation together," Azula spoke decisively. Aang was only too happy to nod in agreement, yip-yipping at Appa to put them back on course for Pohuai Stronghold.
As Pohuai Stronghold came into their view, approaching fast, Azula felt herself tensing slightly at the upcoming confrontation. She still felt confident about the outcome, but she couldn't stop feeling a little nervous. Azula knew that she would be putting herself in great danger, but she was doing it with a group of people she trusted above anyone else. In a way, it was almost funny how their group was made of two pairs of siblings, with Aang and Appa also sharing a kind of bond which made them as good as related.
Katara and Aang seemed to be the most tense and anxious among the group. Aang was obviously concerned about On Ji's fate, and the Avatar was far more tightlipped than Azula could remember him being. Katara was likely mostly worried on her behalf, she could tell it by the way her wife kept biting her lower lip and by how her fingers gripped the staff so tightly that it was making her knuckles go white.
Zuko also looked to be rather anxious. Even if their father had not called for him, Azula was certain that Zuko still dreaded the upcoming confrontation. For once, in a strange twist of fate, Zuko wouldn't be the one facing the wrath of their father. And for the first time in her life, Azula felt grateful for that. Just remembering all those times when she had managed to direct their father's ire to fall on Zuko's shoulders made Azula feel a little nauseous. She didn't want to be responsible for that ever again.
The only one who appeared genuinely relaxed was Sokka. Azula wasn't going to question the focus of Katara's brother, though. She knew Sokka well enough to realize that just because he made horrible jokes about sharpening his sword, it didn't mean that he wasn't taking the mission seriously and couldn't be relied on in what was to come.
Eventually, they reached the stronghold and Appa touched down in a large open courtyard. At first, there was no reaction and Azula almost began to think that perhaps the fortress had been abandoned, but then a group of cloaked and masked warriors emerged to surround the flying bison, aided by several burly mercenary types, most likely the Rough Rhinos.
"Are you sure I can't have my mask back?" Zuko whined as the defenders of the fortress formed a tight circle around Appa. "It's always brought me good fortune."
"Stop being ridiculous, Zuzu," Azula hissed through clenched teeth. She still had no idea where and how Zuko had procured that ridiculous Blue Spirit mask before the mission, but she had told him in no uncertain ways to put it away. She wasn't going to let her brother make a fool of himself in front of their father.
One of the masked female warriors stepped forward to address them. "What is the meaning of this, Avatar?" the woman asked in a clear, confident voice. "You were tasked to bring Azula, not a whole group of people."
"Actually, while Ozai asked me to bring Azula, he never told me that I couldn't bring others," Aang shrugged. "Are you saying that he wouldn't agree to meet with us?"
"Surely someone who aspires to be the real Fire Lord wouldn't be too cowardly to meet us," Zuko added what Azula considered to be a pretty effective barb. The leader of these Fire Warriors certainly looked outraged at the comment.
"This is… I can't let you see Fire Lord Ozai," the leader of the Fire Warriors replied. She was clearly taken off balance by this unexpected situation for which they clearly hadn't prepared. "Stay here while I consult with the Fire Lord and don't try anything funny! If you as much as lift your finger, we'll execute the Avatar's girl! One of my warriors is holding a knife against her throat as we speak!"
"We'll comply," Aang replied quickly, having gone very pale. "Just don't hurt On Ji, please," he added, watching the leader of the Fire Warriors run back inside the stronghold.
"Just keep calm," Azula hissed quietly. She felt particularly concerned for Aang. Azula wasn't sure if his fear for On Ji's life wouldn't lead to him doing something idiotic. "We have them on the back foot, this is exactly what we wanted."
Azula wasn't sure whether her words had any effect on her friends, but after a few minutes of tense waiting, the leader of the Fire Warriors reemerged, having received her new orders. "Fire Lord Ozai will see you now, but under one condition," the woman informed them. "You must all submit to being chi-blocked."
"Out of the ques-" Aang began, only to be interrupted by Azula.
"We agree," Azula said, ignoring Aang's sputtering protests.
"What are you playing at?" Aang turned to glare at her. "We'll be completely defenseless!"
"Maybe it's your turn to trust me, Aang, because at every step of the way you have tried to make sure that I can't trust you," Azula told the Avatar.
"Just go along with Azula, Aang," Katara added. Of course, her wife immediately understood Azula's plan, as did Zuko and Sokka. After all, this was what they had been training for, not that Aang knew about any of that. "Please, I promise, it will be alright."
"Very well," Aang sighed. "We accept your terms!" he told the leader of the Fire Warriors. "And I hope Azula knows what she's doing," he added quietly.
"But we have a condition of our own," Azula suddenly exclaimed.
"Are you kidding me?" Aang hissed, slapping an open palm against his face. The leader of the Fire Warriors also looked unimpressed with Azula's outburst.
"Yes, we can't agree to being completely defenseless," Azula insisted. "You have to let us at least keep our weapons," she said.
The Fire Warriors and the Rough Rhino mercenaries exchanged confused looks, some of them bursting into laughter at the request. "Fine," the lead warrior replied, also appearing amused. "You can keep your weapons. Much good they will do you. Now, I want you to climb down from your beast one by one, and submit to chi-blocking. You're going first, Avatar," the woman ordered.
As per their orders, the five of them climbed down from Appa's back to subject themselves to the Fire Warrior chi-blocking. Even Sokka was put through the ordeal, because their hosts refused to believe that he was not a waterbender. The experience of being chi-blocked was not pleasant, it never was, but Azula was still satisfied that her predictions about the chi-blocking skill level of these warriors were proving accurate. This wasn't Ty Lee's level of chi-blocking that not only made it impossible to bend, but also rendered the affected limb useless for several hours. The Fire Warrior chi-blocking only affected their bending, and the strike had definitely lacked the accuracy Ty Lee was capable of. Azula was certain that in half an hour, perhaps a little less, her chi would be flowing freely once again.
With their hosts considering them neutralized, the group of five were then led inside the fortress and into a large hall that Ozai had clearly attempted to set up as his throne room for their visit. Azula quickly tried to ascertain their situation, which was not easy with her father's presence in the room feeling so suffocating and wanting to occupy all of her attention. Admiral Liang and High Sage Hironomu were flanking her father's makeshift throne, but out of those two, only the admiral presented any real threat in a fight. There were about half a dozen of the Rough Rhinos, and Azula was aware that their leader, Mongke, was a capable firebender. The Fire Warriors numbered up to a dozen and Azula was yet to see them in action, but she assumed that they fought in a style similar to the Kyoshi girls. The big question for Azula was the presence of Mai and June, but she couldn't see either of them present. Then again, it was likely that they had concealed themselves in order to strike from the shadows, not to mention that someone had to be keeping an eye out for On Ji.
"Ah, Avatar Aang, you have exceeded my expectations," Ozai laughed, clapping his hands. "You have delivered not only my beloved daughter, but also my useless son. What a fortuitous development!"
"We want On Ji returned now!" Aang demanded.
"Certainly," Ozai nodded. "I am prepared to show my goodwill, considering you currently pose no threat to me. Bring out the girl," Ozai ordered. Azula watched Mai and June drag a struggling On Ji into the hall and remain standing a little to the side. Azula tried to see if she could read anything from Mai's expression, but as always, her old friend maintained her stoicism well.
"What are your orders, my Lord?" June asked.
"Escort the girl and the Avatar back outside," Ozai ordered his two assassins. "They are free to leave."
"I'm not leaving without my friends!" Aang exclaimed.
"Does that mean you wish to join them as my prisoner?" Ozai asked, raising an eyebrow. "I will have to decline the offer. That would be far too dangerous of me to attempt. I am aware that you cannot be contained, Avatar. It is only the threat that your friends will be harmed that will keep you away."
"It's fine, Aang," Azula told the Avatar. "Take On Ji and go. And don't worry about us."
"Indeed, listen to my daughter, for she is correct," Ozai said, grinning. "Zuko and the waterbender will prove the most useful hostages. As for this lout," he spoke, frowning at Sokka. "I have no idea who you're supposed to be. Get out of here before I change my mind."
"I'm Sokka, the guy who destroyed your airship fleet during Sozin's Comet," Sokka shouted. "Maybe you should know my name, Loser Lord!"
"Oh, you destroyed my airship fleet?" Ozai frowned. "Well, I've decided that I hate you. You will also become my prisoner."
"Good," Sokka merely nodded, looking pleased as he crossed arms on his chest. "I can't believe how much it takes for a guy to get some recognition around here."
"Azula, you may approach me," Ozai spoke up as Aang and On Ji were escorted back outside. Azula saw no way to reject this invitation, walking up to her father. "Our previous conversation disappointed me a great deal. I would love to assume that you have made the correct conclusions in its aftermath, but here I see you still entertaining this filthy waterbender. And you also seem to believe that the two of you are married?"
"That's right, father," Azula nodded. "Katara is my wife," she said, hoping to keep her father talking. As minutes passed, Azula could feel her flow of chi becoming stronger and starting to overcome the block.
"A quaint notion, one which we will dispel soon enough," Ozai frowned disapprovingly. "Once all the common-sense laws which my idiot son has overturned are restored, all such relationships will become invalid once again. But the more important question is this, Azula. Are you willing to once again serve the Fire Nation at my side?"
"What does that mean, father?" Azula asked. She managed to shoot Katara a quick reassuring stare, only to realize that she shouldn't have bothered. Katara clearly knew that Azula was stalling for time.
"It means that you will serve me as you once served your nation during our great war," Ozai replied, looking a little impatient.
"Hmm, I'm uncertain," Azula frowned. "You see, father, Zuko has given me a great deal of autonomy, including an entire province to govern. It's a much better deal than the mere scraps of your attention I was treated to during the war. I think you'll have to make me a better offer than just going back to how things were. I'm no longer fourteen, after all."
"I can see that," Ozai said irately. "It seems like you intend to test my patience. Do you take me for a fool, Azula? You have revealed your weakness to me, fool girl," he said, pointing at Katara. "If you do not subject yourself to my will, I will torture the waterbender until you do."
"I would not recommend that, father," Azula said, trying her best to hide her fear at Ozai's threat. She had no reason to assume that her father would hesitate to actually torture Katara. She was probably even barely human to someone like Ozai.
"Does that mean you will fall in line?" Ozai demanded.
"It seems as if I have no other options but to obey," Azula replied, continuing to play for time. "What are you asking of me, father?"
"I will want you to go to the Fire Nation and begin the preparations for my glorious return," Ozai ordered. "Since the Avatar so foolishly delivered Zuko into my hands, nobody in the homeland will oppose you or question your authority. Admiral Liang and the High Sage will go with you to make sure that everything is being-" at this point, Ozai was interrupted by a powerful tremor rocking the entire fortress. Azula didn't even have to guess what it was. It seemed that their reinforcements had received the news that On Ji was in safety, and now earth or metalbending was being used in order to crack the shell of the Pohuai Stronghold.
"What was that, Lord Ozai?" Hironomu asked, looking very spooked by the tremors.
"I presume more intruders have entered the complex," Ozai scowled. "They don't seem to understand the concept of hostages and what might happen to them in case they continue with these hostilities. I think they need a reminder. Colonel Mongke, can I trust you to deliver it?"
"Of course, my Lord," Mongke replied.
"Take half of your men and go see what this is all about," Ozai ordered. "Zirin, take half of your girls and assist them. Mai, you're going as well."
"My Lord," June spoke up, completely out of turn. Azula could see that Ozai very much did not enjoy this interruption. It looked as if June was desperate to accompany Mai, an observation that Azula found particularly interesting.
"You're staying here, June," Ozai said sternly. "I need someone who can efficiently execute a hostage if these intruders prove completely unreasonable."
"As you would have it, my Lord," June bowed, though Azula could see that she was still annoyed to be parted from Mai.
"June, take the Water Tribe boy," Ozai continued dispensing his orders as a huge chunk of his forces cleared out of the hall. Under any other circumstances, Azula would have deemed this an opportune moment for an attack, but with June now holding a dagger at Sokka's throat, any sudden moves could end in tragedy. "Liang, you take my idiot of a son," Ozai said, then glancing at one of Mongke's Rough Rhino lieutenants. "And what's your name?"
"Vachir, my Lord," the hulking brute replied.
"Vachir, you take the waterbender," Ozai ordered.
"With pleasure," Vachir grinned in a way that made Azula's blood boil, watching the man press a curved sword against Katara's exposed throat.
"I suggest that everyone simply calm down so that we can avoid any unnecessary bloodshed," Ozai spoke aloud. Azula's mind was racing, searching for ways to get out of this situation safely. Katara's bending would also return soon, and Azula trusted her wife to find a way to disentangle herself from Vachir's grip. Curiously, Azula also spotted June leaning closer to Sokka and whispering something into his ear. Sokka's reaction was a barely perceptible smile and a nod. Azula immediately understood the only possible explanation for Sokka's reaction. June must have told him that she did not intend to kill him. The only real danger now was Admiral Liang, holding his sword at Zuko's throat and doing it so tightly that Azula could see a few drops of blood already soaking the blade. Getting Zuko out of his predicament was clearly going to be very difficult, but Azula was determined to do everything she could to keep Zuko's head attached to his shoulders. Even if her brother didn't seem to use his head very often, Azula supposed he still needed it in order to hold the ceremonial headpiece of the Fire Lord.
"Azula, you will tell me about these reinforcements," Ozai ordered her.
"Of course, father," Azula replied, sensing an opportunity to keep stalling for time. "I'm surprised you didn't ask me about that before dispatching your forces."
Ozai glared at her, red in the face. "Mind your tongue, Azula!" he yelled at her. "Tell me the truth about these reinforcements, but also watch your tongue!"
"Certainly," Azula nodded. "It's a small but efficient team. Our friend Toph is a master earthbender. Suki and Ty Lee are proficient chi-blockers and warriors. I'm sure you remember Ty Lee, father." Ozai's only reaction was an impassive shrug. "Then there's Hakoda of the Southern Water Tribe, who joined us after he abandoned your cause. And I'm sure you'll be pleased to hear that this small group is led by your brother and my uncle, Iroh."
"Iroh?" Ozai bellowed, rising from his seat and allowing anger to overtake him as he let loose with a jet of fire that almost clipped the old High Sage. "You were right, Azula, I am pleased to hear it," Ozai exclaimed. "My fool of a brother could not have picked a better day for his long overdue demise!"