Confused yet? If you are still unsure about the timeline of the chapters feel free to pm me and I will do my best to explain. There are clues and hints ingrained to help guide you along...that is if I have done my job well. Oh and in case anyone missed it Aang is 16 in this though everyone else is their cannon age. I simply will not write smut for a 12 year old..Sorry Toph.
Years of war have hardened the Dragon of the West. He has seen some of the most terrible and cruel atrocities that could be committed at the hands of man yet his brother takes it to a whole new level. Even now Iroh doubts his niece sees the trouble she is courting at the hands of the Fire Lord.
Her face is impassive, blank, as if Azula is merely here in body like it was a play or some royal event that she is required to attend rather than facing Ozai after a brutal failure. Her vacant facade only serves to anger the Fire Lord more and Iroh turns away from the violent blow Ozai delivers to his daughter's face.
The Princess is strong though and staggers rather than collapses like so many men before her have. The Fire Lord prefers delivering punishment with his own hands and many an officer has borne the brunt of Ozai's wrath. Iroh feels a sense of pride that she remains on her feet.
She looks back at her sire with quiet acceptance in her eyes. The side of her face is already swelling and bruising. Azula knew enough to expect the hit. On some level, Iroh is sure she even welcomed it. It will only serve to kill any lingering allegiance she has for her father.
"You have failed me." Ozai hisses, flames licking at his lips. "I will not tolerate failure."
Iroh recognizes the look in his brother's eyes. It is the same one that preceded Ozai burning his own son's face. Iroh prays Azula won't suffer the same. A quick death would be better than slow agony.
"Yes, Fire Lord Ozai." Her voice is strong and clear.
Another strike sounds harder this time. Her head snaps to the side as she is knocked back again yet she remains upright.
Breathing hard but eyes bright she meets her sire's eyes again. "Thank you, Fire Lord." Her lips drip with blood yet her gratitude sounds genuine.
This only serves to enrage Ozai more and with a roar and a sharp kick her knee gives dropping her to the floor at his feet. Azula is silent but her eyes are filled with unshed tears.
Her eyes dart quickly to meet Iroh's own. He can see the fear she is barely keeping stamped down.
Ozai turns to meet his eyes with a challenge."What have you to say about this, brother?"
Iroh knows the part he must play. "She has learned her lesson." He strives to sound unaffected by this display of violence.
It is the wrong answer and Ozai's laugh fills the throne room. Grabbing a handful of Azula's hair he lifts her up, "Have you learned your lesson, girl?"
She scrambles to rise but he jerks hard wrenching her neck to the side.
Her eyes are wide but flash defiance. "I have not."
"Honesty from the viper's mouth at last." Ozai mocks as he throws her to the ground. "String her up and bring my whip."
The look in Azula's eyes matches the one in Iroh's and the old general watches helplessly as she is hung by her wrists and back stripped bare.
"Fire Lord, please reconsider," Iroh pleads watching with apprehension as his brother unfurls his whip. "If you damage her, then it may be difficult to find a good match." Appealing to Ozai's hunger for power and dominance is the last avenue left.
"Any man would be pleased to align himself with my house even if it means bedding a crippled whore." Ozai bites out harshly as he eyes his daughter's pale smooth back with a cold calculating eye.
The first crack sounds in the air and Iroh flinches. He has borne the brunt of his brother's wrath before and knows the white hot pain of the leather on his back. He can only watch as Ozai lays into her again and again with all his strength tearing her back to shreds yet the Princess does not make a sound. She refuses to give the Fire Lord the satisfaction. It is more a contest of wills than anything.
Leave it to Azula to sublimate the physical and use even this terrible act to needle the half-insane Fire Lord.
The guards shuffle uncomfortably as they watch their king reach a new low as he screams epithets at his own flesh while beating her bloody. They watch the drops of red liquid stain the cold stone floor below.
Silence reigns in the throne room and her body hangs limp. Only the Fire Lord's heavy breaths can be heard as he throws the whip down. Azula denied him what he wanted. Never once did she cry or beg. With a growl, Ozai storms from the room, leaving Iroh faced with yet another broken body.
Carefully, Iroh approaches his niece. Her hair hangs over her face hiding her features. Pushing the sweat soaked strands away as he cradles her face. Her eyes are closed and on her face is a look of peace and serenity he has not seen before.
"Uncle, I didn't cry." Her voice is quiet yet edged with pride.
Iroh wants to look away from the bruised and bloodied face but he doesn't. "You did well, Azula."
Signaling the guards, they help ease her down, mindful of her injuries as they carry her to her room.
He keeps vigil over her that night. Her sleep is fitful and Zuko's name passes her lips more often than not. Ursa is never mentioned. Not that Iroh expected her to be. Azula was never close to her mother but Zuko's banishment struck a chord with her in a way he did not foresee.
Her back is bare to the cool night air as she lays face down on the bed. The torn skin is black with dried blood. In her sleep she looks like the young girl she once was and Iroh feels a wave of guilt that he has not been able to protect any of the children in his care: Lu Ten, Zuko, and now Azula.
A plan begins to form.
Despite being retired, Iroh has a surprising number of contacts left. There are many people that owe much to him. He calls these favors in now.
Under the cover of night, the old woman is brought to Azula's room. The ancient blue eyes look sadly over the broken pale skin before she sets to work with glowing hands. The cuts are deep so much so that it is impossible to heal. She can only make it bearable. This is beyond the old Water Bender's ability.
"She will have terrible scars." The old woman warns with a shake of her head. It is a shame to see such beauty come to ruin.
Iroh nods knowingly. The injuries are deep. Far deeper than he thought anyone could tolerate. Azula continues to surprise him.
Another servant enters the room and gives him the signal he was looking for. Reaching out gently he shakes her shoulder. "Azula, you must wake quickly."
She mumbles in her sleep so he shakes her harder urging her to wake up. "Please, Azula, we must go now before it is too late, before Ozai arrives."
Iroh knows his brother well. Already the Fire Lord is planning something worse to punish his daughter for letting both the banished Prince and the Avatar slip through her fingers.
Her eyes snap open at the mention of her father. "Where will we go?"
As a servant helps her dress in simple garb, she hisses from the feel of the fabric on the open wounds on her back.
"It is time to find Zuko." Iroh pronounces. The only way to secure Azula's safety is to hide her from Ozai and who better to help her avoid the Fire Lord's wrath than her own brother.
Azula is hesitant. "He won't forgive me." However necessary, her betrayal of the young prince cut deep.
Iroh anticipated this. "Then you will just have to earn his forgiveness, Azula."
He sees the resistance in her golden eyes. She does not like to admit when she is wrong but she has already gone so far as to anger Ozai what is a bit more.
"Yes, Uncle." Azula acquiesces with a grim sense of determination.
Sneaking out of the palace is just as difficult as sneaking in. There is little ground cover at night but fortunately word of Ozai's punishment on the young woman has spread like wildfire and the guards are willing to turn a blind eye. Iroh grits his teeth at the thought of how many of them will face similar punishments for allowing the princess to slip away. He sees it in their eyes though. They know what awaits them and he feels a sense of honor at having been protected by such brave soldiers.
An old friend is waiting for them on the beach line with a small boat. The waves are choppy as if the ocean spirit itself was fighting against them but despite the very real threat of drowning they manage to make it to a larger vessel anchored off shore.
Together they watch as the Fire Nation fades in the distance.
"We can't go home." Azula says with a sad note in her voice.
"One day we will." Iroh says confidently.
AN: This chapter takes place after Azula has let Zuko and Aang get away and Ozai is a bit upset about it. This is what cuts her ties to Ozai and she leaves the Fire Nation with the intent of helping defeat the Fire Lord.