Chapter nine:
Agni Kai!
Azula had made arrangements to return to the Fire Nation mainland the very next afternoon and Aang had agreed. "Azula, are you sure you want to do this?" "I'm sure, Aang. I'm more than sure." Those were the exact words exchanged between princess and Avatar. Azula was finishing her packing when Ty Lee arrived at her side. "Hey," "Hey, Ty." "So, you're going to face the big flame, huh?" "Yeah…I am." "Why?" "Because as the ex-Fire Nation princess, I need to keep my place in the Nation…as a loyalist, and to protect you." "I thought you were with Katara now." Azula fell silent, looking down at the sleeping robe she was carefully folding. "No, Ty Lee...I don't…I don't know okay!" Ty Lee softened. "But Azula, we both can help you! You don't need to choose between one and the other." "But Ty…"
"No 'buts' Azula."
"Fine, I won't talk then."
"I love you, Azula."
"I love you too, Ty."
"I thought you said you wouldn't talk."
"I lied."
Ty Lee left Azula so she could finish packing and walked outside; basking in the warmth the sun gave off. She softly closed her eyes and stood there, in the warmth that felt so much like Azula.
Finally, they departed. Azula sat with Katara in the saddle while Aang sat in front, steering the bison. Katara noticed Azula fidgeting a lot; first her hands would travel to a lock of hair, twirl it a bit, and then go to picking at her nails, then to rubbing her eye furiously. Just as Azula was about to bite her thumbnail, Katara gently grabbed the slender hand and held it in her own. "Don't worry, you're strong and willed. You can face him…in fact, he might change his decision." Katara said, with a reassuring smile. Azula smiled back, although deep in her gut she wasn't too confident with herself.
Half an hour later, the three of them landed in the palace courtyard. "Ah, this place brings back memories!" Katara said, trying to lighten the moment for Azula but wasn't helping much. "Yeah, not really." "I was trying to enlighten you." "Not working." Katara gave up, nothing could settle the disgruntled princess. "Ah, Katara and Aang…and you, you filthy piece of-" "Zuko! Shut up before I freeze your sorry ass!" Katara shouted, stepping forward a bit to emphasis her threat. Zuko looked absolutely taken aback. "So you're helping her too?" Katara didn't answer. "Very well, guards, bring the fugitive, my sister, up here." Two guards stepped towards Azula, who tried to escape their grasp but couldn't in time, grabbed her by the arms and threw her forward and onto the ground in a rough manner.
"Now, what could you possibly want with me?"
"I want you dead."
"That makes me feel so loved…no, even more loved than before, Zuko!"
"You unloved? Hah! I was the one who suffered; I was the one who endured pain! You…you're nothing compared to me!"
"That's what you think."
"Excuse me?"
"You think your life was tragedy; you were gone half of my lifetime! Do you know what I had to endure all those years?"
"Doesn't matter know because I challenge you to an Agni Kai!"
Azula was shocked by the straightforward challenge. She wasn't prepared for this. She was about to make a retort such as "no thanks" but it didn't come out.
"Come now, sister. You don't want a head start?"
Azula growled at him but didn't fall for the trap…not like last time, dear brother