We ran through the forest as fast as we could with Azula. However after a short distance Ty Lee started to become tired (Azula was light but not weightless). So either we had to stop and rest, or I had to switch with her. Given that we needed to get away quickly I offered to switch with her. Ty Lee wasn't happy with the idea (she didn't think Azula would want a guy touching her) but eventually gave in. So we stopped, Ty Lee let go of Azula, I gave the clothes I was carrying to Toph (since she was too short to carry Azula, so she might as well carry something), I put my arm around Azula's shoulder (she felt all bony), and we set off. As we were carrying her Suki asked me why Azula was in the Fort, I replied that I was still thinking that through.
Eventually Suki became tired and Ty Lee swapped with her. Then I swapped with Suki when I became tired. This continued until it got dark, when we decided to camp for the night (during this time Azula stopped giggling and fell asleep). We put Azula down and covered her in a blanket, set up camp near a river so we'd have fresh water to drink, then all gathered round.
"So Sokka, why was Azula there?" asked Suki.
"I'm not sure but I have a theory," I replied. "Someone wanted Azula's help, so they infiltrated the Asylum she was sent to and convince her to join them. They then helped her escape."
"How do you know she didn't escape on her own?" Toph asked.
"I asked Zuko about how she escaped and he said that she faked a stomach ache and was transferred to the hospital wing. There she attacked a guard, stole her uniform, and walked out of the Asylum. Since there were no ships she could have escaped on and there was no evidence that she built a boat Azula must have had help getting off the island."
"Does Zuko have any ideas about who helped her?" asked Suki.
"He thinks it was the captain of a small boat acting on the orders of their superior but he doesn't know who. He also said that Azula's Asylum room didn't contain any clues as to where she went, though there was a partially burned doll that no one could explain.
"So Azula got on a boat and headed to the Colonies. Later she gets betrayed, becomes hooked on Poppy Tea, and is hidden in a mine," I concluded.
"So we really don't know anything about how she got here," Toph summarised.
"Uh … yeah. But finding out Azula's not in charge is important. It totally changes what Zuko has to do to fix the Fire Nations problems."
"How do you mean?" asked Suki.
"Since Zuko always assumed that Azula was involved whenever anything went wrong he was always willing to overlook anything anyone did in case they could lead him to Azula. But if Azula isn't involved Zuko has to stop looking and start acting."
"Meaning what?" asked Toph, she sounded bored.
Okay I could have explained that better. I decided that it would be easier to explain if I used an example.
"Zuko rarely ever punishes generals or governors when they're disobedient or corrupt in case Azula becomes greedy and make a mistake. So even though he knows Jiating is corrupt he won't punish him because Zuko wants to follow where the money is going in case it leads to Azula. But now that we know Azula isn't getting any money from Jiating Zuko needs to punish him for embezzlement."
"Hey Sokka, do you think that Jiating kidnapped Azula to hide his embezzlement?" Ty Lee asked.
I had thought of this as a possibility but I had discounted it. I decided to explain why.
"It's unlikely that Jiating would 'kidnap' Azula because it would be very risky and there are better ways to hide his corruption. If someone wanted Azula it would have to be for something only she could do."
"Which would be what?" asked Suki.
"Raise an army to overthrow Zuko."
I paused for a moment to let this sink in (it was worth planning the best way to explain my theory). I then continued.
"Though some generals oppose Zuko they can't overthrow him without being accused of trying to usurp the Fire Nation throne, which would cause the Fire Nation citizens to oppose them. But if they're acting on behalf of Azula, whose the only heir to the Fire Nation throne, they can start a civil war make Azula Fire Lord without alienating most of the Fire Nation."
"So why would they betray Azula?" asked Toph before anyone else could ask.
"There are two possible reasons. One: she's insane, so she'd be difficult to work with and they may have grown tired of her. Two: if they betray her they can rule the Fire Nation themselves."
"Which do you think it is?" asked Suki.
"Most likely the second. I think they planned to use Azula as a figurehead right from the start and never intended for her to be their leader."
"She's not their figurehead, she's their scapegoat," sobbed Ty Lee, this conversation seemed to be upsetting her.
I decided to switch topics.
"Anyway we need to get Azula back to the Fire Nation. Then Zuko can expose the whole conspiracy."
"Why not just hand her over to the Fire Nation in Dairen?" said Toph, as if we were forgetting something obvious.
"We can't, she hasn't done anything wrong," sobbed Ty Lee, she still sounded upset.
"Dairen's too corrupt, we don't know where she's end up. Besides someone wants Azula to remain hidden so they'll probably hunt down anyone who knows about her. Since we don't know who we can trust we need to keep her hidden until we get her to Zuko."
However keeping Azula hidden would not be easy. Not only was there a large reward for her capture but Zuko had put up a lot of wanted posters so most people knew what she looked like. These posters also mentioned she had blue fire, meaning that it anyone saw her Firebending they'd recognizes her immediately. Her insanity would also make hiding her much more difficult, especially if she acted erratically.
"She's moving," Toph suddenly said.
We turned towards Azula (we were all sitting behind her). She was reaching around in front of herself for something. She soon stopped, pushed herself up, pushed her hair out of the way of her eyes, and said:
"Guard bring me some tea."
Then she stared into the distance (she didn't seem to realise she wasn't in the Fort anymore). She then started looking around and said:
"Guard, why are there trees in my room."
She must still be high. She started to sit up more but didn't look behind herself.
"Uh Azula, we took you out of your room," Ty Lee said.
Even though we could only see Azula's back it was obvious that she was shocked when she heard Ty Lee's voice. She quickly turned round.
"Ty Lee!? How did you get into my room?" Azula half asked, half shouted.
"You're not in your room anymore Princess," Toph replied dryly.
Azula stared at us, quickly looked round, then seemed to finally realise she's been moved.
"Take me back to my room right now," Azula demanded.
Huh? Why'd she want to go back there? She must be crazier than we thought.
"Azula we're going to take you home, back to Zuko," Ty Lee said sweetly (probably hoping to calm down Azula).
"Never!" shouted Azula. She looked angry.
She then tried to stand up but failed and fell down. Though she was able to stand the second time she tried (she looked a little unsteady through). Looks like we'd have to fight Azula if we wanted to take her from a dirty room in a mine to the Fire Nation Palace (seriously what was she thinking).
Azula fired a small, blue fireball from her fingers. It flew towards us, over our heads, and into a nearby tree where it broke apart into sparks (he aim seemed off and her Firebending lacked any power). Azula also seemed to have trouble keeping her balance (she looked kind of pitiful). Toph then used her Earthbending to shake the ground and knock Azula down.
While Azula tried to get back on her feet we just looked at each other in disbelief. Though we had prepared in case we had to fight Azula none of us imagined it would be like this. Eventually she got back onto her feet looking even more angry than before.
"What did you do to my body!" Azula shouted.
"Azula we didn't do anything to you, you were like this we when found you," replied Ty Lee (I think she was trying to sound firm but it sounded like she was pleading with Azula).
Azula then shot a fire blast directly into the ground. My guess was that she planned to use it as a shield to cover her while she ran away. However in her weakened condition the fire blast was very small and only created a little dust cloud, and the speed she ran away at was pretty slow. Given that Azula wasn't in any fit condition to do anything I decided to try to reason with her, rather than have Ty Lee paralyse her or have Toph trap Azula using her Earthbending.
"Where are you running to? You're in the middle of a forest."
This worked and Azula stopped. She considered this for a moment, then turned to face me. I could see the hatred brimming in her eyes.
"This doesn't mean you've won," Azula declared as she slowly walked towards us. She still sounded angry.
Okay, so she still has some ability to reason. However this isn't much comfort given that we still have to travel through a forest and to the Fire Nation with an insane, opium addicted Firebender who's the most wanted person in the Fire Nation colonies. This is going to be very hard.
Notes:
The only know members of the Fire Nation Royal Family are Iroh, Ozai, Zuko, and Azula. Since Iroh has said he doesn't want the throne (and he's very old) and Ozai was overthrown (he also lost his Firebending) the only other person who could replace the heirless Zuko is Azula (making her the current heir). Mai and Ursa cannot be the next Fire Lord because they're not descendents of the Fire Nation Royal family.
They have the real Azula. The proof is her blue Firebending and that she was able to recognise Ty Lee after hearing her voice.
How Azula ended up in the mine and why she wants to go back will be explained in later chapters.