Disclaimer - I do not own Avatar The Last Air Bender
Author's Note: Welcome back my wonderful readers! So I've gotten some messages about my updating schedule. As of now, I am aiming for once a week. I know I was updating more in the beginning but life gets so hectic. But as a comprise I am making my chapters 2,000 words or more. So yay longer chapters! I really appreciate the feedback. I'm also touched by the number of people who put this on their alerts. Please leave reviews, it really helps when I know what you guys think of the story.
Chapter 11 – Ba Sing Se
Azula paced Zuko's study as she waited for everyone to arrive. "Why are we bothering with a meeting? This problem could be easily solved if you let me take charge."
Zuko watched his sister, "Your solution would cause another war."
She stopped pacing and looked intently at her brother, "You don't think that's what Kuei is asking for? He attacked students, captured the Avatar's people and kidnapped a member of the Omashu royal family. We have every right to demand his head."
"That won't solve anything, Azula." Aang said. He didn't like seeing her in that state. It reminded him too much of the old Azula.
"Although I want to agree with the Princess, I think the better option is for the Avatar and I to negotiate with King Kuei," King Aarn offered.
"He won't negotiate. He wants my head," Azula said frustrated.
"We have to try something," King Aarn countered.
Azula decided she had enough. She stormed out of Zuko's study and made her way towards Mai's rooms. She knew Mai and Ty Lee would be there watching Kanbe. She was forming a plan and would need their help.
It was the dead of night. Mai and Ty Lee were waiting for her in the courtyard. The Avatar was sound asleep thanks to the sleeping potion she slipped into his tea. A small part of her felt guilty for tricking him, but she was quick to overcome that.
She was surprised when Mai had agreed to join her and Ty Lee in traveling to Ba Sing Se. The only explanation Mai offered was that she would not be excluded from their fun just because she was a mother.
Mai had secured the best ostrich horses at the stables for them. They could reach the harbor before sunrise where a small but fast ship would be awaiting them.
"This is kind of fun," Ty Lee said after a couple of hours of riding in silence.
"You have an odd sense of fun," Mai commented.
"It's kind of like old times. I never thought the three of us would be on an adventure again," Ty Lee explained.
The plan was simple. Azula had reached out to a few men she knew from the Dai Li that were still loyal to her. They would sneak them into the city through the underground and lead them to where the students were kept. The Kyoshi warriors would help sneak the students out to safety, thanks to Ty Lee. Fire Nation warriors from Mai's personal service would make sure to get them into the Fire Nation.
The disagreement started on what to do with King Kuei. Mai and Ty Lee did not think it would be wise to let Azula kill him. Azula argued that he was already endangering the peace with the stunt he pulled. In the end they agreed Ty Lee would knock him out with her chi blocking and they would deliver him to the Avatar. At least that's what Azula claimed she agreed to. She was confident she could beat the two women when the time came.
Aang woke up when the sun was already high in the sky. He had a pounding headache. He knew something was wrong when Azula was nowhere to be found. He quickly rushed to Zuko's rooms.
"Zuko have you seen Azula?"
"No. Maybe she's with Mai?"
Aang felt his stomach drop. He asked a servant to check Mai and Ty Lee's rooms. When the servant said neither woman could be found Aang knew he had a right to worry, "They went to Ba Sing Se! They've had almost a full day head start."
Zuko was angry and worried, "We have to go after them. Do they really think they can bring down Ba Sing Se by themselves?"
Aang let out a sigh, "They did once."
What would have normally take a week, they accomplished in three days. It was late at night but they could see the walls of Ba Sing Se. The Dai Li agents had said they couldn't sneak them in until the following night when the guards traded shifts. The three friends had agreed it would be safest to sleep in the woods. They sat around a small fire Azula had created.
"I never got to see your engagement ring Azula," Ty Lee said as she grabbed Azula's hand to admire her ring.
"This isn't really the time," Azula said.
"It's not like we have much else to do," Mai pointed out.
"It's so pretty. When do you think you'll have the wedding?" Ty Lee asked.
Azula shrugged, "We were thinking of next year but after this who knows if he will still marry me."
Mai and Ty Lee exchanged looks, "Don't say that Azula. He loves you, he'll understand."
Azula said nothing as she looked into the orange flames.
Aang was trying to make up for lost time. He couldn't wait for Zuko and his army of men. His air bending gave him an advantage. He had been traveling for three days with no rest. By nightfall he would be in Ba Sing Se.
The tunnels were dark but Azula dared not use her fire bending. Everyone walked in silence as they approached the underground holding cells. There were two guards keeping watch but they turned a blind eye to the princess and her entourage.
The students looked scared until Azula whispered, "Dulin?"
"Princess Azula? I knew you would come to save us!" Dulin said happily.
"Is this everyone?" Mai asked as she helped Azula open the cells.
Dulin nodded, "Yes." Azula took his chin into her hand and inspected his face. It was heavily bruised and caked with dry blood.
He averted her eyes, "It's not as bad as it looks."
"Why did they beat you?"
"They said horrible things about you, your highness. After all the kindness you have shown me, how could I let them get away with such talk?" Dulin asked
Azula clicked her tongue, "You're a foolish boy."
With all the prisoners out the Dai Li agents quickly took them back into the tunnels. "We haven't much time," one of them said.
"Take the students outside the walls. The Kyoshi warriors will be there ready to escort them to safety," Ty Lee instructed. The Dai Li did as they were told and quickly ushered the students out.
Azula looked at her friends, "It's time."
Aang saw shadows moving away from the walls of Ba Sing Se. He was surprised to see Kyoshi warriors. "What's going on here?"
The Kyoshi warriors stood in fighting position until they recognized who he was. "Avatar Aang, we are here to escort the students to the Fire Nation."
Aang recognized the students, "Where are Azula, Mai and Ty Lee?"
"They stayed behind. I think they are going after King Kuei," Dulin offered.
He turned to look at the Kyoshi warriors, "Get them out of here quickly." He earth bended a whole into the great wall of Ba Sing Se, he had no time to lose.
It was just past sunrise when the women found King Kuei's private wing. There were few guards but precise jabs from Ty Lee rendered them useless.
Azula kicked down the most ornate door in the wing. The room was dark but she could easily make out the king startled from sleep in his giant bed. "Who's there?"
Mai answered him with knives pinning him to his headboard. "What do you want?" he asked with a quivering voice.
Azula threw blue flames at the heavy curtains to let the sunlight in. King Kuei's expression turned from fear to anger when he recognized the Fire Nation princess. "Let me go."
Azula smirked as she circled his bed, "I told you I would finish what I started."
Mai began to grow nervous, "Ty Lee, knock him out."
"There's a change of plans ladies," Azula said as she threw fireballs at her friends. Before the fireballs could hit their mark a gust of wind extinguished them. She quickly drew up a wall of blue flames with lightning barbs.
"Azula!" Aang yelled. He knew she would put up a fight but he never thought she could manipulate lightning and fire at the same time, "Mai, Ty Lee get out of here!"
Both women stood their ground, "We aren't leaving her again." Mai stated.
Aang let out a sigh, "Azula please bring down your wall and turn him in."
Azula sent a spark of lightning at his feet in response. She knew what she risked but she didn't care. "Stay out of this Avatar."
"Azula please, he isn't worth it," Ty Lee pleaded.
"Yes, listen to your friends, your madness," King Kuei taunted.
"You aren't helping!" Ty Lee yelled.
"Don't listen to him Azula. You know you aren't crazy. He's just trying to get under your skin, "Aang said.
Azula kept her wall up and turned to look at Kuei. She could easily take him out. He saw the hunger for murder in her eyes and he shivered in true fear, "I didn't mean it Princess Azula. I will release your students and King Aarn's. This was just a misunderstanding."
Azula walked slowly towards him, like a cat approaching its prey. She dropped her wall of fire. Aang was quick but Azula was faster, the whole palace heard King Kuei's chilling scream.
Kuei's body was limp but Aang quickly found a pulse. He looked at Azula as she dusted herself off, "You didn't kill him."
Azula shrugged, "The smell of burnt flesh would have lingered on my clothes."
Mai and Ty Lee cautiously approached the scene, "If you didn't hurt him then why did he scream?" Ty Lee asked.
Mai looked at Azula, "You scared him badly enough that he fainted."
"Enough talking. Ty Lee paralyze him so we can get going," Azula ordered. She walked out of the room before anyone could say anything more.
She sat at the fountain aimlessly tossing bread at the turtleducks. The day was turning into twilight and already she could feel a chilling breeze. Soon summer would end and fall would be ushered in with the changing leaves. She had no time for poetic thoughts; the Earth King's trial was tomorrow.
"You aren't coming to dinner?" Aang gently asked as he sat next to her.
She shook her head. They had avoided talking about what happened in Ba Sing Se. He took her hand and played with her engagement ring. "Just tell me what it is you came to say Avatar."
He stopped playing with her ring and looked into her eyes, "In my lifetime, I've lost a lot. I lost my people, my nation and very close friends. But I've also gained a lot. I made new friends, new family and my nation is being rebuilt. Out of everything I gained, I treasure you the most. When I discovered your plan, I was scared that I was going to lose you."
Azula huffed, "You must think very little of my abilities if you thought Kuei was a threat to my wellbeing."
Aang looked at her seriously, "I never doubted your ability to protect yourself against the Kuei and his men. It was the ability to control yourself that I was worried about. I wasn't sure if you were going to let the fog come back or not."
She sat up straighter, "I will never let the fog take over me again. What I did was for honor. I did go into Ba Singe Se with the intention of killing Kuei."
"Why didn't you?" His voice held no judgment, just curiosity.
Azula hated showing her emotions, even to her fiancé, "When I drew my wall of fire, all three of you knew it could kill you. But you, Mai, and Ty Lee didn't leave. I realized that all three of you truly loved me. Most importantly, I realized I loved all three of you back. My love for you, my friends, and even Zuko and Iroh is stronger than my need for a twisted sense of honor."
Aang kissed her deeply. He smiled, "I'm going to tell Zuko that you love him."
Azula smirked, "Careful Avatar, I haven't gone completely soft."
Aang just laughed, "No you haven't. Come on, let's go eat."
Azula stood up, "I have to go do something."
She sighed before pushing open the heavy door. She could hear Ty Lee chattering away, "I can't wait for Kanbe to start walking. I'm going to teach him all kinds of tricks." Ty Lee noticed Azula before Mai did, "Azula! We missed you at dinner."
Mai said nothing as the Princess walked towards them. Azula held her gaze, "I wasn't hungry."
At the sound of his aunt's voice, Kanbe opened his eyes and began to gurgle. Mai wordlessly handed him to Azula. "Oh Azula, he loves you!" Ty Lee happily said.
Azula took the baby and began to gently rock him, "I didn't come to play with Kanbe."
"Then why did you come?" Mai asked.
Azula sighed, "To apologize for my behavior in Ba Sing Se. I let my rage almost consume me. I appreciate that you two stayed, even though you were in danger."
Mai rolled her eyes, "You think very highly of yourself if you thought us in danger."
Ty Lee giggled, "Oh Azula, you know we love you." She threw her arms around Azula. To Ty Lee's surprise, Azula didn't push away.