As the very shadows seemed to reach out from the empty corners towards Azula, touching her arms, her bare legs, they grabbed whatever skin was showing, hissing slightly before recoiling back into the darkness. Azula spent most of her days rocking back and forth in the middle of the room while meaningless words spilled out of her mouth and echoed around her. Sometimes she would scream into her arms, yelling until her voice went hoarse as her fingers would clutch her sweat-beaded face. Still trying to hold on to the days when she had power. When she was Daddy's little rich girl, respected by those who were once her friends, and feared by all. Her time in the darkness dulled her senses, to the point where she felt like going insane.

.-.

He came during the night.

An elegantly robe with trims of gold framing the many shades of red was tied smartly around Fire Lord Zuko, the traditional Fire Nation crown pinned up in his neatly arranged hair. Zuko carried himself with a new air of power, walking down the dark halls with his head held high. The tell-tale sadness still lingered in his eyes, traces of deep concern and bitter resentment lining his face. Zuko gripped his fists tightly as he approached Azula's cell, pausing momentarily at the door. Running a finger across the cold metal he peered into the cell and his eyes narrowed ever so slightly. Unlocking the iron door and pushing it slowly open, he stepped into the room, one hand clutching the door firmly.

"Azula?" he softly said, his head tilted down as he stared at the figure rocking back and forth on the floor, hands clamped over her ears as she rambled on. Tendrils of loose, dark hair fell over her pale face and Zuko could make out quiet whispers streaming out of her mouth as she looked terrified, staring at something unseen on the blank, dark floor.

"…the last Earth Kingdom stronghold will soon be defeated; it will soon know the might and power of the Fire Nation governed by the powerful Fire Lord, my father. None will survive. If I sense any hesitation, any weakness, I will not hesitate to wipe it out. Send the troops during the next half-moon, not the generals; I will be saving those for something special…"

Zuko exhaled sharply and closed the door. The quiet clang caused Azula to jerk her head up sharply, staring a few feet above his head and frowned.

"What are you doing here Zuko?" she demanded, uncovering her ears and straightened up.

Moving closer to her, he gently sat down in front of her, hands folded on his lap. "I came to see you 'Zula."

Azula scoffed, and a flicker appeared in her eyes. "And what did I do for the noble Fire Lord to grace me with his presence?" she snapped, but her fingers tapped jerkily on her thigh, an odd shiver running through her.

Zuko stared at her in return, and coolly said, "You're my sister. I wanted to make sure you're alright."

Azula met his eyes with a mask of deep hatred and loathing, but dropped her gaze for a second. "Well I guess there's a first time for everything," she muttered bitterly, and Zuko sighed.

"Azula… I always respected you," he hesitated, waiting for her react but she continued rocking. "You were always like the lightning you created. Deadly and precise… but still beautiful."

Azula stood up and turned almost mechanically to her bed, and lay down on the rough covers, stroking the delicate blanket Ty-Lee had brought her.

Zuko sighed once again and pushed himself up off the floor, walking to the door. Stopping with his hand a few inches from the latch, he turned and watched his sister stroke the blanket. He realized that the last thing he wanted was for his mother to come back and see her youngest daughter in prison, sent by her older brother. Flickering his eyes from his sister to the floor, he quietly said, "And just to let you know," he paused. "I'm about to go search for mom."

Azula stopped stroking and shook her head once, twice, as if to shake off Zuko's voice. "Leave," she muttered.

Bowing his head a little, Zuko pulled the heavy door open and stepped through. After closing it softly he put his mouth close to the window and spoke. "I know she'll want to visit you. I'll be back soon Azula." And with that he left leaving nothing but the sound of crying coming from the darkness.

.-.

*flashback*

Zuko shifted his weight, plumes of thick tan dust billowing around him and his eyes locked in the center of it, narrowing slightly. Bringing up his hands in a basic defensive position, one arm was held back near his chest, and the other with his index and middle finger pointing out, ready to redirect the lightning any moment. He took a deep breath from his stomach and felt a rush of peace spread through his shoulders, down through his arms and tingled in his fingertips. Azula whipped her arms around herself drawing energy from the very air while grinding her teeth furiously. Zuko had so far managed to deflect all of her strikes, even managing to send a vicious whip of blazing fire straight at her and knocked her off her feet. Azula was so shocked she could barely stand, but now she was more determined than ever. Holding her fingers out in front of her, lightning surging down her shaking arms, her eyes flickered from Zuko to Katara, standing behind him. The corners of her mouth tugged upwards and she suddenly shot a fierce bolt of pure energy at her, with a crazed yell. Time seemed to slow down. Zuko's eyes slowly widened as he ran towards the lightning before his brain could process what was happening. Jumping in front of the lightning's path, he folded his arms automatically to cover his heart and screamed as the deadly volts struck him like a red-hot whip, but a thousand more times painful. He fell heavily to the ground, his limp body jerking as a few stray sparks sapped what was left of his consciousness. Katara screamed once and tried foolishly to run over to him, but barely missed the bolt of lightning blocking her path. Azula stumbled, screaming in laughter and steadied herself shakily. 'What a fool,' she thought in a crazed triumph. She had directed the lightning at Katara, knowing Zuko would leap into its path, taking the pain instead of his friend. In that split-second moment, she knew he would choose to save the girl instead of finishing off Azula while she was momentarily distracted. She would've killed her brother if their roles were reversed. But not Zuko, because he knew how to love.

*present*

They came during the night

Suki and Katara were the next to visit. They entered the cell without any hesitation, Katara determined to give the deranged prisoner some company. They settled themselves in front of Azula, who was cross-legged on the floor, tracing her finger smoothly over the smooth stones as if writing out a scream that was too feeble to come. She kept her eyes on making curving movements up and down, looping around the grooves etched on the ground. Katara and Suki watched her for a moment, exchanging a few worried glances but remained silent. Finally Azula spoke. She seemed to be talking to herself in a low, steady tone but her finger trembled slightly as she guided it around a stone, pressing a little harder.

She told them about the time she made her first flame, where she had set her mother's favorite fire lily ablaze when she was six years old. Of course, she couldn't have known that it was wrong to destroy that beauty, but it had been worth it to see the pride in her father's eyes. Zuko stood beside her, his fists clenching his sleeves with jealousy but immediately stomped out the flame before the tongues of fire could reach any of his mother's other flowers, but Azula's joy couldn't be stomped out as easily as the flames.

Then she told them about the many victories against the Earth Kingdom cities, lingering over the tale of how she conquered Omashu and Ba-Sing Sei in her father's name. Her finger stopped tracing the ground and Azula's eyes took on a somewhat glazed look as she recalled the first time her mother left. Her gaze resting on the wall behind Katara and Suki, she cleared her throat and straightened her messy hair out of her face.

"When mother left, it was hard of course. Zuko couldn't stop crying like the weakling he was, but I never cried," she conversationally said. "I did wait by my window of my bedroom for her to come back for a couple of weeks, but father told me she left because she was the weak link in the Fire Nation's glory. It hurt, but it had to be done."

Katara moved as if she was going to touch Azula's hand and comfort her, but stopped mid-way and glanced at Suki. With a nod, the two girls stood up and brushed the dirt off of their robes. Azula resumed her regular position automatically, wrapping her arms around herself and rocking, staring at the wall, not hearing them say good-bye.