"Princess Azula. An honor to see you. Welcome to the Earth Kingdom."
Azula looked about and sniffed the air. It was drier. Less humid. Less warm.
"So this is what we've fought a hundred years to claim. Damn. Makes you wonder if it's really worth it."
"Azula," Li (or maybe Lo) said. "We wage war to bring society to this nation. To save them from themselves."
"Heh. Keep telling yourself that. We're doing it for LOVE."
"Exactly. To share our love with the world!"
"Not that love."
Azula strode down the ship to the plank. She stared at her escort. The hundreds of troops all sworn to defend and follow her.
"But I will share LOVE with this world. And with him. Especially him."
….
"No. It can't be."
Alphys narrowed her eyes for a better look at the city of Omashu.
"Sorry. What can't be? It can't be the city of Omashu?"
"No. It can't be. That's not the flag of Omashu…"
It wasn't. It was the flag of the Fire Nation.
Behind him, the nomads who had come with him all made sounds of despair.
"It appears our information was outdated," mused Alphys. "With Omashu taken, Ba Sing Se is now the last major stronghold in the Earth Kingdom. If they take it…."
Aang stared. His mind going everywhere.
"We should head for the capitol. Now. We need to inform the Earth King and form an alliance before- "
"No. Wait here. I'm going in to find Bumi."
"What? That's insane! If this is about finding a teacher- "
"No. It's about finding a friend. I mean…. Spirits. What must he look like now?"
"I…. Fine. But please be careful. You can't go like that! You'll be caught!"
"Don't worry. I'm as quiet as a mouse. They'll never see me!"
….
"You there! Where's there something fun to do?"
Crap. He turned around to the girl and his heart stopped.
"Some problem guard? Hey, hang on. You look rather young. What's your name?"
His problem was her eyes. Those yellow eyes. The same color as Azula. She didn't look the same however with her buns and her incredibly bored expression. He thought her voice sounded familiar, but he couldn't pinpoint where he'd heard it.
"Hello? Anyone home? Are these the kind of troops we've got?"
"Apologies sister. Kuzon."
The girl raised an eyebrow and Aang realized his mistake too late.
"Sister? That's a new one. I guess your young age means you're a rookie?"
"Uh… Yes…. Just came in recently from the capitol. They needed the aid."
The woman laughed.
"Aid? Here? Well that's just amazing! Here I am bored out of my mind hoping for some action and here you come telling me that there's excitement around!"
"Uh well… I wouldn't say that exactly- "
"No. You're right. You're here at this time. And you're a toddler. You must be here to help clean this cesspool up for Azula."
His face turned white.
"A…Azula?"
"What? They don't tell you? Figures. Yeah, the oh so wonderful princess of the Fire Nation herself is on her way here. I guess daddy didn't want her around anymore."
She took notice of his silence.
"Not a big fan eh? Well as it happens, I'm somewhat mixed in my opinion at the moment myself. So I won't tell if you don't. Now back to my original question. Do you know of something fun to do?"
Aang pursed his lips and contemplated.
"How about the slide?"
Mai raised her eyebrow.
"Come again?"
And that was how they found themselves in a crate sliding down the city's mail delivery system. Something he hadn't done since before he froze.
Both he and Mai raised their hands and laughed. It was the most fun thing they'd ever done. Without question.
Of course that had to come to an end as they went flying off the end and crashing into a house.
Turns out it was Mai's house.
"Mai," her mother shouted out in response. "What in the world are you doing young lady? You almost hurt Tom Tom!"
Aang then had to stand there and listen to Mai's argument with her. He wondered if he should have interfered and said it was actually his idea. But a look from Mai herself discouraged him of that notion.
So both he and Mai's father hung out of the argument and stayed quiet. Her father held a little boy in his hands. The boy reached out to Aang who waved in response.
Finally, mercifully, the lecture ended, and they left the room. He wanted to leave and continued his search for Bumi, but the girl wasn't done.
"Listen, I can only sneak out at night. I want you to meet me where I found you after curfew."
"Am I in trouble?"
She grinned.
"Are you kidding? You're the only fun thing in town. Now way I'm giving that up! Seriously! Why couldn't you have come sooner?"
….
"Princess Azula? What are you reading?"
The princess looked up from the scrolls to Lo and Li. She considered chasing them away, but decided she was in a rare talkative mood.
"Scrolls. From the temple."
The elderly twins looked at each other surprised.
"You found some? After all this time?"
"Apparently, our ancestors didn't do a thorough job. I found a buried… container was it? Something under a skeleton. I believe he died protecting it. There were many skeletons around him. 1 nomad man. Many of our own."
"An air nomad killed? And here I thought they were pacifists."
"Proof of their philosophy's weakness. In desperation, they forsook all they preached. Maybe if they'd spent less time making pies with their youth and teaching them how to kill, they'd still live."
"Yes. I suppose that's true. So why did you bring that with you?"
Azula shrugged.
"Can't say for sure. But you take knowledge wherever you can find it."
She looked over the pages again.
"It seems this wasn't all just about the Air Nation as a whole. There's personal information about every member of the temple. Well, previous members."
One of the twins raised her eyebrows.
"Including the Avatar?"
Azula smiled and flipped a few more pages until she found the name she'd heard addressed to the airbender.
"Quite a bit on that one. Apparently they knew who he was when they brought him in. Huh. Looks like they wouldn't have raised him if he weren't the Avatar. They didn't want him. Lots of trouble with the other nomads. Violence." She grinned
"Princess?"
"Leave me be please."
"Understood princess. I only ask that you retire to the tent before night falls. No telling how many Earth soldiers could be out here."
"I'll be fine. Don't worry."
She looked back down at the book. Well, the portion on the Avatar anyway.
"Now why didn't they want you around my pretty? What secrets are you- "
She stopped. She found the reason. The real reason. She couldn't believe it.
"No way. Could you really be capable of that?"
She'd been eager to reunite with the bald boy. But now she felt a twinge of fear as well. If he could do that as a child…
….
"Well well. A guard who keeps his word. That already makes you my favorite. And I don't think I've ever said that."
"Uh… Thank you."
"You're welcome. Now I want to do something else fun. We can't risk that slide at this time of night. But there's got to be something else right?"
Aang thought it over. He did know a place. He'd have to pretend he'd found it by accident while exploring.
It was an underground court with balls and goals on either side. And for balls, they used rocks.
"Damn. You're pretty fast for a newbie."
He couldn't help grinning. She just couldn't match his speed. And he'd done this in the past. Not for a century, but he still remembered it.
"I move a lot. Important to not get too complacent."
"Hmm. You'd get along with Ty lee. She has to move all the time. Heck, you could probably give her a run for her money."
Aang stared.
"Ty lee? The princess' friend?"
"Yeah, Mine too, to be fair. Even if she drives me insane. I swear, we were chasing the Avatar and she wanted his dog!"
Aang's eyes widened. He knew it then. He'd seen Mai before. And he knew where.
His shock didn't escape her notice.
"Yeah that's right. The Avatar. Him and someone else. We had them cornered. We'd just finished years of training at the best school in the Fire Nation. And we still couldn't take him. Pathetic right," she laughed.
Aang's shock grew.
"Why are you laughing?"
"Why? Well, because it was so hysterical! Three "skilled warriors" taken down by a little kid!" She shook her head.
"Aw heck. It doesn't bother me too much. He was the Avatar. Surely, that's a little above our ability. Besides, Azula's breakdown was too good. Poor girl. She was so sure she was going to bag the kid for her daddy. Make him happy."
"So you're… friends with the princess."
It was Mai's turn to pause.
"I've wondered actually."
"Sorry. What do you mean wonder?"
"I mean I've wondered recently if we really are friends. She's always been, well…" she made a cuckoo motion with her hands.
"The princess? Really?"
"Oh totally. Don't tell her that of course. But yeah. She really is off her rocker. Always has been. But she was the princess. And hanging out with them is never boring. I'll tell you that."
"You've known her a long time then?"
"I don't think I'll ever know her. But we have been acquainted for some time. Friends with the daughter and son of the Fire Lord. How could my parents say no?"
"So you knew the prince too? Prince Zuko?"
She actually blushed. Then chuckled.
"Why am I telling you any of this? You're just a guard." She stood up.
"Anyway… Thanks. It was… Fun. Better get some rest. Or do your duty or whatever. Don't want to see the high and mighty heir to the throne see you slacking off, right?"
Aang blanched.
"She's… Coming tomorrow?"
"Nah. I think probably the day after tomorrow. My father will want me to look all prim and proper for her. Wants everything to look nice and tidy."
As she began walking off, Aang decided to take a risk.
"Forgive me, but I wasn't here when you took the city."
"Neither was I. So what?"
"Well…. How did they take it? I mean, it's been a century. How did this city fall?"
She smiled.
"It sounds crazy. But apparently, the old loon in charge of the place opened the gates and let the army in."
Aang's mouth opened.
"King Bumi…. Just surrendered?"
"I know, right?"
Aang had always thought of Bumi as a mad genius. But now he couldn't help wondering if over the years, he'd been rendered…. Just mad.
"So… What happened to him? None of the other guards seem to know. Is he dead?"
"No. He's just holed up in a special cell below the regular prison. Somewhere he can't earthbend."
Aang had to hold back a sigh of relief.
"All right. Enough of this. I'm going back to bed. Azula will be here in a few days, and then no one's getting any sleep. You. You know how to have fun and that makes you better than any other guard in the Fire Nation in my book. Don't go anywhere, you hear?"
He didn't. In fact, if things turned out the way he hoped, come tomorrow he would be far away from here.
….
Azula looked at the trees surrounding camp. They seemed so different. So alien. Not at all like home.
"Princess? Are you all right."
"I'm fine Lo. No need to bother me."
"Li, princess. Li."
Azula sighed and nodded.
"I'm fine either way. No need to concern yourself."
"Are you- "
"Yes, I'm fine! Please, leave! I mean, leave!"
The old woman nodded and finally, mercifully left.
Truth be told, Azula wasn't fine. Not entirely anyway. She'd parted with Mai on complicated terms and she had no way to know if she still felt anger over that.
She put it out of her mind and stood to practice more forms.
She pretended she was facing the Avatar…
….
"So, this is him. The Avatar."
Aang had returned to the camp outside of town, expecting to find only his airbending companions. Instead he found a host of earthbenders.
"Uh, yes…. That's him. The one and only. Unless you'd rather I didn't tell them that," she asked the Avatar nervous.
"Easy there. We mean you no harm. We are the city guard. We just need your help to save the city."
"You're the city guard? Is it true then that King Bumi surrendered?"
"Yes. He took a long look at the invading army and simply said "let them in!" While laughing!" He shook his head.
"Bumi was a lot of things in my time. But not an idiot. He must have had his reasons."
"Your time? What do you- Oh. That's right. You were from before the war, yes? When we heard you were still a boy, we wondered how that was possible."
"Frozen in ice."
"Wait. Seriously? I mean. No time to ponder that. The king may have surrendered, but I don't intend to give up. There are hundreds of innocent citizens in that city, and we need to get them out."
"And Bumi too. I think I know where he is. But I don't know any way to sneak him out without being caught."
"Well I reckon het got in and out the way you did," Alphys said. "Sewers, right? Can't you use that?"
"Perhaps. We could take the slow approach. Sneak a few out at a time."
"We don't have time for that. Princess Azula is on her way. She'll be here any day."
Everyone's faces went white.
"If that's the case," the captain guard said. "We have to fight. Take the battle to them. With your help- "
"No," Alphys said. "I mean…. I don't think so.. I don't… I don't know…. We shouldn't…"
"What are you saying?"
Alphys looked taken aback.
"I mean…. Most of these aren't really warriors…. You know?"
"And yet you came with the avatar. You didn't expect to fight, or what?"
Before this argument could go further, Aang felt someone behind him.
"Oh look…. Some kind of….. squid….. octopus… Huh weird…."
Aang followed Napstablook's eyes.
"Oh that? That's just a pentapus. They're harmless. Watch."
He scratched the little pink creature and it released its tentacles and he quickly pulled it off.
"See? No problem."
"But you've got…. I mean….. You know…. Spots….. Looks bad….."
"Maybe I've got Pentapox!"
He quickly apologized at everyone's horrified reactions.
"Relax. It's just a rumor. There's no proof that it exists."
"Sure looks like it though," the guard captain said. "Could fool anyone who didn't know better."
As if a light went off in Alphys' head, she suddenly proposed a plan.
"Exactly. In other words, the entire city. At least I think….. I don't know…. Maybe this is a bad plan?"
"Can't be any worse than our king surrendering. Spill it. Let's hear your plan."
….
"You there! What are you doing? And… what's wrong with your faces!?"
The guards took a step backwards as scores of citizens walked forward with poxes all over their face.
"What in the world? What's wrong with them? Stay back! Stay back!"
They didn't listen. They instead pressed forward.
From the balcony of their home, Mai and her family glanced out over the town and the activity within.
"They're calling it pentapox, dear," Mai's mother said while holding her son close. "I've heard of it. Terrible. Fatal even!"
"We have to get them out. All of them! Open the gates! Let them through!"
"Is that wise dad," Mai asked. "You wanna let everyone go just before the princess gets here?"
"She'll understand! We're doing what's right for the city!"
"Ha. Azula understand? Don't count on it."
She continued eating her fire flakes and staring out over the crowds moving towards the now open gates.
She hoped Kuzon wasn't amongst them. She didn't want to lose her only source of fun.
….
"That's it! Everyone this way. We're almost to safety!"
The people continued shuffling with the dots on their faces while following Alphys. She looked back towards the city in the distance.
"I think we're far enough."
"You're right," the captain guard said. "Ok everyone. You can stop with the charade. Dr. Alphys. How many can you fit on your bison?"
"Not everyone. I assume we can move the old and the children. And at most maybe 6."
"So four bison and 6 per each makes- "
"N. Only 3. The Avatar's bison won't leave without him."
"Oh none will leave, I think! Not the way they are now!"
Everyone turned. Fire Nation soldiers appeared as if form out of the rocks. At the head was a young girl with a sadistic smirk.
"Now, what's this about the Avatar? We're old friends, you see! I'm dying for a reunion!"
….
"Bumi?"
In the darkness of the underground cell, Aang could make out an extremely old face sticking out of a metal coffin.. His skin color and strangely large eyeball gave him away. At the sound of Aang's voice, he turned.
"Well, well. I really have gone crazy. Because there's no way I'm seeing my best friend before me."
"I thought you were already crazy."
The old man paused before cackling. Aang found himself laughing along with him. And running toward him.
"Bumi! It really is you! I'm sorry. So sorry I ran! So sorry…."
"Hey, it's ok. You're here now. No hard feelings. Though I do have to ask how you managed to stay young for over a century. What's your secret?"
"Iceberg."
Bumi stared.
"Wow. That's all it takes? So much for a mad genius."
That brought Aang back to their present predicament. As much as he wanted to catch up on old times, he didn't have the time.
"I agree. Letting them take the city without a fight doesn't sound like much of a mad genius."
Bumi laughed.
"Yes. I suppose to warmongers, it would seem rather mad to surrender and save hundreds rather than give everyone here a chance to live."
"So that's what you're doing? Waiting?"
"Yep! And it seems like it paid off! Even down here, I can hear those fire morons screaming about letting everyone go!"
"Yes! We've got a chance to get out! Let me get you out now!"
He shook his head.
"I'm not leaving my city! Not with these savages! I'm staying right here until the time comes to take it back!"
"And how will you know when that times comes?"
"I'll know it when it happens! Trust me!"
"So I'm supposed to just leave you here and go on my merry way? Even for you that's mad!"
"Hey. Mad genius right? Don't worry about me! The way I see it, you've got plenty to worry about yourself."
Aang paused. The fading sound from above reminded him that time was not on his side and that he had to go.
"You know, I'd been hoping you could come with us. There's so much about the world I don't know. And I still need to know Earthbending."
"I admit. When it comes to Earthbending, you won't find someone better. But when it comes to teaching, there's plenty better out there than me."
"Great. So should I apply for a weekly training regimen at some school somewhere? I tried that in the Fire Nation. Didn't work out great."
Bumi laughed. A strange snorting sound.
"Nah. Nothing like that for the avatar. You'll need someone special. Someone who's mastered neutral Jing and has lots of determination. That next one especially chap! Can't earthbend without the determination to stand your ground!"
"And where am I going to find someone like that?"
Bumi shrugged. At least he thought he did. Hard to tell when he was inside a metal coffin.
"You've just gotta use your instincts. Like right now for instance. I bet your instincts are telling you to get a move on before someone finds you down here talking with the mad king."
Aang sighed and nodded.
"Listen Aang. I'm sure you've had to make some tough choices since you woke up. I reckon you'll have to make more. My advice for you is stay determined."
"Pfft. I keep hearing people use that term over and over again. What does it even mean?"
"It means stay true to your decisions. Don't let doubt plague your thoughts. Keep believing that everything you do is for a greater cause."
Aang stared again.
"Yes. Yes, I know. I'm mad remember?"
"I guess you are if you've managed to live this long. I only hope I can do the same."
He began to leave when Bumi said one more thing.
"Remember this Aang because I know it's bothering you still. You're not your dad. No matter what you think. You're not your dad, and you never will be."
He swore he could hear Chara's laughter then and there.
He bowed however as a sign of courtesy.
"Stay alive. We'll have lots of catching up to do."
"Sure thing old friend. Now go. And remember! Stay determined!"
He tried to honor that as he ran up the steps back into the sun.
He wouldn't honor that for long.
….
"Well, what have we here?"
His heart stopped. Outside the prison he came face to with a host of Fire Nation soldiers… And the devil herself. She remained silent as the guard kept talking.
"When the princess here said the Avatar himself was in town, I couldn't believe our luck! Truly we are fortunate to- "
"You're not lucky idiot," another guard said. "We travel here only to find you've had him under your nose for days."
Aang and Azula kept staring at each other. Her face was impassive.
"Yes, well… He is dressed like one of us so…"
"A child that young? A guard? What kind of idiot would believe that?"
Aang smiled a little. He actually saw Azula blush. He bent his knees and her eyes widened. She knew what he was about to do.
"Well, never mind because we've got him and- Wait, stop!"
He leaped into the air over their fire. Azula however didn't fall for it and aimed above him.
He quickly used air to blow it away but had to stop himself in midair. Thinking quickly, he bent his feet to push off the wall and launch over their heads.
Azula grinned and launched herself up.
"Surround the city," she shouted. "Cover all exits! No one leaves!"
He launched himself to the topmost section of the city. At the base of a massive statue of…. Fire Lord Ozai?
He grimaced in disgust then turned to face his opponent.
Neither said anything. His face showed fear. Hers showed vicious glee.
Without a word, she took a fighting stance. He did the same.
They continued staring. No words. Their eyes conveyed everything.
Surprisingly, he made the first move
….
"Hey, you! Where's the princess?"
"We think she's at the base of the statue, fighting the Avatar!"
She showed genuine shock.
"The Avatar? Here?"
"Yes, lady Mai! They're fighting at the base of her father's statue!"
"Protect my family. I'm going up!"
"What's this?"
Mai turned to see her mother with Tom Tom in her hands.
"Mother, this is not the time. Azula needs me."
"Against the Avatar? Absolutely not! Get back in here!"
"Oh, and you're going to tell the princess you stopped her friend from providing aid?"
"No, I just… It's dangerous out there! Stay here and- "
"Look out!"
They turned and stared with wide eyes as a flying white…. Thing landed and hit them with its tail.
The captain of the guard jumped off the creature and pinned her to the ground before she could attack.
"Sorry little girl! We're thinking of making a trade, and you're the perfect candidate!"
Mai turned to her mother with wide eyes but couldn't find anything to say.
Sadly, she wouldn't get the chance for a long time.
….
Aang found himself on the ground. His opponent had her foot on his neck. He'd fought hard. But not hard enough.
They still didn't talk. They had nothing else to say. Nothing to share.
Well she did. She wondered if she should share her gained knowledge of his past. But no. Can't risk another failure. Had to end it now.
Her hand lit up with fire. His eyes lit up with fear.
"Stop! Stop or she gets it!"
They both turned to find Mai in the grip of the captain guard with Alphys nearby on Appa.
"Let him go! Now!"
"Azula," Mai shouted. What the hell is- Wait. What are you doing to Kuzon?"
The princess smirked at that and looked back down to her prey. Nobody moved.
"Are you listening? Let him go!"
Azula's mind swam with thoughts. Mai and her words. Her mockery. Her disregard for her mission. Her purpose.
Was she worth it? Was Zuzu's little girlfriend worth letting the bane of the Fire Nation go?
No.
"I mean it! I'll end her!"
"Azula, what's going on?"
She raised her hand. Lit it with fire.
Mai's mouth dropped open.
"Azula?"
The captain of the guard without thinking threw the bound girl off the side and launched rocks at the princess, forcing her to pull back.
Without thinking, he leaped after her and caught her in the air.
"What the hell?"
"Just hang on!"
"Avatar, what are you doing," Alphys shouted. "The air bison is right here!"
"Avatar?"
Aang didn't respond and bent the air to lessen their fall into a bin.
"Quick get out before- "
Too late. The force with which they hit the bin caused it to begin sliding down the slide. Again.
Azula's anger flashed on her face. He wasn't getting away again!
She ran from the earthbender and knocked her own bin down the slide in pursuit.
Aang found himself in an impossible position: Only one hand free to keep Mai from flying off while the other fended off Azula's attacks.
"Kuzon, stop! What the hell is going on?"
"Uh…. Well that's a funny story! Maybe I could share it when we're free?"
"You won't be free, if you don't stop right now!"
He couldn't stop. Couldn't stop the bin. Couldn't stop Azula. Couldn't change the knowledge that only one of their deaths would end this chase.
"Avatar, jump over to the bison!"
"No! Take Mai!"
Everyone looked at him.
"What," the captain said. "Are you crazy?"
"Just take her!"
"No! Leave her!"
He didn't leave her. Even as the bin went off the road. He still held onto her and used the air to slow their descent.
"Crap," Mai shouted. "We're going to crash! Do something!"
Aang bent his knees and launched into the air towards Appa with Mai.
Azula moved her fingers.
Shit, Aang thought. Not again!
The captain apparently thought the same. Without a word he leaped out into the air between Aang and the bolt.
"No!" Aang screamed and reached out. But it was too late. The man's lifeless body fell down out of reach.
Aang fell onto the back of the bison with Mai. Both looked at the falling body stunned.
Alphys starred herself until she saw the princess getting closer.
"Uh…. Time to go boy… Uh….. please? Please go?"
"Yip yip," Aang muttered.
With that, the bison took off with a mighty whip of his tail.
The wind hit Azula's bin knocking it over and sending her flying through the air.
Out of pure instinct, Aang used the wind to knock her to the top of a nearby building, saving her life.
The women on board the bison with him stared shocked.
"What….. what have you done," asked Alphys.
Aang turned away.
"Just get us out of here."
On top of the building, Azula stared. Stared at the boy she'd sworn to kill. And who'd just saved her life.
She'd never understand him. Not if she lived a thousand years.
….
"Is that everyone," Aang asked.
"No," one of the soldiers said. "Not everyone."
They followed his fingers to a pile of corpses. Earth and Fire Nation.
"We can't stay here for them," Alphys said. "We should leave. Make our way to Ba Sing Se as we discussed."
"How many can we carry on the bison?"
"On the one we have left? Not much."
"One?"
He looked out amongst the dead. He saw the unlucky air bison. Along with most of the nomads who'd come with him.
"They….. they came to…. To help me…. To see the world….."
"Avatar!" Alphys grabbed his shoulders and shook him. "We mustn't lose hope! We must leave now!"
She turned to the survivors.
"That bison can't carry everyone."
"No. It'll take the injured. If we move fast enough we can get to the cave of two lovers. Some of us have been through there. We can lose them in there."
The soldier then turned to the Avatar.
"The king put a lot of trust in you. And the captain gave his life for you. Don't mess this up."
"Hey…. so uh…. What about her….." Napstablook asked about Mai.
"Kill her."
"No."
Everyone turned to Aang. Mai included. No one could believe their ears.
"Excuse me? Why would we keep her alive? After what her father has done?"
"She lives. That's an order."
"An order? Who are you to give an order?"
"The Avatar, remember?"
The guard blanched.
"Damn…" Napstablook said. "I wish I were that badass….."
Mai wished she could rub her eyes and wake up.
….
"Please princess. Please bring her back. I beg you."
"Don't worry Lord Ukano. I'll retrieve her. Whatever it takes."
"Please princess. Please hurry. She's been a good friend to you hasn't she?"
"Lady Michi. I said I would retrieve her, did I not? Am I so incompetent that I need be reminded twice?"
The woman pulled back horrified. Azula pinched her forehead in frustration.
"I apologize my lady. It's just… It's been a hard day for us all."
"Of course princess. I apologize for talking back I only- "
"Michi. Please. I'm sure she knows what she's doing."
"I only pray you do too Lord Ukano. You let all the citizens go. If it weren't for me they all would have escaped. Now only some escaped. Pray my father's trust in you isn't misplaced."
"I…. I….."
Azula looked at their baby Tom Tom. It bothered her to think that she was that weak once.
Never again.
"I assure you both. I will find the avatar."
"And Mai too. Right?"
She smiled.
"Yes. Of course. And Mai too."
But could she save her?