Crystal Catacombs of Old Ba Sing Se, Late at Night

As Iroh was being led to his prison by the Dai Li, his hand encased in rock gloves, all he could think about was how he had lost not one, but two sons in Ba Sing Se, though this time he was more confused than angry.

For when Lu Ten died, Iroh raged at heavens before turning his anger inwards after realizing that the only reason why his child was dead was due to his callous warmongering, something that he had passed on to Lu Ten.

But after Zuko turned his back on him, the Avatar, and balance, Iroh only felt disappointment and confusion.

For he knew Zuko wanted nothing more than the respect and love of his father and sister, and he knew that if he had been offered a chance to resurrect Lu Ten in exchange for forsaking the world during his travels, he more likely than not would have taken it.

But after everything they had been through, everything they had seen, and after he had shown him the love and care neither his father nor sister could ever show him, Iroh honestly thought Zuko would choose the right path.

Especially after it seemed as though he had turned a corner after a spiritual coma caused by him releasing the Avatar's bison, and by extension, giving up on trying to be the heir and monster Ozai desired him to be.

However, before Iroh could further reflect on his failures as a father, he was encased in crystals once again in the very same spot he had been encased in not even ten minutes ago.

The Dai Li then left the cave, closing it as they left, leaving Iroh to ponder on why they took him back here instead of preparing to take him back to the Fire Nation.

For if there was one thing Iroh knew about his brother, it was that he lived to one up him.

So, now that he had a chance to lock up his hated older brother without losing any political capital, Iroh was certain that Ozai would take it, even if it meant he would have to retract his kill on sight orders.

Moreover, even if Ozai had given her, along with the rest of the Fire Nation, kill on sight orders, Iroh was certain that Azula would ignore them in favor of locking him up so she could visit him and gloat about how his "undoing" was all his fault.

For Azula always got off by seeing others in pain and/or getting humiliated, and so she wouldn't kill him, not when she could relish him being imprisoned by her for the rest of his days, and not when she had leeway in regard to the kill on sight order considering she felt comfortable enough to offer Zuko "redemption."

That is unless-

However, before Iroh could ponder any further, he was startled by the cave quickly opening and closing before staring at the one person who he was deeply disappointed in yet loved more than anyone in the world: Zuko.

For there were a million things he wanted to say to his son, and there were a million different emotions he was feeling, but Iroh managed to maintain his stoicism as Zuko walked up to him.

That is until Zuko told him, "Uncle, it's me." causing Iroh to turn away from him with a scowl on his face.

For Zuko was an open book, and so Iroh instantly knew that Zuko came to him not admit that he had chosen wrong, or to help him escape so they could try to make things right, but instead berate him for his choice to convince himself that he had done the honorable thing just now.

And Iroh's hunch was proven right, for after realizing he was not going to give him comfort or aid, Zuko told him, "You brought this on yourself, you know. We could have returned together. You could have been a hero!" hoping to get a reaction out of him.

But, while he did turn and face his nephew, all Iroh did was give him a blank stare, causing Zuko to respond, "You have no right to judge me, Uncle. I did what I had to do just now, and you're a fool for not joining me."

After Iroh continued to ignore him, Zuko asked Iroh, "You're not going to say anything?" before then stomping the ground with fire.

"You're a crazy old man! You're crazy! And if you weren't in jail, you'd be sleeping in a gutter!" Zuko shouted before putting his head in his hands and saying, "Why did I listen to Azula? I should have known that trying to make you see reason wouldn't work." piquing Iroh's interest.

For when did Azula ever display the emotional maturity, let alone care for Zuko, that would suggest she would tell her older brother that trying to make him see "reason" would make him feel better about his (wrong) choice?

Unless…

"Zuko!" Iroh shouted.

"Yes, Uncle." Zuko responded as he removed his head from his hands.

"What did Azula tell you?" Iroh asked.

"After the Dai Li started taking you away, she noticed that I was upset by your choice. So, she told me that I could talk to you here to make you see reason."

"Obviously, I thought she was testing me, and so I told I didn't want to. But she then told me it was obvious I was upset by you choosing the Avatar and the rebels over our family."

"So, since I had played an instrumental role in conquering Ba Sing Se, and by extension, ending the war, she would give me a chance to redeem you."

"For while we would have to play it off as you having a moment of madness in the place that took your beloved son, and we have to force you into "retirement" on Ember Island, if I could get you admit that you were wrong in helping the Avatar, as well as pledge loyalty to Father, then you wouldn't have to spend the rest of your life in prison."

"And while I was, and still am, deeply upset by your betrayal, I don't want you to spend the rest of your life in a dank cell by yourself." Zuko finished.

After taking a second to process Zuko's story, Iroh asked him, "Zuko, is there anyone else in this cave?"

"No." Zuko responded.

"And why is that?" a fearful Iroh asked.

"Because after I took Azula up on her offer, followed you and the Dai Li here, and explained to them that Azula had given me permission to talk to you alone, they let me in and closed the cave so we could have a private one-on-one for ten minutes."

"Though why do you ask, Uncle?" Zuko asked.

However, instead of responding to his nephew's question, Iroh instead gasped as everything became clear to him: why Azula had kept him alive, why he was currently imprisoned here, and why she allowed Zuko to talk to him alone after he had almost foiled her attempt to manipulate him.

So, Iroh told Zuko, "Zuko, we are in grave danger and need to escape now!"

After chuckling, Zuko responded, "Uncle, you do realize the Fire Nation has control of Ba Sing Se, right?"

"So, what makes you think we are in imminent danger?" Zuko asked, which was the last sentence he ever spoke in his life as the cave then caved in, instantly killing him and Iroh as they were crushed under tons of rock and crystals.

Crystal Catacombs of Old Ba Sing Se, Thirty Minutes Later

As Mai and Ty Lee rushed to the site of the cave-in after the Dai Li altered them that they had secured Ba Sing Se, though with significant casualties, they hoped that Azula was playing one of her nasty jokes.

However, their hopes were quickly dashed as they saw Azula kneeling next to two badly mangled, lifeless bodies, causing them to rush to her side, where they immediately recognized the bodies as belonging to General Iroh and Zuko, causing them to clasp their mouths in horror as they started sobbing.

After sobbing for several minutes, a red-eyed Ty Lee asked Azula, "Azula, what happened?"

After getting up and turning to face her friends, Azula, whose makeup was ruined, eyes were red, and hands and clothes were stained with blood and dirt, told her friend, "The Avatar and his snow peasant happened."

"What do you mean?" Ty Lee asked.

"It turns out that my brother and uncle were hiding in the city as refugees and were scheduled to come to the Palace to serve tea to Kuei. So, I took advantage of their fortuitous visit to arrest them, only for Iroh to escape my grasp, though not for long."

"For as long as I had Zuzu, I knew my uncle would move heaven and earth to find his surrogate son. And he did just that, convincing the Avatar that he was on his side so he would tunnel down to the Catacombs after sensing where his snow peasant and Zuko were."

"And yes, I made a rare tactical error and placed Zuko next to the Avatar's precious snow peasant, though like most things in life, it still ended up working in my favor."

"This was because just after the Avatar left with his snow peasant, I returned to check up on my prisoners, only to find Zuko and Iroh there, who told me that while I could arrest them later, we had to catch the Avatar first."

"For they had done some soul searching and realized that our family and nation was what mattered in life, and so, even if they had to die or go to jail afterwards, they would do right by our family and nation by helping me take down the biggest threat to the Fire Nation's March for Propensity: The Avatar and his gang of misfits."

"Normally, I wouldn't accept such wild claims and would independently verify them, but I accepted them since if they weren't lying, there wouldn't be a better chance to take down the Avatar, especially since his power was growing by the day."

"So, we chased down the Avatar and his snow peasant and engaged them in a fierce battle alongside the Dai Li, a battle in which not only did the aging Dragon of the West show he still had it, but also one in which Zuko fought like the proud Fire Nation prince he was, and in the process, showed that he was worthy of the Fire Lord mantle."

"And yes, despite my Father's orders, I knew that if we managed to live, I had no choice but to surrender my position as heir apparent to the one, true Crown Prince, or at least advocate that he be restored, but alas, that was not to be."

"For after we pushed the Avatar and his snow peasant into a corner, the Avatar activated his demonic Avatar State so he could slaughter us all."

"And while I barely managed to strike him down in the nick of time, he still managed to cause a cave-in, with the Dai Li managing to protect themselves and me, their leader, but not Iroh and Zuko."

"After I realized what happened, I tried to apprehend the snow peasant and recover the Avatar's body so at least my uncle and brother's killers could face justice, but the snow peasant used the commotion to make a waterspout and escape with the Avatar's body."

"So that's what happened." Azula said before turning away from Mai and Ty Lee.

"But why?! The Avatar might have been part of the Air Nation, but he seemed so cute and innocent, not to mention, he didn't even harm Tom Tom, so why would he kill Zuko and Iroh?" Ty Lee asked.

"Ty Lee, remember how the Air Nation used to pretend they were kindly monks in order to hide their true nature as religious zealots who would bathe the world in blood in order to spread their demonic cult at all costs?"

"So why is it so hard to believe that an Air Nation Avatar would act in such a duplicitous manner?"

"Besides, you out of all people should know that the cruelest monsters come in the cutest packages." Azula responded, causing Ty Lee to start crying with her hands on head as she realized she had been hoodwinked by the Avatar just like Air Nation's countless victims.

Meanwhile, Mai, who hadn't stopped crying the whole time, knelt and started cradling Zuko's body as she remembered all the good times they spent together as kids, doing stuff like helping Princess Ursa tend her garden or looking at sunsets from one of the Palace roofs.

Mai also remembered how, after Princess Ursa left and Ozai ascended, they became closer to the point that they were all but a couple in name until that horrible day that ended with Zuko banished presumably for the rest of his life.

Finally, Mai remembered how, after she joined Azula's party, she would pray to Agni when her friends were asleep that Zuko would find a way to redeem himself so they could finally be together, at least without her sacrificing anything.

For if it came down to it, Mai was willing to betray her nation, her family, and friends, even if it meant incurring her princess and Fire Lord's wraith, if it meant that she could be with Zuko.

But alas, that none of that mattered, not when his life had been cruelly taken away by a bigger monster than the one who she called her princess and friend.

So, after giving Zuko a chaste kiss on his forehead and laying him back down on the ground, Mai wiped her tears and asked Azula, "Azula, please tell me you have a plan to get justice for Zuko?"

"I do." Azula solemnly responded, causing Mai and Ty Lee to briefly smile before hardening their faces, determined to get justice for Zuko.

Serpent's Pass, Sometime Time Later

"Where are you headed, soldier?" a Fire Nation guard asked.

"The Water Tribe navy has been destroyed. Our orders are to head west to rendezvous with the fleet out there. So if you wouldn't mind letting us pass…" Hakoda responded, disguised as a Fire Nation soldier.

"I would say good sailing, soldier, but we have orders to check every ship." the guard responded before motioning to the other guards to check the ship.

So, a dozen or so soldiers slid down ropes before starting to inspect the ship, though not for long.

This was because, just as one of the soldiers was going to lift the tarp and expose Appa, Katara water whipped him, causing an alarm to sound off.

Katara and Toph then tried to remove the other soldiers from the ship so Katara could use her waterbending to get them as far as possible from the checkpoint so they could think of another way to leave Ba Sing Se after Sokka's high risk, high reward plan failed.

But before they could make any movements, Toph was struck down by knives while Katara was struck down by lightning, causing Hakoda, Sokka, The Duke, Pipsqueak, Appa and the rest of the crew to scream, or in Appa's case groan, in horror, though not for long.

This was because Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee, along with several dozen Dai Li agents, came down from the checkpoint and started slaughtering the Gaang and Hakoda's crew, with Azula and Mai quickly taking down Appa before focusing on the rest of the rebels.

And yes, even Ty Lee had decided to join her friends and the Dai Li in killing the rebels, for she was angry and hurt, and so she wanted to hurt the people responsible for her pain and suffering, even if normally she wouldn't even kill an insect.

Due to having the advantage of surprise and the Gaang being down all their benders, Azula's party quickly disposed of the rebels on the ship, with Mai and Azula eventually finding where the badly damaged, but still alive, Avatar was resting.

Azula wanted nothing more than to kill the Avatar, especially after he had the nerve to survive her full charged lightning.

But Azula knew Mai needed to kill the Avatar more than she did, so she gestured for her friend to eliminate her brother's killer, with Mai doing so by quickly slashing his throat with a kunai.

After the Avatar's blood stopped gushing and she made sure he was truly dead, Mai told Azula, "Thank you."

"No, I should be thanking you for helping me get justice for my brother and uncle." Azula responded, causing Mai to nod before silently leaving the room, fully at peace with her actions.

After Mai left the room, Azula smiled, but not because she got justice for her brother and uncle, but because she had secured her position and friends' undying loyalty for all of time.

Zuzu may have believed her spiel about her needing him to secure Ba Sing Se, and that if he joined her, she would help him regain everything he ever wanted in life, but she actually never needed him, alive that is.

For even if she did get into a couple of tight spots with the snow peasant, if Zuko had rejected her overtures, she would have just stalled the Avatar and his snow peasant until the Dai Li reinforcements came.

But what she did need was for him to die so that not only would she be her father's only heir, as well as get rid of a potential problem, but also secure her friends' loyalty for all of time, as well as turn them into the cold-blooded killers she knew they could be.

For Ozai might have thought she was unaware that he kept Zuko alive, even though it would have been easier to off him, to keep her on her toes, but she was well aware.

Moreover, she thought it was stupid to burn him and essentially send him on a wild goose chase not because he didn't deserve it, but because, on the off chance that Zuko ever discovered his strength and/or was turned by Uncle Fatso, something that almost happened right in front of her, it risked ruining everything they and their ancestors had worked for.

Meanwhile, her friends, while fearful of her, were not loyal enough, or living up their potential.

For just like Zuzu, even though they were highly skilled warriors, they went through great pains to become skilled enough to the point that they wouldn't have to fight lethally, especially Ty Lee, who hated "seeing" a person's aura dissipate as they died, and so never wanted to kill, even if it meant her death.

Moreover, they not only dared to leave her side, with Ty Lee running off to the circus while Mai chose to leave with her parents to New Ozai instead boarding in the Palace, but also had to be cajoled into joining her small, elite team.

For she had to threaten Ty Lee and her fellow circus freaks with lethal modifications to their acts for her to join her, and it turned out that Mai joined her party not because she feared her, but because she would get to see Zuko again, and potentially get with him if he managed to restore his honor.

But after seeing Zuko's mangled body, and her acting performance of a lifetime convincing them that it was the Avatar who killed him, and not the Dai Li, not only would they get over their qualms in regard to killing, but also remain loyal to her forever.

For they were no longer bonded by shared stations or by their fear of her, but instead the shared trauma of losing a friend and brother.

So elated she had achieved total victory, the born lucky princess let herself enjoy her victories for a moment before grabbing the Avatar's body and leaving the room so she could present him to her father, along with her other two, prized trophies: Zuko and Iroh.