Chapter 5: The Hands of fate
Ozai was once again left speechless by his own daughter.
That's three times now that the daughter he's groomed to become the fire nation's greatest asset to completely shatter his expectations.
And it all started because of that little twerp standing next to her.
His mind goes back to a couple of hours ago, where one of his officers gave him a detailed report on that child's background.
Apparently arrived in the capital 3 years ago along his mother, and now lives in a rundown little orphanage down in Harbor City. Was caught waterbending to attack some group of peasant trash who were apparently mugging an old man. Previous reports also indicate strange events near the area, things involving exploding water pipes and barrels. Crime also seemed to strangely vanish from that area, with many people claiming an evil water spirit was haunting it, scaring most potential criminals. Most likely the work of the water peasant kid. He should have known he was going to be caught eventually.
As for the father…
Orphaned children living in the streets of the capital's slums isn't really the rarest of sight these days. Some of them even sporting physical features not typical of the Fire Nation. But this one was different. For one he wasn't orphaned, his mother yet lived. And thanks to the palace's intelligence network, he determined his daughter's words to him to be true. She was Fire Nation.
Reports from the islands and coastal villages indicate that the discovery and execution of enemy escapees and trespassers is fairly common, so determining the origin of the child in front of him seems like an impossible task for the moment.
The Fire Prince's thoughts are interrupted as his vision is cleared from the steam cloud created by the duo of prodigious benders.
He looks at their figures as they seem to be speaking to one of his daughter's friends.
They seemed content, seemingly proud of the outcome of their fight.
His daughter, Azula, has shown an unprecedented amount of potential, but blue fire… It's practically unheard of. Generations of firebenders have spent their entire lives trying to achieve such control and power from their element. And his 9 year-old daughter just turned such myths into a reality.
He would've been ecstatic by such sight if it wasn't for the other party.
He's seen his father once battle against a group of southern waterbenders during one of their raids to the south pole.
Looking to follow the steps of his own father, Fire Lord Azulon sent the order to capture and imprison all waterbenders from the primitive water tribes down south, before launching their assault to the north.
Taking the honor of leading the first wave of raiders, his father demonstrated the superiority of fire against the feeble element of water, easily shrugging off any attack sent his way by the sheer power and heat from his fire.
From then on he believed fire to be the unrivaled element destined to conquer the world.
But once again, his reality was shattered.
The deafening torrent of water shook the very ground he stood on. It completely barraged through the garden tearing up the anything that stood in its way.
He then properly realized what he had witnessed.
The two children responsible for the destruction of the royal courtyard could become the key to end the war once and for all. He wasn't going to let them get out of his grasp. He'll make sure that their power is used in servitude to the Fire Lord, and for the conquering of every single corner of the world.
The gears of his mind start spinning, plan quickly forming in his head.
He then enters the courtyard and heads towards the children, face trained back to his usual scowl. He couldn't let anything slip. If he was successful, both the throne and the world will soon be at the palm of his hand.
He pulls to a stop in front of the two kids who are now destined to become the greatest weapons in the Fire Nation.
Kaze's blood ran cold.
As a massive shadow was casted on the four of them, he quickly senses the same panic that he felt before.
He freezes. His legs stiffen as his mind screams for him to run away, get as far as he can.
He then turns around and sees the same man who threatened his life last night, seemingly ready to burn his head off his shoulders.
He doesn't speak, his eyes narrowed and his brow furrowed, as if he is seconds away from transforming the courtyard into an inferno of death.
Thankfully, Azula breaks the tension in the air, seemingly unaware of the silent assault led by her father into his mind.
"Father! Did you see it?! My flames were blue! Like the stories from the old dragons!" Azula seed, glee apparent in her face.
But she's ignored, as Ozai clenches his jaw and grabs Kaze by the shirt, lowering himself so that his murderous face stands inches from the boy's.
"You will follow me, right now!" He says, his voice a menacing whisper.
Azula stood in shock. She would've thought her father would be singing her praises. She just managed to outdo every single firebender in history. But instead, he seemed to direct something to the boy at her side.
Azula's eyes then widen in panic, as the image of his father threatening Kaze flashes memories of the previous night.
She was supposed to help Kaze prepare for his trials, not fight him in an all-consuming clash of unyielding power.
She was sure Kaze was feeling just as drained as she was, her muscles working overtime just to stand upright.
"B-But-" Kaze stutters out, snapping Azula from her thoughts.
She sees him take a deep breath, seemingly gathering all of his resolve. His eyes then snap to her father's, both gazes unrelenting.
"But I thought my trials weren't until tonight." He says, voice straight and precise.
Her father's face contorts in barely contained fury. Azula would never dare talk back at her father, and now she feared for her father's reaction to such disrespect.
But to her shock, her father takes his own deep breath and schools his features. He then stands upright.
"No." he says sharply "As you and my daughter have clearly shown-" He nods at the mess they left the courtyard in. "Any firebender not currently fighting in the war would prove no match for you."
He then turned around and started walking back to the palace. "You will follow me to the throne room." He says, the corners of his mouth shaping into a menacing smile. "I believe its time to introduce you to my father."
Kaze's eyes widen in confusion. The thought of avoiding having to fight for his right to live brought him a brief moment of relief.
But now, he wasn't even sure if meeting the Fire Lord was any better.
He sighs in acceptance, as if resigning to his fate.
And so, Kaze makes his way behind Azula's father.
Azula froze in place.
Whatever her father intended with Kaze, she feared it wouldn't end well.
She hasn't seen her grandfather in what felt like months now, as if he's deliberately trying to avoid being seen.
Merchants and governors travel miles seeking audiences with the Fire Lord, only to be turned away.
And for Azula, any time she passes by the throne room, she always finds the same 4 guards, clad in the black and gold armor characteristic of the Fire Lord's personal guard, standing menacingly, as if daring anyone to try an enter.
She sighs, worry evident in her face as she bites into a perfectly manicured nail.
It is then that someone snaps her out of her thoughts.
"I wonder what Azula's dad wants with Kaze?" Ty Lee says, worry apparent on her voice.
"Who knows…" Mai answers, a grin appearing on her gloomy face.
"But, I have heard stories of water tribe prisoners being a Komodo rhino's favorite meal." She adds, hoping to scare her annoyingly bright friend.
It is her other friend that reacts first though.
"What?! We're did you hear something like that?!" Azula points a menacing finger to her friend's face. "That's ridiculous! Everyone knows Komodo Rhinos are herbivores!" She then stomps away, pulsating vein on her forehead.
This catches both girls off guard.
First it was the way her face brightened when she first introduced Kaze. Then how eager she was to help him, considering they'd never seen her worry for anyone but herself. And now, the mention of her new friend being eaten by animals sent her into whatever distraught mess she was in now.
Could it be…
"Wow! That was something!" She hears Ty Lee next to her.
"Wait! Do you think that maybe she…" The cheery girl's eyes widened as a massive smile highlights her face.
"…likes him?" She says, her voice barely a whisper, as her eyes sparkle in glee.
Already done dealing with her, Mai gets up to leave. "Dunno, don't care." She says with a shrug before leaving.
"Wait! Mai! Where are you going?" Ty Lee whines, as she quickly moves to catch up to her.
Ursa watches in amazement at the sight in front of her.
After her husband took Kaze with him, she made towards the standing form of her daughter. But before she could call out to her, she's startled by a sudden outburst.
Her daughter shouted something about Komodo dragons, eyes narrowed and cheeks fully red, and then she turned the other way, stomping away similar to what she saw Zuko do a bit ago.
It's been less than 24 hours and she's already seen her daughter act in ways she thought she would never see again. And so, she lets out a joyful giggle.
She walks towards the direction Azula went to, before she finds her kneeling before the turtleduck pond, muttering something to herself.
Curiously, she sees two babies swim their way towards Azula.
The sight reminds her of a time she caught Azula throwing rocks at the turtleducks. She reprimanded her for it, and she lashed out by pushing Zuko to the ground before storming off.
Maybe it was her fault Azula turned out like she did. Whatever her husband did to train her clearly took a toll on her, and instead of comforting her through it, she scolded her for her attitude.
Looking to fix the bridge between them even further, she calls out to her.
"Azula!" She notices her daughter jump at her voice.
"What are you doing here?" She asks, her voice as gentle as the water from the pond.
"I'm not hurting the turtleducks if that's what you're thinking." Azula says dejectedly, remembering the last time she ever sat this close to the small creatures.
"Oh Azula…" Ursa heart aches heavily with guilt. "Of course I wasn't thinking that." She sits next to her, as they both stare at the animals in silence.
"I saw your little display back there. It was beautiful." She says, recalling the way her daughter's fire had left her speechless. "And maybe a little too much for my heart."
"Well dad didn't seem to like it." Her daughter mutters, disappointment lacing her words.
"Your dad is a difficult man sometimes… But I'm sure he is just as proud of you as I am, Azula." She tries to comfort her daughter, rubbing her hand through her back.
Unused to the sudden contact, Ursa feels a light flinch from her daughter at her touch. She feels her heart break at this.
"Why are you here mom?" Azula asks suddenly.
"Well, I happened to see my beautiful daughter sulking away on her own." She says with a smile.
Azula stares at her skeptically. "You've never done it before."
Ursa's eyes widen, before she averts them to the ground. "I- I know… but…" She then takes Azula's hands on hers, startling the girl.
"But I'm here now." She finally says, staring into her daughter's eyes.
Azula stares wide eyed at her, before the makings of a smile creeps its way up her face. She then looked away, hiding the emotions crawling at her features.
Then she sees a baby making its way to Azula, curious to the girl's sudden change in demeanor.
"I think its trying to say hi." She says to her daughter.
Azula then stares at the tiny animal in confusion, unsure as to how to react.
She wants to reach out, but she hesitates.
"Don't worry, you're not going to hurt her if you're careful." Ursa reassures her.
Flashes of a limp turtleduck sinking down the water hound at her mind.
"Yes I will. I'm a monster." She hugs herself, turning away from her mother.
"No you're not Azula-" Ursa tries to say but is quickly interrupted.
"Yes I am! I know you and everyone else see me like one!" the shout pierces her heart.
Ursa should have known. Scolding a child before properly hearing them out is a quick way to deeply wound them. She feels tears coming from her eyes, as her mind tries to form a response.
"N- No!..." She takes a Deep breath. "No, you're not a monster Azula." She cups one of her daughter's cheeks. "The real monster… was me. And I'm sorry for making you believe such things of yourself."
"I know I have been a terrible mother to you but-" She says, tears starting to run down her cheeks. "But I want you to know that there is nothing in this world that I love more than you and your brother." She finally says, moving to embrace her daughter in a tightly.
And once again, Azula is met with the love she hasn't felt in years. A love that, until know, she believed it to be a dream. An impossible, and unachievable dream. So she remains quiet, returning the embrace, tears flowing slowly into her mother's shoulder.
It takes a symphony of quacks to finally separate them. Looking down at the water, both of them notice that the entire family of turtleducks had approached them.
"You used to love feeding them you know?" Ursa recalls those sweet moments where her children were nothing more than just, children, no royal responsibilities and no impossible expectations. "To bad we don't have any bread with us." She adds, disappointment in her voice.
"U- Um!" Azula starts. "Uh, we… could try… tomorrow?" Her voice is low and timid.
Ursa heart almost bursts in happiness.
"It's a promise then!"
And then, the moment is broken by a distant voice, hurried steps accompanying it.
"Lady Ursa!" a servant yells.
Turning around, Ursa notices that their mystery arrival seemed like a messenger.
"What is it?" She asks, annoyance seeping into her tone at being interrupted.
"A letter arrived for you."
He pulls an envelope bearing the royal seal.
"From Prince Iroh."
Kaze is currently kneeling inside of the throne room.
The place is massive. Impossibly long pillars ride all the way to the almost imperceptible roof top, while a raised ledge fronted by a massive wall of fire spanned the entire length of it.
A shadow is seen from behind the fire. Kaze assumes it to belonged to the Fire Lord.
"So, what exactly was so important that you would deem interrupting my duties as Fire Lord…"
"I'm sorry, My Lord." Ozai kneels in front of the burning throne, where the Fire Lord seemingly looked ready to perform a spontaneous execution of his first son.
"But I believe I have found the key to turning the tides of the war." He stands up and moves to push Kaze in front of him.
Kaze feels the fire from the throne close to burning his eyebrows off due to the sheer temperature.
"This child?" Azulon says skeptically, eyes scrutinizing as Kaze can't help but feel like a tiny bug about to be squashed.
"Yes, My Lord. As you know, my daughter, Azula, has shown a potential for firebending that goes beyond anything we've seen before." He then steps forward. He seems to notice his father's face showing hints of a smile. The thought of his prodigious granddaughter filling him with pride.
"Ah yes…" The Fire Lord trails off, as if trying to remember something. "I heard from my guard that one of my assassins made its way into the gardens and attacked her before being decidedly dispatched." He then glares at his son. "Your work, I presume?"
"Yes, I was attempting to teach her a lesson."
"And was this lesson worth the death of one of my prized agents?" His face contorts with visible fury.
"No, the assassin was only meant to make her fear for her life but…" Ozai then nods at Kaze. "But it was him who intervened before they could fulfill their orders."
The Fire Lord narrows his eyes at the small boy in front of him. "You're saying this child fought against a Phoenix Agent, and won?"
"Yes, I believe his own raw potential rivals that of my daughters."
"I see. So a firebender I presume." The Fire Lord leans forward, his interest piqued.
"Actually, My Lord." Ozai says as he takes in a deep breath, as if bracing himself.
"The boy is a waterbender."
"A waterbender?!" The fire rises in intensity, its peak almost as high as the pillars.
"And he still lives?! How dare you bring an enemy into my walls, and then fail to execute him for defiling our capital?!" The Fire Lord shouts in uncontained fury.
"And I was about to but-" Ozai kneels at the outburst. "But my daughter advocated for his life. According to her, this boy is a child from the Fire Nation."
The fire lowers at this.
"And that's a fact?" The Fire Lord asks, anger dissipating slightly.
"Yes, I've confirmed it through our Intelligence Network. His mother seems to be from the Fire Nation, they have been living in Harbor City, although his father's identity still remains a mystery."
The mention of his mother drives a stake to Kaze's heart. He couldn't bear to think what people like them would do to her now that his secret was out. He wanted to speak out, but his voice was lost in his throat.
"What are you saying, Prince Ozai?" The Fire Lord then says, patience wearing thin.
"His power can be used on our side, Father." Ozai stands back up, his voice betraying a hint of malicious glee.
"And how can we be sure he won't betray us for one of his savage tribes?" Azulon says, mind considering the potential of a waterbender agent.
"As I mentioned-" Ozai's face contorts into a vile smile. "He has family living here in the capital. And I'm sure he wouldn't even dream of betraying his home nation." Ozai's tone of voice makes Kaze's heart drop to his stomach.
Realization hits him like a boulder. Whatever they planned for him, he was now forced to accept it, for the sake of his family.
The fire lord smiles at this. "And tell me, what exactly are you planning to do with him?"
Ozai clears his throat before answering. "My firstborn, Zuko." He says, not bothering hiding his disappointment. "He'll be going to the Imperial Academy in Shu Jing in one week. And I believe sending the boy with him would ensure he becomes a proper asset to the Fire Nation."
"And when he returns?"
"I believe making him my daughter's retainer would be the best course of action." He says, striding towards Kaze and putting a hand of his shoulder. "Azula's firebending took an incredible leap recently. She has managed to produce a blue flame."
The Fire Lord's eyes widen at this. "Impossible…"
"Yes, it's true my Lord." He then nods at Kaze. "And it was all thanks to him. It seems having someone rival her talents have pushed my daughter beyond her limits. Should they work together, the results they could bring to the Fire Nation may just be the key to finally end the war."
Kaze feels the sweat riding down his face, as the Fire Lord seems to take a long time coming to a decision.
"Boy! Stand up!" Kaze jumps being suddenly called out. And so, he obeys.
"It seems Prince Ozai has high expectations for you." The Fire Lord says as a bone chilling smile appears through the curtain of fire.
"And for your and your family's sake, you better make sure not to disappoint them."
Kaze blood runs cold. Once again, he has managed to put his family in danger for his stupidity.
He mentally kicks himself, trying to come up with something to say. But left with no other option, he bows and answers, his voice strained.
"Yes, my Lord."
And with this, Azulon gives a grunt of approval.
"Very well. You may leave no-" He starts, but is interrupted by a voice by the entrance.
"My Lord!" It was a soldier, who seemed to be holding a letter. "Word has come from the front in Ba Sing Se!" He rushes towards the throne and kneels. "It's from the Crown Prince!"
"Iroh! Could it be he finally succeeded…" Azulon says, anticipation in his face. "You!" He directs to the guard. "Take this boy back to the guest bedrooms. Now!"
"Yes! My Lord." He says, as he jerks Kaze back to his feet and pushes him out of the throne room.
But right as he was exiting through the curtains, he managed to see the way the Fire Lords face took a sorrowful look.
Whatever that message contained, it was enough to bring down the imposing figure of the Fire Lord.
Ursa was walking through the palace, a solemn aura coming from her.
The rift that had formed between her and her daughter seemed to be on its way to healing fully, and she couldn't feel happier. But her happiness was short lived, as she absorbed the contents of Iroh's letter. His son, Lu Ten, was killed in the effort against Ba Sing Se.
Azula had left for her firebending training, so Ursa thought to take a quick trip towards the palace's royal bath to clear her mind.
She thinks about her promise to spend time with her daughter, the prospect of losing one of her children to the war driving a blade through her heart. But her thoughts are interrupted by a shout of fury coming from down the hall.
"How dare you ask that of me, when your own brother is suffering the loss of his only son!" She hears from where the throne room was. She approaches it cautiously, knowing what it meant for the Fire Lord to be this angry.
"As punishment for your disrespect, you shall be forced to go through the same fate as your brother! You will kill your own firstborn and learn what it means to go against me!" The voice is now shaking Ursa to her bones, as a chill settles in her spine.
She freezes. It couldn't be. If the Fire Lord was speaking to who she thought he was speaking, that could only mean one thing.
'Zuko!'
But as her mind spirals into a panic, a figure exits the throne room, anger radiating from him.
Ozai is startled by the presence of his wife, but he quickly recovers and brushes past her.
"Wait! Stop!" Ursa calls out.
"What?" He responds in a deep growl.
"You can't! He's your son!" She pleads.
"Shut up! You don't know anything!" He walks up to her menacingly, fists tightened, and eyes narrowed.
"There is nothing I can do. That was a direct order from the Fire Lord!" He says through gritted teeth, as he turns around to leave.
Ursa's heart fills with dread. She just managed to regain her own daughter and now her only son was about to be executed by the hands of her husband. She feels her world shatter. She couldn't let this happen.
She wouldn't let this happen!
"Stop! I won't let you!" She grabs her husband's arm, nails sinking to his skin.
"And what will you do!" The tone of his voice signaled his barely contained fury.
"You want the throne, right?" Ozai's eyes widened at this.
"I can give it to you." Her voice is determined as her eyes burn a hole through him.
"I know a way for you to inherit the throne, as soon as tonight."