Long Feng held the crystal-cut cup under his nose, savoring the aroma of ginseng tea. The dark-haired teenager opposite him did the same, then swallowed the hot liquid quickly, her olive-green eyes never leaving his face. "If you have something to say, spit it out. Otherwise, you can leave; I'm not having any of my time wasted so that you can gloat."
"A thousand apologies, Your Highness." Long Feng took a sip, then set down his cup. He'd mostly made small-talk with her before, played the benevolent host. But after that escape attempt with the Ashmaker princess, he needed to make sure she wasn't tempted into anything foolish. "I realize the standards here are... far inferior to what you and your divine father are accustomed to. Joo Dee does the best she can, bless her heart, but I'm afraid she's just one individual. As I've said before, you may rest assured: we will return you to Ba Sing Se and your family, as soon as it becomes an option. Unfortunately, for now that is impossible-"
"How dare you tell me it's impossible, when you had me abducted in the first place!" Princess Hou-Ting hurled her cup at the wall, the green crystal shattering on impact. "You most certainly have the means to bring me back! Even that brat of Fire Lord Zuko's had the sense to try and return me to my rightful place. Speaking of which, what was she doing here, if she's not in cahoots with you?!"
The Grand Secretariat's lip curled under his graying mustache. She was less manageable than her father had been, at that age. Then again, in the long run, that might be exactly what he needed. "Princess Izumi is outside our jurisdiction... for the moment. As far as your return being impossible, please excuse my poor choice of words. I meant to say... it will be more to your father's, and your benefit, if we delay your return for a short while. "
Hou-Ting stared at him for a moment, fidgeting with an ornate jade-and-onyx ring on her right hand. "...Explain."
"Gladly." Long Feng flexed his wrist in a circular motion, and a waist-high pillar of stone rose from the floor, its' surface cracking and sculpting into a rough map of the Earth Kingdom. "This is a hard truth for me to reveal, Your Highness. But your family's Kingdom has fallen on harder times in the last two decades, than it ever did during the war. The Si-Wong desert is still run by Sandbending bandit tribes, who not only raid neighboring provinces, but also control the illegal cactus-sap trade. All of the Fire Nation's colonies, built on our soil by conquerors, should have been handed over to your father after the war. Instead, they were used to form the United Republic, which largely follows the orders of the Fire Lord and the Avatar. The Republic's high-tariff policies have been ruining Earth Kingdom commerce for years, and its' Triads steal what little trade we do have. As for the rest of our vassal-states, most are looking to the Fire Nation, Republic City or Omashu for better commerce or security, not Ba Sing Se; their overlords are too accustomed to the independence they held when we were divided by the Fire Nation's conquest. Citizens who voice dissent against them face severe punishment. Those who are lucky enough to suffer mere banishment, look to Ba Sing Se for protection and peace... which they no longer receive, thanks to those fools on the Council of Five who are misleading your Royal father." His tone became contemptuous. "They're veteran commanders, yet they know nothing about how to keep order. Or, how to gain the tribute owed to Ba Sing Se by its' rightful vassals."
Hou-Ting frowned, peering at the map. "And... how do you intend to achieve this?"
"I believe your father can be persuaded to take up the authority that is rightfully his, with my support. I have known Kuei since he was a child, even helped educate him and guide him in his Royal duties. I know he loves his subjects, as dearly as he loves you and your sister." Long Feng adopted a benevolent tone. "But in a nation as feudal as the Earth Kingdom, compassion and order can only be maintained through the right application of strength. The Dai Li were able to maintain that order for years; before it fell, Ba Sing Se was a peaceful utopia. Our mistake was confining our operations to within the city's walls, and leaving the other provinces to fight the Fire Nation on their own. Because of this, some of your father's vassals, understandably, have now lost their trust in the Earth Kingdom Capital. Especially with Omashu's King Ariq challenging your father's leadership, so often."
The Princess' eyes narrowed. "I believe you challenged my father's leadership once before, as well?"
Long Feng took a slow, silent breath through his nose, steeping his fingers together. "I... appreciate your wariness, Your Highness. You've learned your history lessons well. But I'm afraid it's not as simple as what your tutors may have told you. There were things I chose not to mention to your father, during my tenure as Grand Secretariat. Secrets about the Dai Li, that were kept to ensure the safety of both your subjects and your family. Kuei was just a boy when he became King, still grieving the loss of his parents, and I wasn't sure he was ready- or, that he might tell someone who would take advantage of him." He let regret color his voice. "Admittedly, perhaps I should have informed him of these secrets, from the start. Perhaps I should have returned the trust he always gave me, and had faith in his divine wisdom. Kuei performed admirably in his ceremonial duties, but I could see the strain he was under, and I wanted to spare him further burdens. In any case... when the Avatar and his comrades arrived in Ba Sing Se, and learned the Dai Li's secrets, they fed your father slander and lies about me. In the wake of a recent offensive by the Fire Nation, your father was... swayed enough by their words, to dismiss and arrest me, perhaps out of fear. A fear that led to Princess Azula of the Fire Nation, usurping his throne and conquering Ba Sing Se in a single day." He raised his cup in the girl's direction. "A fear that you, clearly don't share."
Hou-Ting ignored the flattery. "Why... is Princess Azula here? If she's an enemy of the Earth Kingdom, why are you harboring her?"
"Azula is indeed a danger to us, especially now." The Grand Secretariat adopted a grave expression. "Many years before, I tried to outmaneuver her when she infiltrated the Capital. But I underestimated her cunning, and she drew me into a political trap. If her intended coup in the Fire Nation succeeds, Spirits help us all. But I do not intend to make the same mistake twice; this time, I will be the one to spring the trap. Our sham-alliance with Azula and her followers, has bought us precious time to learn the details of their plans." He swept his arm sideways, and the map-table collapsed back into the floor. "I assure you, as soon as this serpent rears to bite us, we will sever her head. But to give us a clear advantage, we need the support of your father's vassals, and his allies in the Northern Water Tribe, and that will only come if we let the Fire Nationals make the first move. We can't afford to strike prematurely; we must wait and listen, for the perfect moment. I believe you're familiar with the principal of Neutral Jing?"
The Princess' face reddened, and she glanced away. "I am, but... I've never been able to Earthbend."
"Which is nothing to be ashamed of!" Long Feng rose from his chair, knelt in front of her and clasped her hand. "Neither can your father. But that simple fact means the world, to the millions of Nonbenders throughout the Earth Kingdom. That their monarch is one of them, and not part of the bending elites...I assure you, support for your family runs deep throughout the Kingdom. We just need to enforce it, in the face of the stubborn vassals in the south and west. And we can... if the Dai Li are returned to their positions before it's too late." He let go of her hand, but stayed on his knees. "When we return to Ba Sing Se, your father may hesitate in his resolve again, when he sees me. As a humble servant of you and your family, who wants only to protect the Kingdom, I beg you to help me lay his fears and suspicions to rest. It is the only way we can re-unify the Earth Kingdom, in time."
Before Hou-Ting could respond, there was a sharp rapping on the door. Long Feng rose quickly, glancing through the barred portal. "Is this interruption necessary, Joo Dee?"
"Apologies, Grand Secretariat." The yellow-robed young woman bowed as she opened the door. "But Captain Genpei had an urgent message for you."
Long Feng frowned slightly. Genpei's behavior heralded either a blessing or a curse, depending on how strong his... attachment to that rogue Combustionbender was. No one could prove, exactly how she'd known to escape right before Azula came for her, but the answer was painfully obvious. Long Feng didn't particularly mind -especially since Rila's escape inconvenienced the Fire Princess- but he found Genpei's wavering behavior concerning. There was no outright defiance, but he would need to keep a close eye on him. Reeducation seemed too drastic, given the man's talents. Still, if he'd promoted the wrong officer, at the wrong time...
He dismissed the thought, turning to bow low to Hou-Ting. "I do apologize, Your Highness; I am needed elsewhere. Joo Dee will attend you, in the meantime. I will speak with you again as soon as I am able. Please take as much time as you need, to consider my words; if you have further questions, you have but to ask."
Joo Dee slipped a small scroll into Long Feng's hand as he passed her at the door. As soon as he was alone in the passage, he unrolled it:
Figures in blue and white robes sighted in the river valley, to the north of Zamyn Togsgol. Probably White Lotus. Unsure whether you wish for us to deal with them directly or simply observe. Awaiting your orders at the north entrance. Captain Genpei.
Long Feng raised an eyebrow, his thin lips stretching into a smile. On one hand, he knew how dangerous the Order of the White Lotus could be. But that didn't mean they had discovered his sanctuary yet. And if they were here for the Fire Nationals, rather than the Dai Li... this could get interesting.
She was kneeling in a vast, dark chamber, lit by a trench of flames at the far end. But it wasn't the polished black oak of the throne room; the floor and walls were charred, uneven stone. She could see the faint outline of... bones, lying on the ground in front of her. Was she back in the mountain cavern where she'd hunted down the yeti-ibex?
"You let the Combustionbender live. Now, she's in the wind, a threat to your Mandate of Heaven...and, to the throne." Ozai stalked past her left shoulder, the hem of his crimson and gold robes fluttering.
"It was not weakness, Father." Azula bowed her head to the ground, willing herself to be still. "I was only distracted-"
"Distracted? You could have slain her where she stood, she as good as gave you the opportunity. But you simply cowed her into submission instead. And then, you were arrogant enough to assume you could finish her later, at your leisure. Just as you thought it was the end for the Avatar, when you struck him down. I'm sure you remember?" Her father's voice was deadly quiet, as it was whenever his fury was barely contained. Beneath the aroma of perfumed oil wafting from his hair, she could smell more than just his temper smoldering. "You let the Fire Nation's greatest threat live, and you lied to me about it. You broke my trust, left our dynasty in danger... as you have, now. One more mistake, and Takeo will sweep it all from under you-"
"I DIDN'T make a mistake!" The retort flew from Azula's lips before she could stop it. "And I won't let Takeo, or his son-" She froze. She could feel tears welling in her eyes. No, NO. She'd never cried in front of anyone, not since... She pressed her forehead to the ground again, begging the Spirits not to let Ozai see her face. "Father, you had a plan to deal with Takeo's family, at the end of the war. I... I have a plan as well-"
"Oh, indeed? Like the one where you tried to convert Zuko into an extension of yourself, using those absurd Kemurikage masks? And how exactly did that turn out for you?" Ozai sneered. "You should know better than to trust that unfortunate, sentimental streak you got from your mother. The same mother who called you a monster."
Azula glanced quickly to her right. Ursa's face was shadowed by the hood of her cloak, her hands folded in front of her. Her bronze eyes were fixed on Azula with a pleading expression. But this time, she was silent, as she always had been in the past... except when her daughter did something "wrong".
Azula felt her jaw tightening, the tears in her eyes already fading away. "She has nothing to do with this." She turned away. "To do with me-"
"I did everything I could for years, to remove that weakness for you, Azula. To show you the true path to power, so you could make it your own one day. But like your brother, you've managed to disappoint me one last time."
Anger flared through Azula's chest. That Ozai should talk of making power his own, when his wife had cleared the path to the throne for him...
But she didn't look up, didn't speak. She should have known words were useless from the start; only actions would ensure survival. Her breathing slowed, evened. Keeping herself bowed, her fingertips aligned across the Manipura Chakra point in her stomach. She wasn't going to make eye contact until the last second. Ozai's penetrating gaze had always made her hesitate, just as hers did to everyone else.
"Or, perhaps your arrogance was borne of an even earlier mistake than this one." Ozai's voice changed from its' usual rasp to a deep, guttural growl as he laughed. "Your... dalliance with that wretched woman, is that what's brought your childhood flaws to the surface?" Azula felt a gust of hot, foul wind blow past her face, from his direction. Was that... his breath? "Yes... those ridiculous tears on your face tell me everything. You think you can protect her? By listening to her words, you've made her and yourself more vulnerable than ever, and taken your eye off what matters. It's only a matter of time before the Dai Li wipe both of you out-"
"Shut up!" Azula suddenly leaped upright. "No one touches her, least of all that idiot Long Feng!" Her left arm thrust outward, and a crackling bolt of pure energy leaped from her fingertips, in the direction of Ozai's voice.
Except that Ozai was gone. In his place was a gigantic, sapphire-scaled dragon, its' golden eyes glowering down at her, a molten-orange glow emitting from its' mouth. The lightning bolt arced around its' serpentine body, then vanished with a thunderclap.
Azula couldn't breathe. She tried to tense her muscles to run, but her legs wouldn't move. She glanced down quickly, half expecting the dragon's tail to be coiled around her ankles. There was nothing visible there, but she could feel something, wrapped around her legs and torso, holding her still. Was it fear? No, fear would have made her slump to the floor in defeat, as Zuko had during his first Agni Kai. She was still standing upright, her head held high... but her whole body was shaking as the dragon's head loomed closer. Her mind screamed at her to run, to survive, but the rest of her would not obey-
"Perhaps it's fitting." This time, when the beast spoke, it was in her voice. "Zuko couldn't win a victory worthy of restoring his honor. And if you can't, either... then our dynasty is better off, left to oblivion."
A searing pain shot through Azula's shoulder blade, as if red-hot tongs had been pressed to the skin of her back. She opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came out. The glow from the dragon's mouth grew brighter, as its' tusked jaws opened-
"You're all right. Shhh, it's alright, you're safe with me."
Azula's eyes snapped open. She was naked, lying sideways on a simple futon, under a military blanket. Her heart was racing, and despite the coolness of the mountain caverns, her brow was damp with sweat. For a moment, she still felt immobilized, trapped. Then she realized a familiar set of arms were wrapped loosely around her torso. Ty Lee was pressed against her back under the blanket, her leg draped over Azula's.
Azula lay still for a long moment, letting her muscles go limp, slowing her breathing. The Kiyoshi Warrior's chin nuzzled into the hollow of Azula's right shoulder. Her lips brushed the Firebender's ear. "Who did you see, this time?"
"...My mother, again." Azula squeezed her hand gently, then eased herself free from the embrace.
Ty Lee frowned as she pushed back the blanket, rubbing her eyes. "...Usually, you calm down before you wake up, when you dream about her. This time, you were hyperventilating and thrashing... like you did the first time I touched your shoulder. Was there... something else?"
"My dreams are none of your concern." Azula replied sharply, sitting up. She noticed the disappointed look in Ty Lee's eyes and softened her expression, mouthing the words, "Another time." She hadn't mentioned either the dragon or Ozai, yet. Perhaps later, when she and Ty Lee had more time to themselves, when she could be sure the Dai Li weren't listening... But until then, she couldn't afford to be distracted. Her father hadn't been wrong. As much as she enjoyed losing herself in Ty Lee, the Kiyoshi Warrior's words confused her, made her uncertain of which goal to focus on. If she divided herself between too many objectives, she would fail in all of them... and then, they would both pay the ultimate price.
Not that Azula hadn't enjoyed their time together- and not merely because most of her nightmares had been kept at bay. She was intrigued by how much the Kiyoshi Warrior had changed, in twenty years. Ty Lee was still too quick to forgive insults, too hesitant to go for the kill. But she was no longer a naive, oversensitive child; her training had made her more focused, more wary. And on the rare occasions that her defiance surfaced, Azula was surprised by the steel behind it. The Ty Lee who had betrayed her at the Boiling Rock, had done so in a moment of confused desperation. Now, her submissive attitude belied a quiet confidence, a more calculating mind.
It was almost a pity, that Ty Lee's sentimental streak kept interfering with her newfound focus. Then again, if it hadn't, Azula wouldn't have known the comfort of someone laying next to her, holding her. Or other pleasures...
She shook her head. There wouldn't be time for that, once Zuko arrived. But they could enjoy themselves a little longer, at least. She began pulling on her underclothes, then the leggings, boots, gloves and jacket. "Will you come with me, to the peak?"
Ty Lee looked surprised. Since arriving at Zamyn Togsgol, they'd stayed apart except for the occasional night together, and a handful of conferences with Takeo or Long Feng. Azula usually sent her out to mingle with and spy on the New Ozai Firebenders; aware of her status as a former traitor, they treated her with hostility whenever they saw her. Azula felt a brief stab of paranoia each time, but Ty Lee didn't complain, always reported whatever she heard. Despite the circumstances, she was the only one suited for this job. She was too trusting, too honest, but she was smart enough to mask that honesty with silence, when necessary.
Just don't let it get you killed.
"I thought there were Dai Li sentries on nearly every slope." Ty Lee began pulling her clothes on.
"They won't bother with the mountaintop." Azula laced one of the leather-and-iron gauntlets around her right forearm, but ignored the rest of her armor. She strapped a pair of field glasses to her belt. "Too far from most of their element, they like to be closer to the ground." To be honest, the heights made her a bit uncomfortable as well- there was less oxygen for Firebending- but all the same, the sunrise here was like nothing else. And Ty Lee was probably the only one here, who would appreciate it as much as she did. "I have to let Natsu out anyway, she needs to hunt." She met the Kiyoshi Warrior's eyes briefly. "Will... you come with me, Ty?"
The last bit of tension and confusion left Ty Lee's face, and she smiled. "I'd love to."
Azula looked away quickly, feeling heat rise to her cheeks. It was still jarring to her, to simply ask for something rather than demand or take it. But the gentle, genuine smile Ty Lee gave her in return...
They both drew fur cloaks around themselves as they ventured into the passage. The snow had stopped yesterday, but harsh winds still savaged the slopes outside. Fortunately, the secondary entrance to the complex wasn't far from Azula's quarters. Natsu was sleeping on a perch just inside the passage, her head tucked under her wing. At the sound of footsteps, she straightened herself and gave a croak of recognition when she saw Azula.
Azula nodded. "It's been a few days, hasn't it? Ready to stretch your wings?" She took hold of the leather jesses dangling from Natsu's talons, weaving them through a small, brass ring on her gauntlet. The raven-eagle hopped onto her wrist as soon as she finished, probing her opposite hand in search of food. "She's used to me bringing her tidbits when we're in the wilderness. But today, she'll hunt for herself. Same as the good old days." Azula glanced at the two New Ozai Firebenders guarding the entrance. "We won't be gone long. Follow us a short way outside, then fall back and watch the slopes; I don't want the Dai Li eavesdropping."
The guards bowed silently, then pushed back the camouflaged awning that covered the entrance. Azula and Ty Lee shielded their face from a vicious gust of wind as they stepped outside; Natsu ruffled her hackles. The sky was lightening slowly, turning from ink-blue to iron-grey.
"You told me you found Natsu near the Western Air Temple?" Ty Lee glanced at the raptor as they started up the treacherous path, hacked into the frozen stone.
"About seventeen years ago, not long after I... left the Capital." Azula stroked the huge bird's black-and-white head, carefully avoiding the scarred, featherless patch of skin on the right side of her neck. "It was the middle of summer. I was camping on the cliffs near the temple's ruins. I'd just finished hunting, when I heard a commotion among the rocks nearby and went to investigate. My only thought was that there might be a carcass, to scavenge from; back then, my hunting skills were lackluster, and I was constantly hungry. But instead, I found a raven-eagle with a broken wing, trying to keep a pair of wolves at bay." The scene flashed briefly in front of her eyes; the snarling canines, the blood and feathers already scattering the ground. The weakening bird, still flapping her uninjured wing and swiping her talons at them.
Ty Lee raised her eyebrows. "By that point, death probably would have been a mercy for her. I'm... surprised you didn't kill her, once you saw she was easy prey."
Azula shrugged. "I thought about it, for a moment." She lowered her arm slightly, bringing Natsu's fierce eyes level with her own. "I knew all the odds were against her. When she noticed me, I could see she knew that, too. Knew that I was just another predator, closing in. And yet...There was no fear. She wasn't looking at me to save her, or to end her suffering. Her eyes were defiant. She was broken and in agony, and still, she was fighting to stay alive."
She closed her eyes and saw the lightning sparking at her fingertips; then her arm, pointed at the eagle, suddenly turned toward the wolves. She saw the bolt leap from her hand, saw one of the canines' lifeless, charred bodies topple down the slope. The other wolf backing into the trees, its' ears flattened to its' head in deference. The eagle, struggling and screeching in protest as Azula wrapped her in her ragged cloak.
"In the long term... my decision helped both of us. I watched Natsu, during her recovery and afterward. I thought I'd known everything, about how to track and kill. But as I nursed her back to health, saw her potential, I realized... I'd only been scratching the surface." Azula stroked the bird's head again. "I... didn't understand why she didn't try to escape, after her wing recovered. It would have been easy for her. But... I am grateful that she stayed. I might never have learned what I needed to survive; I'll always owe her for what she's taught me. And she me, for my moment of... sentimentality."
"You love her, don't you?" Ty Lee's voice was soft, with just a hint of... envy? Longing? Sadness? "I know you hate that word, that you see it as weakness. But you do... and she loves you, too. She helps you out of mutual respect, not fear. She returns your affection. She's loyal to you, unconditionally."
Azula glanced behind them. The guards had already fallen back, as instructed. "...Perhaps. But when we met, the only reason I spared her, was my respect for her resolve. In the moment when she looked at me, when I made my choice... she actually reminded me of you, and Mai. Even my brother, to some extent. The way each of you struck back, when you were pushed to the breaking point. The way you refused to accept the hand that fate dealt you, no matter the odds." Ty Lee glanced away, and Azula pretended she didn't see the pink in her cheeks, the slight smirk around her lips. "The difference was, Natsu's predicament wasn't her own making. The wilderness is a cruel place, beyond any greater control, whether human or Spirit... and that suited both of us. Natsu and I have answered to no one, ever since we formed our partnership." She turned her eyes upward along the slope, glaring when she saw Ursa's face staring back at her. She muttered, almost under her breath. "The woman born a monster, with only a wild beast for company... how fitting."
Ty Lee glanced at her, then followed her gaze to the same spot. She shook her head as they kept climbing. "It's because you have a bond with her, Azula... and it has nothing to do with being a monster. You were hurt, and alone, for a long time... and I'll admit, I can take some of the blame for that." Azula met her eyes. "I'm not talking about the Boiling Rock. I'm talking about not asking you more questions, not trying harder to reach out to you... when you were nine. When your father burned you."
Azula felt her chest tighten. She fought the urge to look away. "When he corrected me-"
"Burned you." Ty Lee's voice was firm. "Burned you just for missing your mother, like any child would. You can defend him all you want, I know your family has a history of harsh discipline, from an early age. So did Mai's, mine... nearly all the noble and Warrior families, really. That doesn't make it right. Why do you think I left my home, joined the circus? It wasn't just to get away from my sisters; they might've annoyed me a lot, but it was my parents who made all our lives unbearable. I felt closer to the circus animals than I did to my parents; at least they didn't judge me for my fashion choices, my lack of Bending, my 'inability' to keep my opinions to myself. You didn't judge me for my differences, either... and Natsu doesn't judge you, for yours." The raven-eagle cocked her head in Ty Lee's direction at the sound of her name. "She was hurt and alone, too, it's no wonder the two of you formed such a strong bond, when you were all the other had. Although, I have to ask..." Her eyes fell on the featherless patch on Natsu's neck, and her voice faltered for a moment. "How... did she get that?"
Azula rolled her eyes. "That was from the wolves nearly tearing her head off, not me. I didn't need to correct her weakness, she already knew to keep it hidden. The wilderness was a harsh enough teacher, turned her into the perfect hunter. She had nothing else to learn-"
"Except human compassion. I'm guessing that surprised her. And, to learn it from you, of all people..." Ty Lee let out a dry chuckle. "If you'd ever seen the results compassion can bring, you wouldn't be surprised that Natsu returns yours. I've trained at least three apprentices on Kiyoshi Island. They're all fully-qualified warriors now, two of them are still my closest friends. But the mistakes they would make, while they were in training! They needed discipline, certainly... but encouragement, too. I remember last year, Jeonsa..." Her voice suddenly caught in her throat, and she glanced away quickly.
Azula paused, then reached out tentatively with her free hand and rested it on Ty Lee's shoulder. "I'm... sorry, Ty."
Ty Lee glanced back at her in surprise, blinking her eyes rapidly. "Why? You didn't kill her. She had nothing to do with you; if anything, she was working against your cause."
"I know." The death of Ty Lee's pupil had conveniently solved Azula's dilemma; she couldn't have rescued both Kiyoshi Warriors, at Omori. "But her death was unnecessary... and clearly, she meant a great deal to you. And that means something to me."
Ty Lee gave her an odd look, but she rested her own hand atop Azula's for a moment. Her eyes moved back to the jagged path carved through the rock and ice. The sky was much lighter now, though the mountains on the horizon- and the fog that shrouded them- kept the sun hidden. "How much further?"
"Just around the next bend." Azula let go and began unwinding the jesses from her gauntlet. She clicked her tongue twice, and Natsu crouched low, spreading her wings. The Firebender thrust her arm upward, Ty Lee ducking out of the way as the great bird rose into the air. "Keep an eye open for anything unusual, will you, Natsu? Good hunting."
Natsu screeched in reply, then pumped her vast, dark wings twice and soared away. Ty Lee took a deep breath as they continued; the air was getting thinner. "On the subject of... training people, you could stand to use a less harsh approach if you're going to... train Izumi as your heir. She already wants to be a prodigy at Firebending, she doesn't need anyone else... cracking a whip at her-"
"I disagree." Azula replied curtly, reaching for the next rocky outcrop. If Ty Lee really wanted to get into that, now... "One of Takeo's spies has been watching her at the Academy for almost a year, before we captured her. She's talented, but she's divided her drive in too many directions at once. And we may not have observed her Firebending lessons, but I always knew that job would go to my idiot uncle. He's trained her the same way he trained Zuzu; therefore, she'll only rise to the same standard, unless someone pushes her harder." She pulled her cloak tighter, flattening herself against the rock-face as another icy gust swept the slope. "Talking of my niece... if you're criticizing my teaching methods, you must have gone to visit her, the other night."
"Like you didn't already know?" Ty Lee's tone became exasperated. "Like you haven't had me followed since we got into Zamyn Togsgol, to make sure I don't plot an escape with her-"
"Oh, there was no reason to waste resources on that. I already know you can be trusted with the girl's safety... just not your own." Beneath her casual tone, Azula felt a familiar jab of frustration, mingled with worry. She hadn't put Ty Lee under surveillance; the Kiyoshi Warrior's behavior was so predictable, she didn't need to. But that hadn't stopped Long Feng and the Dai Li, and their interest in both Ty Lee and Izumi was dangerous. "She already got herself hurt, trying to escape on the way here. The next attempt might endanger you both." She paused. "Alternately... If you leave her with me, she's only going to get stronger."
Ty Lee let out a mirthless laugh. "By beating her down, every time she falls short? How's that going to make her turn out any differently than you, or Zuko or Ozai-"
"She will be nothing like my father." Azula spun around. "Ozai spent his entire life living off the spoils his predecessors won, with his feet on people's necks. He even needed my mother to provide the poison that got him onto the throne, in the first place. I tried to emulate that, when I was Crown Princess, and look where that got me. Until my exile, until I learned the rules of survival and death." She locked eyes with Ty Lee. "You told me you admired my strength when I was a child, Ty. I will give that same power to Izumi, so she can succeed me with a Mandate of Heaven that's just as strong... or, even stronger."
Ty Lee stared at her for a moment, then kept walking. As they reached the peak of the mountain, the wind buffeted them sharply in the faces. It was only about twelve square feet around, mostly covered with a slick crust of ice and snow. Ty Lee sat down behind a projection, shielding her face from the wind. "I... believe that's what you intend. But, whether that's what will happen... You know it's not going to change what I think. Or my intentions."
Azula felt her frustration surge briefly, but she controlled it. "Fair enough. We agree to disagree. Just so long as you know, I'm going to do everything I can to stop you from killing yourself."
Ty Lee let out another cynical laugh. "That may be the first real attempt at humor I've seen from you, that didn't involve a threat. You continue to amaze me."
Azula felt her cheeks redden again, but she couldn't stop herself from smiling, either. She opened her mouth to make a sarcastic retort, but at that moment, she felt a faint warmth on her forehead. She stood hastily, gesturing for Ty Lee to rise. "This is what I wanted you to see."
The very edge of the sun was cresting two distant mountains, turning the horizon from deep blue-purple to a blend of flaming orange and brilliant pink. Its' rays pierced the low-hanging fog and clouds, reflecting off the ice at every mountain peak. Azula closed her eyes for a moment, inhaling deeply through her nose. Even here, in the dead of winter, she could feel the power of that distant star, could feel a miniscule fraction of it seeping into her veins. She opened her eyes again, drinking in the sight in front of her. She'd seen this same sunrise from so many parts of the world, during her travels. From the poles, to the Si-Wong Desert, to the jungles in the south. And still, after twenty years, none of them could compete with this.
She'd heard Ty Lee rise to her feet behind her, but she was surprised when the Kiyoshi Warrior's arms suddenly encircled her. Then, her head leaned against Azula's shoulder. The Firebender hesitated only a moment, before she wrapped her own arm around Ty Lee's waist. She glanced down at her, then back at the horizon. There was a bloom of heat in her chest, that wasn't a response to either anger or fire. "I remember you saying, years ago, after joining the circus... that your aura was 'pinker than ever'. How does this compare?"
Ty Lee's torso shook as she laughed. "That one was actually funny. Well done." Her hand slowly moved upward, over Azula's left shoulder blade. Azula froze, but Ty Lee's touch was as gentle as ever. "I'm not him, Azula. He can never do that to you again. And you don't need to stand alone every time, to prove you're strong. Because you're not alone, anymore." Her head craned upward, and Azula leaned over, their mouths meeting. She closed her eyes as Ty Lee's tongue traced her lips, felt an electrical surge in her veins, stronger than any lightning bolt she'd ever conjured. It was far too cold here, to do anything further. Still, she felt a stab of disappointment when they finally broke apart.
Azula inhaled deeply, letting it out as a sigh. She tentatively laced her fingers through the other woman's. "You're too honest, Ty. You are loyal unconditionally... and not just to Zuko and Mai."
Ty Lee's grey eyes met her golden ones. "That's... not unconditional loyalty. My first priority has always been Izumi's safety, and if I'm helping her escape-"
"And that is why I trust you." Azula's other hand reached out, brushing a few strands of hair behind Ty Lee's ear. "No matter the outcome, you're committed to protecting her. That's all I've required of you, since you 'joined' my cause. If something goes wrong, we can at least keep her out of the Dai Li's hands-"
"Do you think something's going to go wrong?" Ty Lee took Azula's wrist, moved her hand away. Her eyes searched the Firebender's face. "If you're not confident, in your own plan..."
Azula willed herself not to glance away, but she could still hear Ozai's words in her ear: "You've taken your eye off what matters." She lowered her hands. "That depends on what you think of Lady Tomoe. A clash with the Dai Li is inevitable, once our plans reach their climax, and I certainly can't trust Takeo or his veterans down the line. But the New Ozai Society... if Tomoe's loyalty is absolute, that's all I need."
Ty Lee looked away, her expression slightly disappointed. "I've tailed her for a few days. Whenever anyone else questions you, she jumps to your defense. You did release her sister from the asylum, during the Kemurikage crisis, after all. Between that, and Zuko confiscating her estates after she joined the New Ozai Society, I can't think of a reason she would go against you."
Azula nodded slowly. "The nobles are more... stubborn, about their oaths to the crown, than the warrior families. Partly because they owe us those titles and lands, in the first place. But if one Fire Lord takes it away, and another can give it back... a shift in leadership, becomes more and more attractive."
Ty Lee frowned. "I... did have one conversation with her. She remembered me, from when I was a child. She used to be friends with my parents, and Mai's father Ukano."
"How did she react to you?"
Ty Lee shrugged. "Curt. But I don't think that was just because of the Boiling Rock. She... knows about us. And she's a bit old-fashioned about who the monarch should take as a lover-"
"Which is why it's a good thing for both of us that I'm the monarch, and not her." Azula snorted.
"But if she uses it to blackmail you, down the line-"
"The only people she could sell that to, would be Takeo or the Dai Li. She hates Long Feng, you've seen them bickering at every conference. As for Takeo, he's Tomoe's rival for power and influence; having my favor against him, is to her benefit."
"But if it got out, and Takeo used it to discredit you once he's secure-"
Azula smirked. "That would damage Takeo, as badly as it would me." She brushed her hand teasingly across Ty Lee's breast. "If Takeo wants to invest the Fire Nation's succession in that idiot son of his, through a marriage to me... what do you think my subjects will think of Shingen's virility, if I'm so dissatisfied that I've taken a lover who can't even give me illegitimate children?"
Ty Lee looked troubled, but before she could reply, there was a croaking screech from high overhead. Both women glanced up as Natsu circled back toward the mountaintop from the west. But no carcass hung from her claws or beak, and the message harness attached to her jesses was empty.
Azula glanced in the direction the raptor had come from, her eyes focusing on a saddle-shaped mountain with an arch near the top- Laghima's Peak. At first, nothing. Then, to the left... a small, dark shape on the horizon, skimming in and out of the clouds. Her heart beat faster. She ripped the field glasses from her belt, brought them to her eyes. It was still too indistinct for her to see fine details. But the way part of it kept undulating up and down, like a whale's flukes...
There were sky bison here, of course; Zamyn Togsgol was only about twenty miles from the Northern Air Temple. Only a few of the beasts had survived Sozin's Comet, and they'd fled to the surrounding mountains. They mostly stayed in small herds below the cloud layer, though Azula would occasionally see solitary bulls patrolling their territories from a greater altitude. But Natsu was familiar with them, and they'd never drawn her interest enough to distract her from the hunt.
Azula adjusted the field glasses, staring at the approaching bison. Yes, there were definitely several somethings on its' back. She glanced at Ty Lee, whose eyes were also fixed on the distant shape. "It seems we won't have to wait much longer." She passed over the field glasses, then took a step back. Even with Ty Lee's face turned away, she could see the Kiyoshi Warrior's body tense, knew what she would do next...
Natsu gave a sudden screech of warning. The Firebender dodged as the field glasses whipped past her head. She dropped into a crouch as Ty Lee swung them again, jabbing upward with her left hand. A dart of blue flame severed the glasses' strap, sending them clattering over the ledge. Azula thrust her arms and feet back, propelling herself forward with Firebending. As Ty Lee drew her tessen fan, Azula crashed into her waist, both of them tumbling and rolling toward the slick edge of the peak.
Ty Lee swung her folded tessen sideways and down, stabbing it into the ice in a spray of frost. As they slid to a stop, dangerously close to the ledge, Azula's hand closed over her wrist in an iron grip, pinning her down.
For a second, they lay tangled together, breathing hard. It wasn't so different from when they were locked in a lovers' embrace. Except that then, Ty Lee was more focused, more the leader. Now, Azula had the initiative.
Ty Lee finally broke the silence. "You knew... it would come to this, Azula. You know neither of us is going to change their mind." Tears welled in her eyes. "I'm sorry."
Azula's throat felt tight, but she forced herself to reply. "I told you, Ty. You've never been in a position to keep this from happening. Only to keep Izumi, and yourself, safe-"
Ty Lee's other hand, trapped under Azula's knee, suddenly broke free and jabbed the pressure point on the back of her right thigh. Azula felt her leg go numb, then Ty Lee was wriggling from under her, her free hand scrabbling for Azula's shoulder. Before she could land another hit, the Firebender's arm shot to the back of her belt, where her kukri knife was sheathed. There was a hiss of steel, and Ty Lee froze as the blade poised over her throat.
Azula couldn't tear her eyes away from Ty Lee's, even as she felt the corners growing hot. Every instinct told her to bring the knife down, to ignore the promises she'd made. She could hear Ozai's voice, rasping a warning in her ear. She didn't need to glance to the left, to know her mother was standing there, too. Either way, one of them would condemn her. But they were only distractions, and she'd stopped listening to them, years ago.
"I'm... sorry, too." She gritted her teeth. "But if you won't do the sensible thing, and survive...then I'll do it for you."
She suddenly reversed the kukri's grip, bringing it down in the same motion. The pommel slammed against Ty Lee's temple, knocking her out. Azula dropped the knife and rolled off her, her breath hissing between her teeth in sharp gasps. That Ty Lee had still managed to land a hit, when Azula was actually prepared for her... she had learned.
The Firebender reached out, fingers tracing the bruises already forming along Ty Lee's temple and eye. Then, she pulled back. She couldn't afford to be distracted anymore, no matter how much it hurt.
Natsu swooped down and landed in front of her, cocking her head quizzically in Ty Lee's direction. Azula sat up, pulled a strip of dried meat from her belt pouch and tossed it to the raven-eagle. "Well spotted, Natsu. I knew I could count on you." She forced her paralyzed leg into a crossed position.
"You're denying yourself again, Azula." Ursa's voice suddenly came from her left, faint but reproachful. "Your resolve is focused on the wrong thing-"
"As yours was, when Zuko and I were children." Azula snapped as she turned around. "You shouldn't be a hypocrite, Mother. You protected my brother at any cost..." She glanced away, biting her lip. "But you never raised your hand when I needed you."
"You never needed my protection. You knew how to protect yourself from an early age, no one could hurt you-"
"Someone could. Someone did, once you were gone."
Ursa's voice shook. "I thought... since you knew how to keep his favor-"
"Oh, thank you for finally having faith in me, as soon as you left!" Azula felt rage fill her chest again, so intense her voice shook. "Ty was wrong. You weren't afraid of Ozai, or you wouldn't have intervened to save Zuko's life. You were afraid of me, your own second-born child, the one you saw as a demon. Exactly the same way Grandfather Azulon saw his second-born. So, what was your logic, exactly? Did you think that, since Father and I were both monsters, I was better off in his care?!"
She made an effort to calm her breathing as she met Ursa's eyes. "Actually... I suppose I should thank you for that. Father taught me never to show weakness. But by leaving, you taught me how to eliminate at least one weakness, altogether." A small puff of flames escaped her mouth. "And thanks to that, I have a plan this time. One that will ensure my family's dynasty endures, another century or more. And there's nothing Zuko, or Takeo, or even you can do to stop it."
"Fire Lord Azula?" An old woman's voice came from the rocky path below. "Are you all right? One of our sentries heard a commotion..."
Azula hastily turned away from her mother, sliding the kukri knife back into her belt. "Up here, Lady Tomoe. The Kiyoshi woman tried to attack me, but I subdued her."
Tomoe hobbled onto the peak, two robed Firebenders wearing phoenix headbands behind her. Her eyes widened when she saw Ty Lee's limp form. "Ashura Spawn, I knew she couldn't be trusted!" Her gaze fell on Azula's chi-blocked right leg, laying at an awkward angle. "Are you hurt, Fire Lord?"
"Nothing to be concerned about. I'll be fine, my leg should return to normal in about ten minutes." Azula jerked her chin at Ty Lee. "Take her back to the sanctuary."
Tomoe nodded, gesturing to her guards. "Will she be executed?"
"No. Put her in the same cell as my niece, but have your followers guard them both with their lives."
Tomoe opened her mouth, then closed it. Clearly, she'd learned from the last time she'd questioned Azula's instructions. Finally, she bowed her head low. "Fire Lord." There was just the faintest hint of disapproval in her tone. Azula resisted the impulse to smash her head against the ground. All the noble clans had romantic dalliances or affairs in their history; who was she to judge Azula, simply because hers happened to be a woman?
She made an effort to control her impatience. Lashing out at all her followers, would bring results no different from Sozin's Comet. "There's a sky bison approaching from the west; my brother and the Avatar will be arriving momentarily. Are Takeo's forces already in position?"
Tomoe bowed again. "At the arena. The New Ozai Society will join the Dai Li in protecting the mountain, under my command."
Azula nodded. "Good." She accepted Tomoe's outstretched arm, pulling herself upright. The guards edged past them, carrying the unconscious Ty Lee. "And the Combustionbender?"
For the first time, Tomoe looked uncertain. "Rila... remains in the wind, Fire Lord. If she still plans to target your brother, she'll be hiding somewhere in the forests nearby, to ambush him. But the Dai Li are refusing to send out sentries to hunt her down-"
"We don't need the Dai Li." Azula cut her off. "If we haven't captured her by the time Zuko lands, I'll find her myself, once this wears off." She gestured at her leg as they began to hobble back toward the path. "Send for my armor, and my mask. Once we've dealt with the Avatar and his allies... it's time I had a long-overdue family reunion."
She glanced back at the horizon again, focusing on the approaching speck, now well past Laghima's Peak. A line came, unbidden, to her mind: "New growth cannot exist, without first the destruction of the old."
The words weren't wrong... but it would not be a phoenix, that rose from the ashes today.