AUTHOR'S NOTE: Completely shifting the focus for this episode, which was supposed to be Tales from the Oasis, an episode inspired by The Tales of Ba Sing Se.
However, I think this is more interesting to write. Hopefully to read as well.
Enjoy.
Fire. Earth. Water. Air. Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony. Then, everything changed when the Water Tribes attacked...
Only the Avatar, master of all four elements, could stop them, but when the world needed him most, he vanished.
A hundred years passed, and my brother and I discovered the new Avatar, an airbender named Aang. And although his bending skills are great, he is haunted by the memories of his world...
But I believe Aang can save this one.
Avatar: The Last Firebender
Based on Distorted Reality by Ogro
Written by Carrotine Clara
Book 2: Earth
Episode 12
The Princess and the Waterbender
Act I. - The Fortuneteller
The dry desert air shoots into her nose like quiet daggers. Azula struggles in her sleep, moving back and forth in between a state of half-conscious and a dreaded nightmare. The Blue Dragon. Fire. Death. Gone. All of it.
She finally has the instinct to, quite literally, snap out of it. Her eyes gaze with a stressed focus against the bottom part of her canopy bed, the green top obstructing her view from being able to make out the low ceiling. She lets out a soft whimper as she rises to a seated position, her palm pressed firmly against her face. She can still feel the heat present from her dreamland.
It's been like this for days now. Little sleep and no rest. The Blue Dragon continuing to spew its own perspective of the situation. It blames Aang, telling Azula to use him as long as needed, then rid herself of him. All of them. They are not friends, nearly pawns. Power necessitates the ultimate sacrifice.
Azula has had it. The whispers of the serpent have been bugging her for too long. It matters not that she agrees from time to time.
This she has to tackle on her own.
Simple garments and comfy shoes go over the girl as she steps out her room. A squeaking obviously can't go unnoticed by her.
TY LEE: Azula?
Plus Ty Lee's and Zuko's room does have an annoyingly squeaky door.
AZULA (matt): Go back to bed, Ty Lee. I'm going out for a walk.
The girl disappears without another word. Noticeably, her signature headpiece is missing from her figure, her black hair hanging down loose like the clear stream of a river.
A bright, new dawn welcomes the next day like a shining beam of optimism.
KANNA: Good morning, princess.
The old woman comes off as cautiously optimistic as she welcomes an overslept Kenora into their dining room. The girl's pajamas reek of sweat and her hair, at this point covering most of her shoulders, grows into every possible direction but down. The girl finally restraints her brown mane in a very simplistic ponytail.
KENORA: Mornin'.
She places her behind on a wooden chair, slouching over and almost dipping her sleeves and/or hair into her porridge.
KENORA: How long was I out?
KANNA: Oh, a few days. It was a back and forth between awake and asleep. I kept you well enough with my healing abilities. It was however... frightening.
The cap- ...Kenora nods. The Chief Mother places herself down across from her, her stern demeanor finally melting like an ice cube on a hot stove.
KANNA: I'm happy to see you okay again, child.
An itch inside Kenora commands her to correct the woman. Order her to be addressed with respect, and the proper...
KENORA: I... am... so tired. And so hungry.
She grabs her spoon with the finesse of a true waterbending master. After it, she starts shoveling sludgy, tasteless nothing into her face hole like an excavator. Kanna watches the events unfold with joy.
KANNA: And there I thought you hated porridge.
KENORA (with more than enough porridge in her mouth): I know. But I'm hungry.
Nothing but a smile at that.
Despite their crappy little apartment being... well, a crappy little apartment, it does give them at least a tiny bit of what could be considered a garden. It's mostly a Malu enclosure, plus it doesn't even have grass, just sand, making me seriously question what even constitutes a garden.
So, in that backyard, the two Water Tribe women have placed themselves down on foldable chairs, enjoying the sun which, even at a relatively early hour, is still a bit too hot for Kenora's taste. The old woman enjoys a tea as her younger counterpart sighs.
KANNA: Are you feeling any different?
The girl lifts up her legs and starts tapping on her knees.
KENORA: I still don't like porridge.
The doubts inside the old woman start growing. She needs to push her on this. It's now or never.
KANNA: Do you remember anything? Anything you said?
Kenora shakes her head.
KENORA: I remember being trapped in a nightmare.
Kanna scoffs.
KANNA: I know the feeling.
Kenora's ocean blue eyes drill themselves into a resting Malu.
KENORA: Have you ever been to the Glacier Temple?
The sudden shift in topic makes the old woman frown.
KANNA: The Glacier Temple? No. I've only heard the stories.
The girl's eyes won't budge away.
KANNA: I know you went there. Was that in your nightmare?
It takes her a moment to respond.
KENORA: That was the nightmare. I was trapped in a room of mirrors that showed nothing. For months I thought...
Her voice trembles with emotion, though she can keep it together.
KENORA: I only told Yue this but... that has been stuck with me for a long time.
Kanna nods quietly.
KANNA: The spirit that is... was trapped in the Glacier Temple showed people their greatest fear.
KENORA: I figured that one out already.
Kanna finally turns her head towards the girl.
KANNA: Your biggest fear... was not to be seen?
KENORA: It was to be no one.
She has to take a long breath to keep her tears in.
KENORA: I left my home a year ago. I told myself many different stories why I had to do it. Find mom. Become a captain. Capture the Avatar.
KANNA: Defeat the firebender?
Kenora shuts her eyes as she nods.
KENORA (slightly teary): It was all I lie. I don't want to know why mom ran away. I resent myself for the things I did. The people I hurt. I thought I knew who I wanted to be, who I needed to be.
KANNA: But now you're not sure anymore?
Another nod. The girl subtly wipes away her tears.
KANNA: You saved two of the Avatar's friends and you felt better about it than anything else you've ever done.
Kenora can't protest but can't quite step over the edge either.
KENORA: I- I don't know. I'm not... I'm not running away again. I'm not going to betray everyone I know and... join the Avatar. But...
KANNA: You don't want to fight in the war anymore.
The girl drops a smirk, finally understanding the conversation fully. She also finally looks over to Kanna.
KENORA: And I guess I'm not alone in feeling this way.
Another sip and the Chief Mother smiles as well.
KANNA: The two of us are too deep into it to run away now.
The seed planted long ago, Kenora finally allows the idea to grow.
KENORA: So... what do we do?
KANNA: Right now? I need to get ready for work soon. There's a flower shop not far from here that needed some extra help, so they hired me.
The old woman gets up, Kenora still on edge over this whole conversation.
KANNA: You should do the same. We can't afford rent on just my salary.
As she steps over the threshold back inside, Kanna turns around halfway.
KANNA: I know it's not the big, heroic gesture to make yourself feel better. But then again, that's not what it means to be a good person.
The young waterbender jolts up from her seat.
KENORA: Then what does it mean? How can I do the right thing?
The old woman turns around all the way. A proud smile grows on her face.
KANNA: Step by step. Wanting to do better is a good first.
To her shock, Kenora shows tears once again, leaping towards Kanna where she is engulfed in a warm and heartfelt hug.
KENORA (teary): Thank you for being patient with me.
The old woman says the same thing to herself in her mind.
A few hours go by with not a lot happening. The only real active member of the group remains Ty Lee attempting to prepare some lunch in a small kitchen area that the gang hasn't really used before.
SOKKA: Need some help?
She almost screeches as he enters. Her hair is not done as nicely as usually, and she looks generally pretty startled.
SOKKA: How about I do the cooking, huh?
Ty Lee sighs, agreeing with a nod regardless. As Sokka starts slicing up veggies (surprisingly competently) he occasionally looks over to Ty Lee pacing up and down the small kitchen area, which doesn't use a lot of color outside of grey.
SOKKA: Do you want to talk about it?
TY LEE: You already know what the issue is, Sokka. Azula refuses to talk to me, Aang has stopped talking to any of us, I barely see any of Bandit either. It's like... our group is falling apart.
In a show-off fashion, Sokka flings his sliced greens into a pan over an open fire.
SOKKA: It's not. We've been through worse. You guys have been through worse.
Ty Lee protests via hugging herself.
TY LEE: It's not like last time at all. Last time we were all able to stick together. Now it's... it's like we're all starting to drift apart.
Adding some spices and oil, Sokka lets the meal sizzle for a bit, finally turning towards her.
SOKKA: It's all my fault. I was the one who told Azula to go for it. I shouldn't have gotten involved like that...
TY LEE: No. It's my fault. I wasn't there for Azula when she needed me. I'm a horrible friend...
Rather than twisting the entire scenario and giving it a positive spin to end on an optimistic note, Ty Lee instead opts to... leave.
SOKKA: He- wait!
Though wait she does not. Even as Zuko enters the kitchen. The concerned boyfriend sighs, slurping hot tea from a ceramic cup.
ZUKO: She's putting way too much on herself. I don't know how to help her when she's like this.
Sokka looks around the kitchen and dining room, one of his friends slouching over the huge table while the other massages his nose ridge. He decides he's had enough.
SOKKA: Alright, I've had enough.
He drags Zuko back outside and seats him next to Ty Lee.
SOKKA: I know that things are difficult right now, and I know that there isn't a quick, easy solution for all of our problems. But as someone wise once said to me – you have to take small steps. And this...
In an overly cartoonish fashion, he slams a set of paper cards on the table.
SOKKA (heroically): ...is step number one!
ZUKO: Sokka, I know you're trying but-
His words get caught in his excited gasp as he picks up the items.
ZUKO (excited): Are those-
SOKKA: Tickets for tomorrows waterball game? Of course they are!
ZUKO: How did you get them? They must've been crazy expensive!
Sokka chuckles triumphantly.
SOKKA: Well, as you know, I would do anything for my friends.
In reality, Sokka has been leasing Sledge to a local petting zoo, where annoying school children get to pat him way more often than he likes.
ZUKO: This is amazing! Call me superficial, but I'm happy again.
Ty Lee gives him kind of a half-smile, one that is genuine but also kind of forced, like she knows she should be happy for Zuko, but she clearly isn't convinced that this will help yet.
SOKKA: The game's tomorrow, so we have lots of time to ask everyone...
He looks around the otherwise abandoned room. Azula is still sleeping, Bandit is off somewhere, training probably, and Aang is once again in a council meeting with Bumi.
SOKKA: ...eventually.
Zuko smells the air comically as the sizzling noise emitted from the kitchen grows louder.
ZUKO: Something burning in here?
Like a frightened grasshopper, Sokka dashes back to safe his delicious cooking from being turned into coal. Zuko smiles briefly but loses the joy as he sees his tired girlfriend.
ZUKO: Hey, it's okay. We don't have to go.
TY LEE: No, no. I want to go. I mean, spirits, at this point I'm fine if we do anything. Even if it's just going to be the three of us alone...
He pushes his chair closer to hers, allowing her to lean on his shoulder as the same arm goes around her.
ZUKO: I know you miss hanging put with them.. But we need to give them some space. Especially Aang. You know how he is.
He kisses her own on her hair.
TY LEE: You've been thinking about it too, haven't you?
Zuko gives her an eerie nod.
TY LEE: Aang promised to be there for us, not to hurt us again. But ever since he met Katara in this world...
ZUKO: He's been more reclusive. I'm not sure exactly this time. The more he's away from us, the more I worry...
Seeing her still feeling down, Zuko decides to be the naive one.
ZUKO: But we've been through tough times like this. If some of us stick together, the rest will follow suit. It's all going to be fine.
She sits upright again, her optimism still not having returned but a smile present, nonetheless.
TY LEE: I wish I could be as hopeful as you, Zuko. But right now, I'm too worried.
With confidence, but no arrogance, he smirks.
ZUKO: I know you're strong enough to get through this as well. For now, I'll be hopeful for the two of us. You can count on me.
Ty Lee can feel her face tingling with joy, the blush appearing on both of their cheeks followed suit by what is their longest and most emotional kiss yet. As she pulls back, the red on her face won't fade away. She gently touches his with her right hand.
TY LEE: I love you.
He grabs her hand on his head, gently leaning against the palm as his blush spreads all over his face.
ZUKO: I love you too.
Another session of kisses essentially traps Sokka in the kitchen, since he doesn't like the idea of ruining their moment by exiting. At least the lunch he made didn't get burned.
Strolling through this city's Air Nomad Village, Little Ozone, Kenora has absolutely zero ideas about what she should do. Lost in her thoughts completely, she almost gets knocked over by a one-person-sand-glider-postman (that's a mouth full) who forces her to step aside into an alleyway. Kenora decides to follow the path down, as the hectic main road wasn't to her liking.
She finds herself in a much quieter, smaller road. The stone bricks plastered on the ground have been polished completely smooth, giving Kenora the wrong impression that she might slip on them. The very first thing she spots is a medium-sized restaurant with a large outdoor area and a comical winged pig as its mascot.
KENORA: "The Porkchop Express"?
Finding the name odd, she shrugs off the feeling as she approaches, still keeping her distance. A waitress and two waiters in a blue and white uniform are dealing with a moderate amount of guests spread throughout the multiple table options, the limits of the restaurant grounds marked by a steel balustrade.
Then, finally, she spots what (she thinks?) she's been looking for - a For Hire sign on the buildings main entrance.
WOMAN: Strange name, right?
A woman with short, black hair and nicely done makeup smiles at her from a chair Kenora didn't even notice. She takes a sip from her smoke pipe, allowing Kenora to decide on her own to trust this stranger and step closer.
KENORA: Yeah, uh... I guess. Not the weirdest I've seen.
The woman smiles.
CHO: I'm Cho. What's your name?
Kenora sighs as she remembers her alibi.
KENORA: Fu...
Cho finds this amusing.
CHO: Fu?
KENORA: My grand- ...mother gave me that name.
Literally true, minus that it's not her real gran-gran. Cho nods as she puts out her pipe.
CHO: You're interested in a job? I saw you staring at the poster.
Kenora gives an awkward smile.
KENORA: I... don't think I'm qualified to cook.
Cho finds this even more amusing.
CHO: It's not for a chef position, it's for being a waitress. You're interested?
The incognito waterbender thinks about it, really thinks about it. It... doesn't look easy but suppose it's a good first step. At this point she would rather do anything that's not related to the Water Tribe.
KENORA: I think so.
Cho finally gets up, patting the young girl on the back.
CHO: Then come on, I'll show you around. Our... manager isn't here today though.
A strangely worried tone in that last part that Kenora doesn't catch onto.
The feeling she experiences cannot be described as overt joy, but it does make her happy to do something that's at least... normal. Her first big step. Something honest.
CHO: Oh, by the way, you are older than sixteen, right?
The fifteen-year-old briefly chokes up.
KENORA: Um... yeah. Of course.
Well, maybe this one is a small step.
You should've listened to me...
I was right about him...
I'm right about ALL of them...
If you would only listen to me, if you would give me your power...
I could turn you into who you really are...
This time Azula's sudden awakening is accompanied by sweat. Whether it's from too many blankets or the stress...
Ah, whatever.
She throws together her very casual nighttime outfit again. Black sleeves, dark pants, a bit of crimson over her chest and her comfy slippers. Her outfit meant to impress Aang has long been abandoned, though at least she got the nice shoes out of it. Once again, she can't be bothered to put on her headpiece. Azula tends to forget how long her hair is when most of the time she wears it in a topknot. For a brief moment, the reflection in her mirror reminds her of her mom.
Eventually she leaves the palace.
A night in Goldmouth is, above else, quiet. Few people roam the streets, the only noise echoing through the streets being an occasional shaking of a palm tree, the soft winds wandering from leaf to leaf, like invisible creatures following Azula around. The girl hugs herself. An uneasy coldness engulfs her body, the leftover warmth of her bed and blanket crying for her to come back. But alas, there is another voice wanting her to return. She has come to the realization that, while she can shut the Blue Dragon off during the day, at night, in her dreams, deep inside her subconscious, she is practically powerless against it.
She doesn't want to hear it. Not the serpent, not Aang, not even Ty Lee. She screwed up. She made a mockery of herself. This is something only she and she alone can fix.
In her aimless fourth consecutive circling of the two-block radius, Azula accidentally takes a wrong turn, but decides against changing her course. These streets do seem familiar. Eventually the girl can make out that this was part of Gashiun's tour when they first came to Goldmouth. She halts at a large, round door, strange carvings marking the wood. A young man with bright, white hair and black clothing. He appears like a stern bouncer, though misses the aggressive tone that one such person needs to carry for that job. What draws her like a moth to a flame is the lights that still shine from the windows left and right to it.
AZULA: You're still open? At this hour?
She was hoping to get a reaction from the man, even though she didn't directly address him.
AZULA: Hello? Can you hear me? Do you work here?
Without saying another word, the man enters the establishment, shutting the door behind him.
AZULA: Okay. I guess that's that...
Already turned around and heading away, the doors open again. Azula hesitates, though realistically, should anything go down, she'll be more than capable of handling herself. The scared little girl back from that Fire Nation island is no more.
THE MAN: Please take your shoes off. Aunt Wu is expecting you.
Thankfully the guy is gone soon, allowing Azula to seat herself on the brightly lit room, a floor pillow allowing her not to get a soar butt. She's not a fan of the no-shoe-policy, but oh well. She's already here so she might as well.
AZULA (talking to herself): "Aunt Wu is expecting you." I wonder if that guy writes haikus.
WU: Welcome, young traveler.
The creepy old hag appeared much faster than Azula likes.
WU: You're here to ask me some questions?
AZULA: Yes.
Azula stands up way too fast than her insomnia brain likes.
AZULA: The late-night-hour policy is a starter. Doesn't seem like a good business model.
Wu smirks.
WU: Follow me.
The chamber Azula is led into is a fairly spacious, dimly lit room. Four pillars support the ceiling, and four cushions are situated in the center of the room, surrounding a small fire. Off to the side is a jug of tiny animal bones. Unfortunately, candlelight is about the last thing Azula needs when sleep deprived.
WU: This is the most reliable method of telling your fortune. The bones never lie.
She offers the bone jug to Azula.
AZULA: Thanks, I'm not hungry.
WU: Go on, pick one.
With a heavy yawn, she does.
WU: Now throw it on the fire.
She does exactly that, not with a lot of spirit, which seems to upset Aunt Wu a bit.
WU: The heat makes cracks in the bone, and I read the bone cracks to tell your destiny.
AZULA: Awfully worded, but sure.
To the old woman's complete and utter shock, not only does the bone slowly get covered in a coat of black before snapping right in the middle, the flames of the bowl also turn blue for a second, azure light illuminating the room before it returns to its regular orange. The old woman holds her hands up to her grey hair.
WU: I've never seen this before! Your destiny! This is incredible. You will be involved in a great battle, an awesome conflict between the forces of good and evil. A battle whose outcome will determine the fate of the whole world!
AZULA (her arms crossed): Yeah, suppose that covers pretty much all of my friends. Did it say anything about a boy?
Wu is taken back.
WU: A boy? You want to know about... love?
Azula is unsure.
AZULA: I mean, only if your incredibly fortune telling powers are strong enough...
Hitting a soft spot in the woman's ego, she offers the bone jug once more, Azula picking a crooked one this time. As she tosses it, a small crack appears at the bottom. Then, a much larger at the top, though the bone itself never breaks apart.
WU: Fascinating...
Azula's skepticism is briefly washed away by hope.
AZULA: What? What is it?
WU: I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I don't see a boy in your future, nor a man for that matter.
This shatters the bones inside the firebender almost as much as the fortunetelling method.
AZULA: What... so... I'm just gonna be alone? For the rest of my life?
Seeing how the girl is scared by the news, Wu decides to gently grab her hand.
WU: No, you don't need to be afraid. It didn't say that you are going to be alone, or that you won't have people in your life that love you.
Becoming a little teary at the horrific news, Azula's more skeptic side resurfaces.
AZULA (slightly teary): This is a load of hog monkeys...
She storms out of the room and the building, almost forgetting her shoes. Wu is washed in unspeakable guilt. Mostly because she forgot to charge the girl.
Azula turns around towards the building before storming off for good.
AZULA (teary): Really funny you old hag! I hope you got a great chuckle over that!
As the waterworks are in full motion, a mixture of shame, being tired, angry, confused - it all comes crashing down and causes Azula to run away crying.
Kenora would end up spending the rest of the day working at the Porkchop Express, her first day consisting mostly of being berated from all sides, though Cho always made sure to keep an eye out for her in case it got too stressful. She ended up staying for a little closing time drink. She didn't speak to a lot of people there instead just... listening. Cho seems to be the most relaxed, and the second oldest after their manager, therefore pretty experienced. There's also the quiet little San, who was the most patient with Kenora, the cranky Dan, who loved talking about some really personal stuff on Kenora's first day, and another guy who didn't say much, Penki. Despite not chatting herself a lot, she got to listen to others for once, hear their odd stories and views, the unifying theme that no one wants to really work there, but that no one is ready to quit. Kenora liked it there. For a night, she wasn't expected to be a princess or a captain - she could simply enjoy other people as Fu. The only odd thing that stood out was that she never actually met the manager, being told that she hasn't showed up for a bit.
On her late-night stroll back home, Kenora decides to take a different path, leading her to the massive chunk of ice in the middle of a town square. Loud music blasts from the bar right next to it, the bartender briefly stepping outside and cutting off a large block of ice with his broad sword before going back inside. Kenora smiles like a dunce. How odd for someone to just cut a piece of this, probably historical, landmark. With her hands in her pockets, she decides to finally stroll back home.
She stops as she catches the sound of someone crying. A girl sitting over on a bench, about her age, maybe younger. Definitely younger than Fu. Kenora doesn't have to approach her, she's a stranger, in a strange city, nonetheless. She could go back to the apartment, forget about it, and pretend it didn't happen. She could pretend her nightmare and her guilt for Azula and Ty Lee never came up. What stops her? She shuts her eyes, takes a breath in, holds it, lets it out again.
KENORA (to herself): Step by step.
And so, she steps towards the girl, her face hidden under a thick mane of long, black hair.
KENORA (soft): Hey... are you alright?
The sobbing stops as the girl hears her voice.
KENORA (soft): I know... it might seem hard. But it's going to be okay. I'm... I'm here for you.
She nods, reassuring herself, the extending of her arm as the cherry on top.
Her immediate next thought - "Nope". Big nope. Her blood freezes in chunks, her hair stands up like a threatened porcupine. The girl reveals her puffy face glaring at the waterbender with murderous intend, eyes colored like honey piercing her very soul.
Chime!
Act II. - A tale of Grace
Kenora immediately panics and pulls her arm back. How she keeps running into the Avatar's friends in this city remains elusive.
KENORA (nervous): Okay, uh... you don't seem to want to talk about it, that's fine. Just uh... make sure you get home safe, right?
An insecure laugh later and Kenora is already turned around, heading the opposite way.
KENORA (to herself): I think that worked out fine.
Again, nope, materialized in a blue fire ball that Kenora barely dodges. The sinister glowing flames engulf Azula's arms, giving her a similarly creepy appearance as the Nightmare Azula from Kenora's fever dream. No time to think about that now - the girl charges into the closest alley, avoiding another incoming fireball. As she dashes from corner to corner, Kenora curses herself, one for having the worst luck ever, and then also for not regretting to try and help someone. She briefly smiles as she starts encountering familiar buildings. The apartment must be close, only another street corner and-
A dead end. Massive wall, no windows to hop through.
KENORA: Oh.
AZULA: You know, there might be some Earth Kingdom girls with a lisp like that, but none of them also have blue eyes, Keno-no.
The waterbender turns around, azure fire blocking her only escape route.
KENORA: It's... rare... genes?
Another fireball tossed, dodged successfully, and Kenora decides to remain on her knees.
KENORA: Okay-okay-okay - I give up! It's me, you got me!
The insomniac firebender is pumped way too much with a cocktail of emotions, the adrenaline acting like some kind of potent accelerator making everything worse. She breathes heavily as she occasionally prepares to attack, Kenora flinching every time.
KENORA: Stop that!
AZULA: Attack me!
KENORA: No!
AZULA: DO IT!
KENORA: With what?
Kenora gestures to her pouch-less belt.
AZULA: Attack me without water then!
KENORA: That's not fair.
AZULA: Like you care about playing fair!
A scream of pure anger is released, alongside with the blue fire, that looks like it's about to devour Azula for a moment. The flames subside, merely moonlight remains. Kenora sighs, switching to a seated position.
KENORA: I didn't want to do it like this but here it goes...
AZULA: What are you talking about?
KENORA: Dammit - I want to apologize! Can you just let me do that?
The firebender cackles at the mere thought.
AZULA: I don't know what game you're playing, but it's not going to work. You are going nowhere!
KENORA: Okay.
Azula is briefly speechless.
AZULA: Okay.
KENORA: Okay.
AZULA: Okay!
The best Kenora can do right now is lean against one of the walls part of some kind of building complex. Could she take Azula right now? Maybe? The girl is clearly tired and there is a massive source of water nearby, waiting there frozen.
But for what? The airbender beat her. And what would she gain from beating Azula now? To the firebender's utter horror, she watches as Kenora briefly shuts her eyes and relaxes. The stew of rage and fear and anger and profound sadness and whatever else boils up to her throat once more.
AZULA (emotional): I want a rematch!
Kenora reacts as if her words were a mild inconvenience.
KENORA: Huh?
AZULA (emotional): I deserve it! I only lost because I screwed up my lightning! Come on, let's fight!
She doesn't even believe her own words, hence why no flames follow.
KENORA: Didn't you win? I mean, you got away, right?
Azula crosses her arms, her voice sounding slightly more rational.
AZULA: Only because Sokka had to rescue me. I would've been powerless without. Plus you jumped me way back when in that town when I was getting medicine for my friends. I'm owed attacking you once now as well!
Wanting to spit out a sarcastic comment at her sound logic, she is instead reminded of these two really awful moments where she thought she was doing the right thing but... just ended up hurting someone, badly. While Azula has absolutely no energy left, she refuses to sit down, though she is forced to lean against the same wall Kenora uses.
KENORA: That's uh... that's actually what I want to apologize for. Both of those things. And a lot more. Wasn't nice of me.
AZULA: I already told you - whatever game you're playing, I don't buy it!
KENORA: Okay, then don't!
AZULA: Then why are you telling me this?
KENORA: I don't know! To feel better about myself?
Frustrated by her inability to deal with this arguably very unique situation, Kenora simply lets out a half-grunt-half-sigh. In all fairness, out of the two Azula is the one struggling the most, the situation at hand seeming so bizarre that it might just be a dream. She rubs her eyes to check, assessing with spite that it is in fact happening. Finally overcome with her fatigue, she sinks to the ground, hugging her legs, about two feet apart from Kenora.
AZULA: If you try to run away or attack me, I'll burn you to a crisp.
KENORA: Yeah, I know.
A few seconds pass. Kenora has the brilliant idea to try and lighten the mood.
KENORA: Hey, do you remember when you guys captured me and Sokka and you threatened to feed me to the bison? That was pretty funny, right?
Wrong anecdote probably, as Kenora immediately also remembers Azula's finger-related injuries. If she didn't on her own, Azula's blank expression would probably do the trick.
KENORA: Oh, right. That's where that thing happened.
AZULA: Yeah, right.
She shows off the scars running across her left hand, sounding still very bitter about it.
AZULA: That thing.
She lowers her hand again, staring straight ahead.
AZULA: A thing always seems to happen. Exclusively to me.
The bitterness in her voice produces a few more tears that get removed via sleeve.
KENORA: I'm... sorry to hear that.
Azula scoffs.
AZULA: Don't be. You happen to fall under the category of A Thing.
Hard thing to swallow, but Kenora can't argue against that.
AZULA: How many more Water Tribe spies are in the city? Is it your friends? Are they attacking Aang as you distract me again?
More guilt Kenora has to push through like mud.
KENORA: Just me and the old hag.
Azula nods. They haven't once looked each other in the eyes.
AZULA: So... your plan was to spy on me, I presume? Doesn't really work like that if you approach me, you know?
"Duh", thinks Kenora.
KENORA: That's because I wasn't. I came from my job, I saw someone crying, I didn't recognize you without your headpiece. That's... literally the whole story.
Azula frowns confused.
AZULA: Job? What job?
KENORA: I started working at a restaurant in Little Ozone. It got pretty late which is why I walked home just now.
Azula shakes her head just slightly, probably caught in a dialogue with herself rather than with Kenora.
KENORA: What uh... what about you? What are you doing up so late?
Another scoff to mock her.
AZULA: Like I would tell you...
Kenora's face morphs into a straight line.
AZULA: I will, because it's stupid and I need someone to tell me that I'm right about that.
Kenora decides to reseat herself to actually look at Azula while she is talking.
KENORA: I'm all ears.
Azula hesitates to speak.
AZULA: I went to a fortuneteller...
The waterbender can barely hold in her smirk.
KENORA: What, so late at night?
AZULA: I couldn't sleep.
That's the extend of that answer.
AZULA: Anyway, this old hag lets me... burn bones and reads my destiny.
KENORA: That sounds stupid.
Finally Azula turns towards her.
AZULA: Right?!
Only briefly though, as she switches looking back at the wall ahead.
AZULA: I... asked her something personal and... she told me that I was going to be alone. For the rest of my life.
She can't hold back the tears, though it's not that many this time.
KENORA: Is she stupid? You have like...
She counts in her head for a second.
KENORA: ...at least five friends.
AZULA: It's more than that, thank you, although Zuko is my brother, that doesn't really count.
The firebender blurts out a short grunt.
AZULA: That's what I mean! This whole thing was a stupid waste of time, and I was stupid enough to feel bad about it.
Kenora nods.
KENORA: You're right. If anyone is gonna be alone, it's me.
This time Azula turns towards Kenora for good.
AZULA: What do you mean?
Kenora sighs.
KENORA: The only person I really trust right now is like... 80, the Crown Princess is way too important to care about me, her best friend hates me, I punched the airbender on her first day and I accidentally hurt my ex.
Azula doesn't have the decency to hold back on her chuckle.
KENORA: It's not funny!
AZULA: Yeah, it kind of is. I'm picturing you drowning the guy in a tank.
Kenora's polite expression takes on a concerned note.
KENORA: Um... no. That uh... wouldn't happen.
Azula is intrigued.
AZULA: Why? Not cruel enough to punish your ex-boyfriend in a cold, wet grave?
Kenora appears a little... fearful out of nowhere.
KENORA: No. Because... it wouldn't be my ex-boyfriend.
Azula has no clue what she means.
AZULA: What? I thought you said ex? Is that slang for some other former... person?
KENORA: No I... did mean it like. It's just that...
Kenora was kind of hoping that Azula could figure this out herself. Though instead she is met with the most clueless eyes on the planet.
KENORA: You're... you're gonna force me to say it?
AZULA: Say what? Do or do you not have an ex-boyfriend?
KENORA: Girlfriend.
The response came shooting out like a pistol.
KENORA: She is my... ex-girlfriend.
Azula goes through a whole plethora of expressions, transforming from confused to, not believing her, to really confused. Kenora finds this a bit uncomfortable but can tell that the firebender is probably not trying to be mean here and is just... a little green behind her ears.
AZULA: Huh. Would you look at that.
Kenora averts her face, blushing a bit at the spotlight situation going on.
AZULA: How did you know?
Kenora looks back at the curious girl.
KENORA: How did I what? Know I was gay?
Azula nods her head frantically. She has switched from hugging her legs to having them crossed.
KENORA: Right. Well...
She has to really think and open herself up for this one. Somehow the nostalgia makes her a little happy.
KENORA: I uh... I guess I always kind of knew? Or at least I always felt that there was something. Or like... something missing, rather.
Azula can't tell if it's the lack of sleep but for some reason she finds this genuinely interesting to listen to.
KENORA: I always hated going to those stage plays. They would tell us that the normal thing is for a prince to be with a princess. I was a princess, and I hated the idea that that was going to happen to me. Then, in the academy, when the other girls got a little older, they all started talking about their crush and which boys they like, and I was never a part of any of that...
AZULA (with crossed arms): Sounds like you were very popular in school.
Kenora frowns at that. And... it actually makes Azula feel guilty, causing her to uncross her arms.
AZULA: Sorry. Continue.
Kenora takes a breath.
KENORA: I pretty much knew by the time I joined Sokka's crew. I mean, there you have a literal prince as an example, and I was mostly repulsed by the guy.
AZULA: That's just generally how people react to Sokka.
Kenora actually laughs a little bit at that, and... Azula seems to like it. As she keeps on talking, the waterbender's cheeks take on a soft red.
KENORA: One day I met this servant girl in that town with the slaves.
Azula nods, remembering that one well.
KENORA: She uh... she could tell that I was a girl disguised as a boy. But uh... she didn't mind. We... kissed and... that's when something I knew already was... confirmed for me.
Azula's brows shoot up.
AZULA: So... you know you're into girls because you kissed one? And liked it, presumably.
Kenora nods, still blushing.
AZULA: Did you ever kiss a boy just to make sure?
KENORA: No. I gave this one guy a peck on the cheek once, but it felt weird. I hope he didn't get the wrong message.
Kenora thinks the question further through.
KENORA: Also, it's not like you have to choose. You can... like both. Or more than boys and girls. Whatever suits you.
Azula yawns heavily as she leans back against the wall, her eyes closed now.
AZULA: Sounds like a lot of people you need to kiss just to make sure...
KENORA: I... don't think you understood my story quite that well.
No answer.
KENORA: So uh... what now?
AZULA (sleepy): Now? Now I stand guard and you stay here until the others show up. Just... stay... right... there...
Hard cut to the next morning, Azula in the exact same position, though slouched over and sleeping. Kenora is gone, a certain lemur making for a landing on her lap. As Sabachi licks her face, Azula's eyes slowly open back up. A few seconds pass before she remembers the events of last night, jolting up in a hectic manner and aiming her fingers at the spot Kenora sat in, now empty of course. Her initial heavy breathing slowly calms down, alongside her arms which finally get lowered. Sabachi, having been a bit spooked by this, climbs onto Azula's shoulder, a snappy chatter immediately after.
AZULA: No, I'm fine. It's nothing.
She turns around, a yawn escaping her mouth as she stretches. In that moment she makes an odd realization.
AZULA: I actually slept through the night for once.
Sabachi chirps confused.
AZULA: Oh, you don't worry about it, nothing exciting happened.
Back home in her room, she takes a good look at herself in the mirror. She can feel the long night settling in her face, though ultimately, it's not enough to make her worry.
KANNA (from outside her room): I noticed you came home pretty late last night. Did something go wrong?
Kenora chuckles very quietly.
KENORA (mumbling to herself while doing her hair): Pretty much.
KENORA (shouting to Kanna outside while doing her hair): I got a job, I think! Haven't signed anything yet but they schooled me and... asked me to come back today.
While she can't see her, Kenora can tell that the old woman pauses out of joy.
KANNA (from outside): I'm so proud of you, child. I hope you can find some happiness in that.
Kenora smiles proudly. As she admires herself in the mirror, rocking a servant uniform that looks a bit like a maid outfit, she reminiscent about the... other thing from last night. Maybe she shouldn't have left Azula there, but what else was she supposed to do. If Azula got home safe?
In that moment, Kenora notices something rather horrifying in her reflection. No nightmare creatures this time, but something much worse - a blush.
Is she... blushing at the thought of Azula?
With her finger pointed at the mirror and a mean look on her face, she attempts to enact damage control, talking with the same tone someone would have when training a dog.
KENORA (to herself): No. No.
She says this as if waiting for pushback, waiting for her reflection to argue against it. She gets none of course, only the same frown starring right back at her. As the blush slowly fades away again, Kenora is confident enough to return to her-
Something else in the reflection finally catches her attention. Her signature blue pirate coat hanging in the back...
When she returned from the desert in her feverish state, dismantling the apartment piece by piece in search for her nazar necklace, she somehow completely forgot to...
She jolts up quickly, her hand already burying itself inside her coat pockets. Pocket number two is when she is finally successful. She takes her hand out slowly, opening her palm with the fearful anticipation of finding an unrelated item in there. But alas, her mother's necklace is staring right back at her. Overwhelmed by the emotion, she rushes to the crappy mirror leaned against the wall, trying on the piece of jewelry and letting it hang above her waitress uniform for a moment. Unbelievable amounts of joy wash over her. It's like... it's like a part of her that went missing returned. Not much else to think about now...
...except... how would Azula like her outfit now with the necklace-
The traitorous blush returning, she quickly stuffs the necklace back under her shirt, pointing angrily at the mirror once again.
KENORA (to herself): No!
After cleaning up from last night and returning to her usual crimson/pink outfit, including boots but no headpiece. Azula exits her room with a much different aura than she had been in the last few days. Fortunately, their palace quarters are empty, giving her some peace and time alone. On her way sauntering over to the kitchen (which she didn't even know existed until yesterday) she lets last night's events play out again.
Has she ever felt sympathy for Kenora before this - no. But, hearing her story now...
Azula can't keep a straight face when thinking about this, too frustrated with the prospect of someone she doesn't trust... maybe having a change of heart. She briefly takes a spoon lying around, tasting some of Sokka's cooking from yesterday which, to her surprise, is really good.
AZULA (to herself): Make sure to never tell him that.
While Sabachi continues to raid the kitchen, Azula returns to the dining room, placing herself on a seat as she ponders for another minute. She's already made up her mind on what she's going to do later, now it's a question of whether or not it's a good idea. It might be a trap and the waterbender took her for a fool last night. Then again, her opening up like that... it seems way too specific to be part of a scheme. And... way too honest, actually.
The main hall door opens up a notch and a moderately joyful Ty Lee enters.
TY LEE: Azula!
The firebender has been able to tell that her friend lost a bit of her naive optimism in recent times, however whenever in her presence, that part gets played up to a hundred.
AZULA: Hi. Sorry I was out so late I-
TY LEE: Oh, no no, don't even worry about it, honey. Whatever you do to makes you happy I support it.
Azula's own mother was never the overtly overbearing type, though she pictures that, had she been, it might've looked something like this.
TY LEE: Are you hungry? Do you need anything? Can I bring you anything?
AZULA: I'm fine. Please.
Ty Lee decides to sit down a few chairs away from her.
TY LEE: Okay, well, there is actually something else I wanted to ask you.
AZULA (grabbing a peach and taking a bite): Which is?
TY LEE: Well, Sokka got us tickets for the waterball game tonight. I wanted to ask you to come along!
Azula swallows crudely.
AZULA: With who?
TY LEE: With me, with Zuko, with Sokka... and maybe some other people.
Wanting to take another bite, Azula's jaw stops an inch before taking the bite. She puts the peach back on the table.
AZULA: What? It's a surprise?
TY LEE: No but... well, I'm here to ask you and Sokka is asking Bandit and Zuko...
AZULA: Is asking Aang?
Ty Lee, fiddling with her thumbs insanely much, nods submissively.
AZULA: And... you think it's a good idea to have me and Aang together after the two of us have not exchanged a single word since... the thing happened?
TY LEE: We're not - this isn't an attempt to get you two to talk. I just want us to do something together again. All of us, the whole gang. Just... it's been so long since we felt like a real friend group...
Azula naturally feels really bad for her.
AZULA: We are friends. I mean... I know we two are. You don't need me to come along for this to confirm it. You go have fun with my brother and the chef, and whoever else.
Ty Lee is obviously disappointed but appears to accept it.
TY LEE: You're going to be fine staying in here all day again?
AZULA: Oh, I'm not staying here. I have plans, actually.
This Ty Lee doesn't take so well, shattering her very overly joyous facade.
TY LEE: You have what?
AZULA: I have plans. I can't tell you, or else you'll worry about me again.
TY Lee shoots up in a very non-Ty Lee fashion.
TY LEE: I don't worry about you all the time!
Azula gets up more calmly, her arms crossed as she is forced to deal with the uncharacteristically confrontational acrobat.
AZULA: Ty Lee, the doors aren't as thick as the walls. I can hear you in here most of the time when I'm in my room.
Ty Lee... frowns.
TY LEE: Well then you should know that I worry about all of us, and that I'm only trying to help you.
Azula gets defensive now too.
AZULA: The best way for you to help me right now is to leave me alone for once. I don't want my friends to constantly whine about little Azula like I have a terminal illness. Just let me deal with this on my own.
Now Ty Lee grunts angrily.
TY LEE: This is exactly what the problem is! All of us struggle, but all of you have this sick obsession with handling it yourself!
TY LEE (silly voice): "I can handle it! I can deal with everything on my own!"
AZULA (angered): I can.
TY LEE: No, you can't! We've clearly seen that!
Ty Lee didn't mean to blurt that out, though she does believe it. Maybe it was overdue to say it, actually.
AZULA: Oh. So that's what you think. I guess you're gonna make all my decisions for me then from now on, huh?
TY LEE (crossing her arms): Sometimes I really wish I could.
Frustrated at the conversation and who she has this fight with, Azula simply sighs.
AZULA: Have fun with waterball, Ty Lee.
She disappears into her room and leaves a burnt-out Ty Lee behind. In her anger, she releases a wave of small air blasts that knock over the fruit bowl and some chairs.
Taking a page from her own demands, she refuses to worry about Ty Lee for now, instead wandering around the city until she finally finds herself in Little Ozone. This one feels a lot smaller and more hectic than the other Air Nomad villages. Most of the people here don't even look like air nomads. Azula left the lemur at home, a fact she now regrets since the animal would've been more than useful in scouting the area. Oh well. Like she said, she can handle this on her own.
After stumbling over a dozen cake shops and almost getting run over by a postman and his glider, she finally discovers a little alleyway, through which she bravely enters. This part is much more quiet than the rest of Little Ozone and - bingo. A certain incognito waterbender and her loose brown hair looking rather stressed while waiting tables. The blue outfit looks pretty nice. Though, and Azula realized this last night, Kenora wearing her hair loose does wonders for her face.
SAN: I got porkchops for table seven!
KENORA: Got it!
She picks it up quickly and with much more grace than Kenora thought she had. San, whose hair is even more curly than hers, smiles very honestly.
SAN: Thanks!
San is the one working behind the counter for now, Dan and Penki helping Kenora with the tables, the two guys having uniforms that are more akin to suits with the same color scheme. Penki for one has a stubbly grey beard despite only being forty, while Dan is desperately fighting (and loosing) his battle against baldness.
CUSTOMER: Check please!
KENORA: On it!
The biggest hurdle remains Kenora's... average counting skills.
CUSTOMER: You gave me the wrong change, kiddo.
KENORA: Whoops. Sorry, here you go.
Compared to some other harrowing tasks in her life, getting change wrong seems relatively relaxing, though still uncomfortable to watch. She picks up some glasses on a tray and wipes empty tables with a wet rag, afterwards she brings the stuff back to the inside, which, despite being in the shade, is even hotter than the outside thanks to the kitchen in the back.
SAN: You're doing well. Can you bring this reservation sign to table 12?
KENORA: Sure. Hey, where's Cho today?
San makes an oddly worried expression, which goes completely against her actual answer.
SAN: I don't know. I think she's sick today...
The fully-grown woman shorter than Kenora notices a lone person on the very edge of the restaurant's outside area, her face hidden behind a menu.
SAN: Can you do table 14 as well while you're on it?
Kenora, already returning from her previous task, drops the rag and nods optimistically.
KENORA: On it!
San smiles, though obviously still worries about something. Thankfully Kenora didn't catch that, instead she is headed over the smallest table with just two chairs in the corner of the metal balustrade.
KENORA: Hi, welcome to the Porkchop Express. What can I get ya?
To her complete shock and horror, the lowered menu reveals a certain way too confident firebender.
AZULA: Hi. Lemonade.
Kenora's blushes for multiple reasons right now.
KENORA (quiet, but still nervous): Why are you here?!
Azula comically taps her chin before answering.
AZULA: Lemonade.
Kenora angrily jolts down her order.
KENORA (quietly): Don't ruin this for me.
AZULA: Don't worry. I decided to make a truce with you. I'm only here to see if you were telling the truth. If not, then this is counter-intelligence.
Kenora's blush finally settles on one emotion, the one Kenora likes the least right now.
KENORA: Alright. Just be normal. Don't draw attention to yourself.
DAN: Hey, who is this? Are you a friend of Fu?
Hearing those words is like a jackpot inside Azula's brain. The smile that follows could not be more authentically happy.
AZULA (way too excited): Yes. Old friend of Fu. I'm in town for a while and here I am running into her with her new job! Isn't that exciting?
Never mind, this is worse than all every mission Kenora has ever done.
DAN: Yeah, we've only had her for two days now, but she's doing pretty well so far. By the way, your name is?
Azula, needing to think of an alibi, remembers thinking just a few minutes ago just how gracefully Kenora is able to wait tables.
AZULA: Grace. But you can call me Gracie.
DAN: Nice to meet ya, Gracie. Any friend of Fu is a friend of ours.
He leaves the two girls alone, one of which seems significantly more satisfied than the other.
AZULA (spitefully mouthing to Kenora): Fu.
KENORA (mouthing back, very upset): I hate you.
In the training courtyard, Bandit is continuing to perfect her vibration-based bending, using the skill Aang and the Wanderer told her about to grow stronger. Much stronger. So strong that she almost squashes an incoming Sokka beneath a massive rock chunk. She of course took note of his presence, lifting the rock aside instead. Sokka exhales cartoonishly.
SOKKA: You're getting pretty good at that.
Bandit crosses her arms.
SOKKA: Not... that you weren't good before. Just...
BANDIT: Speak your mind. I'm busy here.
She does some exercise in the opposite direction as Sokka starts blabbering.
SOKKA: Well, I just wanted to ask you'd like to see a game of waterball with us. Zuko and Ty Lee are coming too.
A punch into earth and Bandit stops.
BANDIT: Why would I go to see a game that was invented by the Water Tribe?
Sokka never saw it from that angle.
SOKKA: I mean, it was, yes, but at this point everyone plays it. It has transcended the war and just become... fun. For everyone.
Bandit turns towards him, her frustration revealing themselves in a pretty harsh stomp into the ground.
BANDIT: I abandoned my family to help the Avatar end this war. Instead, he doesn't want to be trained by me anymore and the rest of you just waste your time in this city.
She turns back around, removing chunks of rock punch by punch from a shrinking pillar.
BANDIT: So, no thanks. I'm not coming for waterball.
Sokka nods, feeling pretty powerless, and honestly a bit intimidated by the insanely powerful bender.
SOKKA: Right. Just go ahead and tell me if you change your mind.
He politely walks away with that. Bandit stops as he is gone.
BANDIT: Trust me. I don't change my mind that easily.
The hours pass and Kenora's energy is slowly but surely drained. Who would've thought working in the service industry is as exhausting as military operations? Oh well. Azula ordered two more lemonades throughout the day, still sticking to her table like a bug to a windshield. Kenora briefly looks over, getting a sarcastic wave from the firebender before turning back to San behind the counter. San and Dan briefly exchange looks of curiosity.
DAN: So uh, you're friend seems really eager to stick around, huh?
Another short blush makes it all the more difficult for Kenora.
KENORA: Yeah. I think she wants to do something after my shift.
Another look between her coworkers.
DAN: You know Fu, I don't think you took your break today, did you?
KENORA: Uh... we have breaks?
SAN: Yes, of course. You've been working non-stop since this morning?
Kenora shrugs it off literally.
DAN: How about you take the rest of the day off. Well finish up everything here and you go have a drink with your friend.
She can't say that the idea sounds amazing, but after a hard day like this, getting to sit down for a moment is probably for the best.
KENORA: Sure. You'll just call me up when you need me for something, right?
Dan nods confidentially.
DAN: Sure. We'll let ya know.
He winks and she leaves her tray to go over to table 14. San crosses her arms as Dan smirks.
DAN: She's actually enjoying this job. I give her a week.
SAN: That's not important right now, Dan.
Their banter turns to serious concern.
SAN (quietly): Should we tell her?
DAN (quietly): Is that even a question? We should talk about when we tell her.
This late in the afternoon, Zuko hesitates for a bit to enter the war council room, which is the same room in which they met Bumi and had that party the other day. As he finally has the guts to enter, Bumi exits from the other side.
BUMI: Oh, Zuko. Funny to run into you, boy. SNORT!
ZUKO: Yeah, totally.
The boy scratches the back of his head while the old man picks his earwax.
ZUKO: Listen... Mister... General... King... Bumi... sir, have you seen Aang today?
BUMI: No. Is he not with you kids?
Zuko shakes his head. The old man hums loudly while stroking his beard like a wizard.
BUMI: Can I be honest with you Zuko?
ZUKO: Uh-
BUMI: I knew something was up with Aang when you first entered this palace. It was written all over his face. I thought him being with all his friends and getting to see old Bumi again would cheer him up. But...
ZUKO: It's been the opposite.
Bumi sighs earnestly.
BUMI: I worry about the boy. There is a darkness growing inside him and I'm scared we may no longer reach him.
For the second time in two days, Zuko is forced to be the optimistic one.
ZUKO: I know he's going through stuff. But he's the Avatar after all. Or... a Avatar. He'll push through it. He just needs time.
The old man's wrinkly hand lands on Zuko's shoulder.
BUMI: You're very wise for your age.
Zuko blushes with embarrassment.
ZUKO: Thanks...
BUMI: So what did you want to speak to Aang about?
ZUKO: Oh, well we have tickets for tonight's waterball match. But I guess he isn't coming...
BUMI: Beh, you're in luck kid. Because I happen to be...
In a completely unrealistic but very colorful fashion, he rips off his general's uniform, revealing a waterball uniform beneath it, t-shirt, shorts and even a sports cap right after.
BUMI: THE BIGGEST WATERBALL FAN THE EARTH KINGDOM HAS EVER SEEN! AH-HA-HA - SNORT! - AH-HA-HA - SNORT!
A single tear of indignancy appears on Zuko's forehead. His eyes turn to dots and his mouth forms a completely straight line.
ZUKO (quietly): Great. One more person.
For a while the sunset casts a deep orange over the quiet street, Azula and Kenora digging their faces into their drinks, Kenora more so than her counterpart.
AZULA: You thinking about something?
KENORA: Yeah. How the heck are drinking four lemonades without needing to pee once?
Azula flings her hair back on one side.
AZULA: I have a robust bladder.
Kenora... doesn't really like that direction, so instead opts to go with honesty.
KENORA: Why... are you really here? Just to... spy on me? You wouldn't need to sit at a table all day.
Azula's expression shifts a bit as she takes another sip.
AZULA: I wanted to see if you're being honest. Your sudden... shift. Seems out of nowhere.
Kenora nods to the side.
KENORA: I admit. Everything feels like it's... moving so fast. I have all these feelings... that I don't know how to deal with.
At this point her cheeks have turned red so many times that Azula doesn't even really notice.
AZULA: I'm not the expert on redemption here, that's more of my brother's field of expertise. But at this point I've come to the conclusion that if you're just playing a big game with me, it's so convoluted and detailed that there's no way it would actually come to fruition.
Kenora smirks a bit at that.
KENORA: Yeah, I realized that most of my plans were pretty flawed.
AZULA: Very flawed.
A pause ensues. Azula starts twiddling her thumbs and Kenora suspects something else incoming.
KENORA: Did you come here to ask me about-
AZULA: I wanted to ask you more about the gay stuff!
Kenora leans back in her chair and crosses her arms. Azula sighs in frustration, much like her brother.
AZULA: I'm not trying to be mean here, okay? Last night has been... the most sympathetic you've been so far. So, if you want to make up for the stuff you've done... I want to see more of that Kenora.
She looks over to the staff, who are thankfully not listening in on their convo.
AZULA: Or... that Fu.
Thankfully the waterbender found that last part amusing.
KENORA: Okay. But you can't treat this... treat me like a spectacle. I'm not telling you this out of some obligation.
AZULA: Yes! Of course. You can ask me stuff too. Make it an exchange of information.
They remember the last time their groups had an exchange of information. It didn't go so well.
KENORA: Right. You can start.
AZULA: Alright! I was gonna ask you - the whole "Poko" thing? Was that... you trying to be... a prince, or... what was that?
Kenora immediately understands the question correctly.
KENORA: No, I was never really Poko, nor did I want to be Poko. It was a disguise that I had to put on because girls in the Water Tribe are not allowed to do certain things. Like, everything that's interesting, basically.
The firebender lets her eyebrows bounce up once.
AZULA: I keep forgetting you had to go overcome so many obstacles to become an independent fighter. It's a shame you used your talents to punch me in the face a lot.
Kenora agrees with a shameful nod.
KENORA: The only thing I "kept" from the Poko times is the clothing. Boys clothing is much more comfortable than girls clothing.
Azula briefly admires her servant uniform.
AZULA: Well, you do look good in that though.
Kenora is unable to respond due to the color of her face changing to red once more. Azula doesn't really know why but keeps pushing regardless.
AZULA: Come on - you have to ask me something now!
The waterbender gets it back together, thinking of a question to ask.
KENORA: Why uh... why did you go to a fortuneteller last night? You... said you couldn't sleep?
Azula is clearly not very comfortable talking about it. Ultimately, it's time to hear someone else's perspective that's not her adoptive mother, Ty Lee.
AZULA: I uh... this is embarrassing, but I had... or... have this crush on Aang.
KENORA: The Avatar?
She nods before continuing.
AZULA: I... finally told him in front of a crowd and... it didn't go well.
Kenora takes a sip from her drink too.
KENORA: That sucks. It's good that you were honest with him though. Actually telling him was probably the right choice.
Now Azula blushes nervously.
AZULA: Well... I didn't exactly... tell him, I... sort of... kissed him.
A comical but still restrained reaction from Kenora.
KENORA: In front of a crowd?
AZULA: Yup.
A much longer lemonade sip from Azula.
KENORA: That was...
AZULA: Bold?
KENORA: Stupid. Kissing doesn't work like that. It's gotta be mutual. Both people wanting it?
AZULA: I know! That wasn't my first kiss ever. I just... read the room wrong...
The waterbender is not that comfortable with the topic, though she does feel sympathy for her interlocutor.
KENORA: It's his loss though. In my opinion.
KENORA (in her head, to herself): Keep it together...
AZULA: Yeah, I know. Just makes things a little unstable in our friend group. Can I ask a question now?
KENORA (fighting her blush again): Yes. Please...
AZULA: Right. So... this one is a little more personal, you don't need to answer if you don't want to...
Kenora is intrigued, but also concerned.
KENORA: Okay?
AZULA: Okay. The thing is... I have been wondering... did... you and your girlfriend ever...
A long and very awkward pause gives Kenora enough time to figure out the question. Her face changing colors is now no longer avoidable.
AZULA: You don't have to, if you don't want to...
KENORA (red): Yes. That is all you are going to hear about that.
Azula realizes that she crossed a line and tries playing it straight.
AZULA: Cool. Nice to hear.
It takes a minute or so for both of them to get back to it, Kenora having successfully pushed down the tingling feeling in her face, as well as the changing shade.
AZULA: You can... still ask me something...
KENORA: Right. Just let me think...
Not being able to come up with something, she... finally does.
KENORA: I uh... found out recently that... you have a special ability.
Azula immediately frowns.
AZULA: Go on?
KENORA: Can... you really talk to animals?
Azula sighs in a very collected manner.
AZULA: Did Ty Lee tell you?
KENORA: How did you- ...yes. She... kind of blurted it out on accident.
AZULA: She tends to do that. Yeah. I can talk to animals. I never really did it much back home, it's more so now with Sabachi and Appa and now... Sledge.
Kenora isn't quite sure what that last animal is but guesses it's what Sokka rode the last time she saw him. Focusing this conversation is way more important now, as this does genuinely intrigue her.
KENORA: Since... when have you been able to do that?
AZULA: Oh, since forever. I always thought I was just... guessing what they say, but then Appa and I had a really thorough conversation very early on. That's when I realized it's probably more of a talent than I thought.
Kenora takes a second to swallow that.
KENORA: Huh. Weird. Is it like a... family thing or, is it just you who can do that?
Azula shrugs and pouts.
AZULA: No? Just me.
Kenora expects her to keep going but Azula instead takes another sip from her glass.
KENORA: Do you... know why you can do that?
In all honesty, Azula has never really questioned it, or thought about why. So hearing the question now is somewhat frightening.
AZULA: I... can't answer that. I really don't know why.
Kenora puts on her thinking face.
KENORA: You ever wanna find out?
Now that's a question Azula wasn't expecting.
AZULA: I don't know. Wasn't really a... factor before. I can't say.
A moment passes and her focus suddenly shifts, a suspicious glare tossed over to the counter.
AZULA: We might need to pause our little show-and-tell.
KENORA: Why?
AZULA: Cause your colleague inside has been starring at us the whole time.
Kenora realizes this too now. Even Dan and Penki are giving her weird looks.
AZULA: I hope we didn't ruin Fu's chances just now...
Act III. - Big Trouble in Little Ozone
Ty Lee pictured the waterball stadium to be much larger, though I suppose the crowd is still pretty big. Think less Yankee Stadium and more local high school football. Eventually two teams appear, with two funnel-shaped goals on each side. Unfortunately, the airbender has no idea how this game is really played or who to even root for. One team is dressed in olive green and the other in like a beige tone. She can't even take a hint from Bumi, who is wearing the colors of both teams in his ridiculous outfit.
BUMI: Kick the ball!
SOKKA: Yeah! Kick the stinking ball!
The crowd goes wild as a whistle sounds, and the match begins. Everyone there is more than a little happy to be there. All except a certain acrobat.
ZUKO: What's wrong?
Despite the drowning noise, the two of them can still hear each other pretty clearly at a normal volume.
TY LEE: I had a fight with Azula earlier.
Zuko sighs, nudging a bit closer towards her.
ZUKO: I know you just want to protect us, especially her. But sometimes she's gonna have to make her own decisions, even if she ends up hurting herself. That's just the way of life.
The girl didn't quite like that answer, Zuko suspects why already.
ZUKO: You're scared that eventually she'll decide to leave us.
Ty Lee nods quietly.
ZUKO: You don't need to worry about that. She cares about you a lot, more than about the thing with Aang. You're like a sister to her. Even if our lives start drifting apart, I know she won't leave your side.
Her fears somewhat tamed, she thanks him with a smooch.
TY LEE: You know you're the best boyfriend ever, right?
With a smirk, Zuko shrugs.
ZUKO: Only cause I'm your boyfriend.
She leans against him and allows herself to enjoy the game as best as she can.
BUMI (leaning towards Sokka): Why don't you have a girlfriend?
Sokka frowns comically.
Azula and Kenora share a quick look, expressing possible escape plans with their facial features. Azula's idea is to attack the staff and run to which Kenora replies with a shaking of the head.
DAN: Hey, you two... enjoying your drinks?
The girls only now realize that they are the last ones at the Porkchop Express. Azula decides not to play along this time.
AZULA: Okay, what do you want?
Dan's smile quickly turns into a glare.
DAN: You need to come with us.
AZULA: And if we don't?
They look over to San, who grabs two kitchen knives menacingly, Penki, who assumes an earthbending stance, and finally back to Dan, who pulls out a fighting baton.
AZULA (to Kenora): Did you know about this?
Kenora's chair squeaks as she gets up. Azula finds it kind of awesome how quickly the waterbender stands up for her, literally.
KENORA: What do you guys want?
DAN: We just want to talk.
Lucky Kenora, second day on the job and she finally gets to see the kitchen from the inside. Azula simply wonders if all the wood isn't a fire hazard, though for now the girls are cornered by three people at once.
AZULA (quietly, to Kenora): Do you think we could take all three?
KENORA (quietly, to Azula): Shut up!
KHALI: You might take them but not me.
They turn around to a humongous seven-foot-tall chef, who so far Kenora has only heard about by name. His thick, dark locks mirror his beard perfectly, his arms are as huge us Puwati's, though much harrier.
AZULA (quietly): Never mind.
Khali decides to address the others first.
KHALI: Why did you bring them here?
KENORA: Were you listening in on our conversation?
DAN: No. We left gave you your privacy.
AZULA (whispering and leaning comically towards Kenora): Good, cause that would've been really embarrassing for you.
SAN: You're not here because you did something wrong, Fu.
DAN: Neither did you, Gracie.
Kenora is a bit jealous that her counterpart picked out the much better fake name. San finally puts down her knifes and releases a concerned sigh.
SAN: Cho has been kidnapped.
As it dawns on Kenora, her jaw slightly drops.
AZULA: Who's Cho?
KHALI: She's been working here longer than all of four us. And she's in trouble.
As the room takes on a more relaxing aura, Dan decides to put away his baton as Penki crosses his arms.
KHALI: The restaurant owner, Lo Pan, owns a bunch of shady business in town. It's common knowledge that he smuggles stuff in and out of Goldmouth, but no one has said anything out of fear of retaliation.
SAN: One week ago, our manager, Lubi, disappeared out of nowhere. All of us have been quiet about it since we were too scared.
KENORA: Except Cho.
San gives an especially concerned nod.
DAN: After Fu left last night, Cho told us she was going to speak to Lo Pan first thing in the morning. We told her it was a bad idea, but she wouldn't listen.
KHALI: And then she didn't show up to work today.
The story is pretty unbelievable, but everyone's genuine expressions of fear is enough to convince Kenora. Everyone's except Penki, whose face continues to be stone cold as always.
AZULA: So, let me get this straight - you guys think your boss is a criminal, and that he has been kidnapping people without any sort of cover up or anything like that, and now you want us two strangers to help you find them?
Everyone exchanges insecure looks in the room.
AZULA: Alright. I'm in.
KENORA: What?
AZULA: Yeah. I mean, Fu and I have been through crazier stuff, haven't we?
Azula gives her a wink as Kenora nods and averts her face just as it's about to turn red again.
SAN: What about you, Fu?
Kenora gets herself together enough to respond.
KENORA: You guys have been really nice to me these past few days. I know it's crazy, but... I feel like I owe it to you.
She briefly smiles as she thinks back to her conversation with Kanna.
KENORA: It's a small step, but I'll take it.
The other restaurant workers cheer briefly.
KHALI: I had my doubts, but I'm glad we can trust you, Fu.
DAN: You too, Gracie.
The girls smile.
AZULA: So, what's the plan?
The room goes silent all of a sudden.
DAN: Well...
KHALI: We... thought about heading to one of his warehouses maybe. Tomorrow night or so.
AZULA: You're not heading out tonight?
SAN: We don't really know where to start, to be honest with you.
Azula looks around the room and feels nothing except disappointment.
AZULA: That's it? None of you have looked around this place? Like an office or something?
Khali shares an awkward look with the other three across the room.
KHALI: There's... nothing in that office, except a storage closet.
AZULA: Has... any of you ever been in that storage closet?
A few seconds pass, after which the restaurant workers immediately storm out of the kitchen and right into the office down the hall. Kenora is, very bluntly speaking, speechless.
AZULA (admiring her nails): What would people ever do without me, huh?
The firebender winks at her again and Kenora storms after the others as soon as her blush is forming again, a treacherous smile revealing even more. This time Azula caught wind of it. She can't quite tell why she gets Kenora so worked up when she talks, though she ultimately decides that she likes doing it.
Lubi's office is a lot smaller and much more disorganized than Kenora expected. All six of them barely fit in it, with Khali desperately trying to break the aforementioned storage closet door.
KHALI (spinning a wire in the lock): I think... I almost... got it...
Azula loudly clears her throat, signaling him to step aside as she approaches the door. A swift swoop of blue fire later and the lock mechanism is nothing but a hole. Everyone seems pretty impressed. Azula holds up her fingers like a pistol, blowing the smoke from her tips.
SAN (quietly, to Kenora): You didn't tell me your girlfriend was a firebender, Fu.
Kenora should probably correct her here, but the sheer amount of color in her face prevents her from speaking for now.
The open the remainder of the door, only to find a strange steel cage, behind it a single room, only a few feet wide. Inside it are a bunch of buttons and levers.
DAN: Is that... an elevator?
SAN: What do we need an elevator for?
Azula is, of course, the first one to step in.
AZULA: Well, suppose we have to find out.
DAN: Do we even fit in that?
KHALI: I'll stay up here and go talk to the police. By the time you guys are back, hopefully we can get them to believe us.
The chef nods to his coworker, who in return all nod back.
Even with the exclusion of Khali, everyone is still squished together in the short space. After Penki moves an inch forward, Azula (of course) bumps into Kenora who (of course) starts furiously blushing again. She looks to her left over to a smirking San, something that makes Kenora uncomfortable even more.
DAN: Is it going up or going down?
AZULA: Down, of course. The building isn't that tall.
Ding!
The lift announces its stop with a quiet bell, the quintet exiting quietly into a huge underground storage space, filled to the ceiling with hundreds of boxes.
AZULA: Guess that's where all that smuggled stuff is stored.
San shushes her, drawing her blades again as everyone is ready.
DAN (quietly): This way!
He points them at a hallway to their left, once again Azula and Kenora the last ones to depart.
AZULA (quietly, to Kenora): Do you have any water on you?
She pulls out a few bottles of lemonade that she stored in her maid-like uniform.
AZULA (quietly): Wow. A dress with pockets. Nice.
Kenora sighs.
KENORA (quietly): Yeah, I'm not a fan of fighting in one, but we don't have much time.
Azula nods to the side
AZULA (quietly): Little fun fact about me - I'm not crazy about dresses either. Wore this one the other night to impress Aang and it was the least comfortable thing ever...
For once Kenora decides to dish out a compliment instead of taking one.
KENORA (quietly): I'm uh... I'm sure you looked great in it though.
She walks ahead as to hide her blushing face from her again. Azula finds the comment more than delightful, a warm, tingly feeling briefly popping up in her stomach.
Beyond the storage room lies a massive cavern-like structure, a tall stone bridge connecting the door to a small prison complex, though complex is ironic here, since design-wise it's literally just an elevated platform with multiple steel cages on it. And guards wearing ninja-esc outfits, armed with staffs, reminding Azula of an airbending staff. they shut the door after peeking through a few inches of it being open.
SAN (quietly): Any more ideas, Gracie?
Azula ponders for a moment, Kenora coming up with the brave heroics this time.
KENORA (quietly): You guys distract the guards, pretend one of you is a prisoner.
AZULA (quietly): I volunteer Dan.
Before he can protest, Kenora continues.
KENORA (quietly): While you guys do that, I'll climb below the bridge and free the prisoners from behind.
PENKI: How would you be able to do that?
For the first time, suspicion towards Kenora. Azula steps in with a sigh.
AZULA (quietly): I wasn't gonna say it, but... Fu is actually a waterbender. She ran away from home because girls aren't allowed... pretty much anything there.
While a general aura of dislike towards anything Water Tribe persists, ultimately the three staff members nod with confidence towards Kenora, the girl being pretty darn thankful for Azula's quick wit.
In the dark cavern illuminated by an occasional yellow glow crystal on the wall, two masked guards wait bored at the entrance to their makeshift prison. They're too late to notice the sudden group of four, one apparent prisoner, as they move towards them on the stone platform.
GUARD 1: Hold it right there!
Azula gestures the others to stop. Kenora is meanwhile using her most inventive bending skills yet, tossing herself quietly below the bridge using the same lemonade she was sipping earlier to now swing across.
Azula, arms crossed, is as confident as ever. She pulls Dan forth, the guy having his wrists inside fake earthbending shackles that Penki can burst open in an instant.
GUARD 2: Who are you and what do you want?
AZULA: I'm working on Lo Pan's orders. This guy was asking too many questions up in the Porky, I was asked to escort him here myself, along with the other waiters, who are directly on Lo Pan's payroll.
He kicks him in the back of his knee for dramatic effect, though San and Penki agree that it's unnecessary. The two guards share unsure looks.
GUARD 2: Why weren't we informed about this?
As the goons and the gang continue yapping, Kenora has managed to climb up onto the platform, quickly finding the cage with Cho, who looks weak and tired, up until she spots the waterbender of course.
CHO (whispering): Fu?!
KENORA (whispering): Don't worry, I'm here to rescue you!
She kneels down in front of the steel cage lock, realizing that she will out herself as a waterbender about now.
KENORA (whispering): Um... don't freak out, please.
She swiftly and gracefully covers the lock in lemonade, freezes it, and subsequently frees Cho, who doesn't remotely care about her bending abilities and immediately jumps to hug her.
CHO (whispering): By the way, this is our manager, Lubi.
They turn to a second woman in the same cage, an older lady with dyed, blonde hair and an honest smile.
LUBI (whispering): Cho told me about you, nice to meet you.
Kenora smiles at first, then looks around the other cages, a dozen more people trapped.
Meanwhile, back at the guards...
GUARD 2: So... you're Lo Pan's... uncle-in-laws... cousin?
AZULA: Fourth degree, yes. Can I please do my job now?
GUARD 1: I don't believe you. Lo Pan isn't even married.
AZULA: Well, I guess your friend is the slow one then.
She snaps her fingers, a command that signals Penki to stomp the ground, creating a hole just big enough to swallow the guards down into the abyss with a comical scream. Dan's shackles are of course also broken up now. By the time this happens, Kenora has already freed all of the prisoners, Cho and Lubi rushing towards their coworkers with tears of joy.
CHO: You guys are the best!
AZULA: Who are the rest of these people?
PRISONER: We all failed Lo Pan in some way. He planned on selling us into slavery some place far away.
Everyone is pretty pissed to hear this, Kenora is the most enraged though, seeing how directly slavery is connected to the Water Tribe.
AZULA: Well, it's going to take a while to get everyone out through the elevator.
SAN: Um...
They all stare back the door connecting this "room" and the storage space, a small army of henchmen suddenly appearing.
AZULA: Shit.
Penki has the forethought to rip the bridge apart while everyone gets safely onto the prison platform. A few of the guards are earthbenders, beginning the process of reforming the bridge while others start tossing rocks, which Azula successfully blocks with her fireballs.
AZULA: Alright, the other way then!
DAN: Which other way?
AZULA: Literally just the one that's not this!
The freed prisoners and our heroes make their way down the other side, a staircase leading down to a different door, leading through a series of confusing hallways, an occasional guard knocked down by fire, earth or water, until they reach, unfortunately, a dead end. A tiny room that's clearly part of some water system, a big pool in the middle having a clear stone pipe in it.
KENORA: Everyone, over here!
She has the brilliant idea to decrease the body of water and freezing the door over, giving them the time they need to... do what exactly?
KENORA: Everyone get in and swim through the pipe!
AZULA: That is ridiculous. Why would I-
In spite of her protest, everyone follows the suggestion, even Kenora's co-workers, until, once again, it's only those two left.
KENORA: Come on Azula, you're next!
Azula (trying to make a topknot): Just a minute. Do you happen to have a hairband with you?
A loud thud causes Azula to lose her balance and fall into the water. Through the surface she spots a brave waterbender fighting off the entering earthbenders. No time to overthink it now - with a limited oxygen supply, she heads into the pipe, swimming for about ten seconds before resurfacing in a dark area, the inside of the water system probably. She conjures up a flame to look around. She's completely disoriented, not even beeing able to tell which pipe she came from. Panic starts to show itself through her breathing, which slowly shrinks her fire alongside it.
AZULA: Kenora?
She dives below briefly, though her blue flare's inability to illuminate the dark waters causes her to snap back up again.
AZULA: Kenora!
Her desperate cry echoes through the pipe system, fading into nothing, heard by nobody. Where the other prisoners went, she can't tell, though it was probably just... one direction or the other.
But... she can't leave her behind. Sure, Kenora did some really bad things but the last 24 hours, it was... meeting a completely different person.
Someone new. Someone who excites her.
Her panic gradually morphs into fear, then horror.
AZULA: Kenora!
A mere second later, a wet head of brown hair in a waitress uniform resurfaces with a loud gasp right next to the firebender.
KENORA (out of breath): I had to... hold them off... I think... I got most... most of them...
To her surprise, a raven-haired girl clings onto her, gifting her a hug and the expected facial reaction. She releases Kenora from her grasp and immediately shifts to anger.
AZULA: Don't do something like that again! Ever!
It's probably the completely wrong reaction, but Kenora laughs for a moment.
KENORA: Sure. Deal.
A few more seconds pass where... nothing is said. The two girls simply stare into each other's eyes, honey yellow meets ocean blue. Kenora can't tell in the dim light but... is Azula... is she blushing as well?
AZULA: I have no idea where they went.
She blurts it out like a jack-in-a-box.
KENORA: Uh... yeah. I'm sure they're safe now though.
They both look left and right.
AZULA: Wanna guess?
Kenora nods with a smile.
KENORA: Sure.
The greedy, elderly business tycoon exits his sandbender carriage, cursing his driver as he walks towards one of his many storage spaces. His nails are long and gross, his skin is haunted by wrinkles, and his greedy eyes muster a single earthbender goon. He is wearing simple, but elegant robes, an expensive headpiece just to round it off.
LO PAN: Come on, don't waste my time.
He waves his subordinate aside, indirectly ordering him to open the metal door going up, revealing a garage-like storage room. He flicks on the gas lights and-
Two soaked girls have just exited the water system below, the manhole cover still tossed aside. An odd staring contest ensues.
LO PAN: Who... who are these two?
AZULA: You Lo Pan?
He squints his eyes obnoxiously.
LO PAN: Yes, I am. Who wants to know that?
Immediately, before he could so much as blink, a stream of water escapes Kenora's pocket and restraints the crime boss in ice, causing him to fall over. His henchman retaliates right away, shoving forward a block of earth that could easily-
Within a split-second, Azula moves in front of the girl, copying the man's earthbending stance almost exactly, her arm shoved forward, the flame that exits is enough to destroy the rock and knock out the goon. For the second time today, Kenora's jaw drops. Having noticed her weird looks, Azula reverts to a relaxed stance.
AZULA: Yeah, I know. You spent too much time with earthbenders, you tend to pick some stuff up here and there.
LO PAN (tied up on the ground): You girls... have no idea what you're up against! I am... the most powerful man in this city!
AZULA: For a bit longer at least. Enjoy it while it lasts.
As if this wasn't some life-changing adventure, Azula casually turns to the waterbender, chatting her up in the most casual way possible.
AZULA: You know, without us, it would've taken these idiots at least a month or so to get this done. I'm seriously considering charging them for our help.
It might be the rose-colored-glasses, but for some reason Kenora perceives the firebender as the funniest person ever tonight. At this point she has also given up trying to get rid of her blush.
Back at the Porkchop Express more than a dozen Goldmouth troops have shown up, taking everyone's testimony. Turns out Khali informed the police at just the right time.
AZULA (talking to annoyed policeman): So anyway, I told these guys that I was related to Lo Pan, they totally fell for it - literally! And so then...
Kenora admires her from afar. She briefly sighs at herself, having completely ignored her past self's advice from when she was getting ready for work this morning.
SAN: There you are.
San takes a seat next to her on the pavement, offering a warm cup of tea which the soaked and cold Kenora gladly accepts.
SAN: This is all so crazy. We met you yesterday. And here you are, having saved a whole bunch of people while taking down an evil guy.
Much like when she saved Ty Lee's life, this little quest felt more rewarding than anything Water Tribe related she's ever done. Her victorious joy is briefly frozen the guilt of everything else she did.
KENORA: I uh... I did some bad stuff in the past. I'm... trying to move away from that. I can't... leave it in an instant, but... I can do small steps. Hopefully.
San scoffs heartly.
SAN: I'd say tonight was a pretty big step, Fu. We owe you. You and your girlfriend.
The wonderful sound of that word is forcefully taken down by Kenora's rational side.
KENORA: A- ...Gracie isn't... my girlfriend. She's... just a friend.
Expecting disappointment in San's voice, she finds the polar opposite.
SAN: Well then you better tell her that.
Kenora's gloomy eyes sparkle up quickly again.
KENORA: What?
SAN: Fu, come on. She was here the whole day just for you. Every time I looked over, her eyes were practically glued onto you. She's totally obsessed with you.
Kenora doesn't even know what to say, her doubts and fears all disintegrated and replaced by a powerful tingling sensation of pure joy swirling around her digestive track.
KENORA (emotional): You really think that?
San shrugs.
SAN: Just my honest opinion. You should probably ask her yourself.
San gets up and walks away, Kenora's eyes burning a non-existent whole into her earl gray.
AZULA: What do you want to ask me?
Kenora jolts back up, leaving her mug on the ground as her nervous person stands opposite an Azula crossing her arms.
KENORA: Uh... nothing. Just... work stuff.
Azula nods. Kenora fumbles a bunch of words in her head before finally having the guts to say something.
KENORA: I just wanted to-
AZULA: Me first.
Kenora nods politely.
AZULA: I am nowhere near trusting you, let alone pardoning your actions, but... you have been pretty cool just now. Gracie might get used to Fu over time.
Kenora appreciates those words from the bottom of her heart, yet she feels it is not enough.
KENORA: I... can't say what our future holds. I have no idea how to deal with this whole... mess. But I will promise not to hurt you or your friends ever again.
Intrigued, Azula smirks at that.
AZULA: High goals there. We'll see if you can keep that promise.
The conversation suddenly comes to a grinding halt, a thousand ideas about what to say next rushing through Kenora's head.
AZULA: Um... listen, I uh... I should probably head home now. I am... fully drenched in what I can only hope is not sewer water, though based on the smell, it probably is.
Not wanting to let her go so soon, Kenora has the most brilliant idea ever.
KENORA: Come with me.
AZULA: What?
She drags the firebender into a nearby alleyway, removed well enough from any noisy spectators, most of which are fixated on the events at the Porkchop Express.
AZULA: What is it?
KENORA: Hold still.
Azula against the wall, Kenora takes a breather before gently bending all of the water out of her black hair and clothes, dropping it with a splash on the ground.
AZULA: Huh. That is so much more useful than when Ty Lee...
The girl who always has a comment up her sleeve falls silent. Kenora is doing the same trick on herself, stripping away the moisture in one elegant swoop. Her hair does look better like this. It... it does. But... but why is Azula noticing this - why is she so fixated on this all of a sudden? The strange sensation that had been slowly building itself up from the ground in her stomach feels like it's growing, pulsating with the beat of her heart. The sensation is not one of fear or angst like she had been having recently, it's one that makes her forget all of those bad things pretty quickly.
And now she blushes too.
It takes Kenora a bit longer than she's proud of to notice, though it immediately causes her face to react the same, again. Azula, feeling a bit dizzy, suddenly focuses on Kenora's necklace, which has slipped out of her uniform and is not out in the open. The firebender takes a step forward and gently grabs it, admiring it with her own face not very far apart from the waterbender's. Kenora is, throughout all of this, experiencing something akin to a short-circuit.
AZULA (soft): This little thing, huh? That caused both of us a lot of trouble a while ago. Remember?
No response. As her eyes wander back up to meet Kenora's, it's pretty much over. The tingling sensation inside her grows ever more, a beacon of light that casts out all of the shadow in her body.
She remembers the words of the fortuneteller...
WU: I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I don't see a boy in your future, nor a man for that matter.
...and their conversation from last night...
AZULA: So... you know you're into girls because you kissed one? And liked it, presumably.
Kenora nods, still blushing.
Kenora feels like she's on the verge of a heart attack, both their eyes stuck to each other like four magnets who can't look away.
It all happens so fast - everything in her life happens too fast for Azula. With a vague sense of Why, guided solely by the feeling in her stomach, she instigates the kiss with her eyes closed.
A soft, quiet, beautiful moment of heaven racing through Kenora's body, a sensation that feels like it's eternal and by Sedni, it should be.
Yet eventually, she opens her eyes again. What she finds standing in front of her is a girl on the verge of tears, a tremendous cascade of regret pulling the both of them back to Earth.
AZULA (teary): Why did I...
Now it all happens so fast for Kenora. A stumble, gasping, then... a girl running away. She should be happy. Kenora could just go home with this feeling, enjoy it for what it was and never think about it again.
What an insane idea and an even more insane lie she would have to tell herself. She can't chase after her like this. But she has crossed a threshold now.
She can't go back now.
Azula burst the door to her room open with the force of an avalanche. She has in the meantime switched to full-on sobbing, more than she did because of Aang or anything else before. The light inside her has been corrupted, darkened, and is now causing her to hyperventilate.
You foolish girl! This all happened because of YOU! You should've LISTENED TO ME!
AZULA (teary): SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!
Sabachi crawls into the corner of the room, her ears lowered as she makes a sad chirping noise.
She knocks over some stuff, continues her tirade, until she eventually reaches her dressing table, a mirrored image of a frightened, confused girl who has never let her emotions take over like this and is now too scared of what she has found. She grabs her messy hair, pulls it, starts blaming it for what she did. She can never wear it loose like that again - she can never allow Kenora-
More panic boiling up inside her, she rips open the drawer, crams out a pair of scissors and starts the process. It's messy, hastily done, with no even cuts or uniform technique. She will remove that vial thing upon her head.
Maybe then her world will be whole again.
She looks up at her reflection again. Stress is written on her face, but also a strange sense of... purpose. She could run away - tonight. Leave it all behind and pray that, after just one good deed, that the Avatar and his friends would accept her.
No. It's too early. She has too much to fix before that. One thing above all.
One girl above all.
She storms out of the bathroom, hastily searching the apartment.
KENORA: Kanna? Kanna, are you home?
She runs over to the kitchen.
KENORA: Kanna, we need to-
She halts in her tracks. The old woman is quietly sitting outside. Too quiet, as is frozen.
As Kenora enters the backyard, Kanna reacts with a significant delay, eyeing Kenora almost as if she were a stranger. In her hand, a secret message.
KANNA: The Water Tribe sent for us. Our mission ends in a few days.
Kenora can feel her world shattering below her feet.
KANNA: Katara herself is coming to get us.
Only now does the girl realize Kanna has been crying.
KANNA: We only had so little time here. We... we can't go back. Can we?
She looks over to her younger counterpart, whose confidence is just as melted as hers.
It can't end like this. She can't go back to her old life, pretend like nothing happened.
Her legs like jelly, her world sinking below her, Kenora conjures up the strength to stand upright.
Fear is a powerful force, but hope is stronger. Tonight, Kenora saw that hope, saw what it could do, saw what it could change.
She felt it just for a moment in that kiss.
Tears in her eyes, her hands clenched with anger, and her cheeks red like blood, she gives Kanna an assertive look that the Chief-Mother never dreamt of seeing in all of her life.
KENORA: It's time we stop running.
