Chapter 4

Freed from the burden of ruling a country, Azula devoted all of her energy to scheming. The only subordinates that she continued to meet with were her spymaster, and the liaison to the general in the Earth Kingdom: the people who would help her find Aang.

"I propose sending a battalion to the Southern Air Temple, my lord." The spymaster announced grandly in one of their first meetings.

As soon as Azula heard the name of Aang's childhood home, she was sure that was exactly where he was. Of course he would go back to his past, the sentimental fool.

"No," she murmured.

The spymaster glanced at his assistant, confused at her hesitation.

"A smaller force, my lord? A stealth attack?" He suggested uncertainly.

"No," she said louder, sure now. She still wasn't ready. She didn't want to catch him yet, not until she had a plan. "Continue to search for the Resistance. I know that was where he was headed."

The hunt for the Resistance was ongoing, producing a dizzying number of leads. The dispatches from the Earth Kingdom required deciphering, plotting on maps, and weighing evidence. Zuko's organization was a many-headed monster. There were multiple local groups that did not communicate with each other consistently, some of which did not appear to have any relation at all with the leaders, but had sprung up spontaneously. Azula would spend her entire morning reading the daily report, and the afternoon plotting a course of action and drafting orders. She focused exclusively on gathering intelligence, and infiltrating the organization, instead of continuing the attacks on civilians that her father had perpetrated. (She had always thought those raids were bad for long-term strategy.) By the time dinner was over, she was depleted.

And when her energy was lowest, and she felt most discouraged, that was when her spirits had their revenge on her. She spent her evenings pacing her throne room, both plagued by her guests and completely alone. It was as if she presided over a council of warring advisors, each offering disjointed, conflicting advice over what to do next. Her plans kept changing, as every night she heard a chorus of voices advising different tactics. Her fragmented thoughts swirled around her, as her council tore all her strategies to pieces.

"You must bring them both back here, and execute them together!" Father thundered.

"But will that make you happy, dear?" Mother fretted.

"It doesn't matter," Mai said in her usual flat monotone. "None of these ideas will work."

"You can do better than this," Aang whispered.

"If that's true, then why did you choose her?" Azula screamed at him. He disappeared, because she had just proved he had been right to run away from her.

The following evening she felt somewhat optimistic about the network her people had established, and could almost see her way to victory. "I can blame Father's murder on the waterbender, and have her executed. Then I'll pardon Aang, and marry him!" Azula announced her latest plan to her ghosts.

"You call that justice? No, justice would mean your own execution, traitor! Patricide!" Father yelled.

"You think I could ever love you if you have Katara killed?" Aang asked, horrified.

"Wonderful beginning to a marriage," Mai snarked. "I'm sure that would be super satisfying for you both. Nothing turns a guy on more than killing his girlfriend."

Azula sank to the floor and stared into the flames in her hearth: her own desire, consuming her.

"Forget about the Avatar and just eliminate the Resistance! Hunt down your worthless brother like I told you to!" Father ordered her the next night.

"Not my little boy!" Mother sobbed.

"I'm not comfortable with that," Aang cringed.

"You think that would be any easier?" Mai scoffed. "There's a reason none of your goons have captured us yet."

"What I need to do is infiltrate this Resistance." Azula calculated. "I need eyes and ears inside."

"Good luck with that." Mai snickered. "If we had any traitors, we would have been captured by now."

"I suppose it takes one to know one," Azula retorted.

"It certainly does," her father snapped at her, murder in his eyes. It was a good thing her voices couldn't actually hurt her.

"You won't find them because they trust each other," Aang explained.

"Why didn't you trust me?" she wailed. He didn't answer.

"I know. I can separate the Avatar from his paramour, then lure her to the desert, where she can't waterbend!" Azula suggested the next time she was alone with her spectral companions.

"Oooh, tricky," Ty Lee bounced with glee.

Mai pursed her lips and tilted her head to the side, mildly impressed.

"Not a bad first step," Father conceded.

Aang gasped and covered his heart.

"What if I capture the peasant, and keep her imprisoned, but don't kill her?" She proposed, trying to appease her inner pacifist, her inner punisher, and her own desire.

"That might work!" Ty Lee, ever the optimist, piped up.

"You think that's any better? Mai scoffed.

"I couldn't forgive you if you murder Katara," Aang vowed quietly, "and I won't move on from her as long as she lives. You know I could break her out of any prison."

"Life in prison for regicide? You've got to be kidding!" Father burst out.

"I could keep it secret," Azula protested.

"And let my murder go unavenged?" Father's chest puffed up in indignation.

"What else can she do, execute herself?" Mai sassed the late Fire Lord. "You do remember she's the one who really killed you, right?"

"He's just concerned with matters of reputation, dear," Mother confided in an undertone. "If no one is punished for killing him, then it's like he's being disregarded in death. And it would hurt your reputation as a loving daughter and pious Fire Lord, if you just let the Avatar remain free."

"So all I have to do is make it look like she's died, and lock her up, and then Father will have justice in public, and Aang will love me." Azula tried to craft a compromise.

"I won't," he insisted, crossing his arms.

"A marriage built on a lie?" Mother asked softly, "Honey, I wanted better than that for you."

Azula burst into tears. "I'm trying my best," she whimpered.

"You still haven't learned your lesson," Mai shook her head.

"What am I supposed to learn?" The despondent ruler implored the friend who had abandoned her.

"If I have to tell you, then you haven't learned it yet," The knife-thrower answered. "You always did have to learn things the hard way."

Raiden returned from Shu Jing just in time for his guard shift, heading straight from Piandao's estate to report for duty. It was a good thing he'd worn his uniform. As he paced the battlements beside his closest friends, Takeo and Naoki, he wished he could tell them about Piandao's news, but they didn't even know he was in the White Lotus. He wouldn't be able to explain how he knew about his promotion ahead of time, and it would be too suspicious.

Luckily, he didn't have to keep the secret for long. The following evening at dinner with the squadron, Captain Jinan made the announcement. Raiden faked surprise credibly enough, and accepted the congratulations of the whole unit.

When he sat back down, Raiden noticed that Takeo was quiet and stiff. Well, more so than usual. He'd stopped eating, when usually his appetite was bottomless. "Are you ok?"

Takeo sighed. "I'm happy for you. I really am. I just know when my parents hear a guy my age made captain…."

Raiden winced. Takeo's father was a colonel, and his mother's father had been a general in Sozin's army. They expected their son to uphold the family's military tradition, and rise in the ranks at an unprecedented pace. The new captain hated to think that his promotion would be used against his friend by his overly ambitious parents. He briefly considered confessing the White Lotus's role in securing his new position, but immediately dismissed the idea. Growing up as he had, Takeo would consider the ancient brotherhood a circle of traitors. And legally, he would be correct. But Raiden considered himself loyal to a deeper principle than what passed for patriotism in today's army. His orders came from a higher power than even the Fire Lord.

"Well, no reason they have to find out, right?" Raiden tried to make his voice bright, "You don't have to visit them anytime soon. We're moving into the palace barracks. Guards are on duty almost 24/7."

"They have lunch with Jinan and his wife every week. They'll find out." Takeo informed him glumly.

Raiden's mouth twisted in sympathy, and he met Naoki's eyes. Probably the Colonel expected that meeting so regularly with their son's commanding officer would have made him first in line for a better position. He might even feel personally slighted when he heard the news. It made Raiden wonder exactly what strings Piandao had pulled to displace Takeo, and put a brother in charge of the Fire Lord's personal guard. He swallowed, and focused on helping his disappointed friend see the bright side. "I'm sorry if my promotion makes you look bad in the eyes of your unreasonable parents, but surely having a high-ranking friend can only help your career! I can make sure you get more chances to distinguish yourself."

"I don't want any special treatment." Takeo answered gruffly.

"It wouldn't be special treatment. You're a great soldier. Let's not let this come between us. Bunk 8 forever, right?" Raiden referred to the room they had shared during boot camp, the place their friendship had been born, and held out his arm for their personal salute.

With a grudging half grin, Takeo repeated his words and action. "Bunk 8 forever." He picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of his neglected dumplings. After he swallowed, his demeanor was more relaxed, and he turned back to his new captain. "I'm sorry for spoiling your good news. It's just that my mom and dad put so much pressure on me…"

"No, I get it," Raiden assured him. He was grateful that his own parents were much more laid back. They had even encouraged his questioning spirit. Ironically, their unorothodoxy had led him to join the White Lotus, and get promoted, while the ultra-traditionalism of his friend's parents indirectly held him back.

Relieved that the small crisis had passed, Naoki changed the subject to their weekend plans. "We have to celebrate. Do you think Akane will be free?"

Raiden grinned at his girlfriend's name. "Sure hope so."

Appa landed in a clearing near the riverbank. Before Katara could get her bearings and direct them toward the meeting place, several people appeared from between the trees.

Sokka and Ty Lee were the first ones they saw. Katara ran toward her brother and he swept her into a grateful embrace, then pulled her braid. Ty Lee landed a cartwheel at Aang's feet and hugged him, both laughing.

More people followed into the clearing, interested to meet the Avatar and his flying bison. Katara began providing introductions. "Aang, this is Jet, and Longshot, and Smellerbee, Iroh, of course, and I suppose you remember Zuko?" Katara gestured to a young man Aang recognized from his distinctive scar, even though almost everything else about him had changed in the past six years. Instead of a shaved head, armor, and a scowl, the banished prince now wore a respectable topknot, a rough tunic, and a guarded smile.

"I certainly do. It's good to meet you again under better circumstances. I'm happy to join you all." Aang bowed twice to the crowd, first in the Fire Nation fashion, then the Earth Kingdom style.

"And we welcome you, Avatar Aang, with a greater joy than we have known these many years," Iroh announced. "And now, we feast!"

Author's Note: Thanks for reading! Please leave me a review! I'll update again on Friday.