A/N: And she feels like home. If the shoe fits, walk in it, everywhere you go. Love and be loved. Read… and review!

Pretty Girl

[Spring 121 AG]

"Alright, let's end with updates. What has been going on since we last met a few months ago?

"I can start us off?"

"Thank you, Lomin, that would work."

Sitting at a collection of tables in the Kyoshi Library is a council of eleven women of various ages. Sunlight stripes the room through the window slots. It's stuffy, the warm weather coming earlier than expected after a cool and foggy morning. All the women, from the eldest senior to the youngest girl, don the traditional garb and makeup. Only their headpieces and place at the table deviates from one another and denotes their position.

"In this last season, we saw six of our elders pass away in our main village," Lomin starts, sighing. "Conversely, we saw nine newborns. This marks our sixth season in the last seven in which we saw growth. Our population count is now at a post-Decimation high, and we've finally reached the low of the six years of pre-Decimation numbers. We've got a good storage of crops and supplies. The spoils of the Earth Kingdom's investment in Republic City have finally come to pass for us."

"Excellent," Suki nods. "Detailed as always. Next?"

Neken clears her throat and sits up straight. "As mentioned at last season's meeting, our group was tasked with renovating the Northern Air Temple. Things are going well since renovations have begun."

Hearing her friend go, Kare pipes up, "Not much for me to report. I was stationed in Caldera this past season and there really isn't much going on. The Crown Princess is fit and healthy. She'd make a fine Kyoshi Warrior."

"Certainly." Suki replies.

"Ahem," a small voice gets the attention of the leader.

"Yes, Milong? Anything to report?"

Milong bows her head slightly towards Suki. "Well, uh, no, I don't have much to report, as usual. But if possible I'd like to talk after the meeting with you?"

A little surprised, Suki nods. "Yes, of course."

Hoyo goes next. "Crops haven't come back as well as we wished on the Eastern Shore. May need your presence to assist."

"Noted."

A girl with grey eyes and brown hair sits forward. "I recently heard a rumor about a Republic City mobster-"

"That's enough, Ty Lee."

There's a tense silence in response to Suki cutting her off. Finally, Koro adds, "Well, Huwan is struggling, although we did recently take in a Fire Nation refugee."

Ears pricked, Suki asks, "Did you put her through processing?"

"Yes, ma'am. We did our homework. Fully vetted her. She's clean."

Suki holds eye contact with Koro for a moment. Finally, she turns to the next Kyoshi Warrior. "Soph?"

"Nothing to report."

Suki narrows her eyes at this but looks to the next one in line. "And you, young Soye?"

The eight year old sits up still as a board. "Our island has three more girls ready for training."

"Excellent. And what have you, Lane?"

"Well, a lot has happened since last season," she huffs. "The famed Kemurikage dispersed from Republic City, motivations unknown."

"I heard. Have you located their cell?"

"No, Ma'am. The rumor has it," she trails off.

"Hmm?"

"Well, the rumor has it that the head of the snake was cut off."

"And you don't believe it?"

"It's just," Lane pauses. "If they were, they're not acting like it. If they were rogue, we would've found them. If they were leaderless, they would've slipped up by now."

"Any sightings at all?"

"A podunk village between here and Chameleon Bay."

"What did they do there? Burn it down?"

"That's just it. They didn't. And it just… it doesn't make any sense?"

"How so?"

"The villagers concede that they came to pass, but no one will speak on what they wanted. It's like the whole village agreed to remain silent on their motivations."

Snorting through her nose a bit, Suki shakes her head. "That's ridiculous."

"I agree," Lane shrugs. "Part of me wonders if the villagers killed them and buried them in secret. But that wouldn't make sense either, the leader of this place is a piece of work. He would've put their skulls on spikes on the bridge into the village. It's like they just… vanished."

Lomin interjects, "What an unceremonious ending to them. After nearly twenty years of tormenting, they just puffed away like smoke?"

Suki shakes her head. "Keep your ear to the ground. I've fought the Kemurikage in different forms and in different fields over the years. Perhaps they're hiding in plain sight, amongst the villagers of that village. Or another village that we haven't heard from yet. It's what they do best."

"We will, Ma'am."

Suki looks around the room at her fellow warriors. She finally says, "That will be all. Council adjourned."

The group is exiting the room while Suki and Lomin whisper to each other. Lomin notices a meek girl approaching and nods towards her. Suki turns around and sees the black haired girl fidgeting, rubbing her hands together again and again. Suki turns back to Lomin and motions for her second-in-command to make her own leave.

"Hello, Milong. How goes things?"

"They're well, Ma'am. As well as can be, no doubt about that."

Suki forces a smile. "Tell me, Milong. What is on your mind?"

"Well, um, I-I believe that I've come across something important."

"Don't hem and haw. Out with it."

"There's a new villager and I saw her wielding blue fire."

Suki's expression changes. Her whole body shifts as she becomes more attentive. "You saw what?"

"Yes, well, as you know, I know you know, but there isn't much going on around my post. So when I heard someone had moved into that old space that Ty Lee once occupied, I decided to investigate."

"You spied on them?"

"No!" She replies instantly. The look on Suki's face says she disagrees. Milong sighs in defeat, "I suppose."

"Was it a woman?"

"Yes."

"What did she look like?"

"She's older than me, about your age. Dark hair. Short. That's about all that I've seen of her."

"You're sure it was blue fire?"

"I believe so, yes."

"You know what that would mean, right?"

"I remember when she came to this island, Ma'am."

"Then you know we can't be wrong about this. The consequences could be dire."

"I understand!"

"Especially because she's been dead for many years now."

"I know, Ma'am. But still," she makes direct eye contact. She doesn't waver. "I saw what I saw."

"Who else have you told about this?"

"No one."

"Okay. Let's keep it that way for now. I need to investigate this but we may need to get my husband or maybe even the Avatar involved. At the very least Earth Kingdom soldiers and the other Warriors."

"Should I rally troops from the mainland? Write to the nearest battalion? Or warn the other girls?"

"No. No, let me investigate first. I don't want to cause a panic if you were mistaken. The hysteria would be too much."

"Yes, of course. That's partially why I didn't bring it up in front of everyone."

"Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Milong. This is the kind of thing that could get you free of that post eventually–if you're correct."

Her blue eyes sparkle when she hears this last bit. Suki dismisses her soon after. Milong returns to her post on the Nokizo Village Island with daydreams in her mind of finally coming home.

The trip to the Nokizo Village Island is not a simple one. Suki boards a row boat and makes her way to the island, pushing against the water and coasting when possible. Despite the warmth outside, the coolness of the water gives her a bit of a chill. She wears a red scarf and in between rows, while coasting, she pulls it closer. She doesn't bring Lomin or Ty Lee or anyone with her. She doesn't even invite Milong. This is a delicate matter and others should not be brought into it.

'This is my plight to carry.' She thinks.

After rowing for a while she finally arrives at the dock. She secures the boat with rope and turns to face the island. There's a watch tower that sits up at the highest point on the island, above even the tallest homes. She treks up the small hill into a dirt path, tred into the grass. It winds its way up through the little village. There aren't many homes, at least a few of them sit empty. It's a quiet place, somewhere that a listless poet could get lost, and tired soldiers could come to rest.

Suki walks up to the one story house, which is somehow even more secluded from the other homes, on an island already hidden from the rest of the world. She last visited this home many moons ago, when her friend needed to be brought home from the brink. She stands outside and tries to peer through the window sills. She sees no one. She hears nothing. She scopes out her surroundings. Finally, she approaches and knocks.

No answer.

Quiet enough to not attract attention, but loud enough for someone inside to hear, "Anyone home?"

The wind whistles and she swears she hears a rattle inside.

She tells the old home, "This is Suki, is anyone home?"

The door cracks open suddenly. Through the slit a single amber eye peers out. A tuft of raven black hair cascades down. She judges the intruder.

"What do you want?" The woman whispers through the crack.

Suki leans into it, eyes lining up with the amber ones. She stares into the eyes as she whispers back.

"You stupid bitch, you got spotted by the one Warrior on the whole island."

"Fuck!" Azula curses. "Does this mean I have to leave?"

"Maybe, maybe not. Guess we'll find out."

Azula groans and gently smacks her head into the door crack. After this she looks back and their eyes meet again. She asks her, "You wanna come in, Pretty Girl?"

"I thought you'd never ask."

Azula unlatches the door and opens it wide. Suki enters the house and the amber eyed woman notes, "I was wondering when you would finally come see me. It's been a few weeks now."

She closes and locks the door after Suki enters. The auburn haired woman walks in and mumbles, "Been meaning to, just haven't had the time."

Azula considers a jab about if it was Ty Lee living here she'd come to visit. Instead, a flair of red catches her eye. She grabs it and pulls the owner back. Suki turns and stumbles into Azula's arms. She whispers to her, "I love your scarf."

Suki grips the clothes of her one time enemy. She holds onto them tightly, and looks up into her eyes. They're only inches away, as she whispers back, "If you ask nicely maybe I'll get you your own."

A smile curling on her lips, Azula replies, "My wife should be able to tell you that I only know how to do things roughly, Pretty Girl."

Suki grips Azula's wrist and begins to twist, "Maybe I like it that way, Empress?"

In one fluid motion she twists the wrist away from her, firmly but not forcefully. Azula uses her free hand to smack Suki's hand and free her own, laughing loudly. She turns and leads her further into the home, still laughing. Finally, she asks, "Ahhh, so, who's the girl that found me?"

Suki sits down at the kitchen table while Azula sets to making tea. Suki crosses her legs and tucks her scarf away. She answers, "Her name is Milong."

"Milong?" Azula asks, while doing her task. She begins speaking in different accents and different ways to pronounce the name. "Milong? Mi-long? Mil-ong? M-ilong?"

"Yes, Milong." Suki doesn't play along.

"So, how did Milong come to this most glorious post?"

"Don't you want to know how she made you?" She asks as Azula comes and sits down across from her. She slides her a cup of tea.

Suki lifts it up and sips as Azula replies. "I don't care about my mistakes. I want to know what led her to search. Know your enemy first and the rest is easy."

Suki takes a long sigh. She launches into the tale. "She was sentenced to Nokizo because she was a deserter."

"Deserter from what?"

"Does it matter?"

"It does." Azula insists, sipping from her own tea.

Suki groans. "There was a killer. They called them a 'butcher.'"

"How many people did he kill?"

"Only one confirmed."

"That's a shit butcher."

"Or a great one."

Azula leans in.

"He was spotted on the island. Milong was ordered to keep eyes on him. But she was rattled and when push came to shove, she deserted the island."

"How do you know he didn't chase her out?"

"Because she returned and confessed to her sins."

"I would've beheaded her on the spot." Azula says without blinking.

"I showed her mercy." Suki defends her past actions.

"Killing can be its own mercy."

Suki rolls her eyes. "I'd like to see you in my shoes; you be the one to decide whether to spare a life or take it. I don't think you'd find it so easy."

Azula shrugs as she leans back. "I see your point. When I was the Empress-"

"Was?"

"-I had a hard time escaping my own empire. It's difficult to be the one to make the hard choices."

"I'd like to get back to the 'was' part of this, that you so simply breezed past."

Azula continues to ignore her barbs. "But ultimately, I've killed more for less. So I would've beheaded my dear, sweet Milong."

"A war general in an armchair. A pai sho player with soldiers. You discard their lives because you've never been the one at risk."

"Haven't I? Perhaps you've forgotten my father, the beloved and peaceful Ozai. Gave me all the warm hugs I could ask for."

Pivoting, Suki counters, "You don't know what it was like, rebuilding this island."

"No, but I certainly had a hand in keeping it afloat."

"After Koh's Disciples, I needed people. Bodies. The people needed hope."

"There's a thin line between needing something and being desperate."

"Ha!" Suki reproaches her head in laughter. "Desperate? You don't know desperate. You're the Crown Princess, the Dragon Empress. You've never been desperate a day of your life."

Azula grows hostile, "I went to the other side of the world in search of being forgotten. And you couldn't let me go."

"Tell me, Empress, were you desperate when you killed Ayon?"

"I know Death." Azula fires back. "I've courted it in many places; I've seen it in every corner of this Earth. Ayon met Death in my arms; but I repaid that debt tenfold when I saved you and your precious island from annihilation."

Suki sits back, calming down.

Azula continues, "The least you could've done was bring me on board when I asked."

"I was younger then. More vengeful. I resented you for lying and saying Ty had died."

"To be fair, I thought she had."

"It's not very funny."

"I wasn't joking."

"Do you know what it was like for her? For me? When she finally clawed her way back here, exhausted and barely alive. It was terrifying."

"I know exactly how it felt. Relief. A weight off my chest. On your island or that city. It was relief."

"Does it bring you relief for me to tell you that Zirin is dead?" Suki pivots again.

"Not even a little bit." Azula doesn't break stride.

"No?"

"Because she's not."

"Every report out of the city says-"

"Says what?" Azula cuts her off. Chuckling to herself she asks, "That a Queenpin died mysteriously without a body or a trace?"

Azula raises her eyebrows and waits for Suki to reply. Suki leans back and nods in acknowledgement. She looks away and then back at those familiar golden eyes. She offers, "The Kemurikage have scattered to the wind. A snake without its head, as my council said today."

"They came right for me. Not even you were so audacious."

"They left the village standing, in case you were wondering."

"What else became of the village?"

"Nothing. At least nothing of report. They kept your identity a secret to my closest collection of warriors. I'm truly surprised."

Azula doesn't say anything in response as her mind wanders to the little dragon of Lanxi, her resilient father, the 'uncle' with missing teeth, and a dauntless leader who sucked at Pai Sho. She felt an ache in her stomach but paid it no mind.

Suki cuts into her daydream. "I have always wondered how you did it."

"And I've been wondering how Ty Lee lived on this shit island for three years. This is bigger than my old place, sure, but so dreary!"

"Azula."

The black haired woman turns to look at the brunette sitting across from her. The leader of the Kyoshi Warriors stares at her with all the sullen seriousness of a woman who had seen and survived war throughout her lifetime.

"What happened in Republic City?" She asks slowly. Azula stares her dead in the eye and doesn't reply. She continues, "If Zirin is truly dead, then you're the last living person on Earth who can tell the story."

"Is that so?" Azula strings her along. She questions, "What do they say of the demise of the Dragon Empress?"

"I'm more interested in hearing it from the Empress, herself."

"I've never even told Ty Lee about what happened in Republic City. But you think I'm going to tell you?"

"With every fiber of my being. I want to paint the picture throughout history. I know it in my very bones that you'll tell me."

Azula chuckles some more at this. She reminisces on Ty Lee's bravado as well. "You non-benders always impress me. You always find a way to unearth some unearned sense of confidence. Even when faced with insurmountable odds. It's admirable, honestly."

"Do I detect a little equalist in you?"

"I haven't the slightest idea what you mean. Equalist?"

"The idea that benders and nonbenders should be equal?"

"That hardly seems radical."

"They stand opposite of bender supremacist, who believe that benders are inherently greater. That's an oversimplification, but I think-"

"Well they're right too," Azula juts in without hesitation. "I am better than others."

"Well, speaking of unearned confidence."

Azula can't help but laugh at Suki's barb. The brunette asks her, "Surely this isn't your actual first time hearing of these things?"

"No, you're right. I've heard them before," she acknowledges. "I just never cared to sit down and discern the two."

"Tell me," Suki says when the thought comes to her mind. "Did you ever run into Laling in your Empress days?"

"That was the woman in Cranefish Town, yes?"

"Indeed."

"Hmm," she chews on it a second. "Not that I'm aware of. My empire may have had dealings with her, but none that I was consciously aware of or personally involved in."

"Fascinating. So you think it's possible Laling or other people engaged with the Dragon Empress without ever actually meeting you?"

"I'm sure. There was always more going on than I knew."

"I can relate to that. Managing the Kyoshi Warriors feels like that often. So much going on, always a new challenge."

"Which brings us back to why you're here. Protecting the hidden identity of a 'dead' woman who is actually alive, from a living woman who should actually be dead."

Shrugging, Suki replies, "Something like that."

"So, does this mean I have to leave?"

Now Suki is the one who chews on the question. She thinks it over. Finally, she replies.

"No, but you need to be more careful. Maybe talk to her to throw her off your obnoxiously suspicious trail."

Azula leans back and stares at Suki. She ponders the woman, who is so wrapped in her own head that she doesn't pay it any mind. Until she feels the eyes of the woman across from her. She turns her head ever so slightly at Azula.

"Yes?"

"I'm just surprised. You've kept my secret to this point. From so many, least of all your husband and close associates. Some of the most powerful people on the Earth."

"Hmm," she hums. "Sokka keeps his own secrets. But besides that, I'm surprised too."

"So then why have you?"

"The story your wife wove when she first admitted it to me and your brother. It was as obvious to me then as it is now."

"What's that?"

Suki picks up her cup and what remains of her tea. She swishes it around a bit. It's a bit of theatrics. She holds Azula's attention as she pauses for effect. Finally, she looks right into those golden dead eyes.

"That the Dragon Empress will never rise again."

Suki tugs her scarf closer as she approaches the door. She turns, the floorboard creaking on the spot as she does. Azula nearly walks into her, stopping just short. She starts up then stops. She looks the woman up and down as she pauses. Finally, she relays her message.

"I promised Ty Lee that I'd keep your location secret. But if Milong found you, others will too. Maybe not for a while, but someday. You can't be here when that day comes."

Azula reaches her hands up to Suki's neck. The brunette doesn't blink. Azula grabs the scarf and fiddles with it. Without returning the eye contact, she tells her, "I'll make my arrangements."

"And Ty Lee?"

"If Zirin is out there, she's safer here."

"And if she's dead?"

Azula finally compromises a little. She offers Suki a crumb. "One of my closest allies has gone silent. Deafeningly quiet."

"And that's what's convinced you she's still alive?"

"Whether she's alive or dead, my contact disappearing is all the more reason to leave Ty Lee here."

"So where will you go?"

Azula stops fiddling with the scarf. She looks at Suki's eyes. A sly smile spreads upon her lips.

"I think I'll go in search of Asuna," she replies. She cocks an eyebrow. "You mentioned once that she was a gender betrayer. Where did you learn that?"

"Just knowledge that was passed down," Suki shrugs. Azula frowns. Surprised, Suki continues. "Did you think it was written down? She lived and died hundreds of years ago."

"I've found writings before, and I hope I can find more."

"Hmmm," Suki hums as she turns back towards the door.

"Yes?" Azula asks as she follows.

"I may know a good place to start then."

"Well, keep it to yourself for now," Azula chirps as they arrive at the door. "We'll chat next time you come to visit."

Suki grabs the door handle and turns sideways to look back at the black haired woman. "Should I tell your wife she can make her way?"

"You don't need to do that." Azula waves her off.

Suki opens the door. In the dark of night, she makes out a figure approaching. It's a tall, thin, fit, feminine physique. Hair falling down her back in a classic, braided ponytail. She makes her way for the secluded house that she once called home. Suki chuckles to herself and shakes her head.

"Of course," she mutters. She turns back to the occupant. Quietly she tells her, "Farewell, Empress."

"Until next time," a smile curls on Azula's lips. "Pretty Girl."

A/N: Hello! Yes! I am alive! I'm so glad to be back and writing again. I think some of the more canon-heavy folks will enjoy this book. There's going to be a lot happening with the state of the world around Azula. She's going to undergo her own sort of evolutions. This book will feature many time skips, just like Book 1 had and sort of like in Book 2. It's going to be so fun. I'm really excited. Which is a nice change, for me. I'm going to be blunt and honest with you all. The last year of my personal life has been relatively horrible. I left a job and a home that I loved and could afford. Moved across the country with my wife and cats for an exciting new opportunity to 'climb the ladder,' and it all just sort of backfired. The job I was in was the most toxic working environment I could possibly imagine. It was very high stress and that stress manifested itself in physical health conditions and mental health problems. I got to a really low place, which I hadn't been in like 10-15 years. So, I did the logical thing and I got a new job. I found something else that was no longer in my field. I built a career working in Higher Education (10+ years!) and I simply left it all behind. It was hard to do but necessary. I've been at this new job & field for a month and am much happier and not as stressed. I hope this helps me to reset and get back to loving writing and life again. I promised I would never abandon any fic ever again: DE:TLOA will not break that promise! I hope you enjoy what you'll find in this book and what it all means for the next phase of Azula's life. Thank you for reading and I hope you continue to do so! This chapter's OST is "willow" by Taylor Swift.

Love always. Tyzula forever.

Notorious