CHAPTER 9
The air in the pub turned cold and dense.
"Zuko." her sibling's name escaped like a whisper from her lips. Her body as a reflection took a step back, making her back crash against the counter. She gulped hard.
I knew it! That bastard tattled on me, she thought. Next time I see him, I'm going to rip his head off.
Her eyes went instantly to the Imperial Guards escorting her sibling, and then to her brother.
Zuko stood tall by the door. He was taller than she remembered him. Almost a head taller than her, and it was evident that he had been working out. He was brawnier than ever. His hair was longer, brushing his shoulders. He had grown a lot in the years they had spent apart.
"Hey," the Fire Lord took a step forward, but Azula's first reaction was to step back and take a defensive stance.
Zuko froze in place when he noticed that and desisted any further attempt to approach.
He raised his hands to show her that he didn't mean her harm. "Wait! I'm not here for a fight." he assured her, calmly.
"Prove it!" she refuted.
"Alright," said Zuko, dropping one hand. "Captain Tai-Cho, Reiko, please leave us alone and wait outside." he signaled his guards.
"Yes, my Lord." they both said at the same time with a bow.
"And make sure no one comes inside. The Princess and I need to have a chat." he commanded them. Azula was surprised by how deep his voice was now. It was almost like hearing Ozai talk, but with a sweeter tone.
"Yes, my Lord." they both replied again.
Azula relaxed a little bit, lowering her hands. After all, she could always fight Zuko if need be. And in case he tried to trick her, to capture her, she could always use the back door to escape.
She knew not only the pub better but also the town itself more so than her sibling, so she would have no problem in doing it.
Once the guards closed the front door of the pub, Azula spoke.
"Princess?" she quirked a brow. She hasn't been called that in a very, very long time. "I think we both know that I don't hold that title anymore." she said, crossing her arms.
"You are my sister, therefore you do." Zuko assured her, "And you always will be
Princess. It's your birthright."
Motoi raised his head, and with widened eyes glanced at Azula. "Y-You really… really are P-Princess A-Azula?" he stammered, then looked back at Zuko. "It's an h-honor to have two members of the Royal Family in my humble pub." he bowed again in deference.
"Thanks." the Fire Lord gave a small smile to the old man. "You may raise, there is no need for that."
"C-Can I get you anything to eat or drink?" he asked them.
"Some tea would be fine." Zuko said with a small smile.
"Right away." said the barman, heading towards the back of the pub a little clumsily.
"Tea?" she smirked. "You are turning into our Uncle." she sneered.
"I think I am." he admitted, side smiling.
Zuko studied her sibling fixedly.
The last time he had seen her, she appeared to be doing fine. And right now, she seemed even better than at that time. Almost like she was back to her old self. She was, probably.
Her sister hadn't grown a lot in height. She could pass as someone younger than what she was. She looked as athletic as always. The only difference was, perhaps, that her hair was longer and styled in a half ponytail, but still with her iconic bangs framing her pale face. She resembled their mother more and more by the passing of the years.
Azula walked towards one of the tables, trying to ignore her brother's glance on her.
"So, to what do I owe the visit of the Fire Lord himself?" she said quizzically, sitting on one of the chairs, crossing her legs and arms over her chest.
"I was hoping we could talk." said Zuko, hopeful and still in his place.
"Talk?" she raised her eyebrows. What could he possibly want to talk about with her that would have made him bother to travel all the way to Lian Yu? It wasn't to capture her. That was obvious now, but to talk? She was intrigued.
"Yeah," he said, taking a few steps slowly in her direction, "Can we… Can we talk?"
Azula studied him for a moment. Zuko had never been good at hiding things from her. She could read him like an open book. So, if this was a trick, she would be able to quickly tell.
She kicked open one the chairs next to her at the table, gesturing for him to sit.
"How are you, Azula?" her brother inquired, as soon as he sat.
"Why the interest, dear Zuzu?" she replied mockingly, tilting her head.
Zuko shrugged. "Well, you are my sister. And even if you don't believe it, I do worry about you, Azula." he said with an assuring tone.
She huffed. "Sure, you do." she refuted, sarcastically.
"Azula." said Zuko, leaning in her direction.
"Here you go," said Motoi, placing two small cups on the table and a teapot between them. "The best hot tea from around."
"Thank you." Zuko thanked the old man, who bowed once more before leaving them alone again.
Zuko poured some tea in both of the cups. He took a glimpse as his silent sister. "You… You seem even better than the last time I saw you." he gave her a cup.
Azula looked at the cup but didn't make a move to take it. "I'm better. I haven't had visions in years now. Back to my old self, I dare say." she said.
"I'm glad to hear that." he smiled slightly at her.
"Sure," she replied, ironical again before slouching forward to her brother, resting her elbows on the table. "Why don't you just get to the point? I'm sure you didn't come all the way here just to… have a catch up with your evil sister, right Zuzu?"
"I-I'm…" he lowered his gaze. "No."
"And you also not here to throw me back into the institution or a cell, right?" she quirked a brow, ready for everything.
"What?!" he raised his eyebrows, dumbstruck. "No!" he denied, "No. Azula, that's not why I am here, I told you. I'm not here for a fight. I don't want to fight you. And I don't wish to place you back into the institution. Less likely into a cell."
Azula frowned, narrowing her eyes. "You sound like me, back when I tried to trick you to come back to the Fire Nation... Foolish of you to think about using it against me... Nice try, still." she said, taking a sip from her cup.
"What? It's not a trick." Zuko said, trying to sound as honest as he could.
"That's something I will say."
"Azula..."
"Fine…" she rolled her eyes, "Let's suppose It's not a trick. Then spill it." she commanded bitterly, "Why are you really here, Zuzu?"
"I…"
He had practiced this and repeated himself dozens of times in his mind. This conversation with his sister. Trying to figure out what to say, what not to say. He had thought of the right words he would use. Yet, when she had formulated the question, his mind had gone blank.
Zuko sighed, looking at his cup. "In all honesty, I thought dozens of times what I was going to tell you in this very moment, and still… I don't know where to start," he admitted, "So, I'm going to start from the easier part." he pulled a small box from one of his pockets and placed it before her.
Azula raised an eyebrow as she reached for it. She opened and what she found inside astonished her.
"What is…?" she inquired, speechless.
"It a peace offering," Zuko explained, as she admired it. It was the headpiece of the Crown Princess. "Azula, I want you to come back. And I'm not leaving. Unless you agree to come home." he said, firmly.
She jolted up at his words. "What?"
"I wish for you to return to the Palace," he said, serene. "With me."
Azula looked at her brother, flabbergasted. "Why?"
She couldn't understand this gesture of her brother. He had claimed more than once that she was a nightmare. That he hated her. That they would never be capable of having a nice normal sibling relationship, no matter how hard they tried.
They were both so messed up. Their relationship was messed up.
But it hasn't always been like that.
On the contrary, once, they had been able to get along perfectly.
"Zuko, look. I can firebend." she had exclaimed, excited at the Royal Gardens. As a small orange flame appeared in her hands. It was the first time she was able to create a flame. She was four.
"Whoa! That's so cool, Azula." he had replied just as thrilled as her. As his eyes sparkled, glancing at the flame in her little sister's hands. Wishing that he could do the same as her.
But that had been so long ago, she could barely remember it.
She could barely remember how their relationship had been before being destroyed. The happy memories, she was aware of it. But they were buried under so many unpleasant memories that it was almost impossible to reach them.
The summers at Ember Island. Their birthdays. All those kinds of memories that were almost forgotten.
"Because you are my family." he uttered, looking at her in the eyes, so she could tell he was being honest.
She looked away and closed the box, placing it back onto the table. "Zuko, we haven't been a family for a long time."
"I know. And I hate it," the Fire Lord admitted, "That's why I'm here, and that's why I had it made just for you… To show you how much I wish for you to come back. And… And try to be a family."
"I thought you already had a family of your own," she said with venom, "With your mother, and her little family. Why would you want me to come back? For me to make your life a living hell? A nightmare? As you used to say?"
"Azula," he cut her off, "Listen, I know I said and did a lot of things I'm not proud of. And I told you a lot of things I regret. But I'm trying. I want to be better. I want… us, to be better. Can syou at least try to? I don't want to spend the rest of my life wondering how we could have been."
She avoided his eyes and focused her attention on the cup in front of her. Her hands reaching for it to play with it.
"Why?" she mumbled.
"Because we are family…" the Fire Lord said, recalling his uncle's words. "And family is the most precious thing."
She looked at him. Studying him. She could tell he was speaking the truth. But there was also something he wasn't telling her. She noticed the bags under his eyes and the shadow of his growing beard. He was troubled and was barely sleeping.
She narrowed her eyes. "Touching," she said sarcastically, "Now, say the rest. Say the truth." she ordered him, leaning back on the chair putting as much distance as she could between them.
Zuko gulped. "Why do you still think it's a trick?" he refuted. "I'm telling the truth."
Azula sighed. "In that case," she stood up. If he wasn't going to trust her, why would she? "I should get going."
"What?" Zuko widened his eyes.
"If you excuse me." she turned to leave, when Zuko held her by the wrist.
"Wait," he said. "Fine. I will tell you everything. But please. Don't go." he pleaded her.
That's what I wanted to hear, Zuzu.
She nodded in agreement. "I'm all ears." said Azula, sitting back in her place.
Zuko took a moment before explaining. Maybe he could tell her everything, well almost everything. He could leave out certain details, like what had happened in Mi Na.
"The truth is… I do want you back in the Palace," he assured her, "I want you to return so we can… can try to fix things. But also, because…"
"Because…?" she raised an eyebrow, urging him to continue.
"It's been chaos. Back in the Capital," he admitted, defeated. "The nobles are being a pain in the ass. The council is just…" he scratched his eyebrow, "Out of control. After the end of the war, many people were left unemployed… and I'm drowning in paperwork. I haven't slept well in weeks and… I need help," he acknowledged, "I need your help. Nobody knows the politics as well as you. Nobody knows how to handle both the nobles and the council as well as you. And honestly, having your point of view would be really helpful. You always look at everything more objectively than I ever will.
Also, everyone respects you. The Generals, Admirals, Landlords. Everyone either adores you or fears you. Which would come in really handy."
She smirked, pleased. "Fire Lord duties being too much for little Zuzu?" she teased him.
"Actually, yes," Zuko confessed, "That's the other reason why I'm asking you to come back. I want you to come back, not only as Crown Princess but also as… As my Royal Advisor."
"What?" she asked, salted.
The Royal Advisor was a figure of power and knowledge. It was the Fire Lord's closest member of the council and held a tremendous amount of power. Just below the Fire Lord, himself. And for Zuko, wanting to make her not only his Royal Advisor but also the Crown Princess, it would mean giving her the same amount of power he had.
"They listen to you. No one knows the nation as well as you do. The history. The politics. The laws. No one," he pointed out, "And you know the people. You know what they want to hear. And you always know what to say…. And…"
"And?"
"Well," the Fire Lord leaned in his chair, a little more relaxed. "I also come with a very special request."
She frowned. "Special request?" she inquired, intrigued.
"Yeah," he muttered, with a little smile. "It's actually from Kiyi."
Azula jolted up, quirking a brow. "What could that little brat possibly want from me?"
"You will be surprised." Zuko mumbled with a side smile.
Two days after returning after the Mi Na incident, Kiyi had entered his office with a particular request that surprised not only him but also his mother.
"What is it?" she insisted.
"Well… As you probably know. She is a firebender, like us. And she is been hearing rumors and is really intrigued about your unique blue fire. She is amazed by it. So, she… She wants you as her firebending master." Zuko stated.
"She what?!" she squealed.
Her brother snickered at her reaction, now having expected her to react like that.
"She does. She specifically requested you as her master," he affirmed, "A few weeks ago she made the request to me. At first, it surprised me. Then, she explained that she remembered seeing you bend blue flames, and she was amazed by it. Also, the rumor about you being the prodigy you are just… mesmerized her."
Azula made a grin. "Well, she has taste." she whispered.
"She had been nagging me for days. Making tons and tons of questions about you," he mentioned, "She is quite stubborn when she gets something in her head. She reminds me a lot of you when we were younger," he recalled, giving her a warm smile. "In fact, the other day, I found her in her room, decapitating some dolls. When I asked her why she had done it, she gave me the same reply you gave mom, years ago."
"I wanted to see how they were inside." she muttered at the same time as Zuko.
A small smile escaped from one corner of her mouth.
"Kiyi, seems interesting." Azula admitted.
"She is." he said, "I'm sure she will grow on you, just like she did with me."
The thought of going back home. To return to the Palace had been a thought very present in the last couple of days -thanks to that savage, that keep insisting-. She had rejected the idea over and over, because she had been convinced that Zuko only wanted to imprison her and lock her away back in the asylum.
But now, looking at her brother, she could tell that it wasn't his intention. At least, not right now. But if she agreed to go back to the Palace, it would mean having to live under the same roof as the woman that she despised. Ursa. Her mother.
Zuko had kept the tea warm with his bending. As they both finished their teas in silence.
"Zuko," she called him.
"Huh?" he raised his eyebrows.
"What about… What about her mother?" she inquired, "What does her mother think about me being her daughter's master? Isn't she horrified by the mere thought?"
"Are you saying you will?"
She denied with her head. "Don't rush. And just answer me."
"Well," Zuko began, "When Kiyi made her request it took us all by surprise, but mom…" he made a pause.
She must have hated the idea, she thought.
"Mom supported her," Azula glanced at him, "In fact," he chuckled, "She nagged me just as much as Kiyi did about finding you. They insisted so much, that when I told them I was leaving the Palace for a couple of days to track you down, they both almost tagged along." he smiled.
The Princess clenched her fist. She didn't need to look at her brother to know that it was a lie. Her mother hated her and only saw her as a monster.
"But I managed to convince them to stay in the Palace and get everything ready for your return."
"Don't lie to me." she stated, expressionless,
The Fire Lord's eyes widened. "I'm not lying."
"I'm not a fool, Zuko," she snapped, "I know your mother doesn't want me back. I know that she is better off with me far away, so I can't corrupt her precious good little daughter. If you want us to have a better relationship, don't you dare to lie to me about that… Don't do it. Not when I know the truth." she lowered her glace
Zuko blinked, baffled. "Azula," he tried to reach her hand, but desisted when she pulled them back and off the table. "Mom, she loves…" he tried to say. But he knew that it would not matter how hard he tried to prove otherwise to his sibling, she would not believe him. Not about that.
"Don't." she cut him off, "Don't go there, Zuko."
"I…" he sighed, resigned. "Alright. I just… I just think you should know that we all want you back in the Palace."
Azula remained silent for a moment. And for a second Zuko was afraid that she was going to refuse her proposal, due to their mother's presence in the Palace.
"If I agree…" she muttered after a while, "I have my conditions."
"Okay, okay… Tell me." her sibling agreed to hear her out.
"Well, the first one doesn't make sense anymore as you offered me the title of Royal Advisor and Crown Princess, so…"
"You thought I stripped you of your title?" he inquired.
"Well, you did. Didn't you?" Azula quirked a brow. It would have been the most rational thing to do after everything.
"No," Zuko denied, "I never did. I told you that title, it's yours. Yours by birthright. And it always will be."
She gulped. "I… I also want my old room back. Not a new one," she cleared, knowing that Zuko was probably going to assign her a different one. "The old one."
"Alright," he agreed, "I can give you that. Anything else?"
"Yes. Two more things actually." she said, "If I'm going to be Kiyi's master, I need to have full control of her firebending lessons, including schedule, intensity, and form."
Zuko made a grin. "I think… I think we can arrange that," he told her, "And the last one?"
"I…" her eyes focused on her hands, "I want you to promise me something."
"What?" he asked, intrigued about what she was going to ask him.
She shook her head. "First, promise me you will." she pleaded him.
"Azula…"
"Do it, Zuko. Promise me you will," she asked him to. Fully aware that once she told him, he would never accept her condition, so she had to make him agree before anything else.
He frowned. It didn't look like one of her tricks.
"Alright," he acceded, "I will. But tell me, what is it?"
"It's..." she made a pause, "If… I ever have another breakdown. I want you to promise me you will not send me back to the institution, or any other… instead, you will…"
"What? I will, what?"
She glanced at him, and without hesitation she said; "You will kill me."
Zuko's eyes and mouth widened, "What?" he squeaked, horrified.
The mere thought was terrifying, but… she had no other option.
"That's my last condition," she stated. "If you want me to accept you will have to agree to all of them."
There was no way that in this life, she would ever return to the institution.
For her, returning to the institution or losing her mind was something crueler than dying. So, she had come to the decision of ending her life if she ever suffered another breakdown. She had been strong enough to come out of it once, but Azula wasn't sure if she could do it one more time.
"I... I don't… I…" he was dumbstruck. Azula's last condition had taken him by surprise. It was something that never, ever would have crossed his mind. "Can we at least talk about the last one?"
"No. And you already said you will, Zuko." she said.
However, if the time came, she would not force him to fulfill his promise, and at the first vision she experienced, she would make sure she did it herself. Or at least try to.
"I…" he sighed. "Fine. But I also have two conditions."
"First, whenever our schedule allows us, you and I will train together. No excuses."
Azula nodded. "It has always been amusing kicking your ass, so, why not?" she mocked.
The Fire Lord rolled his eyes. "From now on, between us, there are no more secrets. No more lies. I want full transparency between us both." he asked.
Zuko felt a bit like a hypocrite making that request, when he was the one keeping a secret from her. But he suspected that if he told her the truth now, she would refuse to return home. Right now, there was not a safer place for them than the Palace.
Keeping it as a secret from her, it would not be easy, but for now, he would do it. He promised himself that eventually, he will tell her the truth.
"Do you agree?"
Azula remained silent for a moment. What if going back home wasn't a good idea? What if all of this was a trick? What if going back to the Palace triggered her hallucinations again? Or facing her mother? After all, it had been her mother's face who she had seen for years in her visions. What if she lost it again? What if she suffered another breakdown?
"Azula?" Zuko called her when he noticed that her mind was absent. "Azula?" he called her again, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Huh?" she blinked back to reality.
"I asked you if you agree to my conditions?"
"Oh, I do." she said, "But… "
Zuko knew that look. She was having second doubts. He could acknowledge her glance perfectly, even though he had only seen it a couple of times in her life. It was odd for him seeing her have second doubts about anything. He had only previously seen her like that when it was about a strategy that didn't fully convince her.
But at this, he couldn't allow her to have second doubts. He needed her to agree.
"Just," he muttered, "Please, come home. Come home and shout at me. Fight with me. Make fun of me, if you must. I promise I will be a better brother. Just... come home, please." he begged.
After a couple of second, which for Zuko felt like an eternity, Azula finally looked him in the eyes and spoke.
"Alright. I will," she said, "I will go home with you."
The Fire Lord smiled, pleased, joyous, and relieved. "Thank you," he said, standing up, "Let's go home." he extended a hand towards the exit.
Azula stood up and followed him.
Just a few meters from the door he tilted his head towards his right, and he noticed the dartboard with his portrait still on it. A few marks of where the darts had been impaled into his visage.
He made a grin. "I'm not very popular around here, am I?" he inquired.
Azula smirked. "Not here, or anywhere," she said, picking one dart and twisting it in her fingers. "When you take from people all of what they know, and you don't give them something else to replace it… Chaos rises." she stated throwing the dart and nailing it right in the middle of his face.
After the war ended, most of the towns that had their main sustenance related to either the Army or the Navy began to emaciate with the lack of jobs and incomes. Hundreds of families were forced to emigrate due to this, other citizens began to starve and a few more succumbed to illegal acts.
They headed out of the pub at around the mid-afternoon
Outside, five of Zuko's Imperial Guards waited for them, as well as a huge horrible creature and the rider atop it.
"About time," the woman with dark hair, fair skin, and a tattoo, grunted. "What took you so long, huh? I'm going to charge you extra," she said to Zuko. And then glanced towards his companion. "So, this is her? The girl you were looking for?" she quirked a brow.
"Yeah." the Fire Lord replied.
She crossed her arms, looking at the Princess. "Why did you -Prince Pouty- continue chasing girls that are out of your league?" she said teasingly.
"June." Zuko scolded her.
She ignored him, "You know, it's sad that not even as a Fire Lord, you still can't get a girlfriend to not run away from you. You must be a weirdo," Azula smiled at her comment. "Huh, this one is prettier than your other girlfriend."
"She was not my girlfriend!" he snapped, annoyed.
"Whatever. You haven't paid up," June extended her arms towards him with her palm up. Zuko pulled out a sack of coins from his pocket and gave it to the bounty hunter. "I hope this one doesn't run away from you. This girlfriend looks like she could kick your ass." she mocked, looking at the insides of the sack.
The Royal Siblings made a grin of disgust.
"Ew... No! He's my brother!"
"She's my sister!" both said at the same time.
"Okay, okay… Jeez... No need to get bitter. Either way, say hi to your creepy grandpa." said June, hopping onto her beast.
"He is my uncle." Zuko grunted.
"Wait," Azula stopped June, "I assume you are a bounty hunter, right?"
June nodded. "Yeah, why?"
"Because in that case, I need you to find someone for me."
"Who?" Zuko asked, tilting his head.
"It's… kind of like a favor that I owe." she said.
"Who are we talking about? And how much?" June questioned.
Azula smirked. She was going to like this bounty hunter.
…
"I know, and I'm sorry." Zuko apologized.
"If apologies solved everything, why do we have laws and prisons?" Azula replied, irked at her sibling. "You used to complain all the time that I was always the one lying and hiding things from you. Now that I don't do it, you do it? Is our sibling dynamic like that? Either you hide things from me or I hide them from you?"
Her brother shook his head. "No. I don't want us to be like that."
"It doesn't look like it," she stated, "Oh, wait. I know what this is… You were playing the big brother act, didn't you?"
"No, I…"
"Well, Zuzu, wrong sister. You," she pointed at him, accusatively, "Better than anyone should know that I don't need your or anyone's protection."
"I know!" he said.
"Gosh! We could have solved this matter months ago!" she snapped, "If only you didn't keep me in the dark about this matter."
"Why are you so mad about this? Like you never lied to me." the Fire Lord pointed out, crossing his arm and leaning back on his chair.
"And that's the point, Dum-Dum! You will always make tantrums whenever I do that to you," Azula refuted, annoyed. "Yet, when you do it, it's fine?"
"I think we should intervene." Aang whispered to his friends, as he noticed that things, between the royal siblings, were getting a little tense as their bickering continued.
"Nah… They are doing fine." said Toph, carelessly.
Then Zuko stood up from his chair, slapping his hands on the desk, irked.
"Probably, we should." Katara replied.
"Alright," Sokka said, standing up. "Time to intervene, then."
"... and what about that time I pulled you out of the turtle-duck pond, huh?" Azula grunted, "I never heard a thank you for that."
"Don't forget who pushed me in." Zuko snarled back.
"Okay, okay, okay…" Sokka stepped in between them, "Why don't you two calm down a little bit?" he proposed.
Both of them glanced at him, fumed, which caused a shiver to down his back.
"Oh, I know," he said, raising a finger, "Why not, you two just say 'I'm sorry' on the count of three?"
"What? Why?" Azula and Zuko said at the same time, frowning.
"It's easy. You both say sorry and move."
"Move on from where?" they both inquired, raising an eyebrow.
Sokka sighed. "From this argument." he grunted between teeth.
This was an exercise his mother forced him and Katara to do whenever they used to have disagreements when they were young. And it always worked to make them forgive each other.
"Fine." Zuko agreed, reluctantly, under the wary eyes of his friend.
Then Sokka glanced at Azula, who had said nothing. "What do you say?" he insisted.
She rolled her eyes. "Fine!" she accepted, defeated.
"Great," Sokka smiled. "On three. One."
"Two." Zuko counted.
"Three." Azula snarled.
However, both remained silent. Their pride and stubbornness would never make them the first one to apologize.
Sokka shook his head, disapprovingly. "Great! Now, I'm disappointed in both of you."
"I knew it!" they both pointed at each other, accusingly.
"You always do these kinds of things, ass-crack!" Azula bellowed.
Zuko raised his eyebrows, growing more annoyed. "Me?! What about…"
The knock on the door got their attention, and their little argument was put on hold.
"Come in." both snapped at the same time.
A servant appeared in the door and give them a modest bow.
"I just came to inform you that dinner is ready and served." she announced.
"Oh, okay…. We will go in a minute." Zuko replied, calmly.
The servant bowed once more before retiring.
"Who is hungry?" Sokka inquired, before the siblings could return to their bickering. "Me! I'm hungry! C'mon, Azula" he said, suddenly grabbing her by the arm and intertwining them.
"Y-You… What are you…? Hey, savage!" she snapped, wrathful as Sokka pulled her out of the room.
Everyone blinked, astonished at Sokka's boldness.
"If my sister does something horrible to him, you will not hold me responsible!" said Zuko, glancing towards Katara. "He brought it upon himself."
The waterbender nodded, calmly. "I know, I know." she muttered, "He had it coming."
"I believe they like each other," said Aang, making everyone's attention turn to him. "What?"
…
"What the… The hell are you doing, beast?" Azula grunted as he pulled her. "Let. Me. Go!" she tried to free from his grip.
"So, you can go back to fighting with Zuko?" he raised a brow, "I don't think so."
Sokka took a little peek at his arm around her and a little smile escaped his lips as he realized that his arms were probably triple the size of hers.
"Do you want to die?" she threatened him, fuming, as he led her through the hallways.
He looked over to her. "Do you ever stop threatening people?"
"Do you ever stop being an idiot?" she refuted as they walked into the empty diner.
Sokka took a deep breath. "Oh… It smells delicious!" he said with his mouth almost drooling.
Spirits' blessings to the excellent cuisine from the Fire Nation, he thought.
"Do you realize how much of your life revolves around food?" Azula asked, frowning.
"Do you realize how much of your life revolves around conflict?" Sokka fired back at her
"Tsk!" she grunted, before noticing their arms were still linked. "Now, let me go, you shithead!" she pushed him, grimacing.
"Tch!" he pouted, "Why do you always attack me with words?"
"I could do give you little shocks with tiny bolts," she said with a smirk, "Like that time when you waved your little toy at my face and I made you land onto your ass." she recalled with a pleased smile, before taking her place, as everyone else entered to the dining room.
The dining room filled in a matter of seconds and their minor dispute was forgotten as they enjoyed their last dinner in the Barge before arriving at Ba Sing Se.
"... And in the last council meeting, Azula and I proposed a new law that would make all future arranged marriages illegal, right Azula?" Zuko asked, from the other end of the table.
He was explaining to the Avatar and his girlfriend some new laws and reforms they had begun to implement in the Nation, and some others they were still working on. It wasn't a one-day job.
"Really?" Katara raised her eyebrows. "That's amazing! I always thought of arranged marriages as something cruel and sexist. Everyone should have the right to choose whoever they wish to marry."
"I agree," said Zuko, "That's why we are working on making them disappear."
"Back in our tribe, it's not a tradition. But in the North, it still is," she said, "It very common, actually. Some girls are forced to get married, some of them really young. It's sexist. How did you come up with the idea?"
"I didn't," Zuko acknowledged, "Azula did. It was her idea." he noted towards her with his head, and all glances fell on the Princess.
"What?" Azula inquired when she noticed the attention.
"You came up with the idea of eliminating arranged marriages?" Katara asked, astonished that Azula had been the one to push for such a reform.
"Yeah. Why?" she replied.
"Really?" Sokka's eyes widened.
"Uh-huh," she affirmed, "Why the tone of surprise, though?" she quirked a brow.
Sokka shook his head. "No, it's just… "
"How did you come up with the idea?" Katara interjected, still very interested.
Azula left her chopsticks on the table and leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms.
"Well," she began. Everyone's attention was on her, even the ones at the other table were casting quick looks. "I had an arranged marriage once, so…"
"What?" Zuko dropped his chopstick at the table at such revelation.
Everyone was flabbergasted, except for Kiyi, who was more focused on eating.
"What? Didn't you know?" she quirked a brow.
"When? How?" he asked, stunned.
Azula placed a hand under her chin as she made an effort to recall. "Mmm… I was... fourteen? Still, I managed to free myself from that." she waved a hand carelessly.
"Why is this the first time I hear of this?" the Fire Lord asked, "Why didn't I know?"
"Why would you?" Azula refuted, "Zuko, back then you were still exiled. Even if the marriage would have taken place, I certainly doubt Ozai would have allowed you to attend the ceremony."
"Wait, I want to know how you broke the arrangement Azula." the Avatar inquired.
The Princess sighed, leaning her elbows on the table. "Well, I have to say that it was really difficult because you weirdos keep getting into my business." she grunted.
"What?"
"Let me begin from the start so your little brains can understand," she said, "It was around a month or so before Ozai sent me to retrieve you. He had a meeting with the Head Sage, and somehow, the crazy old man managed to convince Ozai that he should arrange a marriage between me… and another prodigious bender."
"Did you ever find out who he intended to marry you to?" Zuko asked.
"Why is that relevant?" she raised a brow.
Her brother shrugged. "Just curious."
"It was Goong Yoo." she said.
Ty Lee choked on her food. Toph patted her a few times until she was able to swallow correctly.
"Did you say Goong Yoo? Like that Goong Yoo… Who…?"
Zuko raised his eyebrows as he remembered the name. "It's the same Goong Yoo, you…"
"Yes, yes, yes. It was that Goong Yoo," she replied, "As I was saying. Ozai thought it was a marvelous idea, and he agreed. He claimed that a union between us would assure his legacy and blah-blah…" she rolled her eyes, "Same shit the Sages told our grandfather. Anyway, I was fourteen and back then, I was more interested in -as you all know- world domination than in getting married."
"Obviously." Sokka muttered, winning an ugly look from the Princess.
"So, even though Ozai noticed my evident discomfort and dislike of his idea, he did not give it much thought. One month later, the report of the failed siege at the Northern Water Tribe arrived. He knew the idea of an arranged marriage still displeased me so he gave me a choice," she explained, "Retrieve you and Uncle in exchange for my freedom."
It was her first time sharing this story with anyone. Nobody knew about it. Not even Goong Yoo had been informed of it.
"What?" Zuko's eyes widened.
Azula took a sip of her drink. "Don't look so surprised, Zuzu. Either way, my original plan didn't end so well, and for weeks you and Uncle disappeared from the map. Then, in Omashu, I ran into these buffoons," she pointed at the Avatar, the waterbender, and the savage next to her, "So, I decided to alter my original plan somewhat. Still, they managed to escape. And then it was Ba Sing Se…"
"Do you mean when you took us all prisoners?" one of the Kyoshi warriors said.
"That was later, painted girl," Azula replied, "As I was saying, I could recall Ozai being obsessed about conquering Ba Sing Se after Uncle's failure. So, I decided to change my plan from capturing you to taking the Earth Kingdom down. Then that drill thing happened, and guess who showed up again? You oafs." she snarled.
"Sorry for ruining your plans, Prissy." said Toph ironical.
"Yet, that wasn't going to stop me." the Princess continued, "And the rest you already know. I took Ba Sing Se, Zuko helped me, my Uncle was captured. I shot with lightning, ya-da, ya-da, ya-da," she waved a hand, "When we returned to the Palace, he was so pleased with me he accepted to cancel the arrangement. That's it."
"Now, I kind of understand your determination back then," said Katara, "Why you were so vicious. I mean, I don't support it, but I understand it. Our Gran-Gran was from the Northern Tribe, and she was so against arranged marriages that when she got engaged, instead of accepting it, she fled her home and escaped to the South."
Azula raised her eyebrows. "Really admirable and brave from her." she admitted.
"I would have never imagined you to have an arranged marriage," Sokka uttered with a grin. "Still, now I can't help but wonder; if that would have come through, how would it have ended?" he questioned, quizzical.
"Well, she didn't want it, probably in separation." said Aang.
"Or murder." Toph muttered.
"More likely in both," Azula agreed with a grin, "By the way," she remembered something, "Do you know why grandfather forced her to marry Ozai?" she pointed at Ursa.
Their parents' marriage had been an arranged marriage by Fire Lord Azulon himself. And even though their marriage had started off okay, eventually it fell apart.
"Because of her lineage?" Zuko said, frowning.
Everyone was aware of their grandfather's desire of mixing his bloodline with the blood of Avatar Roku in the hope of creating a superior legacy with abilities beyond imagination. Azulon was a ruthless Fire Lord, obsessed with power and excellency. After all, he was Fire Lord for 80 years of the War.
"Almost," Azula said, "The other day I was bored, so I wandered around some of the oldest chambers. One of those belonged specifically to Azulon. I found old stuff there, but also I found letters between him and the Head Sage of that time." she recalled.
Everyone was focused on her words.
"The thing is, according to him, the heavens, and the oracle predicted that from that union a bloodline more powerful than anything ever seen would be born. And his legacy would remain for a century and you know, same old shit."
"I knew that, but what…." Zuko intervened.
"Shush…" everyone shut him.
"Anyone would assume that that legacy would mean; us," she pointed at him and her, "But that's not it. Back then, neither you nor I were supposed to heir to the throne, remember? It was…"
"Lu Ten." he mumbled.
"Exactly. Lu Ten was always supposed to be the heir. He was the next in line. Not us." she explained, "The thing is, after reading the letters I have to say, that that old man was way crazier than we initially thought… Not only did he ask father to kill you -which we all know he was going to do-, but also… his true intention behind Ursa and Ozai's arranged marriage was for them to give birth to a girl. Which means me." she pointed at herself, smirking at Zuko's reaction.
The Fire Lord blinked a few times. "Huh?"
"That would explain a lot." Ursa mumbled next to his son.
"What do you mean, Mom?" Zuko asked.
"After you were born, your grandfather became really insistent about having another child. He even brought shamans and healers to the Palace to have periodic check-ups on my health. And when we found out I was expecting, he brought fortune tellers and even consulted the oracle about the sex of the baby. When he found out it was a girl, he was ecstatic," said Ursa, recounting, "Your father and I assumed it was because it was the first girl born in generations."
"You both assumed wrong," Azula pointed out, "Grandfather's happiness had a much darker meaning."
"Darker meaning?" Ursa repeated in an interested tone.
Azula propped her head on her hand at the table and smirked. "Did you know he had the intention for me to eventually marry Lu Ten?"
"What?!" Zuko and his mother squealed, widening his eyes.
Everyone else shared a glance. They were fully aware that Lu Ten was Iroh's son who sadly passed away during the war. And he was also Zuko and Azula's cousin.
"He what?!"
"W-What did you say?"
"It's true," the Princess replied, oddly calm, "I found out in one of his letters. His attempt was for us to get married and carry on the legacy."
"But… B-But, wasn't Lu Ten like… like your cousin?" Sokka asked bemusedly. Azula nodded. "Isn't it that like… wrong?" his eyes wandered around the room and everyone seemed equally perplexed. "Like super wrong? That's super messed up on so many levels."
"Agreed." the others said, thinking about how messed up Fire Lord Azulon had really been.
Not only had he ordered the raids on the South Pole but also probably ninety percent of all war crimes that were committed during his years of ruling. His reputation allowed for no less of an estimate.
"Welcome to the Fire Nation where we encourage genocide and incest," said Azula quizzically, "Oh, and also parent's abuse." she added, "No wonder grandfather was so furious with Ozai after he suggested robbing Uncle of his birthright so soon after Lu Ten's passing. I mean, his years of planning going to waste."
Nobody said a word for a moment. Until Katara spoke. "Whoa. Azula you have a very particular kind of disturbing way of telling things." she said with a grin.
"And wait till you hear her narrating horror stories, I can guarantee you; it would give you nightmares." said Zuko, recalling a particular one that had caused him nightmares for years.
"You still hold a grudge against me for the story of the black-eyed kids, Zuzu?" she teased him playing with her bangs.
"Yes!" said Zuko, bitterly. "It gave me nightmares for years."
Even to this day, from time to time he would get nightmares involving kids with black eyes.
"Don't blame me because you are a scaredy-cat." she mocked.
"Wait, who are the black-eyed kids?" Aang asked curiously. He had never heard that story before.
"It's an old horror story that adults used to tell kids so they'd go to sleep." the Princess explained.
They all shared a glance. "Never heard of it."
"Same here."
Azula smirked mischievously before explaining. With her bending, she lowered the intensity of the flames, creating a more sinister surrounding in the dining room. "According to the story, these are kids that died in very violent ways…"
"Hanged, murdered, drowned, burned… the usual." Zuko intervened.
They all shared a concerned grin.
"Around midnight, these kids appear, knocking at your door and asking you to help them. 'According' to the people that have seen them, they are pale, white-ish almost and they look like any normal kids. But you can't see their eyes…" Azula continued, "They ask for help to find their parents, claiming they are lost. They supposedly have this kind of 'influence' on you that makes you want to help them. They put you in this kind of trance. But once you notice their eyes, they turn extremely violent…"
The Princess glanced around as she narrated, noticing that almost everyone was already stiff. Aang was clinging to Katara like his life depended on it. Toph and the girls at the other table were also really focused on the story. Sokka was hugging himself. Kiyi was the only one that seemed excited about it.
"They are supposed to be some kind of vengeful souls," the Fire Lord added, "As they had an unfair death."
"And how do you make them go away?" Sokka inquired, a little scared by the story, his knees shaking.
"Just don't open the door and go back to bed." the Princess explained casually.
"W-What happens if you open the door?" Aang asked.
"That's the scary part," said Azula with a stern tone. "Nobody knows. Nobody has lived after opening the door."
Everyone gulped.
"But it's a child's story," she said, returning the light in the dining room back to normal. "Invented to force children to go to bed early."
"It's… a little disturbing and scary." said Katara with a small grin.
"I think it's an interesting story, Azu." said Kiyi with a smile.
"Azula, where did you hear the story? Who told you that story?" asked Ursa, "I don't recall ever telling you scary stories because Zuko was really skittish and then he would have trouble sleeping." she gave a warm smile to her eldest child.
Zuko blushed.
"Yeah, he was a wimp," Azula mumbled, with a side smile, "Lu Ten told me the story first. One night, I discovered him trying to sneak out of the Palace and he told me that story, hoping that I wouldn't follow him," she leaned back on the chair, "Of course, instead of being scared by it, I was fascinated by the story and I forced him to take me with him.
The next day, I rushed to find Zuko and told him the story. He was scared for years," she mocked, naughtily. "For years, whenever I was bored or I couldn't sleep, I would go to his room at midnight and would knock on his door, just to make him pee himself."
"I knew it was you!" the Fire Lord pointed at her accusingly, frowning.
"Even if you knew, you still wet the bed for years." she made a grin of mockery.
His friend snickered. Zuko pouted, and his ears got red of embarrassment.
"I was a child!" he refuted.
"You were twelve." Azula replied, making everyone giggle.
His mother had to cover her mouth when Zuko gave her a stern glance.
"Sorry, dear," she apologized, trying to hold her laugh. "That was not funny."
"Alright, alright," he said, raising his voice. "If everyone is done, we should all head to bed. Tomorrow is going to be a long day and we should all rest."
"You only want us to go to bed to stop bratty from telling us more embarrassing stories of you." said Toph, laughing.
"Oh, I could keep going… for years." said the Princess, quizzical.
"Everyone. Bed. Now." Zuko grunted.
Azula sighed. "Zuko is right. We should go to bed," she said standing from her chair, "After all, it's going to be midnight soon." the Princess winked towards Sokka maliciously before heading out of the dining room.
Sokka gulped. He probably won't be getting much sleep tonight.
"Yeah, let's head to bed."
Aang faked a yawn. "Whoa… I'm exhausted. Let's retire to bed, sweety." he said.
"Okay."
...
By the next morning, as the Captain had predicted, they were docked to Lake Laogai before down.
Breakfast elapsed without incidents, except for Azula who tried really hard to hold her laugh, whenever she glanced at Sokka's direction as she noticed his dark circles under his eyes.
"It was you, wasn't it?" Sokka's voice started behind her.
She was looking from the deck at the crew was disembarking some wooden crates that they had brought all the way from the Nation. Their Uncle commissioned them to bring him some spices and a unique plant from their lands.
"What?" she asked, feigning innocence.
"The knock on my door. At midnight." he said, bitterly.
"I don't know what you are talking about." she replied, shrugging.
Azula had stepped outside of his door around midnight, knocking at his door a few times. Of course, he didn't open the door.
Sokka sighed, rubbing his eyes. "I couldn't sleep, you know? I hope you are happy." he said, crossing his arms over his chest.
"If you are so sure that it was me, then why didn't you just open the door and tell me to go away?" she said with a smirk.
"B-Because, I-I…" he stammered.
"You were terrified, weren't you?" she quirked a brow.
"I-I wasn't…"
"Then why didn't you, huh?
"Tsk! You are so full of evil," Sokka mumbled, "You are basking in my suffering, aren't you?"
"Are you suggesting that last night, at midnight, I spent around thirty minutes outside your room, knocking at your door, just for the mere pleasure of terrifying you and traumatizing you?"
"Yes." he said.
"Do you seriously believe that I'm that wicked and that I have nothing better to do than wasting my time like that, just so I could get back at you for dragging me out of my brother's office yesterday?" she said with a hand on her chest, pretending indignation.
"Yes!" he squeaked.
She waved a hand carelessly. "You are giving yourself way too much importance."
Sokka huffed. "As if… You…"
"Azula." Zuko called her, as he headed out of the tower, closely followed by the Kyoshi Warriors. They were using their uniforms and their distinctive makeup.
"What?" she replied.
"Suki, the girls, mom and Kiyi are heading to the Palace right now to make a rundown along with King Kuei's guards- Do you wish to join them or come with me and the rest to Uncle's shop? I have to deliver him his commission and I wish to see him," he said, "I haven't seen him in a while."
Azula took a moment to reply. She had remembered what day it was.
"I… I will go to Uncle's."
"Are you sure?" Zuko raised a brow. His sister had never been too fond of their Uncle.
"Yeah… I need to ask him something, anyway." she uttered.
"Ask him what?" he inquired, nosily.
"Don't be nosy." Azula said.
Her brother rolled his eyes. "Alright."
…
Half an hour later, after seeing the Kyoshi Warriors depart with his mother and company and seeing Tai-Cho and Reiko with the delivery for their uncle heading out, they were ready to leave.
Appa roared as everyone started to climb on the saddle.
"Listen, I'm not a fan either but we have no other option, okay bison?" the Princess said to the flying beast.
Appa roared again.
"If you behave, I will behave, got it?" she quirked a brow.
"Move your ass, Fire Lily!" Toph shouted from the saddle, "The furry is not going to bite you." she mocked.
"Appa is a vegetarian. So, don't worry, Azula." said Aang with a smile.
Azula rolled her eyes. "Fine. Fine."
"Need a hand?" Sokka asked, popping from the top and offering a hand chivalrously.
The Princess huffed, ignoring his hand and climbing on the saddle.
In a matter of seconds, the bison was in the sky so high that the entire city could be seen.
"Ba Sing Se has grown a lot." Katara said.
The city had grown so much in the last couple of years that the city continued even after the outer wall and up to the cliffs not too far from it.
Now, years after the war had ended, the citizens weren't strictly forced to leave the inside walls. The inner walls still remained, splitting the Upper level from the middle and lowest one.
The last time I was here, I conquered the city; she thought.
A moment later, Appa began to descend as they were about to reach their destiny.
The Jasmine Dragon.
"Is that…? Is that my Uncle's tea shop?" Zuko inquired, his eyes gaping, as he looked over the saddle.
Everyone followed his lead and peeked too.
Outside the shop, there was a line of at least a hundred people -mostly nobles- making their way to the locale.
A bunch of teenagers were running back and forth, carrying trays of tea and other orders to customers.
Also, the simple one-floor place was now a two-floor tea shop. And both floors seemed to be packed with customers.
"What? What is it?" Toph asked, curious.
"It looks like... Iroh's business has improved." Sokka replied.
"What do you mean?"
"You will see in a moment," he said, "Sense. I mean." he corrected.
Right when they flew over the customers, they all glanced at the bison amazed.
Appa landed in the empty backyard of the shop.
"Isn't your Uncle going to be busy with all the customers?" Aang questioned as he jumped from Appa and extended a hand to help his girlfriend.
Zuko shrugged before getting off. "I don't know. Prob…"
"Zuko!"
Iroh was coming through the back door, with his arms extended at each side with a wide smile.
"Uncle!" Zuko met his uncle's embrace gladly.
Toph jumped out of the saddle. "Oh, now I get what you meant, Sokka." she said as she sensed the crowd outside and inside.
Sokka got off next and extended his hand towards Azula, raising his eyebrows and with a little side smile.
Azula rolled her eyes, annoyed. "Fine. Fine. But stop bothering," she grunted, "I don't need help., okay?" she said, accepting his hand to lower herself from the back of the bison.
A small charge of static electricity rushed through their fingers.
Sokka was surprised by how tiny and soft her hand was compared to his. Her skin was warm and contrasted against hers.
"It's called being a gentleman," he refuted, "Ever heard of chivalry, Princess?" he said as she landed next to him.
Katara turned at her sibling's words. "Ha, chivalry? I'm sure you don't even know the meaning of the word. Sokka, you might be everything, but you're not a gentleman." she mocked.
Sokka pouted. "Shut up. Nobody asked you, Katara."
She huffed, returning her attention to the reunion of Zuko and Iroh.
"Sokka," said Azula.
"Huh?" he glanced at her.
The Princess pointed with her eyes to their hands, still joined. "Let go."
"Oh, sorry." he said, freeing her hand.
Toph laughed before patting him on the back. "Smooth, Snoozles, smooth." she sneered, before following the others inside.
"Come on, come on in." said Iroh with a smile, leading them inside.
"Aren't you too busy, uncle?" Zuko asked, "We can come back later."
His uncle shook his head. "No. Not at all. Come on. Follow me."
They followed him to the second floor of the shop under the curious glances of some customers. It wasn't every day that a flying bison would stop by the shop and everyone knows that the only flying bison alive belonged to the one and only…
"The Avatar." one of the teenagers with aprons said, elated
Aang waved politely at him, who watched him with widened eyes.
"Oh, Ra On," said Iroh with a smile, grabbing him by the shoulder and making him follow them. "Just who I needed to see. This is my nephew, Zuko."
"Hey." Zuko smiled.
"T-The Fire Lord," the kid muttered in amazement. He quickly bowed a little clumsily. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Sir. Lord, your highness…" he said, not knowing how to call him correctly.
"Zuko is fine," he said, "Uncle, your commission is on the way here. Must arrive in a while."
"Wonderful," he said joyously, "Everyone please take a seat," he invited them to an empty table. "I knew you were coming today, so I reserved this table for you guys."
"Thank you, Iroh." said Katara, politely.
As everyone took their seats, Azula's nervousness grew. It's been years since she had last seen her uncle. Too many years.
Still, she was aware that her uncle was partially responsible for Zuko's initiative to go searching out for her.
Iroh greeted each as every one of the newcomers to his shop.
"How are you, old man?" Toph asked with a smile, punching him in the elbow.
Iroh winced. "Toph, I notice that you are getting stronger every day, huh?"
The earthbender smirked. "Well, I have to. I need to have a steady hand, not only with my students but also with the new trainees for the police." She fisted her palm.
"I see."
She was standing behind Sokka, using his body to conceal herself from her uncle's eyes. She clenched her fist when Sokka took a seat and she was exposed to her uncle's gaze.
Her first thought was to ignore him and just sit, after all, she had come for one reason and one reason only.
But for her bad luck, her uncle had other ideas.
Iroh smiled at her.
"Niece," he said, softly. "You are getting prettier with every day."
"Iroh."