Book 4: Light and Darkness

by ButtonPusherExtraordinaire

Air's murder was a symptom. The Great War was over, but the Greater War endured. The Realms are imbalanced, and Air's loss is but a sign. Years after Sozin's Comet, The Avatar's most ancient enemy reminds The Avatar of his existence. Lies and truths are disordered as the roots are infected from the chaos, to which The Avatar was ignorant. Things must change. The cycle must end. AU!

7. Wrath

Thank you for the reviews. I appreciate them.

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar the Last Airbender

XxXxXxXxXxX

"Twinkletoes!" Toph roared, voice brash and intrusive as he came out of his meditation. "Are we there yet? We've been traveling for days!"

"If you could see, you'd know the answer!" he replied, aggravated; he had been trying for some rest before facing Kuei.

Toph scoffed. "Where's the Twinkletoes who'd kindly tell me we'd be there soon?"

He ignored her and glanced at Azula, who looked at him in amusement, one brow raised. "I am curious," she said. "How much longer?"

"Thank you, Lightning Psycho!"

"My curiosity is only so high because you reek."

Toph grinned. "Then maybe you should go up on Appa's head and sit on Twinkletoes' lap! I'm sure you do that all the time!"

Aang really regretted bringing Toph along, especially when it looked like Azula was briefly considering Toph's advice. "Toph, we'll be there soon, okay?"

"Thank you! Was that so hard?"

"Not as hard as your head!"

"Thank you!"

Aang sighed, knowing he couldn't win against her. "We'll be there in less than an hour."

Toph looked horrified, and she fell on her face dramatically. "An hour? Why did I come with you two again?" she demanded in a groan. "This is a nightmare!"

"The Avatar ordered your presence," Azula drawled with a smirk. "And I believe you mentioned something about saving his virtue."

He blinked. "What?"

"She thinks you are 'drowning in my snatch'."

Toph glared at Azula. "I'm going to make you drown in your blood when we get to Ba Sing Se."

Azula shrugged coyly. "I think Aang's head currently blocks whatever blood I would drown in."

Aang rubbed his forehead. "Toph, I'm not drowning in… that. Does it occur to you that I made this decision without the influence of sex?"

"No. That's the only explanation."

"You have no imagination," he snapped. "But that's no surprise—because you can't see at all."

Toph crossed her arms, face twisting. "I don't like this Earthbender-y Aang."

"I don't care."

Azula laughed, and Aang wanted to hear her laugh more often—just like she did on Ember Island. "Perhaps, since you are so keen on whining, Toph, you would like to feel intimately the whine of the wind after I push you off the saddle."

"You wouldn't dare!" Toph glared, and Aang smothered his laughter. "You know, one of these days, your little quips are going to get you a bite on the ass."

"That is not the punishment you perceive it as," Azula replied, eyes glancing at him for a moment. "If the man is beautiful, it is a gift."

Toph gagged, features paling, and she shivered as she scooted further away from Azula, who only smirked in victory. "Fuck! You're disgusting, Lightning Psycho! Twinkletoes, you gotta get away from her! She's corrupting you!"

Aang was unable to prevent his sigh. "There are other things to worry about. We're going to meet Kuei soon, and we need to prepare."

"I know what I'm going to do!" Toph yelled, crossing her arms behind her head. "I'm going to raise a spike into Kuei's ass for Bumi."

"That would make things worse," he pointed out tiredly. "Don't do anything until I tell you. And it may not come to that."

He tried not to think of his vision of blood.

"Knowing Kuei, it will come to that."

"You don't know him."

"Bumi told me enough," Toph assured confidently. "He said that Kuei would introduce you to a nice girl to make a marriage, only for you to find out that he's fucking her! Kuei's a backstabber! Bumi said that he'd rather know someone who would smile at you and stab you from the front than Kuei, who assures you everything is fine, only for him to stab you in the back when you turn!"

Aang blinked. "How do you even know Bumi?"

Toph tensed for a moment. "Before Sparky's letter asking for help, I was living at Omashu with Bumi and his family."

He found a burst of resentment surge through him, for she didn't deserve to live with Bumi, to live the life that Aang wished he could. "Just don't provoke Kuei. If you do, I may give him you to execute rather than Azula. I'm going to deal with him, and you're going to follow my lead."

"Poisoned snatch," she grumbled, glaring at Azula.

"Whiner," Azula retorted.

Aang shook his head. "You're both ridiculous."

"Whatever, Twinkletoes," Toph snarked. "I'll play nice and won't 'provoke' him. Bumi will be disappointed, but I guess you don't care."

His fists clenched. "Stop trying to goad me into doing something I'd regret."

"Whatever."

Aang restrained the urge to blast her out of the saddle and turned around, gazing at the clouds around them. Quickly, Azula jumped onto Appa's head, aligning herself next to him, balance perfect.

"What is the plan?" she asked quietly, golden eyes urgent. "What can I expect? Spineless Kuei is no longer the king I once encountered."

Aang was quiet for several moments. "He's very political, and he plays games. I think you two would get along great if it weren't for the obvious."

Azula's eyes narrowed. "Charming, Avatar. But what is the plan?"

"You're going to be the prisoner to lower Kuei's guard, which should give us the truth about Vaatu and everything else. And I'm going to make him stop his madness."

She hummed, golden eyes intense. "You will not leave me a prisoner of Earth, will you?"

"Of course not," Aang dismissed, understanding why she held such a thought. "I'm going to make it clear that you're not to be harmed."

"Will you relinquish me to the Dai Li?"

"You're going to stay with me the entire time."

Azula gripped his arm, eyes urgent. "I think you should. Release me to the Dai Li- "

Aang stared at her, astonished. "What? No, I'm not doing that. You'll be executed, and it would make everything worse when I have to put a stop to it and rescue you!"

One of her brows rose. "You do not think I could escape on my own?"

"I think you overvalue your ingenuity and undervalue the ingenuity of- "

"You must surrender me for the ploy against Kuei to work," she urged, face serious.

"Lightning Psycho's right, Twinkletoes!" Toph shouted. "If you want Kuei to trust you—because he doesn't already—you have to give up that poisoned snatch you're so fond of!"

Aang glared back at her. "I didn't ask to hear your valueless opinion!"

"Airbender, my ass," Toph mumbled with a scoff.

He looked back at Azula. "You can't be serious."

"I am."

"You were planning this," he accused, recognizing the look on her face.

Azula nodded. "You would have never accepted the plan last night if you knew its logical conclusion. I had to convince you in separate stages."

Aang sighed and turned to face her directly. "I think you underestimate how desperate Ba Sing Se is for your blood. Kuei will have everyone he can attending to your imprisonment, watching you, monitoring you, controlling you, torturing you. All of the Dai Li will- "

"I controlled the Dai Li once- "

"You're not her," Aang interrupted, watching as Azula's body tensed, face pinched. "I'm not going to allow you to revert to that girl just for the sake of Kuei's ego."

She sat taller, glaring at him. "I shall make a sacrifice if necessary- "

"I don't accept it; I won't allow it."

Azula's golden eyes burned with displeasure. "You cannot stop me- "

Aang laughed, unable to help himself. "Avatar, remember? Who is it who holds the 'power of the world' that you keep referencing? Me. I will fly back to the Fire Nation and drop you off there before I surrender you truly to Kuei."

She sighed, inhaling slowly. "Think logically- "

"I am. I know the depths Ba Sing Se hates you. Kuei wants the conquerors of Ba Sing Se; he wasn't able to get Mai and Ty Lee or Zuko, but he can get you. And he will do everything in his power to keep you imprisoned until he tortures and executes you! He's been slighted with the 'escapes' of the other conquerors, and all that compounds onto you! He'll never let you go once he has you."

"Do you think me weak, Avatar?" Azula asked, eyes narrowed.

Aang stilled, drawing on his calm. "No, but you can't take on all the Dai Li if it comes down to it."

"Have faith in me like I have faith in you."

He blinked. "You have faith in me?"

Azula leaned back in almost disgusted surprise. "Of course. You will handle Spineless Kuei like I know you can. I have complete confidence in you and your abilities. But, apparently, you do not reciprocate- "

"I do," Aang emphasized. "But it's different. You have faith in me because you know that no one can compare to The Avatar. There are people—benders employed by Kuei—who compare to you, especially since you haven't fully recovered your abilities."

"You underestimate me- "

"I'm not under threat of death!" he cried out, flinging his arms to the side. "You are! There's no way that I could die, but there's a massive likelihood that you could! I don't accept that. I know if I was walking into something where I could likely die, you would never accept it. Don't lie to me."

Azula stared at him before looking back at Toph in the saddle. "What if she comes with me?"

Aang blinked and considered Toph for a moment before nodding. "I accept."

"Woah!" Toph interjected, waving a hand in their general direction. "You're not talking about me, are you?"

"I think the Blind Bandit could keep some Dai Li in line," Aang mused.

Toph glared. "No shit, I could keep the Dai Li in line! But don't I get a say in this? What if I don't want to go with Lightning Psycho? And don't you dare 'Avatar' me, Twinkletoes!"

"I need you to go with Azula- "

"I don't care if she dies!"

Azula rolled her eyes. "You do not care if you die by plummeting to the earth."

Toph raised her fists in Azula's general direction. "Oh, yeah? Let's go, Lightning Psycho! I dare you to try it! Fight me, bitch!"

Aang placed a hand on his forehead for patience. "Toph, I need you to go with Azula."

"No way!"

"Why won't you go with her?"

"Because it's boring!"

"Sacrifices must be made," Aang said.

"I don't see you making sacrifices!"

Aang's fists clenched. "You're here, aren't you?"

Silence.

Toph groaned. "Fine. I guess I won't get to feel Kuei shit himself."

"That's not going to happen- "

"You've gotten a lot scarier, Twinkletoes."

Aang shrugged, trying to ignore the grief at such a statement. "Let's hope Kuei agrees."

"So, Toph and I go with the Dai Li," Azula interrupted, "and you speak with Kuei."

"It's the only way," he admitted. "Thank you for making me see reason."

"Speaking of thanks, you should thank me, Lightning Psycho," Toph called out. "I'll keep things from getting boring. I'll make sure it's as fun as Twinkletoes' conversation with Kuei—because that's surely going to be fun!"

Aang wholeheartedly disagreed. "If I could trust you, I'd let you handle Kuei while I protect Azula- "

Azula sniffed. "I do not need protection."

"I disagree," Aang said flatly. "You're capable, but so are the Dai Li."

"I will bend them to my will once more."

His brows rose as he considered her. "Can you?"

Azula sighed. "Not likely. I do not have the will to do so."

Aang touched her shoulder briefly in consolation before letting go. "But you have the will to do other things—like stop Kuei from his madness."

"Among other things," she whispered, staring at him with something in her golden eyes.

He quickly looked back at Toph. "We're all playing a game of sorts with Kuei; we're pretending to be on his side so we can figure out whose side he's on. I need answers, and I'm going to get them. If either of you can get any answers out of the Dai Li, that will help."

"Won't be a problem," Toph assured, cracking her knuckles. "I'll crush some skulls to get answers."

"Not the best approach," Azula commented mildly.

Toph snorted. "They're Earthbenders; they speak my language."

"Which is?"

"Fucking shit up!"

Aang stared at her in confusion. "Do you even remember the Dai Li?"

"She must only be acquainted with the recruits," Azula observed in small amusement.

"I call conquering Ba Sing Se 'fucking shit up.'"

Azula smirked. "Thank you."

Toph hissed between her teeth and jabbed a finger in Azula's direction. "Don't you dare accept that as a compliment!"

"But you will have to deal with the Dai Li and whoever Kuei sends to guard you," Aang interrupted, feeling a headache originate in his skull. "And I'll have to deal with Kuei, his advisors, and the Council of Five."

Azula's brow rose in intrigue. "And if Dark and my father are there?"

Aang frowned. "I really doubt either would be. Vaatu and Ozai must know that I'm looking for them, and the most obvious place is Ba Sing Se, considering the context. Neither is stupid."

Toph scoffed. "I don't know about stupid, but the Loser Lord's very bold. And if Dark is going after The Avatar, he is, too. To be where they're at, they have to be bold from the get-go."

He glanced at Azula. "Do you really think he'd be there?"

Azula was quiet for several moments. "I do not see how he would be. If he is, he could only be hiding in the Lower Ring. He is far too recognizable, particularly since Kuei knows what Zuko looks like; the resemblance between father and son is well-known. I find it improbable that he is."

Aang closed his eyes for several moments, preparing himself. Could it really be that easy? "If they're there, if either of them is, I'll handle it—and finish it."

"I commend you," Azula said approvingly.

"I bet you show him how much," Toph mumbled from the back of the saddle, and Aang chose not to respond.

Instead, Appa roared, his head tilting to the side, and Aang gripped Azula's arm, keeping her from falling off.

"He says that we're here," he notified, looking down over the side.

Ba Sing Se.

"Finally!" Toph's jubilation was tangible, and Appa growled in irritation.

Aang rubbed the side of Appa's head. "She doesn't understand," he soothed. "But it's okay."

Appa groaned, morose, and Aang understood.

He turned to Azula, catching her eyes. "I need you to be in chains."

Azula's brow rose in intrigue, and her golden eyes gleamed. "My, my, Avatar, I was unaware you could treat a woman so poorly."

He was unfortunately reminded of her cruel and disgusting offer to be Mother of Air. "Just this once- "

"And many other times!" Toph called out.

Aang sighed. "The chains are in my sack. And before you ask, your brother gave them to me. But put them on and make sure they're tight. It's going to seem like, to them, that you're bending is gone. We're going to put your acting skills to the test."

Azula blinked before nodding. "Very well," she said and jumped back into the saddle, the sound of chains dangling in the air echoing.

Appa began his descent with a low groan, and Aang patted his head. "You're going to be fed when we get there—don't worry."

"Let me help you out there, Lightning Psycho," Toph said, and Aang turned around in a panic, seeing the wicked grin on Toph's face, and the metal of the chains tightened painfully around Azula's body.

"No!" he cried out, blurring into the saddle and ripping the chains off her, and he glared down at Toph. "What are you doing?"

Toph scoffed, crossing her arms. "I wasn't going to kill her."

"I don't believe you!"

"You don't believe anyone but Lightning Psycho, apparently," she muttered, face twisting in disgust. "I should have wrapped those chains around her snatch so you- "

Aang grit his teeth. "You're not wrapping the chains around any part of her!"

"No," Azula snapped, face irritated. "It is the right approach. I must be restrained by an enemy."

Toph grinned. "Thanks."

"Fine. But I'm going to do it," Aang cut in, turning to Azula and slowly molded the chains around her, restraining her as much as he dared.

When he stepped away, Azula rolled her eyes. "Toph, fix it."

Before he could respond, Toph bound forward and quickly tightened the chains around her.

Azula's face was tight as she adjusted to the change, but she only stared at him. "See? It is necessary."

"Too necessary," he said softly but nodded. "You ready?"

The resulting glow in her eyes made him feel concerned. "Yes."

Appa landed in the Upper Ring of the city, and, almost immediately, before Aang had even time to react, Dai Li agents surrounded them.

He stared at them for several moments, unable to dissuade his bad feeling, and picked Azula up and hopped out of the saddle, landing gracefully; he held her in his arms probably a moment too long before releasing her. He kept a powerful hand on her shoulder, chains visible for everyone to see, and he heard Toph hop off and land behind him.

"I'm here to speak with King Kuei," Aang declared, voice ringing through the air. "And I brought someone of interest to him, a sign of my willingness to get to the bottom of all this. Princess Azula's firebending won't be a problem. Do you understand, Dai Li?"

"Yes, Avatar Aang," one answered.

"Take me to him."

The Dai Li bowed and turned around in perfect unison. Foreboding rose within Aang; something in the air felt off, he could feel it, and he had a feeling that things were going to, inevitably, turn ugly. His vision of blood flashed in before his eyes, but he swore that that wouldn't happen because he was ready for anything that Kuei could potentially throw at him.

Crowds of nobles approached, joy on their faces, but when they saw Azula, their faces transformed into derisive sneers.

"Look at her! That's the Princess of Fire!"

"She holds herself like a princess! Too bad she's monstrous!"

"I bet it's not the first time she's been wrapped in chains!"

"Let me kill her, Avatar Aang! Let me kill the whore!"

"That is no whore! That is a cunt! And Avatar Aang should bestow the honor to me!"

Aang stared at them, disappointed, but Azula only glanced up at him as he continued leading her to the palace. "Savages," she observed softly, unsurprised.

Quickly, but longer than he liked, the palace approached, and Kuei descended the steps with an entourage of his advisors.

"Avatar Aang!" Kuei greeted loudly, looking gleeful as he slowly approached. "When I received word of your arrival, and particularly, your gift to me, I came at once!"

"How magnanimous of him," Toph muttered scornfully, and Aang couldn't help but agree.

Kuei only continued smiling as they approached to meet him halfway, and his gaze rooted on Azula with a terrible hunger. "It relieves me more than my words can describe that you have seen reason finally, Avatar Aang. I accept your gift of Princess Azula."

Aang only smiled tightly and felt his grip on her shoulder tighten slightly. "I brought Princess Azula here as a symbol of my willingness to bridge the gap between you and Fire Lord Zuko."

"Of course. This new conflict has grieved me deeply- "

"Your spurious words do nothing, King Kuei," Azula condemned in interruption, tilting her chin in challenge. "You only reveal your impotent nature by embracing such fraudulence. You are but a feckless fool!"

Kuei's face darkened. "Dai Li! Take Princess Azula to- "

"There are conditions," Aang interrupted, tilting his chin in challenge, only realizing after he did it that he mimicked Azula. "We must reach a deal for peace. Otherwise, I will walk into whatever prison you conceive for her, take her out, and leave. This new war is going to end one way or another."

Kuei stared at him before smiling. "Of course, Avatar Aang. Dai Li! Take her!"

Aang restrained himself from smacking aside all the Dai Li who approached Azula. "I trust she will be treated well," he said loudly and intently, gazing at Kuei. "Humanely."

"Of course, Avatar Aang," Kuei assured, and Aang didn't need Toph blowing her bangs out of her eyes to know Kuei was lying.

He smiled. "You can never be too careful," he mused. "That's why I think someone familiar with Princess Azula and her abilities should go with her and watch over her with the Dai Li. Master Toph will accompany the Dai Li to watch over Princess Azula."

Kuei frowned slightly before waving his hand. "Very well. Dai Li, take Princess Azula to her rightful prison. Master Toph, I trust there will be no problems."

Toph stepped forward, bowing perfectly. "Of course, your highness. The Dai Li and I get along like rocks."

"She will behave herself," Aang assured.

"See to it that she does, Avatar Aang," Kuei said, displeased. "I will accept no unruly behavior of any kind."

Toph's eye twitched but she nodded. "My behavior will be acceptable."

Kuei nodded and looked at Azula with an intensity that Aang didn't like. "Do you have anything to say, Princess Azula?"

Azula's lips curved. "I must confess of my regret—I should have slit your throat when I held you in my grasp when I conquered this cesspool of savages. Think about it, King Kuei—it is only a mistake that you still live. In a way, you owe me your life, do you not? Thus, you owe me a debt, meaning that you must release me—a life for a life."

Aang sighed at the irate expression spreading across Kuei's reddening face, and he bowed his head; the irrational hope that it would turn out alright vanished.

"Your existence is a slight against balance," Kuei murmured, and Aang's gaze snapped to him in consideration. Was Kuei alluding to his sinister notion of two nations for balance? "I will rectify Life's mistake."

"A weak justification by a weak king," Azula observed, voice light and mocking. "Life does not make mistakes, only weak fools like you do."

"A flawed judgment- "

"From whom do you acquire such authority?" she wondered, face displaying mock sympathy. "It cannot be anyone worthy. You descend from non-benders and weak men, but in my blood endures the memories of great men, something you will never know."

Kuei's arm reared back, objective clear, and as his arm swung forward, aiming to smack Azula across the face, Aang caught his arm and squeezed. "Humanely," he stressed forcefully, ignoring how the Dai Li all took a step forward, stances shifting to combat; he kept his gaze on Kuei as he released his grip. "Will this be a problem?"

"Of course not, Avatar Aang," Kuei assured, adjusting his sleeve. "My passion merely overtook me."

"It does that a lot, I imagine," Azula drawled, looking bored. "What else do you have to be to declare war on the Fire Lord?"

"Take her away!" Kuei snapped, and Aang watched as Azula was led away with Toph, descending into a suddenly appearing tunnel that would take them to the prison in the earth.

Azula glanced back at him, smirking. "Thank you for your hospitality, Avatar Aang."

The tunnel closed before he could respond, leaving him alone with Kuei and his advisors.

"This way, Avatar Aang," Kuei said, motioning him forward. "As much as I am joyous over this gift, we have much to discuss."

Aang nodded, assessing Kuei with what he hoped was neutrality. "Yes, we do."

XxXxXxXxXxX

"So, how does Kuei treat you?" the blind Earthbender asked casually as they descended into the earth, and Azula felt grateful; she was surrounded by enemies, and her only ally was the blind Earthbender, who did not like her, but she was an ally, nonetheless. "Come on! Some good agents like yourselves should be paid well, right?"

None of the Dai Li responded.

Azula only knew darkness, but the sounds of the Dai Li's footsteps were helpful—not to mention the blind Earthbenders' grip on her chains.

She slowed her pace slightly and lowered her voice so it was barely audible. "If you kill me- "

"I know, I know," the blind Earthbender dismissed just as quietly, disgusted. "Twinkletoes' heart will go wild."

"No, your heart will go wild when you experience his wrath."

The blind Earthbender huffed. "I really don't like you."

"As long as you dislike Spineless Kuei more," Azula said serenely.

A scoff echoed, and the blind Earthbender's voice rose in volume. "That has yet to be decided. The fact it's you who stops me from feeling Kuei shit himself makes me like him more."

"But not the smell, I imagine."

"Your disrespect will be reported to King Kuei," one of the Dai Li agents intoned.

The blind Earthbender scoffed. "Go fuck yourself. You know what? I dare you to tell that coward you call a king. Tell him that the only reason I don't raise a spike into his ass is that I have more restraint than he does. What was he thinking declaring war on Fire? He's lucky that King Bumi has mellowed because he said if he was a little younger, he'd walk to Ba Sing Se, rip down the walls, and stuff Kuei's head into a hole in the ground!"

Azula smirked, realizing that the Scourge of Fire was everything the legends suggested. "Fucker of Fire, indeed."

"And Fucker of Fools, of which Kuei is the biggest," the blind Earthbender added.

"We will tell him," the Dai Li agent intoned.

"See that you do."

More light pierced suddenly through the darkness as the Dai Li opened the earth to reveal a hallway. Quickly, the blind Earthbender pushed her forward with more force than necessary, and she was led down the hallway, turning right and left multiple times until they all stopped at a metal cell.

"This is your cell until King Kuei decides what to do with you," the Dai Li agent—a different one—intoned. "It is inescapable."

Azula felt grateful Aang was so trustworthy as The Avatar; he said she was without her bending, and everyone believed him.

"I'm going inside with her," the blind Earthbender said bluntly, crossing her arms and jutting her chin out stubbornly.

"But King Kuei- "

The blind Earthbender scoffed. "You heard me, dirt-for-brains. I've got The Avatar's authority backing me. Who do you think's worth more? I mean, The Avatar actually would make you dirt-for-brains if you pissed him off, which means if you piss me off. I'm going into the cell with Princess Azula. Got it?"

Azula found herself liking the blind Earthbender more and more; she was refreshing. Unlike Aang, who, too, did not fear her, the blind Earthbender was more than willing to insult her and call her names; it was intriguing and thrilling.

The Dai Li agent bowed his head. "If that is The Avatar's will."

"It is," the blind Earthbender said confidently and dragged Azula with her into the cell and shut the door behind her.

There was only more darkness, and Azula did not dare breathe flames, wary that the light would be seen from outside the cell, revealing the deception about her firebending.

"You better have a fucking plan," the blind Earthbender muttered, and the sound of fabric sliding against metal echoed through the air; the blind Earthbender slid to the ground, clearly, back resting against the metal. "I don't want to have to do all the work."

Azula's brows rose. "Have you no imagination?"

"Twinkletoes thinks so."

"He thinks many things."

"That you filled his head with."

"There was quite the void since there was no one else, least of all you, to fill his head with things," she drawled, annoyed. "But if you loosen the chains, I will be able to escape. I can melt the cell."

"And when should I do this?"

"Now."

The blind Earthbender's garments rustled from a shrug. "I think I'll wait a little bit."

"You want to be confined in here with me for that long?"

"Quiet," the blind Earthbender muttered. "I'm trying to feel what Twinkletoes and Kuei are doing up there."

Azula leaned forward, unable to help herself. "Can you?"

"No. It's not connected directly, meaning there's no connection, meaning I can't feel what they're doing. And it's metal, too. It takes a lot more concentration with metal, and over such a distance, I can't do it. I'm not even sure I could feel them if it was all earth; we've gone down a really long way."

"I like the image of Aang debasing Spineless Kuei and ordering him to stand down, wielding his power as Avatar."

The blind Earthbender snorted. "Yeah, 'cause you taught him how to do it."

"You do not give him enough credit," Azula retorted. "He has manifested what was always there."

"Really?"

"He told me. And what would you know?" she challenged, raising a brow. "This is the first time you have experienced him, both Aang and The Avatar, in over eight years."

The blind Earthbender was quiet for several moments, and when she spoke, her voice was softer than Azula imagined it could be: "He's really mad about that, isn't he?"

"Yes."

"I don't have a good excuse."

"He would not want to hear it if you did."

"I looked for him once," the blind Earthbender said quietly, almost challengingly. "So many years ago. I heard so many stories about The Avatar traveling through the Earth Kingdom, solving problems, and stopping conflicts. I tried to catch up to him, but no one could anticipate an Airbender's direction; he went everywhere and nowhere all at once. One day, he was on one side of the Earth Kingdom; the next day, the other side. I tried for a while to find him, but I gave up and went to Omashu, and I stayed there."

Azula tilted her chin. "If you were with the Scourge of Fire, you could have attended the Great Gatherings."

The blind Earthbender scoffed, the sound snapping through the air with bitter force. "Fuck that. And Twinkletoes would only be The Avatar there. I've never liked The Avatar; I always hated it when, in those rare times, he was someone I couldn't imagine. I could feel it with my feet; there was a change, really small, but it was worse. It wasn't like The Avatar State, which is… wrong. But when it was subtle like that, it tricked me into thinking Twinkletoes was still there but, nope, it was only The Avatar- "

"Who is terrifying," Azula finished in understanding.

"If Twinkletoes is even a little Avatar up there- " The blind Earthbender pounded a fist against her palm, the sound erupting through the air. "- Kuei's going to shit himself. And that's why I don't understand you. With everything you've done, specifically to him and those he loves, or did love, he shouldn't ever be Twinkletoes with you. He should just be The Avatar."

"He wanted to be Aang," Azula said slowly, spacing her words, wondering how much she should reveal. And she had to consider how valuable of an ally the blind Earthbender would be. "He wanted his vacation because he hates The Avatar and yearned to cast him aside for Aang—however shortly."

"And you took advantage because you could always seduce Twinkletoes," she said bluntly. "But The Avatar? No one could seduce The Avatar."

Azula stood taller—or tried to with the chains. "You do not perceive the great gifts with which I have to work."

"Based on his heartbeat, I have an idea. But you're lucky he wasn't The Avatar on Ember Island. Otherwise, it'd be you shitting yourself."

"Perhaps," she conceded. After all, she had never experienced The Avatar, only Aang. She could only estimate her reaction to The Avatar. "But you must feel grateful that he has spared you from The Avatar after your betrayal."

"It wasn't supposed to be a betrayal; it was just Life going on. And it's not like he made an effort."

Azula hummed, recalling what she knew. "You are a Bei Fong, a most prominent Earth family. Why not pay someone to send a message to him- "

"I told my parents to fuck themselves and left," the blind Earthbender interrupted harshly. "I haven't seen or talked to them since."

"Why?"

"I think you can imagine why."

Azula laughed slightly. "Indeed. I understand impossible expectations; I understand what it means to come from a complicated family."

"Not as complicated as mine," the blind Earthbender said with a snort. "My parents could only treat me like I was going to break, like I was frail and precious."

"You have the hardest head I have ever encountered."

"I know! But my parents' heads are even harder because they can't see the truth! I helped end the Great War! I trained The Avatar! I call the Fire Lord 'Sparky'! And I'd call the future Queen of Ba Sing Se 'Sugar Queen' if she hadn't broken it off!"

Azula's eyes narrowed. "Why did that peasant break it off?"

The blind Earthbender laughed. "Sparky told her the truth about Kuei, and she didn't take it well. And, you know, she isn't a peasant; she's Princess of the South."

"She is a bitch."

"Takes one to know one," the blind Earthbender said with a musical cackle.

"You admit she is a bitch?"

The blind Earthbender shrugged in admittance. "She has a certain bitchiness to her, but she's not bad. She's just too overprotective because she thinks she's everyone's mom."

Azula laughed slightly. "No wonder my brother was so taken by her."

"You think he loved her?"

Azula scoffed. "My brother sacrificed himself to save her during our Agni Kai. My aim was to kill her, and he prevented it by use of his own body. He would commit such a gallant deed for only someone for whom he felt much love."

The blind Earthbender was quiet for several moments. "Maybe. There was always something with them; I could feel it. But I was never sure."

"I know my brother more than you," Azula assured, arm twitching under her chains as she wished to wave a hand. "The source of his gallantry lied in his attraction to that bitch and yearning for something more—the sentimental fool."

"Twinkletoes used to be a 'sentimental fool'," the blind Earthbender whispered, voice morose. "I barely recognize him. If I couldn't recognize him with my feet, I would have never recognized his voice; it's so different. Everything about him is different."

"He has hair now, too," she observed.

"Really? He's not bald anymore?"

"Thankfully not. I have not seen him as a bald man, but I remember the bald boy I chased across the world. It made him look unbearably naïve."

The blind Earthbender sighed, breaths ragged in grief. "And he's no longer that way. I wish he was. I miss that Twinkletoes."

Azula's eyes narrowed. "You failed to make an effort to- "

"I know. We all failed, including him. This isn't how I thought things would go after the War."

"Me neither," she agreed, thinking of her previous ignorant ambitions of a world of only Fire; she thought she would have her own nation and glory, but she held neither because she was immature and weak. "I never conceived I would share a conversation with The Avatar's earthbending master while imprisoned by Spineless Kuei."

The blind Earthbender snorted. "And I never thought I'd agree to protect the life of you, the Fire Princess."

Azula still resented the fact that both Aang and the blind Earthbender perceived her as needing protection, but rationally, she knew they were correct; she had not yet recovered her full abilities.

"I thought things would be okay," the blind Earthbender continued, voice softening; she sounded disbelieving. "I thought everything would go correctly rather than wrongly; I thought that Twinkletoes would make sure there was 'healing' or whatever; I thought things wouldn't be worse. Can't you feel it? There's this feeling in the air, something different than anything I felt during the War, even during the last days, and I don't know what it is, but I feel it."

"A foreboding," she acknowledged, understanding. "I feel it, although less than most since I have The Avatar's affections."

The blind Earthbender huffed, but it sounded tired. "I almost admire you for it. Whatever you do, you're good—because you have his 'affections.' It's smart."

Azula remained quiet for several moments, determining how much to reveal before choosing to cultivate a potential alliance. "I did not only work for his affections because it is smart. I worked because I wanted to."

"Is he that good-looking?"

"He possesses beauty," Azula acknowledged, "but there is an understanding between him and me. He is a genius."

"He's The Avatar," the blind Earthbender drawled simply. "You know, many lifetimes of intelligence sits in that head of his that's no longer bald."

She shook her head. "No, it is different. Yes, he possesses the transcendent instincts of The Avatar, but I believe firmly that no Avatar but him, not even Wan himself, could have succeeded as he did with the vast and monumental challenges that afflicted him at such a young age. I asked him about his past lives, and he divulged several fascinating facts. The Avatar learns his identity at sixteen and takes over a decade to master the other elements, to become fully realized. But Aang was only twelve when he learned the truth and endured the most horrific travesty and crime in Air's murder. He awoke in a world impossible to comprehend, nonetheless live in; he was catapulted to the forefront of the Great War, fighting in its heart and challenging Fire's indomitable supremacy; he changed the outcome of the Great War single-handedly with his mere presence because he is renowned, even as a boy; and he had to confront my father, the most powerful man I ever encountered until Aang found me on Ember Island. And I know my father; I understand him as Aang understands me. My father sought to humiliate and maim during their encounter; he sought to torture and terrorize; he sought to kill and desecrate. Aang held no such desires, and he did not kill him when he deserved it; he spared him, which, I have come to realize, takes strength. Everyone in the world not associated with Fire and my father endorsed my father's death, but Aang went his own way, his own direction. He did not succumb to the relentless pressure—the social pressure—at such a young age."

"You don't think he should have killed the Loser Lord?"

Azula blinked. "No, I think he should have killed him, of course; it was the rational course of action. However, I am in awe of his strength to not surrender himself to his desires—because he wanted to kill my father, or at least, part of him did; I am in awe of his strength to endure the world's judgment over his judgment and stand tall, never buckling nor stumbling."

"He did, pretty much, tell us all to go fuck ourselves when we kept telling him to kill the Loser Lord," the blind Earthbender said.

"I am in awe of him and who he is and all the spirit and strength he possesses," she admitted, "but it is not merely because he is The Avatar; I am in awe of him because he endures The Avatar. Of course, I yearn for the power of The Avatar to be my own—who would not?—but I could not handle it. If such powers were mine, I would be mad once more. Aang has the strength to control his ancient and supreme power. But there is more than only his fascinating strength. He possesses a remarkable understanding and insight. If Roku had but a fraction of such understanding and insight, my forefather would never have had the chance to commit the greatest sin in the recorded history of the Four Nations."

Silence.

The blind Earthbender sniffed. "Maybe you're not drowning Twinkletoes in your snatch, after all."

Azula smirked. "I am not opposed to the idea, of course, but it has not happened yet."

"You're bold."

"I am open-minded," she corrected. "If it happens, it happens; if it does not, it does not. There is only the matter of- "

The blind Earthbender inhaled sharply. "Someone's coming. And he doesn't feel like the Dai Li."

Suddenly, the cell door opened, and a tall man walked in, head bowed, and light from outside the cell streamed inside; the door remained open. A beard covered his face, and his hair was sheared off, leaving only a lean crop. Azula's eyes narrowed, for there was something known about him to her. The way he carried himself, the set of his shoulders beneath his garbs, the angle of his posture, and the way his arms crossed behind his back.

Then he raised his gaze, and she inhaled sharply at the vivid golden eyes.

"Azula."

Azula froze, lightning splintering through her mind at that familiar voice—the one she knew she would hear again but found her preparation failed to prepare her. She stared, wide-eyed, at Father for several moments too long before she swiftly bowed her head to him, grateful for her instincts; he could not see the terror on her face—never!

"Father," she greeted, infusing her voice with awe and relief. "It is wonderful to see you again. It has been too long."

"The Avatar brought you here," he observed, voice controlled—too controlled. "Why?"

Azula looked up at him, face a mask of shame and outrage. "Zuzu freed me because he thinks with his heart and not his mind. And The Avatar found me."

"You were defeated."

She refrained from scoffing and pointing out that if Father was defeated by a twelve-year-old Aang, Azula never had a chance against a mature Aang. "He is The Avatar, Father. The glory of the world abides in him."

Father's face ignited with a terrible sneer, and Azula controlled her instinct to back away and genuflect. "He does not deserve such power. But worry not, Azula—that power will not be his forever." He looked at the blind Earthbender and approached her until he stood right in front of her. "You came with The Avatar; you were one of his teachers. Tell me why I should not kill you."

Azula, too, glanced at the blind Earthbender, concerned she would destroy them both, but the blind Earthbender only huffed, looking relaxed, but Azula knew it was forced. "The Avatar? He reeks worse than a badgermole's shit! If I wasn't certain what happened to you would happen to me, I'd try to kill him."

Suddenly, Father snared the blind Earthbender's throat and hoisted her in the air, separating her from the source of her power. "This is how it felt under his cruelty—separated from your power." The blind Earthbender heaved punches at Father, but Father seemed impervious, leaning his head back to avoid her short reach and protecting his groin with his other hand when her leg tried to connect there. "I know you, and I know of you. You hold no power now without your physical connection to the metal, over which you boast control. Do you feel the humiliation? The weakness? The shame?"

"She is useful, Father," Azula interrupted, trying to save the blind Earthbender's life; she should let Father kill her, but something provoked her to act. "She knows The Avatar- "

Father's grip tightened, and the blind Earthbender's fingers clawed at Father's hands. "But does she know his cruelty?"

"Ye- yes!" the blind Earthbender choked out, hammering her fists on Father's forearms. "Let go, you non-bending fuck!"

Father released her, and Azula could only watch, wary, as the blind Earthbender massaged her throat and glared up at Father.

"You have spirit," Father observed, powerful and daunting; she did not know how he was so confident against a prodigious Earthbender—unless his bending had returned.

A thrill of terror ravished her. "It would not be prudent to kill one of whom The Avatar is fond, not now. It would only enrage him, and you would be smitten before you could inflict your vengeance against him. She will be useful to you."

"She could be," Father acknowledged in a murmur. "I have use for her—if she knows her place."

Azula nodded, staring at the blind Earthbender urgently. "She knows her place, Father. It is behind you to learn- "

"It's behind you so I can fuck you!" the blind Earthbender snapped. "I'm all for teaching The Avatar a lesson in humility—because he needs it. He's cruel and jaded; he humiliates and shames as easy as he breathes because he's a fucking Airbender! But if you ever lay a hand on me again, I'm going to take a stone pillar and jam it into your ass!"

Father only looked amused, thankfully. "You have great spunk, but remember your place, Earthbender. You do not know Power—I do. And I will unleash it in waves upon you if I must."

"Won't be hard to remember."

Father turned to look at her, and something in his eyes shifted. He approached, he placed his fingers under her chin, lifting her gaze; there was awe and something else on his face. "You look so much like your mother."

"You always knew this, Father," Azula ventured, knowing she had to play her role perfectly.

His fingers caressed her cheek. "Your mother matured faster physically than you did," he whispered, eyes roaming her face and down her body. "But now you are fully mature, and you look so much like her, like I remember her before she betrayed me. How is she?"

Azula tensed, unable to stop herself. "She is ignorant of the damage she inflicted."

"Has she lost her beauty?"

"No," she answered, unable to keep the bitterness from her voice. Mother should look like a hag after her sins, but she looked beautiful—as she always had. "She has aged minimally as you have."

Father dropped his fingers from her chin. "We will be reunited, and there will be greatness."

"Zuzu will try to stop that reunion," she dared, curious.

Father stared at her, head tilted; his expression was unreadable, and Azula felt acute dread. "Your brother went his own way, and he challenges me; he goes against me. I once thought him piteous and fragile, but I was wrong. You are piteous and fragile, Azula, for you, even now, cling to me as you always have. Your brother manifested strength. I admire him in some ways, despite his intolerable chosen path, for he did the same as I—rejected his father as I rejected mine. He walked the path I did. I suppose I am proud of him for that, for I wanted him to be just like me—and he is." Father placed a powerful hand on her shoulder, squeezing, and Azula was unable to move, frozen in place. "But you have never had any strength, Daughter. Your mother had much strength before the weakness of all mothers took hold of her. But you? You are bereft of strength, like my brother, who has never known strength. You disappoint me, Azula."

Azula flinched and bowed her head, feeling her heart race, but she kept her voice even. "Under your guidance, may I manifest the strength of Sozin."

Father's eyes crinkled in apparent sadness, but she knew better; its source was in mockery. "The strength of Sozin stems from Sozin's seed, but you have no seed; you are seedless and, thus, without strength."

"But Mother- "

His hand tightened painfully, and she cringed, unable to help herself. "Never disrespect your mother," he hissed. "The blood of an Avatar exists in her- "

"And me."

She expected a strike, but Father only hummed curiously. "Indeed. But you still have no strength, Daughter. Your mother killed my father, a great man. But what great man have you killed?"

Azula summoned a smirk to her face. "I killed The Avatar under Ba Sing Se- "

"You thought you did," Father corrected, voice darkening. "And you deceived me into thinking your brother killed him."

"A mistaken gamble," she appeased immediately. "I thought if Zuzu had the credit, he would proclaim it throughout the Fire Nation, drawing The Avatar's ire, bringing him to the Fire Nation—to you."

Father sneered. "A nonsensical plan from a nonsensical daughter."

Azula stiffened, unable to prevent from swallowing. "I do not understand- "

"Because you lost your mind," Father snapped, circling her, gaze consuming. "Your brother revealed it to me when he beat me with his own hands until I was near death. He showed such ferocity, more than I ever saw in you. I once thought him irredeemably weak and fragile, but you are fragile and weak; you are pathetic. What I forced you to endure, you should attack me, but you never will—you are weak. You matured quickly—too quickly. Your brother took longer but look at him now. My pride in him is not misplaced like it was in you. He has surpassed you in every way. I focused on the wrong child."

The words felt like physical blows assaulting her, and she did what she always did—she absorbed the strikes. "I will redeem myself, Father," she vowed, feeling her sanity rebel. "Allow me to accompany you with whatever your agenda is. If your design is The Avatar, I will take you to him; I will help you fight him- "

"Your mind is still gone," Father lamented, sounding only disappointed. "To fight The Avatar is absurd. I am not ready to fight him, not yet; I shall be soon, but not now. I am here to observe and counsel Kuei."

Azula's eyes widened. "Know your enemy."

"Indeed. Eight years, I spent ashamed in that cell; eight years, I devoted myself to conceiving vengeance adequate for my humiliation; eight years, I waited and tested my patience; eight years, I nurtured my resolve until I escaped. But for eight years, The Avatar has grown and matured; he was terrible then, but now he is a terror."

"What will you do to him?"

Father's eyes glowed with sinister intent; they looked like liquid gold, and Azula could not look away. "I will repay him for his slights. And the price must be paid in agony and blood. I will shame him before I kill him and take everything that was and is his."

The blind Earthbender had remained so silent that Azula forgot she was there until she spoke: "Good luck with that."

"No luck is needed," Father replied, still staring down at her. "Only strength, and my strength is foremost. I do the impossible—rebel against a mature and cruel Avatar. I will depose him from his grandeur and renown; I will give him the emptiness of Death—forever."

Silence.

"Come with me, Azula," Father ordered after several long moments. "I accept your offer to redeem yourself."

Azula smirked and wiggled slightly, emphasizing her chains, which clanked. "A little help would be beneficial," she said, hoping to gain confirmation that Father's firebending had returned.

Father only stared at her. "You can escape."

At his judgment, she closed her eyes and focused on her flames, but upon feeling his judgment slamming against her, she felt herself faltering, and her dread increased drastically—and panic began to consume her as it took longer than it should for her to find her firebending.

The blind Earthbender laughed. "No need!" she cried out loudly—too loudly for it to be authentic—and ripped the chains off and tossed them into the corner. "See, your highness? I'm useful."

"Perhaps," Father judged with something she could not discern. "Come with me."

Father strode out of the metal cell, and Azula stretched her limbs, massaging in some places, while the blind Earthbender gripped her arm.

"You fucking owe me," she hissed and elbowed her in the side sharply.

"Why did you not kill him?" Azula hissed back.

"Why didn't you?"

"I was in chains."

"And I was practically in chains, too! This is a metal cell! Even with metalbending, I'd burn alive in there if he had his firebending back. And you said you could melt the cell, and if you could, he could. And I felt the heat of his flames during Sozin's Comet all the way from the other airships. We're trapped in metal in here, and with that heat, the first thing that would happen is that my feet would be burned. I couldn't risk it because if my feet were burned, I'd be fucked, and he'd kill me without effort. I wasn't taking the chance that his firebending returned while in this cell because he's confident, unlike anyone I've ever felt; he stands with bearing. We can kill him once we learn what he's planning and what he knows about Dark."

Azula only nodded, afraid to give verbal confirmation that she would be willing to kill Father—because it felt impossible to go through with it.

"Fuck, I don't know how you didn't lose your mind sooner," the blind Earthbender mumbled. "And I thought I had it rough."

She stared at Toph, feeling grateful, despite her judgment. "I do not know how, either," she whispered before walking out quickly to catch up to Father.

There were many Dai Li, but she walked past them confidently, reaching Father upon his motion to proceed, and Toph followed her lead.

Father smiled at Toph. "Kill her, Azula."

Toph's eyes widened, and she shifted her stance. "Fuck you!"

Azula tensed, and her flames burned across her hands. "I thought she was useful- "

"She was useful to assess The Avatar's weakness. It is only sensible that The Avatar resembles his teachers; she is weak, for she did not even try to attack me after I nearly killed her, providing evidence that The Avatar is still weak. Exterminate this weak child, Azula- "

Toph snarled and vanished into the earth, and all the Dai Li followed her, vanishing, as well, leaving her alone with Father. Azula knew Toph was in for a fierce fight for her life, likely the most challenging of her life, but she was The Avatar's earthbending Master; she would survive.

Father waved a dismissive hand, and Azula felt nauseous when she realized she did the same motion often. "The Dai Li will take care of her. Come with me."

Azula said nothing as they began to ascend a tunnel, and when Father did not summon flames to pierce the darkness, Azula did.

"Are you in control of the Dai Li?" she asked in astonishment, unsure why she felt surprised.

Father smiled. "Your observations from the Great War remain true; they yearn for true leadership, and they seek to follow strength. I fulfill all their yearnings."

She nodded in understanding. "And they do not know your identity because you changed your appearance."

"The beard worked for your brother; it works for me. And the short hair is a 'symbol' of my 'dishonor' to the Fire Nation since I was born in the Colonies to a woman who could not run fast, sired by a Firebender."

Azula hummed. "Clever. How did you escape?" she asked, voice light and curious.

Father's eyes gleamed. "A friend, a most worthy friend."

"Did Spineless Kuei free you?"

A sharp laugh rang in the air, and it was genuine. "Of course not, Azula. That fool will never arise above his foolishness."

Azula nodded in agreement, keeping pace with him. "Who freed you?"

"That is not pertinent right now," Father dismissed. "We have more pressing interests."

"Such as?"

"Refining intelligence."

The tunnel opened ahead, and Father motioned her forward, and they were near the ceiling of the palace, and looking down, it was the throne room. Visible clearly were Aang, Spineless Kuei, Spineless Kuei's advisors, servants, guards, the Council of Five, several dozen Dai Li agents, many nobles, and a young noblewoman standing on the other side, closer to Spineless Kuei.

Father's smile was sharp. "Now we observe, listen, and learn."

XxXxXxXxXxX

Toph hissed through her teeth as she fled from the Dai Li, but her senses were open and expanded the further she delved into the ground. She countered and attacked when and where she could, and she had already killed eleven Dai Li agents—but there were so many more! There were at least fifty, from what she could feel, and they were good. But Toph was better.

She had worked with Bumi for years to strengthen her earthbending more—because he knew a lot. He was the Fucker of Fire for a reason, and he certainly ended up always fucking her like he did the Fire Nation for so many decades when they sparred.

And there was Bor-

Nope. Not thinking about Bor. Think about killing these Dai Li losers working for an even bigger loser in the Loser Lord, who somehow befriended another loser in Kuei!

They were starting to gang up on her, combining their energies to crush her with the earth around her, and Toph tightened her grip, snarling in outrage. She was the second greatest—well, third greatest since she couldn't escape Twinkletoes' hold—Earthbender in the world!

Toph tunneled faster and swung her arms wildly, throwing boulders at the Dai Li agents behind her, and she slammed her arms together, causing the tunnel to collapse in on itself.

She felt several more heartbeats stop. But there were still many more to go.

Lightning Psycho, I swear if you let your insane dad kill Twinkletoes, there definitely will be something drowning in your snatch—your head! And Twinkletoes, don't fuck it up! Or fuck it up, but make sure that everyone else will be the ones fucked and not you and me—and maybe Lightning Psycho! I don't know how long I can keep this up!

XxXxXxXxXxX

Kuei led him into the throne room after a brief but awkward meal, and Aang didn't like the many eyes that rooted on him. There were the Dai Li agents and Council of Five, and there were Kuei's advisors, many of whom he recognized, and there was a young noblewoman standing to the side, distanced from the many other nobles.

He glanced at Kuei. "I was hoping to speak privately, King Kuei- "

"These are the most trusted Children of Earth on the continent," Kuei interrupted smoothly, smiling pleasantly, but his eyes were daring. "I give you permission to- "

Aang closed his eyes, understanding what Kuei was trying to accomplish. "You don't give me permission to do anything. I am grateful for your hospitality, but this is not a friendly visit. This is a negotiation to end your madness."

Kuei stared at him for a moment too long. "Consider them witnesses."

He gripped his glider in frustration. "You don't trust me."

"Your gift of Princess Azula has amended much of your gross negligence, but I still feel wariness. Our last encounter did not end pleasantly."

"You should only feel wariness if there's something you're doing—or planning on doing—that you know I won't like."

"The Avatar's preferences for Ba Sing Se's proclivities are inconsequential- "

"I misspoke," he interrupted, speaking slowly, wishing Toph could just knock some sense into Kuei. Aang would himself, but he feared he would accidentally—maybe not so accidentally—kill him. "You may be doing something that threatens the natural balance of the world. Are you?"

Kuei smiled, looking amused and haughty. "Avatar Aang, you must know and understand that imbalance grieves me as surely as it grieves you."

"I hope it doesn't grieve you to such an extent that it encourages you to consider ideas of a sinister nature."

Silence.

Aang ignored all the eyes on him, focusing only on Kuei, sensing and watching for a sign that Kuei still believed his absurdity of only two nations for balance. But Kuei was an excellent actor—a true politician—and smiled.

"I do not believe you have met my niece, Avatar Aang," he said, motioning the young noblewoman forward, and there was a softness in her face and eyes that Kuei lacked. "She is whom I offered to Fire Lord Zuko and whom he so cruelly rejected time and time again."

"Avatar Aang," she greeted, bowing, and Aang found that it was genuine.

He smiled. "What's your name?"

She smiled in return. "Lasha."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lasha," Aang replied, inclining his head. "I'm glad to see there's someone in Kuei's family who understands sense."

Lasha glanced nervously at Kuei, whose eyes narrowed, before she laughed lightly. "I trust your judgment, Avatar Aang."

Aang looked back at Kuei. "I wish your uncle would."

Kuei shook his head and ascended the steps to sit on his throne. "You are The Avatar, but you are confined by the limits of your experience in this life, which is but a mere twenty years. I have lived many years more than you, and I have experienced and studied more than you. I have read the greatest scholars and advanced past their knowledge, going farther. I will oversee the world's progress."

He glanced at Lasha and all the others in the room. "I insist we speak alone- "

"I insist you cease your mockery of ethics."

Aang blinked. "What mockery of ethics?"

"You have been unseen during the months since I rightfully and virtuously declared war on Fire Lord Zuko. Good men died while you did nothing."

"No one died!" he cried out, shaking his head. "Fire Lord Zuko has only been defensive, not aggressive. You failed to invade the Fire Nation; your navy is weak next to Fire's. You're twisting this to suit your argument!"

Kuei waved a hand in disgust. "Countless died while you were unseen for a century. What are more deaths to you, Avatar? You have never cared about Earth; you only care about Fire."

"That's not true- "

"You spare them from the retribution Earth and Water are owed!"

"Those are what your so-called 'reparations' are for!"

"No reparations could ever amend the horrors Fire committed- "

Aang almost crushed his glider from the strength of his grip. "Exactly! I told you reparations are pointless- "

"We have moved past reparations, Avatar Aang."

Something tightened around his heart. "Explain that, King Kuei."

"I already explained my plan to you at the last Great Gathering you attended, but, unfortunately, you were unreceptive. I see that has not changed."

"Slaughtering Fire is not the answer," Aang said through gritted teeth, unable to comprehend that he had to have such a conversation and explain away such absurdity. What had the world come to? "It only worsens the situation!"

"A feeble exaggeration," Kuei condemned, looking disgusted. "I do this to fix the situation that Fire put us all in. It is moral to do it, for Fire has no morality! You should praise my ingenuity!"

He turned to Lasha, who looked terribly pale. "Are you willing to marry a man your uncle's planning to murder? Are you willing to be part of genocide? I know genocide—you don't want it."

She said nothing, looking down.

Aang's eyes narrowed on Kuei. "And what happens when Water decides Earth should be destroyed? Or what if you decide to destroy Water? Because it will happen, one or the other. By doing this, you create a cycle that only ends with one nation, which is exactly what Fire Lord Ozai wanted. You have the choice to break the cycle. Air never knew destructive desires; Fire destroys Air; Earth destroys Fire; Water destroys Earth. That's the cycle you're approving."

Kuei scoffed, looking amused. "Like Water could destroy Earth. That is a fallacy. And my permanent alliance through my imminent marriage to Princess Katara ensures Water will never attack."

He felt severely tempted to reveal Katara's decision to break the betrothal, but he knew that would only make things worse—much worse. "You really think a marriage will stop Water from attacking if they wish?"

"And if they attack, we will repel them," Kuei dismissed, looking bored. "We endured Fire's onslaught for a century while the North hid like cowards. The South was conquered twice by Fire Lord Azulon, but the Earth Kingdom was never conquered until the final months of the Great War. Not even the Dragon of the West conquered us!"

"But Princess Azula did, and you wish to make an example of her."

Kuei smiled. "And I thank you for giving her to me. Your generosity amends much of your cruelty- "

Aang took a step forward and noticed how all of the Dai Li agents and Council of Five tensed, shifting their stances, but he didn't care. He sensed Azula and a man appear above, near the peak of the throne room's ceiling, but he didn't dare look upward. Had Azula befriended one of the Dai Li agents? And where was Toph?

"Cruelty is slaughtering an entire race for the sins of a few. Fire does not deserve to die."

"You cannot make that judgment, Avatar Aang, since you were unseen for a century while Fire committed atrocities untold by all their victims, who were silenced forever. You have never seen Fire's lack of morality. This is not your decision to make."

"Not my decision?" Aang echoed, astonished. "I'm The Avatar and the Last of Air! And you are just the King of Ba Sing Se. If you're not careful, you won't be its king much longer."

Kuei's eyes sharpened, and something unappreciative flashed over his face. "Are you threatening me?"

"I'm speaking the only language you're fluent in. You have threatened Fire Lord Zuko for years, and I was too much a child for too long to see it and understand your pursuit. I owe my friend—my friend—an apology. He warned me about you long ago, and I failed to heed his warning."

"So, you spare Fire out of your friendship to Fire Lord Zuko," Kuei surmised, disgusted.

"I spare Fire because it is right!" Aang yelled, voice rising, and he felt his frustration awaken The Avatar State, which stretched his restraint. "Fire Lord Zuko is not his forefathers- "

"He is descended from the Defiler!"

"He is a good man!" Aang snapped. "Much better than you!"

Kuei's eyes frothed in outrage, and Aang knew his eyes weren't much better; he dimly noted that all of the advisors, nobles, and Lasha looked nervous, on the verge of terrified.

He calmed himself, lowering his voice and forcing The Avatar State into its rightful slumber. "This plan, which only shows your emotions, will not commence."

Kuei waved a hand. "Worry not, Avatar Aang—there is much more to my plan than emotionalism. This is for balance and morality."

"What's more to your plan than emotionalism is the rationalization of your emotionalism."

"There must be Two Nations for balance, Avatar Aang? Why does your reason fail you?"

"Why does yours fail you? That's not balance."

"It is! Two Nations means balance, like Yin and Yang- "

"You're a child in your understanding!" Aang snapped.

Kuei's face spasmed with loathing. "I thought you had so much potential, Avatar Aang. You could have helped me change the world- "

Aang shook his head in disbelief. How had he ever once greatly admired Kuei? "There is no changing the world. The world is, and we are in it; we accept it."

"Really?" Kuei asked, leaning forward, eyes triumphant. "Do you accept your race's demise? Do you accept this world in which we live, for this 'world is,' or do you seek its change?"

"I will un-change the path we are on to fix the imbalance- "

"That is what my plan will accomplish!"

"No!" Aang shouted, adamant. "Your plan only endorses more change, which endorses more imbalance!"

"The Four Nations could not prevent the atrocities of Fire!" Kuei snapped. "We must progress to prevent something like this from ever happening!"

"That doesn't solve the problem, you damn fool!" he roared, gritting his teeth. "That's as simplistic as a child! Since the world's inception, there have been Four Elements—Water, Earth, Fire, and Air. And each Race worshipped these elements until the Elementals blessed the Races' most spiritual with the element they worshipped. That is how things have been for longer than you can conceive! And you think you have the right to change that? The arrogance! I am going to fix the imbalance when it is time. But there are bigger things right now that I must solve first, and believe me, it's more painful to me than to you. But be assured—I will return the world to What Was, for What Is, is not good. We are imbalanced and excessive! There is no peace without balance! And for there to be balance, there must be the Four Nations. Your plan only makes the imbalance worse!"

Kuei shook his head. "No, that is not what the evidence shows."

"What evidence?" he snapped. "There is no evidence! What you call evidence is your desires!"

"There are only two men alive who remember when there were Four Nations—you and King Bumi. But we cannot go back to what was, for what was, was not strong enough to prevent Fire's evil."

"I'm going to fix it and ensure it never happens again!"

"There is no fixing it! There is only progression!"

"Has it ever occurred to you that progression may be actually regression? Are you that close-minded?"

"Progression means- "

"It means following the path Sozin set us on! It means you are just like him!"

Kuei jumped up from his throne in outrage, fists shaking at his sides before he raised a condemning finger, jabbing it at him across the distance. "Apologize, Avatar Aang!"

Aang stared back at him and considered tossing aside his restraint and tossing lightning at Kuei—maybe it would make him feel better. "No."

"I am not the Defiler!"

"Your thinking is just like his! You're as pathetic as he was!"

"The Defiler wanted only a world of Fire! I want balance and a world of Two Nations!"

"Yet the methods to achieve that goal are the exact same as Sozin's methods!"

Kuei sat back down, shaking his head. "You are a child. My plan incorporates your unimaginable grief, Avatar Aang. With Fire's destruction, the world can finally heal from the horrors they unleashed, and there can be morality. You can have peace- "

"Such a plan kills The Avatar Cycle!"

"And?" Kuei asked, raising his brows. "Once my plan is implemented and Fire is no more, the world does not need The Avatar anymore. And if it does, you have two more lifetimes, being reborn into Water and then Earth, to do everything you need to do before your non-existence."

Aang leaned back, feeling exhausted. "You're one of those fools. You mentioned evidence. The Great War is the direct evidence of what happens when the world is without The Avatar."

"But Fire will be no more, meaning there will be peace and balance."

"Do you believe yourself incapable of evil?" he asked in wonder. "How dishonest and short-sighted are you? You really are one of those fools!"

"It seems to me that you are dishonest and short-sighted. This plan is glorious, and it affirms Life!"

Aang stared at Kuei in disbelief. "And my rejection of this sinister idea only strengthens your resolve."

"What are you going to do, Avatar Aang?" Kuei demanded, opening his arms in curiosity. "Kill me, unlike your failure to kill Fire Lord Ozai? Am I more of a threat than him?"

Silence.

The Council of Five shuffled slightly closer to Kuei, and the Dai Li shifted their stances. Clearly, they expected Aang to attack Kuei at any moment.

"You're more a threat because you're convinced what you're doing is good," he said at last after assessing him for several long moments. "Everything Ozai has ever done has been out of ego. You have ego—'praise my ingenuity,' indeed—but that isn't what drives you to commit human slaughter. No, you legitimately think, believe, and feel that you are in the right, that what you're doing is good and will ultimately direct the world toward Good."

"And I would think that The Avatar would understand and see the truth about this plan. It is good."

Aang hissed through his teeth for patience. "Has it occurred to you that The Avatar knows what he's talking about?"

"I do this for balance, which you should endorse!"

"What is balance?" Aang cried out, staring at everyone in the room. "Who among everyone here can articulate balance? Who can explain it? Can any of you? Or do you only have a vague idea that you can't see clearly, least of all explain?" He locked gazes with Kuei. "Tell me, King Kuei—what is balance?"

"Equality amongst the nations- "

"No."

"An even number of nations- "

"No."

"Earth and Water!"

"No! Balance is an accordance with What Is, a perennial understanding in realizing you are beholden to the nature of Life—which is Four Nations! The Four Nations—or Four Elements and its sects of peoples—have existed since the Beginning! And they existed for a reason! For many reasons! And they differed from each other! Water is not Earth, Fire, or Air; Earth is not Fire, Air, or Water; Fire is not Water, Earth, or Air; and Air is not Water, Earth, or Fire. There are fundamental differences between the races! Each is equal in value, but they are not equal, which is always taken as identical; they are equitable. If there were Five Nations since the Beginning, that would be balance, but there have never been Five Nations, and there never will be. There are Four Nations, and there must be Four Nations! The divine energies of the Four Elements are the foundations of the world and Life as we live it! There can never be two nations! And there can never be three nations! There will always be Four Nations, even if Air, for now, is found only in me. Even if you succeed in your plan, which you won't, there will still be Four Nations; Fire will still exist, and you will never be rid of it."

"I disagree."

Aang shook his head. "Then you are lost. You threaten the possibility of balance with your nonsensical, emotional plan. If you continue its pursuit, there is only one result."

"That Avatar has never killed a nation's ruler- "

"Yes, I have, but you're not the ruler of the Earth Kingdom," Aang reminded, taking some pleasure in Kuei's tightening face.

"I will be the King of Earth. Only a great man understands such aspiration. The Children of Earth are already there, waiting for it!"

"What are you talking about?"

"The Earth Kingdom used to be the Earth Kingdoms, which changed under Chin the Conqueror, who changed it to the single Earth Kingdom under his rule because he was a man of intelligence who saw the truth—only a single ruler over a nation is effective. But you in your past life ruined it."

Aang placed a steadying hand on his forehead. "The only reason you still have that throne is because of me! Kyoshi gave your lineage the throne after Chin the Conqueror seized it—and same for all the thrones of the four Earth Kings! And I helped ensure that you got Ba Sing Se back after Fire conquered it!"

Kuei nodded. "Indeed. And I thank you for bringing me its foremost conqueror. She will appease our harrowing grief over such a rape."

"I don't think that's why you want her."

"Nonetheless, she will have to suffice since I have been unable to acquire the other conquerors," Kuei lamented. "But your approval of my righteousness- "

"I don't approve of your ambition," Aang corrected.

"Most regretful. However, no king needs The Avatar's approval. You are an outsider to the politics of the nations; you are a bystander, not a player. Your fundamental nature is as a bystander considering your extensive efforts not to be involved in the Great War."

"My nature is to be active when balance is threatened, which is what you're doing."

"Your existence is redundant, Avatar Aang," Kuei condemned, and Aang stared at him incomprehensibly. "Earth does not need The Avatar- "

"Fire conquered Earth," Aang reminded tersely. "It was me who ended Fire's conquest."

"Fire only conquered Earth due to your betrayal. You led Princess Azula and the other conquerors into Ba Sing Se- "

Aang mentally recited Gyatso's teachings of patience. "Stop revising history to suit your narrative."

"I follow your example!" Kuei cried out, gesturing wildly. "Moments ago, you recited a lecture about how the Four Nations have existed since the Beginning, but it is lies! There are no such records in the world that describe it!"

"Some things are beyond knowledge."

"And that is why you are a child!"

Aang scoffed, feeling a sneer cross his face; he didn't care to stop it. "Princess Azula is exceedingly more mature than you. She possesses incredible insight and intelligence, things you lack blatantly."

Kuei leaned forward, eyes aflame with intent. "I am going to torture Princess Azula until she can scream no more; I will give her to the soldiers who were maimed during the Great War to use her body as each wishes, breaking her further. After she is raped and beaten, I will parade her through Ba Sing Se so she can look at the resilience of the world's strongest city, and I will let my grieving and mournful people shame her, shearing her hair from her skull and stripping her of her flimsy clothes and honor. Then I will gather all around me as I execute her, ending the life of that worthless, thieving deceiver."

Aang grit his teeth and squeezed his eyes shut, feeling the dark rage seethe inside. "If you touch her, you die."

"Are you threatening me?"

"And promising you. These are your last days as king. I will congregate the other Earth Kings and- "

Kuei only laughed. "I am secure in my position, authority, and power, Avatar Aang. Kings Lonin and Tornor will never try to depose me, and King Bumi is a weak fool. I will give him the peace he yearns for."

His eyes narrowed in fury. "Don't threaten Bumi."

"I only promise to offer him peace, Avatar Aang," Kuei defended, a performative shock on his face. "How dare you misconstrue my words as a threat!"

Aang almost gave up but remembered his restraint. "You want a threat?" he asked, raising his arms, ignoring the shifting stances of his potential attackers. "If you pursue your madness anymore, there will be permanent consequences."

"And there will be permanent consequences if you do not join me."

"You do not possess the power nor authority to inflict 'permanent consequences' against me."

Kuei's smile was triumphant and almost vicious. "But I do, Avatar Aang. Mighty Vaatu endorses my efforts."

Aang's fists clenched.

XxXxXxXxXxX

Azula observed King Kuei with an impressed eye, realizing she could not describe him as spineless. He possessed a steely gaze and was immovable in his demands and quest, a true Child of Earth. He was a king who dared challenge The Avatar, calling him a child and weak.

It was impossible.

She was reminded of something that she had once overheard one of Father's advisors whisper to his heir: "Only tell a man of will what he should do, not what he could do. If the Fire Lord realizes the depths of his power, there is no control I have over him, and I cannot wield him as my own weapon against my political enemies."

Azula reported the advisor's words to Father, who promptly executed him. But the logic behind the dead man's words was true. King Kuei of Ba Sing Se knew his power as a ruler and had become drunk on its depth, unwilling to consider a future where his absurd plan for Two Nations was not realized.

How he was blind to the glaring hypocrisy considering Earth's slaughters against Fire, mainly by the Scourge of Fire, and resemblance to Sozin in his pursuits was astonishing.

It seemed that Kuei lacked the strength not to be consumed by his power and see clearly.

How feeble. No wonder Father manipulated him so easily, able to befriend him.

Aang's own Earthbender shone with magnificence as he glared at King Kuei with the force of his endless soul. He brilliantly refuted King Kuei's arguments and made it clear that the decision for death lay in King Kuei's hands. But King Kuei was a fool above all fools.

"The Avatar is intelligent," Father admitted, begrudging, face twisting in displeasure.

"He is," Azula agreed softly. "But so is King Kuei. He has positioned himself excellently."

Azula hated King Kuei's intelligence, for it ensured his brilliant positioning; he was surrounded by the Council of Five, several of the most powerful Earthbenders in the world and incredibly seasoned Generals, men who should not be witnesses to a hopeful treaty between Earth and Fire endorsed by The Avatar. Not to mention the many Dai Li agents, whose number kept growing the longer the 'negotiation' lasted, appearing out of the shadows.

She wondered if Aang realized Kuei was surrounding him.

Something was going to happen, but it was only a matter of when it would, indeed, happen. And Azula wondered if Noblewoman Lasha, King Kuei's niece, would help lower Aang's guard for a killing blow. The way the woman continued staring at Aang infuriated Azula; she understood exactly why Noblewoman Lasha stared at Aang, but she resented it all the same and desired to shoot lightning at her.

Father chuckled. "I may have recommended strategy to him."

"He trusts you that much?"

"When I described the horrors I experienced in the Colonies being a half-spawn and the things I saw Fire commit and inflict, he was sympathetic—fool."

"He truly is," she whispered, watching below.

Aang was unwavering in his protest of King Kuei's absurdity; even from the vast distance, she saw the look on his face and the stormy glow in his ancient eyes. Azula was reminded of how intimidating he could look if he wanted, and she was amazed—and appalled—by how King Kuei seemed immune to such intimidation.

Finally, she sighted it, the crack in Kuei's carefully constructed façade. It was only a brief glimpse, but it was enough. It had shown her the evaporated composure, revealing the malignity that was hidden beneath. It was the source of his gall to argue such an outrageously profane idea to The Avatar's face and call his understanding that of a child's.

She would have killed him already, but Aang possessed more patience.

"You endorse King Kuei's efforts at Fire's destruction, Father?" Azula asked, incapable of comprehending such a notion.

Father smiled. "It amuses me. Fire's doom is impossible; we are Power. He will get nowhere, and if he does—or someone else does—sacrifices must be made for my ascension. Fire will never die; we are not weak like Air. But my ascension is most critical."

Azula wondered how Zuko would feel about Father wanting to re-ascend the Dragon's Throne.

King Kuei continued his obstinance, and Azula eventually noticed that even Father seemed annoyed by Kuei.

"Look at him," Father murmured, something awed and disgusted in his voice. "The god. All of the power in the world, and he's still weak. He could obliterate Kuei from Life, and I would applaud him. But he never will. He is still but that pathetic child. He has not changed."

Azula glanced at Father, who stared down at Aang with a hunger on his face she had never seen. She did not tell him how much Aang had—had!—changed.

"The Avatar has vast and immense power," she observed.

Father turned to her, golden eyes consuming. "No, The Avatar has a 'vast and immense' concern for your safety, Azula. He said he would kill Kuei for you."

Azula smirked and raised a shoulder in admittance. "I seduced him, Father. I would be worried if he did not feel profound concern for my safety."

Father's eyes sharpened, and he stared at her more fully, eyes roaming her. "Yes, yes. This is excellent; this is perfect, my daughter. When you return to him, you will be my ingress to him. And you must maintain your seduction at all costs. Bear his child if you must. Perhaps my heir will be the child you bear him‚ if such a child is borne by you. To raise his son as my own—what vengeance."

"What sublimity," she commended, ignoring the sickening sensation spreading through her. She would never let her children near Father.

Azula watched below as Aang's voice was deafening in its intensity. "You want a threat?" he asked, raising his arms, looking unconcerned by the many bodies in the room who would try to kill him if King Kuei ordered it. "If you pursue your madness anymore, there will be permanent consequences."

Kuei only sneered, and Azula wanted to shoot lightning at him. "And there will be permanent consequences if you do not join me."

"You do not possess the power nor authority to inflict 'permanent consequences' against me," Aang snapped, voice carrying up to them.

King Kuei's resulting smile provoked Azula's dread. "But I do, Avatar Aang. Mighty Vaatu endorses my efforts."

Azula glanced at Father immediately upon hearing 'Vaatu,' and Father looked panicked, which she thought impossible. "That damn fool!" he hissed. "I told him not to mention him!"

Seeing his attention elsewhere, Azula summoned a fire dagger in her hands, and she approached quietly, but the closer she became, she realized she could not kill him, could not jam her fire dagger in his neck. She knew she should, but she could not.

Father was right—she was weak.

"Who is that, Father?" she asked instead, infusing curiosity and boredom in her voice.

"A friend."

"Where is Vaatu?" Aang demanded from below, staring at King Kuei with a newfound intensity. "What has he told you?"

"He has promised me what you failed to—Fire's destruction!"

"Who are you to demand Fire's destruction?" Aang roared, voice snapping through the entire throne room like a flash of lightning. "What gives you, who were sheltered for so many years in a palace and experienced nothing of the horrors of the Great War and the fundamental imbalance it provoked, the right to express anything about balance? The imbalance of the world has nothing to do with you! You don't get to solve it! You have no voice nor say in the balance of the world, King Kuei! You are a weak and feeble man who succumbs to his emotions and rationalizes them! This is my problem, and I will solve it—me alone with the woman I deem worthy of being Mother of Air—when I am damn well and ready!" Aang's face looked terrifying, alight with intimidating ferocity, and Azula hated it. "I know why you think you can interject in something that has nothing to do with you. It's because you feel you are so virtuous and understanding, that your comprehension can envelop the complexity of the problems. I hear the whispers about Air and how you and everyone else feel so terrible and need to fix it, but you can't fix it! And if you do try to fix it, you actively make it worse!"

"At least I try, Avatar Aang!" King Kuei shouted back. "And Vaatu has endorsed the only foremost solution- "

"You shouldn't trust him! He's using you! He freed Fire Lord Ozai!"

Azula glanced at Father, panicked that her ruse against him would be discovered, but he only watched the verbal match between King Kuei and Aang.

"Fire Lord Ozai is dead!" King Kuei yelled. "Vaatu told me the truth—Fire Lord Zuko killed him!"

"You're as insane as Sozin! Ozai's alive! And Vaatu freed him from his cell!"

"You are insane, Avatar Aang! It is your fault Air has not yet returned; it is you who forces me to take such drastic measures- "

"Air will return when I deem it time. You will never dare advise me about anything that entails being The Avatar; you will never mention your absurdity regarding balance; and you will never speak about Air like you understand it! I will take all your understanding from you if you continue your deliberate misunderstanding!"

King Kuei stood to his feet, face a mass of rage, carved deep into his flesh as he pointed his finger at Aang; the sight would have made Azula laugh if she were not, admittedly, worried. "It is not my fault that you have refused to revive Air already since you claim it can be done. But it is different for Earth!"

"Enlighten me, then," Aang growled out, and even from the distance, Azula saw his gray eyes were colder than the Poles.

"How many Children of Earth have been slaughtered by the Fire Nation? How much land and animals were razed to the ground? Ba Sing Se was conquered by Princess Azula, the second to do so after Chin the Conqueror! And her uncle, the Dragon of the West, almost accomplished the feat years previously! How many men were killed violently? How many women were raped violently? How many children were terrorized violently? How many half-spawns exist on the continent with the blood of Fire in their veins? It is many more than there ever were of Air! This is the most populated city in the world! Its population vastly exceeds the combined total of all the old Air Nomads that the Defiler killed! Earth is strong, and its Children are even stronger! Raising strength is hard, especially when so many have died! But the Air Nomads were unable to even raise a hand against Fire, but Earth held steadfast for a century! Your race was- "

"Think carefully," Aang warned, gray eyes blazing, and his fists shook at his side, and Azula wondered if he had crushed his glider. "If you say what I suspect, I will kill you and leave nothing left; I will banish all thoughts of you from the memory of the world."

Silence.

The Dai Li and Council of Five quickly surrounded King Kuei, and General How glared at Aang. "You think carefully, Avatar Aang! All of Ba Sing Se will fight you- "

"It doesn't make a difference," Aang called out, standing still, glaring at King Kuei's defense. "Summon thousands more Dai Li agents; recall all your armies from wherever they are; unite with the other Earth Kings; bring together all the Children of Earth, benders and non-benders; join with Water, all its bender and non-benders; make amends with Fire, all its benders and non-benders; form a unity of Water, Earth, and Fire—you can never stop me. I will destroy you."

"He is enraged," Father whispered, voice tense. "Perhaps it is a good thing."

Azula swiftly shook her head. "Provoking him would only unleash his wrath, Father, and if he descends into his wrath, many will die," she warned, thinking of The Avatar State. "He will summon the power of the world into his hands and destroy. You know the legends. If he wished it, all would kneel before him, and no man would ever forget his natural state of kneeling before him. Power beyond anything in the Realms sings in his soul, which can erupt into a terrifying screech that shatters other people's souls, condemning them to nonexistence rather than the Gardens of the Dead—all if he so merely chooses. His hands command the world and cycle the seasons. To insult and debase him is to awaken his wrath that shakes the heavens and earth; to challenge him is to rouse the legions of past Avatars slumbering in his soul but forever there and alive, whispering in his ears and advising him, propagating the transcendent instincts that only exist in him, and the legions of Avatars will strike with thunder and tempests, claiming unborn and unbegotten children, all the sons and heirs of the land; to encounter his ire is to fall to your knees and beg for forgiveness because every moment you stand—or sit on a throne or claim a title insignificant next to The Avatar—is perilous treason for which you must atone; to defy him is to stain the world with your blood—and the blood of all those around you; and to disregard the legends of The Avatar is to be a fool, which leads only to downfall. You are no fool, Father. We do not want him to lose control. The loss of his control means only annihilation."

Father glanced at her with a light smile. "Well observed, Azula. You are right."

She nodded, knowing, indeed, she was. "Thank you, Father."

King Kuei faltered in his stance, seeming to finally—finally!—realize with whom he dealt. "Avatar Aang- "

"You self-righteous moralist!" Aang snapped. "You go on and on about morality, but you yourself have no morals! You're just like Sozin! You just use the idea of balance as an excuse, as a means to justify the evil stirrings of your heart! With authority in my right hand and power in my left, I order you to stand down and cease your madness! Do you understand, Kuei of Ba Sing Se?"

Azula could not help it, especially when Aang ceased to refer to Kuei as Ba Sing Se's king. She laughed, all her schooling about proper etiquette vanishing due to her immense mirth, and amazingly, she did not care, even with Father judging her.

It was funny.

"You're going to tell me everything you know about Vaatu," Aang continued flatly, imposingly. "Where is Fire Lord Ozai?"

Before anyone could answer, and Father looked suddenly bold enough to reveal himself, Toph burst through the throne room floor, wheezing and panting. Immediately, Aang dashed toward her.

"What happened?" Aang demanded, voice panicked.

Azula suddenly feared for Father's life and turned to him. "You must go. She could reveal your presence- "

"She is unconscious," Father interrupted, amused. "I told you—she is weak."

She turned her attention back and realized Father was right—Toph was unconscious, held in Aang's arms, undoubtedly too exhausted from fighting so many Dai Li agents.

Suddenly, more Dai Li agents popped out of the ground, bruised and bloodied but still conscious and glaring at the unconscious Toph.

Aang glared at the new Dai Li agents. "What did you do?"

"She freed Princess Azula, and we chased after her! She killed dozens of us!"

"Treason!" King Kuei shouted.

"Liars!" Aang roared, voice deafening and final. "Tell me the truth! What happened?"

"Return to him," Father ordered, backing into the tunnel. "Do whatever you must to maintain your seduction. I cannot confront him yet. Do not disappoint me, Azula."

Azula watched him leave, knowing she should stop him or attack him, but she failed to bring herself to do it.

She was weak.

"They're lying, Kuei!" Aang yelled, drawing her attention. "Stop being a damned idiot! You're as worthless as this entire time and place! You're just like everyone else here in this damned, evil time—pathetic and useless! You said you were my friend, but you know nothing of friendship, not like my race taught—just like everyone too stupid in this stupid time! You're so average, you lustful tyrant!"

"I believe my agents over you, Avatar Aang!" King Kuei snapped. "Dai Li, report! Where is Princess Azula?"

Azula jumped from the ledge, and bursts of sapphire flame slowed her fall until she landed next to Aang, who raised an earth wall to stop the Dai Li's instant attacks.

"I am okay," she whispered as Aang's gray eyes roamed her in concern. "I am not hurt."

"I'm glad," he whispered back, and she could not bear the relieved look in his eyes, not after she was too weak to kill Father or give away his location to Aang.

Aang lowered the earth wall, and she smirked at King Kuei. "I am here, Kuei of Ba Sing Se."

"Not for long," King Kuei hissed, eyes dark with manic energy, a fierce scowl splitting his face. "Kill them!"

General How smashed his foot into the ground and sent a boulder at Aang, who, without the use of his arms that were occupied by Toph, head-butted the boulder, destroying it.

Aang glanced at her urgently, eyes stormy. "Do what you must," he hissed before leaping toward the Council of Five on a tornado and roaring flames from his mouth.

Not wasting a moment, Azula jumped out of the way of one of the Dai Li agent's rock gloves. She blasted fire at the four agents that appeared before her, smiling at the looks of fear and shock on their faces.

She did have her firebending.

Her spars with Aang on Ember Island prepared her for confrontation, and she found herself falling into the rhythm of combat, punching flames, staying light but steady on her feet, and stretching her senses so she could deal with all threats.

"Why?" Aang demanded, and she watched him throw Toph into the air before spinning onto his back, producing massive gusts of wind and flames that surged across his legs, lashing out in all directions. "Vaatu's tricking you! I can help you, not that you even deserve it!"

"Fuck you, Avatar Aang!" someone shouted, and Azula could not identify who said it.

"I'll give you what you deserve!" Aang roared and caught Toph and jumped up to the ceiling, and dove down like a fallen star.

Azula's eyes widened as she realized what he was about to do. Right before he landed, she shot jets of flame out of her feet so that she would not be hit by the resulting shockwave.

He smashed into the ground, waves of the earth exploding outwards in devastating speed, and the entire palace trembled, walls and roofs and pillars all crumbling to dust. All of the Dai Li, Council of Five, nobles, including Noblewoman Lasha, and King Kuei, crashed into the wall painfully from the resulting wave of earth and wind.

"Let's go!" Aang shouted, dashing out of the ruined palace, still carrying an unconscious Toph. "Hurry!"

"Use The Avatar State!" she cried out, hoping she did not sound hopeful.

"No!" he snapped, glaring at her briefly, and she was shocked at the intensity in his eyes; she knew she had failed to conceal her hope that he would enter The Avatar State. "Just hurry!"

Azula resented the command, for she knew if he went into The Avatar State, he would have an easy time defeating the hundreds of earthbending Masters in Ba Sing Se; he could defeat the entire world as he said earlier! But she could not make him enter The Avatar State, unfortunately. But she yearned to see it, to see King Kuei face the wrath he was owed for all his sins the past years.

It would be glorious.

They raced outside, fighting off the swarms of agents of Earth, and jumped onto Appa, who bellowed gusts of wind from his mouth at the Dai Li. Aang dumped Toph in her arms and leaped onto Appa's head, and shook the reins. "Get us out of here, buddy—come on! Yip-yip! Go!"

Appa ascended into the sky above Ba Sing Se, but he had not been fast enough.

Boulders, with metal spikes embedded that sought bloodshed, were chucked repeatedly toward Appa. Azula's eyes widened as one sailed towards Appa's head, and she agilely leaped onto his head, bypassing a distracted Aang, and unleashed a massive fireblast, the largest that she had summoned since the Great War, destroying the boulder. Appa roared in thanks, and she nodded her head even though he could not see her.

"Wake Toph up!" Aang shouted frantically.

Azula harshly shook Toph's shoulder. "Wake up!" she screamed, trying to be heard over the chaos surrounding and approaching Appa. "Toph! Toph!"

Toph jerked awake, hands blindly slapping her away. "What? What is it?" She paled instantly when explosions from Aang's lightning erupted. "What the fuck's going on?"

"Kuei's lost his mind!" Aang yelled, standing on Appa's head and swinging his glider with ferocity at approaching boulders, which were slammed back to earth by Aang's strength over the wind. "He's with Vaatu and trying to kill me!"

"That fucking loser!" Toph cried out and gripped Azula's arm. "But I can't see! What's happening?"

Azula watched the boulders and did what she could with her flames, but her first fireblast had cost much of her energy—she was out of shape, she realized with great shame. But still, she fought and did what she could where she could. And it helped that Appa seemed to sense where many of the boulders were at and avoided and evaded, changing directions wildly and even spinning at some points.

Toph looked sick, and Azula ensured her hands gripped the grips in the saddle, and she looked back toward Aang.

He stood atop Appa's head, standing tall and doing his best to deflect the incoming projectiles, but with hundreds of boulders coming all at once, and with Toph unable to see, he missed a few. Azula continued her fireblasts, but her fire was weak compared to his own, and the air that howled and smashed boulders into small pebbles seemed to do a good job.

She realized that he had never fully battled her during the Great War or during their sparring sessions on Ember Island. Otherwise, she would have long been dead.

Aang suddenly wound his fingers in that familiar motion and unleashed a torrent of lightning that destroyed several boulders at once, and Azula tried to do the same, but she could not do it! It was most shameful and horrifying! When she needed the lightning, it failed to answer!

"Twinkletoes! Get us out of here!" Toph shrieked, gripping the saddle tightly.

Suddenly, Azula inhaled sharply in panic, unable to do anything as a vast stream of lightning erupted out of somewhere in Ba Sing Se, sizzling toward Appa in a massive bolt, and she opened her mouth to scream in warning to Aang, but the streaking lightning connected to Appa's underbelly.

Appa unleashed a terrible, haunting squeal, and Azula saw the blood spurt into the open air, falling to the earth like rain. Then they were falling, and she lost contact with the saddle, spinning in the air. But rather than panic, she blasted jets of flames out of her feet, propelling her back into the saddle.

But Azula knew—Father shot the lightning blast that killed Appa. His firebending had returned.

She had the chance to kill him, and she failed, which resulted in Appa's death—and whatever to follow.

It was her fault.

Aang jumped off Appa with a cry of deep despair and rage, and as she and Toph both held onto the grips in the saddle with their utmost strength, their descent gradually slowed. Looking over the saddle, she noticed that Aang was sitting on an airball far beneath them, rotating his arms with gusts of wind carrying Appa's corpse, gently cradling it until Appa landed on the ground softly.

Immediately, Azula jumped out of the saddle and helped Toph before she rushed to Aang, who seemed oblivious to her presence—to anything but Appa. He stood in front of his best friend, staring down at him, frozen in time, realization slowly creeping into his despairing, haunted features. Azula felt great guilt as Momo curled around Aang's shoulders, chirping small noises to rouse Appa. She had wanted something to push Aang into the Avatar State—and she knew that Appa's death would—but she had never wanted Appa to be killed.

The killing blow was terrible to behold, and she expected nothing less from Father. The wound was immense, splitting Appa's underbelly by the length of Azula's forearm, and blood seeped out of the blackened flesh.

And Appa was horrifyingly still; there was nothing, no life—only death.

"Aang," Toph whispered, tears streaming out of her milky eyes. "I feel them coming. We have to go."

Aang was unresponsive, still staring at Appa, devastated.

Azula looked around and realized they landed in the Upper Ring, and she saw several nobles peering out from buildings.

"You are all dead," she whispered, feeling the impulse to warn, but she did not; it was pointless. Nothing would prevent the inevitable, whose imminence she felt increasing with every breath she breathed, supplied by the dread—and eagerness—in her heart.

She had wanted to see The Avatar State, and she knew she was going to see it.

"Come on!" Toph shouted, grabbing her arm and yanking. "I can't move him! Help me!"

Azula nodded and gripped Aang's shoulder, pulling, but he was immovable; Toph grunted and hissed, trying to yank, but there was no movement. She tried wrenching the earth, putting them underground, but the earth beneath Aang would not respond.

The Avatar's grip was absolute, even in shock.

"Stop it!" she hissed, grabbing Toph's shoulders. "There is no helping him! Leave him! We need to run!"

"Fuck that! And fuck you! I thought you cared about him!"

"I do!" Azula insisted honestly. "But we must escape before they get here! Aang can take care of himself!"

Before she could respond, Toph's face spasmed in dread, and Azula whirled around, Toph following, forming a protective shield of two bodies in front of Aang's frozen and distraught form. They stared at the Dai Li agents that had surrounded them, King Kuei and the Council of Five leading the charge, sick and triumphant smiles splitting their faces.

"You killed my niece!" King Kuei shouted, enraged, jabbing a shaking finger at Aang. "This is recompense! See, Avatar Aang? Even Fire hates itself! It is allied with me! Agni fired lightning at your sky bison and killed it! Your resistance to progress is futile! Fire will die, and there will be balance!"

All the Dai Li agents, King Kuei, and the Council of Five were staring past them at Aang, and out of the corner of her eye, Azula noticed Toph flinch, eyes widening, blood draining rapidly from her face. She risked a glance behind her and saw Aang collapse to his knees, quaking the ground, and placing a shaking hand on Appa's head.

"Appa?" he whispered brokenly, almost childishly. "Please, open your eyes—please. Come on, open them, buddy! Please!" When nothing happened, his head hung, staring at the ground that ran red with Appa's lifeblood, and as certainly as she knew that Agni was shining, Azula knew that The Avatar State was going to emerge, especially when he began to shake, vibrating sporadically.

"No," Toph whispered, terrified.

She was right as Momo screeched and darted onto her own shoulder, fleeing from his master, a foreboding omen of what was yet to come. Azula watched as Aang's tattooed hands clenched tightly, his aura of power exploding; the winds swirled around him, and Agni's great light dimmed as dark clouds gathered in the sky. A heavy downpour cascaded down from the black storm clouds overhead, and the sunny midday had transformed suddenly into a blanket of stifling darkness. A colossal shockwave of thunder roared across the heavens, spiderwebs of lightning crackling, providing a brief pure light.

Toph pulled her to Appa's body, which was the only place where all was tranquil and undisturbed, and they both stumbled before they reached Appa, and when she glanced back, it was confirmed.

The world crumbled.

The Avatar's tattoos and eyes glowed instantly, a spontaneous eruption of energy, in blinding power, the only constant source of pure light, before he whirled around, and all of Ba Sing Se shook violently; houses and buildings disintegrated, and earthquakes ruptured ferociously through the Walls and districts as he whirled around. Millions of screams echoed through the air like an undignified chorus, and many screams were cut off suddenly, never heard again.

The Avatar slowly rose into the air, glaring down odiously at all the Dai Li agents, Council of Five, and King Kuei, face twisted into something hateful and malignant. At the sight, Azula saw several of the Dai Li quickly, without sparing a glance to King Kuei, vanish into the earth, and she felt herself dimly shake her head; those Dai Li agents were unlikely to survive the destruction of Ba Sing Se.

"Agni," she breathed as The Avatar roared, fire scorching the air, blazing into the sky, reaching Agni himself, scorching the surface of Heaven, and the air was heavy and unbearably hot, even for Azula.

"Kuei!" The Avatar roared, and Azula flinched, noticing that Toph did the same, for it was a voice unimaginable. Aang's voice was there, but there were many more, a combined harmony of all of those who came before him, echoing like thunder, booming from blackened Heaven itself, piercing the souls of everyone in Ba Sing Se, notifying all who was responsible for their slaughter.

But Azula knew it was truly herself due to her failure to kill Father.

King Kuei seemed to suddenly realize who it was with whom he was dealing as the winds became ever stronger, and cracks splintered through the stone, spiderwebbing in an ominous omen for destruction. Everyone—except Azula and Toph, who were protected because of their location next to Appa—was being pushed back from the sheer force of the violent gales of wind, the whip of air a lashing to the skin.

She watched some of the Dai Li agents furiously swipe at the earth, doing movements she had seen many times to vanish, but the earth would not respond, for The Avatar would not allow it.

Azula looked up at The Avatar in awe. He was true, absolute power in the flesh, but he was also most frightening, terrifyingly so. He was a god of unparalleled strength in this world and the next, capable of razing nations to nothingness, avenging his fallen kin. With only a mere glimpse of the glowing white orbs of power where his beautiful gray eyes should be, she knew that her most effective lightning strike, even under the power of Sozin's Comet, would be futile. She realized that she hated the lifetimes-powered version of Aang, the one who could eviscerate the King of Ba Sing Se, one of the most powerful men in the entire world, with a mere glance. Right now, Aang was not the man who had listened to her, comforted her, and given her true peace—he was the Avatar, Master of the Four Elements, the only one her great-grandfather, grandfather, and father were terrified of.

And rightly so.

She risked a look towards Toph, whose eyes were wide with terror and horror. She had once been almost certain that nothing could scare her, but if there could be one thing that could ever achieve the terrified expression on her blood-drained face, the milky eyes that bulged from their sockets, The Avatar State would be, more than understandably, the culprit.

"He has no control," Toph whispered, shaking.

Azula peered past Appa's head—she would not look at his dead, empty eyes, she would not!—and saw Ba Sing Se dying. There was only rubble in all directions; none of the buildings she once saw only moments ago were gone suddenly, and her mind rebelled, trying to fill the massive void with what was there only moments ago before The Avatar State, but there was only rubble—and the rubble only compounded into more rubble as The Avatar continued shaking the world. She saw bodies, limbs, heads, and blood everywhere, and there were still haunting shrieks piercing the air before they, too, were silenced forever in Death. Hundreds—perhaps thousands—of men and women rushed toward The Avatar out of the rubble and assaulted him with all their combined might in earthbending, but it was futile and a pathetic effort compared to the might of The Avatar.

"I can see that," Azula replied, swallowing, never imagining such a sight of destruction, chaos, mayhem, pandemonium, and death was possible.

Was this how the Air Temples looked after Sozin's attack?

The Avatar roared, and vast plumes of fire spewed from his mouth in relentless waves of promising death, rising forever, and many scorched carcasses of birds smashed into the shaking Ba Sing Se, dropping between The Avatar and Children of Earth. The rain began to intensify, drenching all of them painfully, smashing into all areas away from Appa with more force than Azula thought possible.

There were bruises swelling on the faces of the Dai Li agents, Council of Five, and King Kuei, all of whom were frozen, incapable of escape, abused by the torrential downpour. Azula had no idea if they were so petrified that they could not move or if The Avatar held them in place, letting them look at their slaughtered world and despair before killing them violently.

Suddenly, her question was answered as they began to bombard The Avatar with all of their strength, and she watched in fury as King Kuei fled, stumbling through the rumble, but Toph gripped her arm when she tried to go after him.

"Don't," Toph said hollowly, face stricken and shaking. "He may kill you, not realizing you're you. He's already killed so many."

Azula stayed put, watching the pathetic attempts of the Dai Li agents and Council of Five, and other surviving Master Earthbenders who appeared from the rubble in narrowing waves, to attack The Avatar, to even get close to him. And she was astonished by The Avatar's mastery; bending seemed to flow through him, echoing in every movement he committed. He was the genius above all geniuses with the genius of his past lives, all of whom were geniuses, compounding with his own innate genius. It was unbelievable.

They still tried to attack The Avatar rather than kneel and supplicate, begging for pardon for their gross offenses.

But all was pointless, useless, for as simply as drawing air into lungs, The Avatar dispersed all boulders, rocks, spikes, and pillars into dust, and the metal spikes that were in some of the boulders elongated before him, under his control. Without even a movement from his limbs, the metal spikes rushed forward and tore through bodies, piercing through the strongest Earth Kingdom armor like it was mere parchment.

Bodies collapsed to the ground, and Azula watched as many of the other Dai Li agents paled greatly and tried to escape as the others had previously, but they were too late. The Avatar raised a hand, and the rain stopped, frozen in time. Azula could see the little droplets of water floating in the air, untethered from their planned fall to the earth. Instead, The Avatar had placed his divine power over the entire weather, controlling it. The water surged at all the Children of Earth, encasing them in adaptable prisons from which there would be no escape.

Then, the glowing, tattooed hands clenched, and spheres of air condensed around all the heads of the Children of Earth, and Azula's eyes widened in shock when she realized that The Avatar was suffocating them all with airbending, a supposedly peaceful art.

"No, no!" Toph breathed, horrified and scared as she grabbed her feet and lifted them, collapsing against Appa's carcass. "Make it stop! Make him stop! Their hearts—they're all exploding from terror!"

Azula turned to her, although it was immensely difficult to look away from The Avatar's renowned display of power. "Appa's dead, and he blames them- "

"But it wasn't them, was it?" Toph snapped. "It wasn't a boulder! Kuei said 'lightning'! It was your fucking dad, wasn't it? He shot the lightning that killed Appa."

She did not deny it. "He did. But King Kuei and those other fools deserve it—and more!"

"Did all of Ba Sing Se?" Toph whispered, drawing her knees into her chest, feet separated from the ground. "Countless people, easily millions, are dead in fucking minutes, and he's still going."

Azula's face tightened. "No, only King Kuei and his sycophants deserved it—and my father. None of the others deserved it."

Somehow, she doubted that Father was caught in The Avatar's power.

Toph turned sightless, teary eyes to her. "We're fucked. No one in the Earth Kingdom—and probably most of everyone in the Water Tribes—is going to trust The Avatar after this. I'm not even sure Bumi will trust him."

Azula closed her eyes, realizing how brilliantly Father played it. "I know."

"But what effect will this have on Aang?"

She wondered as well, looking back out of the hole to witness the murdered bodies of all the Dai Li agents, Council of Five, and other Master Earthbenders, slain by The Avatar in his rage. Knowing Aang, whatever effect that his actions incurred on him, surely, would be horrifying.

There was a haunting silence across what was once Ba Sing Se; there were no more screams or shrieks splitting the air, and the world stopped shaking. And countless bodies beneath The Avatar laid, unmoving and eviscerated of any identifying features.

Azula slowly stood to her feet and watched The Avatar's glowing orbs gaze into the distance for several moments before he dropped to the earth, smashing through corpses in a blur, and punched his fists through those corpses to meet the earth. Immediately, a howl echoed, and Azula's eyes bulged as she watched what was clearly King Kuei in the distance fly into the air, launched from the earth from The Avatar's fists across the vast distance.

Then The Avatar leaped across the vast distance with impossible strength and speed and caught King Kuei in a single moment; he floated there, holding King Kuei in the sky over his once renowned city. Azula stared up at them, trying to determine what was happening. All she saw was The Avatar's glowing hands holding King Kuei's head.

"What's happening?" Toph asked softly, solemnly.

Azula squinted, and when she glimpsed King Kuei's thrashing legs, and observed how The Avatar only floated there, keeping King Kuei's head confined between his hands, she inhaled sharply. "He is slowly crushing King Kuei's skull between his hands."

Toph didn't react, numb. "Of course, he is."

She stared for several moments and found that she could not watch King Kuei's maddening death and turned around, observing the indescribable, incomprehensible destruction. "Is there anyone alive- "

"As far as I can feel, everyone's dead," Toph answered flatly, but her voice shook slightly.

Azula was still surprised even though she knew The Avatar's power was absolute. "There are likely some survivors in the Lower Ring."

Toph dragged a hand over her face. "Some pissed off survivors. I can't believe this happened; I can't believe it's still happening! What the fuck?"

Her eyes roamed the distance, looking for a sign of Father, but there was nothing. "I should have foreseen this," she murmured, thinking furiously. "Father played it perfectly. I am a damn fool."

"And I'm a damned one!" Toph hissed, collapsing onto her back as her knuckles scrubbed her feet; she looked hysterical, and tears spilled from her eyes. "Get it off! I can't! It's too much! I felt all of it with my feet! I can't do it; I can't do it. Please. I felt too much. Can you carry me? I can't stand feeling the earth right now; I can't stand feeling all the destroyed corpses; I can't stand feeling Appa- Appa's corpse."

Azula nodded, shocked that she found herself feeling sympathy for Toph. "I will do what I can."

She crouched and Momo flew off her shoulder onto Toph's shoulder, and Toph frantically jumped onto her back, scrambling until she sat on her shoulders.

"Thanks, Lightning Psycho," Toph mumbled, and Azula readjusted her hold, hands gripping onto Toph's knees on her shoulders, and she recoiled at the smell emanating from Toph's feet.

"You need to bathe your feet," she hissed, gripping Toph's knees tighter.

"Now you sound like Sugar Queen."

Her nails dug into Toph's flesh. "I recommend rescinding that insult."

Toph's fingers began playing with her hair, fingers sliding through strands and tugging slightly. "I thought whores had matted hair, tangled because of a guy's seed or whatever, but you have nice, clean hair. No wonder Twinkletoes likes you."

"I will drop you."

"I'm serious. You have nice hair. I'm trying to compliment you!"

Azula tried to smirk, but she failed, trying to adjust to the immense weight. "I am serious, as well. I will not be able to hold you for long, and I will drop you when I can no longer carry you. You are heavy."

"Fair enough. But what's happening? Is Kuei dead yet?"

She turned around and gasped; she would have sprung back in instinctive terror, but Toph's weight ensured she could not move.

"What is it?" Toph demanded, voice rising. "What's wrong?"

Azula swallowed at the glowing orbs that consumed her, only an arm's length away from her, and her heart, for the first time in a long time, raced with fear, as The Avatar's ancient white orbs of power continued to stare at her, peering into her soul. And blood and gray matter that could only be pieces of Kuei's brain dripped off The Avatar's hands, falling to the ground with rhythmic force.

"The Avatar is staring at us," Azula notified, fearful of saying anything else—she could not even blink!

"Fuck."

XxXxXxXxXxX

She ran and ran, the sounds of all the screaming making her run faster. The ground bucked and screamed at her, shaking her, but she kept running.

The voice told her to find The Avatar, and she knew he was here!

He could stop the shaking and make her feel better! He could stop her nightmares! That's all that mattered, not all the chaos! Not people screaming at her to run the other way! Not the crying of men, women, and children! Not the dying buildings!

Samir kept running as fast as she could, not looking at anything but what was right in front of her. A small animal flew alongside her, and it had strange markings that she had never seen before, but it looked pretty. And when she was trapped, the voice said it would be okay, and the wind carried her into the air and past the buildings and bodies.

When buildings started to fall on her, the wind roared and slammed against the buildings, pushing them in a different direction, protecting her.

Air's song exists in you, but it is not in harmony, the voice whispered. Find Avatar Aang, and he will heal your imbalance; he will make you aware of your connection. You are my child as you are meant to be. Tell him.

She ran faster, and the pretty animal continued flying in front of her, leading her farther and farther, past broken buildings and people. She tried not to step in all the blood and poop, but when she had to choose, she always chose to step in the blood instead of the poop.

Poop was gross.

The pretty animal kept leading her until she saw a wide area of nothing, like everything else now. In the middle, there was a big animal that lay on its side, and there were so many things broken everywhere, but the big animal was okay; it was only sleeping! So that meant everything was okay! When you can sleep, you feel okay. It's when you feel bad that you can't sleep.

Samir ran to the big animal and heard voices on the other side, and she peeked past the big animal's tail, which was so soft and fluffy!

Her eyes widened, and she stared at the two women standing on top of one another in awe—how did they do that? And standing—no, he was flying! He was floating in front of them!—was a glowing man, and Samir had never seen anything like him; he was beautiful, and the voice told her not to be afraid.

He will keep you safe, the voice whispered. Be well, my child. Live the gift he will give you. Now rest and sleep. You are safe.

Feeling tired all of a sudden, Samir scrambled up the big animal's tail and climbed into the saddle. There were several blankets tied to one of the saddle grips, and Samir climbed underneath, feeling warm and safe.

Sleep came quickly.

XxXxXxXxXxX

"Is your life flashing through your mind?" Toph asked after several moments, and Azula could only continue staring back at The Avatar as she answered.

"No."

"Mine is, and I don't like it! If he's going to kill us, just do it! You hear me in there, Avatar Aang?"

There was no response.

Azula was unsure if The Avatar recognized her, but she knew things could not continue as they were. She could not hold Toph for long, and she feared if she dropped her, it would provoke The Avatar to attack, which meant their deaths.

"Aang?" she hesitantly called out.

A shudder rippled through The Avatar, and something shifted in his posture. "Azula."

She swallowed. "Yes."

The Avatar's ancient, glowing white orbs consumed her. "Toph."

Toph's grip on her hair was most painful, but she did not dare interrupt. "It's me, Twinkletoes."

The Avatar slowly twisted toward Appa's carcass. Within the blink of an eye, The Avatar appeared beside his fallen friend, kneeling in front of the gruesome wound of death, and his glowing white hands took on a blue hue from the water wrapping around his hands.

Azula dropped Toph and dared to approach softly. Surprisingly—or not so surprisingly—Toph's approach was just as soft.

Momo chirped mournfully from Toph's shoulder as The Avatar's kneeling form shielded their gazes from his efforts, and Azula did not understand what was happening. All she knew was that Appa's death had its source in her failure and weakness to kill Father.

She would have to confess to Aang, she knew, but she felt dread at such a thought. She could not bear him looking at her in hatred.

But she deserved it because Appa was dead.

Azula did not know what to do and, from what she saw, neither did Toph. They both liked Appa, even Azula, especially after she had apologized to the animal, and he had slowly begun to trust her, but their feelings about him were insignificant, nothing at all compared to the bond that Aang and Appa shared.

Feeling something claw within her, wondering what would happen now because things had become so much worse than she had ever imagined, she prayed, for the first time since the night when she learned that Father was going to kill Zuko, that the Earth Kingdom would not declare war against The Avatar. And what would Aang's reaction be? How guilt-ridden would he be? What consequences would befall them? How would Father play this to his advantage? What about Vaatu?

"What's he doing?" Toph asked quietly, face twisted into a solemn frown.

Azula inhaled and stepped closer, craning her head around The Avatar's form, glimpsing the sight of glowing blue water covering the gruesome wound that no longer looked gruesome; she watched in amazement as the blood available in Appa's body moved under The Avatar's command, multiplying and expanding, reaching Appa's heart, encouraging it to beat once more.

"Healing him," she breathed, and they all hesitantly made their way next to The Avatar until they were kneeling next to him, Momo chirping softly, timidly.

Toph rubbed a hesitant hand in Appa's fur, which slowly started to move due to the revived breathing. "Come on, Twinkletoes. You've got this." She put her other hand on The Avatar's shoulder but immediately winced and pulled it back.

"What?" Azula demanded, worried that The Avatar viewed them as potential hostiles.

Toph stared at her hand. "It was too much," she whispered. "I felt all that power inside him for the smallest moment, and it was too much. Fuck. So, that's what it means to be The Avatar."

Azula glanced back at all the incomprehensible destruction and countless bodies. "Yes."

However, before she had the opportunity to place her own hand on The Avatar's shoulder to feel the unimaginable power, Appa groaned loudly.

The harsh glow faded, and Aang dashed so quickly to Appa's head that Azula lost her balance and had to steady herself on Toph. They quickly followed him and saw Appa's open eyes staring up at them, intelligence and emotions vividly apparent in his eyes.

Aang crushed his face and arms against Appa's head, hugging his friend tightly as tears streamed down his face like a river, gripping in the reassurance that he succeeded and brought his friend back from Death.

"This is too touchy for me," Toph huffed out, but she contradicted herself when she stepped forward and hugged Appa, too, with several tears spilling out of her eyes.

Azula, after a moment, stepped forward, hesitantly placing a gentle hand on Aang's back, which was furiously hot and tight. But she maintained her caress when Aang did not shrug her off; in fact, to her pleasure, he seemed to lean into her touch, relaxing to such a degree that he seemed dead, lying against Appa's head, basking in his euphoric relief, protected by her touch.

It was something Mother used to do to her and Zuko when they were children, and Azula had even seen her do the same to Father.

Suddenly, Father's order to seduce him echoed in her mind, and she tensed in realization but managed to continue her gentle rubbing across his back. Was she seducing Aang for Father to help him in whatever plans he had conceived? No, since she had already felt drawn to Aang before she reunited briefly with Father under Ba Sing Se. But was she seducing Aang for the power of The Avatar? Had all her previous assurances to Zuko and Toph been rationalizations?

No, they were not.

Azula felt most fond of Aang, and if Father ordered her not to seduce Aang and accompany him, she would have rebelled and gone with Aang, even if it felt most painful.

Slowly, Azula raised her other hand to pet Appa's blood-matted fur—she suspected that some of Kuei's brains were lodged in his fur. "He is alright," she murmured to Aang. "You did it."

"He did all of it," Toph muffled against Appa's fur. "What are we going to do?"

Azula nodded her head in consideration of the necessary question. The Avatar just murdered Ba Sing Se and all its inhabitants, or most of its inhabitants, including King Kuei, the Dai Li, the Council of Five, and countless nobles. Looking around as she rubbed circles into Aang's back, she wondered how the Children of Earth across the other cities and provinces in the Earth Kingdom, across the continent, would respond to such slaughter, for it was a slaughter of immense proportions, second only to Sozin's slaughter of the Air Nomads.

King Kuei's claim of Ba Sing Se being more populated than all of the old Air Nomads combined echoed in her head, and Azula cursed Father for provoking such a slaughter—but even more, she cursed herself for letting him go and not attacking him or revealing his presence to Aang.

She was a failure.

Aang slowly, fearfully let go of his friend and wiped away at the tears in his eyes, gazing incomprehensibly toward the fallen, toward the desecration that he had caused. The gaze turned into a stare, and she watched the change in his face, felt it as it happened; his breath stuttered.

"No," he whispered in a moan, face breaking. "No, no. I-I… I didn't do this; I couldn't have. It wasn't me."

Azula did not have the strength—perhaps cruelty—to assure him that it was, in fact, him who murdered Ba Sing Se and all its inhabitants.

She only continued rubbing his back. "Do you want to sift through the rubble? Find surv- "

Aang flinched as if burned, and his gaze became hazy and glazed as he shook his head. "No," he mumbled, sounding far away. "Leave. Go home."

Then he fell silent, and nothing she did could awaken him from his stupor; he only stood there, looking at nothing but everything.

"Twinkletoes is out of it," Toph said quietly, sounding almost fearful. "What do we do? Where do we go?"

Azula realized it was up to her to lead. "We go to the Eastern Air Temple," she recalled, remembering Aang's admission in the Caldera when neither of them could sleep. "There is someone he knows at the Eastern Air Temple who can help. And I suspect it will be good for him to return to the place of his birth. He said 'home,' after all.'"

Toph blinked. "He was born there?"

"Yes."

"He never told me that."

"A whore is skilled at extracting information," Azula drawled.

"Extracting a lot of things."

"I suspect, also, Appa could use the rest at the place of his birth," she concluded, face pinching as she realized something. "If Dark was able to sway King Kuei and the Council of Five to his side, it is possible Zuko is in danger. Many of the Noble Houses are displeased with him but dare not go against him, for they lack power. However, if Dark promises them the same thing he promised King Kuei, Zuko is in trouble, especially since a lot of the Noble Houses would have little problem applying their loyalty to my father. But I trust my brother can handle it, particularly since Uncle is there."

Then there were those peasants, who were, admittedly, skilled. They would help Zuko if and as necessary.

Toph was quiet for several moments. "Are you talking about the wacky guru guy at the Eastern Air Temple?"

"I cannot say. All Aang said is he is an old friend."

"He's older than Twinkletoes if I remember right, but he's not an Airbender. He's got knowledge, though. He's how Twinkletoes learned The Avatar State."

Azula tried not to think about what The Avatar State entailed; she understood exactly why Aang never wanted to show it to her. "We need to leave."

"I think Twinkletoes will appreciate your touch and guidance more than mine."

She approached Aang and gently touched his arm. "We need to leave. To the Eastern Air Temple, right?"

Aang only blinked and leaped onto Appa's head and grabbed the reins saying nothing; he seemed mechanical, and his eyes only seemed to become more glazed.

Azula tried not to let her worry increase as she turned to Appa and rubbed his fur. "You are okay now, Appa. Nothing shall happen. But we need to leave for the Eastern Air Temple. That is the place of your birth, yes? Do you want to see it again?"

Appa rumbled and rose to his feet, looking healthier and stronger than she had ever seen. Instead, she climbed into the saddle, glimpsing the lump of blankets near Toph, wondering if she should give one of them to Aang, but decided to worry about it later.

"Appa, yip-yip!" she called out and watched as what was once Ba Sing Se diminished in her perception as Appa flew away with tremendous but graceful speed.

There was nothing but destruction; it looked like Heaven fell for but a moment and crushed it. But it was not Heaven; it was The Avatar in a fury unimaginable, compounded by all those before him, provoked by both a king's hubris and Father's cunning.

Before Ba Sing Se's demise, Azula had an idea of The Avatar's power. But since she knew Father fought Aang, she had underestimated Aang, thinking that The Avatar was comparable to someone like herself in bending, capability, and genius. Even though Aang told her differently, even though there was something heavy on Aang's face whenever she asked him, something ancient and profound, she had underestimated him. But as she stared at the back of Aang's head, Azula finally understood the power of The Avatar.

She had begged him for a demonstration on Ember Island; she had suggested unleashing the might of the world at his betrayers; she had prayed to see the depths of his greatness, invoking his name, wanting to see, just once, what it was.

But Aang had always easily dismissed it all, knowing what she did not—to understand The Avatar's power, you had to see The Avatar, and to see The Avatar was to remember him forever. But not all memories were precious and joyful.

Some were chilling and evoked dread years later.

Azula always thought seeing The Avatar's power would be thrilling and brilliant, a source of awe that such power existed. And seeing The Avatar's power was, indeed, those things. But it was many more things.

It was terrible; it was terrifying; it was infinite; it was consuming; it was relentless; it was perfect; it was divine; it was like Heaven.

There was no one who could fight The Avatar; all was futile against him. For, in mere minutes, all of Ba Sing Se was swept away by his glowing hand, and its populace was reduced catastrophically within that same time from the sheer destruction and chaos. Men, women, and children were not spared from his indiscriminate wrath, and they died violently, lives spent upon meeting such a drastic, impossible, and unthinkable end.

She understood the legends of The Avatar.

Once, she had ridiculed legends, scoffing at their perceived impossibility, particularly about The Avatar. She thought it was propaganda; she thought it was a desperate ploy by The Avatar to maintain his dying control in a world that did not need him. But they were not propaganda or a ploy; the legends were warnings, ancient and profound, but dismissed so easily—too easily—because of mortal arrogance, of which she was once a foremost recipient.

But she now understood that legends were true and didactic. How arrogant she once was. To challenge The Avatar is death, for if The Avatar wished, no one could succeed in anything without his permission. He could control the world and employ power unimaginable to any great man.

Azula had discussed Sozin's Comet with Father during their plans for ending Earth's obstinance, and it was estimated that it would take hours, perhaps the entire duration of Sozin's Comet, to destroy Ba Sing Se to such a level that The Avatar destroyed it—and that was with an entire army of experienced soldiers and Imperial Firebenders prepared to face fierce resistance. It was planned extensively, and she offered much insight to Father because of her experience inside Ba Sing Se.

But The Avatar destroyed Ba Sing Se in mere minutes, obliterating all resistance effortlessly, and there was no complexity and strategy, as was essentially necessary for Father's planned attack. The Avatar simply floated, roared, and all was dead. Father would have to summon the power to him for such an attack, utilizing Sozin's Comet, but all The Avatar needed was to release the power—for the power was inside him because it was his, fundamentally and eternally.

Earth endured Fire's onslaught for a century, but Earth could not endure The Avatar's onslaught for mere minutes.

"If I ever see your dad again, I'm going to jam that spike into his ass," Toph mumbled, pulling her knees into her chest; she looked shaken. "I should have killed him; I should have tried. Fuck."

Azula nodded. "That same regret ravishes me."

"And you just know that this is going to benefit Dark."

"Father ensured it," she whispered, wondering if Father knew the entire time that she was loyal to Aang, not him; she wondered if he was only playing her and assessing her, gathering subtle information. "He killed Appa because he wanted The Avatar's wrath. I told him the legends; I assured him of their veracity. I thought I convinced him not to pursue The Avatar's wrath lest he be destroyed, but I only convinced him to pursue it to destroy others. I failed."

"But how does it benefit him?"

"I cannot say."

What will be the ramifications of The Avatar's murder of Ba Sing Se?

XxXxXxXxXxX

Confusion was a constant feeling ever since when he stumbled upon Uncle and Katara in the royal gardens days ago. When she noticed him, he braced himself for an apology, for he had thought that she would try once again, but she hadn't, opting instead to swear to regain his trust, saying that he was worth the wait.

No one had ever said such a thing to him before.

Katara was giving him space and time until he was ready, and it was strange. Zuko, for the first time in a long time, was completely at a loss for what to do; a situation like this had never happened to him before. When he had Mai had briefly 'dated,' if he could even call it that, neither's feelings had even been thought of. Instead, it had been a very selfish ordeal, a desperate ploy on his part to erase his shame since he and Mai were betrothed to one another before his Banishment.

Zuko closed his eyes, rubbing his forehead. Women were so strange, and even though he had some experience with women, particularly with a woman's desires when he laid with the concubines, a woman's emotions were a complete mystery to him.

But it wasn't only women; Sokka's emotions were mysterious, as well.

Sokka had sought him out, apparently prodded by Katara, and some peace was reached.

"You're still a Jerkbender, but your dad's even more of one for not giving you his love," Sokka said, scratching the back of his neck. "I shouldn't have said that. I was pissed, and I knew it'd make you snap, and I wanted you to snap, so I'd have an excuse to beat the shit out of you."

Zuko respected the honesty and decided for honesty of his own. "And you're not a coward. I've fought alongside you. You're intelligent and courageous. To say otherwise was my excuse to make you snap."

"Great minds think alike."

"Great men," he said in agreement. "I'm Fire Lord, and you're going to be Chief of Water."

"Only of the South," Sokka corrected quietly, voice morose. "Katara broke the betrothal, and Kuei will convince Arnook to name Hahn his heir instead."

Zuko shook his head. "No, I'll work something out. Kuei's going to owe me reparations. I'll make him keep his support of you as heir of the North."

Sokka stared at him. "Even after I said that shit?"

He sighed. "I'm angry at you, but I'm much angrier at Kuei, and I want to make him lose his hair. I'm going to pressure him like he's pressured me all these years."

"Thanks," Sokka said softly, looking away. "I actually wanted to talk to you about that. You've apparently handled him really well. I mean, you're Fire Lord, and you have a lot of experience—eight and a half years' worth. How did you do it?"

Zuko stared at him, realizing he was serious and genuine. "At first, I gave into every request and wish, but I realized, after the assassination attempt, that was no way ever to earn respect. So, I started thinking of my race and myself because I'm on my side and my race's side—I'm Fire Lord and must think of Fire. If Kuei or Arnook demands something that puts me in a rough situation and Fire in a rough situation, I'm not going to relent to those demands. And I realized, in time, that they wanted me to start another war, for they wanted to look justified in responding to Fire's aggression."

Sokka swallowed. "You think Arnook is part of this?"

"I did for a long time," he admitted, "but since he's refused to enter this new war, my view has changed. Arnook and Kuei are close but not that close—apparently."

But it was something that gnawed at him—why Arnook never joined the war effort with Kuei because he anticipated Arnook joining. He would have betted his life, Azula's life, Mother's life, and Uncle's life on it. He could never figure out why Arnook declined the war opportunity, but he never complained about it. It might have been a disaster if Arnook joined, for Fire wasn't ready for an invasion by the North.

"Kuei played me," Sokka said at last. "I thought he helped me become heir of the North because he liked me and wanted to help. It never occurred to me that he would have his own angle and that he probably didn't care at all about me. I was just a tool to advance his schemes."

"He played me, too. I thought he liked me because I was different from my father, grandfather, and Sozin, but he can't see past any of that even though he has no idea what the War was like since he was coddled the whole time by the Dai Li. It wasn't until the assassination attempts that I realized what was happening and what Kuei was playing at."

"When did the attempts start?"

"A year into my reign," Zuko answered, recalling those wild days. "I was scared and furious. It was brilliant on his part. I had already supplied him with the first collection of reparations he demanded. So, he sent the assassin, and the only reason I survived is that I was already used to assassins from some of the noble houses."

Sokka shook his head in wonder. "I don't know how you did it."

"What Kuei counted on was my temper and age. He thought I would rush into another war with him after I had supplied the Earth Kingdom with countless warships and gold coins. I was literally paying Kuei to destroy me and Fire. I didn't know how to react except pretend like nothing happened, like there was no assassin, and I kept the peace until I no longer could. It's what all rulers must do."

"I don't know how to be Chief," Sokka said, shrugging his shoulders, but his face was tight. "I haven't watched my dad as much as I should have."

Zuko thought of his own situation and nodded. "I didn't have an example to follow, either. Uncle was gone, and I had to do it all on my own."

"I don't know how you did that."

"I thought of what my father would do and did the opposite—that was my entire philosophy for, probably, the first two, maybe three, years of my reign."

"That's why you didn't go to war?"

He nodded. "Yes. I actually visited my father and told him about the assassination attempt—the first one. And he only laughed at me. He said I deserved it for being so weak and pathetic."

"Your dad's insane."

"Maybe. Or maybe he saw things that I couldn't. I hate my father, but he was never stupid; he is deeply intelligent. He's smarter than me."

"So, he's like Azula?"

"Smarter. Azula is very intelligent," Zuko admitted. "But Azula never had restraint; she could play some of the game but not all of the game. She was unstable- "

Sokka's eyes bulged from their sockets. "And your dad's not?"

Zuko shook his head. "No, I know my father was never insane and was comfortable with himself and his disposition, never forcing himself to be anyone else. But Azula could never act the way she did for long intervals. It went against her nature, which broke her mind. Believe it or not, Azula is more playful, clever, and mischievous than- "

"I don't believe it."

"- anything else. But Azula forced herself to become someone she's not to survive under our father. But our father did everything he did with clear eyes and mind; he is precise and calculating, incredibly intelligent and patient; he is willing to do whatever it takes to realize his vision, and everything he does has a purpose, something from which to learn." He thought of his scar, and his hands clenched into fists beneath his robes. "He's convinced he's in the right, whereas Azula had always to convince herself that she was in the right. But Father has excessive patience and restraint, things his children never had naturally. He understands what it means to be Fire Lord, and strength is needed. By buckling to all of Kuei's and everyone else's demands like I did that first year, I was weak and pathetic. I didn't have strength; I didn't have spirit; I didn't have will. And everyone knew it. I was approaching it all from a position of weakness, like I was begging for Water and Earth's generosity in allowing Fire to continue to survive. I was a child. I trusted too easily. And my father knew the risks of doing that. He said something interesting to me: 'Your advisors know they have power, and they will use it against you. Beware those you trust, Son. That is part of the strength of Sozin's seed—not trusting those who would manipulate the Fire Lord for his own gain. Sozin kept his distance from his advisors; my father did the same; and I did the same. Will you?' And I think it's saved my life."

"And you're saying I'll need that strength as Chief."

Zuko paused and shook his head. "The situation's different. I have to deal with the world's hatred, and it takes a lot of strength to deal with that and not be weak. No one hates Water, so you don't have to deal with so much pressure. And the Fire court is dangerous due to all the politics and shifting alliances in pursuit of the Fire Lord's favor. As far as I know, Water's court is much less dangerous."

"The South doesn't have a court."

"Does it have an assembly of important figures?"

"Yes- "

"Then it has a court, but it's a lot safer than the Fire court. And same with the North's court."

Sokka ran a hand over his face. "I don't even know how I'm going to deal with the North. Every time I've visited, it's been tense. There's a lot of people who haven't accepted Arnook's decision to name me heir."

Zuko's only brow rose. "Then you will need more strength to deal with the situation and handle it."

"How would you do it?"

He paused in consideration. "I remember Katara saying something about the importance of the elders. Is that right?"

"The elders are only less important than the Chief, yes."

"Then ingratiate yourself with the North's elders; befriend them. And you and Suki will have to present a united front. There can't be any signs of discord between you, or those who hate you and distrust you will sense it and take advantage."

Sokka grinned. "Is that why you haven't married?"

Zuko's face twisted in disgust. "There's no one trustworthy. Kuei has been throwing his niece at me for years, but I don't trust her. It's actually insulting, for she's not a worthy bride for the Fire Lord. And everyone else I've heard about isn't much better."

"But you need an heir."

"I'll use a concubine if I need to."

"You can do that?"

"I have plenty of practice."

Sokka nodded approvingly. "Nice."

Zuko smiled. "It's been a long time since a Fire Lord used a concubine to sire his heir, but there's precedent."

"And precedent matters."

"There are two thoughts," he replied. "Precedent is power, or persuasion is power. I think both are true. You rely on what others have done and reflect those before you in your reign, and you rely on yourself and your ability to persuade others that your decisions are effective and prudent."

"That makes sense. I'm guessing you've had to rely more on persuasion than precedent compared to your predecessors."

"Yes. And my heir will have to rely on my precedent of persuasion, so perhaps, precedent is, truly, at the heart of political power."

Sokka grinned. "But you may have to persuade people that the precedent is real and true and a good thing. You can't have one without the other."

"Exactly. Kuei's set terrible precedents. He's just like Sozin, but he's too arrogant to realize it. He's become the very thing he despises—how pathetic. And all his persuasion can't hide that fact."

"You've persuaded me."

"You'll do well as Chief of Water."

"Thanks, Zuko. You're not a bad Fire Lord."

Zuko felt some of his resentment and bitterness against Sokka dissipate since the conversation, which he didn't regret taking part in, surprisingly. It was a nice conversation, and he enjoyed it. Combined with Katara's vow to regain his trust, he found himself, despite his best efforts, anticipatory.

He did miss them, he hated to admit. And when he did not focus on his anger, he found it so easy to speak with them—but the problem lay in actually, actively not focusing on his anger.

That was going to stay difficult.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Zuko glanced up at the door to his private study, startled, for he had specifically given orders to the Imperial Firebenders to be left alone unless there was an attack or if someone died—his exact words.

After a moment, he clenched his jaw, straightening behind his desk. "Enter," he called out as the door opened. "What is it? Someone better be dead or approaching death- " He trailed off as nobody appeared in the doorway. Narrowing his good eye, he rose to his feet. "Show yourself! It is treason to go against the Fire Lord's express orders."

"Since we're already banished, that's not a moving threat," a familiar voice said as two figures appeared in the doorway, and Zuko recognized them: Mai and Ty Lee.

"The threat worked, didn't it?" he asked, pinching the bridge of his nose. "What are you doing here? Don't you know what's happening?"

"We are going to fulfill the Fire Lord's expectation," Mai replied, voice empty as she twirled a knife in her hand. "You wished for someone dead or approaching death, and we will deliver—or you will—that expectation."

"It will be fun," Ty Lee added, voice chipper, but her eyes were furious.

Something was wrong.

Zuko stared at them, subtly shifting his stance. "No one's ever assassinated the Fire Lord- "

"We both know your mom did, and there are other legends going back to the Unification of it happening. Kai murdered all the other Fire Lords."

"Mother only succeeded because Grandfather let her do it and never attacked her." Zuko stood taller, hands filling with flames. "I will attack you."

"Good. I would hate for it to be boring," Mai replied before hurling a knife at him with deadly accuracy.

Zuko narrowly avoided the blow to the heart. Pain erupted in his mind, alarm spreading as he looked down at the knife that was embedded in his chest.

Even though the blood was blocked from leaving his body, it was still very dangerous, so Zuko yanked the knife out with a hiss and placed a flaming hand on the wound, the smell of burning flesh filling his nose as nausea threatened to overwhelm him; his lips parted in a silent cry as his blood was literally being boiled for several brief moments.

Before he could readjust and figure out why they wanted to, apparently, kill him, Ty Lee jumped onto his desk, lashing out in an attempt to block his chi. The threat of assassination attempts ensured his body was attuned to the possibility of death, and his instincts were there, in the depths of his mind, waiting to be unleashed.

In that shadowy realm in his mind, they flared, and Zuko pivoted his stance, kicking the desk away, watching as Ty Lee jumped at him in a last-ditch effort. He heard the sound of Mai drawing another shuriken and he instinctively rolled beneath Ty Lee, lashing his foot upward, catching her own leg and causing her to fall to the floor harshly with a shriek of pain.

Mai quickly retaliated by throwing two more shurikens at him the moment when he jumped to his feet, and he barely responded in time with a wave of fire, melting the metal. He thrust his hand forward, sweeping his arms in a wide arc, and the wave exploded towards Mai, the fire threatening to raze everyone in its path.

His former girlfriend narrowly rolled out of the way, but she hadn't been quick enough to avoid full harm. Her clothes were aflame, and Zuko watched as she hissed and tried to snuff them out, and when she didn't immediately succeed, he smiled in victory.

A movement. His instincts hadn't left him and were still attuned to the environment, and he recognized the feeling bearing down on his mind.

An enemy was near, and he jumped to the side, away from Ty Lee's nimble fingers. He spun around and wrapped a hand around Ty Lee's neck and wrenched her forward, directly in front of him, using her as a shield; before she could escape or try to chi-block him, he lit a flame underneath her throat.

Both Mai and Ty Lee froze.

"Somehow, I'm not surprised," he growled. "Why assassinate me?"

"You deserve it," Ty Lee hissed, immobile under threat of death. "You abandoned us!"

"You let Kuei hunt us!" Mai snapped, voice rising.

Zuko's grip on Ty Lee's neck tightened. "I'm the one who freed you from that convoy!"

"And sentenced us to exile!"

"It was the only option! I had to appease Kuei- "

Ty Lee struggled slightly before he tightened his grip even more. "You just wanted to hurt us!"

"If there was another solution, I would have done it! But there wasn't! You said you understood!"

"Liar! You forced us to go! We hate you!"

Zuko grit his teeth, realizing the inevitable. "If you continue to attack me, I'll be forced to kill you."

Silence.

Mai bowed her head before throwing a shuriken at him, which zipped past Ty Lee's head and sliced his neck, cutting his artery.

Zuko reflexively released Ty Lee and jammed his hand against the seeping wound, shocked, unable to believe it. He panicked, realizing that he would never survive without his chi, and his panic raged in him like fire itself because he needed to cauterize the mortal wound, but he had been too late, too careless!

A flash of skin, and he felt a nimble hand jab itself into his side and the unmistakable, searing feeling of his chi being blocked was felt. It had been so long since his chi was blocked that he fell to his knees, feeling so incredibly weak, but he kept his hand jammed in his neck, trying to stem the flow of blood.

Shadows entered his vision, and he looked up, seeing the two women, his two former not-friends but acquaintances, stand over him, ready to kill him.

"You were never supposed to be Fire Lord anyway," Mai intoned. "You were just the son of the spare prince, always intended to marry into one of the sonless Noble Houses and become its Head. We fix Agni's mistake."

"And we'll be rewarded greatly for it," Ty Lee said.

Neither woman looked like the two whom he had known; strangers had stolen their faces, and briefly, before his imminent death, Zuko wondered if the Face Stealer had been the one who freed Vaatu for who else could 'put' the faces of his former acquaintances on complete strangers, ones who are willing to murder the Fire Lord at such a time when his father had escaped?

"May Father die with me," he whispered, feeling blood dribble past his lips; he tried to keep speaking and keep his eyes open, mesmerized by the gleam of the shuriken spinning in Mai's hand. "And may Fire be spared from the madness of my death- "

"Hey!"

A wave of water suddenly smashed into his would-be-killers, and Zuko stared at Katara as she stormed into his private study, blue eyes blazing, and he blinked rapidly, trying to understand.

He slowly craned his neck to the side and saw Mai and Ty Lee frozen solid to the wall, ice draped over their forms like an extra pair of clothes. Suddenly, Katara was kneeling next to him, eyes wide with terror as she understood the damage inflicted on him.

Swiftly, her hands glowed blue with water, and she urgently replaced his hands with her hands, and Zuko gasped in relief. Katara readjusted herself while keeping her hands over his neck until she was behind him, and Zuko collapsed back, spent, head resting on her breasts.

His eyes shut, and he groaned in relief as the wound healed slowly, but he felt exhausted.

"Your chi is blocked, too," Katara whispered, breath ruffling his hair.

Zuko popped his eyes open, trying to lift his head but unable to; he was so weak. "Probably a good thing," he muttered. "That'd be a bad scar."

"Are you okay? Is there anything else?"

"Thank you, Katara," he whispered, reaching a hand up and pitifully clapping her hands, still held over his wound. "Thank you."

"You're alright," she said softly. "You're welcome."

Zuko summoned whatever strength he could and gripped her hands. "You saved my life when I said I'd execute you. I would be dead if not for you. I'm still alive. And after the way that I've treated you, you chose to save me anyway," he said, feeling awe. "You are good and so much better than me."

Katara's hands squeezed his, and he felt tears drip into his hair. "You are good, too, Zuko. I deserved all your scorn. I wasn't good to you like I should have been."

He only sighed against her and remained laying there, unable to summon the kindness to dissuade her.

"Who are they?" she asked.

Zuko grunted. "Mai and Ty Lee. Help me up."

Katara gently helped him to his feet, and he hobbled, waiting for the chi-block to fade.

"Zuko!"

The instinct to alight his hands with flames was there, but he couldn't fulfill the instinct. But Katara turned him around to see Uncle rushing inside the private study and pulling him into a fierce hug that he could barely return.

"Gentle!" Katara ordered, voice intense and commanding.

Uncle released him immediately, golden eyes assessing him. "Are you hurt?"

"Not anymore. Katara saved my life."

"Thank you, Princess Katara," Uncle gushed, turning to her. "I owe you another debt."

Katara shook her head, eyes shining. "No, it's alright. I'm just relieved I got here in time."

Zuko nodded, feeling the same relief.

Uncle cringed at such a thought before recovering. "When the guards never changed shifts, I knew that something was wrong, potentially perilously so." Uncle gestured back at the door, and Zuko followed the movement, eyes taking in the sight of the slain Imperial Firebenders against the walls outside of the door, shurikens buried in their necks, blood no longer flowing down their armor like a river but instead leaving the armor stained.

Gritting his teeth, anger renewed, he turned around and stalked over, with Katara's help, toward Mai and Ty Lee's thrashing forms. "Why?" he snapped. "Why this disobedience? Why would you herald woe and destruction over Fire? My death means catastrophe! And to murder the Fire Lord is a slight against Agni himself. You murdered my guards—good men—in pursuit of what? Why do this?"

They each laughed darkly at his words.

"We hate you!" Ty Lee snarled. Gone was the former girl whom he had known; in her place was a stranger.

"We have waited a long time for this," Mai sneered, and it was with so much emotion that Zuko couldn't recognize her. "And now, that the time has finally passed us by because of that peasant, we are thankful! Now, we will have the opportunity to wound you again and spill your life's blood with my shuriken! It is all that we have thought of since you exiled us."

He noticed Katara tense in indignation but all he felt was confusion. It had been they who had volunteered to 'escape' from the transfer to protect Azula, even if he had to help them reach that willingness to volunteer, thus forcing Kuei's ire at them instead of the 'mad' princess; they had, even after all of Azula's actions, still cared for his sister and had been willing to do whatever they could to protect her. And these strangers were clearly not Mai and Ty Lee; Mai would never be so emotional, and Ty Lee would never sound so cruel.

Decision made, he clasped his hands behind his back. "Uncle, escort them to the dungeons and have them searched carefully—strip them of all of their clothes if you must to do a thorough job—for any weapons." Zuko rubbed his temples, feeling a terrible headache begin to gain strength, throbbing more so with each passing second.

"Of course, Nephew. I'll make certain that no abuse befalls either party." Uncle stepped out and briefly waved his hand, gathering more guards. Then, they entered his private study and hauled his would-be-assassins out to the dungeons.

After they left, silence reigned until it was pierced by Katara. "Are you alright, Zuko?" She stepped next to him and began to guide him to the couch.

Zuko turned his head to look at her properly, focusing on her, not caring what his actions could potentially represent. "No. My head is pounding, and I was nearly killed by two people who I was once, maybe, close with."

Katara bit her lip as he wearily sat on the cushions, rubbing through his hair. Then, before he could react, she pulled him over, gently laying his head on her lap, and her soft fingers began to drift through the strands of his hair, stirring feelings of peace and something that he dared not acknowledge.

His eyes unconsciously fell shut, and he sighed aloud. "That feels nice," he whispered.

"It's supposed to," she assured, and he felt water collect at his temples, guided by her fingers. "This should help."

It did.

Zuko refused to ponder why it felt intimate as she continued to gently thread her fingers through his hair and reduce his headache, but he was content to lay in Katara's lap, feeling a simple peace that had evaded him ever since he received the notice that Father had escaped from his prison.

"Zuko!" He heard his mother's voice shout, and he blearily opened his eyes and saw the figure of his mother dart out of the secret passage. "I heard what happened. Are you alright?" Her voice was remarkably calm, but the worry and fear shining in her eyes were all too clear to see.

Apparently, Katara did as well because she answered before he could: "Zuko will be fine. His wound was deadly, but I managed to heal it and now his chi is currently blocked, but it will wear off soon enough and he feels exhausted and has a throbbing headache. It is a pleasure to finally meet you face-to-face, Dowager Fire Lady Ursa." Katara attempted to bow but his mother waved her off, and Zuko shut his eyes, uncaring of how weak he undoubtedly looked.

The fear slowly faded and was replaced by intrigue. "You must be Princess Katara."

Zuko groaned, knowing his mother was drawing conclusions, but at the moment, he felt too tired to correct them.

Katara nodded. "Just Katara, Dowager Fire Lady Ursa. I'm glad that Zuko found you."

"So am I."

"Me too," Zuko added.

"You are one of my son's friends- "

"I insist on the truth," Katara interrupted, and Zuko stared up at her in bewilderment. "I was a horrible friend to your son. I'm trying my best to gain back his trust, even though I probably don't deserve it."

"An arduous endeavor," his mother hummed and Zuko felt some of his ire at Katara diminish, dimly wondering if she said what she did to hopefully manipulate him into forgiving her.

No, Katara wasn't Azula.

"A necessary one," Katara added, softening her touch even further, and Zuko almost sighed aloud in pleasure as her fingers massaged his scalp, chasing away the headache. "I would like to apologize to you, Dowager Fire Lady Ursa."

His mother raised a brow, finally sitting down in one of the chairs. "Whatever for?"

Katara wet her lips, continuing her ministrations. "My behavior toward… Princess Azula was shameful at best and egregious at worst. General Iroh helped me see the truth days ago, and I realized that I was acting childish, terribly so. So, I formally and informally apologize to the Fire royal family over my disgraceful treatment toward Princess Azula."

Zuko stared up at her in awe, shocked she did such a thing. "Thank you, Katara."

"Yes," his mother agreed. "I thank you, too. I understand your feelings toward my daughter more than you probably know. She is finding herself again, and it relieves me. But she will always endure the judgment of who she once was."

"I'll try not to be too judgmental anymore," Katara said softly. "It's just that she's associated with some of my worst memories. I hated her so much, and I still do."

His mother only nodded while Zuko felt no surprise. "You hate who she was during the Great War."

"Yes."

"Just as I do. That monster of whom I have heard stories is not my daughter and never was; it was Ozai who degraded her to such a state."

Katara smiled sadly. "I'm starting to realize that."

Silence.

His mother stared at the hands that were massaging his scalp, threading through his hair, and her expression became thoughtful, and her eyes gleamed with happiness. "Thank you for healing my son, Katara."

Zuko almost groaned, knowing that his mother, the woman who had been pressuring him to marry for years or at least procure a girlfriend, probably now thought that there was something between he and Katara because of the position that she had stumbled upon, even after he had already assured her that there was nothing. So, to distract her from that unpleasant and scary line of thought, Zuko innocently brought up his assassins.

Azula would be proud.

"How could Mai and Ty Lee do something like that?" His mother's voice was disappointed after digesting the shock of the news, but she also, to his surprise, didn't seem too surprised.

"I don't understand why they would choose now of all moments," Katara whispered. "They've had years to attempt something, but they chose to wait and attempt something when all of us are here with you."

Zuko despised the conclusion of that question with passion. "Because they're working with Dark and Father. It's the only logical explanation. They would assassinate me, and then Father- " He spat the title as if it were a curse. "- would ascend to the Dragon's Throne as I have no heir besides Azula, and nobody would accept her, not even the Noble Houses."

He gauged their reactions and wasn't disappointed when they seemed actually to consider what he had revealed.

His mother shook her head. "Even if your father returned with his awakened firebending, validating the fundamental legitimacy of a Firebender sitting on the Dragon's Throne, you have worked tirelessly to ensure your father could not do such a thing. Your legal actions would complicate the process. And Azula is, despite everything, next in line. Nobody would dare pass over her. It would be her birthright to sit on the Dragon's Throne, the first true Fire Lady since Akemi."

Zuko thought of Azula's confession of hating the palace and the shine in her eyes when commending Air. "Azula doesn't want the Dragon's Throne. She wants something more than Fire Lady—Mother of Air and Wife of the Four Nations."

Katara's fingers tightened, matching the pinching of her beautiful face, but, surprisingly, she said nothing.

His mother only hummed, looking unsurprised. "She is ambitious."

"And you underestimate the loyalty that Father provokes," he pointed out in a huff. "All of the Noble Houses, specifically the ones that I've humiliated and demoted, just need a little push to join him. It wouldn't surprise me if they've already allied with him."

"Then they're idiots," Katara judged, shaking her head in disappointment. "Who would willingly follow such a monster as Ozai?"

His mother smiled sorrowfully. "Those who were raised that way, sadly."

Zuko growled, not wishing to think about Father any longer. "Well, at least we know that Mai and Ty Lee work for Dark."

Katara hesitated. "Maybe. But we don't know. They could have gone insane. Exile changes a person, doesn't it?"

"It does," he agreed, grunting as he knew that she was right.

The only reason that he hadn't been worse off doing his banishment was that of Uncle. The only problem was that none of them could know definitively if Mai and Ty Lee were working for Vaatu or not. While Zuko could sign orders to torture both of them, he doubted that that would get them anywhere, and he didn't have the will to inflict such a thing on Mai and Ty Lee.

"I'll wait until Aang returns," he decided after several moments. "Mai and Ty Lee can sit and think about what they've done for a couple of weeks. Almost dying doesn't make me very sympathetic to them right now."

"Do you think Aang will know what to do?"

"If it's with Dark, yes."

Katara glanced at his mother before averting her eyes. "How do you think he's handling Kuei?"

Zuko thought of Azula's influence and the changes he saw in his friend. "Like The Avatar. There's not going to be a compromise. He will stop Kuei, and he will ensure that Kuei stands down forever. If Kuei refuses, he's going to congregate with the other Earth kings to discuss Kuei's abdication for someone else. I just don't know who would replace Kuei, considering Kuei has no heir."

Katara stilled, no doubt realizing that she was going to carry Kuei's heir before she broke the betrothal. "Aang can do that?"

His mother hummed, nodding her head. "He is The Avatar. My grandfather, Avatar Roku, ordered Sozin to stand down from his pursuits of conquest, and the Fire Lord was impotent next to The Avatar's will. If The Avatar wills—orders—it, no Fire Lord, no King, and no Chief can rebel. King Kuei will learn his lesson."

"He better," Zuko muttered.

Katara smiled, but it was frayed. "He will."

XxXxXxXxXxX

Aang couldn't get the sight out of his head: dark red blood was everywhere, and his best friend murdered, lifeless eyes shut, a peaceful resting state after a violent death via lightning, which left an evil mark, an artist's symbol, a poet's voice, a characterization that was vivid and memorable, clear for all to see.

He knew the rational conclusion for the lightning's source—Ozai. Somehow, Ozai was in Ba Sing Se with his firebending returned by Vaatu, and Ba Sing Se paid the price because Appa was murdered. But he had only wanted Kuei; he didn't care about Ozai in those moments, only Kuei, who insulted and debased him, sneering and belittling him, manipulated him for years.

He had thought Kuei could be his friend, but he was wrong. Kuei called Air weak and Aang a child, becoming Sozin reborn with his evil ideas meant to orient the world toward Good. It was insanity!

But worst of all, his hands were the color of the ground that ran crimson with the blood of millions because Aang committed the deed Kuei proposed. Ba Sing Se was dead, obliterated from the world because Aang snapped, his wrath relentless and consuming, indifferent to all it impacted. Truly, The Avatar was separated from humans, for when in The Avatar State, there was no sense of connection to any human; there was only cosmic power and wisdom transcendent of any striving mortal. He felt nothing during his rampage, only the intense wrath; there was no mourning, regret, or grief over the countless lives he ended, only the rage.

Slowly, he felt his body begin to shake in realization. He killed all those people, slaughtered them like they were helpless children—like Sozin killed all the airbending children!—but they had killed Appa! Then again, it didn't matter. He was the only one alive who could answer for the deaths because he had killed everyone else.

He hadn't cared—that was the truth. With Appa dead, all was dead, reminding him of Air's haunting absence. What did it matter that there were millions of people in Ba Sing Se innocent of Kuei's crimes? What did it matter that they were good people and deserved life as all people do? What did any of it matter when Appa was murdered? What did it matter that Ozai was truly responsible when Kuei provoked Aang to flee with Appa, causing the murder?

All Aang cared about was avenging Appa's murder, not the innocents in Ba Sing Se; they were inconsequential; they were worthless. And he killed indiscriminately—just like Sozin killed Air.

It was the justice that was owed, wasn't it? It had to be! Air was murdered, and now the other races would begin to have the barest of feelings about what such a loss and void felt like. There was a sense of relief that, from what he could remember and see, he had not harmed Azula or Toph, but the horror only grew, the realization of what happened when he surrendered himself to his heart, which, still, churned with the wrath that murdered Ba Sing Se—and would murder the world if possible.

Blood was shed, just as he had seen in his vision, but he had never imagined that he would be the one who spilled it. His gray eyes shut tightly, and he inherently knew that there was nothing that he could do to change what had happened, but he wished it wasn't so!

He gripped Appa's fur tightly and didn't know if he could ever let go. He had lost so much in his life, too much! He could not lose Appa, too. The echo of his best friend's howl of pain pounded in his mind, and the image of his slain body floated behind his shut eyelids.

But was Appa's life worth the millions of lives in Ba Sing Se? Was a single animal, even the last of its species, worth so many human lives? But Appa was his last connection to Air, who was worth infinitely more than all the people born in this evil time—the opposite of his childhood, which was beautiful because he was home with Air.

Aang shook as the tears descended his cheeks, falling across his fists clenched in Appa's fur.

"What are you doing?" a voice asked, reaching him, but it was far away.

He dimly recognized Azula's voice reply: "Procuring a blanket for Aang."

"You're a dedicated whore. I hope your compensation's not all those lives in Ba Sing Se he ended."

"Yours may become part of it if you are not careful."

Toph scoffed, but Aang felt his mind drifting. "Just get me a blanket, too, will you?"

"After I give this one to- " A stunned silence pierced through the shadows in his mind.

"Hey! Who the fuck are you? How did you get on Appa?" Toph's outrage echoed in his ears, but it diminished in the rising darkness that remembered outrage directed at him from Kuei. "Answer me! I may be blind right now, but I can feel your vibrations!"

"Aang, we have a problem!"

He heard his name from Azula's lips, and the haunting echoes erupted into cracks of deafening thunder, followed by searing lightning—the same lightning that killed Appa! With each crack and onslaught of lightning, pain jolted through him, bolts searing continuously into his head. His mind and body began to recoil under the onslaught of memories, spittle ripping past his mouth as his lips parted in a silent scream; and then he began to see, to watch: phantoms of his past stood in front of him, his very name passing their own ethereal lips, spoken by his slain, fellow Air Nomads, and beside them all were Gyatso, Kuzon, the Bumi whom he knew before the Great War, Pasang, Kuei, Dai Li, the Generals, and all of his past lives.

People who were all dead now because of him and him alone.

Azula plopped down next to him on Appa's head. "What is it? What is wrong?"

"Nothing," he answered, dazed, words slurring, having let go of Appa's fur as he slipped his hands onto his thighs, gripping them, his fingers pressed into sturdy flesh with such force that he almost thought his skin would rupture. He had to do something! He needed to stop his trembling, lessen the noise, ward off the pain, and ignore the phantoms, but he could do nothing. He was condemned to sightless eyes as they assaulted his vision, and the truth was staring at him, and he couldn't look away.

"Look at you," Kuei's ghost condemned, face a snarl. "You dare sit here and approach Heaven after committing the crime of Sozin? You unworthy Avatar! You are redundant! You are monstrous! You commend balance but promote more imbalance! You hypocritical Death-worshipper!"

Gyatso tore through Kuei's ethereal body with animalistic ferocity. "The heir of Air is an error! You are a mistake! Roku never should have chosen you for his rebirth! I should have never wasted my time on you, not-Air Nomad. Look how you have violated my wisdom; look how you have violated my teachings; look how you have violated my memory! You desecrate Air with your existence! A worthier Avatar would fulfill our teachings, philosophy, and wisdom more than you ever could!"

"No!" he denied, shaking his head frantically, feeling Azula's hand on his shoulder, pulling him, but he was immovable. "No, I love you! You are everything to me! Nothing matters more than Air! The world is worthless and meaningless without you!"

"Then why did you leave, Aang? Where were you when we needed you? Where were you when Sozin took my soul from my body?"

He was sobbing, and his blurred vision made Gyatso's ethereal body look somehow more vivid. "I'm sorry! I couldn't do it! I heard Monk Pasang! He was going to take me away from you! I wouldn't let him do it!"

"And your disappearance let Sozin rape us! Do you know what my eyes saw in their final moments? Do you know what my body endured before Fire banished me from Life? Do you know how my mind panicked and rebelled at the impossible? Where were you, Aang? Where were you while we burned?"

"I'm sorry!" Aang cried out, weeping, reaching out toward Gyatso, the penetrating pain in his heart infecting his soul. "It was a mistake! I didn't mean to!"

But Gyatso did not reach back, face severe. "It was the Mistake! We should have burned together! Air died, and because you still live, you are not of Air!"

Aang flinched, almost falling off Appa's head in his horror. "No! No! I'm of Air! I'm an Air Nomad! Gyatso, please! I'm sorry! I love you! I'm so sorry! Gyatso, I'm so sorry!"

"You are not sorry," Gyatso condemned, wizened face crackling with fury. "You could only be sorry if you experienced what we experienced. But you were not there. We needed you, and you were not there. Why, Aang? Why were you not there?"

"I regret leaving every day!" he said desperately. "I made a choice, and it was wrong! I'm the worst thing to ever happen to the world!"

Gyatso's chin rose, and his mentor had never looked more imposing. "And look at what you have become because of your choice. You are shameful; you are abominable—you are the worst thing, indeed. We waited for you to return. I waited until my eyes saw the horror and moral terror; I waited until I saw my people slaughtered; I waited until I heard Sozin's soldiers laughing and yelling a tally of how many children each murdered; I waited until I saw the dragons swallow the children and rip limbs apart; I waited until I saw heads kicked around for sport; I waited until I saw Air Nomads fall from the sky in their attempts to escape, burned to such a degree they could do nothing but fall down the mountains to their deaths; I waited until I saw hearts ripped from unmoving, scorched chests; I waited until the mountains ran red with our blood; I waited until the soldiers tortured me, demanding your location; I waited until they gouged out my eyes and jammed them into my ears; I waited until they ripped out my intestines and violated my anus with them; I waited until they castrated me and fed me my testicles; I waited until they killed me." Gyatso floated closer, and Aang was too stricken to reach out and try to touch him and embrace him—as he had yearned to do every day since he failed him. "I waited for you, Aang; I had hope. But you failed. That is when I knew the truth—you are not one of us. If you were, you would have been there during Air's most horrible day; you would have been there on the most important day of our lives. You selfish, stupid little boy!"

Aang gasped, and he tried to speak, but the panic and horror were too intense, and he turned to Azula, who stared at him with wide, worried eyes, gesturing for her to speak for him, to defend him and make Gyatso see that he understood his mistake and would fix it—somehow!

But Azula only stared at him, face pale, and she couldn't understand! She was a liar! She was not connected to Air! She did not yearn for it! Like everything else in his life, she betrayed him, revealing her inadequacy for Mother of Air.

Betrayed, Aang turned back to Gyatso, shaking his head, breathing short and quick. "Please," he managed to whisper, voice pleading and broken. "Gyatso, I love you- "

"You love nothing but yourself! You abandoned me! You abandoned Air! You failed me! You are a betrayer and kin-slayer, an abomination to all who know the shame of knowing you!"

Kuzon floated next to Gyatso, golden eyes burning with loathing. "You are guilty!"

"No," he denied, voice shaking in rhythm to the shaking of his head; he saw Azula speak, face urgent and fearful, but he heard none of her words. "Stop it! Please! You're wrong! You're wrong!"

"You abandoned both Realms to be molested by death and horrible chaos," Gyatso spat at him. "You are evil, Avatar. You are the source of the Great War, not Sozin; you are the source of Air's murder, not Sozin. You are an unworthy Avatar! Never should you call yourself of Air! You are not one of us! You are Sozin reborn, not Roku! You are a defiler and destroyer, a devoted follower of resentment and shame! I regret ever teaching and loving you, you cruel child! Blood stains your hands forever, not-Air Nomad. You are not one of us—you never were. You are but the Mad Balance-Keeper who destroyed both Ba Sing Se and Air! You shall destroy the world!"

"The world deserves it!"

"I am glad we do not see what you have become. You are a poison to all."

The tears soaked his lap. "I know it's true, but stop! Gyatso, please!"

"Mad Balance-Keeper! Mad Balance-Keeper!" All of the ghosts began to chant, the unifying boom of their words splitting his spirit to the bone. "Mad Balance-Keeper! Mad Balance-Keeper! Mad Balance-Keeper!"

"No! No!" he roared, chakras slamming shut, and Aang collapsed onto Azula, no strength left in his body. His vision blurred further as the mists clouded the depths of his eyes, and the darkness beckoned and needing the relief, he welcomed it eagerly, letting it swallow through him, engulfing him like a ravenous dragon—like the dragons swallowed the children at the Air Temples, which he deserved!

XxXxXxXxXxX

Azula gasped, eyes widening in panic as Aang collapsed, body folding in on itself, tipping against her, and she hissed, snaring Appa's horn before she fell off his head. But Aang only tipped against her more, body pressing fully against her—he was going to kill them both! Her other hand snared his sleeve, traveling urgently to his shoulder, and she heaved, but he was too heavy!

"Toph!" she cried out. "Help me! I cannot hold- "

Her grip slipped from Appa's horn, unable to bear Aang's immense weight at such an awkward angle, and they fell through the air, crashing to earth. Azula grit her teeth, eyes watering as she tried to push her stomach out of her mouth, bracing herself as she held herself close to Aang; she burrowed her face into his chest—how his body burned, unlike anything she had experienced! He was like Agni himself!—for protection, using his body as a shield against the roaring wind that compromised her vision and pelted against her with unimaginable force, compromising all her senses.

"Aang! Aang!" she screamed, but he was unresponsive. She slapped his face and pulled his hair; she jabbed her elbows into his sides; she reached under his garbs and ran her nails down his back; she tickled him; she kneed his groin; she did everything she could think of to try to awaken him.

Nothing worked.

She peaked down at his face, which was empty of its horror and shame, framed by his wild, billowing hair; he was serene as they fell to earth. But Azula was not serene. She kept hold of him, wrapping her arms around his large frame as best she could, and shot flames out of her feet, which slowed their impossibly fast descent, but she could not lift him with her against the howling winds; he was too heavy!

Azula tried to orient herself and see where they were as she hovered while holding onto Aang, but it was so loud it felt impossible to think, and she could not maintain her hovering for long, not with Aang's weight.

"Appa!" she cried out, trying to search for the sky bison across the endless expanse of the sky. "Appa!"

She heard Appa's resounding roar, but she had no idea where he was. Suddenly, a shadow passed her vision, and she had just enough time to recognize the saddle before she and Aang crashed into it with a massive thud. Thankfully, Aang's back took the brunt of the force, for Azula knew if it were the other way around, Aang could have seriously injured her by crashing on top of her with such speed into the saddle.

Momo chirped and crawled onto Aang's head, curiously looking down at her, but Azula only lay, panting for several moments as she tried to regain her bearings and calm her racing heart. She slowly uncurled herself from Aang's chest and sat up, lugging a shockingly heavy Aang with her so he was not at such an awkward angle. Momo squawked in indignation before settling on Aang's rising and falling chest.

She followed her instincts and laid his head in her lap, ignoring the reasoning behind her action, and left him there in peace. She stared down at his face for several long moments, looking at him in ways she had never dared; she placed one hand in his hair and the other hand ghosted over his cheek, brushing over his jaw before she placed her hand on his chest, beside Momo, assuring herself he still breathed. There was a freedom in his slumber, for her golden eyes roamed his face freely, tracing his memorable features and facial structure, memorizing his lashes, the curve of his lips, the strength of his jaw, the hint of hair emerging above and around his mouth and sweeping across his cheeks and his jaw's edge, down to his neck.

Truly, he was lovely.

"What the fuck happened?" Toph demanded, carrying in the wind. Momo chirped in question, too.

"He fell unconscious," Azula notified, tearing her gaze away from Aang with effort, unable to prevent the exhaustion in her voice. She watched Toph's mouth open, and she quickly spoke: "It was not me. He saw specters- "

"I heard," Toph interrupted, solemn. "He kept calling out to Gyatso. His mind broke. Is that what happened to you?"

Azula swallowed, remembering those horrible days all those years ago. "Yes."

"I bet you passed it on to him from sex."

She glared at her. "I tire of your insults."

Toph gnashed her teeth, jamming a finger in her direction. "What else am I supposed to do, bitch? He just murdered Ba Sing Se! And you helped him do it by not killing your fucking dad!"

"You could have killed him!"

"Not at the cost of my life!"

"And it would have cost me mine! If I attacked him, he would have killed me!"

Toph crossed her arms. "I still think my parents are worse."

"Then, truly, you lack imagination," Azula snapped. "My father scorched my brother's face, marking him forever."

"That's how he got his scar?"

"Yes."

Toph swallowed. "Maybe I was wrong."

"Of course, you are wrong."

Silence.

"But what are we going to do about our little hitchhiker?" Toph asked, pointing her finger at the child sitting in the back of the saddle, who was discovered after Azula grabbed a blanket for Aang.

Azula had forgotten about the girl upon her attempt to notify Aang of the situation, and she assessed the girl, who was cornered between her and Toph. The girl looked no older than six years old at most, but there was a subtle maturity in the girl's bearing that impressed Azula, reminding her of herself.

"And who are you?" Azula asked, brows rising. "It is not anyone who can sneak into The Avatar's sky bison. Who are you? Why stowaway?"

"And we're not in the mood for games," Toph added seriously. "If I don't like what you have to say…" she trailed off, threat echoing in the air.

The girl clearly understood as she paled and swallowed audibly. "I'm Samir," she answered, avoiding Azula's piercing gaze.

Azula leaned back, realizing the girl—Samir—had avoided making eye contact with both she and Toph ever since her discovery. From what Azula could conceive, there could be no reasonable conclusion for why the girl would refuse to look at either of them. Samir could not be shy, for she had the temerity to stowaway on The Avatar's sky bison, managing to stay hidden for a shockingly long time considering who was on board, which was most admirable.

"That's not good enough," Toph snapped, cracking her knuckles. "Why'd you sneak on Appa? And when did you do it? Are you a spy or something? I bet Kuei sent you, didn't he? And I will chuck you off Appa if you lie."

Azula raised a brow in Toph's direction, realizing, with shame, that such a 'solution' would be something that her former self would do, the monster who Ozai had molded her into. Toph's fists were clenched, and she recognized that Appa's death and Aang's slaughter must have shaken her far more than she had originally thought. And she knew that Toph would never go through with such a threat, especially with a child.

If Samir was an adult, she found it likely that Toph would be capable of throwing her off Appa.

"Only someone like King Kuei or my father should experience such a death," Azula interrupted, voice calm. "Samir is but a child."

"Children can be spies," Toph replied quickly. "I heard stories during the War."

Azula nodded in agreement. "Children can make excellent spies, and I myself was a spy; I know how to be a spy. Samir does not have that bearing." She looked at Samir pointedly. "She is, probably, six years old at most, too young to be capable enough to deceive any of us."

Samir nodded down at her hands, spacing her words. "I'm six," she confessed.

Triumph spread through Azula; her observation skills were still functioning at peak capacity. "Precisely. If she were older, I would be more willing to consider such a notion."

Toph crossed her arms. "Fine. What are you doing here, Samir?"

"Look at me," Azula ordered. "Not at the saddle, not at your hands, not at Toph, not at Aang. Look at me."

Samir swallowed audibly and slowly, achingly, raised her gaze to meet Azula's, gray eyes meeting shocked and wide golden ones. Azula looked down at Aang's unconscious face, one that was peaceful, much different from his last moments conscious. He was the only person alive—besides Ty Lee!—who had eyes that color. Was Samir Aang's child?

As if Samir understood her train of thought, the girl looked down, too, at Aang's head that was gently sprawled across Azula's lap. "She said I had to find him."

Azula's hand in Aang's hair tightened as she leaned forward. "Who told you to find him?"

"The voice did."

"What voice?"

"It was a voice. I heard her; she said I had to find him. She saved me from all the buildings."

"What the fuck is she talking about?" Toph asked, voice disbelieving. "Why do you want to talk to The Avatar?"

Samir shrugged and looked down at her twiddling hands. "I don't know. She said I had to. She said he could help."

Azula was quiet for several moments, trying to decipher Samir's cryptic words, which she knew was the only way Samir could explain it. "Are you his daughter?"

Momo chattered excitedly at the possibility, knocking on Aang's chest in an attempt to awaken Aang to celebrate the possibility of Samir's existence as his daughter.

But Aang remained in slumber.

"Daughter?" Toph demanded, incredulous. "Why would you ask that? Do they look alike?"

She realized that Toph did not know about the significance of eye color, that she could not even see, and probably did not even know anyone's eye color. "Samir's eyes are gray, a color extraordinarily rare. It is said that if you have gray eyes, or your family produces someone with gray eyes, you are descended from an Airbender. I have only met two people—now three—in the world with gray eyes, one of whom is Aang, of course."

Toph's milky eyes widened. "Spill, kid! Are you an Airbender?"

Samir shook her head, sniffing; she looked scared. "I'm a non-bender."

Azula interrupted: "You are only in your sixth year. My brother did not first bend until his seventh year. It is possible you are an Airbender." She looked down at Aang's peaceful face, lost to slumber. "However, I never asked Aang when an Airbender typically first bends."

"Well, do you know when he first bent?" Toph asked. "That could give us an estimate- "

Azula shook her head, amused, feeling a fondness for Aang. "He said he was always able to bend since his memories start."

Toph leaned back, shocked. "No fucking way."

"He said he was only months old when he wielded his airbending."

"Badgermole shit!"

"He is The Avatar," she dismissed. "I believe his claim. But I do not know when actual Airbenders first access their bending. It is likely Samir is a non-bender, but she possesses Air ancestry because of her gray eyes."

Toph looked in Samir's direction. "Are you The Avatar's kid?"

Azula watched Samir swallow, ashamed. "I don't know. I don't know who my daddy is."

"You're not missing much," Toph responded with a snort. "My dad's nothing special, and Lightning Psycho's dad is the whole reason Ba Sing Se was murdered. Count yourself lucky, kid."

Samir glared at Toph, and Azula was unable to quell the laughter from erupting past her lips—that was the weakest glare that she had ever seen! Samir tried to glare at her, too, but Azula was nonplussed, able to keep her amusement from showing.

"I want a daddy!" Samir protested, anger and devastation carved into her delicate, innocent features. "He'd protect me!"

Azula sighed. "A father should protect his children but not all fathers do. But you said 'the voice' protected you."

"She did," Samir confirmed, nodding her head. "She saved me from the dying buildings."

Toph scoffed, staring unseeingly at Samir. "I don't believe this spiel. Do you?"

Azula frowned, wishing that Aang was awake and coherent, for she would truly prefer that he deal with this situation, especially since Samir wanted to talk to him, but because he was unconscious, dead to the world, he could not. She contemplated for a moment waking him, rousing him from the hold of darkness, but based on the last minutes when he was awake, she doubted that he would be of any real help, and she doubted that she could even wake him based on how out of it he was.

And she could not bear the thought of his dread and panic seizing hold of him once again.

"Samir cannot harm any of us, and she is telling the truth, though we cannot comprehend it," she said at last. She did not have Toph's lie-detecting feet, but she had read body language ever since she could remember, which saved her life many times living under Father. Samir spoke the truth. "What do you mean by 'the voice,' Samir?"

"It was a voice!" Samir cried out, face scrunched. "There was a small, pretty animal, and she said to find Avatar Aang."

Azula's eyes sharpened. "What animal?"

"It was small and pretty."

"What else?"

Samir shrugged hopelessly. "She could fly."

"Is there anything more you can tell us?" Azula asked patiently, hating the fact that she was mimicking Mother's strategy.

"She kept talking about a song in the air, and she called me her child."

Toph frowned. "Your mom is an animal- "

Azula inhaled sharply in realization. "Child of Air," she interrupted. "I am Agni's child."

"And I'm Devi's child," Toph said, blinking, face slackening in growing realization.

She stared at Samir in wonder. "You are of Air; you are the Air Spirit's child. The voice was the Air Spirit guiding you and protecting you from the chaos in Ba Sing Se."

Samir stared with wide eyes at her hands, little fingers crinkling and stretching in the air. "Really? I'm an Airbender?"

Azula glanced down at Aang; he would be so joyful, and she yearned to awaken him to experience such joy, but she suspected he would be incoherent, seeing more specters.

"I cannot say," Azula answered, glimpsing Toph's shocked face. "Only Aang could answer that. But this Guru Pathik at the Eastern Air Temple might be of good assistance in answering our questions and helping Aang."

"Are we there yet?" Samir demanded eagerly.

"Yeah!" Toph shouted, causing Appa to roar in indignation. "Are we there yet, you slow, snuggly sky bison? I'm completely blind up here!"

Appa roared again, the vibrations shaking the saddle.

Azula laughed, shaking her head. "Based on how long it has been thus far, not too much longer. You cannot see it, but Appa is flying faster than I have ever seen. He was touched by The Avatar, and I suspect his capabilities were augmented."

Toph swallowed, reminded clearly of what happened in Ba Sing Se. "Good to know."

Samir stared with wide eyes at Toph. "You're blind?"

"Yes."

Before either of them could react, Samir scrambled forward with vigor toward Toph and poked her fingers at Toph's face, swiping aside the long bangs. Toph's eyes were wide, shocked, unsure how to react, and Azula only smiled, unable to help herself from her genuine amusement.

"Your eyes look like milk!" Samir said, laughing, and it was a wonderful sound.

Toph pushed Samir back. "What are you doing?"

"Trying to see!"

"If you keep doing it, I'm going to make you taste milk."

Samir's face puckered. "What does that mean?"

Toph sighed. "I don't know. I was trying to say I'd punch you so hard you'd taste milk, but that doesn't make sense."

"You're funny!" Samir cried out, pointing at Toph as she laughed again.

If every one of Air's ancestral lineage was as joyful and vigorous as Aang and Samir, it made Azula regret Sozin's slaughter more than ever before.

Air never deserved to die; it deserved to live. And she swore that she would help revive it, even if Aang rejected her nomination as Mother of Air.

Samir crawled toward Aang, whose head Azula still held in her lap, and she leaned close, face a finger's width from Aang's face. "He's The Avatar?"

"He is."

"Is he really a god?"

Azula felt her laughter escape her in a breeze. "You are an inquisitive child."

"What's that mean?"

"You are curious."

Samir only blinked at her. "He's The Avatar."

Azula understood her fascination. "He is."

"Is he really a god?"

Toph groaned. "You felt how much of one he is in what was once Ba Sing Se, didn't you?"

Samir's eyes widened. "He did all the shaking?"

She sighed, nodding her head. "We were attacked, and he responded with divine violence."

Silence.

Suddenly, Samir pointed at Aang. "Is he sleeping?"

"What do you think?" Toph asked, rolling her eyes.

"I didn't think The Avatar could go to sleep," Samir responded, voice curious and in awe. "The stories say gods don't sleep."

"He is asleep," Azula confirmed softly, "but it is more complicated than that."

A tiny hand gripped Aang's shoulder and shook pitifully. "Wake up, please! Am I an Airbender?'

Azula laughed slightly and reached across with her hand that was formerly on Aang's chest to peel Samir's tiny hand away. "He needs rest."

Samir looked up at her hesitantly. "Is he sick?"

Azula's face tightened as she remembered Aang's last conscious moments when he called out for his father—mentor—Gyatso, sharing a conversation that sounded, from the side she heard, grueling and horrible. She recalled hopping onto Appa's head, calling his name, but he mumbled an answer she could not decipher. Then he flinched, cringing when no blow had been struck, she caused her anxiety to increase.

And it increased drastically evermore when she heard the one-sided conversation Aang had with the specter of Gyatso haunting him. His voice was breathless and broken, shaking and terrified, guilty and ashamed, and he sobbed like she remembered herself sobbing when her mind splintered after the Water Tribes peasant-bitch defeated her.

His predicament stirred great emotions inside her. She tried to help him, pulling at his arm and shoulder, but he was strong and immovable, even for her when she tried to thrust him back by leaning on him, shooting flames out of her other hand, but he could not be moved. Then he looked at her with such desperation and trust it stole her breath, and she was helpless as he motioned for her to do something—speak to the specter of Gyatso, likely—and Azula could not provide him what he needed.

She could only sit with a hand on his shoulder, speaking loudly, hoping to pierce through his haze of madness, but nothing worked. Swiftly, the blood drained from his face, the appearance of death swiftly overtaking him, and he had shaken and recoiled, eventually collapsing on top of her, which caused her to fall off Appa.

Azula tried to smile; she was semi-successful. "His mind is sick, Samir."

"Is that why he was talking to 'Gyatso'?"

"You are perceptive," she commended, impressed. "Yes, that is why he spoke with the specter of Gyatso."

"Who's Gyatso?"

Azula struggled for several moments to keep up with Samir's bombardment; she was slowly beginning to admire Mother, despite herself. "He was Aang's father."

"He misses his daddy?"

"Yes."

Samir sniffed and wiped her arm under her nose. "I miss my daddy, too."

Azula found that she briefly envied Samir's innocence; she was unsure she ever possessed such innocence, particularly about Father.

"Maybe he knows where my daddy is!" Samir gasped, looking delighted, and she reached toward Aang again before Azula reached over and caught her delicate hand.

"He needs to rest."

"But I want to talk to him!" Samir shouted, young face devastated. "Isn't he better now? The voice—the Air Spirit—said I had to find him!"

"And you have found him," Azula corrected, not recognizing how gentle her voice had become. "But he needs to rest."

Samir looked up at her with pleading gray eyes, and Azula found the abrupt resemblance to Aang striking and shocking. "Can I wake him up? Please? I'll let him go back to sleep after."

"He's had a rough day," Toph said with a huff, blowing the bangs out of her unseeing eyes. "Drop it."

"'Cause he did all the shaking?"

"Again, it's more complicated, but yes."

Azula shook her head. "He needs rest. When he awakens, you can ask him all the questions you want to."

Samir nodded, smiling. "Okay. Can I ask you questions, instead?"

"You can ask me questions after I ask you questions."

"And me too!" Toph added. "Things aren't adding up."

Samir beamed, and Azula reckoned that the girl had never had any interest shown to her before. "Okay."

"Why were you at the palace?" she asked, tilting her head.

Samir laughed. "I lived near the palace!"

"Then how are you not dead?" Toph asked, dumbfounded. "And how did you even get on Appa? I felt everything be destroyed, and I felt everyone there was to feel die!"

"The Air Spirit protected her from the destruction," Azula answered quickly, unable to help glancing down at Aang's peaceful, smooth face. "And the Air Spirit told her to find The Avatar, who she knew was near the palace in the Upper Ring."

Samir looked down at her hands and nodded. "She said I had to find him; she kept talking about a song in the air. I followed her to this big animal, who was asleep, too!"

"Sky bison," she supplied, wondering at Samir's simultaneous innocence and maturity. It was impressive. For several moments, Azula observed the girl's beauty, which she knew would only mature as she aged; she would be beautiful as a woman. "You do not know your father, but is your mother a noblewoman?"

Samir sniffed and looked out at the clouds Appa rushed past. "My mommy's a whore."

Toph snickered. "Then I guess your mom's Lightning Psycho here!"

Azula rolled her eyes, feeling even more irritated when Samir looked at her hopefully. "Really? You're my mommy- "

"No," she cut in, glaring at Toph briefly. "I am not your mother. Is your mother truly a whore?"

Samir withered as her gray eyes welled with tears. "Uh-huh."

Azula's eyes narrowed as she assessed Samir and remembered her reaction to Toph's quip that Azula was her mother. "You are an orphan," she observed in realization.

Samir flinched and sniffed again, wiping tears with her sleeve. "I don't know who my mommy is or my daddy. I was in the orphanage."

She nodded, not wanting Samir to contemplate her parents any longer; it reminded her of her own feelings toward Father and Mother. "Why were you in the Upper Ring, the grounds of nobles? Did a noble's family adopt you?"

"No," Samir said with a tiny scowl. "I was a servant."

"That makes sense," Toph muttered.

"And that explains your maturity," Azula realized. "What do you know about your gray eyes?"

Samir shrugged. "I don't know. They're gray."

"And you never met your mother?"

"No!" she cried out, and Azula was reminded that Samir was but a child. "She didn't want me; she hates me! The orphanage said she snuck into the Middle Ring and left me there! She didn't want the shame!"

Azula's eyes widened in realization, finally registering the girl's appearance. "Your blood is of Fire."

Samir flinched, face pale. "My daddy was a Firebender, and my mommy was a whore. I'm gross."

"You are not," Azula assured. "I find your presence intriguing and delightful."

"Really?" Samir whispered, staring at her with wide eyes.

Azula stared back at her, gazing into those gray eyes that she had seen before, and her suspicions about Samir's origins were, more than less, confirmed.

When Zuko called back the Fire Nation from Ba Sing Se after the Great War, from what her brother had raged about to her one time in her prison, most of the soldiers had visited the brothels in the Lower Ring as they were leaving the city, and some even stayed stealthily for years, thus forcing them all to arrive to the Caldera later than what her brother had wanted.

Now that she was looking for it, she could see several Fire Nation features in Samir, mainly the black hair and the curve of her flushed cheekbones. Everything else must have been from the girl's mother, and the mother was undoubtedly beautiful—and, thus, a busy whore—for Samir was a lovely-looking girl. But the eyes, she suspected, were not a trait passed on from her mother, and she knew of only one lineage in all the Fire Nation that could produce a lovely-looking girl with gray eyes.

Ty Lee's noble family.

Likely, Samir was related to Ty Lee via one of her cousins in the military, who visited a whore in Ba Sing Se, passing on the gray eyes familiar to his and Ty Lee's noble family from the blood of Jyzhol of Ishaner, son of the Half-spawn airbending Fire Lord, Fire Lord Zyrn, whose mother was a nun from one of the Air Temples.

"Really," Azula confirmed, trying to summon resentment for the girl because she was, much more likely than not, related to Ty Lee, but she could not. She had grown soft, indeed.

It was a relief.

Samir stared up at her with awe, smile stretching her face, revealing several missing teeth. "Really?"

Azula, all of a sudden, felt uncomfortable because people, especially innocent little girls, were not supposed to look at her with that expression. It had never happened in her experience because everyone she had ever met, save for Aang, Zuko, Uncle, Mother, and Father, was always marred by fear. Feeling awkward, just as she had on Ember Island with Zuzu and Mai and Ty Lee at that damned party all of those years ago, she gazed down at Samir with a tight smile.

Toph groaned. "You know, I still have questions here. How long were you a servant of the noble's family?"

"A long time," Samir answered, joy vanishing as she looked back down at her hands, which traveled across Aang's sleeve, picking at some of the fabric. "I was bought from the orphanage when I was young- "

"You're young now."

"I was three. I was bought to serve the noble's children."

Azula nodded in understanding, knowing now why Samir was so well-spoken for her age; she had practically had the early education of a noble's child. "What else?"

"I didn't like it. The noble made me do things; he made me touch- " she shivered, not finishing her thought.

Azula's eyes ignited with a fierce glow, recognizing the line of thought. "What things? What were you forced to do?"

Samir swallowed, anger carved into her delicate features. "I was forced to pick up his pet cat owl's poop!"

Sighing in relief, Azula laughed slightly. She had thought that the girl had been forced to please the Noble Head sexually, and if that had been true, she would have rewarded Aang for undoubtedly killing him during his rampage. "There are a lot of worse things one could be forced to do in this world than picking up an animal's poop, Samir. So, the Air Spirit guided you to us, and that is how you stowed away on Appa?"

"Uh-huh. I already ran to find The Avatar when the shaking started, and the voice—the Air Spirit—saved me from the dying buildings."

Silence reigned over them for several moments until it was pierced by Toph.

"I'm sorry I said I'd chuck you off Appa, kid," she said quietly. "It's just been a really bad day."

Samir sniffed. "'Cause Ba Sing Se was shaking so much?"

"Yes," Azula replied. "Appa, the sky bison we sit on, was hurt most extremely, and Aang did not like it."

"Was he the one screaming?" Samir asked hesitantly. "I couldn't see, but I heard screams. Was he the one making the screams?"

"Yes," Toph answered quickly, and Azula glanced at her, surprised she lied. "He's an Airbender, and he made the screams."

Samir gasped. "Will I be able to do that?"

Azula smiled. "You are of Air."

"But is every one of Air a bender?" Toph asked. "Not all Children of Earth, Water, and Fire are benders."

She shook her head. "Aang said all Children of Air are benders."

Samir punched her tiny fist forward, but nothing happened. "But I'm not! Why am I not an Airbender?"

Suddenly, before Azula could reply, Appa roared, the echo of exploding air felt by everyone.

"What is it?" Toph snapped, hands wrapped around the grips tightly, fingers completely white from the pressure.

Since Aang's head still laid in her lap, Azula adjusted herself further to the side, looking over the saddle, craning her neck to look past Appa's head, and what she saw was a sight so beautiful that her breath caught in her lungs.

The Eastern Air Temple.

Three huge towers with trees seemingly growing out of the stone sat on a mountain, the towers separated only by an enormous valley below. Multiple bridges connected the towers to each other, and Azula noticed the energy that seemed to surround the place in a blanket. And after a moment, she realized that it was spiritual energy.

Indeed, it was beautiful. Aang had described the majestic wonder of the Air Temples to her before, and she thought he was stretching the truth, but now she realized he understated the beauty of the Air Temples.

"I think Guru Pathik will be able to answer your questions, Samir," Azula answered. "We are here, Toph. Appa says we have arrived—and we have."

"Finally!" Toph's enthusiasm was tangible, and Appa took offense, roaring angrily. Before any could realize what he was doing, Appa did a full flip in the air, and everyone, including Azula, who would never admit it, shrieked and held on for dear life. "Appa!" Toph barked, face looking as green as her clothes.

Appa righted himself and shook for several moments, and Azula realized that he was laughing. "Appa," she called out. "Aang is hurt, remember?"

At the mention of Aang, Appa immediately stopped laughing and resumed his peaceful, graceful flight, and they all breathed a sigh of relief.

Azula looked down at Aang, unsurprised to see that he was still completely dead to the world. She hoped that this Guru Pathik, whom he and Toph had both spoken of, would be of help and not a waste of time. If she was honest, it was not only Aang's conviction and the need for Appa to rest that she did not choose a different location. It was the fact that she yearned to explore one of the Air Temples, and the Eastern Air Temple was the place of Aang's birth, the very Air Temple that produced the greatest man she would ever know.

It was the fact that she yearned to know more of and about Air.

Appa released a mighty roar that made the very air quiver, rupturing as she assumed he was notifying the Guru that they had arrived. Appa gently landed on a platform, and without a moment's hesitation, Toph hopped off gratefully, immediately rolling around in the dirt and dust with a dopey expression on her face.

Samir watched Toph with eyes wide in disgusted fascination, coming closer to Azula. "What's she doing?"

But before she had a chance to answer, another voice spoke: "It is good to see you again, Appa."

A man appeared from the shadows behind a pillar in front of Appa, and Azula's lips parted in shock as she raised a brow at the man's appearance—he was shirtless, wearing only a loincloth with a bushy white beard descending to his chest. To her uneasiness, his eyes were ancient, filled with knowledge. By merely looking at him, Azula knew that Toph spoke the truth: Guru Pathik was older than the current incarnation of The Avatar.

Azula attempted to lug Aang out of the saddle, but she felt too exhausted to move him with everything that had happened.

She stared down at Guru Pathik. "He is unconscious, and he said to come here. Can you help us? If not, we shall depart elsewhere."

The guru stared up at her curiously before nodding. "I can help."

"I trust you will be of help now. He is heavy."

Guru Pathik climbed onto Appa with remarkable ease, and when he noticed Aang's state, he inhaled sharply, a solemn frown appearing on his face.

"Oh, Aang," he whispered. "What have you done?"

Azula looked at Samir. "Go play in the dirt with Toph. The guru and must speak alone."

Samir only grinned and climbed down Appa's tale with energetic swiftness. Appa rumbled and shook slightly, and Azula understood that he wanted her, Aang, and the guru off so he could explore.

"Appa, yip-yip!" she called out, and Appa soared immediately into the sky. "Explore the place of your birth!"

Appa roared in gratitude and traveled through the Air Temple with excellent understanding and familiarity. Azula tried not to be distracted by the majestic wonders searing her eyes.

She would have time to explore after she explained the situation to the guru.

Azula looked back at the guru, finding it difficult to look into his ancient eyes; it was intimidating. "Aang murdered Ba Sing Se. Millions died."

The guru's eyes closed, and he bowed his head. "Were his eyes and tattoos glowing- "

"I know what The Avatar State is," Azula snapped, exhausted. "And yes, he entered The Avatar State. His wrath shook the world."

Guru Pathik looked pained. "I felt the explosion of energy blanket the world, but I hoped my senses were wrong—as he claimed."

"He killed King Kuei, the Council of Five, many of the Dai Li, and many of the most prominent nobles in the Earth Kingdom. His wrath was indiscriminate, consuming men, women, and children."

The guru looked his actual age. "Why? What enraged- "

"Appa was killed."

Silence.

Guru Pathik looked at Appa's head, who seemed to bask in being back at one of the Air Temples.

"We fell from the sky," she continued. "Aang slowed our descent, and we landed. But Appa was dead; there was no breath; there was no pulse. He was gone, nothing more than a carcass. The Avatar awakened the legions of Avatars slumbering within him and unleashed thunder and tempests. Then when all was dead, he revived Appa, healing him, strengthening him as far as I can perceive."

The guru placed a hand against his bald head, eyes shadowed. "There will be much work to be done. It's worse than I feared. I am uncertain he will recover from this."

Azula found herself gripping Aang's body tighter. "He will."

"The Avatar is- "

"Because he is Aang," she emphasized, golden eyes daring him to contradict her. "He is resilient and strong."

Guru Pathik nodded tiredly. "He must be to face the threat I warned him about."

Azula's eyes widened in brief surprise. "He did not mention you knew about the Spirit of Darkness and Chaos."

Something mournful passed the guru's face. "No, he would not have. We didn't part on the best of terms. I rather regret my approach to that conversation. Even age cannot reveal some things to you until you have the experience."

"But can you help him?"

The guru stared at her, head tilting. "I can only help him if he is willing to help himself."

Azula laughed slightly. "I see why you did not 'part on the best of terms' last time."

Guru Pathik only smiled sadly and kneeled before her; his wrinkled hand rested on Aang's forehead, and he winced. "He has locked his chakras, shutting himself off. We will have to work to help him master himself."

"We?" she asked, brows rising.

The guru glanced at her. "He trusts you, yes?"

"I believe so."

Or at least her nomination for Mother of Air, notwithstanding, but she was not going to admit her nomination to a friend of the old Air Nomads, who likely would despise her if he knew the truth of her identity.

Aang already clearly despised her nomination enough.

"Trust is not a belief- "

"I cannot say whom he trusts now," she interrupted, frowning. "He has trusted me before, but I can only believe that he still trusts me."

"An interesting observation, Princess Azula of Sozin's lineage."

Azula tensed, remembering that he was a friend of the old Air Nomads. "You know who I am."

The guru only smiled with a nod. "And Aang does, as well. He trusts you, and I shall, as well."

She remembered Aang's evident disbelief and distrust over her genuine nomination for Mother of Air. "How do you know he trusts me?"

"You know about The Avatar State, a priceless inheritance that The Avatar reveals to only those whom he values and trusts. And you brought him here, to the place of his birth while he is lost in the darkness of his mind. Only someone who he trusts would do such a thing."

"I trust him," Azula said simply. "And I try to be worthy of his trust."

"You are an interesting woman, Princess Azula."

"Just Azula, I insist."

Guru Pathik bowed his head slightly. "Very well, Azula. But how did this happen?"

"King Kuei and my father, former Fire Lord Ozai, were working together, and it was chaos." She brought a hand to her face, feeling her exhaustion acutely. "I do not have the energy to explain fully. It has been a trying day. I have not slept in closer to three days than two, I believe."

"Explain how this result was reached another time, then. But I know the result, and that is enough for now. Was it just Ba Sing Se?"

Azula marveled at the absurdity of such a question regarding the context, but they were speaking about The Avatar. "It could have been the entire world, but, yes, it was only Ba Sing Se."

"I feared this could happen," the guru lamented in a whisper, staring down at Aang with heavy eyes. "I never imagined Ba Sing Se's demise would be the result, but we will help him."

"Again, we?"

"He must master his chakras, which means mastering himself," Guru Pathik revealed. "Years ago, I helped him become aware of his chakras, and I helped him open them. But opening them is not enough; it never was anything more than a brief solution for a dire problem. He must master his chakras to become fully realized."

Azula shook her head automatically. "Aang is already fully realized."

"No Avatar has been fully-realized since Avatar Kirku." Azula tensed at the familiar name, and the guru noticed her reaction, fully turning her attention on her, ancient eyes breaking through all her erected defenses, glimpsing her soul. "You know of whom I speak?"

"I spoke with Avatar Kirku," she admitted slowly, wary of what the guru could do with that information; the man truly filled her with trepidation—the wisdom in those eyes was too much. "Aang summoned him forward, and we both questioned him."

Guru Pathik hummed thoughtfully, tilting his head to the side in curiosity, eyes engulfing her as he smiled. "Indeed, Aang does trust you. I do not think you understand the significance of what you experienced. The Avatar permitted you an intimacy unknown to any mortal—he let you communicate with one of his past lives, a tradition shrouded in sacred secrecy. It is unheard of, frankly. Most Avatars never summon their past lives, least of all in the presence of someone else. You should feel honored."

Azula nodded, looking down at Aang. "I am awed; I am in awe of him."

"Which is why, if you master your chakras, it may give him faith that he can do the same and become fully realized." Before she could reply, the guru stood to his feet. "Appa, please land us. I need to tend to Aang."

Immediately, Appa turned around and returned to the platform where Toph and Samir waited.

When Appa landed, before she could even react, the feeble-looking guru took Aang out of her grasp and heaved him into his arms, carrying him with ease as he hopped off Appa and landed. Azula's eyes widened at the sight, realizing that the Guru could be a threat if he wanted to and that, maybe, he was far more physically adept than she thought.

"And who might you be, child?" the guru asked, staring down at Samir with a gleam in his ancient eyes.

"I'm Samir! The Air Spirit saved my life!"

Guru Pathik beamed. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Samir. I am Guru Pathik, a friend of the Air Nomads and those whom The Avatar trusts."

"My eyes are gray!"

The guru smiled. "I see that. Your eyes are gray like Aang's. In your blood endures the memory of Air, which manifested itself in your gray eyes—how wonderful!"

"Toph's eyes look like milk!"

Toph shook her head with irritation. "You're lucky you could be an Airbender-in-waiting, and Twinkletoes would be pissed if I hurt you."

Samir tugged at Guru Pathik's loincloth, and Azula felt scandalized, eyes widening in amazement at such innocence. "Am I an Airbender, Guru Pathik?"

"We will discover that together, young Samir. But first, I must tend to Aang. I must say, it's a pleasure to meet someone so young—and with the blood of Air, nonetheless! Believe it or not, it's been many decades, almost a century, since I have conversed with someone your age."

Azula slowly closed her eyes, inhaling slowly, fighting disbelief. Aang was unconscious and, based on the last minutes when he was awake, had been seeing specters that were not been his past lives, Appa was injured, and they were now all stuck with an isolated guru who, potentially, could be insane.

It was a good thing she was familiar with insanity.

XxXxXxXxXxX

Well, that's all for this one, folks. Tell me what you think and leave a review; I'd really appreciate it.

**Ozai is in Ba Sing Se with his awakened firebending! And he's changed his appearance so he could not be recognized, going by an alias unknown as of yet. He is in charge of the Dai Li and befriended Kuei, advising him, and aligning Kuei and Ba Sing Se with Vaatu. And Ozai was able to grab Toph by the throat and hoist her into the air because, simply, Toph never expected Ozai to be so bold and rash. And Toph has a significant and very exploitable weakness. If she is separated from the ground, she's fucked. (Also, he has such strength because of his chi-flow, if you're wondering, for he knows how to use his chi-flow, like all great Firebenders).

Kuei is no longer the guy who he had once been, transforming into an unbendable, cruel person. I know I kind of already touched on it in a previous author's note, but if you look at real-world history, especially for kings, it is filled with kings who, when they had first come to the throne, had left the true work to advisors just as Kuei. And then, they later take over and become drunk on the power. A great example of this is King Henry VIII of England, one of, if not the most notorious king in history. When he took the English throne after his father's death, he was only an older teenager who spent most of his time jousting, trying to conquer France, and having a 'good time'. The man who did most of the other type of work for Henry VIII was Thomas Wolsey, who was even called the 'Second King' as a result. Eventually, though, Wolsey messed up and Henry VIII became suspicious. When Wolsey died, Henry VIII took more of an interest in his abilities as a king and that was when he became the nearly omnipotent King whom the entire world knows as the wife-killer. (Although, personally, I think his wife-killing status only happened because of a severe head injury that he suffered in a joust, which was half a year or so before he killed Anne Boleyn, his first executed wife. His personality changed and warped, becoming the monster that was always inside him. Remember, anyone can become a monster). So, when a king, as shown in history, begins to know the true capabilities of his station, he becomes someone else, just as Kuei does in this story. And Kuei truly—truly—believes that what he's doing and will do is for the good of the world, making him so much more dangerous. Ironically, he is Sozin reborn, who thought similarly with spreading culture and civilization. But what Sozin failed to realize is that Water, Earth, and Air each had their own civilizations. And what Kuei fails to realize is that there is an inner working to the world, designed and intelligent, and that his feeble ideas can never change it, even if he 'succeeded.'

Aang then goes berserk when Appa is killed by Ozai via lightning and murders Ba Sing Se before healing Appa, bringing him back from death! If he seemed overpowered, he was. The Avatar State has been proven, until The Legend of Korra stupidly ruined it, to be the failsafe for an Avatar, a trump card that no one could ever hope to match. So, the Dai Li and Kuei and the Council of Five couldn't hope even to scratch Aang when he was in The Avatar State, and it showed as he killed all of them—and all of Ba Sing Se. I think that the reaction was more than realistic, especially considering what had almost happened to the Sandbenders in The Desert episode. The only reason that Aang had calmed down from The Avatar State, not killing everyone, was that Katara somehow managed to calm him down. But this time, it's worse in every way. Appa was only muzzled and stolen then, but now, he was killed and Aang stared at his best friend's slain body. Also, with everything and all of the emotional trauma that he had endured in the past eight-plus years in this story, his emotions are frayed and spent. His wrath was always going to release at some point in an unfathomable eruption, and it happened with Appa's death. His spirit and mind and heart are very withered so far, and when the last living thing that he has of his race, the only being who had been with him through everything—growing up before the Great War, learning of his identity as The Avatar, the Iceberg, awakening from a century's sleep, learning of the Air Nomad Genocide, mastering the elements, the conclusion of the Great War, and burying the skeletons of countless murdered Air Nomads, and much more—something breaks inside him, rupturing as he unleashes everything on Kuei and the Dai Li and the Council of Five and Ba Sing Se. This will act as a catalyst to help him reach his full potential and ultimately, truly begin to move on from his grief. Remember, anyone can be a monster, and Aang is no exception. In the show, it seems likely that he has a bigger body count than anyone not named Sozin.

I also wanted to show the true power of The Avatar, incomprehensible to everyone but The Avatar. Hope I succeeded.

**Zuko is nearly murdered by Mai and Ty Lee and is barely rescued by Katara in time. Realizing how she has been acting, the Waterbender apologizes to both Zuko and Ursa, beginning her long road to forgiveness and becoming better than she had been.

**Aang goes crazy and sees the ghosts of Kuei, Gyatso, and others. He realizes what he did to Ba Sing Se, but he can't accept it, and everything that he's been denying for years swarms him all at once, and his mind can't take it, causing him to fall unconscious.

A child named Samir, which means 'wind' (hint, hint), sneaks on Appa while Aang goes on a rampage against Kuei and company. She has a purpose in this story, and it will be apparent, don't worry. She's not some character to add fluff to the story.

Azula, Aang, Toph, and Samir arrive at the Eastern Air Temple and procure Guru Pathik's help.

I hope you all enjoyed this a chapter. Please, leave a review and tell me what you think. I'd appreciate it. Until next time, everyone.

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