His brother had laid siege to this city for six hundred days, and yet he had only managed to breach the outer wall before retreating. Ozai's lips curled into a small smile. His father would not be able to deny him his rightful place as the heir once he succeeds where his brother failed.
The Grand Secretariat Long Feng had been arrested, and now his only option to regain his control over the Earth King was to stage a coup. His Dai Li had been sent to initiate their plan. Ozai played along, allowing them to smuggle him into the city, even donning their ridiculous uniform to blend in. It was a small sacrifice– a necessary humiliation to remind himself of how far he had fallen, and how much he had to gain.
The Avatar, as well as his traitorous children, were in this city. This was an opportunity that he could not waste. In one play he could regain his honor, capture the Avatar, and conquer Ba Sing Se for the Fire Nation. He just needed to gain control of the Dai Li.
The Dai Li marched him into a deep, dark dungeon, where Long Feng was imprisoned. Ozai peered into the cells as they passed. He couldn't help but notice the rooms with a single chair and a lantern. When he asked, the Dai Li had been vague in their answers, but they gave him enough to speculate on what those rooms were really for. Brainwashing– the ability to gain full control over the human mind. His mind raced at the implications.
They stopped at a small cell. The man sitting behind the bars looked completely unperturbed by his less than ideal surroundings.
"Prince Ozai, it is an honor to finally meet you. I am Grand Secretariat Long Feng." The man said smoothly. He wore fine clothing, and his hair was braided neatly. He was still pathetically clinging to his position.
"I cannot help but notice your unusual accommodations, Long Feng."
Long Feng's eyes narrowed. "A minor setback, thanks to the Avatar and your children. But our alliance will change that. I will ascend the throne, and you will finally capture the Avatar."
"Is that truly all you want out of this alliance?" Ozai asked. "You have your loyal followers. Why involve me in this when you could easily stage a coup yourself?"
"I do not know what you mean, Ozai." The man was sweating now. Perhaps he was realizing how outmatched he was.
"Prince Ozai," he snapped. "Do you take me for a fool? You have your Dai Li and their ability to control minds. It would be child's play for you to dethrone the King. And yet you invite me here. A Fire Nation Prince at your mercy." Ozai began to pace. The Dai Li, he noted, made no move to intercept him. "You want to regain your control over the Earth King, but I suspect that was not your only motive. It couldn't be, otherwise I wouldn't be standing in front of you."
He stopped in front of the cell once more. "You thought that you could outplay me. You sought to control my mind and use it to rule both the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation. You are a fool to think it would work on me. I am a Prince, descended from Agni himself. You are nothing."
Long Feng opened his mouth, but Ozai was not going to allow this insolent worm to speak anymore. The lightning blasted him backwards, his body hitting the opposite wall and crumpling to the ground. Ozai straightened his robes.
"We have work to do." He told the Dai Li. Both of them glanced at each other for a moment before bowing deeply.
Toph felt the letter crinkle in her hands as she approached the door. Her mother was in that building, and she was finally ready to listen to her. Toph couldn't wait to tell her about all she's done since they last saw each other. Maybe then her mother would stop seeing her as a fragile little girl.
The truth was that Toph had missed her mother. Since she wasn't allowed to have any friends, her mother and father were all she had for most of her life. As strict and overprotective as they were, her parents really did love her, even if the person they loved was not who Toph wanted to be. She hoped that if today went well, then she would be able to show them who she really was.
She took a deep breath and opened the door.
When Chameleon Bay finally came into view, Katara felt like she was going to be sick. Her dad was down there. A mix of emotions rose up inside of her at the thought. Her dad, who ruffled her hair and brought her home beautifully carved bones after each hunt. Her dad, who shut down after mother died, forcing Katara to step up and take care of their family. Her dad, who kissed her on the crown of her head every night before bed. Her dad, who left to fight in the war, leaving her and Sokka to defend the women and children alone. She was angry at her dad. She loved him. Katara didn't know what to feel at that moment.
But, as they landed and ran to his tent, Katara pushed her anger aside as soon as she saw his face. At that moment she didn't care how angry she felt towards him, what mattered most was that they were together again. His hug was just as comforting as she remembered.
"I've missed you two so much." He whispered into her ear. Katara squeezed him back even tighter.
They took turns telling him of their adventures. Katara told him all about journeying to the Northern Water Tribe to learn waterbending. Sokka bragged about his new "swordbending" skills that Zuko had taught him, but he was careful not to mention Zuko by name. Bato had already told their dad how Aang was learning firebending from Zuko and Azula, but they didn't know how he would react if he knew who they really were. Let alone that Katara was dating one of them.
In fact, she didn't want to talk about boys at all with her dad.
Sokka had mentioned Princess Yue, which her father seemed very pleased with. "Sokka's bagged a princess!" Bato had teased. Sokka flushed red, but didn't say anything as they patted him on the shoulder.
Then her dad turned to her. "Have you been seeing anyone, Katara?" He asked it casually, but Katara could see the tension in his posture. She was fifteen, for spirits sake! Why did Sokka get congratulations when dating, and not her?
"No, I'm not." She lied, sending a swift glare to Sokka when he opened his mouth. Her dad didn't need to know about Zuko just yet.
They quickly changed the subject to the invasion, which Sokka led. Katara sat back and watched as he and Dad chatted together. Sokka was in his element, pointing exaggeratedly at maps, running numbers, and directing imaginary troops. It was his plan, after all, so Katara didn't really have anything to contribute.
Sokka deserved it, he really did. He always felt left out as the only nonbender in their group, so it was nice to see his knowledge and skills appreciated. But her dad focussed so much on Sokka that Katara felt like she was invisible. Even the other men of her tribe ignored her.
She had forgotten how women were treated in her tribe before the men left. She had forgotten how Sokka was before Suki had beaten the sexism out of him. In her tribe, the women were there to cook and clean and raise the children. That was what they saw in her, not as Master Katara, the Avatar's waterbending master. It was like being in the Northern Water Tribe again, but it hurt more when coming from people that she loved and respected.
With Long Feng out of the way and the Earth King cooperating, their plans to invade the Caldera were well under way.
Azula still helped out in the tea shop with Zuko and Uncle in between their meetings with the Earth King's Generals. Uncle insisted on them spending some quality time together before they were on the road again.
Jet, Smellerbee, and Longshot had left the city, with Piandao and Fat accompanying them. Jet had said they were going to gather the Freedom Fighters to join the invasion. Azula didn't see how a bunch of dirty, loud children would be of any help to them, but she didn't object, seeing how it would get Jet out of her sight for a few months.
Piandao and Fat planned to meet with more Grand Lotuses and to gather other allies. Azula was actually sorry to see them go. It meant that they were stuck with their Uncle. It was hard for her to associate the Dragon of the West with the clumsy tea shop owner. He was eager to spend time with them, and so painfully earnest in his mission to get to know them.
It was completely overwhelming. When it became too much, Azula would hide in the storage room. Among the bags of tea leaves and dusty kettles she could pretend to be somewhere else. Where she could close her eyes and remember different times.
Being around her Uncle again made her miss Lu Ten even more. He was funnier than Uncle, knowing just what to say to make her laugh. She wondered what he would be doing now if he was alive. He would probably be a general by now. Uncle would still be the crown prince. Their father would never have tried to kill them, so she and Zuko would still be at the palace. Her mother would still be alive. Everything went wrong after Lu Ten left.
But if he hadn't died, then she would never have realized how horrible their father was. She would have done anything, whatever atrocity he ordered, for his approval. Maybe she would be fighting the Avatar, chasing him across the world like Ozai was doing now. Her friends would have been her enemies. She certainly would never have realized the truth about the war, or have found the guts to try and stop it. It was funny how fate worked. She lost her cousin, her mother, and her home, but in doing so she gained a new family.
The pantry door opened abruptly, and Azula jumped. Zuko stomped in and slammed the door, before sighing and sliding down the wall to slump on the floor. He hadn't seen her yet.
"Hey."
He yelped. "Agni, Zula! What are you doing here?"
"What are you doing here?"
"Hiding from Uncle."
"I was hiding from Uncle first. Find your own pantry."
He ignored her and scooted closer, until their shoulders were touching. "Don't you have to meet with the Generals soon?"
"Yes, but Uncle wouldn't let me leave early. And I'm still not allowed to work the tables, so he tried to force me to do the dishes."
"You're not allowed to take orders because you always make the customers cry." Zuko leaned around her and reached for a box of rice crackers.
She shrugged, helping herself to the crackers when he offered the box. "It's not my fault they're so sensitive."
They're silent for a little while, leaning against each other and snacking. She didn't remember the last time it was just them together. Maybe it was before they met Aang and the others. And now that Zuko was dating Katara, all of his free time was spent with her.
Zuko clearly was thinking the same thing. "I missed you." He said.
"You mean you miss your girlfriend?" She rolled her eyes.
"No," Zuko retorted. "I mean, yes, of course I miss Katara. But I miss you, too. We should do something later. Just the two of us."
"You sound like Uncle." Azula groaned, but she couldn't stop the smile from spreading on her face.
He poked her teasingly. "Hey, I'm not going to force buckets of tea down your throat. After you meet with the generals, we're going to find the spiciest noodles and eat until we feel sick."
"Can we break into shit afterwards?"
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and squeezed. "Of course we can."
Azula grinned. They hadn't had a chance to be the Blue Spirit for months now. She stood up and dusted the cracker crumbs off her clothes. "Then I should get going. I'll meet you here afterwards?"
"Sure. I'll help Uncle with the last customers." Zuko fixed his apron and opened the door for her.
She left Zuko and Uncle to close up the tea shop. The Council of Five were expecting her to debrief them on the Great Gates of Azulon. They didn't fully trust her, no doubt because of her age, but her ethnicity also played a role. They haven't told anyone who she, Zuko, and Uncle really were, only that they were from the Fire Nation and loyal to the Avatar. They had initially been reluctant to listen to her, but Azula was convincing. Or, as Zuko put it, terrifying. Either way, they respected her now.
Their meeting adjourned an hour later. She walked back to the tea shop quickly, eager to change her clothes and go out with her brother. But Zuko was not waiting for her. Instead, there stood a man in dark robes and a conical hat.
Azula reacted instantly, dodging the earth cuffs that reached for her and neatly vaulting away. More cuffs leapt out of the dark, but she blasted them apart easily. Her fire briefly lit the street, where she saw Dai Li agents clinging to the walls and hiding in alleys.
"Where's Zuko?" She snarled. "What's Long Feng done to him?"
"No, Azula. The Dai Li answer to me now." A thrill of horror shot through her at those words. That voice, the one that haunted her nightmares– he couldn't be here. It was impossible.
Ozai stepped out of the shadows.
"You have a lot of nerve showing yourself here, Father." Azula said calmly, even as her heart beat furiously.
Ozai laughed. "Your confidence will be your downfall, daughter."
"Or yours." Azula leapt forward, her fire blasting away the earth cuffs thrown by the Dai Li. If her Father was stupid enough to show himself here, then she would gladly put an end to him. Her hands have been itching for his throat for years.
Ozai retaliated with his own fire, but Azula was quicker. In moments, she had closed the distance between them, neatly dodging the interfering earth columns, and slashed at his arm with her knives. Ozai grunted and jerked back, punching with his other hand. She blocked it easily. Her knife went for his throat. But before she could finish the job, before she could avenge her mother, her feet sank into the stone.
"No!" She snarled, trying in vain to wiggle free. The stone squeezed her legs harshly, until she could feel her bones creak. Azula gasped in pain. Tears sprang to her eyes at her failure. More earthen cuffs were streaking towards her, but she destroyed them easily. She may not be able to kill her father today, but she was not going down without a fight. Her fire lashed out again, forcing the Dai Li to step back.
Ozai parted her fire. "Surrender, Azula. It's over."
"You'll have to kill me." Azula spat. She would not go with him. She wouldn't. Death was preferable to letting him win.
He smiled. "You still have a part to play in this, daughter. Your brother, on the other hand…" Ozai pulled something from his robes and tossed it to her. "Surrender now, and I will let him live. His well being depends on your cooperation."
Azula stared down at the knife in her hands. Never give up without a fight. This was Zuko's knife. She had seen him use it this morning. And if he wasn't waiting for her like he promised, then he must be–
"You're lying." She croaked.
"Is that a risk you want to take?" Ozai loomed over her. "Surrender to me. Now."
He had already won the fight. The only purpose in demanding her surrender was to humiliate her. To rub his victory in her face and revel in it.
But he had Zuko.
Azula bowed her head and held out her trembling hands.
"The Thought Chakra is located at the crown of the head. It deals with pure cosmic energy, and is blocked by earthly attachment. Meditate on what attaches you to this world."
Katara's face formed in his mind. So did Sokka, Azula, Zuko, and Toph's. His friends, the only family he had left in this world. They were always there for him. They believed in him.
"Now, let all of those attachments go. Let them flow down the river, forgotten."
"What?" Aang startled out of his meditation. "Why would I let go of my friends? I love them!"
"Learn to let them go, or you cannot let the pure cosmic energy flow in from the universe." Guru Pathik answered calmly.
"Why would I choose cosmic energy over my family? How could it be a bad thing that I feel an attachment to them? Three chakras ago that was a good thing!"
"You must learn to let go."
Aang frowned. If he didn't have his friends, he would be lost. He needed them. "I can't do this."
"Aang, to master the Avatar State, you must open all the chakras." Guru Pathik said sternly. "Surrender yourself."
He needed to master the Avatar State in order to defeat the Fire Lord. But the cost seemed too high– what would he have left if he let go of his friends?
But his friends would die if he didn't do this. The whole world would suffer.
Aang meditated again, this time picturing each of his friends' faces and letting them go. One by one, they faded away, until it was just him walking down the spiritual path. Ahead of him loomed the Avatar State. But, just before he reached it, he heard a scream.
He whirled around. Toph floated in front of him, trapped in a large metal box. She slammed her hands against the walls. She faded, and this time it was Zuko, furiously bending at Dai Li agents. Then Azula appeared, led in chains by more Dai Li.
Aang leapt from the bridge and plummeted back to the present. "They're in danger! I have to go!" He gasped, stumbling to his feet.
"No, Aang! By choosing attachment, you have locked the chakra! If you leave now, you won't be able to go into the Avatar State at all!" Guru Pathik cried.
Aang hesitated. But his friend's cries came to him again, and he made up his mind.
"Hakoda, our scouts have spotted four Fire Nation ships!"
His dad instantly stood up. "Bato, get those mines loaded up. The rest of you men, prepare for battle!"
Sokka stayed where he was, unsure of where to go. "Uh, what should I do, Dad?"
"Aren't you listening? I said, 'The rest of you men, get ready for battle.'"
Sokka felt a thrill of excitement rush through him. This was what he always wanted, a chance to prove himself in front of his dad. A chance to prove that he was a warrior. Sokka grabbed his bone club and stood up.
"I'm coming, too."
He and his dad turned around. Katara was standing there and looking very cross.
"Katara, sweetie," Dad said hesitantly. "I'm not sure you should–"
"It's Master Katara." She crossed her arms. "I'm a master waterbender, dad. I'd be more help than all of your men combined."
Sokka looked back and forth between her and dad. He had been so caught up in the euphoria of bonding with his dad that he had completely forgotten that Katara was there. Shame pooled in his gut.
"You're still a child." Dad was saying. "I don't want you to get hurt."
"Sokka's only a year older than me. I have just as much a right to fight as he does!" Katara argued.
"Dad, she's right." Sokka said. "She fought in the siege at the Northern Water Tribe. She can handle herself."
Dad looked torn.
"You can't really stop her. If she wants to fight, she's going to." Sokka pointed out. Katara nodded.
Dad pursed his lips. "You're just like your mother." He chided, but he beckoned Katara towards them. "Ready to knock some Fire Nation heads?"
"We won't let you down, dad." Sokka promised.
"I never doubted that you would." Dad placed a hand on both of their shoulders. "I am so proud of you two and how far you have come. You don't need to prove anything to me."
Sokka smiled. It meant so much to hear that from his dad, after years of feeling ashamed that he was left behind.
The men were untying the boats. It was finally time to show their father what they were capable of.
But, before they could board, there came a heavy groan behind them. Sokka turned to see Appa land on the beach, with a very somber Aang.
"This can't be good."
Azula didn't struggle as she was led down the hallway. They were underground, somewhere deep below the palace, but that was all she knew. The Dai Li must have moved their headquarters down here after destroying Lake Laogai. How her father had gotten here, she didn't know.
She didn't know where Zuko was. She didn't know if Uncle was apprehended either. Nobody answered her questions. She could easily free herself and fight back, but Azula didn't dare. Zuko's life was on the line. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes. They were supposed to be eating noodles together, just them, but now everything was falling apart. She didn't know what her father's plan was, but he had the Dai Li under his control. With them, he had control of the city.
They reached a metal door, and Azula was roughly shoved into a room.
It was empty except for a single chair in the center, and a bright lamp.
