Undercover
Azula considered this test a success.
Sure, she didn't manage to capture the Avatar, and it seemed Zuko had gone to the aid of the Water Tribe princess instead of coming to confront her, but she was able to confirm Mai was a reincarnation without Mai realizing that she was one too. And since Mai 'failed' to trigger her, that would hopefully make all of her allies assume Azula was just Azula, not a reincarnation of anyone else. This served the dual purpose of letting her play on the sibling ties she had with Zuko in the future if need be, and having the Avatar's allies underestimate her just that little bit so they wouldn't see her true intentions until it was too late.
That, and she'd been able to burn Uncle. That was always fun.
"How did it go, Princess," asked Ukano as she climbed back into the tank train.
"Productive," she said with a smirk. She then took on a look of sympathy she didn't really feel but knew Ukano would appreciate when being delivered bad news. "Unfortunately, I can confirm what I've been suspecting since Omashu. I'm sorry, Governor Ukano, but your daughter is the reincarnation of Hanguang-Jun."
Ukano looked livid and punched a wall of the train.
"She joined the Avatar of her own free will, and kidnapped your son in the process," Azula continued. "I suspect because the child is the reincarnation of one of those Junior disciples that enjoyed following Hanguang-Jun around. Mai seemed very attached to him."
"Of course, Lan Wangji would mock me in this life as he had the last," snarled Ukano. "The arrogance of what she's putting us through! In this life she owes me her filial piety, and what does she do instead? Run like a coward and bring dishonor on our family with her treachery!"
"Now, now, Governor. It doesn't have to be that bad," said Azula placatingly. "We're far off from Fire Nation territory, and all the soldiers here with us are loyal to me alone. No one will have to know of Mai's betrayal once we take care of her, one way or another."
Ukano sighed in relief. "Thank you, Princess," he said gratefully, then looked like he was already planning what he would do once he had her. Having power over Lan Wangji in this life would have been a treat for him if Mai had stayed put.
"Don't thank me. I'll admit, I'm hurt as well. Until this reincarnation business, I would have considered her one of my best friends," Azula admitted with more honesty than usual, the Azula part of her truly was shocked at her audacity and would have been spiraling at this news if not for Jin Guangyao's lifetime of experience with handling betrayal tempering her. "If it gets out she's turned her back on our nation, my judgment of people could be called into question. We cannot afford to show any weakness."
"Not if we want you as Fire Lord," agreed Ukano.
Azula smirked. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves," she said. "First we need to reclaim your wayward daughter and my troublesome brother."
"Claim him?" asked Ukano. "As in claim his life, or…?"
"No, capture him alive," said Azula. "It seems if memories are triggered by one person, that is the only person aware of your reincarnation status. You can meet any other, and they won't know the difference unless someone tells them. If my path to the throne requires me to return to the Fire Nation, then I'll need someone else who can draw Wen Ruohan's ire and keep my identity confidential."
"I see," said Ukano. "If needed you could use someone else to trigger the Fire Lord's memories instead of attempting to avoid him once you go back. And it needs to be the prince as it would take a very important prisoner to even draw the Fire Lord's attention, much less to see them before seeing you."
"Doing so would make him more difficult to deal with," Azula admitted. "But it would be worth it to keep him from knowing I intend to depose him a second time."
Ukano sniffed disdainfully. His past life's memories had reinvigorated his hatred for arrogant men and caused it to extend to even the Fire Lord because none were more arrogant than him. "There are many ways to kill a man," he said. "If worse comes to worse I can cast the Hundred Holes curse again. People here know even less of how to break it than they did in the old world."
"That curse would take too long to kill him and would give you away to anyone in the know, so let's keep that as a plan B for now," said Azula with a smile. "A slow and painful death may be satisfying, but a quick one he doesn't see coming is always the safer option. And I intend to live this new life to the fullest."
Ukano sighed in disappointment but could see her point and agreed.
It was good to have such loyal help.
A/N And here's a brief check-in on Azula and Ukano. Ukano is indeed Su She's reincarnation, and he is incensed that he could have been able to make Lan Wangji's second life absolutely miserable and missing out because Mai ran off to find true love. Azula, meanwhile, is going to keep her cover as long as she can for the advantages it gives her. Zuko, Iroh, Mai, and Ty Lee all know how smart and tricky Azula is, but they wouldn't be looking for Jin Guangyao's level of treachery, giving her an edge. However, Azula still doesn't know Ty Lee is Wei Wuxian and is with them, so at the moment they may be about even. We'll have to see what tips the scales.
