"I've made….a lot of mistakes in the past year when it comes to Azula. For so long, I saw her as an enemy rather than my little sister, because we were competing for father's love and attention. She had it and I didn't, and that enraged me. Then during the war, we became enemies, fighting each other so that one of us could capture the avatar. Then I decided to join Aang and the others, and as a result Azula and I became enemies once again, this time fighting on opposite ends of the war. Then, we fought an agni kai against each other at the very end of the war, to decide who would become the next Fire Lord. I realized that something was off about Azula. She didn't look like how she normally did up to that point: perfect. She didn't look well at all. I knew that, but I used that to my advantage in our fight, because I didn't care at the time. Because I wanted to prove that I was the one on top, that I was the better firebender between us, that she wasn't the strong one anymore. It didn't really hit me that she was suffering too until she broke down in front of me and Katara after we defeated her. Afterwards, uncle Iroh convinced me to send Azula to the asylum, because they specialized in taking care of people with problems like Azula has. I never once checked up on her, though. The doctors there would send me letters about her condition, assuring me that she was getting better. I…. didn't want to see her. I was still angry about everything. Angry at her. It wasn't until recently that I went to see her in the asylum, but it wasn't for a visit: I needed her to get father to tell us about your whereabouts, since he wouldn't say anything to me no matter how much I tried. It was the first time I had seen her in a year, and how she looked shocked me. She was thinner than the last time I saw her, and she had been confined to a wheelchair and was wearing a straight jacket. But I decided to ignore all of that and took her with us anyway, because I figured that she would want to come with us to find you, too. While we were searching for you, she started acting strange. Talking to someone who wasn't there, attacking nothing. Aang, Katara, and Sokka were able to tell pretty quickly that something was wrong with her. I'm ashamed to say that I didn't. I had just assumed that she was faking it, since the doctor's at the asylum had told me that her condition has improved a lot. Sometime later, she ran off. We were all shocked at first because she had been having trouble walking. I guess it was her flight or fight response? Whatever she saw spooked her enough to run away. We split up to search for her, and I ended up finding her first. When I tried to talk to her, she immediately attacked me. At that point, I was beyond fed up with her and… I did something that I'm not very proud of."

He stops talking and takes a deep breath. He doesn't know how his mother will react to what he's about to tell her, but she has a right to know. A right to know that he had done something to Azula that could have resulted in her death, had Sokka not found them in time.

"I grabbed her leg and slammed her to the ground, and then I grabbed her by the collar and held her over a cliff. Screaming at her, saying that she ruined my life, and that had she not been born, maybe everything that happened to me, how our father treated me, wouldn't have happened. That was when Sokka showed up. He punched me, which caused me to let go of Azula, and he immediately caught her before she could fall. Him and I had a bit of a shouting match, and he took Azula away. They all left, and I was left alone. Then, I found you. I didn't think that I had done anything wrong at the time, and yet….things didn't feel right when you and I were returning back to the capital. I did feel happy that I had found you, and that you agreed to come home, but something still felt off. And after taking things over with Suki, listening to her telling me about what was actually going on at the asylum and how they were treating Azula and the other patients, it made me realize why I felt that way: because of Azula. I think that, deep down, I want to make things right with her, but because our relationship is so…. damaged, I don't know how to do that. It's why I wanted to talk to you. I need some advice. I realize now that I can't really heal until I confront all of the toxic feelings that I have towards her, and mend our relationship. To try and be the big brother that she deserves, and to help her. But I don't know how to do that."

Zuko looks at his mother, waiting for her to say something. Her expression is unreadable.

Ursa has half of mind to scream at her son, say to him that he shouldn't have treated his sister that way when she needs help, but refrains from doing so. The boy has sought her out personally for help, and she will give it to him. Yelling at him is the last thing he needs right now. Besides, it's not like he had good role models to look up to. Her own issues aside, all these two had were Ozai and Iroh. Ursa wasn't expecting much from Ozai, but Iroh was supposed to be the "good" sibling between the two. He should have helped both of her kids, not playing favorites like both her and Ozai did. Not stoking the flames that made up Zuko and Azula's rivalry. Thus, Ursa concludes that this is Iroh's fault. Yet another reason that validates her disdain for the old man.

Ursa clears her throat, "Well, I think that you're already off to a good start. Even though it took you some time, you were able to come to these conclusions on your own. As for how you can try and get over your feelings of anger towards Azula….well, I never did tell you exactly why I was banished, now did I?"

"No, but father told me what happened. He said that you did treasonous things to save my life the night you left….well, when he banished you."

Ursa hums, "Yes, that's correct. I killed your grandfather, Fire Lord Azulon, so that way Ozai would no longer have a reason to kill you and he could have the throne. Do you know how I found out about it?"

Zuko shakes his head.

"Azula told me about what she had overhead in the throne room, and I immediately went to find Ozai, who confirmed everything that Azula said."

Azula saved my life?

He knew that his mother had a hand in it, going by what she just said and what his father had told him during the invasion. The last thing that he had been expecting to hear from his mother is that Azula was the reason why she even found out about any of it in the first place.

I would have been dead if Azula didn't say anything

It's an odd thought for him to think about. Hard to process. He then remembers what Ozai had said to him.

"Your mother found out."

Found out. Which means that she hadn't known about it until some point that night. His mind wonders to that night, when they were leaving the throne room after demonstrating their skills to their grandfather, how Azula tugged him behind the curtains with her so they could see the conversation between their father and grandfather, how he had gotten scared and ran off when Azulon got angry at something his father had said. Azula had come into his room sometime later.

"Dad's going to kill you. Really, he is."

At the time, he didn't want to believe her (really, what kid would?) and assumed that it was just another one of her cruel jokes. Their mother had come in shortly afterwards, and dragged Azula outside, saying that it was "time for a talk". He tried to calm his nerves by repeating to himself "Azula always lies" and went to sleep shortly after. He remembers being woken up at some point by his mother, and then later on he found out that she had left. Left them. Left him. At the time, he had no idea what was going on and why she left. Not until his father told him the truth about that night, and what his mother just said to him.

Zuko groans. How did he not realize it sooner? Mother had left the throne room that night, the two of them following behind her before Azula ran behind the curtains, dragging him along with her. Mother hadn't heard the entire conversation between father and grandfather. Heck, he hadn't heard the entire conversation since he eventually ran off. Azula was the one who stayed behind. Meaning that the only person who had any knowledge as to what was said that night was Azula. Azula, who had come into his room to tell him about what she had overhead, albeit in a taunting way, jokingly saying that he could find an earth kingdom family to adopt him. Azula, who had been taken out of his room by their mother. Azula, who more than likely told their mother about what she overheard instead of lying, since the woman was always able to tell when Azula lied.

Azula had set the playing field for his life being saved that night. She could have easily gone to her room and went to sleep, never saying anything to him about it, assuming that their father wouldn't actually do it. But she didn't. Instead she chose to go to his room and tell him about it. And how does he repay her? By throwing her in a cell the first chance he got, both because he didn't want to deal with her and because uncle Iroh had assured him that the asylum would be the best place for Azula to get help.

That last thought gives him pause. Iroh had been the one who told him to have Azula sent to the asylum. Did he know how that place would treat Azula? How they treated the other patients? The very thought makes him angry. He quickly gets up from his seat next to his mother, startling the older woman.

"Thank you for telling me this, mom. I have something that I need to do now. I'll see you later", and with that, he walks back into the palace, intent on finding Iroh.

He finds the old man in his room, drinking tea and talking to Kiyi about pai sho. The child looks confused but she still seems to be enjoying herself regardless. That is, until she sees Zuko. The girl immediately gets up from her seat and walks out of the room,but not before thanking Iroh for the tea. Iroh looks at the girl, baffled, and then he looks at Zuko.

"It would seem that your little sister doesn't like you very much."

"Yeah. That's….. something that I'll deal with when I'm ready for it. I'm not going to force her to like me, especially when I don't even know how I feel about her either. Anyway, enough about Kiyi. Can we talk?"

"I thought we were already talking", Iroh chuckles.

As expected, Zuko doesn't like his joke, so the old man just sighs and gestures for Zuko to sit down.

"What did you want to talk to me about?"

"Did you know about what kind of place the asylum was like? How the people who work there treat Azula, and how they treat the other patients there? You are the one who told me to send her there, after all."

"What? Of course not! Had I known, I would have never suggested that place at all. Your sister and I may have a strained relationship, a relationship that I intend to fix, but I would never have sent her to a place like that, had I known what it was actually like. Why are you asking me this?"

Zuko takes a deep breath of relief. It's nice to know that uncle doesn't hate Azula to the point where he would intentionally send her somewhere that would abuse her instead of help her.

"I had a talk with my mother and it made me think about a lot of things in regards to Azula. I plan on going to the asylum tomorrow and seeing for myself what kind of place it is. Do you want to come with me?"

Iroh considers the question for a moment before he nods his head in agreement. It's only fair that they go together, seeing as he is the one who told Zuko to send Azula there to begin with, and then he didn't bother checking up on her after the fact. Neither one of them did. This is the least that they can do for her. It's the least that he can do for her, as a way to start making amends. He promised both Ursa and Azula that he would, after all. At the thought of Azula, the old man chuckles. Zuko looks at him, quizzically, wondering why the old man is laughing.

"You know, it's actually funny that you're asking me this, since I spoke to your sister before they left, and I told her that I would convince you to come to the asylum with me and see it for ourselves. To investigate how things are done there, how the patients are treated, and promptly shut it down if what Azula has said proves to be true."

"It is true. Based on what Mai, Ty Lee, and Suki told me that they saw when the three of them went there, it's exactly as Azula described it to be, and I'm an idiot for not realizing it earlier. I mean, I was there with Suki the day we went to go see Azula and take her out of the asylum to help us find mother, but I didn't care to see it. All I cared about was what I wanted. I didn't care about what she wanted at all, and I ignored the obvious signs that something was wrong. I don't want to be like that anymore, and I'm going to try my hardest not to."

Iroh hums. He doesn't wish to be like that anymore either. He owes it to Azula to be there for her now and help her, just like he is always there for Zuko no matter what. It amazes Iroh that Zuko was (mostly) able to come to this conclusion on his own.

Perhaps it really is a good thing that the two siblings are spending time apart from each other. It seems to be working wonders for Zuko already. He can only hope that it will do the same for Azula.

Azula stares at the clouds as the others make light conversation around her. About what, she doesn't know. She hears the lemur chattering in her ear, having not moved from his perch on her shoulder since they left. She wonders why it's so attached to her when they have had no interaction until now. Perhaps it can sense her mood and wants to cheer her up? Maybe that's it.

She feels someone staring at her, and turns to see that it's Sokka. Much like the lemur, he also seems to have taken an interest in her. Maybe it's because he can't get the image of Zuko threateningly holding her over a cliff out of his mind. So then he's worried about her. Strange.

"Can I help you?"

Sokka looks embarrassed that he has been caught. It almost makes her laugh.

"Ugh, I was just wondering if you're ok. You haven't been having any more hallucinations, have you?"

"Well, seeing as I haven't been lashing out at you all like a crazy person, the answer is no. I have no idea why that is."

"You aren't crazy. And I'm happy to hear that you haven't had any more of them. Did you take something to get them to stop?"

Azula looks at him, confused. He really thinks those doctors gave them medicine to help with their issues? How cute.

"I didn't take anything. Like I said before, they never gave us medicine, just injections to calm us down, even though all it did was make the hallucinations worse for me."

Sokka has heard this before, but it still doesn't make it any less easier to hear. He has half a mind to have Aang head in the direction of the asylum and burn the damn place to the ground. Something tells him that Aang wouldn't be on board with the idea, however.

"Anyway, enough about me", Azula says, turning to the others, looking at Suki in particular, "how long until we reach Kyoshi Island?"

"A few weeks at most. We're riding on Appa instead of on a ship, so we're going to get there a bit faster than usual."

Azula nods, satisfied with the answer. She notices that the waterbender is now staring at her.

"First your brother, and now you. What do you want?"

"Keep up with that attitude and I won't tell you."

Azula glares at the girl. She holds herself back from beginning an argument with her, no matter how amusing it may be. Sokka may be annoying and worries about her too much for his own good (no matter how much she secretly likes it) he's still much more tolerable than his sister.

"I have an idea. As you know, I can use my waterbending to heal people. I don't have much knowledge about using it on a person's mind before, but I did use it on someone we met in the Earth Kingdom. The Dai Li brainwashed him, and I used my water to heal him. It didn't work that much, since Long Feng was able to get him back under his control, but I did help him remember everything that he had forgotten. So maybe I can do something similar like that for you the next time you have a hallucination. If you'd let me, that is."

Azula ponders this. While she doesn't necessarily care for the girl and doesn't trust her as far as she can throw her, she is one of the people who advocated for her release from that horrible place. Something that she didn't have to do. Azula knows for the fact that the other girl has no love for her at all, seeing as how she nearly killed the avatar, and her, had Zuko not gotten in the way. And besides, healing water sounds a lot better than being injected with who knows what, and then being strapped down to a bed for days on end.

"Fine. The next time I have a hallucination, I will let you know."

"Sounds good", Katara says, smiling at her.

She nods. Perhaps the girl isn't so bad after all.

"So, I see that you and Momo have been getting along really well." Katara says, teasingly. The others laugh at this.

Azula glares. She takes it back. This girl is indeed bad.

As they agreed, Zuko and Iroh arrive at the asylum the next day. Before coming here, Zuko had mentally prepared himself, knowing that he would more than likely see some disturbing things, based on what Suki told him. Nothing could have prepared him for what he was going to see, however. What he sees makes him sick, fills him with rage. As they are given a "tour" of the asylum, Zuko sees some of the patients screaming in horror, shouting at things that aren't there, being restrained and held down by doctors and being injected with something, before being strapped down to a bed. What he sees makes him feel nothing but rage. Was this what Azula had been subjected to day in and day out? Being injected with spirits knows what and strapped down, being treated as if she were an animal? He notices one of the doctors wheeling something that appears to be a large lump on a table. He asks what it is.

"Oh, that? One of the patients must have died again. It happens sometimes, particularly if we give them more than one injection to try and calm them down." is the response he gets.

One of the patients must have died again

Azula could have been that patient getting wheeled out on that table.

The thought makes Zuko feel sick to his stomach. He feels as if he is about to throw up.

By the end of their visit, that is exactly what he does the moment he and Iroh are outside. He looks at the old man, white as a ghost.

"Azula, she - she could have died in that place and would have been all my fault!"

"Zuko, that's not true-"

"Yes it is! This is, I -" Zuko doesn't finish. He releases a breath of fire from his mouth. He then sets his sight on his uncle.

"I should have never let you convince me to send Azula here! This place was supposed to help her?! What a joke that is! NOBODY can get better here, it's a place where people are sent to die by the people who are supposed to care for them!"

Zuko breathes heavily, before what he just said hits him like a punch in the face.

This place is somewhere that people are sent to rot away until they eventually die. It doesn't help people get better. It's essentially the same thing as a prison. His own father was currently living in semi better conditions than Azula was living in until recently. The man who burned and banished him was given more decency than Azula, someone who didn't do nearly half of the things that their father did.

"What do you want to do, nephew?" Iroh asks.

Zuko calms himself down enough to give his uncle an answer.

"Isn't it obvious? I'm going to shut this place down, for good. I can't usher in a new era of peace and kindness in the Fire Nation if I don't extend any of that to my little sister. Doing this is the start of that."

This is only a small step to repairing his relationship with Azula, but Zuko knows that he can get there eventually. That the both of them can get there eventually.