ATLA: A Tale of Fire and Steel

[Fran Gark]

The year was 100AG, and the Hundred Year War had finally come to an end. Half the world stood in ruins, but a new era was looming on the horizon. This is a tale of a defeated and broken princess, of a farseeing yet conflicted Fire Lord, and an Avatar struggling with the death of his people and the birth of a new world. This is a tale of life and death, loyalty and betrayal, war and peace; but most importantly, it is a tale of a brother and sister.

This is a multiple POV fic that tries to follow canon and piece together multiple events between the end of the show and the comics of Avatar the Last Airbender.



Edited by: Bieverdog AO3: GalavantingGoose, Due_Cardiologist_292, and ultimatebookworm08

Book I
失衡​

Prologue:

It was one of the hottest summers in the Fire Nation, and a sluggish, young Iroh II was daydreaming about holidays in Ember Island, about spending the whole day on the beach with his friends without a care in the world. Instead, he was in the Royal Library, accompanied only by his thoughts of freedom and his mother.

Forced to bury his head in a hundred-year-old scroll, 'A Treatise on Fire Nation Diplomacy', he constantly fought the urge to fall asleep. However, the echoing steps of his mother helped to keep him awake. He wasn't sure if it was supposed to be some sort of punishment or lesson, but either way, he tossed the scroll aside, fed up with the drudgery. He let his head droop, almost banging it against the desk, and sighed.

Izumi gave a tired sigh of her own. "Patience, Iroh."

"I've memorized these scrolls for the hundredth time. How is that going to be of any use to me? Things were different during Grandpa's days."

"'History repeats itself.' Ever heard the phrase?"

He rolled his eyes. "But we have the power to change it and bring about a better future. Yes, I have heard it a million times already."

"Exactly, but only if you know it; otherwise, we are doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past. Those dusty scrolls may one day come in handy to you."

He groaned. "Like you ever read them all."

She laughed lightly. "Oh, I did; my father practically forced me to. He didn't want me to repeat the same mistakes he did."

"Grandfather making mistakes? That's a new one."

"No one is born great, my son. We are all human; we all live, learn, and die by our actions, good or bad. Fire Lord Zuko wasn't always 'The Great'.

She sighed, sitting down next to him. "We have it too easy nowadays. People are always quick to forget it wasn't that way before. They forget the struggles, the sacrifices that were made. If you are ever to rule, you need to know."

"Ugh… It's not that hard; everyone knows the–"

His mother held out her hand. "Ah, don't tell me your answer; I already know it. The tired line from novice history scrolls: 'The Avatar freed the world from the tyranny of Ozai; and here we are, thriving under the wise rule of Fire Lord Zuko.'"

"Well, isn't that what happened?"

"Most people would think that would suffice, but the true story is one that few know. Try to step into their shoes. Back when the future was uncertain, peace was… It was unthinkable for most. And in the Fire Nation, it meant victory. But when it did come, we were defeated… Come, walk with me." She got up, turning off the desk light.

"Where are we going?"

"We're going to grab a drink. This might take some time."

Iroh clutched the scroll in his hands, following his mother as she walked with purpose. Soon, he noticed an old sun-bleached building near the palace, a temple of the Fire Sages, now closed and kept as a monastery. The Fire Sages received them warmly, setting down the oolong his mother had insisted on drinking despite the weather.

They sat under cover of shadow near the center of the monastery in a plain, open plaza. Rivulets of water calmly flowed on either side of them.

"Well…Why are we here?"

His mother looked around as steam whispered into the air from her teacup. "This is a very important place; it was where your grandfather was crowned. Few know a great battle was fought here."

He looked at her, surprised, for that monastery was the last place he would have imagined for that to take place.

His mother paused, looking down as he took a moment to reread the scroll. "It was a sad story, but one that happened nonetheless. As a matter of fact, he told me he was your age when it happened…"

Iroh unfurled the scroll, maybe he had missed a detail, but he found no records of that event. He looked at her, puzzled and intrigued. "What battle are you even talking about? This scroll says nothing about it."

"Ah, sadly, you won't find any answers there. But perhaps I can help." Izumi took the scroll from his hands, placing it on her lap. "When I was a girl, he used to take me here." She sighed. "For hours, he'd tell me the stories of his youth: how he met the Avatar, how they fought Fire Lord Ozai. People are always interested in the flashy details–the stories that later become legends. The real story is more raw, painful…"

Iroh leant over his seat. He seldom heard her speak so emotionally. His mother had truly piqued his curiosity. "Could you tell me?"

She nodded and set down her cup. "Now, where to begin…" She thought for a moment then smiled. "I've got it. I'll tell you how the great Fire Lord Zuko came to be; how Avatar Aang returned from the land of legend to become one. The story of a fallen dragon, a tale that was forged in fire and steel. It all started one fateful day with the arrival of Sozin's Comet…"

 

[Fran Gark]

Act I: Ashes

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Note: if you do not wish to read dialogue from the show, skip to Act I, Chapter III.

Chapter I​

It was dark in the throne room, the dim candle lights barely allowing the columns to glimmer in bright red and gold, the colors of a proud nation. In the center of the room, a golden throne towered, with the dragons of Fire peaking proudly on top. It was an intimidating sight, where her ancestors ruled with might, and now it was all hers. It was her destiny, her reward for her hard work, but Azula's mind lay uneasy, restless, and in turmoil, so much so that she could barely notice the footsteps coming from behind.

Startled, she turned around and noticed Li and Lo, accompanied by four Dai Li agents and the Imperial firebenders. As she stared, they stopped, bowing. "Princess, we are here accompanied by your royal guards as you have requested."

Azula had almost forgotten she had called on them. She stared at them imperiously. "Finally! I called on you twenty minutes ago!" She narrowed her eyes at the guards. "Where have you been all this time? Your sole purpose here is ensuring my security, and moments ago, an assassin could have waltzed in here, and you would not even have noticed."

The room fell silent, her words echoing ominously. She noticed a particularly nervous man on the right, a thin line of sweat trickling down his face. She ambled towards him and pointed. "You, come forward!"

He came forward and bowed. "Yes, Princess?"

"You are banished for your incompetence."

The man's eyes widened in disbelief, his mouth opening, but no words came out.

"Consider yourself lucky. Today is my coronation. Failure and incompetence won't be tolerated. Those who do not comply will suffer the consequences, so keep in mind that I might not be so gracious next time. All of you are dismissed. Back to your posts! Except for you two." She gestured to the twins, who exchanged worried glances. "You shall stay here to take note of the remaining duties for today before the ceremony."

They bowed and waited for Azula to return to her perch behind the unending flames. She struggled to focus, for the past few days had taken a toll on her… First her ungrateful brother had deserted her, then her so called 'friends' betrayed her, and now she had been denied and left behind by her father. A whirlwind of emotion consumed her, gnawing, itching to break free. She gritted her teeth impotently.

In a moment of uncontrollable fury, she bathed the room in blue fire, the pale flames casting eerie shadows on her face. Her usual grace and poise gave way to weariness, despite her best efforts to mask it. Her golden eyes, once fierce and commanding, were now marred by dark circles. Her normally immaculate black hair was disheveled and tangled.

Azula tried to project the image of a confident princess as she moved through the room, deliberately trying to measure each step. She passed through the raging fire unscathed and proceeded to the throne, her composure faltering ever so slightly. As she sat, her shoulders sagged under the weight of her exhaustion. In the flickering light, she was but a shadow of herself, of the princess she had always strived to be.

The twins looked up at her. "Princess Azula, there is much to be done in preparation for your coronation and your father's return. We should–"

"Silence! As your future Fire Lord, you will only speak when spoken to." The twins flinched. And her mouth twisted into a smile. "First, I want the servants to prepare me for my moment of glory. It has to be perfect. Proclaim in the capital that all commerce and obligations shall cease in honor of my coronation. Henceforth from tomorrow, ten days of celebrations will be held for our victories in the Earth Kingdom. As you know, today they will be ashes, and our nation will reign supreme above all. When the Phoenix King returns, we will discuss plans for the new territories. That will be our first order of business."

They nodded. "Anything else, Your Highness?"

"Yes, I want the Imperial Firebenders audited. They must swear allegiance to me. Those who are loyal will keep their posts. Take care that the rest are relieved of their duties immediately."

The sisters widened their eyes, exchanging more worried looks. Li stammered at first but steadied her tone. "Your Highness, that will take some time. Your security is paramount at the moment. I'm sure they are all–"

Azula's voice was irate. "Did you not hear me before, Lo? Perhaps I didn't make myself clear. Audit them. And leave the ones loyal only to me. Or you might need to visit some sick relatives, or maybe a few hundred spa days at the Boiling Rock will surely clear your minds?" Her chest puffed as she spoke, making her figure appear more imposing behind the flames.

The crackling azure wall hid her frailty well. Li gulped, bowed, and took a step back. Lo did likewise, but she kept eyeing the floor.

She wiped the sweat from her palms on her tunic. "You have your orders; you are dismissed."

As the women left, a servant came before the throne and kowtowed sufficiently for one of her status. Even though she wasn't the Fire Lord yet, she did enjoy the attention.

"Your Highness, your maids are ready for you and are awaiting your arrival at the royal spa."

"Finally! Send word to the Fire Sages, then! I want the coronation to begin as soon as possible."

"Yes, Your Highness. What about your subjects? Should I inform them to attend?"

"No, this will be a mere formality. Tomorrow, the celebrations will begin. They are to be present then."

The servant bowed even lower and remained crouched until Azula left the throne room.

She headed straight to the spa, flanked by two of her bodyguards. Azula grappled with the tormenting thoughts swirling in her mind. With so much in her hands already, she hoped to find a moment of respite. As she neared the spa, she could feel the steam wafting from under the door.

A guard opened the door for her, revealing four servants clad in crimson silk waiting for her by a chair in the center. Behind it lay a steaming, ornate fountain. Depicted on the wall were two opposing golden dragons on a gilt, red backdrop. They seemed to sit deferentially behind their princess.

The women appeared intimidated by Azula's presence, their gazes firmly fixed on the red carpet. One of them caught her eye. She didn't look Fire Nation, standing tall with green eyes and a face dotted with freckles. Could she be a spy?

Before Azula could ponder any further, another servant held up a bowl of cherries timidly. "Please take a seat, Your Highness."

She approached, eyeing the tall girl suspiciously. As she sat, the servant held out the bowl. She tried her best to relax. The maids worked quickly, yet with finesse. They removed her boots and unstrapped her armor, leaving it on a stand. The tall, hazel-eyed maid combed her hair, taking great care not to tangle Azula's hair. The princess was still tense and alert, but at least she thought she could enjoy the cherries.

As she bit another, there was a loud crunch. The servants froze. "What am I holding?"

The servants paled. With a slight hesitation, the girl holding the bowl shyly eyed her. "A cherry pit, Princess."

"Correct. And what day is this?"

"It is the day of your coronation."

Anger flickered in the princess's eyes. "Yes, it is. So, please tell me why, on the most important day of my life, you've decided to leave a pit in my cherry?"

She flung the pit at the servant, who flinched away. "It wasn't a decision; it was just a small mistake."

Azula scoffed. "Small? Do you realize what could've happened if I hadn't sensed the pit in time?"

The color drained from the girl's face. "I suppose you could've... choked."

The princess put on an air of superiority and rage. "Yes, then you will understand the severity of your crime."

The maid trembled in fear. "I understand, princess. Please forgive me."

On any other day, Azula would've had the servant executed or something of the sort, but she felt that an exception could be made, given the occasion. "Oh, very well. Since it is a special day, I will show mercy. You are banished. Leave this palace immediately!"

The servant bowed quickly and hurried away before the capricious princess could change her mind. The others stood dumbfounded, holding their breath.

Azula glared at them. "What are you all looking at? I have two feet that need scrubbing." They sprang into action. "And make sure you get in between the toes. I won't have my first day as Fire Lord marred by poor foot hygiene."

As the maids silently and arduously worked, Azula's mind continued to buzz. Incompetence. That filthy peasant. Did she actually try to kill her? No, she must have been sent by someone; maybe it was a test by her father. But no, that wouldn't make sense.

Who could have a motive, then? The Dai Li? After all, they didn't bat an eye when they stabbed Long Feng in the back. What was stopping them now from doing the same to her? Or maybe the captain of the Imperial Firebenders, Sung. Azula knew the man to be loyal to her father, but to herself? Maybe Sung had set up the trap to ensnare her.

Anyone could be a threat, even those closest to her; they were all snakes in the grass. She would not go down that way. She wouldn't be surprised by anyone, not again. So, she had to act before they got the chance to do anything. Yes… that way, she would outsmart them all. No one would even dare betray her again. And the ones who tried… they would pay dearly. Her "friends" came to mind first. She couldn't resist twitching her face in anger when thinking of their betrayal. She still couldn't understand what could have pushed her allies to make such a rash decision.

She felt an emptiness in her gut; the feeling worsened the more she thought about them. She closed her eyes and briefly reminisced about the moments they experienced as friends. But in an instant, the memories were invaded by that moment of treachery, too overwhelming to bear. She squeezed her eyes shut, and a stray tear escaped her left eye.

Focus! You will never allow yourself to fail again; they were not your friends. They would have stayed by your side if they were. They are cowards anyway; you have a far more important task ahead of you than whining about a pair of snakes.

Now she would deal with the backstabbers within her own court. Opening her eyes again, she called for one of the guards standing post outside. The man entered and bowed. "Soldier, I'd like to have a word with your captain. He must arrive in the Throne Room in two degrees' time. Dismissed!"

"As you command, Princess." And he rushed out.

They won't know what hit them. In a single strike, I'll rid myself of these scheming traitors–

"My lady, you are ready now."

Enraged, she pierced the servant with her eyes. How dare she interrupt my thoughts! The servant shot her gaze to the carpet and slightly bowed her head in submission.

Azula took a deep breath and focused on the task ahead. There is no time for bickering. First, I'll deal with the fools that wish to cross me; then I'll have plenty of time to discipline my servants. And so, Azula stepped and walked straight back to the throne room to wait for the captain of the Imperial Firebenders. She would deal with the Dai Li thereafter.

As she walked behind the undying flames of the Dragon Throne, new memories invaded her mind. Of all the times she had been cruel to her friends and her brother. But there was something off about those memories. It was as if someone had reenacted it inside her head. She tried resisting it, but it only worsened.

Behind one of the pillars by the main doors, Azula could have sworn she saw someone. She narrowed her eyes. "Who dares to hide in the presence of the Fire Lord?!"

Silence.

Azula's anger made the flames flare. "Show yourself!"

No response.

As Azula was about to investigate, the guards rushed in. "Princess, is everything all right? We heard screaming–"

She snarled. "As a matter of fact, no. You let someone in. Or for all I know, an assassin might be roaming the palace because of your incompetence! They even managed to reach me just now!"

The guards looked at each other, puzzled. "But, Your Highness, nobody's here…"

"Silence!" She narrowed her eyes, doubtful. "I don't need fools like you. Your incompetence might have cost me my life. I know what I saw!" Azula hesitated for a moment before relaxing. "I've been far too mild with my punishments, it seems."

The soldiers dropped to the floor and begged Azula for mercy, but she wouldn't have it. They would serve as an example. "Sixty lashes and one year of penal labor. You will ensure your duties are fulfilled next time. If there is a next time."

One man broke down in tears. "No! Please, Your Highness! I'll do anything! I have a family! They won't survive without me!"

A group of Dai Li approached the entrance, escorting Captain Sung. Right on time. A smile curved on Azula's lips. They will all do well to fear me, and it will also serve as a warning to the conniving captain. "Dai Li, arrest them. They are to receive sixty lashes each immediately. Oh, and muzzle the loud one."

The agents nodded, grabbing the disgraced Imperial Guards with their rock gauntlets and muzzling the complainer in stone. Sung watched in horror.

Azula noticed the broken expression on his face and took the opportunity to increase his suffering. She gestured to the Dai Li. "Wait. Captain Sung, a pleasure to see you again. These men have been punished for neglecting their duties. It could not be more opportune that you have arrived at this moment. Now, Captain, carry out yours." The princess gestured to one of the Dai Li. "Why are you standing there? Can't you see that he needs a whip?" She grinned menacingly.

The captain was ill at ease. "R– R-right n-now? I-I wouldn't dare commit such a savage act in front of my Princess."

Azula smiled as if it were teatime with His Kookiness. She clasped her hands together. "Nonsense, Captain. These men committed a personal offense against me; thus, it is only fitting that I witness their punishment."

The captain looked uncertain, his eyes focused on the whip handed to him and the already uncovered back of his soldiers. Then he gave a short glance at the princess, who stood there motionless with her sight trained on him. Sung eyed the men who were placed in front of him. He was taking too long to act.

The captain calmly returned the whip to the agent and stood firm. "I can't, Your Highness. These men and all of the soldiers in the Imperial Guard are completely devoted to you and your father. They will guard you with their lives and have always accomplished their duties. With all due respect, I don't see how they have failed you, given that you are in no immediate danger; consequently, I cannot impart such punishment."

Azula's grin vanished, her golden eyes bore into them, glowing furiously. This was a great opportunity to rid herself of them for good. "So, it seems you've shown your true allegiance, Captain. You should not have questioned my orders. I will not tolerate your insubordination. It will cost you and your precious soldiers all that you hold dear. Now all of you will pay for your treason. I decree that all of the Imperial Guards are banished to serve for ten years in the Colonial Collaboration Forces. You will all bear the mark of dishonor on your faces."

The man shrunk under Azula's harsh words.

"But for you… You are to spend the remainder of your life rotting in jail, stripped of all of your titles; and your family is to be exiled permanently. I wonder how long they will last in a war-torn region? Oh well, I guess we'll find out, will we? Agents, I want the Guard sent off to the Colonies by morning. This one? The Capital Prison will do."

They dragged the captain from her presence. "You will not get away with this! Your father will hear of this, Princess!"

Fool. In a couple hours, she would be the Fire Lord, and her word would be law. By disposing of possible traitors, she could now restructure her guard with people loyal only to her, diminishing the chances of betrayal. She would have to watch out for her father, though; she was almost certain he'd try to intervene. She knew the position she was given was being undermined by her father's new authority.

The Dai Li would be next on her list; they had served their purpose. Mentally rehearsing her speech, she summoned their leader.

Fidgeting on the throne, she had to focus on something; otherwise, her thoughts would eat her alive. Thankfully, a troop of Dai Li agents arrived and bowed before she could lose herself in her thoughts. The agent in front looked up. "You sent for us, Princess. Is everything alright?"

Azula eyed him imperiously. "Actually, everything's not alright! Do you know how long it took you to get here?"

His eyes darted around in confusion. "Uh... a few minutes, I guess."

"Five, to be precise. In which time, an assassin could've snuck in, done away with me, and been on his merry way!"

"My apologies, Princess."

"Is this how you plan to treat your new Fire Lord? With tardiness and disloyalty?"

"The Dai Li would never betray you!"

"And I'm sure that's just what you told Long Feng before you turned against him and joined me!" For a moment, she hesitated; but she knew what she had to do.

"You're all banished!" They gaped at her. They had done everything she asked. What was she getting at?

"But..."

"Goodbye!"

Now the earthbenders understood what she wanted. If that was how she would treat her loyal subjects, they would have none of it. They could only manage to nod and march out in formation.

Shehe glared at their backs. "Please send in the next group on your way out!"

Finally, all of the factors had been eliminated. It would take some time to reconstitute her guard, but she would do it carefully, calculating each probability, observing every tiny detail. If her friends could betray her, anyone could…

Now the thoughts came rushing back again like a nightmare haunting her. She knew she could not escape them. She would have to plow through them to focus on her destiny. Her destiny of becoming Fire Lord was nearly at hand. Nothing would stop her then. The power she would have… She could already feel the power of the Comet in her veins.

Yet she felt… lost. Was this where her efforts led her? The Fire Nation would soon conquer the world, but what would her reward be? What if her father wanted to take it all for himself? Would he think of betraying me as well? She had to consider the possibilities. Anyone could be a traitor. Her father had been… distant lately–

Something moved in the shadows, closer. Azula saw the dimly lit figure of a woman, tall and slender, silently staring. Her gaze was petrifying... How is she here? No matter. She would end the nonsense once and for all.

She hurled a bolt of fire at the intruder, but there was nothing there–the woman had vanished into thin air. Her face fell. Impossible! I saw her! There was someone there! Was she beginning to lose it? No, the shadows must have been playing tricks on me; that's it. I'll just center myself in my coronation, and all will be fine.

She paced around the throne, plotting her next moves. After a while, she sat down again, only for Li and Lo to barge in on her musings. "Azula, we heard what happened. Why have you banished all your servants?"

"All your Dai Li agents..."

"...and the Imperial Firebenders?"

"None of them could be trusted. Sooner or later, they all would have betrayed me. Just like Mai and Ty Lee did."

"Azula, we are concerned for you and your well-being."

Azula glared at them intently. "My father asked you to come here and talk to me, didn't he? He thinks I can't handle the responsibility of being Fire Lord. But I will be the greatest leader in Fire Nation history."

Lo nodded. "I'm sure you will. But considering everything that has happened today..."

"...perhaps it's best if you postponed your coronation."

In an instant, the frail women could feel the flames intensify. "What?! Which one of you just said that?"

The twins turned on each other, each pointing at the other damningly.

"What a shame... There's only one way to resolve this: you two must duel each other. I order you to fight an Agni Kai!"

"But..."

"...We're not firebenders."

To atone for her blunder, Azula decided banishment would suit the situation. Once again, she pointed at one at random. "All right, fine, Lo, you're banished." If she were wrong, she wouldn't care. She pointed at the other. "Li, you can stay."

Before the sisters could reply, she left the throne room without a destination in mind.

The old women could only stare at each other in disbelief. Azula walked away to cover her mistake. How did she forget Li and Lo weren't benders? She had known them for so long. How was it even possible that she had forgotten? Was what she saw real? Could she trust her own mind now?

Unbeknownst to her, her mind, her sharpest weapon, was chipping into pieces, like ashes after a fierce fire. Her past had finally come to haunt her. Her deepest, darkest sins were emerging to take revenge on her.

Herer destiny wouldn't be one of glory but one of suffering, a forced march through a hell made by her own actions and aggravated by the fact that the people she had once trusted had put her on that path.

 

[Fran Gark]

Edited by: Bieverdog AO3: GalavantingGoose, Due_Cardiologist_292, and ultimatebookworm08

Book I
失衡​

Act I: Ashes

​

---

Note: if you do not wish to read dialogue from the show, skip to Act I, Chapter III.
Chapter II​

Azula wandered the palace impatiently. She had recently banished one of her lifelong masters, but that wasn't bothering her at the moment. Her mind was still haunted by the events that had unfolded in the past month.

She allowed her thoughts to drift for a moment, only to be brought back swiftly to the present. She was to become the new Fire Lord; her coronation was near; she was next in line to play a crucial part in history. She repeated those phrases to herself over and over. Her past victories would be insignificant to the great Fire Lord Azula. In time, her rule would overshadow all of her predecessors. She would be the one to rebuild the world. With her father, they would make it rise from the ashes as it was always meant to be: in the image of the Fire Nation.

But the aspiring Fire Lord was still on trial; and her leadership would be put to the test by the Phoenix King. Knowing her demanding father, being up to the job wouldn't be enough; she would have to excel. But she hadn't disappointed him yet. She was not like Zuko.
A chill rushed over her as she entered a room at the end of a hallway. It was as if the emptiness of the place created a void so deep that, even during the scorching heat of summer, it didn't manage to get warm. She rubbed her hands as she took a moment to observe the room.

It was like one of many in the palace. The building was so colossal that not even three successive generations of royals had decided yet what to do with the empty space, so, usually, they reserved the spare rooms for the most trivial of things.

This one displayed a large gold framed mirror at its end and an elegant dresser with an assortment of hairstyling items. The room was doused in the flame palette characteristic of the palace.

She stood before the mirror and noticed her hair was undone. She snorted at the sight. Determined to fix her hair properly, she took the back of her hair and lifted it over her head, intending to do it in the classic Fire Nation top knot. She twisted it with one hand; and with the other, she took a red silk ribbon from her grooming utensils and attempted to tie the knot.

Just when she thought it was done, her hair came loose again. Azula sneered with anger as she let out a grunt in frustration and threw the silk ribbon to the ground. It fell, spinning like a leaf falling from a tree until it silently hit the floor. She couldn't stand to see her hair humiliate her. Wouldn't allow such an offense on the eve of her coronation. If it did not yield, she would cut it instead.

She hastily grabbed the gilded scissors and seized her bangs tightly around her hand. "Alright, hair, it's time to face your doom." The princess cut swiftly, her jet-black hair falling to her feet. Ha! She grinned victoriously at her reflection.

But her victory would be short-lived. Her smile fell as she heard a woman's soft voice behind her. She recognized that voice. Her hair stood on end. It was her mother.

"What a shame. You always had such beautiful hair."

Azula could see the speaker's reflection: a woman staring back with golden eyes just like hers, dressed as Fire Nation royalty.

"What are you doing here?" The princess's heart pounded as she locked her gaze with her mother's through the reflection.

She smiled innocently, gently shrugging. "I wouldn't want to miss my own daughter's coronation."

Azula's face turned serious, and she squinted her eyes, not breaking visual contact. "Don't pretend to act proud. I know what you really think of me…" She stopped. What she desired to say pained her. She looked away as if she was embarrassed about it. She whispered, "You think I am a monster…"

"I think you are confused."

Azula looked back. Her mother still had that wretched smile on. "All your life, you've used fear to control people, like your friends Mai and Ty Lee."

Friends. She closed her eyes, squeezing them until they hurt, trying to forget the memories of what had transpired. Her lips tightened as she shivered at the thought of their betrayal.

Not wanting to show any weakness, Azula opened her eyes, turned, and stared her down. "What choice do I have?! Trust is for fools; fear is the only reliable way."

Her mother's eyes filled with concern. She knew that look, the look she had given her any time she had done something that her mother qualified as "inadequate," something "cruel," something "heartless," uncommon of a child but common of a beast, a monster, a look that held fear inside.

The princess raised her head. "Even you fear me…"

Mother held her hands over her heart. "No, I love you Azula, I do…" Calm, soothing. She had hoarded that tone for Zuko.

Her mother's reply hit her like lightning. Azula had repressed the pain far too long. She couldn't take it anymore. It was the final drop that burst the dam. She felt the tears ready to flow, a burning pain seething from the center of her heart, her throat feeling as dry as the Si Wong desert. She closed her eyes, letting the tears run wildly. The throng of emotions cascading had no end.

Her hand tightened around the hairbrush, on the verge of snapping it. Instead, she chucked it at her mother's face. The mirror shattered onto the floor. No one should see her like this.

The princess fell limply to her knees, weeping, covering her face and burying it in the carpet.

She could hear Mother coming closer. A hand rested on her shoulder. Azula slowly raised her head, her face wet with tears and makeup running rings around her eyes, betraying her exhaustion.

Her mother knelt, gently caressing her cheek and wiping away her tears. Just like Zuko. "It's okay, Azula. I'll always be here for you. Always."

Azula inhaled sharply, about to succumb to more tears, but a hiss escaped her lips. "Liar…" She stopped, feeling a thought lurking in the back of her mind that turned into a roaring voice, the voice of her father, as clear as day.

Her mother vanished, her place taken by the newly crowned Phoenix King. "You're pathetic."

Azula jumped back almost instinctively, falling to the floor with fearful eyes.

He capitalized, pouncing on her. She could feel the scorching heat of flames around her, but they were phantoms. "You and your brother are the same: as weak and useless as your treacherous mother!" He throttled her, pressing her head towards the mirror, its sharp remnants inches away.

She gasped for air as she saw a version of herself standing tall next to him, fully dressed in royal armor and smirking at her with malicious intent. Everything was screaming at her to get out.

"Please, Father…" He let go, and she wilted to the floor. The princess bowed as low as she could, her head nearly touching her father's feet. She breathed ragged breaths, "I won't fail you; I won't be weak."

His heavy steps thudded away. His message was sent and received.

Lighter steps skipped around the room. Azula raised her gaze an inch from the ground. She could hear giggles that had tormented an inferior brother. A smile under bronze eyes that was a wicked amalgam of joy and cruelty. "Dad's going to kill you!" The taunt echoed amidst more giggling, fading.

Azula remained still. For minutes or maybe hours. She couldn't tell, frozen in fear, her mind broken. She was hopelessly pressing for answers, but she could still feel them, her father and younger self staring with contempt.

She rose up slowly, avoiding any eye contact with her head down. She made her way to her room, silently moving through the empty corridors of the palace, trying to avoid any of the remaining servants that had been spared from banishment. They could not, under any circumstances, see her in that deplorable state.

She didn't understand what she had seen. Maybe it had all just been a nightmare or a trick of her enemies… Perhaps her mind was trying to warn her of something.

The trip to her room felt like an eternity. At least she wasn't hearing any voices, but she knew they were still there. They were watching her somewhere, judging her, maybe plotting against her. The thought of it made her shiver.

It was not the time to make mistakes; her father would not put up with any more failures. She had no choice but to fight the voices. They couldn't be real; they were another test for her to conquer.

She took a deep breath, steadied her hand, and opened the door to her room.

Finally, she arrived. Everything was set out for her. On a stand hung her royal armor. The cape was made of the finest fabrics the world had to offer; and the breastplate had golden seams forming the emblem of the Fire Nation, fit for the new Fire Lord.

Azula wasted no more time dressing herself. She hazily remembered her hair and made an extra effort not to catch the loose hairs in the armor as she tied it. She gave a loud grunt in protest, regretting banishing the maids. Just for a moment…

As Azula struggled with her hair, there was a knock at the door. She hastily straightened her clothes, annoyed. "What do you want? Is everything I ordered ready?"

The door cracked open slightly to reveal a young soldier. "Your Highness, I'm sorry to disturb you. The Sages sent word that everything is ready. They are awaiting you at the temple."

"Good. Tell them I'll be there momentarily."

The soldier hastily babbled, "Yes, Fire Lord–er princess–your guard is ready to escort you…"

Azula held up her hand. "That won't be necessary; you will only hinder me. Besides, it'll be a short ceremony. Make sure to gather the courtiers in the Throne Room. We have important matters to attend to once this crowning business is settled."

The soldier bowed slightly and closed the door behind him. That was one of the soldiers that had taken the place of the Royal Firebenders. It would soon be customary to enroll only the best soldiers for the palace guards; but given that there wasn't much time to get a new replacement, common soldiers would have to do. Improper as they were, they had no reason to betray her.

Azula rushed to finish and was soon ready. She cleared her head as well as she could, deciding it would be best to leave her mind blank at the moment, something she usually did when training to focus entirely on her firebending.

Step by step, with only one purpose in mind, she strolled to the traditional coronation temple. The streets were as empty as the palace, and only her steady steps could be heard walking the cobblestones. That and the raging fire of the braziers that lit the streets.

When she arrived, she could hear the Sages whispering. Their mumbling ceased as they heard her hurried steps approaching through the courtyard. Seven men stood at the bottom of the stairway leading to the temple. Their looks of surprise at the princess's sudden appearance were quickly disguised by their bows.

The eldest of them all, a white-bearded man, stood out. The High Sage's tunic was trimmed with gold, and a diamond-shaped ruby was on his hat, signifying his status. "Your Highness, we expected your arrival, although I must say, on behalf of all the sages, we thought you would come with your entourage and some members of the court. If it's Your Majesty's wish, we can wait until–"

"There won't be any more delays. Begin the ceremony now."

It was not the time for lengthy ceremonies and pretty speeches. It was the time for action, and she knew what was on the line if she didn't prove she could succeed. She had to show results. Her mind, even as tormented as it was of late, urged her to go forward and get the whole ordeal over with. She followed the eldest Sage, flanked by the other Sages.

As they climbed the steps, Azula felt a sharp sting on her head. Her mind was torn again by whispers, but she pushed forward still.

Once they reached the top, the elder sage procured a small golden box adorned with an emblem of the Fire Nation made out of glistening rubies from one of his acolytes. The man carefully opened the box and held up the pronged crown. He nodded to the others, and they took their places at his side and looked at her.

"Bow, Crown Princess Azula of the Fire Nation, great-granddaughter of Fire Lord Sozin, granddaughter of Fire Lord Azulon, daughter of Lady Ursa and Phoenix King Ozai, hero of the nation, conqueror of Ba Sing Se..."

Azula, albeit flattered by her new nickname, was irritated by the slow pace of the ceremony. If this were to proceed as custom, it would take hours. "Skip to the last part. I don't want to be here the whole day!"

The old man jumped at the sudden interruption, almost dropping the crown in the process. Visibly disturbed by the princess's break of tradition, he cowered and complied. Azula knew her reputation was well known in the Fire Nation, even more so in the capital.

The man cleared his throat and raised the flame-shaped crown as high as his arms would let him. "By decree of Phoenix King Ozai, I now crown you Fire Lord..."

Azula closed her eyes as she awaited the crown to be placed on her head, but the man had suddenly stopped. What is it now? She turned around and furrowed her brow at the old man. "What are you waiting for? Do it!"

She heard the grumble of what sounded like a beast nearby. She turned around, seeing the avatar's bison landing and shaking the ground. On its saddle, she could make out two figures from a distance. It was Zuko and the water peasant.

Her treacherous brother stood on top of the bison's head, defiantly glaring. "Sorry, you're not going to become Fire Lord today." He jumped off the animal's head, deftly landing on the stones of the plaza. "I am."

Azula couldn't help but laugh at her brother's theatrics. Her tired eyes, hideous makeup, and unevenly trimmed hair made her appear a lunatic.

"You're hilarious."

The Fire Sages behind her just looked at each other in fear.

The water peasant followed, standing beside her usurper of a brother. Even she dared to look at her with the same defiant stare as her brother. "And you are going down!"

The high sage tried to continue the ceremony, but she held up her hand.

"Wait, you want to be Fire Lord? Fine, let's settle this. Just you and me, brother! The showdown that was always meant to be: Agni Kai!" Azula smirked. She could already taste victory. Zuko was not a match for her, even less so with Sozin's comet enhancing her bending.

She would deal with them one by one: Zuko first, the peasant later. She knew her brother would not resist an honorable duel.

He seemed visibly enraged by Azula's suggestion but set his jaw. "You're on."

The peasant was surprised by Zuko's answer, but Azula knew him better than anyone. She was whispering something to him. Clearly, she opposed the idea, but Azula knew Zuko's stubbornness. The peasant wouldn't change his mind; she had always played with her brother, and he always fell for it. Azula smiled madly at him.

They finished speaking, and the peasant agreed to back down. She walked out of the arena, leading the bison away.

Azula also gestured to the Fire Sages to leave, eyeing the high sage. "Keep the crown ready for me; this won't take long." The sage bowed and put back the crown in its ornate box, scurrying away without meeting her gaze.

The princess turned around and ambled down the steps. She felt that pain again. She pressed a hand to her forehead.

The whispering was there again, but it was clearly her mother now. Her sad face came to her mind, looking at her with tired watery eyes. "You are not meant to fight your brother. Azula, stop this, I beg you!"

Azula clenched her fists tightly, enraged. Even now, her mother defended poor little Zuzu when he dared to stand against all they had fought for.

He had betrayed his nation; he had betrayed her; and now he even had the gall to demand her crown. She glared. And he glared back less intensely, unflinching.

Coming down the long set of stairs, Azula stepped into the plaza-turned-arena. The firebending masters took their places opposite to each other and knelt. Only the rustle of the wind and the burning fire could be heard throughout the complex. The world held its breath, motionless.

The burned prince stood up, Azula shortly followed. With one hand, she removed her cape as she faced Zuko. "I'm sorry this has to end this way, brother." The princess grinned, glaring menacingly at him, and dropped her cape.

Zuko readied himself into a stance Azula had never seen before: his right hand forward, palm open, his face grim and determined. "No, you're not."

Azula could hear Ozai whispering venomously in her ear, "Finish this sorry excuse of a son!"

She would promptly comply. She grinned madly and readied herself into her stance, both of her hands out. She shared one last glance with Zuko as she spun around, changing her stance at the last second, striking first with her palm open, letting out a fully powered torrent of blue flames.

Zuko countered, thrusting forward an inferno of his own.

Blue and orange flames met in the middle of the plaza, crashing against each other with brutal force, each trying to wrestle control over the other as they climbed into the sky. Yet they could not overcome each other, rising higher and higher.

Azula took advantage of the tower of flames, jumping forward and landing with an axe kick that sent a jet of blue fire Zuko's way, followed by another and a continuous barrage of azure hell. Some of the flames were launched so fiercely that they missed their target, landing on the rooftops of the adjacent buildings, and setting them ablaze.

Much to Azula's annoyance, Zuko stood his ground, deflecting and countering her blasts.

As soon as their flames encountered each other, the missiles exploded. Their force combined themselves in an inferno and twirled around each other, losing their intensity on the spot.

Azula jumped backwards and prepared to strike again. Denying her opponent the chance to counterattack, she concentrated fire on her fist to let out a steady torrent of flames.

Zuko responded in kind, and the flames met again in the middle.

Refusing to give up even an inch of ground, she moved forward with all of her strength to break the stalemate. Her blue fire broke through, pouring onto the opposing side, but it left a gap behind, which was quickly filled by her brother's ordinary orange fire.

Azula's fire had only managed to push Zuko back slightly as he shot another barrage, only stopping as soon as he felt the force dwindling, and the remainder of his flames spun forward, burning the side of the temple behind Azula.

The princess realized only after finishing her attack that his fire had broken through. She looked back at the burning temple and then directed her gaze back at her brother. Enraged even further, she rocketed into the air; and with a spinning kick, she sent a lash of fire towards him. The stone cracked with the heat of the flames. It was as if the sun spirit himself had entered the battle.

The prince thrust his arms to the sides to send a wave of fire that split Azula's, parting them like a sea.

Azula lay kneeling and panting, sweat running across her face. She stared in disbelief. How did he stop that?! Her anger made her forget the pain that was already burning through her spent body. She gritted her teeth and prepared to attack again, but Zuko would not waste his chance.

He punched the ground, fire blooming, bouncing, and swirling forward. She dodged to the side, the flames missing by a hair, though some were singed.

Azula wasted no time to counterattack, as she used her flames to propel herself around Zuko's fire, sending herself at full speed towards him. She hovered in the air as she punched twice, directing two fireballs towards Zuko.

He did likewise, matching her with a roundhouse kick. Hands together, he slashed down a whip of flames to parry another fireball.

Azula maneuvered around his strike and circled him like prey, launching one strike after another as Zuko continued his defense.

Confident, he pressed his attack. His strikes missed; she was flying too fast. Unable to find his target, Zuko swept the floor with a kick, creating a circle of fire too large for Azula to dodge.

She widened her eyes as the fire blasted against her, and she lost her balance. Unable to control her flames, she crashed with her back to the ground. Her speed made her tumble and roll on the hard, stone plaza. The fall pounded the air out of her lungs.

She could feel her father's glare. "Get up now and crush him! You don't get to fail me now!"

Azula stood up, her hair disheveled. Her topknot had come undone, giving her a crazed appearance. Her bloodshot eyes screamed for vengeance as she snarled at Zuko.

"No lightning today? What's the matter? Afraid I'll redirect it?" He held his stance, confident and snarky. Zuko challenging her?! He was out of line.

Azula responded raggedly, "Oh, I'll show you lightning!" She threw her hands back and slashed the ground, bolts of lightning forming across the tip of her fingers. She saw as her brother exhaled, his technique... She had seen it before. Iroh. She couldn't believe it when her father had told her. He had learnt His Tea-loving Kookiness' little trick, no matter.

Thunder echoed as Azula moved two fingers in a wide circular motion to channel the energy to a single point. She wasn't stupid enough to make the same mistake twice and had picked another target–the water peasant off to the side. She would never see it coming. Azula looked back at her brother and smirked, aiming the cold fire at the unsuspecting girl.

Time seemed to stop as he jumped before the lightning, reaching out to redirect it. It coursed through his arms as he fired it into the sky. Yet his bravery had a price. He fell convulsing to the ground. Apparently, he was unable to deflect it entirely. She'd deal with the traitor later.

"Zuko!" The peasant girl rushed toward him.

Taking advantage of the situation, Azula struck. Her first punch was errant, but she would not relent. She threw another lightning bolt, and the peasant jumped, pursued by hailing fire.

---

Katara stood up to face Azula. This time she would be ready. She watched as the princess propelled herself to the rooftops.

"I'd rather our family physician look after little Zuzu, if you don't mind!" Azula swept her arms around, preparing more lightning.

Katara retreated, ready. She swiftly used the water from the canals surrounding the plaza to absorb the impact of the lightning that immediately vaporized the water. The steam had not even cleared when Azula struck again with her signature blue fire.

Katara ran to the pillars around the arena for cover, escaping Azula's wrath. After the fire dissipated, she peered out, seeing Zuko lying motionless in the middle of the flaming plaza. He was dying.

"Zuzu, you don't look so good!"

Katara made a run for it as lightning flashed and exploded at the pillar behind her. Canals. Water! She bent water from the stream and slammed it against the rooftops where Azula had been standing. But Azula was no longer there. The sound of fire made her turn around, and to her dismay, Azula had snuck up on her.

She had to escape fast; so she slid away on ice, bending walls of ice as she went, only for them to melt in an instant.

---

Azula attempted to stop the fleeing girl, rolling and sending a triple flame with both of her hands and feet, cutting the ice slide. She had backed her enemy into a corner, and she followed.

"There you are, you filthy peasant!"

The girl was startled as she walked towards her. A chain rattled in the waterbender's hand. The blue-eyed girl stood her ground, meeting Azula's gaze with equal disdain. The waterbender moved first, sending four whips of water towards Azula.

The princess dodged, somersaulting forward, intending to finish her off, and aimed for her head.

The girl backed up with a jump. Raising her arms upward, she summoned the water below and froze them both in it.

Azula's confidence vanished. She could only watch as her opponent unfroze herself easily and chained her to the grate.

The waterbender released the water and rushed to Zuko, bending luminous water over his wound.

Azula struggled against the chains, but she was beaten.

As her brother rose with the waterbender's help, he now bore a fresh scar on his chest.

Someone walked over to them. A woman. Mother?! At Zuko's side. How predictable…

Mother looked at her sadly. "You don't have to fight anymore, Azula. We love you…"

Azula felt a lump in her throat. The air had been sucked out of her lungs. She was hyperventilating. Her whole body felt numb, but she could do nothing to repress her anger and sorrow. With each exhale, her breath grew hotter and hotter until she started breathing fire uncontrollably. She twisted and turned to no avail until her flames threw her on her back. Then she could do nothing but cry like a pathetic wretch. She had lost; she had failed her nation and her father; but most of all, she had failed herself.

Her father was silent now; he had abandoned her.

Through her tears and hair, she could still see and faintly hear her mother humming a lullaby like she used to when they were little.

Azula raised her eyes to see Zuko standing there, still covering his wounds right next to the peasant. They didn't look at her with anger or hate; they looked at her with pity in their eyes.

Had she sunk so low? Was her appearance so dismal that they would even consider pitying her?

But she no longer cared what they thought. She could only hear that incessant humming swell until she saw her mother kneeling beside her. Those sad golden eyes were watching over her, and she knew no more, only darkness.

 

[Fran Gark]

Edited by: Bieverdog AO3: GalavantingGoose, Due_Cardiologist_292, and ultimatebookworm08

Book I
失衡​

Act I: Ashes

---

Chapter III​

The brightness of Sozin's comet still bloodied the sky. As the colors washed over the Capital, the citizens gathered outside to witness a spectacle of fire and light illuminating the city in bright orange and blue. Little did they know, they were watching a fearsome duel for the throne.

Some in the growing audience even cheered. Many assumed they were witnessing the celebration of the Princess' coronation until a lightning bolt thundered.

Silent tension reigned for a moment. Fires spread.

The Home Guard roused itself, trying to stop the panicked crowds and attempting to put out the fires.

---

Zuko and Katara exchanged uneasy glances. What were they going to do with Azula now? She was still, her breathing normal, but she lay on the ground, staring blankly.

"Do you think this is another one of her tricks?" Katara eyed Zuko with a serious expression, her blue eyes betraying a hint of worry.

"I don't think so. She looks so…" He trailed off, his eyes remaining on his sister.

"...Bad?"

Zuko shook his head and, with watchful eyes on Azula, he whispered to Katara, "It's just that… I've never seen her like this before. I don't know what's happening to her, but I'll find out. For now, we need to put out the fires before they spread further. At least until we get some news from the others."

She interlaced her fingers, looking expectantly to the crimson horizon.

"I hope they're okay."

A group of soldiers approached, accompanying the high sage. The old man seemed out of breath. He motioned the soldiers to stand down and stood forward. "Prince Zuko, We come to pledge our loyalty to you. We await your command." The sage bowed, and some of the soldiers followed.

Others darted their eyes around, unsure. One pointed. "They captured the Princess!"

"Traitors!" some voices shouted in the back.

The rebels rushed for the princess. Zuko blocked them with a wall of fire, groaning in pain as he moved to create the flames, but he was unable to close the gap entirely. Others began to fight with the ones who had bowed.

Katara joined the fight, trying to separate the soldiers from each other with water tentacles while Zuko fended off two lunging spears.

After knocking the other to the ground with a blast of fire, he managed to disarm one of the soldiers.

The fire sage covered his head and pleaded for the soldiers to stop, to no avail.

The prince bent two flaming whips, trapping them in flames. "Enough! My sister challenged me to an Agni Kai and broke the rules; I've earned the throne honorably! The world has suffered enough under my father's rule. Today, the Avatar will end Ozai's reign of terror. Tomorrow, our nation and the world will be at peace. Together, we can restore the honor of our nation. There has been enough bloodshed already."

The soldiers' anger dissipated. Some looked ashamed, and others grunted reluctantly, but they all lowered their weapons.

The prince sobered his tone. "There is still much left to be done today. I need to speak with your commander."

"The princess jailed him earlier today, Your Majesty; those earthbenders took him."

What? What was she thinking? He cleared his throat. "Then I order him released. Now put out the fires before they grow out of control! Alert the Fire Watch if they aren't already responding. Katara, would you please go with them? There might be wounded. I'll find you once I talk to the captain."

"Got it." More softly, "Be careful, Zuko."

"...My prince, what should we do with your sister?" The old man had a troubled look on his face as he gestured towards Azula, whose expression was still blank.

"For now, just take her to her room, but keep her guarded and restrained. Make sure the royal physician tends to her."

As Katara prepared to leave, she stopped and turned around, grabbing him by the shoulders. "Zuko, I know she's your sister; but she's too dangerous to be left like this. She almost killed you, killed Aang… I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if she hurt any of my friends again…"

"She's not right, Katara. It wouldn't be right if we left her in a prison cell. Just look at her; she's not even reacting to us! I just want to know what's wrong with her before deciding anything." He lowered his gaze, considering.

Katara's eyes widened. "Everything is wrong with her! She's crazy! You can't expect her to be civil and forget about all of this. Those soldiers won't be able to contain her."

"I know... I can't expect her to be civil about this; but that doesn't change the fact she's my sister… But I won't hesitate if she tries to harm any of you again. She won't escape, trust me."

Katara sighed and touched her necklace, then nodded and walked away.

Zuko went on his way, escorted by four soldiers.

The fire sage remained with two others to carry the princess back to the palace. As they stretchered her away, she was fixated on thin air.

---

Azula woke up to a burning fever, jumping out of her bed, panting, and covered in sweat. A guard entered the room. "Is everything alright, Princess?"

"Yes, it was nothing."

She had quite a nightmare. Of a scarred young man and a blue-eyed girl. They seemed blurry in her memory, but they felt so real to her. Heart racing, she took a deep breath to relax, sighing in relief. Just a nightmare.

The sun was already shining, so the princess jumped out of bed to dress; she didn't want to miss her training. She snatched loose yet elaborate red robes with pink and gold accents.

She had much to do for the day, even on holiday. She was still the princess of the Fire Nation, having almost as many obligations as her brother. She was a bit annoyed that her family had decided to stay in the Capital this year instead of going to Ember Island, but she wasn't one to question Father's judgment.

Azula hurried to her brother's bedroom to find him. His guards were still at the door. A firebender who can't rise with the sun. She couldn't help but roll her eyes. The young princess snuck inside, tiptoeing to the bed and shoving her brother to wake him up. "Zuko, get up! We'll be late for training!" Zuko groaned and pulled the covers over his head. Next to his nightstand was a washbasin. You asked for it. Grabbing the pitcher, she dumped it on him.

"W-what?! Hey, stop it!" Zuko threw the covers away and wiped the water from his face, scowling.

Azula hugged her stomach, laughing uncontrollably, then smiled. "Good morning, Zuzu. I thought I'd stop in to remind you we have training today." She smiled innocently, holding both of her hands behind her back.

"I know we have training! I was just about to wake up."

"Yeah, right. You should be thankful. Dad is going to be there today, and you know how punctual he is."

Zuko hugged his knees, peeking over with a glum expression. "I know. I just don't know what he expects. None of us know any firebending forms yet. I mean, we can't even firebend... He'll just be disappointed."

"You mean you can't firebend." Flashing a smile, Azula made a small flame dance in her palm that grew and shrunk with her breath.

Zuko hopped out of bed to gaze in wonder. "Whoa… Azula, that's awesome! How did you do that?"

"I know, right? Yesterday, I was playing outside, and I saw some soldiers heating their tea. I just copied their technique; but instead of just heat, flames came out. I've been meaning to tell Father our teacher is a dummy. He just doesn't teach us properly. It's so simple; I'm sure we could've mastered firebending years ago if our teacher didn't drone on and on and on about philosophy all the time." Azula crossed her arms.

He shrugged. "Well, I'm sure he has a reason for that… Master Zhe isn't a bad man."

She gestured with her arms still crossed. "I didn't say he's a bad man; I said he is a lousy teacher! And a lousy teacher doesn't deserve to have royalty as his students."

"Maybe you're right…" He eyed her near-pleadingly. "Can you be my sifu today then?"

Azula held up her chin. "Sifu Azula… Hmm. It does have a ring to it… But no, I won't." She inspected her nails.

His head dropped. "Oh… Ok."

Azula snickered and wiped a tear from her eye. "I was joking. You always fall for it. Of course, I'll teach you, Zuko; It's easy. But first, let's eat. It's already quite late, and we need to practice some time before Master Zhe arrives. That is, if you want to be ready to firebend today."

Zuko's face regained its color, and his expression brightened. "Really? Thank you, Azula!" He patted her head, and she cringed. "You're the best little sister!"

"Alright, alright! You can thank me later. Now, can we please go?"

Zuko nodded, and they scurried to the dining hall.

---

Carved on the side of the caldera, on the outskirts of the Capital, stood the prison, not only protected by its remote location but also by an outer wall that guarded the prison jealously. It was for political dissidents. So, he could at least be sure he could count on Sung's help. Zuko had been there before. He didn't have good memories from his visits there, but he was glad that he had at least reconciled with Uncle.

His thoughts wandered back to the task at hand. As they neared the narrow path to the main gate, Zuko noticed guards posted atop the outer walls. He didn't really have a plan, but he wanted to avoid any confrontation. He motioned to his escort to halt.

"Who goes there?"

Zuko cleared his throat. "We've come here for Captain Sung…"

"Identify yourself!"

"We mean no harm. I'm Zuko. I–"

"It's the traitor! I need backup now!" So much for the peaceful approach. Guards thronged to the wall and blocked the main gate, arms ready to face the incoming threat.

"My sister won't become Fire Lord! Lay down your weapons now! Ozai's reign ends today!

His soldiers formed around him and stood their ground.

"What is the meaning of this?!" One guard walked out, the others parting before her. She stepped in front of the troops at the main door.

"Warden Ming. Ma'am, these traitors are here for Sung."

She fixed her gaze on Zuko, speaking in a civil but commanding tone. "You are not welcome in the Fire Nation anymore, Prince Zuko. Leave before I arrest you."

"I challenged Crown Princess Azula for the throne and won. That's 'Fire Lord Zuko'."

"We are here on the orders of Princess Azula. This man has committed high treason–" The warden's resolve wavered; it was clear to Zuko that his sister did what she always had done, for they feared her.

"High treason?" He scoffed.

"You're standing here guarding a single man whilst the city is burning and in disarray! It's your families and friends down there. They need all the help they can get! Don't fear my sister; she no longer commands the city. Don't– don't be like me…" Zuko paused for a moment and glanced sideways, his gaze melancholic. "Don't wait too long to act. It's never too late to do the right thing."

Some left their posts at his words and hurried to the city. Ming trotted over to him, holding out a key ring. "I hope you know what you are doing, Prince Zuko. Here are the keys to Sung's cell. Those earthbenders beat him up. When they brought him here, he– He said that… Well, it's best if you see for yourself."

"Thank you. We will head back to help you as soon as possible." The warden nodded and gestured to the guards. "Let them pass! Follow me to the city!"

Most of them followed, not entirely without question, but the safety of their loved ones far outweighed their duties.

The prince entered the prison. It was cold inside, and there were scant windows. Its narrow rocky corridors carried a chilling breeze. Zuko led on with a flame in hand. Wails echoed from ahead, becoming louder as they marched ahead.

Inside the last cell, a man lay curled up, tears running down his face to mix with the grime.

"I'm here to free you, Captain."

At Zuko's words, the man stood up. He frantically hugged the bars, tears still pouring from his eyes. His right eye was blackened, and he had several cuts on his arms. "My family. Please, what do you know of my family?"

"I'm sorry. I don't know anything, but my sister is not in control now."

"I need to find them… Those earthbenders… they said they would… The colonies..." He choked on his own words, trying to hold back the tears.

"We can look for them; but first, I need your help. The city needs your help; It's chaos out there. Most of the soldiers trust you, the Imperial Firebenders…"

The man seemed to have regained his confidence, clearing his throat. "She banished them all... They will all suffer because of me; I couldn't do anything, but I can now."

"They might still be in the city; there's no time to lose."

---

The aromas of the royal kitchen flooded the hallways, drawing Zuko and Azula closer. Breakfast was waiting for them. Their mother was already at table having a conversation with one of her aides. She stopped as she saw them approaching, smiled, and waved. "Good morning, my little turtleducks! Did you sleep well?"

"Good morning, Mom!" Zuko ran to hug Mother.

Azula looked around worriedly. "Is Father not here yet?"

"Your father had an important meeting to attend; but I'm sure he won't miss your training today." She smiled, but her eyes always betrayed her.

"Again? Just please tell him to be there. He won't be disappointed this time."

"He is not disappointed in you; he just has a lot of work to worry about. He always tells me how proud he is of you both." She sounded so convinced, but Azula could not stop doubting. She only hoped that her hard work would finally bear fruit and make her parents proud.

"You really think so?" Zuko smiled hopefully, encouraged by his mother's words. Azula rolled her eyes; Zuzu could be quite gullible.

"Of course I do. Now finish your breakfast if you want to train well."

To that they could all agree. The children enthusiastically ate their breakfast, racing to see who would finish it first. Azula almost choked on her food, but her effort proved worthwhile.

"Have fun!" Their mother smiled.

"It requires concentration, not fun." Azula crossed her arms, serious.

Zuko smiled. "Will do." He waved. "See you later, Mom."

"Come on, Zuko." Azula tugged her brother's arm and started running. "Race you there!"

The competition was fierce. They ran through the Royal Gallery, almost bumping into the servants cleaning. They could see the light coming through the end of the hallway. Almost there.

A pair of scribes came through the door, laden with documents. Azula's eyes bulged. "Look out!"

The men jumped, flinging the papers into the air. She slipped between them, Zuko following behind and almost bumping into one of them. "Sorry!" Zuko shot a guilty smile.

They collapsed in the middle of the courtyard near a fountain. Catching her breath, Azula held her hips. "I won again! You make this too easy, Zuzu."

He frowned, crossing his arms. "I'm just letting you win."

"Sure you are. Well, what do you say we get to work before Master Zhe gets here?"

"Right! Show me how you do it."

They hid behind some bushes, and she peeked out to ensure Zhe had not arrived yet before starting her lesson.

"Okay, listen up! First, you have to relax. Hold out your hand; now breathe in and out slowly. You need to feel the flame inside of you; close your eyes if it helps."

"I'm not feeling anything."

"Just focus on your breathing and imagine the fire expanding and contracting as you breathe. When you feel that energy, will it to your hand."

Zuko squeezed his eyes harder and took deep breaths. A small flame bloomed in his palm. Although weak, it still danced with the wind. It was much better than his previous attempts. "I did it! Azula, I did it! Look!" He smiled excitedly.

"Great, you might have some talent after all. Now try controlling it with your breath." Zuko began to breathe– "Zuko, stop! He's coming." Zuko held his breath, extinguishing the flame instantly. They stepped out, grinning sheepishly.

"Sifu Zhe, good morning."

Zhe sported a long white beard braided with golden jewelry. Azula always wondered how he could even carry that weight. He kept squinting as he faced them. "Ah, there you are. Good morning, students. Today, we will continue our lesson on the principles of the nature of fire. I'm sure you must be excited to start practicing katas, but it is imperative that you first master–" Zhe turned to bow deeply. "Prince Ozai, It is an honor to have you here."

The prince gave a fleeting, polite smile. "Master Zhe, I am eager to see the fruits of your teachings. We will begin with a firebending demonstration." Their father gestured and stood expectantly.

The master held up his finger. "Actually, my prince, my students are learning the roots of firebending, its history, and its purpose. You see, through this knowledge they will possess the tools to master the self-control, discipline, and restraint necessary to proper firebending."

"Then your training has been useless and a waste of their time and mine." His eyes narrowed, and his lips tightened in anger and disgust. He spun around to leave.

Azula ran to him. "Wait, Father! We can firebend!" Father raised an eyebrow.

The teacher's eyes bulged, he muttered incomprehensibly. "What? How?" Then alarmed, he tried to stop her. "No, don't; you are not ready yet!"

Their father raised his hand at him. "Silence! Show me…"

The teacher bowed his head and stood next to his students defeated. Azula bent a small flame on her palm. But Father was unimpressed; he planned to move on. She had to improvise fast. She had seen the soldiers train; if they could do it, she could do it as well.

Before Father could leave, she stood her ground and brought her fists near her waist. Focusing on her breathing, she punched, exhaling, and sprouted flames from the tip of her knuckles. The flames came out controlled, compressing into a powerful hot burst. She struck again, and the flames grew hotter. She mustered all of her strength; and this time, the flames turned blue for a moment.

Had she messed up? She feared she had gone too far; now Father would be disappointed again. She bowed, a cold line of sweat falling from her brow.

A clap broke the silence, and she slowly raised her gaze. It was Father. Her teacher stood there with his mouth wide open. Zuko's face was a mix of awe and happiness.

"Outstanding, Daughter. You may continue your lesson, Master Zhe. Azula, walk with me."

Zhe took a moment to get his bearings, but he straightened his beard and nodded.

Zuko tried to show his father, as well. He reached for his father's hand, but Ozai pulled away.

"Another day, Son; continue your training. It will do you well to follow your sister's example."

Zuko's face fell, his eyes tearing for a moment; but he held them back. He lowered his head. "Yes, Father."

Azula looked at Zuko–

But Father looked at her impatiently. "Well? Let's go." Azula nodded and walked beside Father, only looking back once.

---

Zuko's eyes focused on the gates of the palace. He could still hear the ghosts of deafening cheers from a crowd of admirers. The recognition and love he had never received from his people before had made him blind to his mistakes. It embarrassed him to think it took him so long to realize the error of his ways–

A hand touches his shoulder. "Is everything okay, Zuko?" Katara looked at him with concern.

"Yeah… let's go."

"You don't have to worry; the fires are out. Fortunately, there weren't many wounded… Now we just need to get news from the others."

"I know. Come; I'll show you the palace while we're at it." Katara smiled and helped Zuko open the main door. The heavy red door depicting The Flame parted slowly. As they entered, they noticed weapons and scorch marks on the ground; it could be an ambush. Zuko took a defensive stance, and Katara reached for her water pouch– There was no one around.

They crept towards the palace. There were signs of a skirmish all over; but there was no one to be found.

They reached the gate of the palace. Shouting could be heard within. Zuko and Katara looked at each other and opened the door, ready to fight. Inside, they saw a group of men kneeling on the ground with their hands tied, one of them a brown-haired military officer. Zuko recognized him: it was General Shinu. A younger officer stood nearby, looking down on the general. The captives were surrounded by soldiers on guard. Some murmured at their arrival.

"You traitor! The Phoenix King will be back soon; you'll regret this, Mak!"

Zuko stepped closer, still keeping his guard up. "We'll see about that…"

The young officer turned to Zuko and straightened. "Colonel Mak at your service." The man bowed to Zuko, and his soldiers followed.

"What happened here, Colonel?" Zuko had lowered his guard, but Katara was still suspicious.

"General Shinu here tried to take the palace. The ministers got word of your arrival, and they ordered that the palace be held off until the Phoenix King arrived. When your sister got here, they closed off the palace. We did what we could to help, Sir. I'm glad to report there was no bloodshed."

Zuko's pulse calmed, and he breathed a sigh of relief. He thought of his sister; he hoped she wasn't playing a trick on them.

"And what of my sister?"

"She was brought to her room. A healer is monitoring her. We are still looking for the royal physician, sir."

"I'll go see her, then."

"Also, a falcon arrived not long ago with a message for you. The General did not read the contents of it; we made sure of that. I think you'll like the news."

Katara's face lit up. "It could be Aang! We have to see it, Zuko!"

Zuko smiled shyly. "Yes…You go ahead; I want to check on Azula first."

Katara's lips tightened as she touched her necklace and dipped her gaze. She looked up at him, and he nodded. "Ok. Whatever you do, be careful." Then, she went with Mak to read the message.

Could the war be over? He was almost certain of it, but at what cost? Regardless, he felt lighter. As he walked the halls of the palace, so many memories invaded him, some good, others bad; but all of those experiences had led him to this moment.

Two soldiers stood guard outside Azula's room. They bowed as he marched to the door. Reaching for the handle, he hesitated; he knew he would have to decide what to do with her. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, opening the door.

---

Azula was so happy. Father barely even had any time for them. If he had asked her to come with him, it must have been because she was special. She thought briefly about Zuko, but she believed she could always teach him later. Then their father would be impressed with him too.

She was so caught up in her mind that she hadn't been paying attention to where they were going. She realized where they were when Father touched her shoulder to stop her: the Royal Gallery.

He turned around to face a giant portrait of a past Fire Lord. "Tell me, what do you see, Azula?"

On the portrait, a flaming comet stretched along the canvas. Below it stood a stoic, gray-bearded Fire Lord. He held a piece of parchment in his left hand and flames in his right. At his feet, five small soldiers guarded him. She knew it by heart. Every soul in the Fire Nation did.

"That is Fire Lord Sozin, His Majesty's great predecessor. He began the effort to bring prosperity to the world. He founded many colonies, expanded our armies, and thwarted the Air Nomad invasion."

Azula looked up to her father, but he was still expecting something else, though she was sure she was correct. "Yes, but why was he successful?"

It was hard not to know; every book mentioned him and his accomplishments. "He was intelligent and a wise ruler who knew how to take advantage of opportunities. He had a great dream to bring prosperity to the world. His conviction in it gave him the will to make it a reality."

"Yes, but you miss one thing–he was also ruthless in the pursuit of his aims. We are a powerful nation; and the natural order of things dictates the strong rule over the weak. History has always proved this law of nature true. The Air Nomads were a weak and unruly nation that stood in our path to greatness, and they received their due. You wouldn't expect a bison to make demands of a dragon?"

"I suppose not..." Azula said softly. She looked at her father intrigued.

There was a spark in his eyes. "Sometimes, the strong attach themselves to the weak out of 'pity', 'compassion', or 'love', making them vulnerable in turn." She opened her eyes wide, listening intently. "I'll tell you a secret few know: the last avatar was friends with Sozin. Brimming with enthusiasm, he shared his dream with the avatar. In a lapse of weakness, he had trusted him. Soon he came to regret his mistake, nearly dying at the traitor's hands. But Roku decided to spare him out of 'friendship'. Even with all the power in the world, the mightiest bender was still weak. He underestimated Sozin."

"Our ancestor learnt from his mistake. He killed the avatar and managed to expand our great nation. The avatar had been a thorn in our side for countless centuries, commanding the world at whim. Now we rule unopposed because we managed to become stronger. Our bloodlines have only strengthened through the years. But all of these achievements hang on by a thread. All it takes is one moment of weakness to destroy all that our ancestors have accomplished."

He put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm telling you this because you have the potential to be great, my daughter. I saw it in your eyes the day you were born. The path to greatness is long and hard and is reserved for the few willing to do what is necessary. Remember this lesson, Azula: strive for excellence and never let weakness cloud your judgment. Those who do are doomed to succumb to Roku's fate. You have a choice to make, Azula. I know that you will make the right one." Father left without another word.

Standing there, she felt that the room was unnaturally empty, dead. The calm was shattered by the sound of a storm, cold wind rushing from outside extinguishing the candles in the gallery and cloaking it in darkness. The doors were slammed shut. Behind her and across the hall, a single door creaked open, a dim silver light shining through. She creeped towards it, her heart beating faster with each step, and inched it open. A broken mirror shone in the darkness–

The door thundered shut. Frightened, she thrust back on the handle; but it would not budge. She turned to face the mirror. The reflection, it moved… She came closer, nearly tripping on broken glass. The mirror she had broken before, where she had seen the reflection of her mother. Amidst the darkness, it was only her and that cursed mirror.

As she moved closer, she saw that what little that remained of it did not show her reflection. Perplexed, she squinted her eyes and saw herself on a bed, her hands chained to the side. An old man inspected her, taking notes in a book. She heard the sound of a door opening to reveal a scarred young man. Her legs tensed, and her eyes widened in fear as she regained her memories. She tried to step back but stumbled and fell on the broken glass, cutting her hands. She screamed in pain.

"What did you do to me?!" she shouted at the mirror, but it made no difference, as they were unfazed by her words. The old man muttered something that made Zuko's expression turn sour; it was but a whisper to her ears. He looked at her motionless body, then the floor, pondering something, and nodded.

Azula stood up and grabbed the sides of the mirror. "Let me out!" Her desperate cries went unheard. Once more, she heard the opening of a door. It was that water tribe peasant; she carried a piece of paper in her hand. She ran to hug Zuko, and Azula's blood boiled. They had plotted against her all this time. They wanted this! They had trapped her there; they wanted her to suffer, to humiliate her.

With a snarl, she pounced on the mirror, punching it relentlessly until it cracked. She fell to her knees, sobbing. They looked at the living corpse on the bed for a moment. The old man wiped her reflection's face with a cloth, and she felt her forehead dampen. She panicked, for she really was trapped, and there was nothing she could do about it. She saw as Zuko gave her one last conflicted gaze before heading out with a somber expression. The water peasant followed but didn't look back. She lay on her knees, watching helplessly as her body was tossed into a wheelchair. A prick in her neck, then all was darkness.

---

The sun was shining brightly in the morning. The war had finally come to an end– The loud thrum of a gong brought Zuko back to the present. Crowds from across the nations had gathered to witness his coronation along with his friends in the first row. They all cheered for him. The night before, Zuko had fought for his life in that very courtyard. Not even in his wildest dreams would he have imagined all of this would happen. He was friends with the Avatar, who had been his mortal enemy only months before; and they had saved the world together. He knew that he hadn't brought peace to the world alone, for he considered his friend deserving of that praise. Raising his hand, he bade the cheering crowds to stop for a moment.

"Please, the real hero here is the Avatar." Zuko turned around to face his friend, and he motioned to the stage. The Avatar walked towards him and took his place at his side. Aang couldn't help but smile at the sight of his friend.

"Today, this war is finally over!" And the crowds cheered louder. "I promised my uncle that I would restore the honor of the Fire Nation, and I will. The road ahead of us is challenging. A hundred years of war has left the world scarred and divided; but with the Avatar's help, we can get it back to the right path and begin a new era of love and peace."

After a moment, he knelt in front of the High Sage. The sage placed the crown on Zuko's head.

"All hail Fire Lord Zuko!"

The newly crowned Fire Lord Zuko stood up and motioned Aang to stand beside him. They saluted the cheering crowd. As he looked up, he noticed the burnt rooftops in the distance. The shouts and cheers were drowned out in Zuko's mind. At what cost did we achieve peace? His thoughts drifted to his mother and sister.

---

Through her mirror, she could only see walls that were padded and stained. Cold water dripped from a crack in the ceiling. Its occupant wore a straitjacket and was strapped to a wheelchair. But from afar, she looked more like a puppet than a person. Her dead, golden eyes stared blankly at a deteriorating wall.

One wouldn't be faulted for believing her to be dead if it weren't for the tear trickling silently down her cheek.

 

[Fran Gark]

Edited by: Bieverdog AO3: GalavantingGoose

Book I

失衡​

Act II: At What Cost?

---

Chapter I​

Zuko looked at the crowds chanting his name and applauding, but his mind just wasn't there. He might have brought peace to the world, but it had only made the thoughts of his mother resurface–



An elbow to his arm made him snap out of it. Aang was smiling. "So, what's in store for His Fireiness, Sifu Hotman?" But Aang's smile faded when he saw the troubled look on his face. "I was just teasing, Zuko." The Avatar held up his hands in surrender.



He sighed heavily. "It's not that, Aang. Ever since the day of the Black Sun, I haven't stopped thinking…"



"About what?" He raised his eyebrows



"My mother. She could still be alive after all these years…" Zuko's eyes trailed off, focused on a distant memory. His expression softened. "My father told me he banished her. I don't think he told me the whole truth."



"Maybe you could try speaking to him again?"



A soldier caught his attention. "Your Highness, pardon the interruption; your guests await you at the palace. Your coach is ready whenever you want to leave." He nodded to the man, who resumed his post.



Zuko turned to his friend. "You go ahead, Aang. I'll join you guys later at the palace."



"What are you going to do?"



His eyes were filled with determination. "I'm paying my father a visit."



The warm afternoon sunlight danced upon Zuko's path as he was led to his awaiting carriage. It was there that he found two men standing side by side in impeccable uniform. With a respectful synchrony, they bowed, lifting their helmets to expose a pair of earnest faces, both hardened by duty but softened by a tangible sincerity.



The elder of the pair, a ruggedly handsome man in his mid-thirties, had skin etched by years under the sun and dark eyes that spoke volumes of battles faced and won. He stepped forward, breaking the silence with a voice that echoed a deep respect. "Congratulations, Your Majesty. It's an honor." He gave an inviting nod. "I'm Captain Saiko."



His companion, a lean and youthful figure with piercing gray eyes that sparkled with dedication, promptly followed suit, saluting him. "Congratulations, sir. Lieutenant Mako, at your service."



Zuko smiled graciously. "Thank you."



They replied with a respectful nod. Saiko stood tall, a note of pride seeping into his robust voice. "Colonel Mak has assigned us to lead your personal bodyguards. It's a privilege to serve you, sir."



Saiko cradled his helmet under his arm, the sun's rays glinting off the emblem etched into his armor. Opening the carriage door with a smooth, practiced move, Saiko took a step back, allowing Zuko to step inside as Mako ordered the other guards.



Saiko's voice cut through the hum of cheers, a warm smile spreading across his weathered face. "It's a busy day, Your Highness, not a sight we've seen in quite some time."



Zuko raised a curious brow. "Oh? Why is that?"



The guard let out a soft laugh as he took up the carriage reins, his eyes gleaming with subtle mirth. "Fire Lord Ozai, wasn't much for public appearances. To see their Fire Lord out in the open, it's a novelty for the people, a cherished one at that."



Zuko's lips curved into a thoughtful smile, his gaze distant yet gentle. "I'm... glad to hear that… After the ravages of the war, it's a joy we all need."



A note of somber agreement softened Saiko's features. "Yes... I'm grateful it's over. I was stationed in the Earth Kingdom for a time; it feels good to be finally home." He paused, his tone growing soft. "My family, they attended your coronation. I wanted to convey their thanks... We were all deeply honored… to be part of such a moment."



Zuko's expression warmed further at his words. "Thank you, Captain. I… I hope everyone found some measure of happiness in the ceremony."



The corner of Saiko's mouth lifted in a genuine smile. "We certainly did, sir. It's not every day the common folk get such opportunities. From what I've seen and felt so far, I believe you'll be a great Fire Lord, sir."



The praise hung in the air as the Fire Lord processed it. "I'll do my best."



With a smile etched on his face, Zuko sat back, the lightness of his mood slowly receding as he peeked through the window, spotting the Capital City prison in the distance.



The last time he had seen his father, Ozai had tried to kill him. Knowing that Aang had taken his bending didn't ease his nerves, but at least he was no longer afraid of that man.



Outside the prison stood Warden Ming. Bowing, she escorted the new sovereign inside. Before parting ways, she gave him an encouraging nod.



The hallway wasn't empty like his last visit. Guards were posted at every corner of the prison. Zuko couldn't give himself the luxury of being lax now; after all, the "Phoenix King" had ruled yesterday.



At the end was his father's cell. In front of it were a dozen soldiers. Ming was serious when he told her to ramp up security. The guardsmen opened a narrow path for him and opened the reinforced steel door.



His father's shadowed face was hidden behind lank hair. "I should count myself lucky. The new Fire Lord has graced me with his presence in my lowly prison cell."



"You should count yourself lucky that the Avatar spared your life."



"Hmph." He turned his back to him.



"Banishing me was the best thing you could have done for my life. It put me on the right path. Perhaps your time in here could do the same for you."



"Why are you really here?" The disgraced Fire Lord sounded uninterested.



"Because you're going to tell me something." Zuko leaned closer to the bars. "Where is my mother?"



The man smirked mischievously. "You ought to bring me some tea, Zuko. We'll talk while sipping from steaming little cups, much like you did with my traitorous brother. I'll give you advice on how to be a good Fire Lord. Wouldn't that be nice? Perhaps even the subject of your mother will come up."



"I don't need this." He turned around to leave.



"Do you think being Fire Lord is easy?!"



Zuko stopped.



"The throne comes with many pressures, and those pressures will change you! But if you can stand the heat, you'll become something more. Of all the people in the world, I have the wisdom you need: the wisdom of experience! Be honest with yourself, Zuko–do you really believe you can handle it all on your own? You'll be back. And I'll be here waiting for you, Son."



Storming out of the room, Zuko's fury thrummed under his skin. Even with his father confined behind iron bars, he despised that he could irk him– With an impulsive snarl, he punched a wall. Don't play his game; he is just trying to pull you in. This is exactly what he wants. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. It would take time, but he would coax the information out of him. And if that didn't work, he now had the means to search for his mother or at least clues toward what became of her.



But beyond this personal quest, Zuko had the responsibilities of a nation to attend to. Peace had been established, yet maintaining it was the larger, more daunting task. As Fire Lord, it was his duty to ensure that hard-fought tranquility lasted. Stepping outside, he found his entourage standing by, their faces etched with concern.



His guards, Mako and Saiko, approached him, their eyebrows furrowed. "Is everything alright, Your Highness? You seem… strained."



Zuko heaved a sigh, the toll of his meeting evident in his eyes. "Yes, I just need a moment…"



The guards shared a look before Mako respectfully retreated, joining the others at a distance. The Captain, however, remained close by Zuko's side. "Where to next, sir?"



Zuko straightened, tamping down his frustrations and worries. He had duties to fulfill; the personal could wait. "Take me to the palace."

---

A loud thud disturbed Azula's rest. She had fallen asleep with her head against the broken mirror, passing out of exhaustion. She felt nauseating pain that blurred her vision. Trying to focus her sight on the broken pieces, she saw through the shards a group of maids entering the room where she was being held. Her body was barely responsive. It had become her prison. Each day, they fed her and bathed her while she could only watch her humiliation as she was trapped. She didn't want to look anymore; she just couldn't bear it.



Azula took a deep breath, trying to keep her thoughts away, her tired eyes fixated on the darkness ahead. For the past few days, she had been haunted by her mother. It had started as a whisper, then fading memories. But lately, she had begun to appear to her, and it didn't take long for her to make her presence known again, for it was as if she fed off her misery.



"You are doing this to yourself, you know?"



She turned her head to see her sitting beside her and shot up. "Why would you even care?!"



Her mother's voice was soft, hurt, but she knew it was all a ploy. "All I want is to help you, Azula."



She rolled her eyes. "Oh, that's rich coming from you. "That's your thing, right? You are here to try to manipulate me to do your bidding, but I'm not your little Zuzu. Father knew you for what you were: a lying traitor. No wonder your pathetic protégé betrayed our nation; he learnt from the best!"



"I'm here for you. I only want you to be well…"



"Leave me be!" Azula hurled a fireball, and Mother disappeared into thin air.



Azula screamed in frustration, her head pounding like a drum. She pressed her fingers hard against her forehead to try and alleviate the pain, to no avail.

 

[Fran Gark]

Edited by: Bieverdog AO3: GalavantingGoose

Book I
失衡​

Act II: At What Cost?

---

Chapter II​

Before entering the main hall, Zuko could hear the din of the party. It was as if he wasn't necessary at his own party. For a second, he thought about going back to his room to process what his father had told him; but duty called.

He gestured for the guards to open the door, and a servant announced his entrance. "His Majesty, Fire Lord Zuko."

He was met with applause and cheers from the throng of red speckled with green and blue.

Aang rushed over to him. "Zuko, how did it go? I was just showing the guests here some airbending tricks."

Toph punched Zuko's arm. "Cheer up, Sparky! This is your party."

Another guest approached the Fire Lord. She wore a flowing red dress with a gold necklace paired with a curling-dragon bracelet. She threw out her arms, accidentally shoving Toph away, who gruffly puffed out her bangs. "Fire Lord! It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Imperial Secretary Jing at your service!" She bowed profusely.

The Fire Lord stared at her for a moment. "Uh… Likewise."

"I hope there are no hard feelings between us; you know we are all bound to do our duty."

He nodded. "I understand. I know that you did what you did in fear of my father, but I promise things will now change."

"Indeed, they already have. I have to say you show much wisdom for your age. Please come; you must meet the others. They will be very happy to see you! I'd like to introduce you… if Your Majesty would allow me, of course." She extended her hand expectantly.

Already feeling lost in the crowd, he took a deep breath and followed. "Uh… sure."

The secretary held a polite smile. "Your Majesty, let me tell you how good it is to have you here. We'll achieve great things together. Our nation will forever be in your debt for ending the tyranny of Ozai in a swift, bloodless victory, no less. A victory fit for a hero of legend."

Chief Hakoda strolled up to them and held out his arm in greeting. "Congratulations, Fire Lord. I wish you a prosperous reign."

The Fire Lord shook it firmly, reassured to see a familiar face. "Thank you. I am glad you could attend."

"I hope our people can work together to mend the wounds of our past and look to a better future." Hakoda's gaze darkened, tinged with grief. "The spirits know we've had enough war already."

"It is my wish as well, Chief Hakoda." He smiled sourly, already regretting his words. Did he have to be so formal if he already knew him? But he had been formal to him just now, so that had to be right.

Hakoda stood there silently, unaware of his lapse, then he chuckled warmly. "Oh, the title? Just Hakoda's fine; you did save the world with my kids."

"Uh… Okay. "Zuko let out a nervous sigh, and the secretary quickly took over.

Jing nodded to Hakoda in indication that their time was short, and he walked over to his children. "A charming man… Anyway, Minister Renhao and Overseer Taiku." She gestured to a coal-eyed woman who was perhaps the same age as Jing but had a youthful face. She had long black hair, with only a part of it braided. Her dress was distinctive from her peers', with shades of crimson and pearl. The man standing to her side was elderly, stern-looking. His hair as white as snow, complimented by a thin mustache and beard. He wore a long black tunic with a red trim and a hat with the sigil of the Fire Nation emblazoned in gold. It seemed to make him taller in appearance.

They bowed politely to Zuko. Renhao held her bow a beat longer. "It is an honor to meet you, Fire Lord." Zuko nodded.

Taiku's smile faltered, revealing a hint of uncertainty. "Your Majesty," he began, his voice hesitant. "If I may, how can I be of assistance? I understand the situation in the colonies has been... challenging, to say the least. But I assure you, I am prepared to shoulder whatever burdens may arise."

"There won't be any burdens, Minister, but I would be lying if I said the work ahead of us will not be difficult."

"Indeed, a thought we will all do well to keep in mind. Now, please enjoy the meals, Your Excellencies, I hear the jelly-fugu is particularly delicious." Jing gestured to another group, leading Zuko towards them. "Those three handsome devils are in charge of the military: General Bujing, Admiral Chan, and Minister Qin."

Anger flashed in Zuko's eyes for an instant. The man whose plan he had questioned that fateful day. The man that had earned him his scar. His eyes were fixed on the general. "I believe we've already met."

Bujing's lips twitched into a grimace before returning to a stone frown. He saluted him. "Certainly, though I wish it was under better circumstances."

The Admiral swooped in, breaking the tense situation with a warm smile and a bow. "I haven't had the honor. Admiral Chan. My son tells me you are friends with him." The Admiral's sharp jaw was all the resemblance Zuko needed to make the connection.

Friends? "Your son," Zuko repeated slowly, his eyebrows furrowed with guilt as he recalled what happened in Ember Island. "We have met." He hung his head slightly. "Oh, I uh… Yes, it is an honor to meet you too, Admiral."

The War Minister bowed stiffly. "I am at your service, Your Highness. I have many interesting projects for you to see–"

Jing chuckled. "Minister Qin, already going straight to work?" Leaning in close to the Fire Lord's ear she whispered, "That is just like him." A playful glint in her golden eyes, she turned back to the Minister. "Let the Fire Lord enjoy this auspicious day before you bombard him with your plans for hours on end, dear." The Minister's polite smile faltered for a moment before nodding his head and returning to his conversation.

Leading him gently by the arm, Jing directed him toward another group of officials, and she casually gestured at them. "Oh, that over there is Minister Hiyori with Minister Lee." Hiyori's hair was short but smooth. Her robes were long, reminding him of the ones Mai often used, though much more ornate. Her skin was pale in contrast to that of Lee, who looked serious and dull. Even his robes were bland. Completing the odd picture were his small square spectacles.

The Ministers were near the main table, along with Sokka, Suki, and Katara. "Excuse my brother; he is always like this." There was a hint of exasperation in her voice.

Sokka smiled loosely. "What? It's food, Katara; it's meant to be eaten. Look, they even have this weird red meat!"

Suki eyed him sternly with gritted teeth. "Sokka, haven't you had enough?"

"Suks, it's a feast! We're supposed to stuff ourselves sick."

Hiyori muttered, "Has anyone told him that's spicy?" The three of them turned to her with wide eyes.

"Agh! It burns!" Sokka frantically looked for any drink that could ease the spiciness.

"No! Not the dragonfruit punch!" Zuko snatched at it but was too late.

Sokka chugged his cup, and his yelp of agony rose an octave. He spat out the drink, spraying it all over Katara's dress and hair. "I'm never eating or drinking anything from the Fire Nation ever again! Ever!"

Suki pinched her nose. "Sokka…"

Katara glared at him as she bent the punch out of her dress and hair. "Ugh! Come on; I'll get you some water. Sorry."

Jing tried to suppress a laugh as she noticed Zuko's worried expression, quickly reassuring him. "Poor kid. He'll be alright; don't you worry. It usually wears off in a day or two."

Sokka's eyes bulged as he chugged his third cup of water. "A day or two?!!"

Zuko sent them to the healer's ward with a servant, his friend muttering and moaning as they left. Suki was looking at her boyfriend like a naughty lizard-dog. Well, that could have gone worse. He sighed.

Then, Jing guided him to the middle of the room. "Fire Lord, if you don't mind, since we are all reunited here, I'd like to propose a toast." She raised a cup of dragonfruit high. "May peace reign for a thousand years! Long live Fire Lord Zuko!"

"Long may he reign!" Cheers erupted as the guests joined in on the toast.

A servant carrying an ornate jade box entered the hall, his footsteps echoing across the polished floor. At first, he went unnoticed, but as he approached the center of the room the murmuring of the guests grew louder, they all fell to a hush when he faced Zuko.

The servant knelt before the Fire Lord and presented the box with a bow. "Fire Lord, an urgent message from the Earth King," Zuko was surprised by the arrival of the message, but he remained composed. He took the box and examined it closely, his fingers tracing the intricate carvings and the seal bearing the Earth King's emblem. He opened the box and pulled out the scroll inside. The ministers who had been cheering moments before fell silent, their faces tense with anticipation.

Zuko took the scroll and turned to face Jing. "Excuse me for a moment."

Jing smiled politely. "Sure... take all the time you need, Your Majesty."

The servants opened the doors for Zuko, and he went straight to his room, already feeling overwhelmed by the party already. Besides, if the Earth King had an urgent message, it would be best if he checked it privately. The moment he closed the doors in his room, he unfurled the scroll.

From His Majesty Kuei, Lord of Ba Sing Se, and High King of the Earthen Realm:

Greetings.

I wish to congratulate you on this auspicious day. May your reign be long and prosperous, Fire Lord Zuko. I would have preferred to attend personally, but my obligations keep me bound to Ba Sing Se.

I greatly appreciate your desire for peace. Even though our understanding is mutual, I cannot claim the same for our peoples. Their trust will take some time to be regained, but I believe we can work together towards that goal. We may have found peace through our common understanding; but in my travels, I regret to tell you I have learnt that the people of my Kingdom feel ill at ease with the Fire Nation.

Your troops remain on occupied lands, and my people live in fear of them. Heinous rumors have spread in Ba Sing Se that your nation is biding its time. However, I know this not to be your reasoning. For the sake of this common goal of ours, I must implore you to do your utmost to help assuage the insecurities of my people; otherwise, I'm afraid that my advisors may take matters into their own hands, rallying our armies and creating unnecessary tension that could threaten to destroy any chances of peace and mutual cooperation. In two days' time, we will be holding peace celebrations here. I would be honored if you could assist. I'm sure that if my advisors could speak to you, they would sympathize with your commitment.

Sincerely, Earth King Kuei.

Zuko heard muffled voices growing louder outside of his room. The door opened to reveal Overseer Taiku and the Imperial Secretary, Jing.

Jing bowed respectfully. "Pardon our intrusion, Fire Lord. I could not help but notice your urgency, and I would not have come if it weren't for the concerns of my esteemed colleagues. Matters regarding foreign powers must be handled with great delicacy during these uncertain times." She eyed Zuko with concern. "We have information from the colonies that might be helpful to Your Majesty." She gestured to Taiku.

Taiku's stern features highlighted his frown sharply. "There have been reports of raids originating from Earth Kingdom towns neighboring the colony of Hong Sha. Our local forces repelled these attackers and managed to capture one of the raiders. We have discovered that these orders originated from high command. In protest of our 'illegal occupation,' the Governor requested a regiment to secure the border." The Overseer took a deep breath, exhaling tiredly. With a glimmer in his eyes, he continued, raising his tone slightly. "Your Majesty, these people will go to any lengths to make you comply with their demands. They have no regard for the lives of our citize-"

Fighting?! After we had just achieved peace? Zuko snapped back at Taiku. "You will remove those troops immediately!" Sending more troops there would only make matters worse.

Taiku's eyes shifted, looking as if he couldn't comprehend what he had just heard. "But Fire Lord–"

Zuko raised his hand. "I will confront King Kuei personally concerning the matter. This is an isolated incident; maintaining peace is what matters now."

Jing nodded with conviction in her eyes. "A wise decision, Fire Lord. Whoever perpetrated this shameful act must be brought to justice. It is in the King's best interest that he is made aware of the rogues within his own government." She stepped closer to Zuko. "Your Majesty, if you would allow me, I am fully apprised of the need for reform. Wartime necessities have changed the structure of our government. I believe a new department tasked with channeling our diplomatic efforts would greatly improve our standing among the world, helping to maintain relations and mediate our replies in tense moments."

It would be a step in the right direction. Zuko considered her words before replying. "It is a commendable initiative; I will have to think about it. Have the plans ready when I come back from the Earth Kingdom."

"You will be pleased to know that I have already spoken about this with Ministers Hiyori and Renhao. They fully supported the idea and helped me draft a plan to implement this initiative. I'll make sure to send you the draft with the set of documents that need Your Majesty's approval."

Taiku eyed her suspiciously, flaring his nostrils at her, but he refrained from speaking.

"Very well, send them over." She nodded, and both of them bowed again to Zuko before leaving. Zuko sighed. Bickering advisors. I hope I don't have to get used to that…

---

At dinner that evening, the Gaang had descended into small talk, the clinking of utensils and the sound of their voices filling the air. Katara eyed Zuko curiously. "So, Zuko, how did your first day as Fire Lord go?"

Toph, who was preoccupied with toe maintenance, took the opportunity to chime in. "Well, Sweetness, if you ask me, apart from Secretary Prissypants, I think it was great."

Aang was engrossed in his vegetarian sushi, but he managed to add to the conversation. "I also had fun, though the people here think I'm going to suck the air out of them or something."

Sokka, on the other side of the table, was still nursing his wounded taste buds. "Don't even get me started! You people are crazy, Zuko. Do you even think of pointing out the spicy food around here? Like 'Warning: may cause loss of tongue'? I mean, I almost died there!"

Katara rolled her eyes. "Oh, don't be a baby, Sokka; you're fine."

"You tell that to my tongue; I won't be able to taste anything for weeks!" He got up to complain, but Suki eased him down.

Zuko let out a heavy sigh and dropped a bombshell. "The Earth Kingdom, uh, may have… attacked… one of our colonies… today…"

The Gaang's carefree chatter turned into stunned silence as they stared at Zuko in disbelief. "What?!"

Zuko tried to reassure them. "It might just be a misunderstanding… It's too early to know."

Sokka grumbled. "Oh, that's great. I've lost Space Sword and my sense of taste. And now there is another war? I don't even know what's worse."

Katara was adamant. "I'm sure King Kuei had nothing to do with this. We have to tell him."

Toph groaned, having moved on to facial-maintenance-that-will-not-be-named. "Please tell me we are not going to Ba Sing Se again."

"Well, I would surely love to give poetry another try. Ahem. I make smooth haikus. I've been practicing a lot; not gonna lie." Sokka rolled up his sleeves, giving a smug grin.

Toph flicked a small pebble at his forehead, sending him crashing to the floor. "Missed a syllable, Snoozles."

"Not again…" he moaned into the carpet.

His sister shot him a Mom-Mode look. "Guys, this is serious. We cannot let this turn into another war."

"We could also visit Uncle… He would surely give us some advice. The King told me they would be holding peace celebrations in two days. That's when all of his advisors will be there."

Aang brightened up. "Then what are we waiting for? I'll get Appa ready, and we can leave first thing in the morning. Don't worry, Zuko; I'm sure this is all a big misunderstanding."

He could only hope his friend was right.

 

[Fran Gark]

Edited by: Bieverdog AO3: GalavantingGoose

Book I
失衡​

Act II: At What Cost?

---

Chapter III​

She had spent countless hours there, unable to escape what she could only assume to be the darkest confines of her mind. Her only window to reality, once offered through that broken mirror, had long vanished. In its place, a bright light emerged, illuminating the cursed room she was unable to escape from. This mental construct had been transformed into a twisted, decayed version of itself, unrecognizable from before. The room seemed like it had fallen into ruin. The red paint peeled from the mildewed walls, and the gold in the pillars no longer shined. Cracks were creeping through the walls, barely holding together.

To her, it felt as if the room had shrunk. Or maybe Azula had grown? She didn't know, and she couldn't tell, for a second felt like a day in that dreadful, forgotten place. As if it wasn't enough, her ruined prison had done nothing to alleviate her thoughts, only flaring them. As the visions of her mother had become permanent, constantly tormenting her. Existence itself had become continuous pain. A never-ending nightmare. She didn't know if she had the strength to go on. She closed her eyes and surrendered, hoping that would bring her peace…

The light coming from the shattered mirror flickered. That sudden change was enough for her to open her eyes again. She crawled closer to it. The light slowly dimmed to reveal a dark image of another prison, one she had already seen, of padded walls instead of iron bars. It was a cruel joke of fate that mocked her attempts to escape. The sight of her still unresponsive body was crippling humiliation. Azula shut her eyes tightly and covered her face, crying. I'll never leave this place. A gust of wind made her stop; the air felt heavier now.

She raised her eyes to see a twisted version of herself standing before her. She quickly got up, putting some distance between them. Although the double's face was indifferent, her golden eyes pierced through Azula with a gleam of condescending superiority. She even seemed amused by her gesture. "Hmpf, giving up so soon? I thought I knew you better, but I guess you couldn't take the heat. She got to you, didn't she?" Azula raised an eyebrow, confused.

The room got colder as her doppelganger chuckled. "Tsk, tsk. You fell right into her trap." She put her hands behind her back as she paced around Azula. "Mother wanted to keep you here; she planned it from the start. She has always been afraid of you, afraid of your potential." The gold from the pillars was slowly melting into dust. "They all were pawns in her game. Think, Azula; think! She was always there, but you never saw her whispering into Zuzu's ear, Mai's, and Ty Lee's." New cracks began to form on the walls and ceiling.

Azula's fists clenched at the mention of her mother. "What are you talking about?"

Her double smirked knowingly. "She plotted your fall, turned your own servants against you, and when everything fell into place, she corrupted your mind. She riddled you with weakness in your moment of truth. She meant for you to fail, to be trapped here for the rest of your miserable life." Pieces of the cracked walls began to fall as her double continued.

"And you give up? Pathetic. You might as well end your life now; it is worthless." The rear columns began to crumble, taking parts of the ceiling with them.

"Shut up!" Azula clenched her fists and scrambled up with bloodshot eyes, pouncing on her doppelganger with a fire dagger.

Her double smirked, taunting her. "Oh, she's still got some teeth after all." She dodged at the last moment, letting Azula fall right past her. The version of herself stood where the mirror once was, a sly smile on her lips. Azula was burning with rage.

The double's face turned into a frown as she hissed, "Save it for her. She won't be able to keep you here much longer now that you know the truth. Avenge us; make that wretch pay for what she has done!" The shards, once dark, began to glimmer strongly with pale light, washing the room in bright white. The ruined building began to dissolve and sizzled as it was touched by the light. Then, the floor came loose under her, crumbling and flying away like ashes to the wind. Her screams drowned in the light, and she felt weightless for a moment, floating in nothingness before jolting back to consciousness. She opened her eyes and gasped for air. She had made it out.

* * *​

Azula slowly opened her eyes, squinting against the harsh light that flickered from a dim bulb hanging from the ceiling. She attempted to move, but her body was stiff and unresponsive. Looking down, she saw that she was strapped tightly into a straitjacket, rendering her completely immobile. The small, windowless cell wrapped her in a suffocating embrace, its padded walls stained with yellowed patches from the dampness that lingered in the air.

The room was bitterly cold, an icy grip that seemed to reach into her very bones, an artificial frost designed to quench her firebending abilities. Water droplets wept from the ceiling near the door, freezing upon contact with the ground and forming a crystalline barrier that now obstructed the entrance. The only exit from this frigid tomb was a reinforced iron door, its surface adorned with a tiny rectangular window of glass, barely visible through the fog created by the cold air. A musty, oppressive scent filled the air, each labored breath a reminder of the walls closing in around her.

Desperate, she tried to break free with her teeth, but the fabric was too tough. As she panted heavily, her breaths came out in visible puffs of air. She attempted to conjure up flames from within her, but the chill in the air quenched any hope of a successful attempt.

She screamed in frustration, bashing and shaking. She felt a loud crack. A strap had come loose. Azula's eyes widened. Hope… She struggled harder; she could almost feel the jacket loosening. Then a loud thud came from the iron door of the room, the ice she had noticed earlier now cracking under the pressure.

A muffled, panicked voice came from the other side. "She is awake! Sedate her!"

"I'm out of here!"

There was a loud thud against the door, and she heard the ice crack. "Open that door now!"

Another thud. Louder, but the ice held firmly in place. "It's stuck!"

Her heart sank. Come on, come on! she screamed as the thudding continued. Felt the fabric from the jacket slowly ripping apart.

"Heat it now!"

She saw the ice slowly melting into a puddle. Her heart pounded against her chest. No, no, no, no! I won't go back. I don't want to go back! She pushed against the jacket and jumped, ripping the strap that held her to a chair and propelling herself out onto her face.

The door opened with a bang, and heavy steps rushed towards her. She kicked and screamed; but two of her aggressors gripped her tightly by the shoulders. Azula thrashed, managing to bite and kick one of them before being flattened against the frosty floor. Her screams faded when she felt a jolting, stinging pain in her neck. As her vision blurred, she could see another pair of shoes approach. Mother, you…

 

[Fran Gark]

Edited by: Bieverdog AO3: GalavantingGoose

Book I
失衡​

Act II: At What Cost?

---

Chapter IV​

The meadow was beautiful and serene, bathed in warm sunlight. Red flowers swayed gently in the breeze, Zuko felt a sense of calm wash over him as he walked through a patch of green grass. It was a rare moment of peace and tranquility…

He continued walking, noticing slight changes as he went. The sun was obscured by gray clouds, casting eerie shadows on the ground, and then the wind picked up, becoming stronger, more persistent. He felt the gentle touch of raindrops on his face. He closed his eyes, at peace.

When he opened his eyes again, a deafening clap of thunder shattered the silence. The once refreshing spray of water had turned to ashes, sticking to his skin and leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. It was like the world around him had turned upside down, the once vibrant flowers and grass wilting the landscape morphed into a barren wasteland. The breeze now turned into a chilling gust, carrying with it the sound of distant screams and cries.

Frightened, he quickened his pace, trying to escape the growing darkness. Unable to outrun it, he stumbled. On his knees, he saw before him a horrifying scene–soldiers clad in Fire Nation armor mercilessly slaughtering men, women, and children. The ground was muddied with wine-dark blood, the air thick with smoke and ash.

Standing atop a pile of corpses was his father, his eyes filled with a sinister pride. He helped him up. "Zuko, my son…" He placed a hand on his shoulder and whispered in his ear, "Your legacy will far outshine mine. You have done well."

Panicked, he pushed his father away.

As the sky flashed with lightning, he looked down at his hands in horror to see they were stained with the blood of innocents. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks–it was all his doing. He wanted to scream, but his voice was drowned by the carnage.

He continued to watch in horror, cold sweat covering his body as the shadows twisted and danced around him, mirroring the atrocities taking place. He covered his face, his own terror and guilt suffocating him.

With a sudden jolt, Zuko awoke, gasping for air. It was so vivid… So real, it had taken him a moment to realize he was safely on Appa's back.

Aang was looking at Zuko with concern. "Everything okay?"

"Sorry; I… Had a nightmare." Zuko crawled closer to Appa's head.

For a moment, there was only the whistling of the wind.

"You know, I used to get them a lot too… After I saw what happened at the Southern Air Temple, I… I saw them every night. Sometimes, I still do. I felt guilty for not being able to help… for running away. I couldn't bring myself to tell anyone."

"I dreamt about my father… He looked older. He praised me, said that my legacy would far outshine his. I was happy until I found out why… I was standing on a pile of corpses and… and I was ruthless. I didn't recall doing it, but I knew I did… I knew I was to blame."

"Zuko, that's not you! You would never do anything like that ever. All this has just put us all on edge, that's all."

"Maybe you're right… Why don't you get some rest? I'll guide Appa."

"Thanks, Zuko. Remember: don't overthink it."

Not even five minutes later, Zuko could hear Aang's soft snoring. The thoughts returned. What if it was a premonition, a warning? He remembered his dreams with the blue and red dragons. They asked him to make a choice. That dream came true, and he made the wrong choice in helping Azula, to his eventual regret. But this… this was on a whole different level.

As the night gave way to the first light of dawn, Zuko noticed the sky transforming into a beautiful blend of colors. In the distance, the landscape began to change, with vast, verdant plains stretching out beneath them, and the impressive silhouette of towering mountains providing a natural barrier. He knew they were nearing Ba Sing Se when he saw the unmistakable sight of the Serpent's Pass winding its way through the waters.

Sokka stretched his arms and let out a big yawn. "Morning, Zuko. Are we there yet? I'm so hungry I could eat a bison."

Appa groaned.

Sokka froze for a beat. "Uh, another bison!"

Another growl.

"I mean… Sorry…"

Zuko chuckled. "We're almost there."

Sokka crawled closer to Zuko, carefully avoiding their sleeping friends. "Man, I would have loved it if we had brought some food instead of all of these papers."

"I still have work to do, Sokka; besides, we had breakfast."

"Uh, yeah, that was yesterday!" Zuko turned around sharply, gesturing at him to hush.

"Oh, right…" Sokka took one of the boxes, maybe scrounging for some food. He carefully pulled out one of the scrolls, tapping it. "Can I help? With your work, I mean. I can give you a few pointers on governing. You know, I was chief of my village for a few years." He thumped his chest. "I know a whole lot about that."

He raised an eyebrow. "Chief? I thought you were a warrior."

Sokka puffed up his chest. "It's one and the same, my good hotman."

"Don't call me tha–" He muttered something. "...Well, then I wouldn't mind some help."

"Great, let's get started." Sokka placed the box in front of him and started digging into it, taking out a handful of scrolls. "We have… Taxes on… That sounds boring. How about… Hmm, no…"

Zuko sighed. "Sokka..."

Sokka held out his hand, dismissing Zuko as he unfurled yet another scroll. "Wait, I think I've found something good." Sokka muttered something under his breath. "Nope, false positive. Hold it, there… Still looking for the good stuff."

"Sokka!"

Zuko tried to snatch one of the scrolls from Sokka's hand, but his friend pulled it away, frowning at him. "Hey! Be more considerate, Zuko! The others are sleeping."

"We're here!" They turned to see Aang pointing ahead to the ancient city of Ba Sing Se.

As they passed over the outer wall, they saw guards posted atop them, waving. The Lower Ring was eye-opening for Zuko. The people lived on top of each other–literally–in stacked slums. He had never seen anything like it. From above, it was much more impressive. The smell of the improper sewage systems was what struck him the most. It was evident to Zuko where fighting had occurred: abandoned Fire Nation tanks littered the streets; whole blocks of buildings were charred. This ring had borne the brunt of the fight. A large hole in the Middle Ring's wall revealed the trail of the attacks.

Mai rasped, "What is this place?" She immediately pinched her nose.

It was even worse than he remembered, like the citizens there had been left off to fend for themselves after the aftermath. Zuko looked at Mai and pointed at it loosely. "Lower Ring… Not looking in great shape."

"Did it ever?" Sokka quipped, but he quickly retracted after unamused looks from Suki and Katara.

Mai fanned her nose with her hand. "Ugh… The smell is worse than in Harbor City."

Not long after, they were already soaring through the Middle Ring, where the housing seemed starkly more organized. It wasn't a muddled mess of roofs and canvases. They even had some open spaces: parks and plazas with beautiful landmarks. But the scars of war still shone even there, the trails of destruction leading towards the center of the city.

"I didn't think the fighting had been so bad…" Aang's expression was grim.

Zuko's frown creased. "Yeah… And we still haven't seen all of it."

The people strolling around pointed at Appa as they saw him. In the middle of the Upper Ring stood the palace of the Earth King. Surrounding it, simple houses had become mansions that sprawled the terrain unimpeded. Governmental palaces with immense plazas were the landmarks that characterized this Ring. It was filled with a splendor fit for kings. But the open space of the ring proved to be a perfect battleground. Burnt Fire Nation flags still fluttered in the streets. Carts of soldiers were still collecting the weapons and corpses of their enemies that perished in that battle. Peace, but at what cost?

Aang placed a hand on his shoulder. "Zuko?"

He shook his head and clutched the reins even tighter. There was nothing he could have done, but now… "We cannot let this happen again..." Aang reassured him with a nod whilst the others surveyed that scene of death and destruction.

Katara broke the silence. "Looks like we were expected." She pointed towards the palace.

A welcome party had stood at the gates. Zuko steered Appa towards the ground nearby, landing softly. A general marched to the fore. "His Majesty, Earth King Kuei, welcomes Avatar Aang." A band started playing a lively number. The general jumped when he saw Zuko, and he stopped the band. "Fire Lord! Ahem… His Majesty Earth King Kuei welcomes Fire Lord Zuko and Avatar Aang." He told the band to play again, only to facepalm, waving them off. "The anthem…" He threw his head back in frustration. "Ah, forget it!"

Aang grinned; he recognized the man. "General How, it's good to see you again!"

Zuko's smile matched Aang's. "Do not worry about it, General; this isn't a formal visit."

The General bowed to him slightly. "Avatar Aang, Fire Lord, please allow me to escort you and your friends to your new house. Our servants here will take care of your luggage." The servants formed behind How one next to another, their heads hung low.

Toph groaned, "The old one will do."

"I would have taken you to it…" The General's tone was soft. "...but it was destroyed. Sorry."

Zuko flicked his hand dismissively. "It's fine, General; just take us to the new one."

How motioned for them to follow. Zuko noticed the general deliberately avoiding the streets that hadn't been cleaned up yet. He saw Toph trying to slip away, but he stopped her. "Believe me; it's best if we go with him for now." She grunted and crossed her arms.

Mai sheltered her eyes. "This place is way too bright."

How smirked. "And it's going to look brighter. It's not often that we get state visits. Been a hundred years since the last one, actually." Zuko could already see the sheer disgust on Mai's face.

The "house" they were escorted to was massive, with a dark green and gold exterior, ebony black tiles, and imposing badgermole statues in the front yard. The interior was like a museum, with armor stands, paintings, and vases all displayed on their own pedestals. The main hall boasted green crystal chandeliers and portraits, with taxidermied animals on display, which didn't bring Aang much pleasure.

There was ample space for hundreds of guests. The place had more rooms than they could count, filled with the best fineries and amenities the city could offer. If someone had told Zuko this was the Earth King's palace, he would have believed it if it weren't for the massive building just a few hundred feet away from the mansion.

Sokka was in awe. "Wow! This place is beautiful."

Toph shrugged. "Meh, they all look the same to me."

He pursed his lips. "But... these tapestries look ama– Toph…"

Suki smiled and motioned towards a golden Pai Sho board in the main hall. "Care for a friendly game of Pai Sho?"

Mai shrugged. "Why not? Everything else is boring here."

How gave a polite bow. "You have everything you need here. There's no need to leave. Enjoy your stay in Ba Sing Se. His Majesty will see you for lunch before the celebrations."

A servant arrived out of breath and handed a note to the general. "A message from His Majesty."

How's expression changed as he read the message. "Fire Lord Zuko, it seems His Majesty would like to see you now…"

The group looked at Zuko, surprised. And he quickly nodded. "Sure… I will be there."

Sokka seemed offended. "Just Zuko? Are you sure he didn't mention us?"

"I'm sure," said How. "His Majesty's request was clear; he will see you shortly after meeting the Fire Lord."

Not wanting to keep the king waiting, Zuko followed one of the servants to his room, which appeared to be the biggest in the mansion in a central area. Whoever lived there had clearly left behind most of their belongings. What stood out the most was a large fireplace that had a gold square engraved in its mantelpiece with an inset jade character for stability.

He had brought his new work with him, dozens of scrolls packed tightly inside red metal boxes. A larger trunk had been set on the bed, and his ceremonial attire was neatly tucked there, along with the crown. It felt surreal that it was in his possession, but he shook off the thought and quickly changed into his regalia, straightening his attire in front of the mirror.

He didn't see a Fire Lord before him. He felt like an impostor, his father's harsh words echoing in his mind, reminding him of his past mistakes. Zuko shook his head, perhaps he did not deserve to be there, but he'd do his best. As he followed How, his mind was racing. He couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions: nervousness, excitement, and a sense of duty.

Soon they arrived. The palace was grand, filled with intricate carvings and rich tapestries. As the king's personal guard escorted them to the main hall, where they opened a massive, gilded door, revealing the vast throne room. Atop the throne, the stone badgermole overlooking it was an impressive sight, its claws clutching the emblem of the Earth Kingdom, the colossus dwarfing the Earth King and his advisors under its shadow.

The three advisors standing close to the King wore flashy, colorful robes that caught Zuko's attention. As he stepped forward, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of discomfort under the advisors' scrutinizing gazes.

"Fire Lord Zuko. At last, it is a pleasure to meet you in person." The Earth King's soft words broke the tension, and the rulers greeted each other with a nod while Kuei's advisors bowed to Zuko.

Zuko kept his composure. "Earth King Kuei, likewise."

"I hope your journey was pleasant."

"It was… Your Majesty, I must be blunt; I was concerned to find out, not long after I received your letter, about attacks near Hong Sha."

The advisors widened their eyes, and one even looked offended.

"I did not know of this. I– I was worried, for our intelligence indicated Fire Nation armies were still amassed in our lands."

He couldn't help but feel guilty about it all, he nodded. "I've given those armies orders to retreat. That should ease your people's fears. But I was warned that a high-ranking officer had perpetrated these attacks. I was here partly to warn you."

The King's expression grew serious. "I assure you I'll get my best men to look into it." He beckoned to one of the advisors.

Zuko took a deep breath, knowing the conversation was about to take a delicate turn. "Your Highnesses, for the time being, I think we must discuss a few delicate issues. You see, Fire Lord, the war has caused tremendous hardship for our people. Many have been made homeless due to your army's scorched-earth tactics. Our treasuries were sacked, royal artifacts stolen, and our granaries emptied. It is our shared belief that you want to begin an era of new cooperation between our two great nations–an era that will begin by resolving the issues that caused our people to grow apart."

Zuko nodded solemnly. "I cannot express how terribly sorry I am to hear this; but you can be certain that I'll help mend the scars of the war."

Kuei's face lit up with excitement. "Excellent! Our first treaty in a century! Isn't that wonderful, Bosco?" Zuko flinched when he saw the animal moving groggily; he had mistaken it for a rug. The animal looked back confusedly. "Our people will be joyful to hear this. As a gesture of goodwill, we can start the exchanges of prisoners of war today. You will be awarded the Order of Kyoshi and a pair of ceremonial fans for your efforts. We will have the new treaty ready to be signed in a few hours."

The advisors bowed and took their leave. A short while later, the main doors to the throne room opened.

"Avatar Aang!"

"Your Earthiness, it's good to see you again!" Aang bowed with a warm smile, accompanied by Katara, Sokka, and Toph. Momo was wrapped around Aang's neck. The green-eyed lemur jumped to Sokka's head and soared towards the Earth King's pet bear, Bosco, who watched curiously.

"Please, Aang, come. Fire Lord, I've been meaning to show you something." The King's voice carried a hint of urgency as he procured a rectangular box from the throne and opened the lid to unroll a parchment. A map. Kuei extended it on the wall, his solemn expression speaking volumes.

"I bought this map on my travels. When I was told that we had been at war with the Fire Nation, I never expected this. Seeing it for the first time was… a bad experience, to say the least…"

Aang's eyes widened as he traced his fingers over the map. "I never realized the Fire Nation had built so many colonies in the Earth Kingdom." Zuko's brows furrowed in concern and guilt.

"For the Earth people, they're a constant reminder of the war, like an old scar." The Earth King's voice wavered, and he shot a quick glance at Zuko, who looked back at him.

"Oh, I… I– Fire Lord Zuko, I meant nothing personal."

"No, Earth King Kuei, you're right." Zuko's voice was firm. "After all the pain my father has caused, it's my duty to bring healing to the world. I'll remove those colonies. I'll do whatever it takes."

Aang's eyes sparkled with determination as he turned to the king. "But removing the colonies won't be easy. A lot of people's lives are gonna be disrupted. We need someone to oversee everything, to make sure it all goes peacefully. Someone like me!"

Bosco glared at Momo, who was now wearing the former's hat.

Zuko's eyes sparkled with hope. "Really? You'd want to do that?"

"Yeah, I'm the Avatar! Making stuff go peacefully is kind of my thing!"

"The Avatar's personal involvement will give the entire process an air of hope!"

Katara gestured to herself and her brother. "Sokka and I can help!"

Sokka sighed dramatically, putting on a show of disappointment. "Aww. I was gonna visit Kyoshi Island."

Kuei held his chin. "It'll be a movement–a movement towards harmony! We'll call it... We'll call it…"

Sokka beamed, his excitement palpable. "The Harmony Restoration Movement!"

The King held his finger up. "Yes! The Harmony Restoration Movement! I like it!"

Toph chuckled and shook her head. "What's with you and your goofy names for everything?"

"It's a gift." Sokka grinned, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

"My people are going to love this! I will announce it during the celebrations; they will be grand! Fire Lord Zuko, your actions here will mend our people's trust in no time. Tonight, we shall sign the new treaty together in commemoration of this historic day. Avatar Aang, you must be present too!"

"Whatever you need, Your Earthiness." Aang nodded, his expression filled with resolve.

"Wonderful! Please excuse me; I'm afraid I will have to cancel our lunch. There is a lot of work to be done if we want to have this ready by tonight. Oh, there need to be fireworks, yes! And–" The King left, immersed in his thoughts.

Team Avatar bowed and left the palace, deciding to spend the day at the Jasmine Dragon to relax until the celebrations began. Mai and Suki were engrossed in a heated game of street Pai Sho against each other as Toph listened to Katara's commentary on it; Sokka was preparing a canvas to paint what he said would be a "masterpiece"; Aang was outside the shop brushing Appa; and Iroh was cleaning his old Tsungi horn. But Zuko could not help but wonder if he had done the right thing.

Was he doing enough? Would it all be for nothing? Would he fail to bring peace? His mind was racing with doubts and fears, and he felt more alone than ever. It was then that his uncle noticed him sulking in the corner and waved him over.

"What's troubling you, Nephew?" His Uncle's voice was filled with concern.

"Nothing… I…" He let out a tired sigh. "I just don't know if I'm doing the right thing."

Iroh's face softened, and he placed a reassuring hand on Zuko's shoulder. "Oh, but you are, Zuko. You have kept your heart open to the people of the world. You put the needs of everyone before your own. Maybe you should give yourself some time to enjoy life's special moments with your friends."

"But what if I have to choose? What if I am wrong?"

His voice was calming and soothing. "Like a tree in Autumn that loses its leaves only to regain them, you may lose your way only to find it again."

Zuko let out a deep breath and tried to take his uncle's words to heart. He knew he had to trust himself and his decisions if he wanted to bring about a new era of peace. His uncle smiled and hugged him, and for a moment, Zuko felt a glimmer of hope that everything would be alright.

"Is that mind of yours settled now?"

"In a way…" Zuko smiled and patted his uncle's shoulder. "You never run out of riddles, don't you?"

Iroh grinned, raising his finger. "Like the phoenix-eagle–"

"Uncle, I get it!"

His uncle laughed heartily, his eyes crinkling with mirth. "You have nothing to worry about! Go out there, enjoy the day."

Zuko felt a sense of relief and gratitude towards his uncle. His words had eased his mind, allowing him to think more clearly. He knew the stakes were higher, that his decisions would carry a far larger impact than he could imagine. It couldn't be that simple. His father's words echoed in his mind, "The throne comes with many pressures, and those pressures will change you!"

He stared defiantly into the distance, for he was determined not to let the weight of the world break him… And if it did, he would be ready. He took a deep breath, feeling lighter and more hopeful for the new world they'd build.

The afternoon went unimpeded as they all enjoyed their time. Zuko even made tea for everyone; and this time, his Uncle was impressed by his tea-making abilities. Later, Sokka proposed they should all fly to see the fireworks that Kuei had planned. To the surprise of exactly no one, Mai was opposed, complaining about the idiocy of cheering and gawking at colorful explosions. Toph sided with her; nevertheless, the group chose to go, while Mai adamantly preferred to stay behind.

Kuei wasn't kidding when he said the celebrations would be grand. The Upper Ring had flooded with people, their cheers rising through the night. As the King announced the treaty, the fireworks exploded into vibrant colors, creating mesmerizing patterns across the sky. The sound of the explosions resonated in the air, mingling with the laughter and chatter of the onlookers.

Zuko's gaze, however, was fixated on the destruction that the Fire Nation had brought to the city. He was reminded of the viciousness of his father and how ruthless he became. As the fireworks continued to light up the night sky, Zuko found himself becoming more and more withdrawn from the festivities. His thoughts grew darker, reflecting on the path that led him down a dark road, the pressures that his father spoke of, and how he could avoid becoming like him.

But despite his efforts, he realized that they were only human, and humans were fallible. He couldn't shake off the dream he had of his father, the dragons, and the lingering doubt about his intentions. After all, it was said that even light had a drop of darkness.

He had no alternative but to do his best to make the right decisions, and if those same decisions led him down a dark path, he was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice if it meant sparing the world from another tyrant.

As Aang and the others conversed and reveled in the moment, Zuko's senses were drowned out by his thoughts. He was so deep in contemplation that he barely registered the laughter and the fireworks around him.

His thoughts turned to Aang. He realized that there was only one person he trusted to do what was right, even if it meant ending his own life. He knew that if he ever lost sight of his goal, Aang would be the one to stop him. With a heavy heart, Zuko made a decision. If the time ever came when he was in danger of becoming like his father–

Aang turned to look at him, snapping Zuko back to reality. "You, too? Your new Majesty Fire Lord Zuko, sir, turn that frown upside down! It's happy time!" Aang's voice was cheerful, but concern lingered in his eyes. Zuko looked away, hesitating, struggling to find the words to express his thoughts. "Zuko?..."

Zuko's voice was uncertain. "I visited my father in prison the other day... I've been meaning to ask you for a favor, Aang." His eyes searched Aang's face for understanding.

"Sure. Anything."

"If you ever see me turning into my father, I want you to–" Zuko paused, swallowing the lump in his throat. "I want you to end me."

Aang's eyes widened in shock. "What?!"

"Even now, after everything that's happened, my family's legacy is still a part of me. That's why it's my duty to heal the scars that the Fire Nation has left on the world. But the Fire Lord's throne comes with a lot of pressures. And if I'm honest with myself... I need a safety net. The world needs a safety net. That's what I need you to be, Aang–the safety net."

"Zuko, you're not your dad! And you're my friend! How can you expect me–" Aang's voice broke, his hands trembling at his sides.

"As your friend, I'm asking you. If you ever see me go bad, end me. Promise me, Aang." Zuko's eyes were filled with determination, his voice quivering with the weight of his request.

Aang stared at Zuko for a moment, taking in the sincerity and the fear in his friend's eyes. He looked away before sighing heavily. "Fine. I promise."

The once lighthearted mood had turned sour. They returned to the celebrations to sign the treaty, and the king's advisors and aristocracy congratulated Zuko while suggesting highly suspicious trade deals. Yet, all Zuko could think about was the weight of the promise Aang was now carrying. Aang's usual playfulness had been replaced with brooding, and their conversation dwindled that night.

As they stood amid the festivities, the two friends exchanged uneasy glances, each lost in their thoughts. He placed his hand on Aang's shoulder. "Thank you… for doing this."

"I still can't understand, Zuko… Why?"

"Take a look around, Aang. All this… this is more important than the both of us. Whatever happens, you cannot put me ahead of it, before what we are trying to create…"

With sadness in his eyes, Aang nodded solemnly.

Despite the uncertainty, Zuko knew they could trust one another to face whatever challenges lay ahead, united in their commitment to create a better world.

The next day, they were already heading back to the Fire Nation. Iroh had packed a meal for them, which Sokka appreciated very much. Zuko was sad to be separated from his Uncle, but he could not abandon his duty. He waved back at him as he slowly faded into the distance. He eyed the red metal boxes full of scrolls and sighed. Might as well start now.

He brought one next to Sokka, who was already munching on some of the sweet treats. "Sokka, care to help?" With a full mouth, Sokka nodded enthusiastically.

Together, Zuko and Sokka spent most of the day poring over the scrolls, exchanging thoughts and comments on the various policies and proposals they found within. Sokka had actually given him some sound recommendations. The two became increasingly engrossed in the documents, their brows furrowing as they delved into the intricacies of Fire Nation politics.

Eventually, his eyelids grew heavy, and he drifted off to sleep, his head drooping over an open scroll. Katara gently nudged him awake, and he groggily rubbed his eyes and stretched, feeling the stiffness in his muscles from sitting for so long.

His vision was still blurry from a night spent poring over the scrolls; and as he looked around, the landscape had shifted to the familiar volcanic terrain of the Fire Nation. A sense of urgency filled him as he realized they were already close to arriving at the capital.

Katara, noticing his disheveled state, smiled sympathetically. "Seems like you guys had fun. Oh… here." She passed him a plain scroll with a white ribbon. "It must have rolled over to my side of the saddle."

"Thanks… I hope I finish reading it by th–" Zuko's words trailed off as he unfurled the scroll, his eyes widening in shock as he read its contents.

She noticed his expression. "What's wrong, Zuko?"

His voice shook slightly. "This needed my approval… By tradition, a new Fire Lord gives soldiers their pensions and retirement allowances as a sign of gratitude for their service…"

"It doesn't sound that bad. It's not like a bunch of soldiers are going to go crazy for not getting their payment… Right?"

His expression darkened. "You still don't understand… Payments are never late. Never. If I hadn't read all that-" He gestured loosely at the scattered scrolls. "I wouldn't even be aware of it!"

"Um…" said Aang uneasily. "Guys, I don't want to interrupt you back there, but… I think you should see this."

They exchanged worried glances before turning their attention to the scene Aang was indicating. As they arrived, a thick column of black smoke greeted them. Below, Harbor City was thronged with battleships, and columns of soldiers were forming near them.

Nearing the heart of the Caldera, Zuko's heart sank. Tumultuous crowds had amassed by the outer gates of the palace, barely held back by a thin line of imperial Guards. The chaotic cacophony of cantankerous curses and clashing armor echoed through the air, as protestors and soldiers alike fought.

Whilst they watched in horror, a chill descended down his spine as his father's sneer flashed in his mind. "Do you really believe you can handle it all on your own?"

 

[Fran Gark]

Edited by: Bieverdog

Book I

失衡

​

Act III: Peace and Tranquilizers

---

Chapter I​

Azula's eyes struggled to adjust to the harsh, flickering light while the high-pitched buzzing disoriented her. Her head spun with terrible throbbing pain. Instinctively, she attempted to massage her temples, but the cold chains binding her upright to a stretcher bolted to the floor prevented any relief. The metallic scent of iron filled the air, and the door to the room clanked open, revealing a man carrying a worn leather bag.



"Good day, princess," the stranger's voice echoed calmly and measured through the small chamber.



"Wha– Where am I?" Her senses still hazy, Azula squinted as she tried to orient herself, her vision disrupted by the blinding lights. She tracked the sound of footsteps, her gaze following the shadowy figure toward the door. As the man stepped into the light, dragging a chair with him, Azula noticed his wrinkled face and void eyes, his long, plain robes nearly touching the floor.



The man sat down, and Azula stared at him expectantly, her frustration growing as he ignored her question. His face remained impassive. "I only ask that you answer some questions. I'm sorry for the restraints, but we couldn't leave it to chance now, could we?" He retrieved a small notebook from the bag, his fingers trembling slightly.



Azula's desperation intensified, her eyes darting around the room, seeking any sign of emotion or acknowledgment from the man. But his unwavering stoicism only heightened her sense of helplessness, and she could feel her anger simmering beneath the surface.



"Who are you?" Azula's eyes narrowed, attempting to discern the man's features, partially obscured by shadows.



"That's not important, princess. What's important here is you. So, let's begin." His tone remained unchanged, betraying no emotion.



"Let me go at once! I command you!" She rattled her chains, her voice filled with anger and desperation, her eyes flashing with fury.



He sighed, continuing in the same dull tone. "I'm afraid I can't do that. I suggest you answer my questions. I hear you've been calling for your mother; why is that?" The man's face was a mask, his eyes dark, cold, and unyielding.



"Where is my father?!" Her breaths came in short, ragged gasps as she desperately tried to wrest control of the conversation.



"Please answer the question. It will be best if you cooperate--"



In response, Azula spat in his face, her eyes alight with defiance.



The man wiped away the saliva with a disgusted grimace and, without hesitation, jabbed a syringe into her arm. She jolted her head back, feeling the thick substance spreading through her veins, her vision blurring and hearing distorted once again.



His voice sounded distant, like a fading echo. "This will help you be more cooperative."



Azula closed her eyes, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over her. Her hands prickled, and she fought to stay conscious.



"So, let's see… Why do you call for your mother?" And Azula opened her eyes. In her blurred vision, she saw her mother now sitting where that man was, wearing that stranger's robe, and looking concerned.



Azula's voice trembled, her words laced with fear and anger. "I know what you want from me! You want to drag me to that place again; you fear me!"



Her mother scribbled something on a pad as she stared at Azula expectantly.



She gritted her teeth, defiance burning in her eyes. "You won't stop us! Father will find me; and when he does, not even Zuzu will be able to help you."



"Interesting… Continue, please." Her voice sounded off; it was hollow and distant.



"What twisted illusion have you created now?



Her mother put down the book, eyeing her inquisitively. "Why does your mother make you feel this way?"



"Shut up, you treacherous liar! When I get out of here, you'll have a scar to match your precious Zuzu's!"



A polite smile curved on her mother's lip. "I see…" She continued scribbling. "I hear your mother loves you very much. Have a good day, princess."



Azula's heart raced as the metallic door clanged shut, then the lights soon flickered off, plunging the room into darkness.



"Leave, leave, leave! All you do is leave, leave, leave…" Azula tried to hold back the tears, attempting to maintain a facade of strength. Her voice quavered as she whispered, "I won't let you see me cry."



Despite her efforts, a soft sob escaped her lips. She couldn't tell where she was, couldn't see anything other than the stained padded walls, could only feel the cold steel pressing against her body. There was no one there. Alone. Friendless. Forgotten. There was only smothering silence suffocating her in the darkness.



The smoke from the fires below blinded Zuko's sight. The fighting had erupted into a cacophony of flames and shouts of agony that rose from people struggling to escape the soldiers' onslaught.



"We have to stop them! Now! Get us closer to the ground." Zuko pointed to a clear rooftop.



Aang squinted. "I can't see a thing, Zuko."



"Forget it; I'm jumping!" His voice was resolute.



"Zuko, wait!" His friend called, but it was already too late.



Ignoring Aang's plea, Zuko jumped down to a roof, softening his landing with a burst of fire. The smoke made distinguishing the people from the soldiers difficult, so he guided himself by the sudden flashes of bent fire. Soldiers lay burnt on the ground while their comrades stood around them, bending flames blindly at the panicked crowd.



Zuko made short work of the soldiers, knocking them back with a sweeping kick of fire. He extended his hands to the soldiers trapped between the walls and the crowds frantically trying to escape.



"Stop! I order you to stop!" Zuko shouted to no avail. The throng flooded over him, ignoring his words. The shoving and trampling slammed him to the ground. He flailed blindly at the air and the clothes of each passerby. He couldn't breathe. Every second felt like an hour.



After the people had scattered, Zuko gasped desperately. Lying bruised on the ground, he could only force his aching body to breathe. He opened his eyes to the shrieks of the people and a boy's calls for his mother as people ran amok. Between the flashes of fire, he could barely see his friends in the distance.



A soldier caught in the chaos bent fire, pushing everyone aside. The boy could only gape in horror as the flames engulfed all around him. Zuko couldn't watch, couldn't listen to the boy's screams. A caressing hand of fire, then pain and blackness.



Zuko looked up glassily as the boy's screams of agony shattered his mind. He looked bewilderedly around him. Singed soldiers and civilians alike limped away from the chaos as others lay still on the street in agony, fire and smoke enveloping it all.



He crawled over to the little boy, who wailed in pain. He couldn't meet his eyes. The boy's faint screams slowly diminished until there was only the sound of crackling fire. Zuko rose slowly, feeling a lump in his throat. He had barely noticed the veil of smoke had turned thin. There were muffled shouts behind him. When he turned around, Aang was there, looking at him in shock. His friend stood still, staring at the boy. "Zuko, what… Katara! We need help over here!"



Katara ran to them. Kneeling in front of the wounded child, she tried to heal the boy, whispering soothingly, but her hope gave way to desperation. "Come on… Come on!" Her eyes began to fill with tears, her efforts futile.



He barely heard Aang's voice, filled with concern. "There has to be something we can do, anything!" He got up, his eyes vaguely looking around at the destruction. His friend looked his way. "Zuko? Zuko!" He just kept going, walking through the palace gates in shock.



He only heard the muffled marching of soldiers outside the gates. Colonel Mak ran to him, grabbing him and saying something he couldn't understand. And before Mak ran off, his guards arrived. The Lieutenant helped him inside the throne room, Mako closed the doors behind him, and he stood there with his head pounding.



All his ministers were waiting, but it was as if they didn't exist. He walked to the stairs and sat there, staring at the ground. As the seconds ticked, the ringing in his ears faded, and he returned to reality. Imperial Secretary Jing stood before him, holding his shoulder. "Your Majesty! Your Majesty, are you alright? The city is under control…"



Zuko mumbled, still dazed, "...Huh? What…"



Jing's voice was laced with concern. "...Largely through the efforts of Admiral Chan, My Lord."



His voice was weak. "What... How did this happen?" Zuko clutched his head.



"Oh, it was a tragedy, Your Majesty. The soldiers had come expecting their payments. I reassured them that you'd address their concerns soon, and they waited… However, when news of your journey to Ba Sing Se reached the public, they grew restless and tried to make their way into the palace, demanding answers.

It's disheartening to see how this new treaty has been misunderstood by some. But now that you are here, we can restore order and ease their concerns. We just got news that Admiral Chan has already made significant progress in quelling the unrest."



As Jing explained, he backed away. He rasped a bare whisper, "I need to… lie down a bit."



As Zuko's vision blurred, he felt lightheaded before collapsing.

 

[Fran Gark]

Edited by: Bieverdog

Book I

失衡

​

Act III: Peace and Tranquilizers

---

Chapter II​

A thunderstorm raged outside, the torrential rain battering the windows and roaring thunder piercing the silence of the night. As lightning illuminated the twisted visage of the Fire Nation palace, Azula found herself lost within its labyrinthine halls, her breaths shallow as her footsteps echoed through the seemingly endless corridor. Glimpses of shattered mirror fragments haunted her mind, mocking her as she trudged forward. The shifting shadows seemed to writhe around her, reveling in her frustration.



Suddenly, a silhouette caught her eye, bringing her to a halt. The roaring thunder jolted her back to reality, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. As she looked around, frantic and disoriented, she spotted a girl standing in the corner. Ty Lee.



Azula snarled, anger flaring within her. "You?! How is this possible? You were in prison!"



Ty Lee met her fierce glare with a pained expression. "I'm sorry, Azula; I couldn't bear to see you hurt Mai. How could you do this to us?" Her voice quivered, her gray eyes reflecting the flashes of lightning outside.



"Don't play stupid; you know very well what you did." Azula's voice trembled, her anger waning as an oppressive sadness seeped into her. "You betrayed the Fire Nation, betrayed me…"



"You were my best friend. I cared for you; I hurt others for you; I gave up my dreams for you…" Ty Lee's voice cracked, a tear escaping down her cheek. "But in the end, I realized you never cared for us. You were willing to hurt me, Azula, hurt us for your own selfish goals." She clutched her chest, struggling to maintain her composure.



Ty Lee's voice softened, the memories of their childhood surfacing. "Mai never feared you. And you know what? I didn't either. I pitied you. When I first met you, even though you were the Princess and everyone groveled at your feet, I saw through you." She walked closer to her as Azula tightened her fists. "You were all alone there. You were sad no one wanted to be your friend, so you covered it up by being mean to everyone.



"I stayed by your side, but maybe it would have been better if I hadn't, you know? Maybe one day, you'll know why no one liked you. We're definitely not friends anymore, but I hope…" She hesitated, tears streaming down her face. "I'm sorry, Azula, but I can't bring myself to forgive you for what you did."



"Shut up! My mother put you up with this, didn't she?… You… You–" Azula's voice faltered, her own tears betraying her.



Ty Lee looked at her one last time, her eyes filled with sorrow. "Goodbye… Azula." The softness of her words cut through the air like a knife.



Yearning to reply, Azula lifted her head only to be met with cold, empty white walls.

---

For the whole day, Zuko remained bedridden, too brokenhearted and ashamed of himself to face the world. His friends had visited him but were all as demoralized as he was. Mai had stayed with him, sitting at his bedside, looking at him worriedly.



"Zuko, you have to go; it's important that you attend court. Your duty as Fire L–"



"My duty as Fire Lord was to bring peace! And now, I see there was a price to pay."



"You can't blame yourself for everything, Zuko. It was an accident! You cannot expect–"



"An accident that I could have prevented! None of this was supposed to happen. I thought everyone would understand… Thought they…"



Mai put a hand on his cheek. "You cannot change the past, but now is your chance to give us all a better future. You cannot let your mistakes discourage your efforts for peace."



Zuko took her hand, considering her words. "I won't…" She was right; he couldn't let down the world. Giving up now would mean all their sacrifices would have been in vain. All those people would have died for nothing. It still pained him to think of what happened, yet it pained him more to think their deaths would be for nothing.



He arose slowly, resolved to attend. But he would have to redouble his efforts to get them to accept the treaty. Aang had offered his help, so they might be more sympathetic if he showed his support.



"Mai, I've got an idea. Please find Aang; tell him to attend court."



With a plan in mind, Zuko set to readying himself. Despite his regal title, the act of dressing and heading to the throne room felt detached, like an actor prepping for a performance. The somber history of the space loomed over him as he selected his royal garb. Once ready, he made his way to the throne room.



Lieutenant Mako, who had been standing guard at his door the entire day, nearly recoiled at Zuko's emergence. His armor bore the marks of the recent conflict. What had been untarnished and spotless was now blackened and singed. Fatigue was etched into the lines of his face, yet his eyes flickered with unwavering dedication. "Is everything alright, Your Majesty? If you need any help, I can–"



"No, it's fine." Zuko hesitated for a moment. "I'm sorry I didn't thank you before… for helping me."



The Lieutenant bowed his head, resolute. "I was just doing my duty, sir. You owe me no gratitude."



"I'm thankful either way… How could things have gone so wrong? What happened?" The question hung in the air.



Mako grimaced. "It's hard for me to understand, sir. One moment, everything was fine; the next, the palace was encircled by our own forces and civilians… We were tasked with holding the palace gates, but then a fight broke out, and everyone was let loose. After you arrived, we had to make sure you were safe and–"



He held his hand out gently. "That's enough; you don't need to say anything else… Get some rest now."



Mako nodded modestly, and Zuko patted his shoulder before turning away.



As he approached the throne room, he stood before its imposing, intricately-carved gilded doors, and the guards posted by it, snapped to attention, saluting him with a respectful bow, and swung the colossal doors open.



The gatekeeper announced him. "His Majesty, Fire Lord Zuko, attends court."



His heart pounded in rhythm with his footsteps as he moved through the room. Ministers' eyes, each carrying their own questions, doubts, and hopes, watched him with anxious expectation. He navigated past bowed heads and marched his way up to the throne. The golden dragon that decorated the wall behind seemed to watch him, its fiery eyes reflecting his determination. Seating himself, he declined to ignite the ceremonial flames.



"What's your report on yesterday's incident?"



Lee, the minister who had been tasked with this grim account, shifted uncomfortably. His voice trembled. "I am sorry to report fifty-eight lives were lost, Your Majesty. The Ministry of the Colonies and properties near the palace have been damaged as well."



His heart tightened with grief, but Zuko hardened his resolve. "Minister Lee, make sure the families of the afflicted receive generous compensation for their losses. Take care to repair the damaged buildings as well." The man nodded, and Zuko made a swift motion with his hand, encouraging the minister to rejoin the rest.



Zuko rose to his feet, the heavy weight of responsibility hanging from his shoulders. His voice echoed solemnly in the cavernous chamber. "Yesterday was a dark day for our Nation. We cannot allow our citizens' deaths to be for nothing. I know we had our differences with the Earth Kingdom; however, their people have suffered just as much as ours. Memories of past grudges and wrongdoings fuel the hatred of today, but it's necessary sometimes to let bygones be bygones. It is time we let go of the past so we can face the future not as enemies but as friends, working together to achieve harmony and prosperity between our peoples."



"That is why I've made my decision to sign and adhere to the Harmony Restoration Movement–" His declaration sent shockwaves through the room.



Taiku was the first to challenge him. "With all due respect, Your Majesty, what you are proposing is unthinkable! His dark brown eyes were wide with disbelief and indignation. The weathered lines on his face deepened as he sneered. "Are you expecting me to tell our colonists to pack their bags just because their Fire Lord commands it?" Taiku's normally hardened features softened in a rare display of vulnerability. "They've lost loved ones in their homes' defense. Now you want them to abandon it all?"



Then, his voice dipped into a lower register, a sinister whisper that bounced off the walls. "You have a good heart, my liege, but I'm afraid those Earth Kingdom savages have taken advantage of it. They're beguiling you with gifts while holding a knife behind their backs, ready to stab us the moment we don't comply." Taiku's words hung in the air as murmuring grew among the ministers.



Taiku implored, his voice barely a whisper now, "I urge you, Your Majesty, to consider the voice of your people. Don't let this escalate into another disaster."



Zuko's eyes and his voice remained steady. "I assure you I have taken the advice of this council and the plights of our people into consideration, but you forget that we are not at war anymore."



Taiku's disbelief turned into bitter resentment. "Perhaps not now; but two weeks ago, we still held their city. Do you really think these people hold us in high regard? Yesterday was a clear demonstration of what our people think of this 'treaty'. It is dishonorable. They lost the war, and they have the gall of– "



Zuko's voice cut him off like a blade, silencing the room, "Enough!" Taiku's face hardened.



The court watched in awed silence as he descended to meet Taiku eye to eye. "Yesterday was not a reflection of our people's sentiment towards this treaty. It is fear and misunderstanding."



"We will have that treaty. If this must be done in order for peace to endure, then that is what I will do. You will ensure our colonists leave Earth Kingdom soil and come back home safely. I will see this through, and that is final. You are dismissed, Overseer Taiku."



The old minister bowed stiffly, turning to leave. He dragged his long robes with each heavy step. Exiting through the grand doors, leaving the court in suspense.



The Fire Lord scanned the rest of the ministers. "As I was saying, this treaty will be the first step to a new era of cooperation between our peoples. The Avatar has agreed to help us enforce it. By next year, the greatest scar of the Hundred-year War will be erased, ushering in a century of peace."



The applause he received was scattered and hesitant, a clear reflection of the room's uncertainty.



The main doors of the throne room parted again to reveal the Avatar. Aang swiftly stood tall, his eyes darting nervously at the sea of faces in the room.



"Avatar Aang attends court." All of those present turned their heads towards the entrance.



Their collective gazes seemed to have frozen Aang in place, so Zuko beckoned him forward. "Avatar Aang, please come forward."



Aang walked slowly, greeting the surrounding ministers with nods and nervous smiles. Then he bowed before him, staring back at him cluelessly, and whispered softly, "...What's going on, Zuko," though he was sure the room was quiet enough for many to hear.



"Just play along with it…" Zuko urged softly before returning his attention to the court. His voice rang clear and commanding. "I hereby decree, with the court as my witness, that you have permission to enforce my will to comply with the Harmony Restoration Movement." By now, he was certain the reality of his plan began to settle into the hearts of the court. "You will be tasked with aiding the repatriation of Fire Nation citizens back to the Fire Islands." He gestured for a document to be brought to him.



Rising to his feet, Aang accepted the responsibility with a booming voice, perhaps too loud for the setting. "I gracefully accept this task with all the responsibilities it entails, Your Fireiness."



"Then our efforts begin today." Zuko's hand dipped into a small pouch, retrieving a ring etched with the Fire Nation insignia. Slipping it onto his finger, he bent over the document, fire dancing from his fingertips as he marked the paper. The branded document was then handed over to Aang. His friend bowed with his arms spread out wide in exaggerated reverence to repay the gesture.



Amidst the hushed silence that followed, Jing seized the opportunity to interject. Her lips were curled into a knowing smile. "Fire Lord, while your commitment is commendable, it is undoubtedly an arduous task. May I suggest a method to expedite the process?"



Zuko's gaze shifted to her, a nod indicating his consent. "Go ahead."



Her smile widened. "Thank you. Before you left, we discussed the possibility of a new ministry. I imagine Your Majesty has been able to examine the draft I handed you." Upon Zuko's nod of confirmation, she continued, "In that case, the introduction of the Ministry couldn't come at a more opportune time. Imagine, Fire Lord, constant communications with the Earth Kingdom. We could swiftly handle any complications that may arise. So, if His Majesty has decided, I think we should begin planning to instate it."



"Very well. I will summon the royal architects tomorrow."



Her golden eyes sparkled as she held her hands. "I think there is yet a faster way. Why not use an empty building? The Army has many empty buildings in the Capital. Using one of their buildings would also send a strong message to the Earth King that we intend to have a government focused on the people, not its military."



Another minister frowned, and she stepped forward. A sapphire hung around her neck surrounded by smaller red gems, contrasting with the fiery colors of the court. "Your Majesty, I believe the Imperial Secretary is mistaken on this matter. I think you should not antagonize them any further. Let the recent situation cool down before attempting this." Her calm demeanor and soft voice belied the wisdom she possessed.



Jing turned to her, an eyebrow raised in challenge. "Oh, Minister Renhao, have you so easily forgotten that the military are the Fire Lord's loyal subjects? The High Command has already condoned yesterday's terrible events. It was all a misunderstanding." Jing's gaze drifted back to Zuko, her words punctuated with urgency. "Your Majesty, this situation calls for immediate action. We could offer to build new buildings for the Army in exchange."



He contemplated his words before coming to a decision. "Then it is settled–I want you to notify General Bujing of this development. And since a new Ministry will soon be in place, I need a list of candidates for our ambassador to the Earth Kingdom. We will continue this discussion tomorrow."



After the court session adjourned, the throne room gradually emptied, the echo of parting greetings and murmured conversations lingering in the vast space. Zuko beckoned Aang over.



His friend hesitated for a moment before joining him. "You did great, Zuko! I gotta admit I was sort of clueless why you got me here in the first place, but that document thing was pretty smart."



"That was Mai's idea, but thanks. We'll make this happen, Aang." Zuko's gaze met Aang's. A shared understanding passed between them.



Aang let out a deep sigh, his gaze trailing across the ornate throne room, the enormity of their task finally sinking in. "Yeah… There's still a lot to do. People still need us."



"I know, but we will do it together. I'll give all the help I can from here." He motioned to his friend to follow. "Come on; there's something I want to give you before I send you off." As he led Aang outside the throne room, a guard handed him a small chest, and he laid it on the floor.



Zuko opened the lid to see it was filled with glittering silver coins that bore a flame. "It's not much, but it'll help you get some supplies. And show that paper to any Fire Nation official who doesn't comply with you."



Aang furrowed his brow and said gently, "Zuko, this is more than enough."



Zuko chuckled. "I know; it's just in case Sokka decides to go on a spending spree. Try not to waste too much."



Leaving the majestic splendor of the palace behind them, Zuko and Aang emerged into the waning sunlight. The rest of their friends were waiting in the courtyard. Sokka, wrestling a bulging bag onto Appa's saddle, was assisted by Toph's deft earthbending. Nearby, Katara and Suki were engaged in a last-minute inventory check.



The sight of them approaching drew their friends' attention. Toph darted towards Zuko first, her knuckles colliding with his arm. "We're going to miss you, Sparky."



"BoomerAang hug!" Sokka grinned.



Katara let out an exasperated groan. "Sokka!"



He laughed as he winked at Zuko. "You know, at this point, I'm just doing it to annoy her."



Zuko smiled, clapping his friends on their shoulders. "Good luck, guys! You too, buddy." He patted Appa who responded with a generous lick that left him dripping. "Uh… thanks."



Katara bent the saliva off him.



With final waves and shouted goodbyes, Team Avatar hoisted themselves onto Appa. As they slowly began to ascend, Zuko watched, his voice echoing in the quiet courtyard. "Good luck, Aang." He watched as his friends vanished into the horizon, the fading light of the day cloaking the path ahead of them.



The weight of his responsibility felt all the heavier in the silence that followed, but he knew that they were each playing their part in healing the wounds of the past. And he would do his share of it to the utmost of his abilities.

 

[Fran Gark]

Edited by: Bieverdog

Book I

失衡

​

Act III: Peace and Tranquilizers

---

Chapter III​

As twilight settled over the Fire Nation colony of Yu Dao, casting an ethereal veil of lavender and crimson across the sprawling landscape, Youke was preparing to leave the refinery. The fiery heat of the day still radiated off the sunbaked ground, and the memory of the grinding and hissing of the machines lingered in his ears. The promise of returning home to his wife's Flaming Fire Cakes, sweet and spicy, and waiting for him on Xingqiwu, teased his senses as he was about to lock up the factory.



Just as he was turning the final key, a tiny flicker caught his eye. A solitary candle flame was still dancing defiantly against the impending darkness upstairs. Sighing, he went back inside, climbing the metal stairs to extinguish the rebellious light. His mind was already drifting towards the peaceful evening ahead, laughter around the dinner table, his wife's tender smile.



His fingers pinched the wick, snuffing out the tiny flame that held the darkness at bay. A sense of finality washed over him. But the stillness of the moment was shattered by a startling crash. Suddenly, his heart hitched in his chest. Accompanied by the ominous sound of footsteps marching rhythmically over the metal floor of the workshop.



Fear sliced through his daydreams, and he cautiously moved to the edge of the landing. Down below, he saw five hooded figures, maybe others with their backs against the wall, near the entrance… He was trapped, their identities obscured by shadowy cloaks, their postures radiating an aura of foreboding.



Their murmurs, at first indistinguishable, slowly started to solidify into phrases that turned Youke's blood to ice.



A voice seeped into the silence, dripping with contempt. "Shouldn't they stay outside?"



Another, more polished voice hissed, "They are with me, rest assured. Are you certain we weren't followed?"



"I'm sure; this place is safe. Workers are gone by this time."



"This is outrageous."



"It's insane! Our new Fire Lord, a puppet on the strings of the Earth Kingdom!"



"No, he is a weak ruler who has been led astray by the Earth King and his lackeys. Those corrupt savages have always been more cunning than they've let on."



"Unrest is rampant; the capital is churning in chaos. We must intervene!"



"Now, now, my lords, let's remain composed. Panic will do us no good."



"Composed?! Our nation crumbles around us, and you advise calmness?"



"The banished prince, they call him. His father knew he was an odd one from the start."



A voice rose above the rest, calm yet commanding. "I propose a solution." A brief silence ensued. "My father and I have contemplated this scenario extensively. While we believe we may still be able to sway the situation in our favor, we must consider all options. Deposition might be our only recourse if His Majesty continues on this path."



"A bold proposal, yet one we should keep at hand, given the circumstances."



"My good lords, we still have two prime candidates for the crown, have we not?"



"My contacts say they are both kept under strict surveillance."



"I am aware of this, I trust that our current Fire Lord can still be steered to the right course. However, Zuko's knack for attracting enemies is… concerning. His reign might be as transient as a comet in the night sky, and for this we must be prepared."



"For the sake of our nation, we shall prepare, whatever it takes. Tell your father he has our support."



"Then it is agreed. I'll reach out to our allies in the capital."



Youke's breath hitched as the conversation washed over him. This wasn't a mere gathering of disgruntled officials; it was a clandestine meeting of treasonous conspirators. Fear coiled around his heart like a snake, squeezing tighter with every whispered word. The only thought that flashed through his mind was to escape, to return to his wife, to warn someone. But before he could turn, he accidentally knocked a small tool off a shelf, the resulting clatter echoing ominously in the silent factory.



In the deadly silence that followed, one of them looked up, his tone icier and more dangerous than the others. "Seems like we've got some company…"



He closed his eyes; he couldn't hear anything. Maybe they had just up and left. He peeked around the corner. Then, everything happened in a blur. Figures moved unnaturally along the walls, ascending towards him with an inhuman agility. He was frozen in fear, as if the sight of these shadowy beings had petrified him. He dared to glance around the corner, expecting to see the hooded figures. But they were gone.



Just as he risked another glance, his attention was drawn upwards. A rustling noise and then a swift descent of stone gloves. Youke's breath hitched, his eyes widened in terror. This was the last thing he would ever see.

---

Azula was wrenched from the treacherous precipice of sleep by a discordant clatter that punctured the eerie quiet outside her room. Fatigue clung to her like a second skin; her hands quivered like leaves caught in a sudden gust of wind, and her eyes, heavy with weariness, fluttered shut against her will. The somber mumble of conversation seeped through the dilapidated walls as if carried by the damp air clinging to them.



The tentative voice of a woman ventured from outside her cell. "She has refused to eat or drink anything for the past few days, sir." The words were frayed with worry.



"And?" Indifferent, leaving no room for comfort.



"Aren't you concerned that she might starve?"



The man's voice was cold and detached, as if discussing the weather or a mundane task. "Look, in my experience, it's just a ploy or some delirium of hers. If she dies, who's going to care? Just like all the others here, she's just another freak the world has buried here."



Azula strained against the muffling confinement of her room as each word pierced through her solitude, serving as a stark reminder of her hopeless existence. She was an afterthought in a world that had once revered and feared her. Her name, once spoken with terror and respect, was now a mere footnote in their clinical observations.



"I'm here to wait out my pension. Her? She's here because they think it's a good carpet to sweep their mistakes and inconveniences under. The way I see it, I'd rather die than be an inconvenience to society. Shows you what kind of rulers we have nowadays."



He waxed nostalgic. "In the good old days of Sozin, we just dissected them for study. Much more humane than watching them scream and giggle sixteen hours a day and mutter for eight hours more." But his recollections held no comfort for her. Fear tightened around her heart, constricting her chest.



A moment of silence lingered before he hummed in indifference. "Peace and tranquilizers, that's all they need. Go ahead; force her to eat if you want. It's not like that nut is going anywhere."



Azula was left in her whitewashed solitude. But not for long. The reluctant groan of the heavy door signaled an end to her isolation. Her scant refuge, already oppressive with its faded, moisture-stained padding, contracted around her, swallowing the dim light that dared to filter in.



The nurse coaxed her. "Young lady… you must drink something," her voice laced with urgency as she proffered a glass. She glanced nervously towards the door. There was an infectious edginess about her, stirring the calm surface of Azula's lethargy.



She drank eagerly, the water's tepid mundanity a harsh contrast to her parched throat. She choked, her voice emerging as a hoarse rasp against the quiet backdrop of the room.



Azula managed to whisper, "...What is this place?" the reality of her situation washing over her with the dull echo of the nurse's answer.



"You're in an asylum."



"No… No, no, that can't be. I was in my room and then my Mother… She–" The room echoed back her denial. She was Princess Azula, not some faceless patient. Yet, the cruel irony was that she was indeed a patient now, reduced to her base elements: scared, lost, and confined within an asylum.



"Calm down; they'll hear you." The nurse's words were a whisper, but the undercurrent of urgency sent a chill down Azula's spine. Her heart drummed a rapid, uncontrollable rhythm, echoing the quickening pace of distant footsteps.



The approaching footsteps sounded ominous, each metallic thud resonating within her like the tolling of a bell. The nurse whispered quickly, "Whatever you do, don't resist, or they'll keep you in here." Her words left a lingering trace of dread as she slipped through the door, her exit marked by the screech of unoiled hinges.



As the door groaned open once more, that old man from before stepped in, casting a long shadow across the room. His unyielding dark eyes pierced through her, and his polite, unassuming smile held an eerie cheerfulness that seemed starkly out of place.



His voice held an undertone of command. "Thank you kindly. I think another guest needs your assistance down the hall. Would you be so kind as to check on him?" The nurse quickly acquiesced, her gaze lowered in resignation as she stepped past him.



"Good morning, princess. I've brought a few friends; I do hope you don't mind. You won't even notice them, I promise." The man's smile held a haunting serenity, a twisted contrast to the chaos building within her. With a casual wave, he invited a parade of faceless strangers into her cell, their presence threatening to drown her within the confines of her room.



"I couldn't help but notice that Your Highness hasn't taken a bath in some time, so I've brought you a present. Only the best for the princess." He bowed slightly.



Azula swallowed hard, her throat dry and her voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you…"



With a clap of his hands, he motioned for the women to guide her to the cold bath, the chill water eliciting a soft gasp from her lips. His next gift, a metallic band that he gently fit around her head, sent a fresh wave of fear coursing through her veins.



His voice had a forced cheeriness that did little to mask the chilling reality of the situation. "I need you to wear this if you don't mind; it will help you relax." As the metallic contraption connected to the covered object whirred to life, she felt her breath hitch in anticipation.



The water was freezing cold, but her body, already accustomed to the cold of the room. The man uncovered the object. It was a metal disc strung on a pole, with a handle on one side. Her breath hitched. As the man turned the handle, the disk began turning progressively faster, crackling sparks jumping from it. She gulped, her eyes widening in fear.



"Ah, I almost forgot. Here." He produced a wooden board, holding it out to her like a peace offering. "Bite down hard on this." Her heart raced as the man connected the lines to the machine.



Her body convulsed as raw electricity coursed through her, the scream lodged in her throat giving birth to nothing more than a silent plea, muffled by the wooden board.

 

[Fran Gark]

Edited by: Bieverdog

Book I

失衡​

Act III: Peace and Tranquilizers

---

Chapter IV​

The summer afternoon sun painted the sky in a brilliant azure hue, dotted by small clouds as Appa soared through them with Aang at the reins. Aang's face was a study of introspection, his normally cheerful eyes clouded with worry. "I feel bad about leaving Zuko alone now," he admitted, his voice slightly troubled.



From his side, Katara offered a warm smile, her blue eyes brimming with understanding. "Yeah, me too. But he's got Mai with him.



Aang murmured, "I guess you're right…" His eyes trailing the green expanse below.



Sokka's grumble cut through their conversation, drawing their attention. He was sprawled awkwardly across Appa's saddle, his features contorted into a mask of feigned discomfort. "Can't you two lovebirds quit worrying for a moment? I'm trying to sleep here."



Suki, sitting across from them, chimed in after a thoughtful pause. "To be honest, I'm a bit worried too. Did you see Zuko?"



Toph shrugged, her eyes pointed towards them and her face artfully impassive, a deadpan expression in place. "Definitely."



Suki's cheeks flushed in a shade of pink. "Oops. Right, sorry." Her eyes darted away.



The Avatar's gaze wandered over his friends, his face softening as he observed them. "We're almost there. We'll stop by for some supplies before heading to Yu Jin. We can drop you off later at Kyoshi Island, Suki."



A sharp nudge from Suki roused Sokka from his slumber. "Wake up, Sokka; we're here."



"Huh, wha– Not now, Suks."



"What!"



Her surprised exclamation echoed around them, causing Sokka to jolt awake, his eyes wide with bewilderment. He fumbled. "Wha– What? I didn't say anything, I swear!" His gaze darted between their accusatory faces.



Katara looked on in awe. "Wow! Is that Yu Dao?"



Nestled in a rocky valley, the walled city dominated the horizon, and its goulash of green and red rooftops drifted into view. Fire Nation flags flapping proudly over the city walls. The sprawling city was teeming with life. The people's fashion matched its color scheme. Two large avenues bisected in the middle, creating near-perfect quadrants. In the center stood an arch headed by a statue of Sozin. The architecture was reminiscent of a time when the ambitious Fire Lord dreamt of a grand colonial blueprint.



Katara mused aloud, her voice hushed in respect. "This must be the largest colony…"



Unmoved by the spectacle, Toph merely gripped the saddle like a koala-kitten. "Cool."



Meanwhile, Sokka punched the air, a hint of mischief sparkling in his eyes. "Oh yeah, we're going shopping! ...For important travel stuff, of course." His excitement was barely concealed behind the guise of practicality.



His enthusiasm earned him a chastising look from Katara. "We can't waste this money on trinkets, Sokka; it's not even ours."



Sokka shot a finger into the air, grinning cheekily. "It is technically ours now. Plus, Zuko said that we should spend it on whatever we need." His justification was met with Katara's disbelieving gaze.



"Whatever we need for our journey, not extra monocle lenses."



He put on an air of gravitas. "What? We do need those! You never know when I'll have a case to crack!"



With a resigned sigh, Katara rolled her eyes, choosing to let the matter slide. The Gaang's arrival was met with an unusual silence. No welcoming party was present, no cheers of admiration for the Avatar. It was a stark contrast to their usual receptions.



Toph huffed a laugh. "They sure love you here, Twinkletoes."



Aang tried to shrug off the eerie quiet, forcing an optimistic smile. "Maybe they didn't see us."



Sokka playfully held his cheeks, mimicking fright. "Or maybe they are still evil and plan to murder you when you cross the gate." His teasing elicited a glare from Katara, which he waved off with a 'just saying'.



Looking between them, the Avatar shrugged. "Why don't you guys go ahead? The mountainside here sure looks beautiful; I'll go take a look."



Katara gave him a worried look. "Aang, what are you trying to avoid?"



"Nothing, nothing." Yet his eyes did not meet hers.



Her tone was soft, reassuring. "Come on; I know you."



With a reluctant sigh, Aang bit out, "It's just… It's just that I wanted to be alone to meditate for a while. I couldn't speak with Roku in the Fire Nation. He could have some useful advice, you know."



"You can't always ignore all your problems, Aang. How about I go with you? We can go see the mountains together and talk."



He nodded, then looked ahead. The others had already gone inside the city. As they flew over the landscape, the view took their breath away. Tall mountains rose above the dense forests, their peaks glistening under the golden light of the setting sun. A stream snaked its way across the landscape, its path leading to a large dam. Terraced paddies stretched across a steep hillside, their layered pattern resembling a giant ladder. As they moved closer, a building came into view at the top of a mountain, a Fire Nation flag fluttering proudly against the azure sky.



The late afternoon air was filled with the melancholic hum of cicadas as Aang released a heavy sigh, his eyes lost in the waning light of the horizon. The burden of the world seemed to hang heavily on his young shoulders, his brow creased with worry.



Katara, intuitively perceptive as ever, studied him with a soft look of concern. "You seem troubled, Aang. What's on your mind?" Her voice was the calm after a storm, radiating solace.



Aang's gaze remained distant. His words hung heavy in the tranquil air. "Do you think... Do you think it's our fault, what happened to those people?"



She shook her head confidently. "No. It wasn't Zuko's fault, either. Those people spent their whole lives at war. You cannot expect them to be happy, but it is the right thing to do."



"Roku kept telling me the same."



She raised a brow at his sudden confession. "Didn't you say that you hadn't spoken with Roku?"



Caught off guard, Aang quickly mumbled an apology before sighing. "It's just that it doesn't feel like the war has ended. I thought that if we defeated the Fire Lord, that would be it, that the people of the Fire Nation and the world would be happy. I just don't understand…"



She whispered, "When I lost my mother to the Fire Nation, my heart was filled with hatred for them. I couldn't understand how someone could be so cruel. It took me time to realize they weren't monsters; they were people. Just… raised differently from us. Remember that party in the cave? Those kids were so much like us, but they had been taught to despise the world, transformed into tools for their nation."



She took his hands, her voice brimming with conviction. "They fear and hate us because that is all they know. They think we can only have peace in a world where the other nations don't exist, but we will prove them wrong. We can show them a better way."



Aang seemed lost in thought, his eyes staring at their intertwined hands. He asked hesitantly, "Do you think… they can change Zuko?"



Her gentle voice broke through his insecurity. "Aang, you have to stop worrying about that promise. Yes, Zuko has struggled in the past, but he's proven himself to be different from his father."



"But what if--"



She tenderly cupped his face in her hands. "If anything comes to pass, we will deal with it together. You worry too much."



Aang looked down again and sighed. "You're probably right… Thanks, Katara." And she smiled.



As they continued their flight around the mountains, the setting sun painting the horizon with its golden hues, they decided to return to Yu Dao. As soon as they touched the ground, an excited Sokka raced towards them. Toph and Suki trailed behind him, their expressions a mix of amusement and resignation.



"Guys! Guys, you won't believe it! The Boulder is here for a match. We cannot miss this! I've got us six tickets, front row and everything! This is going to be legendary!" Sokka's words spilled out like a runaway waterfall.



Katara threw up her hands. "Woah! Sokka, slow down." But Aang's face was alight with excitement. "Wow! When does it start?"



"In an hour! And they've got firebenders too. We have to be there, guys! This is our one chance."



Seeing her brother's fervor, Katara acquiesced. "Okay, okay, but just this once. Tomorrow, we have to leave for Yu Jin."



Following Sokka's lead, they reached a dilapidated factory on the outskirts of Yu Dao, where there were people already gathering outside.



An announcer perched on a barrel bellowed, "Tonight, The Boulder meets his arch nemesis, Fire Nation Man, for the Yu Dao Earth Rumble Championship. Then the Smoky Dragon faces Agni Guy in the final of the Dragon Brawl. Ladies and gentlemen, in our main event, the champions from both tournaments will clash in a Magma Meltdown! Fire and Earth! Masters of their elements! Who will prevail? Find out tonight!"



"Magma meltdown?!" Sokka's mouth was agape before forming a besotten smile.



Toph shrugged cockily. "Meh, they wouldn't stand a chance against me. Sadly, I had to retire early to help some bald guy."



"A magma meltdown?" Katara raised an eyebrow.



Suki shrugged. "It does sound interesting."



With a seamless transition from the dwindling twilight to the artificial glow of lanterns, the factory became a beacon of excitement. They wove their way into the growing throng of spectators, the hum of anticipation palpable. The second level of the factory was teeming with eager fans, their eager faces turned towards the battleground.



In the center of the building, a hexagonal pit stood, the platform in its midst ominously quiet. On its periphery, smaller fighting stages played host to minor clashes, the combatants' fiery determination mirroring the electrified crowd.



Katara turned to Sokka, her gaze questioning. "Sokka, are you sure you bought us first-row tickets?"



Toph smirked knowingly. "Told ya. First-row seats are always a scam."



Sokka's disappointment was briefly discernible before he slapped on a brave smile. "Look! Who cares; the arena is right there–" He gestured towards the pit. But before they could respond, their view was swallowed in a tidal wave of standing fans.



Suddenly, from the pit's heart, a pillar of stone erupted. Atop it stood a muscular man with flowing hair.



His voice echoed, silencing the crowd. "Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to the Yu Dao Bending Championship! Let the fighting begin!"



He jumped off as the pillar descended to the ground.



The voice of the announcer seemed to resonate within the factory, a sonorous tune to the unfolding drama. "The earthbending rookies on the left corner are looking as confident as ever tonight. Will they be able to hold their string of victories? On the right-hand side, the earth rumble fighters prepare–" And the first rookie was unceremoniously flung out of the ring.



The Boulder, a rock-solid tower of muscle, created a mini earthquake across the ring, catapulting another fighter into the air. It was a scene of pure chaos. Fire Nation Man blanketed the ring with a shroud of dust, obscuring the vision but not the rampant energy of the fighters. The rookies retaliated, their lack of sight compensated by the swift and almost frantic hurling of small rocks. Amidst the blindness, The Boulder commanded a pillar of rock to swipe across the ring, sweeping his opponents away in a swift victory. When the dust settled, only two figures stood tall–The Boulder and Fire Nation Man.



After a dramatic pause, the announcer's voice resonated above the roars of the crowd. "Flying fire ferrets, what a thrashing! The pros made short work of the newbies. Only Fire Nation Man and Boulder remain standing!"



"The Boulder will crush you into ash then eat it for dinner!" His words were met with a chorus of boos.



In response, his opponent sang, "Oh Agni, save our gracious Fire Lord! Long live our noble Fire Lord! Fire Nation, Glorious above all!"



"The Boulder has heard enough! He will send you straight to Agni. In a rockalanche!



Fire Nation Man leapt from a bent pillar over his opponent and seized the initiative, pinning The Boulder with a barrage of rocks. Yet, The Boulder shattered his rocky shackles, meeting his opponent head-on. The ensuing struggle was earth-shattering, their titanic clash fracturing the very ground they stood on. A misstep from The Boulder, and Fire Nation Man seized the opportunity, blasting The Boulder off the platform with a hurled rock.



The crowd erupted in cheers as the announcer's voice echoed, "We have a knockout! Fire Nation Man deals a crushing blow to his nemesis!"



Toph blew a blue-raspberry. "Nemesis? Give me one minute, and I'll show them who's whose nemesis!"



Sokka recoiled in horror. "Boulder, noooo!"



As the defeated were cleared away and the ring restored to its former glory, the anticipatory buzz of the crowd swelled again. The announcer fueled the anticipation. "Yu Dao, prepare to witness a fire-breathing monstrosity: the fearsome… the dominating… Smoky Dragon!"



Recognition flashed across the group's faces and Aang pointed out. "Hey, isn't that the performer from the Fire Days Festival?" He was met with nods of agreement.



Adorned in his signature white outfit, the performer brought to life a funnel of fire that took the form of a dragon. The crowd's reaction was electric. As he bowed and waved, roses found their way to his feet.



Aang's eyes sparkled with delight. "That was my idea!" He pointed at him proudly.



Katara's mouth was a flat line. "I think he's a showoff."



"Ok, I'm rooting for that guy now. Go, Smoky Dragon!" Sokka flung his arms up in excitement, narrowly avoiding smacking Katara.



"In the other corner, the challenger: a dark and mysterious warrior of the Fire Nation, Aaaagni Guy!"



The warrior's entrance was as dark as his attire. The mysterious masked soldier, clad in black armor, held a gleaming steel trident, an ominous presence in the pit. The Smoky Dragon sent a scorching blast his way, only to see him slice through the fire, retaliate with a series of flame-fueled attacks, and finally pierce his cape. The performer faltered, stumbling backwards. Agni Guy ended his assault with a swift, brutal blast to the performer's chest



A collective gasp echoed throughout the factory, followed by an awestruck silence. The announcer's voice shattered the quiet, "What did I just see?! He did it! The challenger has overcome the odds! Don't leave your seats; we're in for a night full of surprises!"



"Round two!"



The performer looked livid, while Agni Guy remained composed, taunting Smoky Dragon with his spear. The performer retaliated with a fire dragon, only to see Agni Guy stand his ground, slashing it in half. The crowd was wild.



"Enough!" Driven by rage, the performer sent a cascade of fireballs over the pit, but the warrior evaded each strike with uncanny precision. As Agni Guy advanced, the performer's bravado faltered. One final, brutal thrust of his trident sent the performer crashing against the wall, leaving him unconscious.

 

[Fran Gark]

Edited by: Bieverdog

Book I

失衡

​

Act III: Peace and Tranquilizers

---

Chapter V​

The days lost their distinction, bleeding into each other in an inchoate smear of endless darkness. Time had become an elusive phantom, a concept as real to her as a dream. Azula could no longer remember the last time she saw her mother's face. Not that it mattered. Her mother, the woman whose eyes only reflected that false grief, was hardly a comfort. Azula's whole being was a cacophony of agony, each bone aching, each muscle pulsating with raw, unyielding pain. The headaches were relentless, hammering at her temples like a manic drumbeat.



Once she had been a force to be reckoned with, her indomitable will renowned, her fiery spirit feared. She initially tried to face that torture with icy defiance, a sneer on her face, but her curses and threats all fell on blind eyes and deaf ears. As the sessions multiplied, the pain grew unbearable, the current of electricity burning through her nerves like wildfire. Each jolt of pain was a venomous bite, nibbling away at her resolve until she was left a mere shell of her former self.



In her quieter moments, an unsettling presence made itself known. Azula began to hear familiar sounds echoing in that sterile place–the deadly whisper of knives cutting through the air, the soft thud as they embedded themselves into the padded walls. She never saw her, but she felt her presence like a ghostly specter skulking in the shadows.



"Mai?" her voice would echo against the cold walls, but the silence would merely stretch on, leaving her grappling with the disturbing quiet. In the chilling silence, they seemed to conspire against her, her mind breeding these phantoms to torment her.



One day, the monotonous routine was disrupted. The hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor, their sound now intimately familiar. Azula froze, her heart pounding, each beat echoing her fear of that man.



As the door creaked open, her desperation welled up, spilling over in a string of broken pleas.



An unexpected voice fluttered through the sterile coldness of her cell. "Young lady… it's me. Don't you recognize me?"



Azula's heart clenched, her despair propelling her into a plea that bore the weight of her entire shattered spirit. "You need to… get me out of here, please. Even– Even if you have to kill me." Each word was a cry in the darkness, a last-ditch attempt to escape the torment that had become her existence.



The nurse recoiled slightly. A gasp fell from her lips, followed by a soft whisper."Oh my, what have they done to you? That monster."



"I… I came here because I had good news… You'll be allowed outside." The words landed on Azula's ears like a thunderclap.



"Out… side?" The idea seemed almost unthinkable, her reality had shrunk to these walls.



"Yes, but if you do anything wrong, they'll send you back here, understand?" A wheelchair was brought forth, its cold, metallic frame glinting under the harsh artificial lights. With ginger movements, they lifted Azula, her body limp in their hands, and laid her onto it. The sensation of moving forward felt like a dream, an illusion that threatened to shatter under the weight of her reality.



She slouched against the chair, too tired to sit straight. Moving felt too unnatural. As they left the room, they walked through a concrete corridor with two opposing doors.



They passed through a maze of doors that she couldn't even remember, with guards standing firm at each intersection. She didn't dare to look at them; she held her gaze low. She could feel a soft breeze and the rooms getting warmer. How could she not since any place would be warmer than her cell?



The chirping of birds startled her. It sounded so foreign to her now. As they neared one final door, she saw light coming from under it!



As the woman opened the door, the deluge of light and colors blinded her. She squinted her eyes. After a moment, she could see the lush greens of the grass, the cool blue of the sky, and the warm reds of the building. They sparked hope within her breast. She had been in that dark, white cage for so long that she had forgotten that colors existed. A tear ran down her face as she took in the fresh air.

---

"And we have a clear knockout! Ladies and gentlemen, raise your cheers for the new champion: Agni Guy!" The announcer's triumphant declaration echoed off the factory walls, the audience's roars reaching a deafening crescendo.



Sokka could only gape in dumbfounded disbelief. Suki worriedly nudged him out of his stupor. "What is it?"



A dramatic moan escaped Sokka, his hand clasping his chest in mock agony. "Agh! Why, Universe?! I bet two silver pieces on that guy!"



His exclamation was met with a stern frown from Katara, her incredulous voice carrying a note of reproach. "You what?!"



"The ticket stand guy seemed so sure; he said it would be a solid bet!" Sokka flailed helplessly, his sheepish grin not quite reaching his eyes.



Katara let out a medley of exasperated mutterings and sighs, ending with a drawn-out, "Sokka…"



Toph's laughter broke the tension. "Typical. They always played those tricks in the Earth Rumble."



A contemplative expression crossed Aang's face as he stroked his chin. "There's still another fight left…"



Katara's glare was icy enough to freeze a firebender. "No! No more betting."



Toph leaned back casually, her hands lazily behind her head. "Relax, Sweetness; just enjoy the show."



Resigned, Katara let out a huff and crossed her arms, opting to sit back and watch the show unfold.



As if on cue, the announcer's voice electrified the atmosphere. "And now… the moment you've all been waiting for–the final showdown. For the first time in the history of this championship, we're going to mix it up a little. Earth and Fire combine in the Magma Meltdown! In this fight, champions will face champions, and they will be aided by their enemy's opponent. The winners take all!



"The new champion, Fire Nation Man, and Smoky Dragon in the left corner! In the right corner, Agni Guy and The Boulder!"



"The Boulder will crush you into little pieces and feed you to his komodo-rhino!" The taunt was met with a cacophony of cheers and revulsion.



Suddenly, Agni Guy unleashed a fiery onslaught towards his ally, catapulting him across the expanse of the ring. A collective gasp rippled through the stunned crowd.



"What is this? Agni Guy is sabotaging his teammate! Is this legal? I don't know, but things sure got interesting! The Boulder seems to have joined forces with the other team!"



Sokka slapped himself. "Toph, next time I want to bet, please throw me in a hole."



His sister was apoplectic. "You didn't!"



Toph flashed an enthusiastic thumbs-up. "Sure thing, Snoozles!"



Once The Boulder had regained his bearings, he locked eyes with his newfound allies. The triad charged forward, Fire Nation Man enveloping the field in a dust storm, The Dragon cleaving through the obscurity with a searing whip of flame, and The Boulder lobbing chunks of stone at his erstwhile ally. Yet, Agni Guy remained steadfast amidst the chaos, cleaving through a hurled boulder with surgical precision.



"Go Agni Guy!"



Engulfed by an opaque mist, the warrior relied on the sporadic bursts of light from his opponent to anticipate their moves. He ducked down, evading the fiery whip but always moving forward. Earth sprung out from below him, trapping his feet, but he propelled upwards, breaking the earth and rising above the cloud to fall on the unsuspecting Fire Nation Man. Landing a flaming slash that sent him sprawling.



A retaliatory strike with two earthen shields was futile against Agni Guy's relentless flurry of flaming spears. The Boulder attempted a sneak attack, launching a stone with a swift punch, but Agni Guy evaded the assault with a duck, redirecting the rock into Fire Nation Man. The Boulder and the Dragon, filled with rage, charged towards him, but Agni Guy masterfully maintained a safe distance using measured bursts of fire. He flung his trident spear at Fire Nation Man, the weapon embedding itself into the man's garments, pinning him to the edge of the ring. In a single, fluid motion, he unleashed a concentrated fireball towards The Boulder, rendering him unconscious.



While the Smoky Dragon struggled with the lodged trident, Agni Guy advanced, his steps measured and purposeful. Seeing the warrior inching closer, the Dragon desperately hurled fire in his direction. Once the warrior was within striking distance, the Dragon surrendered, his hands raised in defeat. "I yield!"



A hush descended upon the crowd as the announcer's voice boomed once again. "By the spirits, folks! What an unexpected ending! Agni Guy triumphs as the undisputed world champion!" Two men hurried to bestow the championship belts upon the victor. Agni Guy accepted the belts with a cursory glance before setting them aflame and leaving the ashes in his wake. The crowd watched in stunned silence as Agni Guy departed from the pit, their mouths agape in disbelief.

---

The vibrant hues of golden autumn graced the Capital of the Fire Nation, bathing its grandeur under a beaming sun. The air was buzzing with anticipation as throngs of citizens assembled outside the palace gates, their eyes riveted on a procession of gilded carriages and crimson-garbed guards. The destination was the Ministry of the Army, a stern structure that bore the emblem of the Fire Nation with regal dignity.



Zuko had determined that sections of the adjoining buildings would serve as the new Earth Kingdom embassy in addition to housing the freshly inaugurated Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The army would be disconcerted by this reshuffle, but he was sure they had space to spare and his promises of new buildings were enough to appease them.



Almost a month had elapsed since the war's end, time had moved swiftly yet somehow serenely. Earlier that day, a messenger had delivered a letter to the palace, inscribed with the familiar, steady hand of Aang.



As the convoy wound its way towards the Ministry, Zuko unfurled the parchment and delved into his friend's words.



…Sokka just wouldn't shut up the entire evening. Guess he lost quite a bit of money on that fight. Toph, of course, is now hell-bent on challenging the guy herself. Katara keeps lecturing Sokka about being responsible. And Suki… well, she's staying out of the sibling squabbles. Can't blame her.



After leaving Suki on Kyoshi Island, we'll be heading to Yu Jin with high hopes to begin the first efforts. I'm both excited and scared of what is to come. To be honest with you, some days ago, I thought it would be an impossible task; but now, I am convinced that we can make this work.



How's everything at your end? Mai giving you a hard time, or is it the other way round? Haha! Write back when you can; it'd be good to catch up soon.



Your friend, Aang.



P.S: Momo ate the documents you gave me. If you could send a new one, that would be great.



Zuko chuckled, causing Mai to glance at him with a teasing smirk. "Of course he did…"



"This feels like an auspicious day to announce the new ministry, Fire Lord."



He turned to see Colonel Mak. "It's the right thing to do, Colonel. I couldn't care less about how the day is; I just care for peace."



As they neared the Ministry, Colonel Mak's brow furrowed, voicing his concern about the security situation. "The riot hasn't been long past, sir," His eyes were on Zuko. "I would feel more comfortable with an extra security detail."



"Fear breeds fear, Mak. If I cannot face my people without looming over them with force, then I am no better than my father."



"As you wish, Your Majesty."



Their convoy eventually came to a halt before a towering edifice, its triangular roof proudly adorned with twin dragon statues. Framing the imposing structure was a sprawling courtyard with a vibrant display of national flags lining the walkway.



Imperial Guards, resplendent in their polished uniforms, were stationed at attention on either side of the path, their faces inscrutable masks of duty. Behind the disciplined array of soldiers, a throng of citizens, their faces a spectrum of expressions, awaited with bated breath.



A soft voice pulled Zuko from his reverie, the gentle pressure of a hand anchoring him back into the moment.



"You've got this." Mai's words wreathed in the confidence he was struggling to muster. As he met her gaze, she reached up, her hand cool against his cheek, and pressed a small kiss.



He nodded, took a moment to draw a deep, steadying breath, and then descended from the carriage. The cheers from the crowd swelled up, washing over him like a wave, but he kept his gaze locked on the towering edifice. Its stark facade felt like a silent challenge, but with the echo of Mai's words in his ears, he pushed through the nervousness, striding with resolute determination. His guards, Saiko and Mako, both following behind.



Ascending the stone staircase was itself a journey, each step a testament to his purpose. When he finally reached the top, pausing at the grand gate, he turned to face his people, their anticipation palpable. The silence stretched, a drawn bowstring of expectancy.



Zuko drew in a breath and began, his voice echoing across the courtyard. "Thank you, all of you, for joining us on this significant occasion. We find ourselves today at the dawn of a new age–an age we yearn to mark with peace."



His gaze swept over the crowd, each citizen held within his earnest regard. "In signing the Harmony Restoration Movement, we've shown our commitment to peace and reconciliation. But the responsibility of maintaining that peace lies with all of us, as individuals and as a nation."



Zuko's voice grew firmer, conviction resonating in each word. "There are many who view peace as an elusive dream, succumbing to the belief that we're trapped in an inescapable cycle of warfare. But isn't war merely the bitter fruit of our own deeds?"



His words lingered in the air, challenging each listener to examine their deeply-held beliefs. "True peace is a continuous endeavor, crafted by many nations, forged through countless acts of diplomacy and mutual understanding. We need not hold affection for our neighbors, but we must extend them tolerance, fostering harmonious coexistence."



He paused for a moment, his golden eyes aflame with intensity. "Let us look beyond our disputes, past our strife, and collaborate for a shared future. After all, hatred, much like man, is transient. Peace is within our reach. War is not our inevitable fa–"



There was a sudden surge from the crowd. A handful of rioters, donned in red masks and headbands, broke free of the throng. One of them vaulted over the guard fence, a peculiar pipe in hand, and attacked the Fire Lord. "Death to the traitor!" Then, an explosive crack cut through the air as a small blast of fire and smoke spewed from the weapon.



Instinctively, Zuko raised a shield of fire. Jumping to action, the guards were swift, Captain Saiko ran towards the protester, pinning down the attacker, whilst Mako motioned the others, forming a defensive ring around Zuko.



"Protect the Fire Lord!" The command echoed through the courtyard as the crowd descended into chaos.



In the ensuing turmoil, a sharp, searing pain erupted in Zuko's chest. He glanced down to find his robes darkening with flowing warmth. The world spun, and he slumped into the arms of his guards, darkness rapidly claiming his vision.