Chapter Text
They say she was born lucky. But no one warned her that her luck would run out shortly before her fifteenth birthday.
Princess Azula was a warrior, a conqueror, a queen for one brief moment, until her luck flitted away in quite the dramatic fashion.
First it was the Avatar - alive and seemingly well standing in front of her on the day of the Eclipse. Then, her brother would finally decide to stand up to Father, and a week later her so-called friends would finally decide to stand up to her. Father would leave her behind while he set the world on fire, and Zuko would arrive with the water peasant in tow and in her defeat Azula would see that she was really, truly, all alone.
Her doctors had deemed it a “psychotic episode” and called her unstable. But really, how was one supposed to act when they had the whole world in the palm of their hand and then lost it all so spectacularly in the span of a month.
She’s better now, of course. Whatever “better” means.
Her journey to “better” hadn’t been easy, although perhaps some of that was her own doing (but finding her mother with a whole new family and new face definitely was not good for her already fragile mental state). And there had been that whole thing with kidnapping the children of families living in the capital (that one did not age well when she would be reintroduced back into the Fire Nation court). It wasn’t until her partial destruction of the ancient Sun Warrior Temple (in her defense they attacked her first) that she started on her path to recovery.
It was with the Sun Warriors that she learned the true meaning of Firebending and discovered her true destiny. And through this destiny she could find peace within herself. How very Uncle it all was .
It was with the Sun Warriors where Zuko found her and asked her to come home. Home . And she obliged because if she was going to have to atone for her past actions and work on the whole inner peace thing, she might as well start with Zuko.
Which is how she’s found herself coming up on a year residing back in the palace. At first, she would mostly spend her time reconnecting with Mother and becoming a glorified babysitter to her new half-sister, but Zuko was slowly working towards trusting her and began seeking her for advice (although not in an official manner, he would remind her) regarding his Firelord duties. She was always so much better with the intricacies of politics than him. Recently, Zuko would allow her to attend certain council meetings - mostly regarding small, domestic issues that were well beneath her expertise, but it was a step in the right direction.
Which is where she found herself today - in the monthly review regarding the state of the nation’s outlook on their current leadership. It was mostly petty data that would provide helpful insight on how to placate the masses.
“Because if you win their love, you can better control them?” Azula had questioned her brother one day on his reasoning for holding these meetings.
Zuko winced. “No, no. It’s not about controlling anyone. I just want my citizens to be happy.”
Azula rolled her eyes in response. Just because she wasn’t trying to take back her brother’s throne didn’t mean she wasn’t going to mock him for how soft he was.
Today’s topic would test how far he was willing to go to make his citizens happy. Oh this will be good she thought.
Today’s topic was about the ever growing concern from their citizens about why their Fire Lord was still unmarried and subsequently, still without an heir.
“I have every intention to marry one day,” Zuko declared, clearly not thrilled at the idea. “But building a relationship with someone takes time, which isn’t something I have right now.”
“My lord, it’s been five years since the end of the war. Things have begun to stabilize. And an heir to the throne is something that the Fire Nation can rally behind,” one of the Fire Sages suggested.
“And we can provide you with potential candidates. All you’ll have to do is meet them,” Councilwoman Han offered. She was an older, spindly woman with a calculating gaze and perpetual frown. She was also an old friend of Uncle and one of the few from Ozai’s reign that was considered trustworthy under Zuko’s rule. The young Fire Lord merely sighed and rested his head in his hands in response. “Please at least consider it my Lord,” she encouraged.
And he did.
In the following weeks, girls from across the nation were being shipped to the palace and appearing in the courts. For the most part, Zuko had avoided spending too much time with any of the women, but did ask his sister to observe on his behalf.
And Azula could not believe how absolutely inadequate every single woman in court was.
Lady Yin Fei was apparently operating on approximately two brain cells.
She already had one Ty sister in her life, so Ty Lin and Ty Lat were automatically disqualified.
There was Lady Yasha, who was as clever as she was beautiful. Azula had actually quite enjoyed her company and had seen a bit of herself in the young woman. She was cunning, and scheming, and manipulative in a way that Azula felt almost a kinship with her. And that’s when she realized that she should actually keep Yasha as far away from her brother and the throne as possible if she was going to try this whole “acting in good faith” thing. However, perhaps Azula will keep in touch with Lady Yasha only to have someone laugh with at the other, duller ladies of the court.
Zuko, for his part, had done a decent job of delaying the inevitable. But, bringing women to the court had only done so much to quiet the whispers. Because while there were women being introduced to the Fire Lord, none of them had been selected.
“Well,” Zuko asked her one afternoon over tea, trying to pick her brain on the matter, “What do you think?”
Azula smirked as she lifted the small, porcelain cup to her mouth. She took a sip of her tea before responding. “Do you really want to know what I think?” Zuko nodded in response.
She set her tea down and continued. “I haven’t met anyone adequate enough to be honored with the title of Fire Lady. But,” she paused to flick a strand of hair out of her face, “a marriage would be good for this country. It would solidify your lineage to the throne and if something happens to you I highly doubt I would be welcome to take your place.”
Zuko averted his gaze from his sister to the turtle duck pond outside the window. Azula crossed her arms and continued, “You should at least begin to actually meet these women. Perhaps you can still find something to cherish in all of their inadequacies.”
Zuko sighed and hunched forward slouching his shoulders. Even after all this time, he still managed to look like a dejected child when faced with life’s difficulties. He looked up and met his sister’s gaze. “I know. It’s just, building a relationship takes time . I mean, my only reference is Mai. And I basically knew her for my whole life,” something saddened in his tone at the mention of his old flame (and her old friend). “How long is it going to take to build something like that with someone I don’t even know?”
“Well, you managed to fall in love with the first girl you met outside of your own family,” Azula offered, “Maybe you can fall in love with the next girl you meet if you actually try.”
Zuko scowled in response.
Although Zuko did not find her teasing about his ex to be amusing, it did cause Azula to think back on her old friend. Mai would have made a fine Fire Lady. She came from good blood, she was intelligent, and she could be ruthless when she felt like it (Azula experienced that one first hand), but she also genuinely truly cared about her brother as a person (which Azula also experienced first hand).
But, Zuzu had to go and push her away and Mai had apparently developed a flair for the dramatics and the last time she saw her old friend she had an oaf for a new boyfriend in tow.
Although Zuko had mentioned to Azula that he had it in good authority that Mai had separated from the loser not long after their encounter...
Perhaps they could have patched up their relationship if they weren’t both so stubborn and proud. Though their relationship had annoyed Azula as a child, her brother and friend were a good match. And now she wanted her brother to be happy (almost as much as she wanted him to select someone who was not an idiot to act as the “Mother of the Nation”) and Mai really would have fit that bill.
Azula groaned, because she knew what she had to do. And while she was going around making amends, she might as well begin working on her oldest friend next.
And to think, she was conquering cities five years ago, but now she has become so honor-bound that she’s going to involve herself in a domestic dispute. She couldn’t help but roll her eyes at how soft she was truly becoming. This is all Zuko’s fault.
----------
Since her last encounter with Azula, Mai had, for the most part, managed to keep a low profile. Once tending to her Aunt’s flower shop had grown boring (which did not take long at all) she took to travel to keep herself entertained.
First she travelled to Cranefish, where Ty Lee and the Kyoshi Warriors were training their police force (she even offered up a few weapons lessons herself). From there, she travelled with the Warriors back to Kyoshi Island. The island was peaceful and quiet and dull, but Ty Lee and her new friends were good company. However, the island’s gentle summer soon became a crisp fall and the unforgiving winter was approaching. And Mai would migrate to warmer waters.
After Kyoshi Island and a quick layover back in the Capital to make sure Tom Tom hadn’t gotten himself into any more precarious situations, she set off again to visit her uncle at his estate outside of the Boiling Rock. Unlike her father, her uncle pledged his allegiance to the new Fire Lord and was allowed to keep his title at the nation’s most infamous prison. Though now pirates and traitors were more common prisoners than war criminals. But even the most nefarious men and women in the Fire Nation grew boring behind bars and soon enough Mai wound up back with Mother and Aunt Mura in Capital City, which is where she was when Azula tracked her down.
Azula found Mai in the woods outside the lower harbor of the city playing with her knives. She observed her old friend from a distance - still just as graceful and deadly as ever.
“I hope you’re not losing your touch,” Azula said announcing herself. She straightened up from the tree she had been leaning against and approached her old friend.
Mai whipped around and dropped a dagger into her palm, eyes intense, calculating as she looked upon the princess, but revealing nothing of her thoughts. Only upon viewing Azula’s relaxed posture did she relax her own, though Azula noted she did not resheath her knife.
“Finally here to kill me?” Mai drawled. Azula couldn’t help but smile at her words. Some things hadn’t changed at all.
Azula sighed and crossed her arms over her chest as she answered. “No, unfortunately Zuzu has required I stop resorting to violence to solve my problems. He suggested the world’s leaders would not approve...now that we care what they think of us.”
Mai simply raised her eyebrows and hummed in agreement pocketing her blade back into her sleeve.
Azula continued, “I’m better now, in case you haven’t heard.” She wasn’t sure how much Mai knew of her new life, but she figured establishing that she wasn’t here to enact her revenge for Mai’s past betrayal was a good place to start.
Mai rolled her eyes. “So they say,” she sighed and moved to fetch her discarded knives from her earlier practice session. So she did know that Azula was living back in the palace although seemingly still skeptical at the idea. “So if you’re not here to kill me, then to what do I owe the honor?”
“I wanted to let you know that I forgive you for your betrayal.”
Mai provided a derisive snort in response. “Gee, thanks.”
“No, really. I’ve become reacclimated with palace life, but it’s quite…” she paused searching for the right word “... lonely.” Vulnerability was not her strong suit. However, she had a mission and if she wanted to get Mai to trust her again, she would have to expose a part of herself. “And you know how dull most of the nobles can be.”
Mai turned to look at her friend, studying her face. Probably looking for any signs of ill-intent or insincerity the princess surmised. She always knew it wouldn’t be easy to get Mai back on her side.
“I was hoping we could reconcile our differences. I always did enjoy your company,” Azula continued.
“What do you want , Azula? Why do you care all of the sudden?” Azula furrowed her eyebrows. I always cared .
“I told you what I want and I mean it. And I figured we could both use someone around who’s not our mothers or annoying siblings.” More vulnerability, but this was necessary.
“I don’t need anyone.” Mai stated as deadpan as ever, but Azula took note of the curious glint in her eye. “And if you’re looking for friendship and girl bonding, maybe you should have tried patching things up with Ty Lee first.”
Stubborn. Azula raised her hand in defeat, knowing she wouldn’t make any more progress tonight. But she would leave her with something to consider over the next few days. “I won’t push the matter further. But, if you change your mind, I’ll be taking tea and lunch by myself in two days. Your presence would be welcome.”
“Great, I’ll consider it.” The sarcasm dripping from her statement was not lost on Azula.
She turned to leave, but before she made her way back to the capital she turned over her shoulder and spoke. “Like I said, I truly do forgive you. I hope you will forgive me too.”
-----
Azula had to admit she was somewhat surprised when, two days later, a servant announced Mai’s arrival to the palace. A part of her really wasn’t sure if Mai was going to accept her offer. It’s much harder to predict people’s actions when you can’t use thinly veiled threats to intimidate them.
But sure enough, here she was waltzing into the parlor coming to a bow as she approached Azula. She may not live in the Caldera anymore, but her manners still reflected someone with years of etiquette lessons drilled into them.
“So glad you could make it.” Azula smiled at her old friend and gestured to the cushion opposite her. “Please sit. Tea?” and waved to the attendant to pour them a cup from the ornate teapot that decorated the table.
Mai lowered herself onto the cushion, eyeing Azula cautiously. No doubt still questioning her motives.
“Making sure I didn’t poison the tea?” Azula teased.
Mai rolled her eyes in response. “No, I’m past wondering whether or not you’re trying to kill me.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
“But I still don’t know what you're plotting. I doubt you’ve invited me here in the name of friendship.”
Azula chuckled. Mai was still as blunt as ever, it’s something she’s always enjoyed about her. And Azula knew Mai would see through her charade of a friendly lunch, knew that Azula needed something from her - but Azula couldn’t tell her that she wanted her here to see if Mai and Zuko could reconcile their relationship and to rule at his side.
So instead she said, “Actually, I need your help. And regardless of what’s happened between us in the past, I know I can trust your opinion.” Azula set down her cup and looked into her friend’s eyes, signaling her sincerity.
She continued, “Between the years away and the new faces in the court, it would appear that it has become harder for me to judge the intentions of the advisors and nobility that hang around the palace.”
It wasn’t a complete lie - the whole ‘not using fear to intimidate others’ really did put quite a damper on her people reading skills. And while she was still confident enough in her skills (and that she probably could get away with a bit of intimidation behind Zuko’s back, if she really needed to) having a second opinion from Mai would be quite helpful, if not simply to back up any suspicions Azula may have. Plus if Mai is going to become Fire Lady someday, it would be good practice having her in front of the other nobles, especially since Mai herself had been removed from court life for over three years.
Mai still eyed the princess suspiciously, but made no objections yet so Azula continued.
“I could really use someone with your expertise to help me get a read on these parasites that infest the court. Someone who can keep track of those we keep close by and their intentions - well meaning or otherwise.”
Mai frowned, “And what makes you think I’d have any interest in that?”
“Well,” Azula casually eyed her perfectly manicured nails, “Seeing as you turned your own father in to protect Zuko I’d imagine that means you still care about my brother’s well being even though you’re not romantically involved anymore.” Azula levelled her gaze meeting Mai’s eyes in order to stress her seriousness. “And frankly, the only person I can trust in this Caldera outside of Zuzu - and I guess Mother - is you.”
Mai sighed and broke Azula’s gaze. A slight finger tapping on the side of her cup in thought - a good sign that she was taking her request seriously. After a pregnant pause, Mai finally spoke, “Obviously I hope the Fire Lord’s not surrounded by liars and crooks. But I really have no desire to spend that much time in the palace.”
Azula scoffed, clearly not satisfied with that response.
“ What ?” Mai questioned, annoyed.
“Are you really just going to spend the rest of your life avoiding Zuko? He’s the Fire Lord, it’s not like he’s going away anytime soon. Besides, the palace is enormous and he’s usually busy meeting with his advisors and ambassadors. He hardly has any time to spend in court with the other nobles, which is why he’s been sending me to act in his stead.”
Mai couldn’t help but smirk, to Azula’s surprise. “So that’s why you’re taking this so seriously.” Did she really figure her out already? “Because if you succeed with this, maybe Zuko will give you more power in the court.”
Azula blinked, relieved that Mai hadn’t figured her out, but somewhat taken aback by her accusation even if she knew there was some truth behind it. But better to admit to this than her actual mission. “Well, yes.”
Mai studied her once more, mulling over her request. After what seemed like a lifetime, she finally rolled her eyes and shook her head, exasperated. “ Fine , I”ll help.” She met Azula’s gaze with a glare and added “But if you try anything funny then I’m out .”
Azula nodded and smiled, “Of course.”
Tea flowed and conversation continued as the two caught up, although after some time Azula was struggling to keep the conversation going. Mai never gave her much to work with, but she tried to keep it flowing as naturally as possible. She couldn’t have her friend know she was stalling.
Finally after what seemed like the one hundredth “ I guess ” from Mai the doors to the parlour flew open and in walked the Fire Lord, donning his reds and golds and looking as regal as ever. Azula remembered he was coming from a meeting with dignitaries from the colonies - not something she would be allowed to participate in yet .
And for all of his regalness that he entered with, he couldn’t help but stop and stutter at the site of Azula’s unexpected guest - Azula rolled her eyes at his sudden lack of composure.
“ Mai! ” he managed to sputter out.
Mai, for her part, was able to maintain her aura of nonchalance, taking a sip of her tea before returning the greeting. “Fire Lord.”
Azula crossed her arms eyeing the two. They were entirely hopeless. Good thing she was here to help.
“Didn’t I mention that Mai was coming by for tea today? I must have forgotten.”
“How convenient,” Mai murmured into her tea cup just loud enough for Azula to hear.
Zuko scowled at his sister, attempting to search for answers. Apparently giving up he finally spoke. “Yeah, you must have.” He turned to Mai. “It’s...good to see you again, Mai. It’s been a while.”
Mai met the Fire Lord’s gaze. “It has. Has Kiyi been staying away from kidnappers?”
Zuko snorted, amused. “For now. Tom-Tom?”
Mai smirked. “It would appear so.”
Azula studied the two, feeling almost invisible. Not unlike in the days before the end of the war - the brief moment where all seemed to be going according to plan.
Azula considered this a good sign. She wasn’t quite sure exactly sure what to expect from their first meeting. All she really knew from what Zuko would tell her is that Mai dumped him for hiding things from her, but considering that they teamed up to thwart the New Ozai Society ( to be fair Azula had always thought the name was trite ) they must not have been on terrible terms. Azula was almost surprised, upon her return to the palace, that Mai and Zuko hadn’t worked things out for themselves. But then again, Azula was always the one to push them together in their childhood so it would make sense that she’s left to do it again now. Typical.
Azula spoke, breaking the two out of their trance. “Well, are you just going to stand there Zuko or are you going to join us?”
Zuko must have realized how awkward he looked towering over the two and blushed. “Actually, I was supposed to be having lunch with Mom.” He scratched at the back of his head, awkwardly. “I thought she had said to meet her here.”
“Oh you know Mother,” Azula gave a wave of her hand dismissively, “she spends all of her time in the gardens. She’s probably there.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right.” Zuko turned to leave.
Azula went to stop him. “Well, now that you’re here you might as well join us. We can’t have the Fire Lord famished for his next meeting.”
Zuko looked at the two girls before shaking his head. “I shouldn’t. Mom’s waiting for me wherever she is.”
Azula frowned, but decided to surrender. Even after all this time he was still such a Momma’s boy. Of course Azula knew he had planned on having lunch in the parlor with Mother - which is why earlier that morning she had asked her mother to move her lunch to another area of the palace. “ I’ll see Zuzu before his meeting, I’ll let him know. ” She had reassured her mother. Whoops, must have forgotten.
She waved him off, “Suit yourself. Wouldn’t want to keep Mother waiting.”
He turned to leave again, but quickly turned back and addressed Mai. “It was good to see you again, Mai.” And with a curt bow to the two, he swiftly exited the parlor, building back up his air of regalness.