Chapter Text
Amane Genmi was a spy trained for this. She was the best of the best. The elite of the warriors, master of discretion. But it wasn't even needed here. A waste of talent. The royal gard was walking in confusion. Very Literally. The Crown Princess Azula had banished everyone on her first day of reign. The Fire Lord Zuko had made a royal decree for canceling out those orders. So they came, and went back. Walking forward and backward. Agitation and Uncertainty. And no one was really sure how to act in presence of the new Fire Lord, and his friends, the group of the Avatar.
News that the Avatar had stripped Ozai of his bending had shaken the whole Fire Nation. The Avatar was now a fierce deity of absolute power. Challenging the birth rights of the firebenders, showing that he had the ability to remove the gift of Agni from them.
The new Fire Lord was anything but his father. Good for the people. Less for her employers.
That made people talked. Of Hope and Fear. That made guards talk. And talking means noise. Very Literally. People speaking in corridors. No one was paying close attention. Amane had no problem getting to the royal prison without anyone noticing. She just walked in.
Why ? Because she was paid for it, obviously. But why did theses nobles paid her to do that ? Because they needed a figurehead for their rebellion. Someone that would make things go back the way they were before. Who could claim power without risking uprising of the masses. And if the figurehead in question was a bit... Confused mentally, that only made them the more impressionable and open to suggestions. Not that the reason mattered. Amane always worked for money only. She only took the jobs she thought she could succeed. She wasn't a fan of risking her life to just die because a mission was too dangerous.
And this one was ridiculously easy. She was already in the royal prison. Half-way done ! Now, she just had to check each cell individually. Probably that the voices coming from that direction were a good indicator. Because, you know. Only one prisonner in the whole prison. That was the kind of thing a general amnesty of those who opposed Ozai, recently ordered by the new Fire Lord, does to such a place. They needed people from all nations to attend the crowning. Well, guess what, prisons just next to the palace had exactly all they needed. Expect for one cell. Except for one prisoner. So, just follow the noise !
Guards at the entrance of the cell would probably be a nuisance, though. Except that it was the time meals for them conveniently arrived. And Amane had sleeping drugs. Lucky luck, why should she refuse such a gift from the world ? That would buy her a few hours. Should be enough to get the princess out of here before the alarm was raised. Mission was a piece of cake. Over even before it started.
She entered the cell. There she was. A broken human. Her posture was a mess, she was in permanent imbalance. The Crown Princess turned her head towards her. Her hair was a mess as well and she looked really tired. Her eyes were red. There still was a hint of the superiority she harbored once, though.
Amane bowed, just the right degree for the crown princess. Which was in itself, an explanation of who she was and what she was doing there. Plus the bodies of the guards in the hall that were visible. She added anyway :
- "Your Highness. Please, do not be afraid, I am only your loyal servant. I am here to rescue you from your cell. Please come with me. I will bring you to safety."
Azula turned her back to her and answered :
-"You may leave, now. I am not particularly interested in your offer." She added, glancing in the direction of the sleeping guards : "I appreciated the distraction nonetheless."
That made Amane pause for a second. She maintained her bow and repeated :
-"I am here to free you, your Highness."
Azula turned her gaze upon her, and said :
-"I heard that correctly the first time. Do you think I am deaf ? You have my answer. You may go."
The confusion of Amane was visible on her face. Which made Azula react. Strongly. She went from a stoic facade to a complete rage in a matter of seconds and made a furious tirade:
-"You think I am crazy, to stay here ? You think I don't know what is waiting for me outside if I follow you ? Annoying pawns that thinks they have a word to say. I can very easily free myself on my own. This is between my brother, my mother and me." She put her hands on her head and began moving erratically while continuing : "She can still visit me here. I need to know how. She could before. I need to know who helped her before I leave." A shiver ran through her and she regained a bit of composure before adding : "And I want to have a little discussion with my dear brother. Now get out. It is the first time I meet you, so I will be nice. You have one warning before you face my wrath. This is it."
Amana had heard of the madness of the princess. But it was one thing hearing about it, and another to see the princess speak as if she was alone in the middle of a sentence and then return to the subject as if nothing had happened. But she wasn't going to turn back now. If the mission was impossible because the Avatar himself would have been guarding the princess, well, that would have been an acceptable cause of failure. But the princess acting as a child ?
She did not take a step back and instead, made one forward. That proved very quickly to be a mistake.
Because if there was a few things the princess was still clinging on, even in madness. Fear. Fear, she inspired to others. And Hate. Hate of being underestimated. Of not being obeyed.
And Fire. Blue Fire. That burns. And makes one's scream.
Scream. That is Noise. And not good noise. Bad noise. An alarm. A giveaway.
To not be put in a cell, Amane ran. That would have been a plausible excuse, right ? Truth was, in her job at least, you run to put distance between yourself and danger. If she hadn't had to remain silent, Amane would have laughed at how easy the mission was, as there was no real danger in reaching the princess. But it turned out that the real danger here was the girl she was tasked with saving. A girl with a cold stare. But with a burning fire inside. The kind of cold fire that, if awoken, could turn a forest to dark ashes.
Amane escaped the prison successfully. With minor injuries. Nothing that wouldn't heal over time, if she didn't went back to her employer. She wasn't stupid enough to think that he would let her go, when she had reached the princess, and just didn't left with her.
Funnily enough, she wasn't scared of the anger of Lord Atsushi. She was terrified, however, of what could happen with the girl on the throne. She would set the whole Fire Nation ablaze. Those nobles had no idea what they are playing with.
With the money she had amassed over the years, Amane would just go to the Earth Kingdom colonies. She had a feeling it was not a good idea to stay in the main land for the following months. No one would ever heard of her again. Of that name, at least.
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The next day, Azula was escorted to the Fire Palace to meet Fire Lord Zuko, under heavy protection, and chained on both feet and hands. A minor inconvenience.
She was, well, not "scared", but would have been annoyed if he had forgotten about her. That little incident had at least the merit to turn the attention of her brother back to her. She wasn't scared for the least.
The only moment when she could have been, was when she heard that her Father had been ripped from his inner fire. What if she was the next on the list ? Well, thing was, if she was really on the list, the guards would not have waited to tell her. That would have been a show of authority before the whole nation, an example with an "execution" date in public to set an example. At least, that was what would have happened if her brother was smart. But little Zuzu was not.
So no worry about her fire. She would keep it. And if the idea ever crossed his mind, she would just tell him that it would make him as horrible as their father. And he would probably believe that, the fool.
She was curious about how his first days as Fire Lord would have been. After all, hers had been... a little bit eventful. And she had the answer before her eyes when she entered the throne chamber. He wasn't even on it. He was sitting on a chair, at the same level of all his little friends. And she recognized some people she had banished. She didn't knew their names. Just their faces.
The water tribe peasant was glaring at her. Azula had raged when she had lost the fight. But really it was all her fault. She hadn't anticipated that the waterbender girl would use all the water at her disposal, and felt superior with the advantage of Sozin's Comet. It was basic tactics that one should never underestimate their opponent, and that a cornered rat deploys every last resource at their disposal. Azula just should have been better. She had made a mistake. She had lost. That was how things worked. So being angry wasn't efficient.
The Avatar was sitting but kept shifting uncomfortably. After all, she had almost killed him. He had acquired good survival instincts.
And also, Zuzu hadn't waited to not sleep. Which meant that he at least took the title seriously. He looked at her with pity. But she wasn't fooled. It was the same fake face that her mother had showed her.
The other persons... weren't of importance. And there was one person missing.
So she asked :
-"Where is mother ?"
He dared to look at her with confusion before answering :
-"She hadn't been here since our grandfather died, you know that. You thought I had find her ?"
Azula shrugged and commented :
-"Father had told me that you were very interested the day of the dark sun. I thought you could have used that time as a traitor to search for her..."
Her brother's eyes narrowed :
-"You know Father won't let me know anything about her location. I have sent messages, but so far, no answer."
He was honest, the idiot. Which meant... She maybe was a little bit crazy. But she already knew that. Wasn't that crazy ? That thought made her laugh a bit.That made the water tribe peasant furrowed even further her brows:
-"You think its funny ? That he can't find your mother, and that your horrible father won't tell him anything. You know something, don't you ?"
Azula tilted her head to pretend she was thinking in an exaggerated way, and then said :
-"No, I don't. Our Father wasn't really a small talk person, you know. And relatives that were missing from the court were never a topic of discussion. But you didn't make me come here to realize that, I hope."
Zuko nodded slowly and said with the voice of someone that wasn't enjoying himself (when really he should have, when she had objectively been the worst sister a turtleduck like him could have) :
-"We are going to decide what to do with you."
Azula had a sneering smile and answered :
-"So I can participate in my trial. Who could expect that ? You are too good with me."
The water tribe peasant replied with a dry tone:
-"We are, indeed. But this is not a trial. Because you have already been judged guilty. We are here to decide where you are going to stay for the rest of your life. I suggest a prison in the north pole. No one in the Fire Nation will be able to free you there."
The other water tribe peasant, the boy, raised a hand :
-"Chief Arnook hates the Fire Nation. I don't think he wants anything to do with fire royals. Except maybe kill them."
He turned to Zuko and added quickly :
-"No offense, Zuko, I meant the fire royals that were the bad guys. Were and aren't good now. Because you are good. So he won't want to do anything bad to you. Probably."
Zuko pinched his nose and added after a bit of thought :
-"Ice walls. And fire ? The Water Tribe prisons were not made to detained firebenders. The Earth Kindgom does have steel cells, but... I don't want them to cut her hands. And they would do that. I don't fully trust the Earth Kindom. No offense, Suki."
Ha yes, she had forgotten someone. Her favorite prisoner answered:
-"She kinda took control of the last stronghold of the Earth Kingdom by herself. They resent her and that's fair."
Azula smirked:
-"Don't be so modest. If I hadn't met you on my way there, I could never had accessed the city faking to be one of your painted warriors. You deserve some of the credit."
That seemed to annoy the water tribe boy peasant. But his little girlfriend seemed to have to have something to say :
-"So you see me as a warrior, now. I will take the compliment. Last time you told me I was an idiot to use fans against your fire. I believe I already asked you in prison if your cut had healed. You know, in one those words battles you seemed to enjoy to have with me."
She always had a sharp tongue. She had shown that in prison, so it was no surprise that she continued to do so now that the tables had turned. Azula glared at her :
-"I do remember them. I wondered when you would break. You seemed more fragile each time I met you."
The painted girl clad in green armor smiled in an irritating way (which was absolutely not getting to the nerves of Azula) :
-"I was having nightmares. But you weren't in any of them."
The little blind girl (whose bare feet were resting on the floor, why did she had shoes if she was bare feet under ?) laugh loudly.
Zuko put his fist in front of his mouth and coughed, he was trying to regain attention the poor child. He should have known by now that nothing ever good happened to him when he was at the center of it. Her brother said anyway :
-"We can't send her to Ba Sing Se. There is still the Dai Li problem. There could be agents that weren't arrested that would want to help her escape. We can't sent her to the poles. And in the Fire Nation, someone could attempt to free her. We can't possibly send her in one of the Air Temples. What are the other options ?"
The Kyoshi Warrior raised a hand :
-"I think it would be best if one of us was near her. But everyone is going to go back home. Katara and Sokka have to go to the South Pole, Aang is going to travel the World, Toph have her metalbending academy project and you are going to be very occupied trying to negotiate world peace. This leave only me to the task. I can take her to Kyoshi and keep an eye on her there."
The water tribe peasant whose only weapon was a boomerang said :
-"Suki ! You aren't thinking that seriously ? You can't !"
In Azula opinion, a fan was still a better weapon than a boomerang. Because it was a fact she could use it to stoke her fire.
The painted girl raised an eyebrow and asked :
-"Why ? Because its dangerous ? We already had that conversation one time."
The boy in blue answered promptly :
-"Because she already beat you once and I was afraid I lost you. I don't want that to happen again !"
The warrior in green replied with confidence :
-"She won't do that."
That made Azula raise an eyebrow and she asked at the same time the boy did :
-"Why do think that ?"
And that made the girl smile (she was annoying, no, she had no impact whatsoever on Azula, any mention of the contrary was a dissident thought), as she explained :
-"Kyoshi is an isolated island with little contact with the rest of the world. Most importantly, we have no boat capable of crossing the sea. We had to send word to the Earth Kindom by bird messenger the time we wanted to join the continent. She will not be able to escape. Our island will be her prison. And you will be near so you can come visit me if you would like."
For the first time, the Avatar spoke, with a concerned voice :
-"What do you intend to do with her ?"
The painted girl answered :
- "I know she almost killed you. But I have no intent to harm her."
The Avatar nodded :
-"I think she is not well. She needs healing. Maybe being far from the world will help her."
Ho, if that wasn't cute. The Avatar was playing the innocent boy in front of others. Because he needed to have a good image to the people of the Fire Nation. Not the I can strip you of your birth gift if you oppose resistance kind of image, but the I have pity of the errance of your soul kind. Well played. Or he could just be an idiot. Well really, the 'exploiting one's image' was maybe Azula projecting herself. The boy was indeed stupid. And terribly naive.
Zuko took a moment to think and said :
-"It could be a temporary solution. When things will have calmed down here, we can bring her back."
That statement seemed to be agreed by everyone. Well. That solved the issue. She just had to laid low, play nice, and when she would be back in the Fire Nation, she could make things right again. Little Zuzu was never the kind of person to take the correct measures. He would never be able to end all forms of rebellion and that would be his end.
And if the Avatar's group was as naive as there little spirit guide, then she could also pretend she became aware of her past mistakes and maybe those fools would free her. That would be a lot of fun.
Also, Azula would gladly let Zuko search for their mother on his own. If she did it herself, her mother would never show her face to the monster her daughter. But for her little turtleduck, it was another story. He would find her. And Azula would be ready.
The next morning, a boat took her, half of the Kyoshi Warriors and their leaders back to their island. The other half stayed to protect the Fire Lord. And little traitor Ty Lee chose to stay. That was for the better. Azula could never pretend to be nice if her '"old friend" was there.
%%%
Little did Azula knew that things wouldn't go according to the plan for the best, and in the same time, they would for the worst.