Azula shifts in her sleep. Over the night the fire has faded to a pile of smoldering embers and the chill of winter sets in. She can feel the moment the sun breaks the horizon and her eyes flutter open, widening at the unfamiliar interior until her memories catch up to her. Slowly sitting up she appraises the simple room and the two still-sleeping figures of her benefactors.
Song and her mother have been friendly and doting the last few days. They have shared their meager food supplies with her and did all they could to make her feel at ease. It is almost a shame to have to lie to them about her true nature. Somehow, though, Azula doubts the daughter of the Fire Lord would not be welcomed in the hut of any peasant, especially in one of a family that has lost more than it should at the whims of her father.
Quietly, she pushes off the thin blanket and slips on her shoes. If the other women stick to their pattern then they will sleep for at least another hour, giving Azula a chance to look around without arousing suspicions. With careful steps, she slips out the door into the sleepy city of Ba Sing Se.
Oooo
"I don't understand why we can't just speak to Kuei!" Katara growls, stomping her foot in frustration.
Sokka groans at Katara's complaint and Toph only snorts in response.
"He's a king. You don't just stroll into the throne room without invitation." Zuko mutters. "At least, you don't in the Fire Nation.
"If Aang were here, they would let us in." Katara pouts as she glares at the doors of the palace which remain firmly closed to them and guarded by menacing agents of the Dai Li.
The Avatar is still at the Eastern Air Temple.
Toph gives a long winded sigh. "I wish Twinkles were here. Maybe it would lighten you up some." She flops back on the ground smiling at the way blue and gold glare at her. "Seriously, Sparky, why don't you just tell them who you are? I'm sure that will get their attention like that." She snaps her fingers and laughs.
Hakoda smiles at the Earth Bender's gentle ribbing of the Prince. For days he has travelled with the group and seen the way they play off one another. It has told him more about his children than he ever thought he would know. He wisely ignores the taunting words of Azula's voice in his head asking him if it was worth it. Was any of it worth the price of his family?
Zuko doesn't dignify Toph's teasing with a response but Katara has no such reservations and bites out sarcastically, "What about you, Toph Bei Fong? Is your money not good enough in Ba Sing Se?"
Toph laughs as she rolls over to her stomach. "What do you think has kept us from getting thrown out so far?"
Oooo
The added girth of her stomach impedes Azula's climb up the city walls but she is not one to be dissuaded that easy. Avoiding the Dai Li patrols does prove trickier but she is not without her ways and soon she is standing atop the infamous walls of Ba Sing Se.
The sight would be breathtaking, that is, if Azula were one that was easily swayed by such impractical matters. She isn't and therefore breathes deeply, lungs drawing in crisp fresh air. The hint of smoke tinges the taste and, curious, she follows the scent stepping carefully along the wall, eyes watchful for the accursed Earth Benders sworn to protect and defend.
Smoke billows in the wind, rising from a mechanical drill bearing towards the wall of the city. The crest of the Fire Nation is displayed proudly on its side and soldiers flank it. Beyond the drill towards the horizon of the rising sun Azula sees the red of the Fire Nation tents speckling the brown landscape en masse. The Fire Lord's plans to take the city are in motion and Azula knows it is only a matter of time before the walls are breached and the city falls.
ooo
The house is nice, luxurious even, but it is little more than a gilded cage meant to keep them quietly out of the way.
Katara paces the living room in frustration. Zuko lounges on the couch, feet propped on the table, eyes closed and Sokka sits at another table scowling in concentration at a piece of paper before him.
"Does this look like something I want to remember?" Katara snaps at her brother who looks up at her with a surprised flash of blue.
"Hey, at least I'm doing something besides wearing a hole in the carpet." He goes back to the scene he has been trying to capture on paper.
Katara hurrumps in reply, shaking her long unbound hair as she stomps across the floor.
Toph slumps deeper into her own chair but pokes a foot out to nudge Zuko in the leg. "I think Sugar Queen could do with some tea, Sparky."
The Prince opens one golden eye to glare at the Earth girl. "Then make her some tea." He replies with solemn agitation.
"Psssh, please," Toph snorts at him. "I'm not the resident tea maker."
It is a not too nice jab at Zuko's tea brewing skills, or rather the lack of them.
"Uncle took pride in it. Who was I to interfere?" Zuko answers back with all the lofty dismissiveness that only royalty can command.
"Right," Toph drawls, "Like Gramps didn't teach you anything about it."
Both eyes open and Zuko glares at her more. Toph knows Iroh weighs heavily on the Prince's mind and as a result she has little regard for his feelings.
"Fine, then, take her to a tea house. Surely there is one in Ba Sing Se that will be befitting a Prince of the blood." Toph's words ooze sarcasm. Katara stops in front of the two with her hands on her hips and glares. "Your nagging stance doesn't work on those that can't see, Sugar Queen." Toph smirks.
"Stop talking about me like I'm not here then." Katara spits at her.
She isn't mad at Toph, Zuko either. She is just agitated that their efforts are being stymied by bureaucratic nonsense. Even now Hakoda is at the palace trying to talk sense into some of the lesser ministers that have been sent to "deal" with them. Aang's extended absence doesn't help her mood either and the tension of concern is getting to Katara.
"Fine!" Zuko growls as he stands. "Let's go." Without another word he takes hold of Katara's arm and drags the protesting Water Bender out the front door.
As the high pitched squabbling fades behind the slamming of the front door, Sokka crumbles up the paper he was painting on and carelessly throws it on the floor.
"You do realize you just sent my sister off alone with Zuko, right?"
Sokka has noticed the looks Zuko gives Katara when he thinks no one is watching. Subtly has never been the Royal's strong suit.
"Hey, if we are going to be worried about anyone then we should worry about Sparky." Toph shrugs as she bounces out of the chair. Katara blows hot and cold with the Prince as it is. "Besides, they were getting on my nerves. Come on, Snoozles, let's go throw rocks at people in the market."
Ooo
A glimpse of pink catches Azula's eye. Pink is rare in the lower ring, even more so when on a certain acrobat as she bounces by. Azula freezes at the sight but a voice from beside her catches her off guard.
"We've been looking everywhere for you." Mai says in that bored tone she has.
Azula eyes her up and down. "Have you now?"
"Azula!" A blur of pink calls before throwing her arms around Azula's neck."We were so worried about you!"
Azula pries Ty Lee off of her. "Why are you here?" She hisses quietly as she looks at the people milling around the fountain. "I left you in the Fire Nation for a reason."
She had not wanted them along for her journey as she knew it would only cause more problems to have the two women with her.
"You left us without a word." Mai bites back at her. "We didn't know what happened until your father told us."
Mention of Ozai quenches any farther argument Azula has. "He told you?"
Ty Lee nods as she bounces in place. "He said you went to hunt the Avatar down for what he did to Zhao." The sideways glance she gives Azula asks the question of whether Zhao really meant that much to her.
Azula wouldn't answer it before and won't answer it now.
"You should leave. I'm sure the Avatar is in the city somewhere but I can't exactly get close with the two of you around."
Trying to get Aang to understand her methods will be difficult enough but with Ty Lee and Mai at her side it may be impossible as he may only see it as another trick to try and stop him.
"Are you sure?" Mai asks.
Azula's eyes narrow at the tone in Mai's voice that speaks of something more. "What is it?" She demands.
Mai sighs. "The Fire Nation is set to invade as soon as the wall is down."
The drill is making slow but steady progress through the wall. Once it is breached, then it will be over.
Azula raises an eyebrow at her. "Surely the Dai Li are working to prevent that."
Ty Lee's cheery voice chirps in reply. "But that's just it, Azula, the Dai Li are working with the Fire Nation. Some of them at least."
If the city's own protectors are in league with the Fire Nation then the city is lost for sure. Ozai won't leave anyone left to testify against the traitors anyway. A wave of dizziness washes over her and warm steadying hands reach out for her.
"Azula?" Ty Lee's wavers with concern as she holds her friend. "Are you okay?"
Azula shakes her head. Song warned her that this would happen: the farther along she gets in her pregnancy, the more intrusive it will become.
"I'm fine. I've just not slept well." It's a lie that isn't a lie but the two women accept it, though Mai gives her a skeptical look.
"Maybe you should go to the camp. I'm sure they can find a tent for you and a decent bed." Ty Lee offers.
Of course the Fire Nation army would welcome her with open arms, but even the appeal of tasty food and luxurious accommodations, complete with servants, does not appeal. Even now the slight bulge of her stomach is barely concealed in the Earth Kingdom dress. A refugee is easily overlooked, but a princess would be under intense scrutiny and, therefore, Azula's secret could be out in the open.
"I may consider that later." Azula offers. "I have some things to take care of. Return to the camp and I will catch up to you later."
"But we were looking for you." Ty Lee argues with large gray eyes. "We weren't even travelling with the army."
Azula sneers."You don't think they would welcome my favorites and treat you appropriately?"
Ty Lee shrinks at Azula's harsh tone. "No, but we can't just leave you."
Mai sees Azula won't be swayed. "Come on, Ty Lee. Azula knows what she is doing. When she's done she can join us." The pointed look Mai gives her says she knows Azula has something up her sleeve but she pulls the acrobat away.
"Be careful!" Ty Lee calls as Mai hauls her away and Azula is at last left in peace.
Ooo
Aromatic smells waft from the simple house as Azula ducks back inside.
"Asa, there you are!" Song calls Azula by her false moniker. "We were worried something happened to you."
Song's mother rises from her bench and smiles in relief. "You shouldn't be out in your condition." She admonishes gently.
Azula wastes no time with pleasantries. "You must leave. Pack what you can take with you."
Song's face falters. "What do you mean?"
Azula wants to snarl orders, but stops herself as it is no way to convince them to listen to her. "The Fire Nation is outside the city and the walls will be breached by night." She explains to them with barely concealed impatience. "You must leave."
Song's mother clasps her hands to her chest, mouth gaping at the news, but Song herself merely sighs sadly. "They always find us. Where would we even go?"
They have been on the run for months and if the great city of Ba Sing Se isn't safe then nowhere is.
Azula knows the odds are against them. "Perhaps you can catch a boat to the Northern Water Tribe." It will be the last place that can stand against the Fire Nation, though not for long.
Song laughs bitterly. "Yeah, like we could afford that."
Even if they could, boats travel infrequently to the North Pole.
Azula rubs her temple trying to ward off another dizzy spell as she thinks. "The Northern Air Temple then. There are already refugees there."
She doesn't say why she knows it would be a safe haven. The Machinist has been very helpful in supplying Ozai's army with technology and, as a result, is left alone in his hideout with the smattering of refugees that have found their way there.
"How would we even get there?" Song asks incredulously.
Azula sighs. "The first step will be getting out of the city. Take only what you can carry."
With lingering looks of doubts, the women set about packing what they can.
Oooo
After a time, the taste of onion and banana juice becomes palatable. It isn't something Aang would ask for, but, then again, he also can't argue that it seems to be helping the process of opening chakra after chakra until he is down to the last one. Opening the last chakra will allow him to finally willingly access the power of the Avatar State and allow him to once and for all defeat the Fire Lord.
Days of letting go and facing his demons has left him feeling more than emotionally exhausted. The ideal he held of Azula has slipped away into the great beyond and he now sees he was unfairly projecting his own ideas onto her. Azula is her own person and that person is a devious, manipulative woman set out for her own means. She is also someone that is capable of fierce protectiveness of what she believes in and has a deep sense of duty and honor that is unrivaled. In her more tender moments she is not without her charm, though those times are few and far between. He would be lying to himself if he said that he didn't love her.
For so long Aang told himself that it was only lust and while he can't deny the physical attraction he still feels for her, he knows that she is more than a pretty face. After stripping away his own idea of her and seeing her for the person she is, Aang has come to realize there is more to the Princess than what he thought.
"Meditate on what attaches you to this world." The Guru's voice gently guides him. "And let it go."
Deeper he sinks into the energies around him, closing out everything that doesn't matter as he seeks to let go and embrace the energy that beckons to him. Images flash before his eyes and sounds assault his ears.
A woman screams and curses. The voice is so familiar to him for Azula has screamed and cursed at him in much the same way on more occasion than one.
"Push, Your Highness, you must push now." Another woman encourages, voice fraught with tension.
"I am pushing!" Azula growls in response, manacles around her wrists clink as she digs her hands into the sides of the bed.
More screaming is followed by a flurry of activity until finally the wail of a baby sounds. Azula's heavy breathing fills the air as she slumps back on the bed drenched in sweat. Attendants flutter around the crying child as they clean and swaddle him in blankets. A woman carries the child across the room to the man standing in the shadows.
"Fire Lord Ozai, may I present your grandson."
Innocent gray eyes stare up at the evil amber peering down at him. Ozai scowls as he takes the offered bundle. Turning away he walks towards the heavy metal doors.
"Where are you taking him?" Azula demands, eyes sparking with fear and concern, as she pulls at the chains that bind her to the bed.
Ozai turns to regard her with a sneer. "You have done your part. Perhaps the Avatar's son will be less of a disappointment than my own children were." He looks to the guard at the door. "See to it that the she does not leave this room again. I have no use for traitorous whores."
"You can't do this! You can't take him from me!" Azula shouts as the hapless attendants try to restrain her on the bed. "Father!"
As the Fire Lord leaves through the door, the child in his arms begins to cry and Azula's screams follow as the cell closes and the lock slides shut sealing the Princess' fate.