Book I, Act IV: Change of Fortune, Chapter I

Edited by: Bieverdog

Book I, Imbalance

Act IV: Change of Fortune

Chapter I

The wind breeze gently brushed against Azula's pale face. She closed her eyes as she took a deep breath, feeling the sun nourishing her skin, hearing the blades of grass moving in the wind. She opened her eyes again and focused on a plum tree. Its leaves were turning red and pink. It was her first clue of how much time had passed, for she had lost track of the passage of time.

The woman wheeling her took a small path past a pond to the foot of a plum tree. There lay a bench overlooking the courtyard. Sitting there, she saw the pretty garden and the pitiful sight of her fellow prisoners tied or led by the hand like toddlers. Behind the garden, the building stood luxurious. The gilt columns of the gallery were decorated with dragons. Other patients sat sleepily on other benches.

She was claustrophobic, even though they all had ample space. She focused on the plants and the patterns of her penitentiary. From the corner of her eye, she saw a flash of light, but she didn't pay much notice. She was entranced as she watched the leaves of the cherry tree drift gracefully.

"It reminds me of home…" That treacherous, tranquil voice haunting her head. Mother.

"Y– you."

"Please, my daughter, don't do this to yourself. do not continue on this path, Azula."

"You trapped me here! You wanted to see me suffer!"

"No Azula, I've always tried to help." Her mother stood from the bench and knelt in front of her, her face level. She caressed her daughter's face. "I couldn't bear to see you hurting."

Azula gritted her teeth and glared, trying to contain the tears. "You did this to me." She struggled against her bindings, trying to avoid her touch. All she managed was to fall to the ground, tipping her chair. "No, no! Don't you touch m–" Her mother was gone, replaced by her caretaker, who looked at her with sadness. Azula didn't struggle as the woman sat her up. The princess let her head loll. A hand rested on her shoulder, and she froze.

"Good afternoon, princess. It seems the air here could be better. Let me take you somewhere else so you can clear your head." Her heart raced, and she couldn't speak, for she knew what awaited her.

"Thanks for your assistance." He nodded and smiled at the woman sitting, she was silently sobbing and trembling. As they rolled her away, people scattered from their path. The other patients avoided the man, and the nurses averted their gazes. She felt the familiar chill of her cell rush over her and cooled her sweat. The torture devices still squatted there. She struggled to contain her fright, nearly fainting at their sight.

"Hey now, don't leave us yet, princess. You still have to take your bath before bed…"

Her whole body was tensed for the pain to come. Time appeared to distort; her head felt light; everything was happening in flashes. Bite wood. Freezing bath. Cold steel on her head. The sparks. A lever snap. The numbness, pain, spasms– Darkness.

***

It was already late in Yu Jin, and Whaletail Island was nothing like Aang remembered it. Once, it was a spiritual place the Air Nomads went to find inner peace and quiet. There they would sit and listen to the tales of Monk Tang Xu. Now, the natural beauty of the place was scarred by the growing population of the island. It didn't help that the Fire Nation Navy had built bases there. Coal ash fell often from the sky. Nevertheless, as Aang walked, the beauty of the place was breathtaking.

He finally found a place devoid of human life. Placed atop an eroding boulder overlooking the sea, a rock mound adorned with fluttering, colorful banners stood defiantly against the corrosive waves. An Air Nomad shrine! Aang's heart filled with joy. He flew to the top and stood in awe of a statue of Tang Xu meditating with his hands pressed to his heart. The statue sat facing the sea, its aged features gave the monk the appearance of a living sage.

Aang bowed respectfully to the stone monk before sitting beside him, glancing awestruck. For a moment, it felt like he wasn't the last Air Nomad alive. The monk's face reminded him of Gyatso's. He sighed, contemplating the sea. Being so close to the Southern Air Temple had brought old memories to life. He remembered when he said he would travel the world with his friends; and that one day he would make a pilgrimage with Gyatso to every sacred shrine in existence. Those were happy days, when he wasn't the Avatar, when he didn't have the weight of the world on his shoulders. All he cared for was Air Ball, what cities he would visit, and what cake Gyatso would make.

His new responsibility had come so suddenly that it had scared him. His indecisiveness had caused this. No matter how many times his friends told him that wasn't true, he still felt guilty for the disappearance of his people, for the pain the Fire Nation had caused. He was as much a culprit as the Fire Lord himself. Reversing that pain would be his greatest act of redemption. It was the only way he could dare look into Gyatso's eyes again and say, "I'm sorry." He reached for his necklace and placed the Air Nomad insignia on his hands. "I'll make this right… for all of you; I promise that."

He gazed out into the blue expanse and pondered the tasks he had yet to tackle.

Convincing the people of Yu Jin hadn't been as easy as they expected. They had needed lengthy discussions for the colonists who had been there for generations whilst the newer colonists shrugged it off and packed their things. Mayor Hokomi had been most helpful, going as far as to let them stay in her guest house. She was a young noblewoman sent to overlook the island's naval supply production. It seemed she was more interested in returning home than anything. The military, not beholden to the mayor, was being an obstacle.

Katara, quiet and sulky, had refused to even go near the soldiers, preferring to interact only with the colonists. Suki had proven to be a big help, claiming to be an ideal guide because the area had many similarities to Kyoshi Island. They could tell that she had been anxious to finally return home. Toph had remained fixated on Yu Dao, considering joining the bending tournament. Aang knew that he wouldn't be able to sway her if she was determined to go. It was a pity. She… had her ways of ordering the Fire Nation soldiers around when they dithered and delayed. Sokka was thrilled to lead the evacuation efforts. He even managed to convince two stubborn families to leave by promising them land in the Fire Nation.

I didn't know Zuko's giving out land to the returning colonists. But at least, they left happily. Maybe one more week and this place will belong to nature again.

Zuko didn't reply to Aang's letter yet, thinking himself too busy to read it. Thankfully, the mayor never asked to see Aang's papers and happily provided the means for them to begin decolonizing. He had to help carry heavy machinery from the factories to the docks daily. Appa was exhausted as much as he was. Taking the day off had helped to clear his mind and rest. It definitely helped Appa as well. He stood up and bowed to Tang Xu's statue before leaving.

"Thank you, Master. This island will be all yours soon." He fanned out his glider and flew away, looking down at the forests and waterfalls below. Further ahead, the settlement stood at the foot of an inactive volcano. The island's beaches were a volcanic black. It was split by a large channel, which formed a gulf that gave the island its unique shape of a tail. Ferry boats sailed between the halves. The town housed the administrative buildings and shops, while the residences and rice paddies speckled the other side.

In the middle of the island's isthmus was the Fire Nation Navy base. It had been the main base of operations in the South Sea. There was a canal through the middle of the isthmus. During Ozai's reign, the military had excavated it to improve naval traffic.

As he passed through the town, Aang noticed how few people there were now. When they had first arrived, Yu Jin was swarming with people going about their day. The ferry boats had crossed continuously; now there was a trickle.

As the administrative and business districts expanded into view, the buildings' designs were like those of Kyoshi Island, but with the Fire Nation's distinctive red and gold. There were touches of white as well. Dotting the roofs were decorative statues. Considering it, he was reminded of Ember Island too. Higher up the caldera was the mayor's mansion. It was certainly very spacious and luxurious. It even had a small gazebo outside with one of the best views of the island. Aang enjoyed sitting there with his friends in the evenings. He saw movement and flew lower, curious as to who was there. It was Katara. He landed nearby and ran thrilled to tell her all about his find– She was crying.

"Katara? What's wrong?" She limply handed him a letter.

Hey guys.

I got your letter. I'm sorry I couldn't reply earlier; I didn't want to worry you. The day I tried to announce the new Ministry, I was attacked. The quick thinking of my soldiers saved me; otherwise, I wouldn't be able to write you this letter. Please don't worry; I'm okay now.

I hear you've been making great progress in Yu Jin. I know you might be tempted to come back here to see me, but please stay and continue what you are doing. I can only trust you to get this done. I wouldn't want our efforts to go to waste. We have to keep going on no matter what. Send me a letter when you have the time; I'd like to hear how you're all doing.

Good luck.

P.S: I sent you two documents in case Momo eats it again.

***

"Zuko. Zuko, wake up!"

"Huh, what?" Painfully he sat on his bed.

Mai sat beside him. "You were mumbling in your sleep."

"What time is it?"

"Time to get out of bed." She gripped his arm, trying to help him up.

He barely moved as he used his other hand to cover his wound. "Mai, I already told you it hurts."

"How are you even going to get better if you stay there the whole day? The country won't run itself. Here, let me help." She stood in front of him and assisted him up by grasping both his arms.

"Argh, it's funny that I got hit in the same place where Azula struck me. Must be my lucky scar."

Mai scoffed. "Yes, if you happen to be near the royal physician or a water-healer. You should have listened to Mak." She placed Zuko's arm around her neck as she held his waist, helping him walk.

"Come on, at least let me walk you outside a little." They left the room, Zuko slowly gained the confidence to walk faster, barely getting any support from Mai.

They ran into Colonel Mak, who was in a rush. "Fire Lord, I didn't expect to see you well so soon." He seemed genuinely surprised.

"I guess I heal quickly. How is the investigation going?"

"Well, your attacker hasn't spoken much, neither have her accomplices. We raided their house for clues. They are colonists from Yu Jin. They were renting a room in Harbor City in exchange for work. We are still trying to find who supplied them those weapons."

Zuko looked down, thinking, then looked up to the Colonel again. "I want to speak with her."

"Sir, I wouldn't advise that."

"I want to know why she tried to kill me. If she doesn't tell you, maybe she'll speak to me."

"I'll make sure to tell Warden Ming you are going, sir."

Mai sighed. "Great idea, Zuko. Go talk to your assassin. I'm sure she'll be delighted to see you."

"I have a feeling she'll open up."

"Have it your way, but I'm not leaving you alone with her."

It took them a few extra minutes to get to the entrance of the palace, but the journey to the prison wasn't as long as the last time; there were scarce commuters to obstruct him. The destruction caused by the commotion of the riots was still evident, for there were still burnt outlines of people painting the streets near the palace. He tried not to dwell on it much; it would only bring back the memories.

Returning to the prison, he couldn't help but think again of his father. He hadn't seen him since the day of his coronation, but he still received daily reports from the guards. Ozai refused to speak to any of them, silently staring at the door for hours. If he was waiting for him to come back to talk, he'd be disappointed, for now he was the least of his worries. Not that he could afford being lax on his security though; he was too dangerous to be left without monitoring, even without his bending.

Mai had noticed him sulking on the window of the coach, so she grabbed his hand, giving him a reassuring look. Zuko sighed.

The warden stood at the entrance of the prison, awaiting Zuko's arrival with an escort of guards. They all bowed as Zuko approached. "Fire Lord, I'm glad to see you are doing well."

"Thanks, It's good to see you too Warden."

She raised an eyebrow. "I imagine you're not here for a family visit."

"No, I'm here to see my attempted assassin."

Her face turned serious. "The colonist… Follow me."

Mai looked at Zuko askance. "You still keep your father here? Why haven't you sent him to the Boiling Rock?"

"He wouldn't be isolated there."

"Maybe not, but he would be very far from the Capital. You know it's impossible to escape."

Zuko chuckled. "I escaped."

"Yeah, if I recall well, you escaped because of me; otherwise, you wouldn't have broken that record. But Ozai? Who is going to help him there?"

He lowered his tone. "There might be people that still follow him."

She looked at him, surprised. "The only person crazy enough to follow him is currently institutionalized."

Zuko hadn't thought about her for a while, so he lowered his gaze. "Have you seen Azula?"

She glared at the suggestion. "No, nor do I plan to see her anytime soon. I only see the reports they send you."

"I should go see her one day…"

"Zuko, maybe later when this mess is over with. Plus, you won't like what you'll see. She's… lost it. It only took me one glance to see that."

They didn't go much further before Ming stopped and unlocked a door to her left. "Here it is. I'll leave some guards by the door just in case. Be careful, Your Majesty." The cell didn't offer many comforts; and it had the same design as his father's cell, only with less security. The woman inside was startled by the sound of the door and jumped off her straw bed to face the newcomers. Her surprised expression quickly turned into a scowl at the sight of Zuko.

She hissed, "What are you doing here, pretender? You have no right to wear that crown."

Zuko kept his composure. "Who has, then?"

"You don't care for your own people; you took everything from us, you are just a puppet of the Earth King and the Avatar. He mutilated the true Fire Lord; You'll bring the Fire Nation to ruin. How can you not when you throw your own family in prison?"

"Who sent you here?" He was losing his patience.

She looked up to the ceiling and laughed. "The cries of my nation sent me here; they called on me to deal with the pretender."

Mai grabbed Zuko's arm, disregarding the woman. "This is useless, Zuko; stop wasting your time with this crazy colonist."

"Don't you see that I'm trying to help? We need peac–"

"Peace, peace, peace. Peace, when you roll over at every demand? When you make the greatest nation whimper before the world? We were on the verge of greatness; and you threw it all away! And now you are throwing our people to the coyote-wolves in the name of 'harmony restoration.' You don't get to lecture me about peace, child!"

"You shut your mouth!"

Zuko tried to step closer to the prisoner but was held back by Mai. "Don't."

"Look at you. She's got twice the spine that you do, brat. You are a disgrace to our nation! You have no right to call yourself a descendant of Sozin. Much less Fire Lord."

Zuko shook off Mai's hand. "It is because of people like you that the world suffered! My father made you into thoughtless drones who can't see two feet away from their noses."

"Ozai was many things, but never a traitor to the Fire Nation. Hang me if you wish; you'll just make your first martyr. My guess is you're too weak to do it. Or is that illegal now? I guess you are then." Zuko clenched his fists tighter; they were on fire.

"Zuko, stop!"

The colonist appeared unfazed. "Listen to her, traitor. She's got more brains than you do."

Mai eyed him gravely. "It's not worth it."

He sighed and spoke to her calmly. "I'll find out who sent you. I'll make sure none of your accomplices see the light of day again."

She grinned, pointing. "Ha. Ha. There's the door; don't want to keep your Earth King master waiting." She sat on her bed, turning her back on Zuko.

He left first, followed closely behind by Mai. "I told you it was a bad idea."

He wiped his forehead and looked at her. "Thanks for stopping me there." Mai gave a small smile.

Warden Ming walked to them. "Did she tell you anything, Fire Lord?"

"Nothing important. Do whatever you have to do; I want to know who sent them."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Mai smiled wanly. "Well, l told you only nutjobs followed your father."

"I'm not in the mood now."