Edited by: Bieverdog AO3: GalavantingGoose, Due_Cardiologist_292, and ultimatebookworm08
Book I
失衡
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 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."
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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.