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Chapter Text

Iroh kept his silence regarding the mighty dragons, Ran and Shaw. 

He'd left his mighty homeland to travel the world. He learned techniques from other benders, created his own, and sought wisdom from the dragons. When he returned with his newfound insight, he claimed he'd slain the final dragon. This, with his ability to breathe fire, gave him the title of 'The Dragon of the West'. He accepted the title and promised to never speak a word about the dragons. He went into the military, as was expected of him, and served as a general over many honorable men and women. 

Then the siege occurred, a siege that changed his life. 

He came home six months later, having lost a son and having gained more insight than before. He had stepped back from the war and had meditated, pondering his life and his choices. He even visited the spirit world in search for his son. The wisdom he found there, instead, was far greater than he'd anticipated.

When he finally returned to the Fire Nation royal palace, Zuko ran up to meet him, and the first thing he did was cry into the general's shoulder. He sobbed through his retelling of Ursa's disappearance, of Azulon's death, of Ozai's ascension to the throne.

Azula stood to the side, darkness in her golden-amber eyes. She caught Iroh's gaze for a moment, then looked away. 

Iroh murmured soft things to his nephew to try and calm him down, remembering painfully his own son, the son he'd recently lost. Tears, fresher than they should've been, stung his eyes, but he pushed them aside. He had to be strong for his nephew and niece. They needed him. 

Eventually, Zuko eased from his arms, and then Iroh reached a hand out to Azula. She looked away again, saying in a dull voice, "I'm fine."

To see a child, only ten years old, telling him she was fine... Iroh wondered what kind of pain Ozai had put these kids through, seeing as both Ursa and Iroh had left. For a moment, his heart clenched with anger, then he took a breath and nodded. The children didn’t need to see his wrath. He looked at his niece, who stared at the grass at her side. Azula would come to him, he hoped. It just took time to heal. 

He straightened, watching Zuko rub tears from his eyes. He put a hand on the boy's shoulder. "It's going to be alright. It is hard, but I promise things will get better." He looked at the gardens around them, remembering the bitter cold of the north. "It is like the changing of the seasons. Sometimes they are bitter and cold, and sometimes they are warm and pleasant."

"Sometimes they're hot, and they suck," Zuko commented. 

Iroh couldn't help but laugh at that. He'd missed his nephew. "Yes. I suppose summer can be rather hot." He squeezed the boy's shoulder. "Come. I think I need to speak to your father."

The idea of greeting Ozai had no appeal to the general, but he knew it had to be done. He went with the children into the silent halls, wondering where the servants had gone. He'd expected bustling, a flurry of activity. Instead, it was... too quiet. 

It had been six months since his last service in the military, but he still knew the shouts of orders, the blasts of firebending. The stillness of the air around him reminded him sharply of the spirit world. He couldn’t decide whether that was a good thing or not. 

He left the two siblings in front of the throne room. They watched him, Zuko with wide eyes and Azula with calculating ones. It reminded him of the contrast between himself and his brother. He hoped neither of the children would fall down the path Ozai had taken. 

He took another, steadying breath, and pushed aside the curtain dividing the throne room from the hallway. 

Ozai sat behind a row of orange flame. Iroh had never liked the flames; they looked too foreboding. But who was he to say anything? If he'd come back and claimed his right to the throne, had fought in an Agni Kai for the throne and had won, he would probably have the flames, too. That was before he learned a better way to live. It had just taken the death of his son to figure it out. 

"You're late, Brother," Ozai sneered. Iroh had not seen him since before the siege, and he didn't appreciate the superior tone in his voice. 

"I did not realize you had a timeline for me," Iroh answered. Though he tried to keep himself mild-toned, a hint of impatience slipped in. "Shall I bow to you?"

"I would like that."

"It was rhetorical, Ozai."

"You are still a citizen of the Fire Nation, and therefore, you are under my authority." The flames rose by an inch. "Don't test my patience."

Iroh only narrowed his eyes. Considering the two children waiting outside, he bowed into the proper, respectful position. He fought the anger in his stomach. "It is an honor to be home, Fire Lord Ozai."

That could have been my throne. 

But I don't regret my choices. 

"Good." Ozai sounded smugly pleased. "It's good to see you know your place. I never thought you would come home from all the disgrace and shame."

The words stabbed Iroh in the chest, but he held himself firm against the onslaught. This is how he is. This is how he is raising Azula and Zuko. I will not let him succeed. Iroh raised his head. "I was unsure as to whether I would be allowed to return."

"Consider it a mercy." Ozai narrowed his eyes. "Now that we have reunited... Leave my sight."

Iroh's chest tightened with anger at the words, the command given him. For years and years, he'd never expected Ozai to take the throne. But that was his own fault. 

The Dragon of the West stood. "As you wish."

He was about to turn, to leave, when Ozai stopped him. "One final question... What did it feel like to kill the final dragon?"

Iroh felt his blood chill.

He wondered how he should respond to that. It was a loaded question, after all. Something in Ozai's voice had a threat to it, like if Iroh wasn't careful about what he said, he would suffer dire consequences. 

"What do you want me to say?" he finally said. "That I gained new powers? That I can become a dragon myself?"

"You know the rumors. When a dragon is killed, its slayer's firebending increases by a thousand-fold. So..." Ozai narrowed his eyes. "Did you experience this increase in power, or not?"

Iroh wondered what would be the best way to combat this. Ozai had seen his firebending after the so-called 'death' of the last dragon, and no significant increase had occurred, other than his ability to steady his breathing and connect to his inner fire. It certainly had never been a thousand-fold. 

The general swallowed hard. "Those are only rumors. That does not happen, even though there is a-"

"Leave my sight."

Iroh never knew as to whether Ozai knew the truth or not. 

When he left the room, a knot had formed in his stomach. Even as he walked alongside Zuko and Azula, who asked him questions about his meeting, he couldn't shake the feeling that Ozai had something in mind, something dangerous and worrisome. 

He had a bad feeling that something was wrong. 

Ozai knew the tales, the increasing of power for those brave enough to defeat a dragon. 

From the reports of several soldiers, people he'd very nicely asked for an opinion from, Iroh's power had never strengthened. Most brushed it off, claiming he was still stronger with his ability to breathe fire and regulate his breathing.

Even still, Ozai knew the signs of a liar. His brother had never been particularly good at lying. 

He toyed with the idea of a dragon still being alive, still spreading its revolting spawn over the world. He considered the idea of taking it out. 

He smiled, but there was no good in the expression. The smile held cunning, manipulative power, power that the Fire Lord knew how to use. He'd used it the night of Ursa's betrayal, the night he'd planned to murder Zuko in his sleep. If Ursa could remove Azulon for him... the boy would live. That was the option he gave her, and she took it. She knew the consequences that would fall on her and the children if she did not comply.

He wondered if he should be the one to slay the final dragon. It would a nice addition to his recent increase in power. The Fire Lord, wiping the earth clean of the dragon race. That sounded good to him. 

Yet if he died, somehow, during the encounter with the dragons... He couldn't risk leaving the throne to Iroh, or to the children. He'd just begun his reign. To lose it so soon would be humiliating. 

He paused, then narrowed his eyes. He could send Zuko to defeat the dragon. It would be an easy way to get rid of the child who'd always been a disappointment. But then, if Zuko somehow won against the dragon, or if Iroh somehow convinced him to lie about the dragon or helped him kill it, then the child would be the youngest to be proclaimed with the honorary title of 'Dragon'. His fame could outshine Ozai's. No. That would not do. 

Ozai examined the open flames, raising and lowering them as he considered his options. 

If Iroh was smart for once and kept his mouth shut, then Ozai had a few years to watch the children grow up. Then he would send Zuko to fight the final dragon, keep Iroh away, and he would die. He would just have to stunt the child's growth, keep him from learning the more advanced techniques. Azula would never fight a dragon and would never be a threat to Ozai until she was much older. When it came to that point, he'd take her out. But until then, he'd let her learn as much as she wanted. 

Until then...

He smiled to himself. 

Iroh kept silent and mentioned nothing about dragons during the next couple of years. He refused to have anything to do with them. He never spoke a word about the masters, laying low and watching what he said. 

He had to be careful. If Ozai learned about the masters and the Sun Warriors...

At the same time, Iroh found merit in the teachings he'd learned from the hidden society. He wished he could privately teach those lessons to his niece and nephew, but they were busy with other tutors. Their schedules were packed to the brim, and they couldn't find the time for his teachings. Eventually, they became more and more tired, collapsing into their beds at the end of the day. 

Azula pushed herself hard in her training. Even though she was only eleven, she pushed herself with her father's encouragement. Her flames began to turn blue on the edges, and she exploited that trait. Iroh had never seen so much fierce determination in a firebender, and he knew that it could either be a virtue or a vice, depending on how she used it. 

Zuko, on the other hand, experienced little growth. The tutors continued to chide him in the most basic of firebending forms, no matter how well he did them. Most of his lessons ended with him in angry tears, and they chided him for that. Iroh couldn't understand the harsh criticism, especially when Zuko made no mistakes during his katas. He frowned disapprovingly as Azula sneered at her brother during a lesson, and she wisely turned her head. 

Ozai was hurting the children. Not physically, not all the time. But he was turning them against each other. Where they once played together and teased each other, now they snapped in open hostility. The Fire Lord couldn't care less about the change in their dynamic. In fact, he encouraged it. 

Iroh knew it had to stop. 

The only problem was how to make it stop. 

If he tried to take Azula and Zuko from Ozai, the Fire Lord would just send legions of Fire Nation soldiers after them. Running from the nation with two children, both of whom seemed to hate each other and possibly dislike him, did not seem advantageous. Not to mention it would cause difficulties in most of the planning. If even one thing went wrong, it could spell their doom. 

If he said anything to Zuko or Azula, Ozai could very easily find out. It was no secret that the Fire Lord had eyes all over the palace. One hint of rebellion could prove disastrous for either child. And if one of them tried to rebel, Iroh knew there would be horrendous consequences. He couldn't risk it. And talking to Ozai was simply, and easily, out of the question. Approaching the Fire Lord would just end in more eyes watching the older firebender. 

Iroh had to sit by and let the situation get worse and worse. There was nothing he could do to help the children, but he feared if he said or did nothing, they would go down terrible paths. 

By the time Zuko was thirteen and Azula was eleven, they hated each other. Azula found Zuko to be lesser than the dirt she stepped on and scoffed when he tried anything with firebending, and she also jeered at him for his difficulties in his other learning areas. Zuko, of course, found his sister to be infuriating. He would curl his lip when she created sparks that Iroh knew would eventually become powerful lightning. Zuko’s hands clenched when she showed off her terrific recall of history and played various instruments with ease. Iroh had to watch from the side as the once-inseparable firebenders pushed away from each other. 

Perhaps the worst day of his life came when Zuko entered his first war meeting. Iroh had told him to be careful, to watch what he said in front of the generals. More than anything, he was trying to warn the child about the Fire Lord, about his own father. The idea sickened him, but at the same time, he'd had to deal with the same caution regarding his own father, Azulon. 

When Iroh had spoken his concern, Zuko frowned. Then he nodded. "Alright. I promise I'll be careful."

Iroh nodded, but he couldn't shake the feeling that Zuko would break that promise. He had a strong temper, and if someone crossed him or aggravated him, he could blow up at them. He'd blown up at his tutors several times to the point where they concluded his sole drive for firebending was anger. Iroh couldn't blame him; constant criticism for everything would drive him to anger, too. At the same time, he knew from the dragons that true fire came from something deeper than emotions. He just wished he had the chance to tell Zuko that. 

He sat next to his nephew, hoping the young man would remain silent. The point wasn't for him to speak. It was for him to learn and listen. It was how Iroh had learned the stratagem he'd used during his military career.

Iroh's stomach twisted strangely as one of the generals spoke up. "I am recommending the forty-third division to attack the Earth Kingdom squadron."

The former general knew that most of those soldiers were greenies. They weren't skilled in the way of warfare. They would die easily. 

As the general swept a marker over the map, another general said, "Those are fresh recruits. How do you expect them to fight against the earthbenders?"

"I don't." The cold calculation in the response made Iroh shudder. He had once supported such a kind of strategy. It was something he still felt ashamed of to this day. "They will be as bait so we can go in using the other fleets."

Zuko's hand clenched, but Iroh reached over and squeezed his hand. The young man's brows came down. His hard voice echoed over the crackling of Ozai's flames. "You don't expect them to survive?"

"No." The general paused, then eyed Zuko with a raised brow. "Do you take issue with that, Prince Zuko? It is the way of the war. Sacrifices should be made. They must be made."

Zuko narrowed his eyes further. Iroh tightened his grip on the young man's arm. Please watch your step- The prince pulled his arm free. "They are soldiers who love our country. If we are going to use them like that, they must be regarded as heroes."

"Of course." The general sat down with a smile that chilled Iroh to the bone. "We're not barbarians, Your Highness. Not like those Water Tribe people."

The prince frowned but did not speak again for the rest of the meeting. Iroh pulled him out as soon as he could, taking advantage of Zuko's free time. "You did well in there, Zuko. I'm proud of you."

"Thanks." The prince didn't look convinced. "Uncle, they're using them for fodder. That's just... that's wrong! How could they-"

Iroh took Zuko by the shoulder and pulled him out of the hall as the generals began to file out. They paused in front of Zuko's bedroom. "When you are Fire Lord, Zuko, you can change that. Hopefully, this war will be over by then. But for now-"

"When Zuzu is Fire Lord?" Azula came into view, arms crossed. Even for an eleven-year-old, she looked intimidating and cunning. Iroh disliked the similiarities between Azula and her father. Since her birth, Ozai had had far too much influence on her. "He can't even perform a fire wheel properly!"

Iroh frowned as the prince bristled. "Azula, that is no way to-"

"He has to be able to firebend to lead the nation properly." Azula raised a brow. "Face it, Zuzu. You're not ready to be Fire Lord. And if you're not careful, you never will be." 

Something in her eyes flickered, and for the briefest of moments, Iroh saw a warning in her eyes. 

She was trying to warn her brother. If he couldn't improve, then he would never be respected or accepted by Ozai. 

Iroh knew it was a losing game, but Zuko did not. The prince clenched his fists. "That's easy for you to say! Everything comes easy for you! You were born lucky! Spirits, Azula, I was lucky to be born." He whirled to go into his room. "Why do I even bother with you anymore?"

Azula watched him disappear into his room, and Iroh saw a flicker of hurt on her face. It disappeared in the blink of an eye, and she turned on her heel and stalked out of sight.

He watched her go, and he let out a long, deep sigh. Where did I go wrong? What did I do? 

And how do I make it better?

Zuko tried to block out the thoughts in his mind and found it to be futile. 

You have to firebend. 

If you can't firebend, you won't be Fire Lord. 

You were never born with the spark, not like your sister was. 

You were never meant to be Fire Lord. It was a losing game. It was a false hope. 

No divine right to rule. It was given to Azula.

You were lucky to be born. 

You'll never be ready to be the Fire Lord. 

You'll never be ready. 

He remembered the criticisms of his tutors. Everything he did was wrong. Every move, every idea, everything was wrong. The only one who didn't criticize him was his swordsmaster, Piandao. And Zuko couldn't lead a nation of firebenders with dual blades. If he couldn't firebend... he simply couldn't lead the nation. 

Maybe his tutors thought he was a failure, just like Azula did. Maybe even his uncle thought the same. His father probably did. 

A sharp rap on the door sent a jolt through his senses, and he sat up, nerves tight. His pulse rushed as his breath caught, and he wondered if he was in danger. Pressing a hand to his chest, he forced himself to calm down and call out in a collected voice, "What is it?"

A servant answered him. "The Fire Lord has requested an audience with you at once."

Chapter Text

Zuko's mind raced through the different reasons why his father would request an audience with him. Was it private? Was it with Azula? Was it with Iroh? He just couldn't tell. 

He bet it had something to do with his words in the war meeting. Something in his gut twisted, partly in anger at the injustice of the situation. He was right to point out the immorality, and he was the one to get punished. It wasn't fair. 

Even still, it couldn’t change the fear that clenched his chest so tightly it hurt. Being summoned by the Fire Lord meant he was in trouble. Trouble meant more scolding from the tutors, less free time, maybe even less food if the Fire Lord was particularly upset. 

Zuko just hoped that, whatever the case, the meeting would go by quickly. The faster they got through the lecture, the faster he could leave and the earlier he could begin his punishment and be done with it.

He tried and failed to steady his breathing as he walked down the red-coloured halls of the palace. He’d walked these floors all his life, but some of the passages were still foreign to him. He would only enter those areas when he was Fire Lord.

With a bitter twist in his heart and a soft growl, he had to mentally correct himself. If he was Fire Lord.

After all, Azula, with her bending superiority, could easily rise up and take the throne instead of him. The concept of the second-born becoming Fire Lord wasn’t common in Fire Nation history, but Zuko knew his father had taken the throne instead of his uncle. When Iroh failed to show his face after the Siege of Ba Sing Se, Ozai was given the title of Fire Lord. Azulon granted it as his dying wish. 

Iroh never fought Ozai for the throne. Zuko would fight Azula for it.

The young prince found the throne room, the one he’d walked into earlier that day. The two guards never moved or spoke when he nodded to them and took a deep, steadying breath. 

Okay. Here I go.

He pulled the curtain to the side and stepped through, taking in the grandeur of the room around him. Pillars stretched from the floor to the ceiling, streaks of gold inlaid into the wood. The light from the row of fire bounced off the gold and made it almost glow. The fire itself stretched from the left side of the room to the right and separated the Fire Lord from those he might be scheming with... or threatening. 

Zuko walked forwards, wincing at how idiotic he must’ve looked. He knelt and dipped down into a kowtow, pressing his head against the polished wood before the throne. It was surprisingly cold, like the heat of the fires never reached those who petitioned the Fire Lord. A chill snaked down his back.

He found his voice. “Fire Lord Ozai... I am honoured to be summoned to your mighty presence. I am at your command.”

Those were the honorary words Zuko had been taught over and over. His tutors drilled them into his head until he could speak them in his sleep. Everyone used those words when being summoned by the Fire Lord. Even his children.

“Good.” The Fire Lord had rarely ever spoken to Zuko, so the boy had made his own assumptions about what he’d sound like. The cool, cunning voice reminded him so sharply of Azula that it hurt. It was nothing like he’d expected. “If you really are at my command, then hear my words." Zuko swallowed hard against the worry rising in his chest. "You spoke out in the war meeting. Perhaps you were subtle, but you still questioned the wisdom of my highest generals."

Zuko tried to hold his voice steady, but it still came out shaky. "Please, Father, I didn't mean any disrespect. I meant-"

"I know what you meant." Zuko shut his mouth. Don't speak unless asked to. That was the first rule his teachers had tried to enforce, and he'd already broken it. Nice going, Zuko. "As punishment for your disrespect, I have given you a task. You will be sent to track down and slay the final dragon."

Zuko had to take a moment to process what had been asked of him. 

Kill the last dragon? But...

The request, or rather the command, made no sense to him. His uncle had killed the final dragon, right? So the Fire Lord would be sending the prince to find something that he would never find, almost like a wild flutter bat chase. His task would never come to fruition. 

He cleared his throat, having learned his lesson the first time. "May I speak, Your Highness?"

"Very well."

"Well, uh... Your Highness, uh..." Zuko tried to get his thoughts in order as his mouth refused to cooperate. He couldn't dare waste the monarch's time, and he could tell his slips of the tongue were grinding on his father's short-lived patience. "General Iroh slew the last one, didn't he?"

The Fire Lord went silent for a moment, a moment that seemed to stretch into an eternity to the prince. 

"Iroh is a liar," the monarch said. Zuko flinched at the harsh tone of the words, wondering how painful it would be if that tone was directed at him. "He did not kill the final dragon. As a result, it is your duty to finish the job."

Arguing with his father would get nowhere, so Zuko only nodded quickly, still looking at the floor. "As you wish, Fire Lord."

"Leave my sight."

Zuko kowtowed in an attempt to show loyalty to his already ill-tempered father. His head touched the cool floor again, and he flinched at the chill that ran over him once more. He rose to his feet and bowed deeply, going as far down as he could, trying to show as much respect as he could. Then he scuttled out of the throne room, needing to escape the stifling scent of smoke and the choking fear that wrapped around him. 

He had to leave the palace to begin a new assignment. And if he failed that assignment... he knew the consequences could be devastating. He had no idea as to what escort would be with him, if his uncle or his sister would be going with him. He'd never thought to ask those questions, but he regretted keeping quiet. But if he had asked... that might not have gone well, either. So maybe it was good that he stayed silent. 

He looked at the halls he'd grown up in. At the moment, only a few servants made their way through the palace. It was relatively quiet, all things considered. Depending on the day, things could be jam packed and bustling. Other times, they could be quiet. Zuko remembered hearing how busy the palace had been the day of Azula's birth. He also remembered the unnerving stillness of the palace when his uncle returned from the war. 

His feet mechanically led him to his room, and he walked in, laying down on his comfortable bed. He ran a hand over it, wondering where he'd go first. He'd have to find a dragon... somehow. That was the first problem he'd have to tackle. 

Closing his eyes, Zuko began to think about the dragons, about what he'd learned from the tutors. 

Without meaning to, he drifted into a restless, nervous sleep filled with dreams of Azula laughing, the turning back of his mother, and dragons the size of the earth coming to swallow him whole.

"Your brother has accepted the task of killing the final dragon."

Azula kept her head tilted down, looking at the ground, but she couldn't help but scoff to herself. Her brother, whose voice cracked more often than not, was being sent to kill a dragon. She knew the legends of the increased power. She also knew about the honorary title of 'Dragon' that came when someone killed one of the beasts. 

But to expect Zuko to kill a dragon? That was absurd. 

She knew better than to speak out against this idea. After all, she was a princess, and the Fire Lord had a higher ranking than her. Even still, it seemed far-fetched to think that Zuko could defeat a dragon. 

Unless...

She pushed away the idea that her father would send Zuko to die at the claws of a dragon. He might favor Azula over the boy, but he wasn't that cruel. She just wouldn't believe that of him. 

"Zuko is weak concerning anything he puts his mind to." Disdain lined the Fire Lord's voice. "The only thing I can see him doing partially well are those dual blades. Otherwise he is an embarrassment to this family."

Azula smiled to herself. I agree. 

"I do not expect him to slay the dragon. He might not even find one, considering his lack in tracking abilities. I am sending you, Princess Azula, to follow him. Find the dragon if your brother does not. If he does find the beast and is slain by it, return home. Do not kill it. I will take care of it myself."

The princess did not agree with that idea. She wanted to have the power from killing the dragon. It would give her the final boost she needed to generate lightning. If she could master that skill at only eleven, she would truly be worth the praise of any bending master... even from her father.

She decided she would find and kill the dragon, even if Zuko didn't. She also decided she would keep that idea a secret from her father. She hated disobeying him. But if the dragon killed Zuko, Azula could claim she flew into a fit of sisterly rage and slew the monster in revenge. Or she could perhaps claim that Zuko never found the beast, and neither could she. However, with the second idea, she would have to find a way to hide her increased powers. But she could cross that bridge when she got to it. 

"While you track him," the Fire Lord said, "you are to report back to the palace every week. Send your reports through the messenger hawks. I expect your messages at the same time every week."

She dipped her head lower in acknowledgement. A question popped into her head. "Your Majesty... may I ask a simple question?"

"You are permitted to speak."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Will I travel with an escort?"

A silence filled the air, but Azula was unafraid. She had nothing to fear from her father. He would never hurt her. Not on purpose. 

"You may take an escort if you desire one," the Fire Lord relented. "If you think you can manage alone, then go alone."

Azula briefly wondered if she could take Ty Lee and Mai with her, then pushed it aside. She needed someone back at the palace to keep tabs for her, make sure nothing went wrong while she was away. Besides, both were still young, and if they got into trouble... She just couldn't risk it. 

"Very well, Your Majesty." She pressed her head to the varnished wood. The cool touch of the floor did not frighten or concern her. "What more can I do to serve you?"

"That is all. You are dismissed."

"Thank you, Fire Lord Ozai."

With that, she raised herself to her feet and bowed deeply. Then she turned and strode neatly out of the throne room, keeping her composure in line even as she walked down the halls. Any servants who walked past her bowed to her, wisely avoiding her gaze. She smiled, but no true happiness shone in the expression. She hadn't smiled with actual happiness for a long time, since before her mother left. 

Azula kept the corners of her mouth pinned up in that smile even as buried pain stabbed her in the heart. She pushed it back down and quickened her pace. Mai and Ty Lee wouldn't be happy if she was late to greet them. And besides, she had a reputation to uphold. She was never late. 

She remembered the plan, and suddenly it wasn't so hard to show her cunning smile. 

Iroh had always liked the palace gardens. They were perhaps the one place of true quiet and true calm. He remembered seeing Ursa by the turtle duck pond more often than not, and he believed she liked the serenity, too. She'd always looked uncomfortable around Ozai, like she'd never really wanted to be married to him. Iroh guessed she went to the gardens to get some brief time away from the Fire Lord. 

He'd also seen Azula and Zuko playing in the gardens. They would tumble and chase each other through the grass until the games finished or they were called back inside. It was those glimpses that made Iroh think the siblings had once been normal children. They had really cared for each other... until Ozai forced them apart. 

Iroh could only hope the prince and princess could mend their relationship... even though it seemed futile to even hope for that.

He heard young, feminine voices coming from within the grove, and he walked along the edge. He didn't want to disturb whoever was in the gentle area, and the voices sounded lively and excited. He could pick out the words if he concentrated, so he listened in out of curiosity. 

"I'm so glad we get to hang out with you, Azula!" Iroh could recognize the light voice, having been around the palace for a couple years and having seen some of Azula's comrades coming and going from the gardens with the princess. It was Ty Lee. She certainly sounded excited to visit with the princess. He found himself smiling as he heard the pure delight in her voice. She had always been bubbly and rather kind, a good influence on the firebender. "It's been a while, hasn't it?"

"Unfortunately." Azula's tone was, as expected, measured... though more measured and cool than Iroh would expect from a typical eleven-year-old. Then again, though, Azula was no typical child. "It is good to see you again, Ty Lee. And you, Mai."

Iroh took comfort in the idea of Azula having close friends. Even though those were opposites, with Mai being more reserved and unemotional, they seemed to help Azula. He hoped that maybe, someday, they could help her mend the broken parts in her.

"Did you meet with your dad?" Ty Lee asked. 

"I did."

"Good." Mai sounded a little hesitant as she spoke. "He promised, right?"

"He asked for my presence. There's a difference. Anyways..." Azula paused, then dropped her voice to a softer murmur. Iroh was glad for his strong hearing. "If I tell you what he told me, you have to keep quiet."

She was swearing them to secrecy... For some reason, even though it made some sort of sense, it worried Iroh. Something must have happened in the throne room, and he wondered what Ozai had told his daughter.

He wondered, too, if Ozai had said something to Zuko for speaking out in the throne room. 

"We promise to be quiet," Ty Lee answered. Mai murmured something that Iroh couldn't hear. 

"Alright." Azula paused again. "So here it is... My father is sending me on a dangerous mission."

"What?" Mai sounded caught off-guard. Iroh's chest tightened with worry. "Why? It's life-threatening, isn't it? You could die."

"Well of course I could die. But I won't. I can handle that stuff. Actually, it's not even me who's going to be in danger. It's my brother. He's been sent to kill the last dragon."

Iroh inhaled sharply. 

Since the initial inquiry a few years back, Ozai had never asked again about the idea of a surviving dragon. But he'd just waited for his chance. Now, two years later, Ozai was taking it. He knew Iroh had lied... and he was sending Zuko to kill the 'final dragon'.

Iroh felt sick. He knew there were two living dragons, and he knew where they were. Even worse, he knew that Zuko could not take either of them, and if he tried...

Ty Lee spoke up. "Azula... That doesn't make sense. Didn't your uncle kill the last one years ago?"

"Uncle lied." Iroh flinched at the harsh response, but Azula continued. "Dad thinks there's the last one out there, so he's sending Zuzu out to kill it. He's an idiot, so no one really expects him to find it. And he's a coward, too, so I don't expect he'd even try to find it."

"So why are you going?" Mai asked. "Do you have to find it, too?"

"In a way." The princess took a moment before she spoke again. "I'm following Zuzu, tracking him and making sure he doesn't get his sorry butt killed. He's an idiot, and sure, he's a weakling, but my father doesn't actually want him to die."

Iroh knew the truth. Ozai never cared for his oldest son. Not since his birth, when the firebending spark had not appeared in the boy's eyes when it should've. Ozai would kill Zuko if he had the chance. He wanted a prodigy, and he got it in Azula. He wanted a prodigy who he could push to her limits, and he got one. Zuko was just an obstacle in the way.

The former general's stomach rolled as Azula went on. "I have to find the dragon if Zuzu can't. And then I have to come back and tell Father. That seems a little ridiculous to me, so..." Azula dropped her volume again. "I'm going to kill it when I find it."

"Really?" Ty Lee sounded surprised but excited for her friend. "That's cool, Azula!"

"I know." Azula sounded proud of herself. "I've got to send reports back here, but I guess I can make time to send you letters. Just to entertain you. The palace will get so boring with me and Zuzu gone."

"That would be great!" Ty Lee's voice took on a teasing note. "What do you think, Mai? Would you want letters from Zuko?"

Mai spoke up sharply. "Shut up!" There was the brushing of cloth against grass. "You guys are so insufferable! It was just a crush."

Iroh took a step back, staring into nothing as he considered his options. He couldn't sit and let them leave. He had to do something.

What should he do, then?

He could confront Ozai about his plan, but that would end terribly. Especially when Iroh had to explain where he had learned about the plan. Either child would be in danger if he mentioned them, and he would not put that on them. No, that option would not work.

He could also talk to the children and try to stop them, but he doubted that would work, either. They had their own motivations for going, and trying to convince them otherwise would most likely end with them hating him and leaving anyways. They were both resolutely stubborn and most likely wouldn't heed his warning. Briefly, he wondered if Zuko knew Azula would follow him, but he doubted it judging by how the princess had spoken. That option would not do. 

He wondered if his best option was following the children. Following Azula as she followed her brother. Iroh had strong tracking skills and knew how to keep himself hidden from those he was following. He had used his tracking abilities several times in the military. He wondered if it would be good to use them again. He'd have to leave without anyone knowing, and he'd having to avoid Ozai's spies, but if he could make it work...

Iroh turned away from the gardens and strode back into the palace when he heard the sound of little footsteps coming his way. He had to move before they caught him overhearing their conversation. He began forming an idea in his head. He would follow the young firebenders, if only to keep them and the dragons safe. He understood their assignment would separate them from their father, yet he couldn't bear the idea of them harming each other or themselves. He knew he could have a positive influence on them, even though he would have to stay far from them to avoid being detected. Even still, the new mission could be an opportunity of growth for the two children. They could grow and learn important lessons, and perhaps they could mend their fraying relationship. Not to mention Iroh could be there to steer them along the right path. 

He smiled to himself as he entered his bedchambers, then set to work, packing anything he could at the moment. He guessed Zuko and Azula would leave in the next few days, and he planned to slip out soon after them, as soon as he knew they were gone. 

Iroh would leave with his niece and nephew... and he would do it without anyone knowing. 

Chapter Text

The morning of his departure, Zuko wore a ruffled shoulder guard and cinched his tunic around his waist with a belt. He packed a simpler tunic in case he had to blend in and not look like the prince of the Fire Nation. He hated the idea of being lower-class, but he could see some of the reasoning behind it. One could never tell when they had to disguise themselves as peasants. 

He picked up his travelling bag and slung it over his shoulder, having little with him except for the plain change of clothes, his dual swords, and a few foodstuffs the cook had given him for the journey. It was as he looked around his room for the final time that he realized he'd be going alone, without anyone's support, to fight a dragon. 

Sudden dread pooled in his stomach, and he swallowed hard. He angrily blinked back tears of anxiety. He'd have to learn to cook for himself, fight for himself, and do everything by himself. He realized with shame and horror how coddled he'd been all his life. He never learned how to hunt or cook, and if he didn't know how to do those things, he'd starve before he even reached the dragon. 

If he could figure out where the stupid thing was. 

Turning his shame to anger at the insanity of the request, he huffed and strode from the bedroom, eyes narrowed and jaw set tightly almost to the point of pain. He had to get out of the palace while it was still quiet and empty of servants. Most of them would not encounter him on his way out, and he was glad for it. He couldn't handle the stares that would surely come.

He was also glad he wouldn't have to face Azula or her friends or even his uncle. He couldn't tell if any of them knew about his assignment. If they did, surely they would scoff at him for even trying to find something that was supposed to be dead. 

'Supposed to be' were the key words. 

Iroh had lied, after all, according to the Fire Lord. And the Fire Lord never lied. He just couldn't. The Fire Lord's word was law. If he lied, that would betray the noble principles that the Fire Nation had been built upon. 

So Zuko, despite the absurdity of his quest, obeyed his father's orders and left the palace early in the morning. 

Azula left mid-afternoon on the same day that Zuko did. She wore the same outfit that he did, though her hair was in a perfect topknot unlike her brother's royal phoenix tail. She stuck a little Fire Nation pin in the front of her hairdo, then picked up her bag. It was filled with goods such as food and clothing, but she knew her escort of soldiers would also carry more supplies for her. She could, and would, outlast Zuko just on her food alone. 

She was, after all, the favorite child. 

She passed through the halls, wondering when she would walk past the red-painted walls again. Hopefully soon. She had faith in herself and believed that, even if her brother messed up, she would come home victorious regardless of what happened. She would come home soon enough. 

Azula reached the front of the castle and surveyed the soldiers that had been acquired for her. She narrowed her eyes. There were eight, which was a small amount. That was a good idea, but perhaps it wasn't good enough. If Zuko overheard her squadron somehow, he could try to evade her. While he'd probably make a fool of himself and would probably be found again anyways, it would just be an annoyance for his sister. She couldn't do with time-wasting annoyances. 

They had a few different mounts to use, packs strapped to the animals' sides. Azula allowed the head soldier, Lieutenant Jee, to take her pack from her. She addressed the main group. "You know why you're here. You know our mission. The biggest rule is: stay quiet. If my dear brother hears us and runs off, someone will have to pay for it. And it won't be me."

They all watched her with solemn faces. These were military men, people who knew how to take orders, regardless of how old their superior was. Even if their superior was a child. No one questioned her rank, and she took pride in that. 

"If this becomes too cumbersome..." Azula patted the packs on the side of a rhino. "...then I will discharge all of you and set out on my own. I don't care what my father instructed of you. He knows I can handle myself. Regardless of what the Fire Lord asked, you will return here when I dismiss you. Understood?"

Curt nods came from the group, sharp and quick. The men and women, Azula's new pack of soldiers, waited for their dismissal to keep readying their mounts. They waited for further instructions. 

She straightened her spine and put her hands behind her back. "Good." The sun bore down into her eyes, but she ignored it. "We head out in five minutes."

The candlelight cast a glow on the parchment before Iroh. His eyes took in the picture he could see on the paper, wishing he could free himself from the guilt and sorrow that had trapped itself in his heart. It had been a few years since his son's death, but he could never truly forget the day he lost his only child. 

Dust settled on the battlefield around the general. He stood at the top of a mound, looking down and seeing the fallen soldiers who had died in the name of the Fire Nation. He believed they could win. The fallen had given their lives and knew exactly what they were fighting for. They were under his command.

His chest tightened as he saw the smoke rising around him. He had not counted his son, Lu Ten, among the survivors. He had searched the medical tents, asked the healers for information. His fear continued to spike as he failed to locate his child. 

He hoped to the spirits above that Lu Ten had been missed, had actually survived and was laying with the fallen. 

He began to step around the bodies, stomach curling as he saw the faces marked with blood, the burns, the crushed forms of his soldiers. It was to be expected, considering they were in the middle of war and were trying to breach the grand city of Ba Sing Se. Casualties were meant to happen. Iroh knew this. 

It didn't change how he spent hours searching the bodies, seeing the dead clumped together. It didn't change the twisting in his heart as he beheld the fallen of both the Earth Kingdom and the Fire Nation. The two nations weren't that different, he realized; both sides, at the end of the day, lost parts of their armies. What made the difference was who would succeed at the end of the long siege. 

His blood suddenly chilled as he saw the still form of a young man, somehow separated from the rest of the bodies. He was on his side, one arm laying at an unnatural angle. One of his legs looked broken, and bloodied mud caked the right side of his face. His golden eyes had opened and were unseeing, clouded over by death. Dried blood made a dark red line from the corner of his mouth to his chin. His chest looked strangely deflated, like his lungs had collapsed, probably from a boulder thrown right at him, and-

Oh. 

Iroh's breath hitched. 

It wasn't just any young man laying before him. It was Lu Ten. His son. 

He rushed to his child, the soldier who had bantered with him often in the army. He remembered the jokes Lu Ten would crack just to get a smile from his father, trying to ease some of his worries during the hardest moments. Lu Ten would never do that again. 

He knelt beside the young man and briefly considered that maybe... maybe Lu Ten was too young to die like this. He was a man, sure, but he was too young. It was tragic, too tragic to really consider. 

Iroh's eyes burned as he laid a hand on the body of his son. His shoulder was cold. His entire body was cold. Lu Ten had always run warm, though not hot like Zuko or cold like Azula. The complete absence of heat told Iroh his son was gone. It wasn't the unseeing eyes or the crushed chest. It was the lack of heat. 

Tears, hot and stifling, slipped down Iroh's cheeks. They dropped onto the hard armor his son had worn into battle. The armor had been chipped and disformed in several places, and Iroh knew it was the work of an earthbender. Or maybe several. 

He closed his eyes and drew his son into his arms. He moved gently, carefully, like maybe he could restore some life to his child, like maybe Lu Ten was just sleeping. He remembered nights when his boy would get nightmares and would cry out. So much like Zuko... Iroh would hold his son and help him slip back into the realm of sleep. Now, on the battlefield, he held him just the same way.

This time around, though, he was the one who wept. 

It was no surprise that Iroh took so long to come home. 

Soon after the death of his son, he was determined to strike down whatever earthbender he could track down, trying to avenge his Lu Ten. Anger and grief mixed together deep in his heart, and he refused to pull them apart. But then he realized it was him who was in the wrong, who had started the fight in the first place and had sent his son to die, and suddenly his anger turned inward. He lost motivation for the siege and eventually gave up, and the Fire Nation failed without his guidance. He then retired and stepped back to consider what he could do to fix his situation. 

The enlightenment he'd learned as a result would always be important to him. 

He closed his eyes as he sat before Lu Ten's picture. "I am so sorry, my son. I failed you. I sent you to your death without knowing. I am sorry for taking you for granted." Perhaps that was the hardest part. Perhaps that was what hurt the most. Lu Ten had grown up too fast and had died far before his natural time. Iroh had taken his presence as a fixed promise, not as a privilege. Even now, years since Lu Ten's death, Iroh could feel tears in his eyes. "I am sorry for my mistakes."

But now it was time to move on.

He opened his eyes and looked at the serious expression of his son, hoping Lu Ten was watching from the spirit world and was proud of him. "I am going to do better. I am going to take care of your cousins. Please guide me in this journey." He put down the picture and adjusted his hooded robe. "I will make this right. I promise I will do all I can to keep them safe... for you."

He had to go soon. He couldn't wait much longer or else he'd lose the trails of his niece and nephew. It would be even worse if it rained, but he gave thanks for the fact that it rained once in a blue moon within the Fire Nation. And if the children stayed in the Fire Nation like he hoped, it should be easy to follow them. 

Before he left, he knew there was one last thing he wanted to do. 

He closed his eyes and began to sing quietly. 

Leaves from the vine
Falling so slow
Like tiny fragile shells
Drifting through the foam

Little soldier boy
Come marching home
Brave soldier boy
Come marching home

By the end of the song, Iroh's voice had broken and tears had swept down his cheeks again. He reached up and rubbed them away with the sleeve of his robes. There was no times for tears. He just had to say goodbye.

He could tell the sun had descended. It was dark out, now. He had to move fast, and he had to move now. 

Iroh pulled the hood over his head, feeling a strange sense of finality in the movement. "I love you, my dear Lu Ten."

With that, he turned and slipped from his bedroom. 

Chapter Text

Despite his best efforts, Zuko found himself outside the Fire Nation capital, alone and without anyone's support. He also had no way to adequately feed himself, and his stomach growled angrily at him as a result. 

He winced as he moved past a coniferous tree, feeling its needles prod his arm. He wasn't used to the outdoors, and he'd gotten his clothing rumpled and dirty on his first day. It had been three days since he'd left his father and the comfortable palace behind, and things weren't going well. 

He stopped beside a little river that ran near the forest he was in, bending down and putting a hand in it. The cold swept up his arm, and he shuddered without meaning to. He'd never had river water before, and he wondered for a moment if it was poisoned or contaminated. 

Well, if it was, it wasn't like he had much of a choice. Eventually, his water pouch would deplete, and he would be without water. He knew enough to recognize that, without water, he'd die in a matter of days from dehydration. He wanted to save as much of his water reserves as he could in case he fell into a place where little water existed, like a desert. Surely the Fire Nation had deserts around. He just couldn't remember where. 

He drew some of the water to his parched lips. It was cool and helped against the beating heat of the sun. If the water was going to kill him, he would at least die from poisoning and not from dehydration. He wondered which could be worse. 

He straightened after getting his fill, looking around him. It was the middle of the day, and the sun was high in the sky. The summer's heat warmed the air around him, and Zuko could remember touching the right side of his neck earlier that morning. It had hurt, and he wondered if he slept wrong on it. It was also warm to the touch, but he couldn't tell why. 

He rubbed his nose and winced, feeling an ache on the bridge. Apparently it had the same problem as his neck did. Great. 

His stomach tightened for a moment as he wondered where he would go next. I'm not lost. I'm not lost. I'm not lost. 

So then where do I go?

Zuko hated being alone without a guide. It only complicated his situation and made it easier for him to get lost and die. Sure, he had something of a map and could recall a few things about his nation's geography from his tutors, but at the end of the day, a skilled guide would do far better than those resources. He wished he'd brought someone along. Maybe he hadn't really thought everything through before embarking on his journey. 

But then again, Ozai had specifically told him to go alone, without even a guide to help him. So perhaps part of the blame fell on the Fire Lord. Sure, it was treasonous to even think that, but Zuko couldn't see any other person to blame. And he was tired of blaming himself for everything all the time. He was tired of being blamed for everything all the time. 

That was one of the great things about going on his quest alone. He didn't have nagging tutors on his heels or servants who gave him wide-eyed stares. He was alone in the wild, and he was free from the troubles of palace life. 

At the same time, he was at higher risk of death. Which didn't make his experience very fun. 

To be honest, he would rather have the nagging than the fear he now faced. 

Why couldn't he get an escort? Did no one know where the last dragon was? His uncle knew. Surely Iroh could've gone with him. But no, Zuko had to go it alone because why not? And for all the prince knew, his father was trying to keep him from being tainted by Iroh's evil ideas... whatever those were. 

Zuko began to walk through the forest again, being mindful of coniferous needles and making sure to keep the sun off his face and neck. He thought as he walked, which was becoming a common occasion nowadays. Iroh never seemed to be a scheming liar, not to Zuko. Maybe there was something the prince was missing, but he just seemed rather... sad. Sad and guilty. He'd changed after returning home from the siege where he'd lost his son. Zuko couldn't blame him for that, either. He had lost his only child, after all. If the young firebender was in Iroh's place, Zuko knew he'd be sad, too. 

Azula didn't see it that way. She thought Iroh had chickened out, and she couldn't understand why he'd leave the battle right when the Fire Nation was about to win. 

Zuko's mouth tasted bitter as he remembered his sister. They had never spoken after his appearance from the throne room where he'd spoken up. He hadn't even seen her since then, and he wondered what she was up to at the moment. What luxuries of the palace was she enjoying? Was she spending time with Mai and Ty Lee? Was she scheming with their father?

Since she could remember, Azula thought her brother was an idiot. 

Now, watching him 'stalk' through the trees, she really did know he was an idiot. 

It was no wonder as to why he failed to catch animals or hunt. He scared everything away with how loud he stomped around. It would only secure his demise when he eventually ran out of palace food and had to turn to the environment for his survival, only to find there was nothing to catch. He would not last long under those circumstances. 

Azula, if she was a nicer sister, would teach him how to find food or would at least give him some that she'd brought along. But he was on the journey to learn, not to be coddled. He'd left that behind, just like she had. She would only help him if worst came to worst. 

Lieutenant Jee did his best to make sure she was comfortable, but even the princess could sense the change in her living conditions. It was certainly different from living in the palace under the strict-but-necessary regime of her father, and she wasn't sure if she enjoyed the change. It certainly wasn't pleasant. Things got dirty faster than she wanted, and she hated the grime under her nails. She had to walk alongside the pack-carrying rhinos and had to stifle her sighs every time they stopped to break. Her feet throbbed with how much they'd walked just to track her dimwitted brother. Who knew such an idiot could cause so much hassle?

She stood, at the top of a mound of dirt, watching her brother crash through the trees. Well... sure, he wasn't crashing, but he still made a racket of noise just by walking. Azula could even hear him breathing with how heavily he inhaled and exhaled. It was beginning to grind on her nerves. 

Spirits above, if he doesn't find that dragon...

To be honest, Azula doubted her brother had even a clue as to where he was headed. As far as she and her troop could decipher, they were heading south. If Zuko was idiotic enough, he might even find himself a ship and sail down to the south pole to mingle with the Southern Water Tribe. If he went that far, Azula would consider him a lost cause and would leave him to find the dragon on her own. Zuko was, after all, just a guide for her. An idiotic, short-sighted guide, but a guide nonetheless. 

"Your Highness." Jee came to stand beside her, watching her brother with a furrowed brow. "Shall we make camp for tonight?"

She liked that he asked for her approval. Even if she was a child, she still had authority. She knew she had authority. 

"Doesn't seem like he's going to move very much, does it?" she asked mildly.

He frowned. "Was that a rhetorical question, Your Highness?"

"Depends on what I'm feeling." Azula put her hands behind her back, rocking back and forth on her heels. She watched her brother's phoenix tail get caught in some low-hanging branches and snorted. "I don't think he'll move much. Or if he does, he'll scare away any game that makes its home in this ridiculous forest."

She could see the angry red skin on his neck and face, knowing full well he had a sunburn coming on. Even firebenders, if they weren't careful, could be burned by Agni's heat. It was why she took shelter under shade when she could manage it. Even though Mai was more prone to sunburns than her, she knew she could still sustain such burns and wasn't keen on it. 

"Alright." It was time for her to make a decision. "We make camp. But it's only light. If my brother actually gets his act together and moves quickly in the next day, we need to be ready to move with him. We can't afford to lose him." She fixed Jee with narrowed eyes. "And if some idiot does lose him, I will make them regret ever disappointing me. Understood?"

"Yes, Princess Azula," Jee answered. He bowed, putting his hands together in the respectful form of a salute. "Your wishes are my command."

With that, he turned and moved towards his troops. Azula was glad he could leave without being reminded to. It showed his competence, something he'd probably gained by serving in the military. Her father had chosen the best escort for her, the highly skilled individuals who would serve her every demand. 

She looked back at her brother, watching him struggle to free his ponytail from the snagging branches. She smiled to herself. Watch out, Brother. There is always someone watching you, even in the wilderness. 

Iroh could tell Zuko was having a rough time. 

He watched the boy make camp, or at least try to, under the canopies of coniferous pine trees. The little dagger he'd gotten, the one that said 'never give up without a fight', didn't seem to do much good. Neither did the dual blades on Zuko's back. He spent more time sharpening his weapons than really using them, and they did a poor job of cutting branches for him to use as kindling. 

Eventually, Zuko managed to create a measly lean-to and start a fire. Iroh gave thanks that he didn't create the fire right in the thick of the trees, but rather in a small clearing where the branches wouldn't catch. The flame was small, but hopefully it would help Zuko when the night grew cold. No matter how hot the day could become, the nights were chilly.

The idea of the Fire Nation being the country with the hottest environment amused Iroh. One would assume that to be the case, but he found early on in his siege that it wasn't. Instead, the Earth Kingdom could be far more desolate and dry than the Fire Nation. They had a desert, even, one that Iroh had been warned about. Many went into the desert and never came out. Iroh learned his lesson, then, that the Fire Nation didn't have the warmest climate, regardless of how hot the days could become, regardless of how it never snowed or grew exceptionally chilly in the mornings, regardless of how it barely rained.

Azula and her party camped close to her brother, but Iroh noticed they weren't really making camp. It was light, and he assumed they were anticipating Zuko running off in the night. He'd done the same thing with his military troops. They'd camped light so that they could be on the move when circumstances called them to change positions. 

Iroh noticed the graying hair of Lieutenant Jee. The man had served under him in the siege of Ba Sing Se, and while they weren't particularly close, Iroh had spoken to him a few times. Jee had a wife and a daughter at home, as far as Iroh could remember, both of whom he loved and adored. He had spoken with obvious pride about how his daughter was almost an adult, how she would be of marrying age. He'd even joked of setting Lu Ten up with her. The young soldier, who had been there at that moment, scoffed goodnaturedly and joked that he would check her out. 

Well, Lu Ten never got that chance. Iroh had left the army soon after his son's death. He and Jee had not spoken since the failed siege, and they hadn't even seen each other since. Iroh wondered how he was doing. Was his daughter married now? How was his wife?

There was no way to communicate with him, not now. Iroh had to wait until they got home or until Jee was released from duty. Then they could talk... if Jee was willing to talk to a disgraced general who abandoned his troops. But maybe he was of a secretly-forgiving nature. 

Iroh turned his head back to regard his nephew. His heart went out to the boy. It wasn't fair to send Zuko out alone without support while Azula got everything she needed. The odds were stacked drastically against the prince. There was no way he could win this losing battle. Iroh wanted to help him, give him advice and guidance, but he couldn't risk revealing himself to Azula and her group. If she saw him, she would likely report back to Ozai, and everything would go downhill from there. 

No. Iroh needed to sit and wait for Zuko to either discover him or to figure it out alone. 

He just hoped Zuko did one of those things sooner rather than later. 

He stiffened, though, as he watched a man approaching the clump of trees. The newcomer edged closer to Zuko, and Iroh realized the man knew where the boy was. He considered his options. He could intervene and keep Zuko away from the man, but that would expose him to both Zuko and Azula. Or… he could sit and watch, waiting to see what would happen between the prince and the stranger. Perhaps some good could come from this interaction.

With a deep sigh, Iroh sat back and looked down at his nephew, waiting for the eventual encounter.

Chapter Text

The first warning Zuko had of an intruder was the breaking of branches under strong feet.

He shot up from where he was resting on his bedroll. His feet ached for a moment as he looked towards the source of noise. When he squinted, he could make out a little more detail in the forest around him, but nothing stood out as obviously dangerous. 

He knew better than to call out. That could reveal his position to various enemies, whether human or animal, and he couldn’t risk it. So he drew his swords and crouched, defensive and ready to attack at any moment.

He was expecting an onslaught of Fire Nation troops, or perhaps Earth Kingdom soldiers dead set on capturing him, or perhaps Water Tribe men who were interested in harming him. Even one of those things would make sense.

What he didn’t expect was the Fire Nation man who walked forwards with his hands raised. Zuko couldn’t tell if he was a fire bender or not and decided to raise his swords higher as a warning. Perhaps the man would leave him alone, then.

The man did not leave him alone. 

Zuko wondered briefly if this guy was an idiot. Approaching a child in the forest? What was he thinking?

He scowled and stepped back as the man moved forward with a placating look on his face. “Stay back. Don’t come any closer.”

”I won’t hurt you,” the stranger promised. His golden eyes searched Zuko’s, and something softened in them. The prince knew better than to relax his grip on his swords. “I want to help.”

Zuko narrowed his eyes, not understanding. “I don’t believe you.”

Maybe the man could recognize him as the prince. And maybe his offer of help was just a nicety. Maybe the man would hurt him as soon as Zuko let his guard down. The boy scowled as a result.

”I live around here,” the stranger told him. “I have a wife and a son who’s about your age. And then I have three daughters. You can come and stay with us.”

”Why would I do that?”

Zuko wondered what his best course of action would be. Either he accepted the offer with dignity, since he was a prince, or he would refuse in the pretense of being self-sufficient. He wasn’t sure which was the best answer. 

What would Azula do?

”You’re out here alone,” the man pointed out. “It’s getting dark out. If you don’t know how to make a fire-“

”I’m a firebender.” Zuko wasn’t about to let that go unnoticed. He snorted, and a puff of fire came from his nostrils. “I obviously know how to make a fire.”

”Alright.” The man’s hands lowered. “My name is Chih. What's yours?"

Should Zuko reveal himself, or should he stay unnoticed?

Perhaps it would be wiser to hide his true identity. If this man found out he was the prince, he could freak out or question why Zuko was alone. The young firebender wasn't particularly keen on explaining his situation, especially when it came to his father's involvement in it. Besides, he could be pressured into explaining his journey and his need to find the dragon. Chih might think he was ridiculous and turn him away... or worse... and Zuko did need help at the moment, as much as he hated to admit that. 

He wondered what kind of name could be inconspicuous. Something common. He raised his head. "Li. I'm Li." He realized he'd have to explain why he was alone, even if he was covering his name. "My parents died. I'm wandering and, uh... stuff." How much should he reveal? "I..."

"Alright, Li." Chih held out his hands. "Do you want to come with me? My wife, Yuka, can feed you."

"I don't want to stay long." I don't want to owe you anything. "I'm on the move. I'll be fine."

Am I doing the right thing? Chih nodded. "I understand. But if you come and stay for a few nights, we can get you on your way soon. You're a little sunburned, but that's easily treated." He tilted his head to the side. "Are you hurt?"

"No." Just tired. Zuko curled his lip at the idea of walking anymore. "I'm fine."

"Alright."

With that, Chih gestured to the side with his head. Zuko grumbled quietly as he grabbed his supplies. Great. Just great. I'm gonna die soon, aren't I? This guy must be lying. He looked back, slinging his bag over his shoulder. See you, Uncle and Azula. I hope you're having fun in the palace. 

He just wished he could rest, but Chih had offered food... so long as he was being honest. The man walked alongside him, eyes looking around as the trees darkened around them. Zuko's stomach tightened with hunger, but he pushed his feelings aside. It won't be long. I'll leave tonight while they're sleeping. Make a run for it before they can hurt me. 

To say Azula was angry at her brother was an understatement. 

She was furious. 

If she was in his situation, she wouldn't have even bothered hearing the man before attacking. Or at least retreating. Asking for help and receiving it was for the weak. Letting someone get close like that... What was Zuko thinking? That was an easy way to end up on a funeral pyre if he wasn't careful.

Azula curled her lip as she watched Zuko disappear through the trees with the stranger. She hadn't picked up his name, but she guessed her spies would know. Then she would follow him to wherever this man was staying. 

Or...

She could leave him and go for the dragon herself. More honor for her, after all. Not to mention she would be leaving her idiotic brother behind. No reason to worry about him any longer. So long as he stayed with the man, she could take him off her mind. She smiled to herself. That could work. Unless...

"Princess Azula." It was Lieutenant Jee. She turned to look at him, and he bowed respectfully. "Prince Zuko has moved, Your Highness."

"I can see that," she answered a little dryly. The idea that she couldn't see it amused and irritated her. "Did the scouts pick up any useful information from his conversation with that commoner?"

"They say he has a family. His name is Chih. The prince is resolved to leave soon." Typical Zuzu. "We... Your Highness, I doubt he is going to stay with the man for very long. Even still, we are wondering, as a troop, if-"

"You're talking to each other behind my back?" For a moment, panic flared in Azula and tightened her chest. They're talking about me without me knowing. That's rude. And it's treasonous. What if they're plotting a rebellion? Then she raised her head and pushed the fear aside, ignoring the constricting of her breath. What would they have to gain from a rebellion? Nothing. They would be alone without my help. They're competent, but without a leader... She scoffed. "That's not surprising. You're soldiers. That's what you do. Comradery, am I right?"

Jee nodded sharply. "Yes, Your Highness."

This was something she couldn't understand, something would never truly experience. She was far above the rank of a soldier, and she wasn't interested in the idea of stooping that low. Instead, she imagined it was like when she interacted with Mai and Ty Lee.

She put her hands behind her back. "As long as you're being respectful and not traitorous or sparking a rebellion, I'm willing to let you talk to each other. But." She raised a finger. "If I hear of a rebellion, I will snuff it out. I may be younger than you, but I am your commanding officer. You, as my right hand man, are supposed to know that. Understood?"

"Clear as day, Your Highness," Jee said. He jerked his head down in a curt nod, but Azula could tell he was not pleased. Then again, he never looked happy. She wondered why, then remembered that she didn't care that much about the feelings of her troops. "We will never rebel against you."

"Good." 

"What is your next command?"

Azula looked at the trees again, wondering where Zuko was now. She considered her two options, and the decision she made irked her. She couldn't just leave Zuko, even if she wanted to. If her father found out she left without his expressed permission...

She frowned. "We follow them. Keep a distance. Get the soldiers up and on the move. We depart in two minutes."

"As you wish, Your Highness."

"You are dismissed."

Jee bowed, and then he was gone. Azula breathed out an annoyed huff. Zuzu... What in Agni's name are you doing? You know better than to go with a stranger. Or at least, you should know better. 

She narrowed her eyes, then turned to group with her soldiers. All thirty of them were getting on the move again. It wasn't hard to do; after all, they hadn't really unpacked or set up camp. These were people who were good at travelling lightly. That was what they were trained to do. 

You're such an annoyance, Brother. I wish I could leave you to fend for yourself. Be grateful that our father sent me to follow you. 

At some point, she would leave Zuko. She would go find that dragon for herself. If he proved to be a waste of time, she wouldn't hesitate to abandon him. Soon, there would be a final straw, where she would move on to the next steps in her father's instructions. I'm going to find that dragon myself if that's what it takes. If Zuzu gets himself killed, that's not my fault. My mission is not over until I find that dragon. 

That dragon had power in it. Power meant acceptance and respect from everyone, even the greatest firebenders of all time. Azula wanted that respect, deep down, and she would stop at nothing to get it. Even if it meant killing a dragon. Even if it meant leaving Zuko behind.

For now, she had to follow him. But not for forever.

Iroh had watched Zuko disappear with that newcomer, and he wondered what the boy was thinking. This was a strange man, a man who claimed to live nearby. He could easily be ill-intentioned, and if the prince wasn't careful... It wouldn't be a dragon that would end his life. 

The retired general knew he had to follow the prince, just to make sure he was safe. Once again, he wished he could just reveal himself to the boy and his sister. But that would be disastrous. If Ozai, through Azula or her soldiers, found out about his tracking of the children, it could be detrimental to all parties involved, regardless of whether Azula knew that or not.

For a moment, Iroh wondered which was a better idea: following Azula or leaving her and following only Zuko. If Azula broke away from her brother, then Iroh would have to choose between the two. And despite his concern and love for Azula, Zuko was in greater danger and need. Not to mention being alone with Zuko could open the possibility of showing himself to the boy. However, if Azula chose to follow her brother, then he'd have to plod along like he had been for the last week. 

He stayed at the edge of the trees, watching Azula and her troops. They rose, and he breathed a sigh of relief as they began making their way down in the direction Zuko and the man had gone. He slipped back to make sure he wasn't seen by Azula's spies. He had nearby been caught by one the day before and wasn't keen on being seen. Once he made sure they'd passed him, he waited for a few minutes. It didn't matter to him whether he waited only minutes or an hour. He could still find the group. Then, once he was ready, he began to follow the little army.

Don't worry, Prince Zuko, he internally said to the boy. I am coming, too. You are not alone. 

Hopefully Zuko would stay safe, would be cautious about the man. Hopefully Azula wouldn't hurt either of them. Iroh knew that at some point, he would have to reveal his presence to the siblings, but if he could prolong that for as long as he could, if he could watch from the side and make sure they were alright... That seemed like the better option at the moment.

It would just be better if Azula wasn't in correspondence with Ozai. 

But for now, Iroh just followed the group and wondered what the stranger's intentions were. 

Chih wasn't someone to be trusted. That's what Zuko knew and believed. He had to be wary around this stranger, because otherwise it could get him killed. He was anticipating a surprise attack, a fight. 

He wasn't expecting the little house that came into view, smoke rising from its chimney. It looked... warm. And inviting. And soft, somehow. It had something in the atmosphere. Zuko, in response, gripped his swords tighter. Be careful. He couldn't let exhaustion get to him. He couldn't let his guard down.

The man opened the door and walked in with a smile. "Yuka? How's supper coming along?"

"Dad!" a boy plowed into view and wrapped his arms around the man. He didn't look any older or younger than Zuko, and the prince let go of his swords. What the- "You're home!" Chih hugged him back tightly, then drew back. The boy beamed up at him, then jumped as he looked at Zuko. "Woah! Who's this?"

"This is Li. He was out in the forest," Chih explained. He looked at Zuko. "Li, this is my son, Akao. He's twelve."

Right. Only a year younger than Zuko. The prince opened his mouth, then faltered, unsure of what to say to the boy. He'd never interacted with a boy his age. Akao, thankfully eased the tension by saying, "Hi, Li. It's good to meet you." He bowed to Zuko by a fraction, then grinned at him. "Do you wanna come and eat? We've got food! It's really good. Mom always makes the best food, and-"

"Akao!" A girl, maybe a few years older than Zuko, came into view. Her golden eyes glittered with annoyance. "Don't talk so much." She looked at Zuko and smiled. "Hi, Li. I'm Sangi."

"Hi..." Zuko could deal with girls. Kinda. Girls were crazy, but he could manage it. "I..."

"You must've had a rough day. C'mon." Sangi turned her head as Zuko walked in. "Ayaka! Come meet Li!"

"Li?" A girl came in, and she looked to be about ten or eleven. Azula's age. For a moment, Zuko bristled. He wondered if she would be anything like his sister, mean and cruel and- "Hi, Li! I'm Ayaka! I like your hair!"

Okay, maybe she wasn't as bad. Zuko touched his royal phoenix tail, wondering if anyone could recognize it. "Oh. Thank you." He smiled a little. "I like yours."

She had hers in a half-up, half-down style, just like Sangi. She beamed back at him. Chih put a hand on Zuko's back. The prince tensed at the sudden warm gesture, but he didn't step away. The man smiled. "Do you want some food?"

"S- Sure." Zuko wasn't able to remember names very well, but maybe the food would help. "Thanks... Master Chih."

Akao smiled. "Don't worry if you don't remember our names. You'll get the hang of it." He and the others walked further in the house, and he beamed at Zuko. "Isn't this awesome? You look cool. Why were you out in the forest? Did you know that we have-"

Clearly Akao had a habit of chatting. It reminded Zuko of Ty Lee and her energy. He stiffened as they moved into the dining area, and he saw a woman setting plates out with a girl at her side. The girl looked to be about eight, and she froze as she saw Zuko. The woman beside her looked up and smiled at Chih. "Hello again, darling." He walked over and placed a kiss on her lips. Zuko had never seen his parents kiss, but the gesture both grossed him out and intrigued him. "How was it?"

"Good," he answered. "I've collected firewood. And..." He smiled at Zuko. "This young man joined me. His name is Li, and he was out in the forest alone."

The woman's eyes turned to him, and he wondered if she would cast him out for intruding. Instead, she smiled. "Hello, Li. It must've been a long day for you. Do you want some fire flakes?"

Zuko loved fire flakes. He couldn't help but smile and nod. Maybe this wasn't such a bad idea. Maybe he could stay a little longer and get some supplies, then head out again. Maybe these people wouldn't object to that. Maybe they would even help him. 

Maybe things weren't so bad.

Chapter Text

To the Highly Esteemed Fire Lord Ozai,

Greetings, Father. I hope this letter finds you well. It probably will, considering your wisdom and security. There is nothing that can champion you, nothing to stop you from getting what you want. The world is yours to take. 

I have no desire to waste your time or mince words, so I am writing to give my weekly report on Zuko's whereabouts and his doings.

So far, he has done nothing even remotely honorable and has been wasting his time walking in circles. He got stuck in a forest, and I considered leaving him behind to find the dragon myself. However, I know better than to do that, considering how I need permission to leave Zuko and continue on the second part of my assignment. It was a mere, intrusive thought that I immediately banished from my mind. As idiotic as my brother may be, I am still trying to give him a chance to prove himself. So far, my efforts have proven fruitless. 

He has run out of food at this point, and it seems like he knew he was lost. However, before he could give up and return home as a failure, a stranger came and offered him shelter and food. His name is Chih, so my sources tell me, and he has a wife. They have three girls and a boy. They live near the forest, so it seems. Zuko has gone into their home and is now residing with them. For how long, I am not sure. 

I am not sure as to whether I should abandon him here or not. Do I give him more time or continue my quest to find the dragon alone?

Your wish is my command, Father, and I am always at your order. Everything you ask of me, I will do in perfect obedience. 

With the highest of loyalty,

Azula, Princess of the Fire Nation. 

Dear Mai,

Greetings. If you're dying at the moment, I want you to take a moment to read this. If not, still read this. I don't care if you don't want to hear from me at the moment. You promised you would read my letters, and if you don't, I will make you regret it. 

So far, the mission has been good. The troops listen well to me, though I have had to threaten Lieutenant Jee that any sort of rebellion will not be tolerated. There are some murmurings, but I am certain that they will disappear as I prove more of my divine competence. I am a natural-born leader, after all. 

You, being you, are probably wondering how Zuko's doing, what he's up to. I'm sorry to say it, Mai, though I'm not really, but my brother is an idiot. You have a crush on the stupidest boy in the world. He got himself lost in a forest and ate up his supplies within the week. He was starving, alone, and in unfamiliar territory. Do you see why I think he's an idiot?

What's most interesting is that he's now residing with a family. The man's name is Chih, and he offered Zuko some help in the forest. So now the dum dum is living with them. It infuriates me to no end. Did he forget his mission? He was sent to kill a dragon, not make friends. 

Regardless, I am considering as to whether I should leave now and abandon him or keep waiting. I can find the dragon myself, if it comes to that. I'm more than capable of such a thing. 

Tell me what's going on in the palace. I want all the details. I look forward to your response. 

Azula.

Ty Lee,

Hello. This is the first of many letters, and I don't know why I'm writing separately between you and Mai. If you don't read any of my letters, I will be furious. You will regret making me angry. 

I suppose I should report what is going on at the moment.

Zuzu is being an idiot, as expected. He got lost in the woods, and a stranger had to come and get him out. His name's Chih, and he's taken Zuko to his family. The worst part is that Zuko has agreed to this. I don't understand why. It's like he forgot the mission he was given. It is quite disappointing really, but what has Zuko ever been other than a disappointment?

I don't know how long Zuzu is going to stay with this family, and I am debating as to whether I should leave him or not. I am waiting on word from my father on this issue. 

Write back and tell me what's going on. I await your answer. 

Azula. 

To Azula, Princess of the Fire Nation,

You had your orders. You know them. I expect that you remember them. They are to follow Zuko unless he cannot find the dragon, in which case it is your responsibility to hunt it down.

Seeing as Zuko is losing sight of his mission, it seems the plans need to be more specific. Your orders are as follows: Continue to track Zuko and wait for at least a week. If, by the end of two weeks, he has not left, you have permission to separate from him. Do not make contact with the prince before then.

Obey my every command, and you will be rewarded. 

Fire Lord Ozai, Head of the Fire Nation. 

Despite wanting to leave in the middle of the night, Zuko's body betrayed him. He ended up falling asleep on the cozy mattress Chih gave him, and the rest of the family was up before he was. He hadn't slept well in a while, so he blamed that instead of the comfort of the bed. He determined that the next day, he would be leaving. 

Unfortunately, he totally forgot to ask about leaving as he found himself swamped with the family's kindness and the chores they assigned him. They served him breakfast, then asked him to help out around the home. He wasn't used to manual labor, and he felt strangely embarrassed by that. He cleaned the dishes with the youngest daughter, whose name he learned to be Keika. She was silent through the whole ordeal. 

Then again, he couldn't blame her. He was pretty silent, too. Speaking to a stranger wasn't easy, and he wasn't expecting to get attached to these people. 

After cleaning the table, he went outside to chop firewood with Chih. He discovered that none of them were firebenders, and that made it more difficult for him to refuse to help. As a firebender, he could offer his fire for warmth, for cooking, for so many things. Chih looked pleased whenever Zuko pointed out branches or logs that would burn faster and easier. To his relief, helping with firewood meant just helping pick out the right pieces of wood along with carrying them back to the house. Not too difficult. 

"You're a good helper," Chih complimented as they made their way back to the cabin. 

Zuko felt something in his heart warm, and he let himself smile. Maybe this isn't so bad. I still need to find that dragon, but for now...

His smile died as he considered the dragon issue. Could he ask these people for help? Maybe they had information. As far as Zuko knew, there was no way to locate the dragon. Not alone, at least. But maybe they would get angry at him or kick him out for that. Zuko wanted to leave on his own terms. He couldn't risk being forced out. 

The sun set faster than he expected, and soon it was time to make dinner. Yuka employed his help, along with Sangi. The two women looked at him with inviting smiles. The daughter gestured to the pot, which was hanging over a pile of firewood that Zuko had collected. "Li, do you mind lighting this for us, please? It would really help."

Zuko, to his surprise, found shame in his lack of firebending prowess. "I... I'm not that good of a firebender."

Yuka looked confused. Then she changed her face to one of gentle coaxing. "Can you try, please?"

Not wanting to anger these two and get kicked out, Zuko walked over and knelt next to the wood. He grimaced and put his hand over the branches, and he took a deep breath. He felt a tug in his gut, and he pulled on it. Energy raced up to his arms, a sensation he was used to by this point. Fire flickered between his fingers and caught on the wood. He drew his hand back as it sparked to life, grinning at his success. I was almost worried I couldn't-

"See?" Yuka's voice made him look up at her. She had a pleased smile on her face. "Perhaps you're stronger than you think you are."

It was so foreign, so different from what his tutors had said, that Zuko wanted to cry. He blinked hard, then turned his head away and stood up, squeezing his eyes shut to prevent the tears from breaking free. 

Perhaps he was stronger than he was told. 

Perhaps he did have a strong spark in him.

The idea made him choke on his emotions. It was so strange, so unbelievable, but...

Maybe it had merit to it.

Chapter Text

Despite her natural competence, Azula noticed a decline in her firebending. It was getting weaker, and she hated that. 

She wondered why.

Naturally, she should've been able to do everything with ease. She barely broke a sweat during her katas on most days, but during her time on the road, she noticed her self-satisfaction dwindling more than it should. She felt like it took more than usual to accurately perform a move, and she made more mistakes or felt imperfect more often than she should. She doubted whether she had really performed a set properly, and whenever she doubted it, she repeated the movements. 

The lack of encouragement from her soldiers didn't help. 

Of course, she didn't want to ask them for advice or ask for encouragement. That would be like begging, and she would not stoop that low. She could be confident in herself. There was just something blocking her at the moment. She was sure of it. 

She just wondered what it was. 

Her decline in firebending worsened her temper. She began to hate doing her sets, even though she knew she had to continue practicing. After all, practice made perfect, and she had to be perfect. But the sets got harder to do the more she hated them, and the harder they got, the more she hated them. It was a vicious cycle of hatred and failure. She wished she could escape it. 

She said nothing, of course, to her soldiers. She couldn't bear the embarrassment. 

Instead, she trained despite her loathing and let herself get more snappy with her crew. She knew her cool edge was slipping, that she was becoming more angry than calculating, but she didn't care. The soldiers weren't helping her, not like she needed or even wanted their help, so she didn't care if they saw her with a different attitude. 

All the same, she wondered if she was ticking them off, if they were talking behind her back. She couldn't risk a rebellion. She could handle going it alone, but the judgement that would come as a result... No. She would not let it happen. 

She suppressed a scowl as she watched the cabin Zuko had taken residence in. He helped gather firewood for the family everyday, and she could naturally assumed he lit it for them to make food. Disgusting, really. He had a dragon to catch, not a family to reside with. How long would he even wait with them? 

How long would she wait for him?

She’d been instructed to give him at most two weeks, but there wasn’t much stopping her from leaving earlier…

Her patience grew shorter by the day, and she blamed him for her shortcomings. After all, if he wasn't fooling around and wasting time, she could be done the mission earlier. She could return home and feel secure once more. She did not appreciate his distracted side-adventure and felt more and more determined to leave him behind. 

At least he didn't need help anymore. 

Azula huffed to herself and turned away. The best thing I can do right now is... She hated doing this, but it had to be her best option at the moment. She clenched her fists and gritted her teeth, feeling her brows furrow and stomach twist into knots. Practice my firebending until I get it right. I know it's best to 'work smarter, not harder' but I'm already smart. It just takes more effort on my part. Nothing's wrong with my bending. Nothing's wrong with me. Zuzu's idiocy has just frustrated me too much to the point where I can't focus on my movements anymore.

She took a deep breath. Just remember that you're a strong firebender who can handle anything. You're the princess of the Fire Nation. You bow to no one. Everyone fears you, and they should. Remember that firebending is fun and is a sign of power. That's right. Firebending is a sign of dominance. That's it. And since I'm a better firebender than Zuzu...

She pushed forwards, feeling energy and heat wrap around her fingers. Blue fire blasted from her hand, but she noticed it was weaker than usual. She gritted her teeth and tried again. You're strong! Still not what it should be. You're better than Zuko! Not quite. Again. You have authority and power over him!

And... still no improvement. 

She wanted to scream and rant at her brother for making her weaken. How dare he harm her in such a way?

Closing her eyes, she took a deep, shaky breath. This is fine. Only a minor hurdle. I just have to work hard. And I like firebending, right? It makes me feel powerful and in control. I can tell people what to do... and I can enforce it with my bending. 

With another breath, she began again, determined that her block would crack at some point. 

Unfortunately, it did not.

Zuko, to his utmost surprise, discovered his firebending grew stronger as he assisted the family who had taken him in. It became easier and easier to create a cooking fire for Yuka, and he kept the house warm during the nights. Despite how warm the day could be, the nights were brutally cold. To his surprise and strange delight, the family expressed a deep gratitude for his warmth.

What stunned him more was how much the children liked his firebending.

He kept trying to tell them that he couldn't do much, that he was a failure when it came to firebending, but they wouldn't hear it. They asked him over and over again just to light his hand on fire. The simplest firebending moves amazed them, and he often noticed spectators when he went outside to practice his bending forms. 

Seriously, had these kids never seen a firebender before? They lived in a nation full of them. How could they not know?

He got his answer the fourth day of his residence. 

"They don't meet a lot of kids around here," Chih told Zuko as they were feeding wood to the cooking fire. "Not to mention the kids who can firebend. We're pretty isolated out here." He smiled. "Having you around has really helped them."

Zuko noticed in the days after that even Chih and Yuka were watching him. Sangi, despite her expressed maturity and desire to be a woman, also watched him move through his forms. It made him nervous, but eventually he remembered they were nicer than his tutors. He just hoped he never let them down, never gave them a reason to force him out, and he could mind their stares. 

Thankfully, Zuko wasn't the only one with chores. The other children had work around the house, too. It made things a little easier, helped him realize he wasn't just a servant. He was just like the others, getting to help and deserving his stay. He liked it. 

But at some point, he would have to leave. 

He dreaded it. He hated that he dreaded it. 

He had a mission to fulfill. He didn't come out of the palace to make friends. He had to kill a dragon. This was one reason why he wanted to leave the first morning; it would've kept him from attaching to these people, because once he attached his heart to them...

One night, he sat straight up in bed, gasping and covered in sweat. He was grateful the family had given him the attic to sleep in, because he couldn't bear the idea of someone being nearby as he woke from a nightmare. That would be embarrassing. 

Even so, he felt alone, wrapped in nothing but his own body heat. No one around him to give him comfort. Not that he'd ever shared a room before or anything. But... 

He closed his eyes and tried to steady his breathing. He had dreamt of his mother, her disappearing back. He could remember that wretched night like the back of his hand, even though he wanted to forget it had ever happened. Somehow, he felt guilty for her leaving, like it was his fault. Was it his fault?

His eyes opened again. He couldn't be alone like this. Not with his thoughts. He wanted to run away from them, escape into the night. 

He pulled himself from the mattress and slipped out from the attic. Carefully making sure to not wake anyone, he crept out from the house and opened the door. He winced as the floorboards creaked and the door squealed on its hinges, but no one followed him or spoke up. So he went outside.

The crisp night air ran its cold fingers over his arms, and he shuddered involuntarily. Even still, it was a good change from the stifling thoughts in his bed. He crossed his arms and breathed deeply. This was refreshing and nice. He couldn't be sure what time it was, but something in his core told him it was late into the night. The moon shone, half-full, in the dark sky, partly covered by clouds. 

Zuko focused on his breathing and looked around. He could hear the sounds of animals rustling nearby and felt a shock of distress. If he wasn't careful, he could get hurt. But then again, he simply stood a few steps from the door. If anything came to bother him, he could step back inside quickly and would be safe. Even then, he had a little bit of fire to use in defense. 

Despite his protection, his eyes darted around at every sound, every flicker in the darkness. 

"Don't worry." He nearly jumped out of his skin, turning his head sharply to see Sangi standing on his right. He took in her calm frame and began to slowly relax. If she was unafraid of the dark, then he shouldn't be, either. "We're far from the forest. We're safe."

He just watched her for a moment, then he frowned. I guess I can believe her...

She smiled back at him, humor in her voice. "Can't sleep either, huh?" She laughed quietly and shook her head. "Mom and Dad used to joke so much that I should've been born a waterbender because I don't sleep easily. Never have, probably never will." She raised her shoulders in a shrug. "Oh well. Doesn't bother me."

"Don't you get tired during the day?" he had to ask. 

She shrugged. "Depends. Sometimes, yeah, sometimes not really. It comes and it goes, I guess." He considered that. He'd had a thing with nightmares, but he never struggled with actually sleeping. Other than the fact that he could be a rather light sleeper. For her... did she just wake up and not fall back to sleep? "What about you? Do you typically wake up like this?"

He frowned. Do I tell her? He took a breath and sighed. Okay. "I sleep fine. I just... got a nightmare today."

"Oh." She looked up at the moon. "Wanna talk about it?"

It's okay if I say no, right? She won't hate me. "Not really."

"Okay." She tilted her head, then smiled, unaware of the knee-weakening relief that ran over her companion. "The stars look nice."

Zuko had noticed the stars, too, in the last few days since his arrival at Sangi's house. It was so much easier for him to see him, away from the city. They shimmered like the sun bouncing off a pool of water. The moon had more light to offer, too, when the lights of the Fire Nation capital weren't crowding it. 

He looked up, glad he didn't have to stay looking at the girl. He smiled, despite his inability to really see the stars. "Yeah. They are."

"Not a lot, huh?" she joked. 

He laughed a little, to his surprise. "Yeah, not really."

"Oh well. Some nights are better than others." Sangi lowered her head and looked at him, chuckling. Her dark hair swept around her neck as she shook her head. Her eyes locked on him. "You know... Having you around has been really nice, Li. Thank you for coming to stay with us."

He couldn't believe she was thanking him. He tilted his head to the side. "But... I haven't done much. You were the ones who took me in."

She smiled gently. Something in his heart warmed at the sight of the smile. She was like an older sister for him, someone who really cared about him. Suddenly it was hard to think that he would have to leave her, and cheerful Akao, and kind Yuka, and understanding Chih. His throat tightened, and he felt his eyes burning in the usual warning of tears. 

He tilted his head down as she said, "You've done a lot for us, Li. I'm sad you can't see that." She reached out and took his hand. "Thanks for everything."

It was too much. 

The tears began running down his cheeks without his permission, and he closed his eyes as he stepped closer to Sangi. The young woman, apparently more knowing than he expected, drew him into a hug. He let himself cry into her shoulder as she pressed her hands against his back. 

Her quiet voice hit his ears, full of compassion and concern. "I don't know what you've gone through, Li, but from what I've heard... I'm so sorry. You can stay as long as you want, and-"

"I have to leave," he blurted. He wanted to stay there, hope that she was still there. He'd never had an older sister figure to look up to, but he'd had Lu Ten. And now Lu Ten was gone. His mother was gone. Sangi couldn't replace her, but she did a good job of being there for him when he needed it. "I can't stay for much longer. I have to... I'm sorry."

"It's okay." Her voice soothed his distress. "Don't worry, Li. We'll be happy to have you, but if you need to go... don't feel bad. Do whatever you need to. We'll just support you, okay?"

"But why?"

"Because." She drew back and smiled. "I dunno what it is, but my family likes you. Mom and Dad like you. So... just be aware of that."

Was that something to be worried about? By the look in Sangi's eyes, Zuko guessed it wasn't.

But it wasn't fair to her or her family. They had taken him in, had given him shelter and relief, despite not knowing his true identity. He had lied to them, and they had believed him...

Suddenly he felt very sick to his stomach. At some point, he would have to tell them the truth. Then... Then what?

He closed his eyes, taking another steadying breath. Then he spoke, feeling tired in more than just the physical sense. "Sorry. I just..." Too much change had happened too quickly for his liking, and it wasn't going to get better. He was tired of trying to navigate the lie he'd told the family. He was tired of trying to find a dragon that his father believed existed. "Things have been a little stressful, and I didn't mean to cry, and I look like an idiot, and-"

"You're not." She shook her head firmly. "You don't look like an idiot. Don't believe that for a minute. It's alright." She stepped back, still with a hand on his shoulder. Her hand grounded him, even though he felt like breaking apart again. "Ready for bed?"

"Yeah." He nodded. That would help... hopefully. "I just... had to get away from my thoughts. That's all."

"Ahhh." She nodded. Had she ever felt this, too? She smiled with obvious compassion, and that was his answer. "Think you can do it now? Are your thoughts better?"

He closed his eyes again, imagining he was in the attic, trying to sleep. 

How am I going to tell them the truth? 

How do I tell them about the dragon, about my true name? 

His breath hitched. It was an answer to Sangi, because she put her arm around his shoulder. "Okay. Just a few more minutes."

"Okay," he answered.

A few more minutes. He could do a few more minutes. 

Chapter Text

Azula meant to be careful. She moved cautiously through the forest's undergrowth, keeping an eye on her surroundings. This was new territory for her, and she knew she had to be careful about it. She'd told the soldiers she would manage on her own, that she was going to find a place to practice her firebending. She couldn't afford to have them watching her, just in case she made a crucial mistake. She didn't need their judgement. 

Being their superior, she had authority over them. It came to no surprise when they did not question her orders. She liked that they didn't. So she departed down into the forest, deeper to go and spy on Zuko. She was going to find the clearing near the woods and might even use it to firebend... if she could manage remaining hidden. 

Unfortunately, the spirits above seemed to have different plans for her. 

She was travelling lightly through the forest, watching the environment around her. To her dismay, though, she forgot to watch her footing, and her foot slipped as she clipped a tree branch. She let out a yelp when her ankle buckled under her, and she fell forward. Pain shot through her leg as she tumbled down the slope, finding new places to originate from. 

Finally, she rolled to a stop and let out a soft groan. She knew she would be bruised all over, even on her cheek. Opening her eyes, she could see leaves littering the forest floor... and she saw the incline she had fallen down. To be honest, it didn't look too steep. Maybe that would explain why she fell in the first place.

She drew sharp breaths as her ankle throbbed painfully. She didn't want to move. Everything hurt.

Spirits. She looked around the best she could without actually turning or raising her head. Where are the scouts? Surely they'll come and get me. She closed her eyes, queasiness flooding her as she thought of her ankle and its pain. She'd never gotten hurt this bad. Is my ankle broken? She couldn't remember hearing a crack like she'd expect from a broken bone. Is it dislocated, then?

She closed her eyes and groaned as the throbbing and nausea got worse. If only she had some water around to break through it. For now, she had to suffice with just laying there, helpless, trying to control her breathing. 

The sound of approaching footsteps made her eyes open. She suppressed a wince and looked at the figure coming towards her. Her eyes narrowed, and she attempted to recognize the newcomer. Was he one of her soldiers?

The common garb he wore made her stiffen. No. This was not one of her own men. This stranger was just a citizen. She would move away from him if she could, but her muscles screamed at her as they tensed. 

He came closer into focus, and she drew a sharp breath. This was the man who had taken in her brother. She tried to remember his name, and it came to her like a flash of lightning. Chih. He has a family. 

I am not getting taken by him. I am not seeing my brother like this. 

Chih stopped a few feet from her. "Are you alright?"

That was probably the stupidest question she'd ever heard. She snorted and raised her head by a degree. "What does it look like?"

His eyes flickered up. "You took a tumble there, I suspect." He looked back at Azula. "And you seem to be in rough shape. I live nearby. My family can he-"

"I don't need your help." Azula tried to move her arms to get up and winced at the ache in her limbs. Her ankle continued to throb. "I just need to..."

Please, Agni, send someone to scare this idiot off.

Chih knelt beside her. "If we get you there fast enough, then you can be gone tomorrow. How does that-"

"No! I'm fine! I just..." Azula racked her brain for something to say. Something felt funny, like she couldn't connect the dots. "Someone's coming for me, I swear. Just leave me alone."

Chih looked around. "Well... I don't live far. I'll come back here soon after I take you to my wife, Yuka, and if someone's here, I'll bring them to you. I can't leave you here." He paused, then nodded. "Okay. Let's at least get you on your feet."

Azula felt his hands take her shoulders and pull her up carefully. Even with his caution, she had to stifle a groan as her ankle brushed against the ground. Chih put her arm around his middle, supporting her as she finally stood on one leg. He looked at her. "Can you walk? That ankle looks bad..."

She gritted her teeth and nodded. She leaned on Chih as they moved to the edge of the forest. By the time they reached the clearing near his house, she felt lightheaded. The world swayed around her, and she had to gasp through the pain in her ankle. They stopped at the edge of the clearing, and Chih lifted her into his arms. She scowled at him. "Hey-"

"You can't walk much more," he said. "It's better just to carry you."

She hated being injured. She hated being unable to act for herself. She didn't want help from others and didn't want to need help. She wanted to be competent on her own. If she needed help, really needed it, she wanted to be the one to call the shots. 

Chih started towards his house again, and she could see how small and cozy it looked. She closed her eyes and tried to focus on something else other than the nausea in her stomach and the pain radiating through her. Water. Just get me some water, dangit, and I'll be fine. 

She felt her throat clench with nerves as the door opened. She opened her eyes as Chih called, "Yuka?"

"Yes, dear?" A woman, dark hair pulled back in a ponytail, came around a corner. She gasped and put a hand to her chest as she took in her husband and Azula. "Oh, dear." She walked forwards and reached the two. "What happened?"

"She fell down the cliff and injured her ankle. She's badly bruised, too."

Azula snorted. "That wasn't a cliff." The woman looked at her, eyes wide. "It was an incline."

"It's steeper than it looks," the woman explained. Her voice softened, and so did her face. "You'll be alright, dear." She turned on her heel and began walking determinedly through the house. "Sangi! Ayaka! Come down here please!"

A thunder of footsteps sounded down a nearby staircase while Chih walked with Azula behind his wife. The girl caught sight of two other girls. One looked to be her age, and the other looked to be in her teenage years. She scoffed. Great. More idiots. The older girl nodded. "She can take my bed."

"Wait-" Azula began. 

"Thank you, Sangi." Yuka paused in front of a cupboard and pulled different things out. Azula stiffened, trying to calm her racing heart. Would they hurt her? Would they actually help, or- "Alright. We're ready."

They turned around another corner and went up a staircase. The princess nearly cried out as she caught sight of a boy with dark hair and golden eyes... but no. It wasn't Zuko. He looked to be around the same age as her brother, but it wasn't him. 

"Mom?" The boy tilted his head as Yuka guided them to a bedroom. "What's going on?" He looked at Azula, and his eyes widened. "Oh!"

Azula narrowed her eyes in response. She took in the room she was carried into. Nothing looked out of order, and she thanked the spirits the bed had been made. Chih carefully rested her on it, and she exhaled slowly as she felt the sheets against her back and head. She watched Yuka lay some of the medicinal supplies on her mattress, and she tried not to panic. She pressed her hands into the sheets, trying to steady her breathing.

"Your ankle looks to be the worst." Yuka sat next to her. "I'm going to remove the shoe, okay? Just so I can work on it."

Azula didn't respond. She just stared at the ceiling, the room spinning and her stomach rolling like an angry ocean. It only got worse as Yuka shifted her leg and carefully pulled the shoe off. She heard the woman say quietly, "Ayaka, go help her."

"Yes, Mom," the younger girl said. 

"Sangi, come put ointment on her bruises. There's some bad ones on her arms."

Azula heard a container being opened, but her eyes honed in on Ayaka as she smiled down at her. The girl raised her hand. "Hi. I'm Ayaka. I'm eleven. What's your name?"

The princess scowled. Just tell her your name. She winced as Yuka touched her injured ankle, spreading something on it. It felt cold to the touch, but suddenly her leg began to tingle. "What are you doing to me?"

"Numbing the pain," Yuka answered calmly. The steadiness of her voice infuriated Azula. "It will help me wrap the ankle without hurting you."

"Did it break?"

Azula tried to keep her voice as steady as she could, just like her father would. But it wavered. A broken ankle... That would be bad.

"No. It's just twisted badly. You won't be able to walk on it for a few days." Chih lied, then. Azula shot him a scathing look, and he just raised his shoulders in an apologetic shrug. At least he knows it. How disappointing. "But you can stay with us."

"I'm fine," the princess snapped. "I don't need help. I can leave. I can be gone within the hour."

"You could." The older girl, Sangi, looked up. "But then you could get hurt again."

Chih cleared his throat. "I'll be right back. This young lady says someone was coming to help her. I need to see if I can find them."

With that, he was gone. Azula suddenly wished she'd never said anything like that to him. If he found those soldiers... That would be embarrassing. 

The boy who looked so much like Zuko turned and was gone, too. Azula grimaced up at Ayaka. "I'm fine."

"Sure," she answered. She smiled. "But it'd be nice to have a girl around who's my age." She crinkled her nose. "Kiki's too young to really hang out with, and Sangi just wants to be a woman. So boring."

Sangi shot her a look. Azula found herself grinning. That scathing look was familiar to her. She'd used it several times towards Zuko. Speaking of... Where was he? She hoped he had left the house earlier. 

Almost like he'd been summoned by her thoughts, the prince poked his head in. "What's going-" 

He basically choked on his breath as he saw Azula. She gave him her best grin despite the tingling in her leg and Yuka wrapping her ankle in white cloth. "Hey, Brother."

Yuka's head shot up, and she looked between the siblings. Ayaka looked surprised, while Sangi narrowed her eyes. Zuko's voice was hard. "What are you doing here?"

So much for staying hidden. Azula rolled her eyes. "Not even a 'hello'? That's just rude. I expected more from you."

Zuko sneered at her. Yuka tilted her head to the side. "I'm sorry... Do you two know each other?"

Azula snorted. How stupid are these people? "Yes, obviously! This is my idiot brother-"

"Li!" Zuko gave a too-wide smile. Azula could tell he was furious and nervous. "And, uh... This is my sister, uh... Rekka!"

Why are you using fake names? The princess scoffed. Don't tell me you're hiding your identity from them, you idiot. Sangi blinked. "Well... That's a surprise. Any other siblings we need to keep an eye out for?"

"Nope!" Zuko continued to beam at the family. "Hey, uh... Can I get a moment with Rekka alone?"

"Sure." Sangi closed one of the containers. "I'm done with the bruises."

Yuka straightened. "Your ankle is done, Rekka." That's not my name- "We'll leave you and Li in peace to... talk."

As the woman and her daughters cleared out, Ayaka gave Zuko a concerned look. He just smiled and nodded to her. Once they were gone, he shut the door behind him, and his smile faded immediately. He stormed to Azula's side, growling, "Why are you here? You were following me, Azula!"

"Oh, please, Zuzu." Azula rolled her eyes. Sometimes he could be so emotional. "Why is that so surprising?"

His eyes widened, then narrowed. "Hey-"

"So why don't you answer a few questions for me, then?" She struggled into a sitting position, trying to get back some of her dignity. She was glad Zuko didn't offer to help. "The biggest one should be first. What are you doing here? You have a mission, Zuzu, an assignment straight from our father. I wouldn't disobey direct orders like that if I were you."

Zuko scowled. "Are you gonna listen, or will you cut me off?"

"Good question. Since this is a serious concern, I will actually listen to your hogwash. But only for the next few minutes. Don't waste my time."

He crossed his arms. "Okay well... I got sent out here without a guide or anyone to help me. I didn't know crap about being outside without support. I would've died if it wasn't for Chih. Do you honestly think you'd be any different?"

The accusation stung, but Azula just narrowed her eyes. "You're wasting my time."

"I plan to leave soon. I just-"

"You do realize that if you don't leave soon, and I mean soon, that I will find the dragon and slay it instead of you."

He paused, then widened his eyes. "You weren't told to do that, were you?"

She lied, partly. "Yes. I was."

"No. You're lying."

She only smiled. "Don't believe me? Send a letter back and ask Father if I'm supposed to find the dragon without you. I was this close to leaving you, but no, I chose to stick around and watch you a little more. Because obviously neither the Fire Lord or I actually believe you can do this. Not successfully, given your terrible tracking skills."

He bristled. "Hey-"

"Aren't I a good sister for sticking around and watching you? I could've left, you know."

"Maybe it would be better if you had," he snapped. "Then you could find the dragon and be victorious and everything, and then I could be left for dead with these people." He put a hand to his chest. "You don't understand, Azzy. They make me feel wanted and they help me firebend. They make me feel like I'm good enough. I've never felt that with you or Father. So yeah. Maybe you should leave."

That stung, more than Azula had expected. She blinked. Then she blinked again. 

He didn't want her there. That made her stomach twist into knots. For some reason, it ached more than she wanted. 

Then anger replaced the hurt, masking it with cold indignation. Fine. Zuko’s anger burned hot. Azula let hers burn cold.

"You are a fool if you think you can tell me what to do," she sneered. "I'm staying here, right here, in this house. You can't stop me." She raised her brow as her brother clenched his fists. "And by the way, what's with the stupid names? Don't tell me you haven't revealed your true, royal nature."

"I haven't," he said through gritted teeth. 

"Why not? You-"

"But then again, I don't see you telling them you're the princess of their nation. So... hypocrite?"

Azula felt herself bristling at the word. "How dare you-"

"Just a truth." He shrugged, eyes glittering with anger. "You can stay. But I swear to the spirits above, if you-"

"Princes don't swear," Azula cut in, knowing it would just irk him.

Her efforts were met with her reward. He snorted, and little puffs of flame swept out from under his nose. "If you tell them who I am, I'll tell them all about your nightmares and your issues with Mo-"

She almost leapt from the bed, reaching out and wanting to claw off his face. She didn't make it far before she realized it would be futile. Even still, she lurched forward and hissed, "Don't you freaking dare."

He narrowed his eyes, then raised an eyebrow. "Princesses don't swear, either."

She straightened and leaned back against her pillow, lip curled and brows furrowed. "Shut up." She wondered what else they could talk about. Then she flicked a hand. "Get out of here. I don't want to see your disgusting face right now."

Zuko rolled his eyes, turned his back on her, and walked out the door. He closed it behind him, and suddenly Azula was left on her own with her thoughts. 

I'll tell them all about your nightmares and your issues with Mom. 

How dare he? He'd been the one to cradle her in his arms when she got the nightmares. He'd been there for her when her mother first left and the first nightmare had her screaming into the night. He'd been the one to hear about her glimpses of a red-clad woman in the hallways. He'd been there for all of it. 

To use it against her felt like a violation on so many levels. Never again would she open her feelings to him, or to anyone. Never again. 

Angry almost to the point of tears, she clenched the sheets in white-knuckled fists. She then huffed and turned on her side, then laid down. She slapped the pillow in anger, then pressed it against her face and let out a quiet, almost silent scream.

Then she muffled the sounds of her sobs as the tears came.

Chapter Text

It would be a far understatement to say Lieutenant Jee was having a good day. 

Far from it, really.

The day had been bearable, even if it was mediocre. He could deal with soldiers and cranky comrades. He could handle their complaints against the princess, even though he had a few of those reservations himself.

Things turned for the worst after Princess Azula failed to return. She had promised hours earlier to be back, and none of the scouts had seen her. 

Now, Jee wondered if he'd let his princess get herself killed. She was eleven, even if she was a princess. She was far too young to be on her own around here, and he had let her walk off, trusting her to be back. She could handle herself, but she was a child. 

He swore to the spirits above that if she'd died...

He wondered now if he should send a letter to the Fire Lord. It, of course, was vital for him to be aware of his daughter's status, and not doing or saying anything would be disastrous for everyone involved in the assignment. 

Jee just wondered if he had to be the one to send the letter. He also wondered if perhaps he was overreacting and jumping to conclusions. Maybe, hopefully, the princess would show up again in the next hour or so. Perhaps he could delay the letter just a little longer. 

"Something amiss, Lieutenant Jee?"

Jee turned to see one of the soldiers, Haruka, watching him with brilliant golden eyes. The man proved to be a valuable asset to the troops, and he was one of the spies that Azula had sent out frequently. Jee wondered if the spy felt any animosity towards the girl. 

"Nothing to concern yourself on, Soldier," Jee answered, narrowing his eyes. Should I explain everything? He is a scout... "Have you or any of the scouts seen the princess in the last three hours?"

"No, sir. We've scoured the land as far as we could without being seen by the prince or that family." Haruka frowned, brows furrowing together. He looked deep in thought. "However... one of the scouts reported that she'd seen the princess being carried by the man."

"The man?"

"Chih. He took the prince in."

Jee felt his blood chill. When asked to accompany the princess on this mission, he had assumed they would quickly locate the dragon and easily return home. Being taken in to a family was far from his expectations, and he did not like it.

"That would mean she was taken in by him as well," Jee said for the two of them. "Which means that..." The prince and princess are in the same house. Which means it's only a matter of time before- "Great spirits."

"What, sir?" 

Jee pressed a hand to his brow. "Part of the princess's stealth meant she was not seen by the prince. He had no idea we were following him. Now... He's bound to discover her." He lowered his hand. "The kid's not stupid, even if he struggles to do the most basic things for survival. Even still, he's used to palace customs. He's going to find her no matter how much she tries to hide."

Both of them are in there. 

Now what?

"What would you like to do, sir?" Haruka asked, straightforward as always. He was a man who liked to find a solution as soon as he identified a problem. Jee appreciated that in a soldier.

Jee looked at the trees near them, then suppressed a sigh. "We wait. The princess will most likely try her hand at escape. Since she's a firebending prodigy, she might just make it out there tonight. Keep the scouts on the move, including yourself. As soon as you find her, bring her back."

"Yes, Lieutenant."

With that, Haruka bowed, turned, and left. Just as he was one to find solutions quickly, he was also a soldier who liked to follow orders as soon as they were given. The determination was a good quality for a soldier, and for a firebender in general. 

Jee stifled another sigh and turned away. In the meantime... I have a letter to write. He grimaced to himself. Regardless of whether she makes it back soon, I need to make sure I have the letter on hand so it can be sent as soon as things turn south. 

Let's hope I don't have to send that letter.

Iroh, not for the first or last time in his life, felt torn between two decisions. 

Either he went to help the soldiers, trying to give them direction... if they would let him... or he approached his niece and nephew to give them aid.

He couldn't sit and do nothing anymore. He needed to take action... and so he would. 

He looked through the trees to study the cabin where Azula and Zuko were. It looked calm and lovely, but... he couldn't tell if it would be wise to approach it. Would his appearance make it better or worse for his niece and nephew? He turned and watched his surroundings, being careful of every movement he could see. He couldn't let the scouts catch him. If they did, Ozai would find out, and that could be detrimental to everyone. Stealth was the key. 

Taking a deep breath, he shifted positions. That was a needed part of stealth. Being in one place for too long could hurt his chances of remaining out of sight. He turned back to regard the cabin. I will approach Zuko and Azula in a week, if they have not moved. If they're still here, I will visit them and get them on the right path. Ozai won't let them idle for too long, and I would prefer to be the catalyst rather than him. 

I hope those two figure it out before I have to get involved.

And I hope they don't murder each other.

Azula didn't care about her injuries. Not really. Not really caring about her ankle. 

She cared more about how she would escape the stupid place... and maybe take Zuko with her.

She also wondered how she would send a letter back to her father. He must be worrying about her by now, right? Surely he would send troops out to retrieve her. Or he would know already about her absence and would be sending strong, clear instructions to Jee to get her out. Her army of trained men and women would far surpass Chih and his measly family. They could not stand a chance against her soldiers. Especially not the children. 

But it was the children that made her hesitate in relishing the idea of Jee rescuing her. Not to mention it would make things worse with Zuko. Not that she really cared what he thought. She just knew it was better not to make things too bad. 

She sat in her bed, wondering if she could just send a letter to her father. Then she winced to herself. How would I explain my accident? Any mention of the incident would come across as weakness, and Azula knew far better than to expose any weakness in front of her father. She knew better than that. She knew he could sense weakness like she could, and if she was the weak link-

No. She would not send a letter. Not yet. Not until her appointed day. No reason to explain anything early on. No reason to update the Fire Lord or her friends. Besides, she could be gone before the next update day. That would be a miracle given from the spirits. 

She clenched the sheets into fists as Yuka, Sangi, and Ayaka came into her room, carrying different materials with them. They gave her smiles easily, and she didn't trust them. No one was nice unless they had something to gain. The only one she could trust with kindness was Ty Lee, and it had been years before she had learned to trust the other girl. 

"Hi, Rekka," Sangi said. She sat down on the side of the bed. "We brought food and ointment."

Ayaka held out a platter of bean puffs. "Do you want some bean puffs? We made it specially for you!"

Azula narrowed her eyes. "They're not poisoned?"

The girl looked confused. Her mother set down containers of ointments. "Why would we poison you?" She looked at Azula, then shook her head. "Poor girl." 

Why- I'm not poor! I am the princess of the Fire Nation! I am your superior! I am far above you! Azula opened her mouth to snap at her, but Ayaka shoved a bean puff into her hand. "Eat up!" The girl smiled, ignoring Azula's glower. "It's really nice."

Sangi held up a cup. "We also brought you some tea. We weren't sure what your favorite was, but Li said you had a liking for ginger tea. I hope you like it." Azula took the cup in one hand and blew on it, resigning herself to her torturous fate. "It's a little spicy, but..."

"We're Fire Nation." Azula sipped her tea, feeling the burn in the back of her throat and feeling satisfied. It was nice, though she rather preferred cinnamon spice tea. However, that was a precious spice tea that only royalty and nobility had, and even then, the tea was rare for them. She couldn't mention cinnamon spice tea. That wouldn't be fair. Not that she really cared about hurting these people's feelings. "We like spice, don't we?"

"I don't," Ayaka commented. "But Sangi says I have yet to grow in my Fire Nation tastebuds."

Sangi rolled her eyes. "That's a joke, you oaf."

Yuka shook her head. She smiled at Azula as the princess took a bite of her bean puff. "You'll have to forgive my daughters. They're like this most of the time."

Azula shrugged. "I don't care. It doesn't bother me." She looked at the tea. "It's alright. Thanks."

Why was she thanking them?

Before she could add on a noncommital addition to her statement, Ayaka came in. "You're welcome!" She leaned forward. "So are you a firebender like Li?"

She snorted, feeling a little insulted. "I'm better than him." She puckered her lips and breathed out a flame. Ayaka gasped with amazement. Is she a nonbender? What does she do for talent, then? Mai has her knives, and Ty Lee has her acrobats. What does this girl have to offer? "The tea burns the back of my throat. It's like when you breathe fire."

"Wooooah." Ayaka looked wistful. "I wish I could breathe fire."

Sangi smiled as Yuka opened the ointment container. "That's amazing, Rekka."

Azula frowned. "You're all nonbenders?"

"Yes." Yuka uncovered Azula's wrapped ankle and carefully began to undo the bandages. "We've been relying on your brother for help. He's been very kind about it. I think it's because you two lost your parents." 

Wait, what? "What... has he told you?"

Yuka looked up for a moment. Sangi rubbed her neck. "That you two lost your parents. He didn't mention you, but I think he was surprised to see you when you came in yesterday. Did you two get separated or something? Maybe he didn't think you would survive. I think he thought he was the only one alive after what happened to your parents."

"I'm sorry to hear about that, by the way," Ayaka came in. "Losing your parents must be hard."

My father is still alive. He loves me. My mother is the one who left me. Azula clenched her fists. Do I reveal the lie? Do I blow Zuko's cover? She took a deep breath. Just play along for right now. Just for safety reasons. "Yeah. It was hard. He left me behind, so it seems. We got separated. I was alone. And then... here I am."

"You didn't look happy to see him. And neither did he," Sangi pointed out. 

"Yeah, that's because he left me."

"Do you think he feels the same way?"

Azula didn't care about her brother's feelings. She snorted and crossed her arms. It's best if I just blow his cover. This is ridiculous. "Doesn't matter. We're back together now. Woo hoo."

Yuka shook her head while she applied ointment to Azula's ankle. "I'm still sorry about your parents." She looked up, taking bandages in her hands. "If there's anything we can do for you, any way we can support you, then we'll do it for you. Both you and Li."

You could support me by letting me go back to my men and women. Azula bit her tongue, then narrowed her eyes. "Thank you." I suppose. She looked up as Chih rapped his knuckles lightly on the door. "What?"

The man gave her a sympathetic, compassionate look as his wife began rewrapping the injury. "I checked everywhere, Rekka. I'm sorry. I couldn't find the person who was apparently coming for you. I'm sorry."

Azula's chest tightened in dismay and anger... and a little bit of hurt. Only a little bit. But still. She looked at her feet sticking out from under the bedsheets. "Whatever." 

The soldiers had not come for her. 

She was angry. Angry at Chih. Angry at herself. But more than anything, she felt rage towards her soldiers. They should have come looking for her. What were they doing without her?

Did her father even know she had gone missing? 

Should she send the letter, then?

Ayaka perked up. "Hey! That means you get to hang out with us a little longer!"

"Only until my ankle heals," Azula ground out. "Then my brother and I are leaving."

The little group looked disappointed, and the princess ignored how it stabbed at her chest. Sure, they weren't that bad. Sure, they made her feel good. But she couldn't stay, and neither could Zuko. They had to leave, and soon, before the family put two and two together. They had to leave, and soon. The Fire Lord would not let them wait long to find the dragon. 

She hated the idea of leaving with Zuko. But it would look bad on her part if she left him behind. She had to take him, much to her annoyance. He'd better not slow me down or get in my way. 

Ayaka, despite the sorrow in the eyes of her family, only bounced up and down on the side of the bed. "Yay! This is gonna be fun."

Azula couldn't share her excitement, even though the girl reminded her sharply of Ty Lee. "Sure. Fun. How... great."

I need to get out of here.

Chapter Text

Zuko felt a strange sense of relief as he saw his sister limping around the little cabin in the early morning. Two days had passed since her accident, and she was already moving. Although, he doubted she would let herself be confined to the bed for much longer.

But still, watching her made him realize how glad he was to have her around. Even if she annoyed him and had followed him without telling him. 

She walked into the kitchen, where he was building a fire for Yuka before she got up. The princess tilted her head to the side. "What're you doing?"

He decided to play the role of the difficult older brother. "Not even a 'good morning', huh?"

She snorted and walked over to him, not needing the wall for support. She scowled at him. "I don't need to give you a 'good morning'. What are you doing?"

"Making fire for Yuka. Wanna help or something?”

"I've got better things to do."

"Like what?" He looked up from his flame. "Walking around? Azzy-"

"Don't call me that-"

"I'll stop calling you that when you stop calling me Zuzu."

"It's never going to get old."

"Yeah well-" Zuko fought down his temper. He didn't want to raise the flame he was tending or let it spiral out of control. "Look, there's nothing you can do around here if you don't help around the house." He thought hard, then shrugged. "Unless you wanna entertain Akao and Ayaka with your firebending. Maybe you should do that, being a prodigy and all-"

"I'm not a circus performer-"

"Well then what're you gonna do, Azula?"

"I'm going to escape." Azula crossed her arms. "This place is unnerving. That girl, who keeps talking to me-"

"Ayaka?" Zuko raised his brow and got up, having cultivated the cooking fire to an appropriate amount. "She really likes you. And I think you like her, too." He shrugged. "She reminds me of Ty Lee."

His sister's amber eyes flashed, and he knew she'd made the same connection. She looked away. "She's annoying. That Sangi girl is too nice for her own good. Someday someone's going to crush her without remorse."

"Maybe you should help her stand up for herself, then."

"I'm not going to fix her problems for her. It's just an observation."

Zuko scoffed. "You could help her. Instead you just complain."

"It's an observation-"

"Yeah, and I'm an airbender."

Zuko didn't agree with his sister passing judgement when she could see a solution. She bristled. "I think you should be very careful about what you're saying to me."

"Why? Who're you going to tell on me to? Dad?"

That wasn't the right thing to say. 

But it was a feeling he'd gotten off his chest. For two years, he'd remembered starkly, and painfully, her rebuke the morning after his mother's disappearance. Who's going to force me? Mom?

Now he had just flipped it on her. 

But instead of feeling proud, he just felt angry. She, in return, looked royally peeved. She turned her back on him. "Maybe I will. I've been having correspondence with him. He's a better father than that Chih guy."

"Chih is a good father," Zuko defended. "He loves all of his children. And he actually cares about you and me. He could've left you to die, Azula."

"I would've been-"

"Why can't you just accept that he did something nice for you?"

"Because he's an anomaly." She turned back on him, brows furrowing. Her voice was a quiet hiss. "He's a good father, sure, but not every father is like him. That's not how a normal father behaves."

Zuko, who had had time to process Ozai's treatment of him and had seen Chih's stark contrast, disagreed completely with her. "Yeah, I think it is."

Azula snorted. "Fine. Name another father like Chih."

"Uncle Iroh-"

"-is a dumb fool who left his army because his son died-"

"Wouldn't you want that from our father if you died?" Zuko threw his hand out to indicate the open air outside a nearby window. "C'mon, Azula. Don't you wish he was coming for you? That maybe he actually cared to check in and make sure you were okay?" He narrowed his eyes. "Has he reached out to you to make sure you're doing your mission, or has it always been you?"

"He made my assignment clear to me," she snapped. "And he's busy. I can't expect him to-"

"He's too busy to make sure his daughter is okay?" Zuko snorted, wishing she would see some of his reasoning. "It's not hard to send a messsenger hawk directly to the princess of the Fire Nation. And for the record, I haven't had any letters from him since I left. He doesn't care, Azzy. That's just how it is."

Azula scowled at him. Then she looked away. "I think your head isn't twisted on quite right."

"It doesn't matter." Zuko crossed his arms. "So you're running away, huh?"

"It's not running away. It's es-"

"Same thing. What're your plans?"

"Why should I tel-"

"You're running away... to where? Did you come alone or with a troop?"

Her amber eyes glittered with anger. "That's classified infor-"

"I just want to pla-"

"Will you stop cutting me off and just listen?" Azula snapped. 

Zuko stopped. 

Then he nodded, realizing his mistake. "Fine. Talk."

"Finally." She put her hands on her hips. "I'm leaving this place. And I'm going back to my soldiers. And then I'm going to find that stupid dragon and ki- Go back to our father and report back. Then he'll come back and slay it."

"You're gonna kill the dragon, aren't you?" he asked, having caught her slip-up. "You're not gonna let him take that power." As her eyes narrowed, he shrugged. "Fine. Whatever. I know I have to leave soon. But I just haven't because I'm not sure how I can leave without them knowing or without needing to explain everything."

"Yeah, it's best not to tell them." Azula rolled her eyes. "We don't want an eight-year-old trying to fight a dragon. And besides, that's my dragon for the taking. You're not coming with me."

"Could I come if I let you kill the thing?"

She paused, then scowled. "What would you get from it?"

He sighed, having thought this over a few times. "Not much. Just getting to go along with my sister. I don't know what our relationship is, but... I'm willing to try and work together with you. And besides, that dragon doesn't stand a chance if it's you and me."

"Are you saying I couldn't do it alone? Because I could."

"Yeah, but... Please, Azzy, let me come along."

She frowned. "I..." She huffed. "Fine. You can come." She looked out the window. "Why not leave now?"

"Provisions, first of all. And you're still limping. And-"

"Okay, fine. My ankle will be fine tomorrow, so we can leave. Today we work on securing food and other things that we'll need. Got it?"

"Alright. We leave in the middle of tomorrow night."

Azula nodded. "Don't be late, or I'll leave you here, and-"

"You're leaving?"

Zuko whirled at the young voice, and he saw Ayaka and Akao standing at the threshold of the kitchen. The young man had an arm around his sister, who looked worried and distressed. Azula spoke up. "I can't stay-"

"You're both leaving, aren't you?" Akao said quietly. 

Azula rolled her eyes. "Why do boys always feel the need to interrupt?"

Ayaka smiled, though there were sad tears in her eyes. "Yeah, he does it to me, too."

Her brother narrowed his eyes. Then he looked at Zuko. "It's okay. I get it. You guys couldn't stay for forever. That's alright. Just, uh..." He took a deep breath. "Don't uh... Don't die out there, okay?" 

Zuko nodded. "That's the plan."

"Right." The other boy tilted his head to the side. "Is there any way we can help you? We can give you food for the journey and stuff. We just have to ask our pa-"

"No." Azula scowled. "Your parents can't know."

"They'll kill us if they know you left!" Ayaka cried. "I'm a terrible liar! They'll know I helped you!"

"Okay, well-" Zuko held up his hands. He didn't think Chih and Yuka really would hurt their kids, but he didn't want to provoke them. "We'll just-"

"I can come with you!" Ayaka stepped away from her brother. "I can use a spear. Dad's been teaching me! And Sangi knows how to use knives! She can even use poisons on them, too. It's really cool. And Akao can use nunchakus! He's really good at it."

Azula scowled. Zuko spoke up. "We're going somewhere really dangerous. We don't want to get you guys involved. You could get hurt."

Akao narrowed his eyes, obviously looking suspicious. "Maybe you shouldn't go, then. Why would you go somewhere where you could get hurt?"

Zuko, out of explanations, looked over at his sister. She raised a brow. He shook his head. Before he could say anything, Yuka came in. She smiled. "Thank you, Li, for stoking the fire." She paused, then read the room. She addressed her children. "What's wrong?" She looked at Azula and Zuko. "Is everything alright?"

"Yeah, we just..." Zuko didn't know how to answer. "We just..."

Yuka paused, then sighed. Her shoulders drooped. "I know you want to leave. Chih can tell, too. As soon as Rekka's ankle is healed... You can leave."

"But Mom-" Ayaka began, distress in her golden eyes. 

"It's their choice, Ayaka."

The girl looked ready to burst into tears. Azula's eyes drew to the floor. Then she looked up. "We need to tell your entire family a few things. We do need to leave, but..."

"We gotta explain, I guess," Zuko added, trying to support his sister in her sudden change of motivation. He wasn't about to complain about it, though. "Once everyone's up, we'll explain."

Ayaka looked relieved and grateful. Yuka seemed to consider what the kids were saying, then nodded. "Alright. I'll start breakfast. Ayaka, Rekka, can you help me please?"

Azula, though she raised her brows at being forced into work, didn't fight back. Instead, she joined Ayaka and Yuka. Zuko watched them work, feeling anxiety nibble at his insides. 

How are we gonna tell them?

What can we tell them?

As soon as everyone had come down for breakfast and eaten their share, Azula knew it was time to ask for their loyalty and help. If they refused, she would burn down the cabin, knowing Zuko had lied about these people.

Okay, maybe she wouldn't burn down the cabin. But she'd threaten to. Yes. She would threaten to burn it down, because sometimes threats worked better than actually going through with the action.

Yuka cleaned up the plates along with Sangi while Ayaka and Akao sent the firebenders worried looks. Keika, the youngest daughter, only looked at her hands. Chih looked concerned, and Azula wondered if he knew about the upcoming discussion. Let's see how good he is, Zuzu. 

Once the utensils and plates had been cleared away, Yuka and Sangi came back to sit at the table. Yuka looked at Zuko. "Li, you said there was something we needed to know. Whatever it is..." She turned her head to look at Azula, taking Chih's hand. "We want to support you both in wherever you're going?"

"Wait a minute." Sangi's eyes widened. "You're leaving?"

Azula snorted. "We couldn't stay here forever."

"Of course not, but... I didn't think it would be so soon." The older girl gave Azula a sad smile. "We'll miss you, then."

"Me? You'll miss my brother, sure, but me?"

Ayaka nodded. "Yeah. You're funny."

Keika blinked. "You're pretty."

"And you can use fire for so many amazing things," Akao said. "It's awesome to watch you."

"Yeah. And I saw you practicing blue fire yesterday," Sangi added. "That was amazing, Rekka. Is it any wonder we want you to stick around a little longer?"

Azula fought the tightening of her chest. The praise came from a little more than just her firebending, and... Spirits above, she wasn't used to that. Zuko looked over at her, then took the reins. "We do want to stay a little longer, but... We're on a time constraint."

This was news for the entire family. Chih's head raised. "Why?"

No going back now. 

Azula took a breath. "We were... given an assignment. And we have to go and fulfill it. We just need supplies for our journey, nothing more."

"Where are you going?" Sangi asked. For a moment, her eyes lit up. "Are you going to the Water Tribes?"

"Or the Earth Kingdom!" Ayaka added. 

"Or-" Akao began.

Zuko waved his hands. "No, it's here in the Fire Nation. Somewhere. Not far from here, I hope."

"It should be here in the Fire Nation," Azula agreed.

Chih and Yuka both watched her and the prince. 

Then the man spoke up, sounding confused and a tinge worried. "You don't know where you're going?"

Shoot- Azula hadn't prepared herself for these questions. She looked at Zuko, who seemed just as concerned. How much could they give away? "We know that it's in the Fire Nation..." Zuko offered weakly. "So that narrows it down..."

"Not really," Sangi answered, having caught on to her parents' concern.

"It doesn't matter." Zuko put his hands together. "We're not gonna disclose more information. It's a top-secret and dangerous mission, and-"

"It's dangerous?" Yuka gasped, eyes widening.

Aaaaand there he goes. This is why I should've done all of the talking. Azula pressed a hand to her brow as Chih asked, "You two are still young. Why are you being sent on a dangerous assignment when-"

"Who's even asking this of you?" Sangi interrupted.

Azula lowered her hand. "No one that you need to be concerned about. It's not a dangerous assignment. We'll have it under control. We just..."

"Rekka, I think it's best if you just explain everything," Yuka said. "We promise not to cast you out or judge you for whatever you're dealing with."

Do we do that?

Do I trust these people with that kind of information?

Zuko looked at Azula, and she saw the same concerns in his eyes. She shook her head. They had been sworn to utmost secrecy. If commoners found out about this, the Fire Lord would punish his children appropriately.

And yet, if they didn't explain, there could be suspicion. That was the last thing Zuko and Azula needed. 

She looked at the family, each and every one. "I need to... We need to know that you all won't tell anyone about what we'll say." 

"We promise," Akao said immediately.

"We will say nothing of this," Chih agreed. "No one will even know that you came to us in the first place. If you explain the situation, we will do everything we can to help you."

The rest of the family nodded. Azula guessed his promise was the best they were going to get, since he was the head of the household. 

Zuko took a deep breath, then looked at her. She grimaced in return. No turning back.

She turned her gaze to look at the group around them. The words slipped out of her mouth easier than she had expected.

"We're not who you think we are."

Chapter Text

Zuko felt more than a little at ease by how his sister explained most of their royal heritage. She talked about being the prince and princess of the Fire Nation. As soon as she said their titles, their real names, Chih and Yuka shared a worried look. Their eyes widened, and Zuko knew he had to step in. He held up his hands. "It's okay! You won't get in trouble for anything, I promise. And you don't have to treat us like royalty. We just... We were going in diguise."

"Why?" Sangi asked, eyes as wide as her parents'. "Wouldn't it be easier to use your titles?"

Azula crossed her arms and glared at her brother. "Yeah, Zuzu, why did we use fake names?"

"Uhhh..." Right. This is on me. "Because there's enemies to the throne and we were just trying to be careful...?"

Akao tilted his head. "Wait a minute. So your parents are alive?"

"Our dad is." Their mom was a touchy subject that Zuko didn't want to talk about. Judging by Azula's shifting of her weight, she didn't want to, either. 

"And you're... Why were you in the forest?"

Now Chih looked at Zuko, confusion written over his face. The prince felt bad for him. He'd done something good, or believed he had, and now the 'orphans' he had taken in were more than they had originally been. He had gotten himself caught up in royal issues. Not to mention his family...

But maybe he could help.

Zuko breathed out a sigh. "I didn't know Azula was following me. But she was. And now we're basically joining forces."

"Not really," Azula cut in. 

"That's something for later discussion. Anyways, my father has sent me on a quest to slay the last dragon remaining."

Zuko waited for their confusion and their disagreement. 

Instead, the husband and wife shared a look. Ayaka looked at them. "Aren't there-"

"Your father sent you to kill a dragon?" Chih asked slowly. 

The prince momentarily considered his doubts, the ones that kept him up late at night. "It's impossible, I know. There's no way there's a dragon that no one knows about. So maybe I should-"

"That's not what I'm saying."

Azula picked up on it first. "You're saying there is a dragon."

"Dragons are dangerous beings," Yuka warned softly. She looked concerned. "Why would your father send you, Prince Zuko, to fight one?"

"Who are you to doubt our abilities?" Azula snapped. 

The older woman shook her head. Chih took her hand. "We... know where the dragon is."

"Really?" Zuko asked. 

"Yes." Chih furrowed his brows, then looked at the two royals. "We can take you there, but on one condition."

The princess raised a dark eyebrow. "Name it."

"If you stop to listen to reasoning, if you promise not to jump to conclusions, if you allow for explanations to be given, then we can take you to the dragon."

Zuko looked at his sister. Azula crossed her arms. "How do you know where it is?"

"We live close by," Yuka answered. "You weren't far off, but I'm glad you found us before you found the dragon."

Azula narrowed her eyes. Then she put her hands on the table. "I came with an escort. Here is my plan. Once my ankle heals entirely, I will return to them and explain the situation. Then we will join forces with you, and you will take us to that dragon." She paused, then clenched her fists. "And we'll listen to reason."

"Thank you." Sangi, for some reason, looked relieved. "That makes a difference."

Akao furrowed his brows. "You really wanted to kill the dragon?"

"Yes," Zuko answered. "I was instructed to by my father. And if I don't... There could be a lot of serious consequences."

Ayaka tilted her head to the side. "Like what? Would he just scold you and maybe give you more chores?"

"I... No. I didn't have chores before coming here. We had servants doing most of the work. Made things easier." Zuko wondered briefly what the consequences of disobediences would be and noticed how his chest became hollow and empty. It wasn't a fun idea. "I think the consequences would be far worse than just chores or a scolding."

Chih's eyes flickered with something Zuko couldn't read. Azula, on the other hand, waved a dismissive hand. "It's nothing severe, of course. Our father wouldn't maim us for disobeying him."

But would he? How sure are you about that, Azula?

Zuko had heard rumors about the servants who had disobeyed the Fire Lord. Some said they were brutally executed or tortured. Some claimed they were taken to the Capital City prison and left there to rot. Some said the Fire Lord himself took his anger out on a few of the servants, and those servants had the burn scars to show.

The prince didn't want to believe in that kind of behavior from his father, but... he wondered if there really was something off with Ozai. Would Chih hurt a servant just for insulting him? Would Uncle Iroh?

Zuko suddenly wished his uncle was around so he could figure out who was the anomaly: Chih or Ozai. That, and Iroh would have good advice, wouldn't he?

Yuka didn't seem convinced by Azula's words, but she smiled anyways. "Your plan sounds good to us."

"I just have a request," Chih came in.

Azula narrowed her eyes. "Another request? I thought there was just one."

"I know, but it's important."

The princess took a deep breath, then huffed and nodded. "Fine. I'm listening."

"The dragon is a closely-guarded secret for my family. Telling all of your soldiers can jeopardize our situation, and I don't want word spreading around about the dragon. That would have disastrous consequences. Instead... I am asking that you only tell your second-in-command the truth and explain to the rest a confidential version of the situation. I trust that you know how to hide certain parts of a story."

Azula crossed her arms. "I suppose I can do that. It's not the first time soldiers have been left in the dark for an assignment on a few points."

"Exactly. They might find out later, but for right now…”

Yuka took her husband's hand. "We're placing a lot of trust in you both, telling you all of this. We're trying to believe that you won't spread the news everywhere."

Ayaka nodded. "I didn't know until I was six years old! That's half my age."

Her mother laughed softly. "Yes, it is." Her eyes went back to Azula and Zuko. "We want to trust you, of course. All we ask is that you don't break it."

Zuko could do that. He didn't want these people to lose faith in him and his abilities. 

Azula on the other hand...

He looked at her, trying to convey his mental message of, Don't even think about backstabbing them. 

His sister, of course, just ignored him. She seemed to consider the offer, then nodded. "Okay. We have a deal. I won't tell anyone the truth, except for maybe my second-in-command. In exchange, you'll take us to the dragon."

Chih still looked on edge, but he nodded sharply in agreement. "Sounds like we have an agreement."

Chih would go far before he would consider himself a violent man. The same could be said for his wife. Even for his family in general. 

However, there were a few things that aggravated him. 

He'd sworn several years ago that he would not reveal the dragons to anyone. He'd investigated the ruins of the Sun Warriors nearby, which had given him access to their hidden civilization. From them, he'd learned that two dragons were still alive. Two very large dragons that could swallow a child whole. He'd been allowed to slip the secret to his family, but to be safe, he'd kept them quiet about the majestic creatures. They all understood it was for the best. Besides, his kids seemed to interact with Azula and Zuko easily without mentioning the firebending masters. 

To think that he'd brought the prince and princess into his home without knowing...

Despite the prince's assurances, he still watched his back, worried his family would be attacked. He didn't want to incur the Fire Lord's wrath, especially when they lived so close to the dragons. 

Speaking of the Fire Lord...

It was obvious to both Chih and Yuka that Fire Lord Ozai had sent Zuko on a nearly-pointless chase. What would the boy have done, had the dragon never existed? No one in the Fire Nation knew the dragons were alive save for Chih and his family, and they kept that secret close to their hearts.

Surely, though, the Fire Lord knew how dangerous dragons could be. Especially if they were provoked. 

Being tested of the dragons wasn't an easy feat. Only firebenders could do it, and Chih and Yuka had agreed that they would not send their children until they were of a mature age. Sangi wasn't quite old enough in their eyes, and she wasn't a firebender. Thankfully for them, none of the children were firebenders. It sounded selfish, but it was for a good reason. 

After all, if a firebender failed the test, the dragons would engulf them in their special fire, and the bender would be obliterated. 

If that happened to Chih's kids, any one of them... He couldn't bear the thought. So when he realized they weren't firebenders, he gave thanks. Yuka did the same. She had the same opinion as him, and he was glad for her support.

He laid next to her the night after the discussion with the royal siblings. Things had been tense for the rest of the day, something Chih couldn't control. He looked at his wife, who had her head propped up on an arm. "I didn't want to tell them, but..."

"I know," she answered softly. "But there wasn't much of another option."

"Yes. Either we told them or they found out on their own."

She nodded and took his hand. "Thank you for being the one to tell them."

He smiled, but it didn't reach his heart. "I just hope they change their mind. I would never be forgiven if they tried to kill one of the dragons. And if they tried... I would hate for one of them to die."

Yuka seemed to understand. She curled up close to him. "Me too. The punishment is severe for those who try to fight the masters." 

He ran his hand through her dark hair. "Thank you for being so supportive. I don't know what I would do if I had never met you at that fire festival."

She laughed. "Even though we're both nonbenders."

"Exactly."

He took a breath as she fell silent. Long after she fell asleep in his arms, he laid awake, watching the shadows move over the wall opposite of him. What would the royal children decide? How could they change their minds? 

He did not sleep well that night.

Chapter Text

"I have to talk to the soldiers today," Azula said, standing in front of her bed and trying to figure out both what she would say to Jee and the rest along with how to properly make a bed. The servants always did this for her, but today would be her lucky day to learn. And since her idiot brother was here pestering her... "Come help with the bed."

Zuko just scoffed from the doorway. "What do you want me to do?"

"How do you do... this?" At a loss for words, Azula just gestured to the bed. Surely he wasn't dumb enough not to know what she meant. "Don't you just spread the sheets out?"

"Yeah, but there's a method to it." Zuko went to one side and picked up both corners of the sheets. "Go over and take the other two corners."

"Don't tell me what to do."

Her brother just raised a dark brow. "Do you want your bed made or not?"

She scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Fine." She went to the side opposite with him without a trace of a limp in her step, then picked up the corners like directed. "Now what?"

"We're going to flap them like this." Zuko, with his arms stretched out to the sides, moved the corners quickly up and down. "And then we're gonna put the sheets down and lay them out flat. It should work." He paused, then added, "I guess you could just spread out the sides since the sheets aren't that ruffled, but it could take more time and would be more work for you."

Azula huffed. "Fine. Let's just do it."

It took a few failed attempts in which either Zuko pulled too hard and yanked the sheets from Azula's fingers, or she did the same to him, or they lowered it at opposing times. Eventually, they managed to lower the sheets at the same time, in which Azula quickly realized there was a problem.

"My arms aren't long enough, dum dum. You should've taken that into account before asking me to do this."

Zuko flattened his side of the bed with his hands, spreading his arms out like an awkward turtleduck trying to learn how to swim. "You're the one asked for help with the bed."

"I should never trust you with these things."

"You should. I am very wise in the ways of the bed-making."

"Says who?"

The prince grinned at her. "Says me."

She rolled her eyes again. "Fine. You win. Whatever." She frowned at the corners she still held. "What do I do with these?"

"Just set them down carefully and then spread them out one by one."

Azula, despite her annoyance, did exactly as he asked. Then she brushed her hands together with pride at how well-made the bed was. "That wasn't so hard. Next time I'm going to flap the covers all on my own without your support."

He just laughed. "Sure, Azzy, sure." He smiled at the bed. "I learned how to do that from Sangi. She got so tired of my bed that she taught me how to do it. I've never failed to do it since."

"Where do you even sleep?"

"Up in the attic." Zuko sighed dramatically. "You got a lovely bedroom just because you were hurt—"

"It was just a twisted ankle—"

"While I got the attic." The prince grimaced. "I mean, it's great. No problem with that."

"It just explains where you've been hiding all this time." Azula took a deep breath, hating that she was nervous about meeting with the soldiers again. It had to be done at some point, and she would also have to send a letter to her father... She knew which one she dreaded more... "Now I just have to depart to meet with the soldiers again."

Zuko tilted his head to the side. "Do you know what you're going to say to them?"

"I can make up a plan as I go. I'm good at that."

He just scowled. "Riiiiight..."

"Don't doubt my abilities. I'm a people person."

He raised a brow. Then he waved a hand. "Fine." He paused, then asked, "How are you gonna skirt around the fact that we're on the way to find a dragon? You can't just go up to them and say, 'Hi everyone, I got taken in by the family that Zuko got stuck with and now we're working to find the dragon together.'"

"True. That would just be absurd." Azula rubbed her chin. "I can't go silent on them, either."

"Do the soldiers even know what they're looking for?"

"Well, they know the basics. That's enough for me to give them. I don’t want them to know everything, of course.” She waved a hand, deciding that less information was better in the long run. “I’ll just tell them I’m fine and that we’re continuing on our assignment. If you’re really worried about it, you could pretend to be my prisoner.”

Zuko scrunched his nose. “No way.”

She just shrugged. “Suit yourself." 

And what am I going to tell Father? 'Hey Dad, I got hurt, hope you're worried about me, anyways the family over here took me in and was kind of nice to me, but now I'm working with them and with Zuko to find the dragon because they're smarter than we thought, hope you have a great day and I'll tell you all about it next week'? That's... not going to work. 

Her eyes shifted to Zuko, who was grimacing at the covers. I can't ask him for help either. He's an idiot and wouldn't know how to talk to our father. He might make things worse instead. She took a breath. Might as well just go with my own plans. I'll figure it out. She crossed her arms as her brother looked up. "Well, since that's done, might as well get ready to go, huh?"

He nodded. "Yeah. Might as well."

Iroh did his best to stay out of trouble.

He really did.

So it wasn't his fault when Lieutenant Jee's scouts found him, captured him, and promptly brought him to stand in front of the man. Now he stood, staring at the man who had served under him. The lieutenant stared right back. 

Then he narrowed his eyes. "General Iroh. How good to see you again."

"Lieutenant Jee." Iroh spoke formally, matching the other man's tone inflection for inflection. "It is good to see you as well."

"This is a pleasant surprise." The lieutenant had a serious scowl to his frown when interrogating someone. "Mind me asking why you are here, hiding out in the trees in this particular area?"

"I am well aware you are here with my niece."

"Don't turn the question on me." Jee frowned deeper. "What are you doing here, General Iroh?"

Iroh knew he had to come clean at some point, and he had waited long enough to do so. He opened his mouth, prepared to speak, when-

"What in Agni's name is going on here?"

Iroh's breath caught, and he, along with the soldiers, turned his head to see Azula standing there, golden eyes narrowed as she glared at her uncle. He never had the best relationship with her, but then again, he could understand her anger. She hadn't known he was coming. He had braced himself for this moment of revelation. 

"What are you doing here?" she asked him curtly.

"I was sent to follow-" he began.

"That's a lie." Azula scoffed. "Father wouldn't trust you enough to send you after me. I think you came of your own accord."

Iroh remembered what she had said to Mai and Ty Lee, about Zuko's mission to kill a dragon, about her mission to find it. He remembered being flooded with the dragon's fire and knew that the Sun Warriors wouldn't let them get close to the masters. "I'm here to keep you from making a mistake."

"What mistake would that be?" she questioned. As he hesitated, unsure of what the soldiers knew, she added, "It's alright, Uncle. You can tell me in front of them."

No, I can't. Not unless they know everything that you have been asked to do. 

"I cannot," he answered her. She rolled her eyes impatiently. "This is something between you and me. Family matters, if you will."

She narrowed her eyes, then sighed with exasperation. "Fine. But make this quick. I don't have all day." She looked at Jee. "Release him."

"Yes, Your Highness." Jee lifted a hand, and the scouts holding Iroh's arms back dispersed. "It is... good to see you again."

Azula blinked, clearly taken aback by that, even if by a fraction. Then she recomposed herself. "You as well, I suppose." She looked at Iroh. "Come on, Uncle. Don't make this long."

He nodded, then moved away from the group with her. He felt the eyes of the soldiers on his back as they stopped in the forest and he said, "I want you to listen to me before coming to any conclusions."

The girl crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. "I'm a great listener."

I wish I could believe that. "Your brother is on a dangerous mission, one that will prove his demise if he continues as he is. I am trying to warn you both to abort your missions and return home."

"Right, and what makes me think you're trustworthy?" Her voice had a dry tone to it. "You lied to my father about the lack of a living dragon. Unless..." She cocked a brow. "You really did kill the last dragon."

Either I lie to her, or I lie to him. 

Who do I choose?

If I lie to her, she will probably report back to Ozai, and he will shame me for making him believe there was a dragon still alive. 

But it's either disgrace or the deaths of these children. 

Iroh's throat tightened. I can't lose another one of them. 

Azula tilted her head to the side. "Right. So there's a dragon alive. Great. And why are you warning us against it? Because it's dangerous or something?" She threw a hand out. "By the way, I think you're missing someone. I'm not going to report to Zuko for you. That's your issue." 

"Have you met with your brother?"

"Why would I tell you that?"

"Please, Princess Azula, let me help you and him." Iroh knew she wouldn't give up without finding the dragons. In fact, neither would Zuko. So... Maybe it was best to help them succeed in finding the masters... and trying to keep them from being killed. "I can help you find the dragon, if you will just listen to me and let me guide you there."

Azula's eyes lit up. "Really?" She smiled, though there was an edge to her expression. "I think we can work with that." She sighed. "Zuzu's an idiot, still, but maybe our mission isn't in vain. If you can help him find that dragon, my troops can follow you. Since we all know you're here, there's no reason for you to sneak around." She frowned. "Don't ever follow us like that again."

Iroh nodded, displeased at her superior attitude, but he stiffened as she continued, "We're not going to say anything about this to my father. None of the soldiers will speak about it. I won't even mention it in my letter to him." For a moment, she looked pained. "I... still need to write that to him, but I will figure it out." She straightened her back. "I would suggest you go and find Zuzu. Talk to him. Then it would be wise to meet with Chih and his family. They also know where the dragons are."

Really? I thought I was the only one. Iroh nodded to the princess again. "I will do that." He smiled, feeling a little relieved at the outcome of this conversation. "Take care, Princess Azula. And perhaps try not to fall down more cliffs."

Her voice sharpened as she muttered, "I'm not planning on it."

He chuckled to himself, then bowed to her. She did the same in return, stiff and poised. "I return to my soldiers. I'll explain as much as I can without revealing everything." We all have many secrets, many lies we are telling, many truths we are not speaking. "If I were you, I wouldn't approach me or them again for a while. Just stay with Zuko and the family for now. You... might end up liking them." She rolled her eyes. "After all, they seem as crazy as you are."

Iroh laughed again. "Thank you, Azula."

"Right."

With that, they parted ways. As Iroh made his way carefully down to the house, he wondered how he could explain everything he had just said to Azula... to Zuko. He had a hotter temper than her. While she was a cold fire, he was hot, burning like the sun. Those two were so different in many ways. 

And yet, they were similar in their determination to get the job done, to be awarded and recognized as the prince and princess of the esteemed Fire Nation. That drive could be both a blessing and a curse, depending on how the kids used it. 

Iroh decided he would help them the best he could with the resources and information he had. 

Chapter Text

Hey, guys! :D

I hope you guys are doing good so far. I hope your day gets better if it's not great right now.

So, uh... it's been a while since I posted, huh?

I apologize a lot for being absent. Things have been stacking up in my life, and writing this has gotten difficult. I have ideas for it and I want to continue it, but I'm having a hard time keeping up with my updating schedule. 

So I am putting this on hold and going on hiatus. (I will be doing this with my other Ao3 works, so don't worry, it's not just you guys) I promise I'll return and continue posting again as soon as I have more time and energy. I am not abandoning or discontinuing the story. I just need some time to figure things out before I continue. 

I love this work and I love reading your comments. Thank you guys for the support so far.

I'll see you later. <3