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Chapter Text

Three years. Three fucking years at sea and not a single Agni damned sign of the Avatar.

To say Azula was pissed was a severe understatement, she was livid. This was a waste of all their time. She’d said just as much to Uncle and the ship’s crew, the various facial expressions across her men and Uncle told her they agreed. She wished this was all some stupid dream or someone pulling a prank, but she knew neither were true. She remembered the day she woke up for a second time rather well. It was her last decent memory on this Agni forsaken journey.

***

She woke up with a burning sensation in her throat, it was like she swallowed fire. She tried speaking but only dry coughs exited her throat. She felt a gentle hand on the back of her head, tilting it downwards until her lips met the metal rim of a cup, she felt it tilt upwards and immediately drank its contents, her nose wrinkled at the taste; medicine and other herbs. Rather than spitting it out, she drank until the cup was moved away.

She opened her eyes, blinking away the blurriness in her vision. The first thing she noticed was that she could see out of both eyes, the words ‘born lucky’ reverberated through her skull. She hated it, hated his voice, she hated everything about him. Azula panicked for a moment, not recognizing her surroundings in her tired haze, tried to sit up but Zuko had suddenly appeared in her vision. He looked awful.

Long, messy hair was haphazardly tied into a braid that hung over his shoulder, dark bags under his eyes, tear stained cheeks..and an angry red mark on his face, still pink and fresh, though looking good for the circumstances. She felt tears run down her face as she lifted a shaky hand to his face, gently running her thumb across the bottom of his newly acquired scar. How long was she out for him to let it be unbandaged? Zuko brought his hand to hers, she let out a shaky breath, “I’m sorry I didn’t protect you. I-” She was cut off by Zuko shaking his head, “No, no. Don’t. Do not apologize for what happened, it wasn’t your fault, please don’t blame yourself. This is Ozai’s fault.” Zuko said, his voice firm, but filled with sadness.

Azula let out a sigh and slowly started to sit up, Zuko helped her up. She was about to respond to him, but the metal door to the room opened, the twins both turned their heads quickly to the door, both immediately relaxed on seeing Uncle Iroh, Azula couldn’t hold back a sob of relief and held out her arms for a hug. Iroh smiled at his niece and made his way to her, setting the tray of food and drink onto the nightstand and gave Azula a warm hug. Azula threw her arms around her uncle, her body shaking with quiet sobs. She felt Zuko rubbing her back so she opened one arm and pulled him into the hug as well. Azula was glad she and Zuko wouldn’t be alone on what she assumed was a ship.

With a small hiccup she pulled away from them both, wiping her nose with her sleeve. She hadn’t seen herself yet but she assumed she mirrored Zuko, like always. The left side of Zuko’s head was shaved to accommodate for the scar, Azula’s must’ve been the same on her right side, she didn’t want to look in a mirror though, no more mirrors. 

“I’m glad to see you awake, niece. Your brother and I were very worried.” Iroh’s voice was tired, as if he was going to fall asleep at any moment, Zuko handed her a cup and she immediately drank from it, relieved that it was only water, “How long was I unconscious for? I remember waking up once, but…” She trailed off, shaking her head.

Iroh stroked his beard, with a sigh, he closed his eyes, “Initially you and your brother were only out for a day or two. However your...episode resulted in you being unconscious for another week.” Azula could hear the slight shake in his voice, he clearly feared she wouldn’t wake up. Azula rubbed her undamaged eye, she still felt so tired. “I suppose I should apologize to the crew, we need to..figure out what to do.” She told them, trying to keep her voice steady, she had to be strong for Zuko.

Her twin and Iroh shared a look, she noticed immediately. Zuko sat next to her, holding onto her arm as if he expected her to run off, he gave a nod to their Uncle, who rubbed the corners of his eyes, letting out a breath of exhaustion. “I will not lie to you, Azula. You both have been banished from the Fire Nation, Ozai has tasked you with finding the Avatar and only then you will be permitted to come back.” Iroh sat down on the bed with her and Zuko, putting a hand on her back.

Find the Avatar? Was Fath- Ozai crazy ?

Yes. Yes he was. And a fucking idiot.

Although, finding the Avatar could bring them home. They could go home .

Zuko said her name, breaking her from her thoughts. She took a deep breath, as a banished prince and princess they held no real power anymore. They could boss around the ship’s crew but a stressed crew made for bad sailing. She nodded once, “We’ll search the Air Temples. We’ll find the Avatar and go home. All of us.” She said, slowly standing up, letting her legs and feet get used to her weight. Zuko and Uncle helped her stand.

“We will find him, I know we will.” Zuko told her, Azula could hear the smile in his voice, she heard Uncle hum in agreement, Agni he needed sleep. Zuko did as well, come to think of it. She wobbled on her first step but caught herself quickly. “Come, then. We have an Avatar to find.” Azula’s voice had found itself, holding the firm, steady tone of a Princess as her brother and Uncle followed her out.

Air Temples first, the old Avatar could be hiding out there.

Besides, she and her brother were prodigies. Finding some old man would be simple.

***

She knew everyone on the ship didn’t deserve her anger. She was very grateful for everything they had done for her and her brother, she was especially grateful to their uncle. The healers, the captain, even the cook. She was grateful, but she was pissed . They’d spent all this time searching and they'd found nothing , not even a small scrap of evidence. She hated it, she wanted to cry. Why couldn’t mom have stayed? Why couldn’t-

A pillar of light pierced the sky, bright and awing. The whole crew had noticed it and were equally in shock. She could only think of one thing that could create such a sight. “Uncle, Zuko, do you know what this means?” She asked, her voice brimming with excitement, turning to the men in question, who had been in the middle of a pai sho game. Zuko however was looking at the beam of light just like the rest, “We...we found him! Uncle, it has to be him!” He exclaimed, standing up and running to the front of the ship to join his twin sister.

Iroh had indeed noticed the light, however he was silent on the matter. There wasn’t much to say, the twins’ loyalty to their father had been questionable at best. He hadn’t needed to lecture them about his cruelty, they knew about it first hand. Hopefully they would assist the Avatar, even if it took them some time to adjust to the idea.

“Set a course for the light! The Avatar is near, we will be returning home as heroes!” Azula’s voice rang out across the ship, the crew cheered and hollered, the ship’s destination was set, a goal was finally in view. Zuko and Azula had an arm around one another, an odd feeling settled into their chests, neither could explain it but they just felt... weird . Must be the excitement. They shoved it aside, they finally found what they have been looking for. The Avatar was theirs.

Elsewhere, two Water Tribe siblings were taking an airbender to their village. Unaware of who had caught sight of them.