text: [Themes: fan fiction]
  
  Zuzu attacked her for the third time.
  
  Looking back on it, she should've seen his betrayals coming. The first time Father told her to capture them. Of course, she would've ensured her brother's safety, even from Father. They got away due to the idiots that other people call royal guards.
  
  The second time, he fought her when she was about to capture the Avatar. Maybe he wanted to be the one to do it. Taking that stupid, bald child to the Fire Nation does happened to be the only thing that allows him to come home. Until I become Fire Lord. It was a hard battle, especially after the Avatar's waterbending teacher, his earthbending teacher, and some idiot with a boomerang all showed up too. Also, Uncle got his fat butt to the battle. Since everyone seemed intent on killing the horrible, evil monster, she blasted Uncle in the chest with fire and ran.
  
  Zuzu's change in attitude must be because of Uncle. He must've poisoned his mind against me just like Mother did. Uncle and Mother must've conspired against me. They want to take my only nice family way from me. Plus, Uncle must've never mentioned how she was the one who got him out of the Fire Nation when no one else could or would. Huh, he also never learned I was the one who made Mother save his life too.
  
  There was no way Zuzu would run into her again, not until the war was over. Azula focused on beating the Avatar. Along the way, she happened to conquer Ba Sing Se. Well, she's about to, since this's where the Avatar has been around for weeks. Instead of the old men's tactics of bloodshed, she used infiltration and manipulation. Using the uniforms of an all-female squad of soldiers they captured, Azula and her friends infiltrated the city. I always knew taking Mai and Ty Lee with me would be worth it. Plus, Mai was bored, and Ty Lee realty needed to get away from that circus.
  
  Everything was easy after that. Ba Sing Se is a police-state. She took over the police, recently undermined from the Avatar's meddling. The police seemed to believe the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Gullible idiots. She took over the police, so it's just a matter of waiting for the right moment before taking the city. Not a drop of blood will be spilt. She'll be done under a week.
  
  The Earth Kingdom will fall. That isn't what excites Azula. Instead, it was that waterbender's news. While the Avatar and his other friends left for... somewhere like a bunch of morons, that girl instead stayed behind and visited a tea shop. She came running back to the palace yelling moments before their coup.
  
  "The Fire Nation has infiltrated the city, I just saw Prince Zuko and his uncle!" she screamed to the first people she saw. Those people happened to be "friends and warriors" who were Azula and her infiltrators. She captured the girl. The waterbender looked to be her age. Perhaps she is a waterbending prodigy, the barbarian version of me? Ty Lee was happy to learn they won't torture the girl. Azula must scheme ways to get her brother back.
  
  She came up with a simple plan. She would give a rousing speech to the traitorous police. Why are they called Dai Li anyway? All she then had to do was organize a simultaneous coup where all five Earth Kingdom generals were captured, use the police to break down the wall with earthbending, and request Zuzu and Uncle's presence for some believable reason. To anyone but Azula, this would be too difficult, but she's the perfect princess of the Fire Nation. She couldn't... can't fail.
  
  She couldn't stop laughing when she learned what her brother and uncle were up to. They were small business owners. They owned a tea shop! The "great" general Iroh and the prince of the Fire Nation were serving tea to the snobbish high-born barbarians of the Earth Kingdom. In that case, she sent them a letter claiming the Earth King, who was nothing but the police's moronic and unsuspecting puppet, wanted them to serve tea just before sundown. Zuzu is more gullible than a toddler and Uncle would be glad to have such a "powerful" person request his tea.
  
  All she then had to do was wait. She'd convince her brother to join her, the city will fall, and the two of them will wait for the Avatar to return. He doesn't seem like the kind of boy who'd leave behind a member of his entourage.
  
  That's when things went wrong. If someone surrounded Azula with the police force and started talking to her, she'd stall and see what they want. Zuzu and Uncle ran before her brother's honor got in the way. He stopped an challenged her to an Agni Kai. Since she didn't feel like burning and embarrassing him, she told her Dai Li to capture him. They placed him with the waterbender in an underground cave. An odd place for a prison cell, but these people are barbarians.
  
  Now, she waits for the Avatar. She can reason with Zuzu once he calms down. Who knows? Maybe he and the waterbender could get to know each other. No Fire Lord could ever have a waterbender as a wife or concubine, and that'd guarantee Azula's status as the next Fire Lord. Father will be so proud.
  
  They do the coup. Everyone gets captured as planned. The leader of the police tries to double-cross her, but the police have more sense than their leader. Would execution or life imprisonment be better? She smiles. Maybe I could let the peasants of this city decide. I get rid of him and gain loyalty.
  
  Oh, the earthbending teacher and the boomerang idiot also showed up during the coup. They're in a cell with the Earth King now.
  
  That means only Iroh and the Avatar are unaccounted for. Azula sighs. Knowing Uncle's lack of patriotism these days and the Avatar's boyish gullibility, I'd suspect they're looking for Zuzu and that waterbender together.
  
  She and her police head down to the underground prison. She left Ty Lee and Mai behind. Things could get ugly, so she wanted only expendable minions this time.
  
  She sees all four of them. They aren't fighting. They're just... talking. Why isn't Zuzu fighting the Avatar?
  
  > Zuzu Must Be Biding his Time
  Zuzu fought the Avatar more than enough times now to know he can't take that boy alone. Plus, her brother looks like he wants to bite off the Avatar's head. It's time to get Zuzu back. She waits until the Avatar and the girl walk away. Perhaps those two are romantically involved? Ew.
  
  "Capture Iroh," she whispers to the agents.
  They nod.
  
  As she comes into their view, Uncle becomes encased in the cave's rock. The dramatic effect works perfectly.
  
  "I expected this kind of treachery from Uncle, but Zuzu, Prince Zuko, you're a lot of things, but you're not a traitor, are you?" You said you're my brother. You said you don't think I'm a monster. Prove it, Zuzu. This's your chance.
  
  "Release him immediately!" You have a one-minded devotion that'd be wonderful if directed correctly. Just give me that devotion.
  
  "It's not too late for you. You can still redeem yourself." The Avatar is walking away from you this moment, dum-dum. Just capture him. Well, I will, but you can have the credit for all I care.
  
  Uncle speaks up. Her agents didn't muzzle the old man. "The kind of redemption she offers is not for you." For the past three years, what lies have you been weaving in his head? Zuzu, I shouldn't have let him come with you.
  
  "Why don't you let him decide, Uncle?" Shut up, old man!
  
  She sighs. Her shoulders slouch. "I need you, Zuko." THERE. I said it. I missed you. You're an idiot, but you're my idiot. "I've plotted every move of this day, this glorious day in Fire Nation history. We can win this together. You will have your honor back. You will have Father's love. You will have everything you want." I will have what I want. I'd have my family again. My real family, not Mother.
  
  "I am begging you." Uncle does sound like he's begging. "Look into your heart and what it is you truly want?" Ug, did you find that line out of a fairy tale? I'm getting your nephew's life back together out of the kindness of my heart. I could execute him for treason, but I'm offering him exactly what he wanted for the past three years. "You are free to choose." And that's the truth, brother.
  
  Azula walks away to confront her two enemies. She knows... she trusts Zuzu will be close behind.
  
  She lets herself slip into her battle mentality. In some ways, it is like a dance. She moves. The Avatar moves. That waterbender moves. It's a state of equilibrium through actions and responses. The Avatar has power. The waterbender has rage. Why is she so angry anyway? Azula has perfection.
  
  A blast of fire flies between her opponents and herself. She doesn't have to turn to know who's here. She smiles as she gains her dancing partner. It's great to have you back, brother.
  
  They work well together, not perfectly. No one can match Azula's perfection, but their cooperation exceeds all others. Even Mai and Ty Lee can't compare to her brother. He doesn't have her power or intelligence, but he has her trust. On a battlefield, trust is more important than anything else for Azula's allies.
  
  Their enemies are overwhelmed. The Avatar mostly dodges. For some, it would wear down his attackers, but Azula could do this for hours while Zuzu seems determined enough to press through well past the Avatar's strength. The waterbender puts up a noble fight, but the girl is a minute away from defeat. Exhaustion will take her.
  
  The Avatar proceeds to bend then hide inside a dome of rocks and crystal. The waterbender fights out of desperation. Why would he abandon her? The Avatar State... No!
  
  Azula runs to where she'd expect to see the back of the Avatar when he comes out. He's entering the Avatar State. I could probably survive, but Zuzu... She narrows her eyes. You aren't going to take Zuzu from me.
  
  She swirls her hands around and clears any feelings from her mind. Electricity cackles from her fingertips.
  
  The Avatar rises from his earthen shelter with his eyes glowing white. He's about to unleash death and destruction on his enemies. Azula points and fires. The lightning strikes his back, and he falls to the ground. The waterbender screams and unleashes a wave of water sweeping up his body.
  
  Zuzu and Azula step towards her. Just give us the body, girl.
  
  A blast of fire forces them to jump back. "You've got to get out of here! I'll hold them off as long as I can!" Uncle's words seem to tear through Zuzu's heart. The police, Zuzu, and Azula all fight Uncle, but he is one of two firebenders Azula couldn't easily destroy in combat. The moment the waterbender leaves, the old man stops fighting and holds out his hands in surrender. The police take him away without a word.
  
  Azula takes Zuzu away from the cave. It seems to be killing him on the inside. She leads him to the Earth King's throne, and not once does he ask her to stop. Azula smiles as she sits on the throne. Zuzu looks broody. It's time to cheer him up.
  
  "Zuzu, we've done it. The war is over. The Avatar is defeated. You can go home, with me."
  
  "I betrayed Uncle."
  
  She stand and walks to him. She pokes him in the chest forcibly. "You. Did. Not. Were you the one to throw fire at him first? Were you the one who wanted to help the Avatar, the very person who'd rip down everting we and our ancestors worked for? Uncle betrayed you. I didn't. I won't."
  
  "But I don't have the Avatar. What if Father doesn't accept it? What if he doesn't restore my honor?"
  
  She puts her hand on his shoulder. "He doesn't need to, Zuzu. Today, you restored your own honor."
  
  She looks at him for a moment longer. Then, she does something she never did before. She wraps her arms around him and pulls him into a hug.
  
  "Welcome home, Zuzu."
  
  > 15
  "Zuzu."
  
  After everything that happened to her in those fifteen years, it all comes down to this moment.
  
  There he stands. Behind him, there's the waterbending girl. The Avatar didn't die. He attacked the capital during an eclipse. They couldn't bend. Only a dishonorable enemy would do that, but the Fire Nation repelled their attack.
  
  Why! Why did Zuzu chose to leave them? He betrayed her! They were getting along! Even he and Mai were getting all lovey-dovey. Ew. He left. Why? She knows why. MOTHER. It's her fault! She was the one who poisoned his mind ever since his birth. After she had to leave, Uncle continued. They turned Zuzu away. He even became the Avatar's firebending teacher! WHY!
  
  Then, Mai betrayed her. She did it so Zuzu could've escaped. He was in her clutches! Azula was going to subdue her, then Ty Lee attacked her. WHY! It doesn't make sense. It doesn't compute. The world... the world doesn't work this way. She's Azula. She doesn't fail.
  
  Then, Father left her behind to kill a bunch of Earth Kingdom civilians. He didn't see her as useful anymore. Why would? Everyone betrays her, so he discarded her like a used concubine. Why must everyone betray her!
  
  She knows why. Mother was right. This entire time, she was right. I'm a monster. It simply took Zuzu longer to realize it.
  
  "Sorry, but you're not gonna become Fire Lord today." He lights his hands on fire. "I am. I challenge you to an Agni Kai."
  
  "I accept."
  
  For the first time in her life, she tries to injure her brother. He fights backs using forms she never saw before, but the girl hardly recognizes anything. She focuses on trying to burn him, hurt him.
  
  Why can't it all be better, when we were young? It was nice then. He didn't think I was a monster.
  
  She did so much for him. He said she was his sister. LIER! He knows she's a monster. Monsters don't have brothers. Monsters don't have joy. They don't have friends or happy ending. Monsters have pain, and they give pain. That's it.
  
  Why is everything on fire? Oh, I forgot. Today is Sozin's Comet! That's why Daddy's killing people and babies. Last time this came, my great-grandfather killed every airbender except the Avatar. Daddy's just gonna use this to kill more people! Why'd I forget that?
  
  Some part of her mind tells her something inside is wrong. She's breaking, slipping. She ignores that voice.
  
  Their flames are more like tornadoes. The palace, the courtyard, everything. There's fire everywhere. It's so hot. She uses her flames to propel her. Maneuverability is... good? Tactical. It's tactical for fights. Daddy says so.
  
  Then, Zuzu throws a really big fireball at her. She keeps it from burning her, but she falls on the ground. That hurt. Zuzu hurt me!
  
  "No lightning today? What's the matter? Afraid I'll redirect it?" He sounds angry. Why is Zuzu angry with me?
  
  Two little voices in the back of her head tell her not to fire. One says he's her big brother, and she shouldn't hurt her big brother. Mommy wouldn't want that. The other one, one that has been getting quieter and quieter, tells her there'd be no tactical advantage. Her brother can redirect lightning, so he'd fire it back at her.
  
  She ignores both. She tries to clear all feelings, but she can't. The lightning comes anyway, not because she's amazing or perfect. She isn't amazing; she isn't perfect. The comet merely provides her with enough power. The lightning seems to be burning through her body, her mind, and her soul. Pain. So much pain.
  
  Then, she sees the waterbender. She's close enough to be in the courtyard. Agni Kai's are for two fighters, but that girl stepped into the courtyard. It's a technicality but a victory. Azula won by default because Zuzu had an ally step into the dueling grounds.
  
  I don't want to hurt Zuzu now.
  
  She fires at the girl instead.
  
  "No!" Zuzu dives in front of the lightning bolt. He must've realized she was firing at his friend. No fair. He gets all the friends.
  
  The lightning hits him in the chest. He redirects some of it, but not all. He convulses on the floor dying before her eyes. It's just like that moment four years ago when Daddy burnt off part of Zuzu's face.
  
  I killed Zuzu! I KILLED ZUZU! I'm a monster! I killed him!
  
  Witch! Water witch! You tricked me into killing Zuzu!
  
  She chases the girl. She throws fire. She says... things. She doesn't know what the words are, only her mouth moves and sound comes out. Nothing else matters. The waterbender must die because Zuzu will die.
  
  I'm so sorry, Zuzu! Mommy was right. I'm a monster, and I killed you!
  
  The enemy hides behind pillars and slides on her ramps of ice. Azula chases. She won't fail. The girl stops moving under a covered walkway. Every tactical part of Azula's mind tells her to stop. That girl must be planning something. She doesn't listen. Zuzu needs to be avenged.
  
  "There you are, filthy peasant!" She raises her hand to burn off the witch's pretty face. Then, everything becomes ice cold. She can't move.
  
  Looking down, she sees the water below them, a small canal running under their feet. They're standing on a grated covering. The waterbender lifted the water up and froze it.
  
  The witch melts the water around herself. She takes a chain and wraps it around Azula's hands. Then, she ties it to the floor. She chained her like a wild animal, like a monster. She melts all the ice. Azula drops to the floor.
  
  She's alone. Zuzu's dead. Father doesn't love her. She doesn't have any friends.
  
  Azula breathes out fire trying to burn everything like the monster she is. She tugs at the chains to free herself. It won't budge. She falls on her back. Her head smack against the stone floor, but it doesn't matter. No one loves her. I killed Zuzu.
  
  She cries. She wails like a little girl. Mommy! Mommy! Come back! Save Zuzu! You love him, so save him. Give... Give him a kiss! That would make it feel all better. Mommy, please. Save Zuzu from me.
  
  Through her tears, she sees two figures standing, staring at her. Zuzu? She blinks a few times. The figures come into focus.
  
  "Zuzu!" she screams. "You're all better!"
  
  The wound on his chest is gone! Why hasn't her tears stopped?
  
  "Stay away from me, Zuzu! Stay away! Mommy was right. I'll hurt you again. I'm a monster!"
  
  > never Hurt Zuzu Again
  Azula sits in the dark room. It's scary. I'm old. I'm not supposed to fear the dark. It scares her anyway. She could light a candle or open the curtains, but the fire scares her too. What if she knocked over the candle and burnt something? What if she couldn't stop the fire from her hands?
  
  She hears muffled voices growing louder as they walk by. Then, the voices drift father and father away. Some fear her. Others pity her. Azula just wants to be their friends. The doctors said she got better. What was it that was wrong with me? She clutches her head. Sometimes, bright lights or sharp noises hurt her head so much. It makes her want to cry, but she won't cry. Not anymore. She's a big girl now, and Mother never cried.
  
  One day, she's going to be helpful. Zuzu has been the best older brother ever. Every week, he visited her in her special room. No one else did that. Mai saw her a few times. Ty Lee would do it most weeks. Zuzu never missed her once. It makes her feel happy. He forgave her, so she wants to help him. She wants to be a good little sister.
  
  She remembers things about the courts. The doctors said she kept her cunning mind. Maybe Zuzu could use her as an advisor? He is such a good Fire Lord. All the kingdoms like him too because he's nice to them. For a hundred years, the Fire Nation attacked the other countries. Zuzu stopped it because he didn't want anyone else hurt.
  
  Azula nods. Zuzu is smart, so that is a good idea. Not hurting people is good. She killed only one man in the last month after all. Just one! It made her cry, but no one can know that. She must be a big girl. He wanted to hurt Zuzu when her dum-dum was visiting her. Azula knows Mother would've protected Zuzu, so she blasted him apart with lighting. It was so scary. She didn't know she could still do that, but Zuzu said she shouldn't do it for fun. Like fire, lightning hurts people if she isn't careful, but that man wanted to kill Zuzu. She will hurt anyone who wants to hurt him.
  
  Now, Azula decided she'll be the most careful bender ever. She doesn't want to hurt anyone, even the bad people. Still, Zuzu can never be hurt. She will do anything for him.
  
  The door opens.
  
  Azula smiles. "Zuzu! I missed you!"
  
  He smiles back to her. He wears the robes of the Fire Lord and the crown too. It makes him look so strong. "You can see me any time. I told you exploring is fine if you stay with the guards."
  
  "But..." She points outside. "What if a bad man tries to hurt me or if I lose control? I don't want to hurt anyone. Never again, but I know I will if he wants to hurt you. If I stay in here, then even the bad men are safe from me."
  
  He extends his hand. "Wanna take a walk? Just me and you."
  
  "Sure!"
  
  She wraps her arm around his elbow. Together, they leave her room and walk through the palace. She waives at the people even if they look afraid. Zuzu said being nice to people is good, so she will be nice to them. She remembers all these halls. She ran down them when she was a little girl and went exploring.
  
  He leads her to a little courtyard with a pretty pond. She stops as her mouth hangs open. She points at the pond and giggles. "Look," she whispers. "Turtle-ducks. They're babies."
  
  She tugs at him arm as she pulls him next to the water. The babies quack and swim around their mother. Azula sits down and watches the happy family. Zuzu sits next to her.
  
  "We're still looking for her."
  
  Azula's shoulders slouch. "Will Mother like me?"
  
  "Yes." He holds her hand. "You're a nice person, and you're getting better every day. You're using Mother instead of Mommy. Soon, you'll be your devious self again. I'm sure."
  
  "I am better."
  
  "Azula, we both know you're... a little too young still."
  
  "I'm sorry."
  
  "Don't be."
  
  The princess sees his smile and knows he isn't unhappy with her. She leans on his shoulder and watches the babies swim. Two footsteps walk to her. She turns, ready to protect Zuzu. Oh, it's Mai!
  
  "Hi!" She waives.
  
  Mai nods, but her attention is on the bundle of clothes in her arm. She looks so tired. They say giving birth is the hardest thing ever.
  
  "Is that..." She points at the bundle.
  
  Zuzu nods. "Yeah, that's our Izumi."
  
  Azula stands up and tip-toes to Mai and her niece. She looks at the newborn's face. It's so... squishy. "Hi," she whispers. "You're going to be so happy. Zuzu might look grumpy, but he's super nice. Mai might look irked and bored, but I know she will always love you. Oh, I'm your aunt, but I want to be your friend."
  
  Mai raises her eyebrow. "Will you drop the baby?"
  
  "No."
  
  Carefully, Mai places the baby in her arms. Azula acts careful, super careful. She cradles the baby in her arms. She's holding a part of Zuzu, a new and living person.
  
  "I never thought I'd have more of a family, then Mai became my sister. Now, you became my niece. I thought babies were icky and annoying, but you're nice."
  
  She sits back down by the turtle-duck pond. The baby sleeps soundly in her arms. "One day, I'll show you this pond and tell you about turtle-ducks. Did you know they have a mom too? Mommy turtle-ducks will do anything for her babies just like your mommy. It took me a long time to learn that about my mother. I hope you'll be smarter than me."
  
  The baby wakes up and grumbles like Zuzu would on a bad day. Mai takes the baby from her arms, but she doesn't look angry. Instead, she walks away with the child.
  
  Zuko sighs. "I won't ever give up on you, Azula."
  
  She blinks. "Zu... Zuko?"
  
  "Yeah?" His voice turns serious.
  
  She keeps perfect eye contact.
  
  "I'm thankful for everything you've done. I was a burnout. I gave everything to... Father." She spits out his undeserving title. "You're putting me back together, not because I'm a tool. You're doing it because I'm your sister."
  
  He nods.
  
  Azula looks at the sun, the undying fire. She beams as she's gifted with its warmth.
  
  "Thanks for being my brother, you big dum-dum."