Destiny Altered (READ DISCLAIMER)

15 - Freedom

"Azula, it isn't your fault," I said softly, as I made my way over to her other side, gently placing my hand on her leg to comfort her. She began to get her tears under control.

"Yes it is. If I had just worked harder, I would have been perfect like I was supposed to be. Then I never would have been punished. Then none of this would have happened," she said, lifting her head from Ursa's shoulder to look at me.

"Nobody's perfect, not even the Avatar. You don't have to be. We love you because of your imperfections, not in spite of them," I said, taking her hand in mine and giving it a light squeeze.

"Katara's right. We all love you," Ursa said taking her other hand.

Zuko, clearly feeling a bit left out, moved his seat closer to us. Azula brought her eyes to meet his. "Never doubt that, Azula," he said with conviction.

I could tell having so many people show her this kind of outpouring of emotion was foreign to Azula, so her silence wasn't unexpected. She was overwhelmed to say the least.

After several moments of everyone just enjoying being together—the initial tension completely forgotten—Zuko excused himself from the room, but said he would return in a minute. He shared a knowing smile with Ursa before exiting. True to his word, he came back—only this time with Lazu, Zee, and Chan in tow. I noticed that Chan was holding a package wrapped in red cloth.

"Azula, the doctors have deemed you healthy and sound enough in mind and body to be released from the hospital… on one condition," Zuko said with a crooked grin. "You continue to work with Katara. I know you still have some way to go, but there is no reason for you to continue to stay confined here."

Azula just sat there stunned. Her potential release from the hospital was not something any of us had discussed with her, in case for some reason Zuko decided not to grant our request.

"Also, the war crime tribunal has decided that you are not be charged with any crimes." I released a breath I didn't even realize I had been holding as relief washed over me.

"I'm not being charged?" Azula asked, finally finding her voice. "How is that possible?"

"Well, the Avatar and I put in a good word for you, but the tribunal would have come to that decision without us. For as cold and ruthless as you came across most of the time, you never killed anyone. You always took prisoners and none of them underwent any cruel or unusual punishment. Well, besides you messing with their minds a bit," he said with a wry smile. "You are a free woman."

With that declaration, Chan handed the package he was holding to Zuko and the Fire Lord stepped forward, presenting it to Azula. Taking the contents from him, Azula slowly pulled back the cloth to reveal her royal robes. All three of us stood then—Ursa, Azula, and I—as Ursa and I assisted the princess with donning her attire.

"Oh, and one other thing," Zuko said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small box. He opened it, revealing the headpiece of the crown princess. "What's a princess without her crown?" he asked before placing the headpiece over her topknot, pinning it into place.