Invisible String | Mako

Chapter 24

- Elena -

I had only been to a nightclub once. It was a few years ago in the Fire Nation. Vera and Iroh had hatched a scheme to throw a party at an up-and-coming spot in the capital and I was told to stand outside to look out for any Fire Nation guards.

Of course, a guard saw me and caught me before I was able to warn them, and we walked home with our heads hung in shame. Looking back it was worth the trouble. I remember feeling the bass of the music even from the sidewalk outside. I loved the way I felt it in my chest, it was exhilarating.

Now I was here legally, also with Iroh, but for a much different reason. I glanced over at him, curious if the same memory had crossed his mind.

I sit on the couch between him and Mako, a waitress pouring each of us a strong beverage. Tadashi sat across from us, Lillian lazily sipping her martini glass beside him.

"So, how did you hear about this place?" I ask, trying to defeat the sense of awkwardness in the air.

"A friend of mine owns it" Tadashi says, crossing his legs. "It just opened a few weeks ago"

"Will Aiko be joining us?" I ask curiously

Tadashi chuckles, "No, my father would never step foot into a place like this"

"That is too bad" I say, "I was hoping to see him"

"He has been busy with the investigation," Tadashi says, sipping his drink cooly. "They haven't found anything yet"

"Are they even looking?" Mako scoffs, a sour look on his face, "It has been weeks."

"It is a complicated case" Tadashi says, "Whoever is responsible did their due diligence. They really covered their tracks"

I glance over at Mako from the corner of my eye, seeing him squint at Tadashi thoughtfully. No one believed his story.

"I appreciate all he is doing" I lie, sipping my drink.

I swallow the liquid and feel it burn down my throat.

"I swear I know you from somewhere" Iroh says randomly, looking at Lillian thoughtfully. "Are you from the Fire Nation?"

Lillian looks at him unamused, her dark red lips still drawn in a frown, "I am. Born and raised."

Iroh pushed his eyebrows together in thought, trying to skim through his memories and place where he had seen this mysterious woman. Her ora reminded him of someone.. Was it a tutor he had? Perhaps a maid in the palace? Or maybe it was someone from his military career?

"So" I say, glancing at Tadashi, "When my family is found, what is next for you? Going back home?"

Tadashi thinks for a moment, "Yes, my father has set me up to assist him in his new business venture back in Ba Sing Se"

Business venture? Aiko is planning to start selling the formula?

"That sounds like fun" I say, "What is his business?"

"Pharmaceuticals" Tadashi says, "To be honest with you, I don't know much about it. He has kept the business a close secret."

"Why Ba Sing Se?" I ask, "Republic City is now the largest city in the world. Why would he want to leave?"

"I don't know," Tadashi says, sipping his cocktail. "Probably something to do with the laws. It is harder to start a business here with all the laws and regulations"

I swallow hard, catching Lillan's watchful gaze. I feel Mako's thigh touch mine, his glance settling on me.

"I'd love to learn more about his business" I say, voice even. "Perhaps you can arrange a dinner with the three of us?"

Tadashi smiles, "That is a genius idea, El"

- Mako-

The ride back to my apartment is silent. Elena riding in the passenger seat with her head turned to gaze out of the window. I take the time to reflect on our conversation with Tadashi. Ba Sing Se. That is where her father is planning to start selling her parents' formula. Shortly after Tadashi dumbly revealed his father's plan, Elena announced she had a headache and we left.

"We need to go to Ba Sing Se" Elena says, breaking the silence. "That is our first lead. We should take it"

"Ba Sing Se is dangerous" I say, "The city has been going downhill since Avatar Aang died, you shouldn't go."

"Mako" Elena says, turning to look at me sternly. "We have this discussion every time. I am going."

"Going to events with people to keep you safe and going to a crime riddled city like Ba Sing Se are very different situations, Elena" I say, "I don't think it is a good idea"

"Well, I don't care" She snaps, making me snap my head in her direction. She had never lost her temper with me before.

"What?" I say, looking at her quickly before bringing my attention back to driving. "What did you say?"

"I said, I don't care" She repeats, her voice growing more annoyed. "I appreciate you looking out for me, Mako, but it is getting exhausting. I am capable of taking care of myself"

"And how do you plan on doing that?" I snap back, "You can't even bend."

She closes her mouth tightly, her expression growing angrier. I frown, clearly I had gone too far.

"Elena" I sigh, "That isn't what I meant-"

"What? Just because someone can't bend doesn't mean they are defenseless, you know. People can take care of themselves without any stupid powers." She argues. "I am going to Ba Sing Se in the morning, with or without you."

I sigh again, gripping the steering wheel tightly.

"Fine" I say.

She knew just as well as I did that Ba Sing Se was nothing but trouble. But what could I do? I could never let her go alone.

- Unknown-

Nestled in the penthouse suite of the Grand Hotel in the heart of Republic City sat a woman at a vanity. The glow of the candle beside her flickered in the night as she examined herself closely in the mirror. She touched her skin softly, using the pads of her fingers to trace over her once wrinkled skin.

It was strange; going back to her youth. She remembered her life so vividly back then. How beautiful and powerful she was. Not only did she lose her golden chance to her moronic older brother, but she slowly lost her beauty as the years went by.

She lived in solitude all those years. Living on a small island off the coast of the Fire Nation. It was lonely, but that didn't bother her. It was the ever-aching reminder that she lost that drove her mad. She would look out the window and see fireworks in the sky in the distance, bitter as she watched the citizens celebrate another stupid holiday. It drove her crazy.

The war was hers to win.

As her body grew older, her anger grew stronger. Each passing day alone on the island made her feistier and hungrier for revenge.

She had just turned 89 when a visitor arrived on her doorstep. He was a clever man who had traveled far to make her a deal she could not refuse.

He would make her young again, all she had to do was capture the Shen family.

It took some convincing, as the woman was wise to any fool's tricks. But the man was able to produce undeniable proof. He had the secret to eternal life and endless youth.

Sure, she had to use a different name, Lillian. But she knew to bid her time. The best was yet to come.

So, there she sat. In the most expensive hotel in the lavish city her enemies built 70 years before. But this time, she wasn't going to let them win.

Princess Azula was twenty three again, back in her prime. And things were going to go her  way.

A/N: I have been waiting for this chapter since I started writing this!!!! AZULA IS BACK. Things are about to get crazy.