Southern Star

Chapter Nineteen: Still, We are Slaves to the Sirens of the Salty Seas

Song had given up on wearing more than underwear. The new burns, which were concentrated over her legs, shoulders, and jaw, had actually burned the fabric she'd been wearing into her skin. Her own sense of modesty was what kept her from going completely naked. It just hurt too much to wear clothes.

Princess Azula really was alone, the palace completely empty. Song slumped against a pillar, watching Princess Azula get ready for her coronation. It wasn't going very well. Her dress was far from put-together, and she could not for the life of her put her hair up. She had bullied Song into trying, too, but Song had been able to do little more than tangle it further, an infraction that got her fingers burned, too.

Finally, after she was able to get most of her hair into a knot on top of her head, Princess Azula seized a pair of scissors and said, "All right, hair, it's time to face your doom."

Song watched silently as her bangs fell to the ground.

Princess Azula had an odd expression on her face, a bright grin that reminded Song of a rat-viper. Slowly, that smile disappeared, and it was replaced with a scowl. She was looking at something in the mirror that Song could not see. "What are you doing here?" she asked.

Song looked around behind her. There was no one there.

"Don't pretend to act proud," snarled Princess Azula. "I know what you really think of me. You think I'm a monster."

"Who are you talking to?" asked Song, her voice faint. She was ignored.

Finally, Princess Azula whirled around and yelled, "But what choice do I have! Trust is for fools. Fear is the only reliable way. Even you fear me."

Another beat passed, and then Princess Azula grabbed the hair brush and threw it at the mirror with all of her might. The mirror shattered as Song flinched away, scared of further pain.

Instead, the princess collapsed to the floor, sobbing.

Zuko and Katara made it to the Fire Nation palace before Princess Azula could formally be crowned the Fire Lord. They landed Appa, and then Zuko jumped down. "Sorry," he said, "but you're not gonna become Fire Lord today. I am."

Azula laughed at that. She looked... odd. On top of the vacant courtyards, her hair was a mess, and her face... "You're hilarious," she said.

"And you're going down," said Katara, standing beside Zuko.

Before the priest could crown Azula, she held up a hand, and said, "Wait. You want to be Fire Lord? Fine, let's settle this. Just you and me, brother, the showdown that was always meant to be—Agni Kai! You have your second for when I defeat you, and I have mine."

"You're on," said Zuko without a moment of hesitation, though he had no idea what she meant by seconds.

Katara glanced at him while Azula's lips twisted up into a cruel smile. "What are you doing?" asked Katara. "She's playing you. She knows she can't take us both, so she's trying to separate us."

"I know," said Zuko, "but I can take her this time."

"But you even admitted to your Uncle that you would need help facing Azula."

"There's something off about her. I can't explain it, but she's slipping. And this way, no one else has to get hurt. After it starts... You need to find out where Song is."

"And what happened to her," said Katara softly.

He turned and stared at her. "She'll be here," he said. "I know it."

As it turned out, Katara didn't have to go anywhere. Azula led them to the arena where Zuko had faced his father years earlier. This time, there was no one there to watch, save for Katara and a figure that was slouched over in a dense hooded cloak on Azula's side of it. Her second.