Zutara: When Chemicals React (Avatar the last air bender fan fiction)

Zuko -Part 18

When we landed in the street markets of Ba Sing Se, two days later, it looked like the townspeople were in the midst of cleaning some sort of destruction. Some of the small wooden buildings were completely destroyed, most of them damaged. This was the first sign. All this chaos was a sign that Azula had already been here. I knew that she already had my mother. But maybe there would be some small chance that mother had gotten away and escaped Azula. But I knew with Azula's drive that would have been a slim chance.

     As we walked along the path more and more of the damage that was caused made itself known.

     "Man, what happened here?" Sokka asked as he looked around.

     "Who ever did this sure likes to leave a trail," Toph said.

     "Azula happened..." I said as I stopped to look around.

     "Zuko, you don't think she would have gotten your mother already do you..?" Katara asked.

     "Probably...sad to say....Azula most likely caused all this havoc until my mother came quietly."

     We continued walking on, taking in all the damage and distressed people, we came across and elderly woman who was tending to a young girl who seemed she needed some serious comfort. This also had Azula written all over it. The girl was sitting on the ground in front of someone's home, perhaps hers? She had some scratches on her face that looked like they could have been healing.

     "Is she alright?" Sukki asked the woman as we walked over.

     "Still a little saddened, and a few scratches, but overall she's alright." she said.

     "What's your name?" Katara asked.

     "My name is, Sen," the girl replied.

     "How'd you get those scratches?" Aang asked.

     "I got them from when this mean girl was chasing me because she was after lady Ursa. The girl's name was Azula. I tried to run to warn lady Ursa that she was in danger. But she was too fast."

     I kneeled down to the girl and patted her head. "Did she say anything about where she was taking her?"

     "No. She was mostly talking to lady Ursa. She pretty much ignored the man that was with her."

     "Man?"

     "Yeah, she had a man with her. He looked about only a couple years older than Azula."

     "Thank you. I hope you feel better. I'm sorry for my sister." Her eyes widened as I lifted from her and turned to the others. "She must be at the fire nation palace already...claiming her territory."

     "We'll come back and help with this later but we have to go, its urgent," Aang said to the elderly woman.

     "Thank you, Avatar."

     Aang pulled out his glider and used the wind to ride path toward Appa as we ran towards him too. Then we left on Appa to get back to the fire nation palace, leaving Ba Sing Se as quickly as we came.

     We then reached the fire nation in palace in two days time....again. The palace seemed lifeless and dark, perhaps because Azula was here. We ran into the throne room and found her sitting on the throne with my mother standing and chained to the seat.

     "Azula!" I yelled across the room to her.

     "Oh! Hello Zu Zu," She said as she stood with her evil, witty smile as she stood and placed a hand on her hip. "What a coincidence we were just talking about you. I was wondering when you'd decide to grace us with your presence Your Highness."

     When my eyes landed on her I couldn't believe my eyes. It was really her. Time and age had come across her face a little. But it was her. The mother that I searched for, for so long. She was here and I would save her. When mother saw me she smiled widely with tears in her eyes.

     "Mother!" I yelled. "Azula, you can't mean to do this? She's our mother!"

     "She's always been more your mother than mine."

     "This is your mother?" The unknown man on the other side of Azula spoke.

     "Oh yes...must have forgotten to mention it." His expression changed and he settled back to being quiet.

     "Mother! Are you ok? She hasn't hurt you has she?!"

     "I'm fine Zuko, I've missed you," she smiled and said with the sweet and nurturing motherly voice I remember.

     "Oh yes, what a nice reunion this must be for you two. Zuko has been searching for you for ages, mother," Azula said.

     "I never thought you could stoop so low, Azula!" Katara said. "You know this is wrong!"

     "Oh yes," Azula mocked. "Zuko's new main squeeze. Too bad I couldn't get Mai and Tai Lee to join me again, otherwise this would be even more interesting."

     "Let her go Azula!" I yelled.

     "I'll let her go with no problem when you decide to give up the throne otherwise I'll take it. We can do this the hard way or the easy way. I know we can't rule together with your new life style choice. So that offer's off the table."

     "No Azula, I will keep the throne and mother. You would ruin and corrupt this peace between the nations! Everything Aang worked for will be wasted! I won't let that happen."

     "Fire is power remember Zu Zu, the fire nation needs to be on top!"

     "No! And where's Uncle, Azula?!"

     She smirked, "Oh you know how Uncle is...free spirit and all. I'm sure he's around here somewhere." I then knew that he had him locked up somewhere. "So if you won't cooperate I will take what I want," she said as we walked to the middle of the floor and got in her fighting stance and replied with mine. "I challenge you to an Agni Kai."

     "I'll help you," Aang said as he stepped forward and got in a fighting stance.

     "No," I said to him while keeping my eye on Azula. "This is my throne, my mother, and my family. I have to do this on my own."

     "I'm the Avatar. It's my duty to protect the world, and restore and keep peace. I have to keep the world's balance. Azula going after the fire nation throne is a threat to that. And it's also the right thing to do."

     I nodded to him in response, either way he was right. This was his job too. I couldn't argue.

     "Fine," Azula hissed. "I guess you'll die too."

     "May the best win," I mocked her.

     "Oh don't worry brother, I plan to."