Azula's Recovery - Avatar: TLA

8.5 - Zuko

Zuko had been enjoying some roasted duck skewers with his friends when Ursa had arrived, freaking out because Kiyi had disappeared. He and his friends had all happily volunteered to search for the Kiyi, as well as Azula and Mai, who had disappeared earlier. 

While the others had all been able to pair off, Zuko had gone alone, searching around the west side of the courtyard. He wasn't too worried about the girls; he knew that all three of them could more than take care of themselves – he almost pitied the fool who tried to hurt either of his sisters or Mai.

Kiyi's firebending had come a long way especially since she'd been practising with Azula, and Suki had taught her a few moves too. Kiyi had already asked several times to be a Kyoshi warrior, but Ursa was not exactly sold on the idea.

Zuko chuckled to himself as he recalled the dinners he, Azula and Kiyi had ganged up on their mother and Noren, trying to convince them. 

He saw another crowd around a small performance – a few benders dancing to fast paced music, showing off their skills as they moved with their fire, water and earth. He spotted a familiar dress, two brightly coloured dragons spewing fire, and he stopped short, just watching Azula's fascinated face. She gasped with the crowd as the benders combined their elements, spinning them around together, forming hot coals, steam and even mud as they combined in the air and then separated again. 

Azula turned to the girl beside her and said something that made her laugh. Zuko realised with a start that the girl beside her was Mai, and there! In front of them Kiyi and Tom-Tom played with enormous plush toys – a dragon and a sky bison.

Zuko huffed a laugh, relieved that he'd found them, but he was also baffled to have found them all together. He squeezed through the crowd, to stand next to Azula, "Hello dear sister, you two have caused quite the panic – everyone's looking for you."

Both girls groaned, and Azula said, "How mad is she?"

Zuko laughed, "She's not mad, just worried. It'll be fine, you're all here. All safe. Not like any of you are ever actually in danger."

The girls smirked at him, and he rolled his eyes. 

"See dad? Firebending isn't just for combat or men! The dancer is a girl! Look how good she is, look at her fire! It doesn't have to be something we fear," a girl whined beside them. 

"Shush! These are professionals, and you are not–"

"Because you'd never let me train–"

"Because it is dangerous! I don't want you to be a firebender. And I never want to hear about this again."

Zuko's heart twisted as he saw the devastated look on the girl's face. She must have been around 13 or 14 – Zuko couldn't imagine life without his firebending, and this girl wasn't allowed to practise or train? Before he could say a thing, Azula had shoved past him, and marched right up to the man.

"You small minded, insolent fool! How dare you? If your daughter is a firebender, then she should learn how to use her power!" The father and daughter stared in shock at the woman yelling at them. The girl's eyes widened in fear, and the man bristled, clearly not yet realising who this woman was.

He bristled, "You would do well to mind your own business and stay out of mine little girl!"

Azula's cool and calm mask slid into place, "Princess."

The man didn't back down, but her comment confused him, "What?"

"I'm not 'little girl', I'm Princess Azula, and you will address me with respect, little man."