24 Chapter 24: Clarity

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The sun started to rise, and so did Azula. As was occasional for a firebender to rise and set with sun, as on any regular - but today was anything from regular, it was the Day of Black Sun - and of the Invasion. Azula knew there wasn't much time, before it happened, a couple of hours at the most - and she had some things to clarify, before that.

She rose from her bed and made her way over to the mirror, starting to wash her face and do her hair herself - she wasn't interested in hanging around any servants this morning. Once she was dressed and done, Azula made her way outside, where Zhan was waiting.

The Royal garden was quiet, since no regular person came here, only the Royal family and their invited. A perfect place for a face-to-face, private talks.

"Hi Azula," said Zhan, sitting on a nearby bench, having arrived here earlier.

"Hey," replied Azula, sitting down aswell.

"So...how do you feel?" he asked, looking at her.

"Troubled..." she replied, a deep feeling of being torn between two worlds in herself..

"Lets walk...clear our heads..." he said, rising from his seat.

"Sure..." she replied, starting to follow him.

Their small walk was mostly quiet, save for a few questions from Azula: what should she do, what could she do, and should she do anything. Overall, Azula thought that she would've been better off, if she didn't know anything of her past.

"This should be an easy choice, right?" she asked, their journey leading them to the cliffs. "I mean, I am the Crown Princess of the Fire Nation. This should be easy?"

"I'm not sure, this is that easy," he replied, eyeing the ocean. "Our past haunts and guides us. Listening to one, may cloud the other."

"That doesn't make my dilemma any easier!" she replied, sighing deeply. Crouching down onto the grass and plucking a blade of grass. "Please...give me something."

"Azula...if you want my advice, then I can give you this - follow your feelings and your heart, choose what you want to do. Don't do something others are forcing upon you," he said, looking at her.

"Maybe..." replied Azula, looking at the blade of grass. Then she let it loose, as it glided upward in the wind. Inhaling deeply then exhaling, some clarity in her eyes. "Alright. I am done...and I made my choice."

"As I've said, I'll follow you - whatever you chose. Orders?" he asked, waiting for her request.

"I don't order you around," she replied, with a weak smile on her face. "But get Mai and Ty Lee."

"As you wish, my Princess," he replied, going to fetch the two girls.

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The Invasion force was here, as expected - earthbender forces and waterbender troops. Zhan was impressed, that they had managed to get beyond the Great Gates of Azulon and reach the Royal Plaza. Utilizing some weird ships, that could go underwater and peculiar earthbender tanks - a pity, that they were walking into a trap and didn't know it. The Homeguards were putting up a real fight, making the attackers fight for every inch - the ballista towers had been eliminated but that was just a small obstacle, more troops were arriving to hold them off and lead them to the trap.

Yet he soon a saw a glider fly nearby, guess the Avatar found out, that nobody was home, neither the people or the Firelord. That was also his queue to make his way downward, Azula wanted all three of them down in the bunker, after she had dealt with the Avatar.

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Azula was still a little uneasy about her choice, but it was one that was in motion with how she felt, not how people wanted her to feel. No doubt some would disagree with her choices, but that was their problem - she would do, what she wanted.

No sooner did the metal doors in the bunker flew open - the Avatar, the watertribe boy and the blind earthbender girl had arrived.

"Hello. I had a hunch you had survived," spoke Azula calmly, addressing the Avatar and his group.

"Where's the Firelord?!" asked Aang, annoyed that they had been tricked.

"I suggest you leave...now!" said Azula, rising from her seat, then she disappeared into the rocky ceiling via an earth pillar.

Suprising the group, as three Dai Li agents appeared and filled the bunker with hunders of earth spikes covering the ceiling, ground and cavern sides, before they disappeared into the earth themselves.

Meanwhile above them, a certain Princess was walking through the makeshift tunnel she had the Dai Li make, a few hours ago.

Walking through the tunnel, with only her blue fire illuminating the way. Until another lightsource appeared - Zhan holding a torch, with Mai and Ty Lee close nearby.

"You had to pick this cramped place?" asked Mai, a little annoyed at the choice of location.

"Quit whining Mai, I could've chosen near a lava-pit but Ty Lee would've complained then," replied Azula. "Anyhow...Mai you did what I asked?"

"Yeah, yeah. I visited your uncle. Done and done," said Mai. "You sure about this Azula?"

"I am. I said, you didn't have to follow me," said Azula.

"Like we'd run off now," replied Mai, arms crossed and a tiny smile on her face.

"Yeah Azula! We're not going to abandon you now!" added Ty Lee.

"What do you plan now?" finished Zhan with the speaking. They would support Azula, no matter what she'd do.

"Alright. Here is what we are going to do..."

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