73 Chapter 72

Mai jumps to her feet, but Azula slowly sits up.

"What's going!..." Mai shouts but is interrupted by Azula sharply raising her hand and turning her head to glare. Mai is taken back and immediately stops talking. Azula calmly looks around at our surrounding, she flexes her hands and arms and then tilts her head while looking at me.

"Normally, when someone wants to make a request of royalty they try to get in my good graces. I can't say I've ever heard of someone ever being so brazen as to kidnap a princess and her attendants and then ask something of her." Azula calmly says.

"You're not wrong that your help could be invaluable, but I don't need your help. I am perfectly capable of doing what needs to be done without you. I took you on a whim because you deserve a chance for a better future, but I have yet to decide if you're able."

"I am exceptionally able"

"I can tell, the people always call you a prodigy, but you are even sharper than I expected"

"Thank you. I assume you've taken my bending so that I can't escape. I need to pass whatever test you have planned before you return my bending"

"Oh, I didn't even need to explain. What makes you assume I need to fix it, that it won't return on its own"

"I can't explain how it feels besides feeling empty. Whatever you did I've never heard of anything like it. Now, what is it I'm being evaluated for?"

"I want to bring an end to the war without setting up future conflicts"

"And so you want to see if I'll be a good Fire Lord. I'm certainly the best choice of those who can take the throne. My father is terrible at diplomacy... and strategy... and economics. Really he's just not a very good ruler. He's almost started a civil war several times. After my father and I is my brother. My brother is a mess. He can't control himself how can he control a nation. Then is my uncle who could perhaps be a good ruler, but is too old and doesn't have any heirs, so he could act as an intermediary Fire Lord."

Ty Lee and Mai sat in silence differing to Azula, but as she discussed her family they made occasional muted emotional outbursts. Azula and I paid their outburst no mind and kept talking.

"That's all true," I tell her.

"So, you already accept I am the most qualified"

"I had assumed, but this conversation has confirmed to me that you would be a very talented ruler, but I was more concerned about your temperament as a ruler."

"Excuse me?" She asks angrily.

"No one in your family is known for being particularly well adjusted, and I've already heard of signs that you lack empathy or compassion."

"If you want empathy and compassion why don't you talk to my uncle."

"Your father almost always uses force and coercion, but your uncle would almost always prefer to avoid it. Your father risks civil war because his own subjects dislike him. Your uncle risks more conflict because his enemies don't fear retaliation"

"It's incredible what wisdom you have. But most farmers could tell you that you need to use a carrot and a stick. So assuming I have the right temperament what next."

"We have some planning to do to ensure the war actually ends, but the big points of the plan are reuniting with the Avatar and his group, you teach him fire bending, and then he dethrones your fathers."

She seems annoyed for a moment and then lets out a sigh. "Of course, because if either you or I dethrone my father there is a risk for a civil war and for the other nations to keep fighting the war. But if the Avatar does it with my help it ends the war and legitimacy aren't questioned. Clever"

I shrug. "Can't take credit for the plan. It's your uncle's he just plans to do it with Zuko instead of you."

"Of course he does. Why wouldn't he?" She says sweetly, but with thinly veiled fury.

"Fine as far as I can tell I don't have many options. I need my bending, so either I leave and hope it comes back or I need to stay with you. I'm tempted to leave just disrupt your plans, but honestly, with the way my father is fighting the war, I think the Fire Nation is in a lose-lose scenario. So let's get on with this."

"Alright first test talk to your friends. I'll give you some privacy" I tell them as I get up and walk away. Far enough that it seems like I'm gone, but still close enough to eavesdrop.

"What the fuck Azula. You're talking about treason. How do you know that he isn't full of it" Mai whisper yells?

"I think he's telling the truth. He was so calm and blue the entire time" Ty Lee argues.

"Shut up Ty. I bet you want Azula to accept just so you can get away even further from your family"

"Mai stop. I think he's telling the truth too, unfortunately. He doesn't need us. He is so much stronger than us and we're not even his primary plan. He has plenty of back up plans. He has no reason to lie. Plus whatever he did to my bending is like nothing I've ever felt. When Ty blocks bending it feels like I'm trying break through a wall, but now it feels like there's just nothing to push like I'm all out of fire."

"So what we're all just supposed to commit treason so you can bend again?"

Azula takes a deep breath. "No. If you want to leave then leave. I'm staying"

"I'm going come on Ty," Mai says walking away, but Ty Lee seems torn.

"Azula, forced you to come, and now you're staying when you have an out?"

"I loved the circus, but I think I like to adventure too. Azula was right to make me come. Burning down the circus was extreme, but I was there because I was playing it safe. I could do more than that. Now that I've left I want to keep on going. Plus I can't leave Azula all alone"

"Be that way I'm leaving" Mai told them before storming off.

"Thanks, Ty," Azula said softly.

"Don't worry Azula I've got a good feeling about this" Ty said happily as she forced Azula into a hug.