Capítulo 12: Book I, Act V: Elementary (1/3), Chapter I
Edited by: Bieverdog AO3: GalavantingGoose
Book I, Imbalance
Act V: Elementary, Part I
Chapter I:
"Pst… Pst. Azula… Azula… Azula, are you awake?"
Azula didn't even bother opening her eyes. "What is it now?"
"Oh, it's nothing important, really, but–"
"Then sleep."
"Ok, okay, it is important. I mean, I didn't want to address the elephant-rhino in the room, but, uh… "
Azula sat on her bed and looked at her roommate, annoyed. "Just spit it out already."
Nozomi took a deep breath before uncorking a torrent of words. "Why are you named like the princess? Are you related to her? Are you her friend? Do you know the Fire Lord? Are you crazy and you think you are her but that's not your real name? Did you–"
"Calm down! I'm starting to regret telling you my name… Yes, I was the princess, and now I am the Fire Lord. My father is the Phoenix King now, actually.
Nozomi laughed, and Azula looked at her confusedly. "Pfft, you had me there for a second. Everyone knows that Princess Azula is the granddaughter of the Fire Lord. What even is a Phoenix King anyway? That sounds stupid but funny."
Azula eyed her, confused. "What? How long have you been here?"
"Oh, I get it: you answered some questions; and now I have to answer some. Ok, I like this." Nozomi spoke spookily, "I am a vengeful spirit that has been haunting this asylum for a thousand years!"
She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "I'm serious."
"I'm serious too; I've seen it all in my countless possessions." Nozomi giggled.
"Bet you didn't see Azulon die, did you?"
"Oh, ha, ha. Like I wouldn't know if the Fire Lord died. The whole Fire Nation would have known."
Was she being serious now? "But… the whole nation knew. Everyone knew my father succeeded him…"
"Pfft. Yeah, right. Prince Ozai? Fire Lord? I may not have been a legitimate child, but I am still the daughter of a noblewoman, you know. I'm one-hundred percent sure your 'father' is the younger brother; I mean, we even studied it at school!"
"But… how?"
"Uh… I think I already said that. School, you know? The place where you go meet other kids and learn stuff. I mean, I didn't go for long before coming here; but anyways, I remember all the kids and all the games and all t–"
"Wait, what?"
"Oh sorry, maybe I was going a little too fast. we had this crazy game at school o–"
"No, before that."
A eureka expression crossed Nozomi's face. "Oh, that I came here a short while after starting school?" She placed her hand on her chin, immersed in thought. "Yeah, I think I was… Hmm… Maybe six or seven? Been here, hmm… I don't know. I've kinda lost count, but maybe another seven or eight years?"
Azula didn't expect that at all, judging by her age then… "Half of your life, you've been here…"
"Yeah… All after my mother married some other man… He didn't like me one bit. Well, to be honest, I didn't like him either; he was mean. And his family, too. So, mom said I would be better off here; he wouldn't try to hurt me that way… I just… hope she is alright, you know… Sometimes, I worry about her a lot. How about you? Your parents, I mean… Like you still miss them or is it…" Nozomi stopped, seeing Azula staring at the door.
"I… no."
"Really? Well, there must be someone out there you miss right?"
"No, there isn't, and stop asking me questions."
"Sorry, I just don't know how you do it. I don't know how I could have stayed here for so long without thinking about them." She softened her tone. "I mean, I guess what I am trying to say is: whenever you feel alone, thinking about the people you care for can… help you through it." She gave her a disconcerted look. "Well… I am fine as it is. Let me sleep now."
"Sorry…" She turned her back to the blue-eyed girl, who looked down at her sadly, and closed her eyes tightly. Took a deep breath. Soon, it was as if she had closed off the world.
More whispers. "Azula… Azula…"
"What is it now?!" Azula opened her eyes. The bed beside her was empty.
"Azula…Azula…"
"Nozomi?"
"Down here… Look…" Laughter followed the whispers. She saw movement under her roommate's bed. The whole room was plunged in darkness. In the gloom, a frail, pale hand reached out from under Nozomi's bed.
''Closer… Come… Look." She cautiously rose from her bed and squinted at the intruder. A pair of bright blue eyes lit like a flame shone from underneath the bed.
"Don't…Be…Afraid." It grinned at her. Then clawed hands reached from under the bed and dragged her down.
She screamed and squirmed as she tried to resist the pull but was dragged further into the darkness, her room disappearing into the dark. Distorted laughter made her look at her captor. It had long, disheveled, mud-stained hair and glimmering eyes burning blue fire. she felt it let go. Looking back, she saw a cloud of mist. The laughter echoed in the dark from every direction. Azula swung her head around, trying to locate its source.
"Have you forgotten me already, my dear?" Fog swarmed around her, and laughter boomed from behind.
A mocking whisper. "How low you have fallen."
Scornful venom. "You're worthless."
A wistful breath. "That's why father never came back to rescue you."
Disgust. "He realized how weak you are."
"You are nothing, nothing without me!"
"You're alone now," It cackled.
A soft voice chirped, "Alone, alone, alone." Then it giggled.
"Stupid girl, you never listen, do you?"
"Now she wants to get you... trapped... again."
"She lured you..." Azula felt the mist grow denser around her.
A half-formed face whispered to her ear. "The only way…"
"Is…"
She opened her eyes. She lay on the floor of the room, and her roommate knelt beside her, propping her head up. "Azula! Azula? You scared me to death! Are you okay? You fell to the floor and… rolled over and muttered stuff like crazy."
"Wha– No, you fool! She– she was going to tell me!" Steps could be heard from outside the room coming in their direction.
"Sh, you made too much noise. Quick, get up now." Nozomi helped her up and pointed to the bed. She ran to the door, blocking the view of its small window.
"Oh, hi, Zhan!" Nozomi smiled awkwardly at a nurse who neared the small window.
"Nozomi what's going on in there?"
"Sorry, did I make too much noise? I didn't mean to… I was just… doing some good old exercise." The nurse looked at her puzzled.
"You know those times when you wake up in the middle of the night full of energy? This is one of them."
Zhan raised an eyebrow before rolling her eyes. "Just go back to sleep."
Nozomi yawned and stretched her arms. "Yeah, will do; I feel very tired already. See you in the morning." She sighed in relief. "That was a close call. You need to be more careful."
"What do you care?"
"Look, it's clear that something is happening to you; and I know you don't want to tell me, but I have a right to know. If what Zirin said is true... you have to be very careful. I've heard stories about the doctor... I've heard of many who didn't make it out alive... You're risking your life, do you understand?"
Azula remained silent for a moment before opening her mouth to speak. "Can't you see? You have been kept isolated from the world here, discarded and forgotten. Held down into submission by men like the doctor. If we stay here, we submit ourselves to our fate and leave our lives in their hands. Tell me; wouldn't you like to see…" Azula hesitated but composed herself. "...your mother again?"
Tears pooled in Nozomi's eyes, faintly glimmering in the dark. She sighed. "I told you… it's not possible to leave. You have to make your peace with it, Azula; it's going to get you killed."
"So, you give up?"
Nozomi avoided her gaze. "When I was brought here at first, I thought I'd lost hope; I thought I'd never see the world again. Being outside, only for a brief moment, was like being reborn. I will not give up."
I won't let my mother win.
***
"Zuko!" Aang ran towards him as he waved.
The others followed close behind. "It's so good to see you!" Zuko smiled.
"You look well, like nothing ever happened to you."
Sokka raised a brow. "Where have you been? Guards told us you left in a hurry."
"Long story; I'll tell you later. Come, let's go inside."
Sokka held up his hands. "Okay, okay. Slow down a little; we've been traveling for two days now!"
"Sorry, but we cannot speak here." Zuko gestured at them to follow as he looked behind his back.
"What's up with you? Where is Mai, anyway?"
"Uh… Honestly, I haven't seen her. She's usually around the palace. She's been helping me a lot."
Zuko ushered his friends through the palace, heading straight to his room. He glanced sideways at the guards as he walked, trying to perceive any suspicious behavior, for he did not know who to trust.
Katara looked concerned. "You know, this is getting pretty suspicious. What's wrong?"
Sokka was already shuffling through the papers stacked in Zuko's room. "Yeah, you've been acting weirder than usual. What are all these papers?" He held a pair of scrolls in his hand.
"Ever since the attempt on my life, I've been trying to uncover who is behind it… The colonists that attacked me, they weren't working alone. Someone helped them; someone is out there still trying to get me."
Sokka smirked. "So, you've been investigating all by yourself? Why didn't you say so? I'm the best detective in the world; ask Katara."
Katara nagged him. "Shut up, Sokka; this is serious. Someone tried to kill him; can't you see that?"
"But I'm serious! I can help you crack this case!"
Aang furrowed his brow. "Who in their right mind would follow your father?"
"You'd be surprised…"
Sokka held his hips. "Don't worry, I can help you find them. When this is over, we can continue with the Harmony Restoration Movement thing."
The door to Zuko's room opened to reveal Mai heavily breathing. "There you are. I've been looking for you all over. You should get ready unless you want to be the first Fire Lord in history to miss an emergency meeting."
"Hey, Mai!" Aang waved at her, but she paid him no mind.
"What are you guys doing here? Never mind; you have to attend council now."
"Mai, they just got here, an–"
"The Earth King has arrested two generals of the Council of Five."
"What?! Who?" Aang and Zuko cried out almost simultaneously.
"General Sung and General Yiwen. They were found guilty of conspiring to threaten the peace of the realm."
Sokka scratched his head. "Wait a minute, Sung? That guy is an idiot!"
Aang gritted his teeth. "Oh yeah, I remember; the Terra team guy?"
Sokka nodded. "Yeah, that one!" He grinned. "That guy isn't capable of conspiring anything."
"Apparently, he is…" said Zuko grimly.
Sokka held his chin. "I don't know… this whole deal smells fishy to me…"
"I gotta agree with Snoozles on this one."
Katara eyed Mai worriedly. "Has Kuei said anything?"
"Regardless of what you guys think, the council is still meeting; so, Zuko, you really cannot miss it."
"Okay, okay, I'll go, Mai. Would you please stay with them? Please?" He was still concerned that Taiku's accomplice was still after him. He couldn't allow them to get close to his friends.
"Before you leave me on babysitting duty, what are you wound up about?"
"It's a long story; I'll tell you later. It's about the investigation." It would be impossible to sum up the whole story now…
"Ugh, not this again. You've let this get you in over your head, Zuko."
"Trust me, Mai. I'm serious; don't leave them out of your sight."
"Ok, just go now."
Even if matters in the Earth Kingdom were pressing, Zuko's mind couldn't help but drift back to the investigation. Now he was almost sure Taiku was behind it. Ever since he had been on the throne, the man had opposed all his decisions. It couldn't be a mere coincidence that colonists were behind the attack. He just had to prove it. Only a few more days… He could imprison him now, but if he did, his decision could be seen as ruthless and unprovoked, a means to strike fear in the hearts of his ministers. But then he would be no better than his father. He refused to become him with every fiber of his being.
But what if Taiku realized he was cornered? Maybe he would try to have him killed again to hurt the people he loved the most. Deep in his thoughts on the way to the throne room, a discussion made him stop; he could hear the ministers arguing on the other side.
"This is surely a cover up! Long Feng might be gone, but How has seized control of the court now!"
Taiku is here already?
"Overseer, your shortsightedness is most astonishing. To think His Majesty would keep such an incompetent servant as Overseer really shows his benevolence knows no bounds."
"Dress your words all you like, Jing; your insults are beneath me. You are just a rat-viper in silk stockings."
"Now, now, Overseer; it's a pity that people that have been so poorly brought up get a place in government. Oh well, I guess all voices need to be heard, even those of the uneducated and unruly."
Zuko opened the door and entered. The gatekeeper, entranced by the quarrel, startled as he passed by.
"His Majest–" Zuko gestured to him to stop and continued forward silently. The ministers froze on the spot and bowed as he marched up to the throne.
Jing stood from the table. "Fire Lord, it's good that you are here. Now we can finally settle this matter. You see, thanks to his majesty's wise decision to set up an embassy, we have the latest news from the Earth Kingdom–two generals of the council of five have been arrested and found guilty of coordinating the attacks on Hong Sha."
Taiku interrupted her. "Fire Lord, you must not be deceived; this is just a ploy to conceal the real culprits!"
Zuko eyed Taiku suspiciously, and the room awaited a response. "I see… Though I am more concerned about more immediate matters. As you all know, it's been a month and a half already since a few ex-colonists made an attempt on my life. I wonder what kind of advances you have made in finding the real authors behind the crime. Overseer, you deal with colonial affairs. What do you know of this group?"
Taiku looked at him, confused. "Your Majesty, I think I already provided all the information that I could to the investigators. I'm sure we have already apprehended all the traito–"
"Is that so? Maybe you're not aware, Overseer. two days ago, more suspects that worked with the conspirators were apprehended. Some other colonists as well. Were you aware?"
Soft murmuring echoed through the room.
"I… No, Your Majesty, I wasn't." Taiku's eyes betrayed his concern.
"Do not worry. As of this moment, they are being interrogated thoroughly. Soon, the perpetrators behind this treasonous act will be found and brought to justice." The Fire Lord's eyes didn't wander far from Taiku's. "I want all of you to do your best to find the traitors. Now since that is settled, we can move on to the main purpose of this meeting."
Jing cleared her throat as she held up a scroll, reading aloud,
"Imperial Secretary, I write to you in the hopes that my message will reach His Majesty's and the royal court's ears. Ba Sing Se is going through a tense situation, and the court officials here have been silent. But everyone knows what's wrong–as of this moment, General Sung and General Yiwen are standing trial (if our sources are correct) for threatening the new found peace of the realm by perpetrating the attacks on Hong Sha.
"I wouldn't want to disclose my own opinion on the matter; it could be erroneous. What I can tell you for a fact is that the government has been paralyzed ever since, and names are already being tossed around aloud for their replacement in the Council of Five. This might be a boon or a curse; we have yet to see.
"We will keep you updated on the latest developments." Jing handed the scroll to Zuko with both hands and went to the center of the throne room. "If His Majesty would allow my humble opinion, I think the Earth King must have been deeply concerned after you brought him the news of the attack on Hong Sha. Fire Lord, this is good news, for this tells us that they mean to work with us towards peace. Surely, they must have taken notice of our honesty to abide by our new treaty. Yu Jin's eviction most definitely caused a good impression on many Earth Kingdom citizens.
"As for the replacements of the generals, I wouldn't be concerned. Most likely, some subordinates of General How are likely to get the promotion since loyalty to him would ensure Kuei's control of the military." She bowed and went back to her seat.
Taiku grumbled and took the stand. "This is quite a farce, Fire Lord; think about it. They probably want to appease you for the attacks on our citizens. They are making a spectacle of the trial, knowing full well the news would reach us, even if we wouldn't desire to admit it. General How commands the Earth Kingdom's armies; what guarantees us that he isn't another Long Feng in disguise? After all, the Earth Kingdom has a long list of treacherous officials throughout its history. It isn't an unlikely situation."
Minister Renhao stepped forward from a corner. "In my opinion, what worries me most is who will succeed these two generals. General Sung… He has a… special reputation, so to speak. He is not a man of much merit, spending more time at parties and official events than on the battlefield. General Jiwen is very quiet; but all his life, he has been a soldier, obeying orders without complaint. But despite all this, he is not a confrontational man. Whoever replaces them might just stir up more trouble, so we should endeavor to find out more about their possible successors."
"We won't jump to any assumptions, but do learn more about whoever replaces them."
Jing stood up. "Your Majesty, may I make a suggestion? Why don't you invite the Earth King to the Fire Nation for the Fire Days Festival? I think it would be appropriate for His Majesty to return the invitation the King made some time ago. I'm sure he will also be more than willing to disclose with you the latest developments from the Kingdom."
"Fine, invite his advisors and the Council of Five to attend. We must make sure they intend to keep the peace."
"A wise decision, Your Majesty." Jing sat down again.
Taiku's voice grew more desperate. "With all due respect, Your Majesty, you'd be giving potential enemies a golden opportunity to enter our Nation. We should know about these people before inviting them to come."
Zuko glared at him. "I made up my mind already. With that said, the meeting is finalized."
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