Fanfiction - Azula Reborn

 

Disclosure: This is fanfiction. I do not own any of the characters portrayed in the story, all mentioned characters are based on Avatar: The Last Airbender created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, Produced by Nickelodeon. Please support the official release.

Synopsis: After a recent fallout with the Kemurikage, Azula finds herself in the spirit world, where she finds the aid she needs to confront her mother.

Azula Reborn

By Adam Webster

 

Chapter 1

“I can’t trust anyone, not even those whelps in the Kemurikage! They couldn't handle my discipline after one failure. It took all 10 of them to overcome me. They rendered me unconscious then they put me in that boat, adrift at sea. Mutiny of all things! It must have been her plan all along! That lecherous woman will stop at nothing to be rid of me. But I’m not going down that easily!” 

Miles away from the fire nation capital, on a tiny, deserted island, inhabited only by sea lemurs and chicken turtles, an enraged Azula battles a stone statue, sculpted with the likeness of her mother.

            “HRAAAAAAAAA!!!!” Azula shoots a steady stream of blue flames with both her fists, soot blackens the sculpted face, but the likeness of her mother, Ursa, remains intact. Azula throws a volley of fireballs at the statue, a few hitting the torso and the rest land in the sand around the statue. “Still persisting I see. Well, how about a little lightning!” Azula readies her attack and fires it at the statue, lighting cracks from her fingertips, but misses the statue and strikes the trees behind. She clenches her teeth and shoots a couple more strikes, all missing the statue of Ursa and causing the local wildlife to run screaming in terror. Azula pulls her hair and screams, she then falls to her knees and begins to hyperventilate, still yanking on her hair, “How much longer do you intend to torture me!” The statue of Ursa gives Azula a blank stare, emotionless. “Just get it over with! Kill me! Kill your monster!” Azula rolls onto her back and screeches a fountain of blue fire from her mouth, her scream gradually gets louder, and the fire grows bigger. She reaches the end of her breath and the fire stops; she then rolls onto her side and begins to sob. “When did I become a monster? When did you start to hate me? Whenever I would get into mischief, you would talk down to me. You would scold me when I teased Zuko. In those rare moments when you were furious with me, you would pull on my ears. But when, and why did you stop being my mother? When did you stop seeing me as your daughter? When did I become your mistake? When did you stop loving me?” Exhausted from her outburst Azula nods off and falls into a deep sleep. The full moon brings in the high tide, the water washed ashore, sweeping the sleeping Azula out into the ocean.

 

Chapter 2

The sun sizzled across the ocean waves to poke open Azula’s eyes. Still groggy from her deep emotional induced slumber, Azula rolls over to face the center of the island. She yawns and murmurs to herself, “That’s strange, I could have sworn there was a forest on this island.” Knowing an entire forest cannot just go missing, Azula shoots her eyelids wide open and jumps onto her feet. “Where am I? Why am I on a different island? That vile woman must have captured me in my sleep! Where is she!” Azula scans her surroundings to find she is on a small island with bright white sandy shores and grass that trails to a single willow tree in the center of the island.

            With nowhere else to go, Azula makes her way to the willow tree. She sees only the tree at first glance, but on the other side of the tree is a skinny bald man with a long white beard, meditating between the tree and a small pool of water in front of him, inattentive to Azula.

Azula readies her fists and yells at the man, “Who are you and where is that dreaded woman?!” The old man opens his eyes and looks over at the paranoid Azula. He speaks calmly, undisturbed by Azula’s outburst, “I am Guru Pathik, and you are the only woman here.” Azula takes a quick step back and looks around her, “So, she sent a single man to assassinate me. Not good enough!” Azula throws her fists at Guru Pathik and yet, no fire, not even a puff of smoke. “What did you do to me? Why can’t I fire bend?” Azula falls onto her butt and pulls her hair, “What kind of torture is she putting me through, why does my mother keep doing this to me?” Guru Pathik stands up then extends his hand to help Azula to her feet and says, “You are in no danger here. You cannot fire bend because you are in the spirit world, more specifically you are on the Island of Remorse. As for your mother, she did not send you here. From the way you washed ashore it would seem that the universe has sent you here in search of guidance, which would also explain my appearance here. I was last meditating at the southern air temple attempting to get into the spirit world when I heard a cry for help. When I opened my eyes, I was on this island, under this very tree, but no one was around, and so I went back to meditating and waited for them to appear. I assume that must be you.”

Azula lets go of her hair and reaches out for Guru Pathik’s hand, he helps lift her to her feet. She takes another look around then looks to Guru Pathik, “The Spirit World, but how would I have entered?” 

Guru Pathik returns to his meditation spot then sits down; he gestures for Azula to join him. She walks to the opposite side of the pool of water and sits down on the grass, seated on her knees. “The universe works in mysterious ways and guides us on our journey through life in ways we may never expect, but I can assure you, our meeting is destiny. I travel the world in search of enlightenment, and I help others regain balance within themselves. You most certainly look to be out of balance, as if your entire world is upside down and can no longer trust another soul. I can also sense you are still suspicious of me, fear not, I am not here to harm you. I can do nothing to harm you, I only wish to help you.” Azula’s eyes grow wide, “You can help me be rid of my mother?” Guru Pathik shakes his head in disagreement, “I cannot help you be rid of your mother, but I can help you be rid of this twisted apparition of her you have created in your own mind. Your mother loves you; I can see it in your eyes, and you know it to be true, too. Yet, you deny it due to some emotional blockage.” Azula starts to cry and clenches her eyes and fists. Through a choked voice she pleads, “Please. Help. Me.”

 

Chapter 3

Guru Pathik nods his head in acceptance, “I will help you, and allow me to congratulate you on taking your first step, ‘asking for help,’ it takes tremendous strength to ask for help, especially when we think we do not deserve it. May I ask, what is your name?” Azula dries her eyes and settles her quivering lip, then smiles and says, “Azula.”

“Azula, I can help you gain balance within yourself, to do this you must open all the chakras within your body. First let us go over what chakras are: Chakras are pools of spiraling energy in our body. Life is messy and causes blocks in the pools, preventing the flow of energy. We need to remove these blocks. There are 7 chakras that go up the body. Each pool of energy has a purpose and can be blocked by a specific kind of emotional muck.” 

Azula reseats herself to mimic Guru Pathik’s meditation pose then takes a deep breath and states, “Okay, I’m ready.” Guru Pathik nods his head in agreement.

 

Chapter 4

“First is the Earth Chakra. Located at the base of the spine. It deals with survival and is blocked by fear. What are you afraid of?”

Azula closes her eyes and reaches into the back of her mind, pushing aside all the emotional walls she erected to protect herself from the world, “I am afraid of being abandoned, I am afraid of losing the love of those closest to me, of being betrayed. My mom was banished when I was young, my father’s love turned into harsh discipline, and my closest friends betrayed me.” Guru Pathik’s voice swirls into Azula’s mind, “Let your fears become clear to you. You must not concern yourself of those fears. You must push past them.” Azula starts to sweat and clenches her fists, she takes a deep breath in, then exhales her fears.

“Next is the Water Chakra. Located at the pelvis. It deals with pleasure and is blocked by guilt. What do you blame yourself for?”

Azula closes her eyes and reaches into the back of her mind, “I blame myself for Mai and Ty Lee’s betrayal, I treated them poorly and used manipulation to force them into joining me on my mission.” Guru Pathik’s voice echoes in Azula’s mind, “Accept the reality that these things happened, but do not let them cloud and poison your energy. You need to forgive yourself.” Azula takes a deep breath in, then exhales her guilt.

“Third is the Fire Chakra. Located in the stomach. It deals with will power and is blocked by shame. What are you ashamed of? What are your biggest disappointments in yourself?”

Azula thinks back, “I’m ashamed of my failure at Ba Sing Se, the drill. I underestimated my opponent. I am ashamed of my failure with the Kemurikage, they overthrew me. I am ashamed of my paranoia during my coronation, I banished everyone at the royal palace.” The voice of Guru Pathik flows through Azula’s ears, “You need to accept that part of your life. Your failures make you stronger, not weaker.” Azula wrenches her head back and takes a couple deep breaths to let the words settle in her mind, then exhales her shame.

“Fourth is the Air Chakra. Located in the heart. It deals with love and is blocked by grief. What do you grieve over?”

Azula clenches her chest, “I-I grieve over the banishment of my mother, I grieve over losing the one person that truly loved me. I buried my feelings so my father wouldn’t see how weak I was, his star-child, his fire bending prodigy.” The melodious hymn of the Guru’s voice resonates through Azula’s mind, “Your loss is reborn in the form of new love. Let the pain flow away.” Azula’s breath is easy and begins to slow, her heart rate settles to a normal rate. Azula takes a long deep breath in, then exhales her grief.

“Fifth is the Sound Chakra. Located in the throat. It deals with truth, and is blocked by lies, the ones we tell ourselves. What lies do you tell yourself?”

Azula swallows her pride and utters, “I lie about my mother’s hatred toward me. I think of myself as a monster. I couldn’t accept the fact that someone who loved me would leave, so I told myself: ‘Mom hates me, she must think I’m a monster under Dad’s thumb. She was banished because she was plotting to kill me.’” Guru Pathik’s words were sweet like honey, “You cannot lie about your nature, you must accept who you are. You are Azula.” Azula tears up, then swallows her hatred and takes a deep breath, then exhales her lies. 

“Sixth is the Light Chakra. Located in the center of the forehead. It deals with insight and is blocked by illusion. The greatest illusion of this world is the illusion of separation. Things you think are separate and different are actually one and the same.” Azula picks up the thought, “Like my brother Zuko and I. We both have internal struggle, unsure of where our loyalty and ambitions truly are. Pushed by expectations and royal status, both facing the wrath of our manipulative and harsh father, Fire Lord Ozai. Even my mother suffered under his grasp. We all struggled; we are not so different from each other.” Clear words echo from Guru Pathik, “We are all connected. Everything is connected. Division is meaningless” Azula wipes the sweat from her brow and does away with her corrupted thoughts, she exhales the thick veil of illusions.

“Last is the Thought Chakra. Located at the crown of the head. It deals with pure cosmic energy and is blocked by earthly attachment. What attaches you to this world?” Azula leans inward toward the pool of water in front of her, staring at her reflection. A drop of sweat falls from her chin and into the water. She sees her life play out in front of her, memories of what she holds closest to her, “My royal status. My best-friends, Mai and Ty Lee. My fire bending. My family. My Power.” Guru Pathik takes a deep breath in and out, “Now, let all of those attachments go.” Azula’s eyes shoot open, shocked to hear the words, Guru Pathik continues, “Learn to let go.” Azula clenches her eyes shut to hold back tears and yet, one escapes her grasp. The tear travels down her cheek and falls from her chin and into the pool of water. Her past fades from the pool and returns her reflection: a gold-eyed, messy hair girl, with tattered clothes, and pain painting her face. Azula reseats herself and takes a few deep breaths, then places her hand over her heart for one long exhale. She takes a long and steady deep breath in then out and opens her eyes. Calm. Steady. Balanced.

Azula looks around her, unnerved to find she is back on the isolated island, her boat still beached ashore, the scorched statue of her mother staring at her. Azula walks up to the statue, takes in a deep breath and speaks from the heart, “I’m sorry for my past mistakes. For attempting to kill you when you were with your new family and kidnapping your new daughter. I wish to make amends with you, with everyone. In person.” Azula pushes the boat out onto the water and jumps in, she hops toward the back of the boat and uses her fire bending to propel the boat, heading for the fire nation royal city.

 

Chapter 5

Azula arrives at the entrance of the Fire Nation’s Royal Palace, her old home. Kiyoshi Warriors stand at the gate and bring Azula to a halt. “Stop! Unless you have an appointment to see Fire Lord Zuko, I can’t let you in.” Azula lifts her head to reveal her face and says, “I didn’t think I needed an appointment to see my own brother. Or do you still harbor hatred towards me, Ty Lee?” Dressed in her Kiyoshi Warrior garb, Ty Lee gets in a fighting stance, ready for Azula. “Azula! Bold of you to walk up to the most heavily guarded place in the Fire Nation. I’m not scared of you anymore. I can take you.” Azula holds her hands up, wielding nothing but a warm smile, happy to see an old friend. “Relax Ty Lee, I’m not here to fight anyone. No tricks. I’ve changed, honest.” Ty Lee tightens her stance and looks over to her fellow guard, another Kiyoshi Warrior, metal fan in hand and ready. Ty Lee redirects her attention to Azula, “Pfft-changed-you!? This is some trick, you’re trying to manipulate me, like you always have! The moment I lower my guard you’re going to shoot lightning at me.” Azula’s expression changes to remorse, she looks Ty Lee in the eyes and pleads, “I’m sorry, I truly am. I know I’ve done bad things in the past, but that’s why I’m here, to make amends with the people I hurt, and to rebuild connections with the people I love. Please forgive me.” Ty Lee slowly lowered her hands then opened her arms to hug her friend. “You have changed! I could see it in your eyes when you said that! You no longer have that cold look of dread and despair hiding behind your eyes. Your aura is much pinker now.”

Ty Lee steps back and keeps her arms on Azula’s shoulders, “You must want to see your brother, oh, and your mother is back too! Aren’t you excited!?” Azula awkwardly states, “I’ve known she was back. I helped Zuko find her. I also kidnapped her daughter Kiyi, back when I was with the Kemurikage. T-to be honest I’m a little nervous to talk to her after that.” Ty Lee covers her mouth, “Oh, that’s right. I almost forgot you did that. With your new aura you felt like a different person for a moment, you know, not evil and all.” Azula snickers, “I’m still Azula, just not as evil. Or crazy.” The other Kiyoshi Warrior sheaths her fan and takes a step forward, “You two head inside, I will stay here.”

 

Chapter 6

Inside the palace, servants dressed in clean, red, and yellow silks, briskly pace between two rooms, carrying plates of various meats, vegetables, fruit, and even small desserts. Perplexed, Azula asks Ty Lee, “What’s going on?” Ty Lee points to the banner above the dining hall entrance, “It’s Kiyi’s birthday! This is her first birthday in the palace and Zuko wanted to throw a big celebration for her.” 

Ty Lee escorts Azula into the dining room where multiple people are decorating the room for the party. Aang is up high in the rafters hanging streamers, Katara is bending ice in the likeness of a turtle duck, Sokka and Suki are organizing the presents, Iroh and Mai are delegating the food and seating arrangements, Zuko is discussing the upcoming show with a circus performer, and Toph is lounging in a dining chair, feet propped up on the table.

Ty Lee calls out to everyone in the room, “Hey everyone! Look who I brought!” The whole room turns toward Ty Lee and their gaze veers to Azula. Everyone pauses in shock; the room falls silent. In a flash the room is ready for a fight, Aang springs to the floor and readies his staff, Katara bends the head off the sculpture into water, Iroh motions for the servants to stay out of the dining room, Mai readies her knives, Sokka and Suki grab cutlery off the table and ready them like weapons, Zuko pushes the performer behind him and gets into his lightning-redirection stance. Blind Toph, feet still propped up and oblivious to the elephant in the room, “So, who is it?”

Ty Lee jumps in front of Azula and spreads out her arms, keeping Azula behind her and yells, “Stop! She isn’t going to hurt anyone. Azula has changed, her aura is all pink now!” Everyone looks at each other, not sure how to proceed. Aang is the first to lower his guard, he steps forward toward Ty Lee and Azula. “How do we know this isn’t a trick? You’ve hurt all of us in the past.” Azula takes a deep breath and puts her hand on Ty Lee’s arm, motioning her to lower her guard. Azula shares her journey into the spirit world with everyone. By the middle of the story everyone dropped their weapons and jaws alike. Azula finishes her story with, “...I am here now to make amends with everyone. To apologize for my past actions. To reunite with my family.” Azula bows her head and tears start to run down her cheeks. Aang places his hand on Azula’s shoulder, “Guru Pathik is a wise man, I’m glad you were able to receive his guidance. I believe everyone deserves a second chance. You certainly do.” Sokka walks over to Aang and Azula, “If I never met Aang that story would have sounded like a load of bison dung, but if Aang trusts you then so do I.” Iroh and Zuko look at Azula then back at each other and shake their heads in agreement, together they announce, “Welcome home.” Iroh rushes over to Azula to give her a polar-bear hug.

 

Chapter 7

“Ty Lee told me Mom was here. Can I see her?” asked Azula. Zuko beckons his returned sister to follow, “Come on, she’s helping Kiyi get dressed for her birthday dinner.” The two approach Kiyi’s room, but Kiyi is already outside her room running toward Zuko, “Zuzu!” Zuko picks up Kiyi and gives her a hug, “Hey birthday girl. Meet your big sister Azula.” Kiyi looks up and down at Azula who is awkwardly staring at the floor trying not to make eye-contact. Kiyi asks, “Have we met before?” Azula motions her chin upward to look at Kiyi and swallows her spit to speak, “I may have kidnapped you a while ago. Sorry about that.” Kiyi tilts her head to remember, “Oh, you were that lady in the black robe and mask. It’s okay, I got to meet my new friend Tom-Tom that day.” Zuko and Azula share an awkward laugh about it. Still a little awkward, Azula asks Kiyi, “Do you know where mom is?” Kiyi points to the door at the end of the hall, “Yeah, she’s still in my room.”

Zuko grabs the door handle. “Wait! Let me do it.” proclaimed Azula, heart pounding in her chest and sweat trickling down her neck. She takes a few deep breaths then opens the door. Moonlight filled the room, Azula spots her mother dawning her cloak, the day she left. “Mom?” Recognizing the voice, Azula’s mother, Ursa, turns around, eyes and mouth wide open. Ursa finds her 6-year-old daughter standing in the doorway, wiping the sleep from her eyes, the day Azula lost her mother. “Azula?” The two stare at each other for a moment, neither knowing what to say to the other, still in shock at each other’s presence. The sun poured from the windows, unveiling the present to each other. Azula in tattered clothes and messy hair, tears filling her eyes. Ursa in a fancy-silk party dress, tears bead from her eyes and fall to her hands that cover her mouth. “M-mom I-I..” before Azula can finish her sentence, Ursa pulls her into her arms and holds Azula tight and whispers in her ear, “You don't need to say anything. I have always loved you, Azula.” Azula holds her mom tighter, clenches her mother’s dress and begins to cry softly. “Mom, please don’t leave me again.” Ursa strokes her daughter’s hair and continues, “I’m not going anywhere. I’m here now. I’m home, and so are you.” 

 

Epilogue

Dusk comes and Kiyi’s birthday party comes to an end. Everyone is outside drinking tea, sharing stories with one another, and watching the sky turn various shades of yellow, orange, purple, and blue. Azula sits next to Zuko and has a personal conversation with him. 

 

“Zuko, I have a favor to ask of you.”

“What’s that?”

“I want a rematch.”

“A w-what?”

“A rematch, an Agni-Kai. Our last one was tilted in your favor after all.”

“I thought you were good, I thought you were done fighting me?”

“I am good, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a bit of competition between us. Plus, I feel better than I ever have, I want to test what I can do.” 

“I guess it couldn’t hurt to stretch, I have been unable to practice since becoming fire lord.” 

“Alright that settles it, Agni-Kai, right now! We’ll give everyone a show.”

 

Toph bends the earth and creates high seated bleachers for everyone to sit in. The gang watches from afar at the edge of their seats, Iroh stands in front of them as the announcer. Zuko and Azula are at the opposite courtyard, facing away from each other, down on one knee with a fire nation banner draped over their shoulders. Iroh sounds the gong initiating the start of the fight.

            In perfect sync, Zuko and Azula stand and turn their bodies toward each other, both in their fighting stance. The fire nation banners slowly slip from their shoulders and wisp to the ground. A flurry of small blue fire balls zooms to Zuko’s side of the ring, Zuko quickly waves his arms in a circular motion creating a great wall of orange fire in front of him. The blue fireballs disperse upon impact and streaks of blue spread out from Zuko’s wall of fire.

            With Zuko’s sight being blocked, Azula uses her fire to propel herself to Zuko’s left, his bad eye. Right when Azula is past Zuko’s wall and has him in sight, she readies lightning and fires it at his feet, knocking Zuko backwards and to the ground. He quickly rolls back onto his feet and strikes at the still moving Azula, fire bursts from Zuko’s fists in rotation, right-left-right-left, all shots hitting the wall behind Azula.

            Azula halts her fire propulsion, positioning herself in Zuko’s starting spot. The two take one step forward and they shoot gigantic streams of flames at each other, colliding, creating a big wall of fire. Mixing blue and orange that disperses in the center of the two. When the flames weaken Azula rushes to the center and does a front flip propelling herself up high with fire from her right leg and crashes down with her heel, Zuko dives to his right and quickly recovers to throw his elbow at Azula and hurls an arc of orange flames at her, looking like a giant flaming boomerang. Azula drops to her stomach and rolls on the ground under the flames. 

Once the flames pass over, Azula gets half up, and into a pouncing cheetah-lion stance. She does a backflip sending a roaring stream of blue at Zuko, he crouches low and pushes the fire up and over his body. Zuko responds with a shoulder bash, fire emits with a silhouette of his hunched over body, screaming toward Azula. She replies with a roundhouse and disperses the fire.

Zuko does not let up; he takes a deep breath and points his mouth and hands toward the ground. Then an enormous wave of orange flames jets from his mouth and hands, sending a tidal wave of flames low and fast at Azula’s legs. Azula quickly launches herself upwards with her fire and makes for the center of the ring, avoiding Zuko’s attack.

Both panting after the chain of attacks. Azula takes a deep breath to regain her composure and stands up to a calm and steady stature. “Well, this has been a nice little warm-up, but this is where I win.” Azula closes her eyes and takes a chain of long and deep breaths. Zuko shouts his reply, “Your tricks aren’t going to work on me, Azula! I’ve changed, I’m no longer that scared kid trying to catch up to his sister, the so called, Fire bending prodigy.” Zuko takes a deep breath and reaches the bottom of his stomach then roars like a dragon. A stream of various colors flow from Zuko: orange, yellow, red, white, green, blue, purple. Azula’s eyes dart open, she throws her arms and legs far apart, Azula screeches a deep shade of blue, it collides with Zuko’s fire. Azula’s flames steadily turn to a brighter shade of blue, her hair ornament snaps off in the wind and is sent flying out of the ring. Her hair, now loose, whips in the wind. Then two bright blue wings of fire span from Azula’s back and stretch outward. Azula’s screech turns to a ferocious roar, she slowly motions her arms closer to each other and booms a loud clap, the wings start to close in on Zuko. Zuko sees the wings of fire in the corner of his eyes, but it is too late for him to dodge. Azula’s wings clap together and crush Zuko in between, stopping Zuko’s roar and knocking him unconscious. Seeing her brother fall, Azula inhales and disperses her fire.

The gang rushes from the stands to Zuko’s aid. Katara bends water from her pouch to heal Zuko until he comes to. Sokka stomps over to Azula, “You almost killed him!” Azula puts her hand on Sokka, keeping him at distance, “Calm down, I didn’t intend to kill my brother, just knock him out.” Zuko coughs, then stands himself up, arms wrapped around Katara and Aang. “You win, Azula. You’re the better fire bender.” Azula steps over to Zuko, looks him in the eye and states, “Yes, I know. I wanted a chance to prove it to you. You certainly have improved, even with your fire lord duties taking up your time. But I cannot have the fire lord, my brother, softening up and becoming weak. That’s why I’m going to become your teacher.” Zuko’s eyes grow wide, “W-what?” Azula looks perplexed and speaks. “Do you not want me as your teacher? Or do you prefer Uncle?” Zuko lets go of Katara and Aang, “No, training with you is fine. I’m just surprised, is all. Dad stopped letting me train with you when mom left, he said I was holding you back. It’s a strange yet familiar feeling. Thanks, I look forward to it.” Ursa steps behind Azula, “Go on, hug your brother and say thank you.” Azula reels back at the notion, but she steps forward and points her face away, she opens her arms and wraps them around her brother for a quick second then steps away. Zuko’s face turns red and says, “You haven’t hugged me since we were toddlers.” Azula folds her arms together, “Yeah, well, don’t get used to it. I did it because mom asked.” Ursa giggles, “It’s nice to see you two like this. Brother and sister getting along.”