Mother coddles Zuzu after his embarrassment. Should've brought your swords, brother. Father never would take us to the Fire Lord in his throne room without showing us off. Well, showing me off. You just fell on your butt.

"Ursa, Zuko and Azula, you are dismissed." The old man's voice still carries some power. He used to be the greatest firebender in the nation before old age took its hold. Azula does her proper bow and leaves Father behind. Too bad I'm not a few years older, then I could challenge you to an Agni Kai, maybe even kill you. I always thought you were stronger than this, but you're just an old, frail man. A man who never bothering seeing me, ever. The wall of flames surrounding his throne aren't a display of power when one never has the courage to step outside of them.

Zuzu falls behind Mother, still sulking after his embarrassment. Mother wouldn't be able to hear anything she whispers to him. Changing her plans around slightly, she adds another member to her infiltration party.

Azula takes his hand. "Zuzu, follow me," she whispers. She drags him around a corner to a curtain. From what she saw during her time in the throne room, her first time ever, she decided that this would be the best spot for hearing what was meant to be a private conversation. Information is power.

Zuzu protests a little, but he quiets down when they poke their heads between the rich, lavender draperies. Father planned something, something huge. Lu Ten died as I predicted and Iroh gave up after breaching the outer wall and experiencing urban guerilla warfare as I predicted. Now, their Crown Prince is technically a deserter and without an heir. How come I'm the only one who seems to know exactly what's going on? Besides Father of course.

"You would not put on that performance without purpose. Ozai, what do you want?" Well, he's to the point at least.

In his most official sounding tone, Father says, "Lu Ten has fallen nobly in battle, and my brother has no more heirs nor a wife to sire more. With my brother's retreat and desertion following the death of my nephew, no one knows if or when he shall return. However, I am here, Father, and my children are alive. Let your humble servant ensure your bloodline will continue on the throne." He bows before the old man.

In one day, will Father pass both Lu Ten and Uncle for his place on the throne?

"Fool!" Father miscalculated. The flames around the throne rise to the ceiling from the old man's fury. She holds Zuzu's hand. If not, he'd flee in fear.
"You dare wish to punish Iroh further? He lost his son! My son has suffered enough, but your suffering has just begun for your arrogance."

Zuzu breaks free of her grasp and flees. If it wasn't for the fiery inferno blazing around the Fire Lord, they would've heard him. Next time, only allow Mai and Ty Lee for infiltration operations. They'd keep their heads on straight.

"Father, I only wish what is best for the Fire Nation."

"No, you wish only for power and do not understand the feeling of loss. Only you have not experienced the battlefield. Only you still have your family in the land of the living. In your arrogance and pride, you could not see the pains of others. Now, you will know the heartache of sacrifice. Iroh lost his son. You will lose yours, by your own hand."

If you knew anything about your son, Fire Lord, you'd know he has no love for the boy. Still, I did not expect you to ask something so impossible for any Fire Nation prince to accept.

"I accept your punishment." What! "It will be done tonight."
"Go."

Father leaves. Azula stands motionless, trying to process a scenario that she never imagined.

Zuzu is going to die? Of course, he'd make a horrible general and a worse Lire Lord, but…

You father Can't Be Defied

Father is going to kill Zuzu. I'd rather not have him killed. He is loyal, but I can't defy the will of Father and the Fire Lord. I must accept these things, but…

She sighs. Zuzu is still her brother. Anyone, even the barbarians, deserve to have a fighting chance. Knowing Father, he'd slit her brother throat under the cover of darkness. It'd be effective but almost too effective. Zuzu will die no matter what happens, though he deserves to have a fighting chance.

She sneaks away to the one place Zuzu would go at a time like this. Azula would flee for the docks to secure passage to the barbarian lands or hide among her friends. Zuzu would… be Zuzu.

The princess enters his bedroom as he sits in bed, covers up to his chin. Beds are flammable, dum-dum.

He looks scared. He should be due to his imminent and approaching death, but her brother doesn't know that yet since he ran away like a coward. He's being a scared little boy.

I should be direct. She sits on the side of his bed and stares at him. "Father's going to kill you."

"What?" He backs away from her. Oh, right. I'm Father's beloved child just as he's Mother's. I ALWAYS lie. Ug.

"He'll sacrifice you. The Fire Lord wants him to experience the supposed pain of losing his son, so he'll get rid of you. It's not as if he cares anyway."

He shakes his head. "Dad would never do that." Denial? At a time like this? Why can't you understand that our father wants you dead?

"Father doesn't love you. He doesn't like you. Maybe some Earth peasants would." Zuzu's really good at being a lovable idiot. Maybe some peasants would take pity on some lost Fire Nation noble. Then again, Zuzu would somehow tell them he's a prince and get killed. Plus, I want him dead, not alive. I don't like Zuzu, not at all.

"Run away?"

She shrugs. "Mopping the decks often gets free passage on merchant ships." I'm doing this just to be mean. Not to help him.

His eyes move to the doorway. She sees the recognition on his face. I thought Father said he'd do it tonight. Salvage the situation, Azula. Maybe I could act like I was trying to kill him?

"Azula." Fate must be on Father's side. "What are you doing here?"

I'm warning your son, Mother. "Talking."

"Come with me." The tone and the tight grip on her arm don't allow for protests.

As she drags Azula out of the room, she hears Zuzu muttering, "Azula always lies."

That HURT. She doesn't struggle at all as she's practically dragged through the halls. I'm the only person in the bloody world that's trying to help Zuzu, but you've entrenched your ideas so far into his head, Mother, that he refuses to believe me. You aren't good for him. You aren't good for anybody. Father's going to kill him, but you're the one who made him weak enough to kill. I wish you were gone. I wish you were dead.

Her eyes light up. Dead. Gone. She sees a new opportunity. It'd kill two birds… four birds with one stone. Father would be so proud if she could ever tell him. Too bad she can't and won't.

They stop in Mother's chambers. She stopped sleeping with father two years ago. Also, ew.

"What were you doing, Azula?" And she thinks I'm the baddy here. I'm just a monster. Father and the Fire Lord are amoral. I have principles at least.

"You once said you'd do anything if barbarians wanted to kill Zuzu."

Her eyes narrow. For once, Mother looks dangerous. Maybe I inherited a few things from her, besides beauty, after all. "Tell me the truth." Her grip on the girl's shoulder becomes painful. Maybe, it'll leave a bruise.

"Father's going to kill Zuzu tonight because the Fire Lord asked him to."

She doesn't believe me. "Tell me one reason why I should believe you."

"Four. Zuzu won't die. The Fire Lord will die. Father will get the throne, and you will be gone forever."

Her shoulders slouch. I don't always lie. I'm occasionally nice. More importantly, sometimes the truth hurts more than the lie.

"You have a plan, don't you?"

"Yeah." Azula smirks.

Later that night, the palace erupts into chaos. Azula stands watch in the shadows outside Zuzu's door. He sleeps, blissfully unaware of the subterfuge and murder that just occurred. No matter what happens, she will not let anyone into his room tonight. Well, except that one. A figure gracefully approaches his bedroom. Unaware of the hidden prodigy, Mother rushes into his room. She shakes him gently.

"Wha? Mother?" He rubs his eyes. None of the guards are aware of the woman in his room. Father happened to ensure no one was around his son's bedroom tonight. Too late, Father. We spilt blood before you could.

"Zuko, please, my love, listen to me. Everything I've done, I've done to protect you." She wraps his in a tight embrace. She loves you, brother. Now, she'll never see you again. "Remember this, Zuko. No matter how things may seem to change, never forget who you are."

Before he could say anything in reply, she leaves. To where, Azula doesn't know. All she knows is Mother will never return. She'll always live with blood on her hands instead of her son.

Azula smiles, a real one.

I got rid of you forever, Mother.