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Can Fire melt? Ask the Earth	By : SSjJaden Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > Het - Male/Female > Toph/Zuko Views: 13993 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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Hello people. I know I messed up my last chapter, and I’m really ashamed. Sorry! I edited the chapter and I think I corrected most of the grammatical mistakes. I just don’t know what happened with me, I messed up terribly. To answer TheSarcasmicOne, I know that Ozai is the Fire Lord. Sozin/Sozun is the name of the capital city, or so I think. I can say that this chapter is and will be the hardest to write. Massive character development ahead. Oh, and one very important thing: here, there is no lightning in Firebending. The most powerful technique is the Blue Fire. As of yet... :-[)

Azula walked into the baths. These royal quarters were designed by the greatest of Fire Nation architects, and were Azula’s favourite places in the whole Palace. She dropped the towel, which covered her body, than she sat into the hot, steaming water. Her long, brown hair was floating on the surface of the bath she was in. She was deeply in thought.

When Azula invited Zuko to Djun’s party, she wanted to play a joke on him. At the party, her plans were still forming, when she and Djun went out on his terrace. She knew Zuko was under them, so she purposely said her honest opinion about him. She wanted him to hear. Azula thought he would run to her, and attack or beat up everyone around him. It would have happened, she was sure, but those drunk bastards had to ruin everything!

Zuko performed serious bending there. It wasn’t about what he did. Every talentless Firebender could blow up a room. He didn’t even use the Blue Flame, only the original one. Still, it was about the means. HOW he did it. That power…

Azula was truly concerned. There were few things that she didn’t understand, and even less what skipped her eyes, but Zuko… her brother became a mystery to her. She had to solve it, she had to understand it.

„Damn you Zuko!” she hit the water, sending splashes everywhere. „When did you become this powerful?”

She was interrupted however when the door to the chambers opened, and the one she was thinking about walked in calmly.

„Zuko!” Azula snapped. She was in a very bad mood. „What are you doing here? Don’t disturb my personal space! I wish to be alone right now.” He looked at her, clearly surprised by her presence. He didn’t waver however, and didn’t lose his cool.

„I’m sorry Sister, but I finished a very tiring training session, and I stink and I’m dirty.” He dropped his towel, not feeling disturbed by the fact that he was naked in front of Azula on the outside. On the inside, on the other hand, he was shivering. He was training, but he wasn’t that tired, and he just choose this situation to make his first move.

Zuko sat into the water, really close to Azula. She eyed him strangely.

„Brother, you don’t understand what you did. I killed men for less than this. Disobeying me is a death-sentence for most.” She snapped, but he waved her off, single handedly.

„Yeah, yeah I know… I don’t think you’ll kill your only Brother now, would you?”

„You’re lucky to be my sibling.”

„Oh, it’s not luck, it’s our Father’s restlessness in bed.” Zuko turned to Azula, eyening her. He attempted to break the ice to start a some sort of normal conversation with his sister. He waited for her response. Azula’s face was a mask of ice. Seconds passed.

Her mouth twitched.

She started laughing.

Zuko was relieved, and laughed a bit himself. She rested her hands on the brim of the large bath.

„You know Zuzu, after this, Father would definately banish you again.” Her head fell backwards, and she descended under the water. She was under it for seconds, then reemerged again. Her hair was now totally wet, clinging to her face and neck. Her skin was shining with the water on it, her golden eyes sparkling in the dim light. Zuko had to admit, even beeing his brother, she looked stunningly beautiful. An idea slowly formed in his mind…

„Sooo, Sister…” he started „Did you hook up with Djun at the party?” Azula snorted.

„That dick is a loser. Never in a million years. He’s not even a good bender. Those stories were all lies.”

„So he’s not that powerful a bender is he now?”

„No. But Ty Lee and Mai look happy.”

„Yeah, they are. Ty mentioned you’re not really satisfied with them beeing together. Is that true?”

„Well, Zuzu, I did say I have some… negative opinion.” Zuko raised a brow.

”Negative opinion? That was too formal, even for you, Sis.” Azula said nothing, just stared at the water and the fire’s reflection on it’s surface. Zuko watched her intesively, and flinched, finally realising something.

„No. No way. Azula, don’t say you’re…”

„Why, is it so surprising?”

”But, beeing jelous?”

„It’s not that simple.” Azula sighed. „While you were away, the three of us… we did plenty of things together. Some parties… some spying. Everything we did was just… satisfying… pleasant. Fun. And I liked it… a lot.” She still stared at the surface of the water. Zuko saw something in her eyes. Behind the mask… a feeling. A very complex chain of emotions. He gave it a try.

„Azula, what’s wrong? Something bothering you?” withous answering, she just stood, and walked out of the bath.

„I’m finished” was all she said, before leaving Zuko all alone.

That night, Azula couldn’t sleep. Zuko was really bothering her. He was so sensitive… so weak. He may have shown unnormal bending, but still his lack of motivation was disturbing to say the least. What was the most difficult to swallow was the fact, that when they were sitting in the baths, she felt… comfortable. Calm. They were talking, like Brother-and-Sister, like real siblings, like normal teenagers. And she loved every second of it.

Azula sat up in her bed, hitting her pillow with her fists.

„Damn it! Damn it all! This went on long enough!” She knew what she had to do. She had to get rid of this affection. She wanted to get rid of this comfort. She wanted to get rid of Zuko.

*

Three days later, the whole nobility of Sozin gathered to the palace entrance. They were invited there to witness an event. Princess Azula challenged Prince Zuko to an Agni Kai, and the duel will begin in half an hour. The Princess wanted it to be an occurence which was seen by many. She wanted her Brother’s faliure to be extreme. Some said even the Fire Lord will come.

Azula herself was in her room, meditating. Mai was there too.

„I do think asking you to reconsider will be futile.” She stated. Azula remained silent.

„But I have to do it again and again. Don’t fight Zuko.” Mai stood and grabbed Azula’s shoulder. „He did nothing. We both know he can not defeat you. Then why?”

„None of your concern.” Azula shot out and she jerked her shoulder out of her hand. Mai sighed. She prayed for a fast and not so brutal match for Zuko’s sake, but knowing Azula, she suspected that none of the two will happen.

„Zuko, why accept her challenge? You did nothing! Refusing it would be logical!” Ty Lee tried to reason with him, but she soon found out that the Prince was more stubborn than the Earth itself. But Ty would never give up. It would physically pain her to see Zuko hurt.

„You know she’s stronger! You know you cannot beat her!”

„Never say what you’re not sure of, Ty.” Was all he said before he, again, started to meditate.

Mai and Ty Lee stood at the brim of the makeshift ring. Fortunately, the Fire Lord decided not to attend. Azula and Zuko stood, only a few feet away from each-other. Their golden eyes were flashing with an inner fire. The heat of the air around them was as hot as the center of a volcano.

The first move was made by Azula. She jumped backwards, shot a powerful blue fireball at Zuko, while other flames erupted from her feet, blastingher into mid-air. Zuko moved away from the attack, awaiting the next one. He looked at her, in the air, and studied her movements. Her hands moved in strange patterns, finally forming a triangle. Blue flames shot out of her palms. The fire itself was strange, it was twisting and turning, not moving one way, changing every time.

Zuko tried to protect himself, by moving his hands in a circular way, finally forming a cocoon of orange flames around himself. He barely felt the impact.

Azula was shocked. Her Blue Fire should be more effective, more powerful. It looked as if Zuko could counter one of her most advanced attack with ease. She finally reached the ground again, and the flames around zuko disappeared. They stared each-other again.

Now, Zuko moved. He kicked forward, fire erupting from his raised foot. It stopped in mid air. Azula watched carefully. The flames then started to form something. It had a wing. Than another. A head. A tail.

It was a bird made of fire. Zuko bended the bird to attack, and when it did, Azula hit it with a blue flash. She regretted it instantly. Her move was offensive, so her defense was weak, only for a moment, but that was enough for Zuko to strike out with a harshly formed whip, targeting her legs. It was a success, and the lash made a light cut on Azula’s left boot. The sudden contact with heat made her loose her balance and she fell on her knees.

Zuko attacked again with a neatly bended sword. Azula recognised the blade. He killed the Avatar with the same one. He attacked head on, and made a high strike towards her. She jumped out of the way, which was an interesting feat, considering she was on her knees. Zuko hit the ground. The stones shattered where the blade hit the ground. Azula gaped and other whisperes were heard from the people around them. How could pure fire be so strong to shatter the earth? It was not a unique feat. It was an impossible feat.

Azula landed on her feet. Zuko stood, the blade no longer in his hands. She raised a brow. It was a technique no other Firebender could do. Why did he stopped attacking with it? Either he was not powerful enough to maintain it… or… he was playing with her. This angered her greatly.

„What are you playing at Brother?” she sneered. Azula formed a ball of blue flames on each of her palms.

„Playing at?” Zuko raised a brow. Inside he was smiling. She was angry. Good sign.

„You are not using your full potential! Fight me with everything you got!” She yelled, than hurled the balls with amazing speed. As lighning fast as they were, Zuko just avoided them, barely moving. His exoression was stern. His eyes cold and emotionless. He was scary, even Azula admitted it to herself.

”My full potential?” he asked. An aura of fire erupted around him, hotter than anything Azula have ever felt. The fire was burning wildly. He was bending with his mind, Azula realised, shocked. He didn’t use any movement or stance. The orange flames suddenly turned to a deep shade of blue. Azula and the others around were just staring at him. Zuko closed his eyes, fully immersing with the power he set loose.

When he opened his eyes, Azula stepped backwards. For the first time in her life, she was retreating. Zuko’s irises too became one with the Blue Fire, turning to the same colour as it, radiating the same power.

„My full potential?!” he was shouting now, his anger rising with the flames around him. „An Agni Kai lasts until death or giving up, Azula! What will you choose?” and before she could even blink, Zuko launched himself at her. He threw three balls of fire at her, than he jumped to the right, dooing the same. Azula now had to deflect six attacks. She jumped backwards, then rolled to the left. Although she was as fast as she could, one of the fireballs hit her right shoulder, burning her skin badly. She fell to the ground, gripping her wound painfully.

Azula never, ever felt this intense pain before. She was never punished. She never lost in a battle. She always had the upper hand. She never lost. In this situation, she was clueless. She was shocked. She forced herself to her knees, facing Zuko. The flaming aura around him disappeared already, his eyes returning to the normal gold. The battle was decided.

The mass around the ring started to dispense. All left with their heads shaking in disbelief. Princess Azula, the Shining Sapphire, the Unbeatable General was now kneeled to Zuko, the exiled Prince. Unbelievable.

Ty Lee and Mai were still standing there, near the ring, holding hands tightly. They were really frightened, even Mai’s face showed her emotions. Zuko looked at them. When Ty Lee wanted to step into the ring to help up Azula, Zuko shook her head. Ty understood, and nodded. The girls left, leaving the siblings alone.

The Sun was setting, darkness slowly creeping over the palace. A small breeze crawled over the ring. Azula trembled in the wind, her bare, wounded flesh exposed to the cold. Zuko walked over to her slowly. She flashed her eyes on him.

„Stay away! Don’t come any closer!” she shouted. Zuko was shocked to see streams of tears on her cheeks. Azula, her untouchable, cold and ruthless sister was crying. Not obeying her, he kneeled down. He raised his hand to touch her, but she jerked away from him. Her momentum was too much, howerver, and she fell on her back. Her body couldn’t take any more of the pain, and she finally fainted.

*

When she woke, she found herself in her large bed. Her shoulder was neatly bandaged, and it didn’t hurt at all. Excluding her bondage, she was totally naked. She was bathed and cleaned neatly.

„So you’re awake huh? ’Bout time.”

Azula saw the source of the voice, and frowned.

„Get out of here, Zuko. I don’t want to see you now.”

„We have to talk.”

„Get OUT!”

„No.” Azula almost shouted at him again, but restrained herself. She knew, how stubborn he was.

„Fine then. What is it?”

„I know you intentionally let me hear what you said to Djun at the party.” Azula said nothing and Zuko continued.

„You were right, I was a weakling, and I’m not proud of it. But there is a question I always wanted to ask you, Azula. Have you ever missed me, while I was away?” his question was honest, she knew that. She almost said a „NO” by reflex, but something stopped her. No dishonesty now. Not now. He was strong and powerful. No secrets were needed anymore.

„Yes.” She whispered. He looked at her. He was clearly shocked. He asked the question, but he expected a negative answer. He nodded.

„You know, I remember my last Agni Kai.” He touched his scar, „I remember how you looked at me. With so much joy. You were enjoying yourself.”

„Yes, I was.” She was honest. She never understood why, but she didn’t lie.

„Why?” as simple as the question was, Azula shook under the pressure of the answer. This is a milestone, she realised. Her challenge insulted him deeply. First his Father tried to kill him, then his Sister. If her answer will be of her pride, she’ll lose Zuko forever. If not… the Azula she is, the Azula, the Shining Sapphire, the General Princess of the Fire Nation will be no more. Her mask of ruthlessness will disappear entirely. She’ll become weak. Weak, as Zuko was when he was banished. She wanted to hurt him. She wanted to lie to him. She wanted to kill him.

But then, she felt something else. Something deep inside of her. Something she didn’t feel until Zuko left. He was always her big Brother, who she could always mess with, who she could anger. Her plaything. She thought about him this way for years. Power and strenght mattered only, and Zuko had none. He was good for her only to lighten her mood by kikcing him around. And yes, she enjoyed the suffering he felt under the hands of their Father. Azula always thought his punishment was well earned. The weak always meant to be destroyed.

But when he left, when Zuko was exiled, Azula felt alone. Utterly hopeless. Training always consumed her energies, and when she was in her bed, not sleeping, she often thought of Zuko, her Brother who she always loved to fool with. Her big Brother. Azula learned to seal these feelings, becoming ruthless and cruel, twisted and evil. Still, her feelings for her Brother remained, never beeing able to kill him. Zuko, the only weak point on her perfect armor.

And now, when she looked at Zuko, she saw not a teenager, but a man much older than his age is, seeing and suffering more than he should have. His power has grown into unbelievable heights. Now he was strong, and she was the weak. She bore her gaze into his eyes when she started speaking.

„I wanted to hate you, Zuko. I always wanted to forget you. You were weak, soft and disgusting. The powerful have to destroy the weak, this is the natural order. I wanted you to be destroyed, but I… I had feelings for you. You were… and you still are… my big Brother.” Zuko stared at the window. It was so hard to hear his Sister to speak about feelings. He thought she only felt the joy of battle and the happiness of seeing others suffering. But… affection to a simbling? Unbelievable. Her losing the battle must have been a real shock.

„I hated myself for caring about you, and I hated you, because you made me weak. I watched you’re punishment with happiness, because I though that the time of my weakness is over.”

„But it didn’t end.” Zuko concluded. „You felt something before you challenged me. What happened?”

„When we were in the baths, remember? You came in… joined me… it felt so…right. So comfortable. I hated it. You, again, made me feel weak. Power means all. You made me want… something other than power. And I just couldn’t bare it.”

„Wanting… something other than power?” he asked, dumbfounded. Azula blushed, a feat she didn’t know she possessed.

„Mother never loved me. She though I’m a monster. She always loved you, though. She always stroked you, smiled at you, hugged you…” she trailed off. It happened. It finally happened. She broke down completly. Azula finally gave in. The pain of beeing alone. Pain of never having friends. Of never feeling love… never feeling loved. Who would mourne if she dies? Noone. She has noone. She’s all alone. Her power meaning nothing.

„If I die, sister, I will rest on the pillow of my ideals, but when you will, you would only see the destruction you have wrougth upon this world. Then, when your world will crumble around you’re petty Fire Nation supremacy, your puny victory will mean nothing. Will mean nothing even for you.”

She heard Zuko’s sentence in her mind, and realised that he was right. All along, he was right. Who cares about Ba Sing Se, or her victory now? Noone. Not even her.

She broke.

Azula, Shining Saphire, The Unbeatable General, the Blue Dragon, the cruel, the ruthless, the monster…

She cryed.

She was alone.

Azula raised her hands to sweap the tears away, but it was no use. She was crying so hard, that her body was shaking. Then, she felt warmth, strong hands wrapping around her body. Zuko let her head fall on his shoulder, and he let her cry herself out. Azula, once again was his Sister, no more, no less. She hugged him back, with every strenght she had left, she pulled him closer to herself, not wanting him to go.

„I love you Sis.” Was all he whispered into her ear. Azula cried even harder after this, a neverending river of tears pouring out of her eyes.

When she cried herself into a deep sleep, Zuko didn’t leave her side, he stayed, and stroke her hair softly. Zuko realised than, as he looked at his Sister’s peaceful sleeping face, that she too was a human being. His only sibling. He meant every word he said.

He loved his Sister.

A few days later, a shadowy figure crept out of the Palace. It strode over to a distant house, which was nearly as big as the Palace. When it arrived, the door opened. A girl opened it, and smiled.

„Come in, Zuko.” The Prince entered the building.

„How’s Azula?” the girl asked.

„She’s okay. I think the stress was too great for her injured body. She’s in a coma-like trance. She’s fine, but noone knows when she’ll wake. I think she losing the Agni Kai, and then… well… other discoveries… she was overburdened.”

„But she’ll be all right. And that’s all that matters right now.”

„Thanks Mai. Did you get it?” Zuko asked. Mai pulled a small vial out of her robes. It was filled with yellow liquid. She dropped it to Zuko’s open palm.

„You know, it was hard to find, and was very expensive. I had to use the full authority of my Father to get it.” Zuko bowed to her.

„Thank you Mai. I’m forever grateful.” She just waved him off.

„Yes, yes I know. Just go. It’s late and Ty never sleeps well without me. Night Zuko.”

„Night Mai.” With that, Zuko exited the building, and the girl closed the door.

Zuko went to the nearest Outpost. He sneaked near the sleeping guards like a shadow. He found a mail-hawk, and instantly went for it. The bird jumped on his arm, ready to fly. Zuko pulled out a letter from his cloak, and with the vial, he put it in the hawk’s bag, than whispered it’s destination, than sent it off.

Zuko stared after the bird, until the midnight darkness consumed it completly.

„This is my gift to you.” He whispered, than left with the same speed and stealth as he arrived.

*

Aang just simply couldn’t sleep. He just watched the night sky, starting to count the stars, but always ending up loosing the trail. Sokka was snoring loudly, but Katara and Toph was sleeping soundlessly. The girls were strange these days.

With a sight, Aang threw another branch into the fire to strenghten in a bit. Suddenly, a bird flew down, and landed right in front of him.

„What the…” he whispered, as he crawled to the hawk. It was waiting for him patiently, slightly turning around, showing the bag on it’s back. Aang understood, and undone it’s ties, and found a piece of paper in it and a small vial of strange liquid. When Aang pulled both of them out, the bird just flew away. Aang raised both brows.

„Strange…” he muttered, and he opened the letter. He read it once, twice… and then he jumped up.

„Toph! Sokka! Katara! Wake up! C’mon!” as he yelled, his friends started moving in their sleep.

„Guys! Wake up! We got a letter! Up, up!” Toph was the first to awake.

„What’s up Aang? It’s still night! Let us sleep…”

„No, this can’t wait! Up I say, up!” He had to repeat it several times to make it have the effect he wanted it to.

When he could finally gather a sleepy Katara, Sokka and Toph around the fire, he explained them how he got the letter from the bird.

„C’mon, read it Katara.” Aang gave the letter to the still sleepy Waterbender, but as she saw from who it came from, she jerked awake, and started to read it out loud.

„Avatar.

I’m in Sozin right now. Noone suspects me beeing a spy. Yet. Azula recently challenged me to an Agni Kai (Fire Duel) and I’ve won. I hurt her badly, both physically and mentally. I do think she’ll be fine, but she needs some time. She’s not so evil as I thought she is. Clearly, the three years I’ve been in exile was much more than I thought it is. I barely knew her.
Regardless, I hope you’re in the Fire Nation now. Time is wasting. I’ve learned that my Father wants to execute Uncle Iroh. This I cannot let happen. I ask for you’re help now Avatar. Please. If you agreed to help me, we should meet a week from now, at midnight, ten kilometers from the capital, to the west. There is a small willage called Cindergland. Meet me in the Locust Cavern. It’s a good inn.
The small vial contains the nectar of the Flaming Rose, a rare herb. They say only a dozen Roses exist today, so it’s very unique. I doctor, a good friend of mine said, that a vial of it can cure a certain illness which causes blindness. I do not know the Earthbender’s blindness’ conditions, I just explained the colour and the look of her eyes and he could pinpoint the illness. This is my gift. A token of trust, if you please.

Earthbender, Illa nuromo kori ai.

p.s.: The girl’ll be out for a day if she decides to take the medicine. It’s normal, not to worry. Oh, and it does not affect other senses. I thought you might use Earthbending to see. It won’t change, so no worries.

Zuko.

So, this chapter has come to an end as well. I hope Azula wasn’t too much OoC and I still hope that this medicine-thing to allow Toph to see isn’t too much. I would have liked it to be this way. Regardless, I hope you liked it, and I’m waiting for Reviews! Please tell me your honest opinion, so that I could make this story better with your help!
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Can Fire melt? Ask the Earth