AN: Sorry for the lack of updates. I started this story because I was bored in classes this semester, but suddenly the professors are expecting me to do tons of projects. Anyway, this story is not dead, I'm just busy with school. Enjoy!

Chapter 5

Two days felt like an eternity. I sat through an entire session on dealing properly with anger, but I couldn't bring myself to actually listen. I don't like being lectured at.

But here I sit, with some vague points about controlling anger still buzzing in my head, waiting for the inevitable; the visit from my father. Ironically, my anger is growing.

How could he send me away? How could he betray me like that? Like Zuko. I plan to confront him. After six years, I deserve some answers.

There is a knock on the door. A voice behind it says, "A visitor."

The door swings open. Light pierces my eyes, creating a sharp silhouette of a tall, broad shouldered man; the Firelord. Squinting, my gaze falls upon the royal headpiece, long hair, and long robes of the most noble of leaders. Customarily, I would have bowed.

"I am humbled by your presence, most noble Firelord." I settle for a formal greeting. Everyone loves a formal greeting.

"Greetings, Azula."

Those two words. I should have known. The Firelord, huh? Firelord my ass.

"Get out, Zuko! How dare you stand where he stood! How dare you take his place!" As I spit the words from my mouth, my anger consumes me. I burst free of the jacket that had held me still for so long. "The throne is not yours to take! You traitor!" Fire crackles from my fingertips and spins towards my brother's face. It hits his right eye, giving him an identical scar. I grin. Victory.

"Azula?"

I shake my head and force my gaze upwards once again. The man before me gazes down on me with cold eyes.

"What is wrong with you?"

His words touch a nerve. He is mocking, pitying. But I am not beneath him.

"Zuzu," I say, trying to regain my patronizing tone that had worked so well in years past. I know it sounds pathetic. "The Prodigal prince come to visit me in my madness. How... thoughtful."

"I'm not a Prince anymore," he spits, defensively. "You know that, Azula. You knew that as soon as I walked in, you just don't want to admit it."

He's right of course, but it still hurts.

"Fine. Firelord, huh? Then you're the one responsible for this?" I nod my head to my surroundings. I'm trying to guilt trip him, but I'm doing a poor job. My 14 year old self would be ashamed.

He nods tersely, but I can see his lips growing thin and his scowl getting more scowly than usual. I've touched a nerve.

"Six years, Zuko. Six years of solid isolation?! All so that I wouldn't interrupt you as you took the throne? You're sicker than I gave you credit for." There is a bit of pride in my voice. My brother isn't as soft as I thought.

"It had nothing to do with that!" Zuko says. "You had a breakdown, Azula. A mental breakdown. You needed help."

"Help?!" The idea that this life his helpful at all is morbidly hilarious, and I can't help but burst into laughter.

"I knew it," Zuko said, looking at me disgustedly. "You're mad. You've always been mad."

I am not. I start to defend myself, but I stop, chuckling. He's probably right about that too. People always seem to be right when they say things like this. I regain my composure-or what little of it I have left.

"You're going to have to fill in a few details, Zuzu," I say. "I've been a bit... separated from the outside world."

"A few details on what?" Poor Zuzu. He never really was the first to catch on.

"Regale me with the story of your coronation, big brother," I try to keep my tone even as I look at his face... his undeserving, patronizing face.

He pauses, saddened almost. "You don't want to hear it." I don't have to ask why. His tone gives it all away.

"You think me to be fragile?" I laugh. "Zuko, dear, do you even know who you're talking to?"

"The girl who has been locked in an institution for years? The girl who abandoned all sane thought after her two friends stuck up for me? The girl who mutilated her body? The sadistic torturer? Murderer? I know who I'm talking to." He pauses after his rant, regains control and continues.

"But you can't live forever in the dark."

Damn right. I deserve the facts.

"You know full well that Katara and I left you at the palace on the day of Sozin's comet," he begins cautiously, as if trying to soften the blow of the story of my demise. But I've had six solid years to think about that day, and I'm over it. All I want now is what's rightfully mine, but that can't happen if Zuzu here doesn't fill in some details.

"Katara revived me and we went to find Sokka, who was fighting with the rest of the troops. By the time we got there, the war was history. The Firenation fleet had been destroyed by a handful of vigilantes from the Water Tribes and Earth Kingdom. While they had been fighting the fleet, Aang was fighting our father."

"The Avatar," I correct him. Hearing my brother on a first name basis with the enemy we had sought for so long gave me a terrible feeling. "The Avatar was fighting father."

Zuko, of course, ignores me. "The battle was terrible. That land is still scorched, six years later. But Aang prevailed. Even with the power from Sozin's comet, father could not best him."

"Is father dead?" I ask the obvious. Of course he was. Why else would Zuko be Firelord?

"No."

What? That would mean... Zuko usurped the throne? I'm becoming more impressed with my brother's gall, but less impressed with his loyalty. How dare he steal the throne while father is still a capable leader!

"But he's not really alive either," Zuko amends his earlier statement. "The Avatar-Aang- he has acquired bending powers beyond even your wildest dreams. He did something... I don't know, I didn't see it happen... but he took our father's bending away."

Impossible. "What do you mean? The Avatar chi-blocked father? That's not permanent- Tylee has chi-blocked me before-"

"Not chi-blocking. That goes away. No. The Avatar removed his ability to bend."

I can't explain it. I've never felt fear like this before. My blood runs cold, and the color drains from my face. I'm frozen. Petrified. If what Zuko says is true, then I'm in grave danger. I'm a sitting target; trapped in a cell. The Avatar knows I'm a threat to him, and to Zuko's throne. One word from Zuko, and the Avatar could waltz right in here and take my bending. My power. My life.

It's as if Zuko knows my realization. His eyes gleam with a sick victory and a smile grazes his lips as he sees the fear written on my face. He reminds me of myself a bit.

"Take care, Azula," he says, as he turns away from me. Without another word, he leaves the cell. I want to scream after him, but I'm too shocked to form words. I begin to shiver, although the temperature in the room has not changed.

Clearly, I've picked the wrong side to be on.