A/N: the idea of Ozai, Ursa, Zuko and Azula going into hiding because Azulon wasn't going to stop with just Zuko's death, does not belong to me. "Rebecca Hb" wrote an amazing story ("Ember, Ash, and Kindling"), which inspired me to attempt to write this, with her permission. Go read it!

2nd A/N: Funny story about mixed up accounts on my profile, link to a longer story by me there too!

Special thanks to the lovely Pink Bead Girl for being such an amazing beta! You rule!

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Azula, still hiding behind the curtains, had never been happier in her entire life. Father got in trouble and was being punished by his father for it. After all the times she'd gotten into trouble, it seemed like the universe was finally rewarding her long-suffering self.

Almost made her wish she could have kids already. That kind of absolute power...

"You dare suggest I betray Iroh, my first born? Directly after the demise of his only beloved son? I think Iroh has suffered enough. But you? Your punishment has scarcely begun!"

Zuko had run off like the little scaredy cat-chicken he was, only to miss the best part! After a few flashy fireblasts had beaten Father to his knees, although she could tell it was more symbolic than actually painful to one such as Father, grandfather Azulon made her day.

"You must know the pain of losing a first-born son, by sacrificing your own! Now get out of my sight, and don't return until the deed is done!"

Father was going to kill Zuko! Oh, could this get any better? She quickly stepped back and ducked down as her father bowed low and left the throne room; it would not do to be seen, and now that there was no conversation to distract anyone it was too risky to look out. How long would Azulon sit there? She wished he'd just hurry up and leave already. It was getting boring and she couldn't wait to rub this in Zuzu's face!

Hopefully he wouldn't stay there as long as he sometimes did. But as the seconds dragged into minutes it seemed it would be one of those days. She should have brought a scroll or something. Grandfather really was a prodigy, he could keep his massive flames up without fuel even in his sleep. Oh please let him not be dozing off like last time! But it was so quiet, maybe a peek would be ok.

Soft footsteps halted her attempt to look out. It didnt sound like the servants... another appointment? Who could come after Father? And so late?

Azula listened intently, realising the only sounds were coming from the wrong direction. What was going on? She wanted to take a peek so badly but it didn't seem like a smart move right now. The silence was suddenly a little scary.

"Fire Lord, how may we serve you?" Muted sounds of padded knees on the smooth floor, then silence. We? There was more than one? Azulon's voice suddenly rang out, clearly but softly, so different from his earlier angry tone.

"Ozai has grown too bold. He will cross the final line and seek my death soon enough. Deal with him and his line before the week's end. He will kill his son shortly, use this if you see fit. Be gone."

Soft sounds of multiple simultaneous deep bows, then footsteps leaving through some secret passage. After a few moments of silence, Azulon sighed as if with the weight of the world and extinguished the Royal Flames. Pitch black enveloped the throne room as he left through his personal secret passage.

Azula didn't so much as breathe.