Post by Yug on Apr 8, 2013 14:57:11 GMT -5
"You know, now that I'm Fire Lord, I can release you. I don't want my sister to spend her life in prison."
Azara just shook her head, a serene smile on her face.
"No, brother." she said and closed her eyes, leaning her head on his shoulder "After all I've done, I deserve to be here. Finally, after all these years... the guilt is starting to lift. I'm paying for all the misery and pain I've induced. And it feels... good. It feels right."
Zuko also closed his eyes and leaned his head on hers. His eyes were watering, but a smile crept onto his lips, as he gripped her hand tightly in his. The two didn't move a muscle for what seemed like hours, watching the setting sun through the bars of Azara's cell.
---
Aya walked in front of Azara's cell. Azara was sitting on the ground, her head leaning against the wall behind her, her eyes closed. Aya opened the door and walked in. The noise got Azara's attention and her eyes snapped open. The serene smile on her face was gone.
"Aya. You've come to gloat, no doubt. It's alright, you have every right to." Azara said calmly.
"Gloating is boring when you already know you were wrong." Aya replied, smirking.
"So to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" Azara asked quickly, her patience obviously growing shorter.
"Zuko tells me you don't want to be let out of prison." Aya said, waiting confirmation.
"That's right. I've done terrible things and I deserve punishment." Azara replied in a matter-of-fact way.
"Then you're an even bigger fool than when you were fighting us." Aya said, her eyes narrowing. Azara didn't look angry or insulted, but more bemused than anything. "You think sitting here all day - day after day - will absolve you? You're one of the most powerful benders I've ever met. You're a brilliant strategist. And you're the biggest symbol of the past regime next to Ozai."
Azara was taken aback by all this. Was this really Aya? Complimenting her?
"The only way you'll ever be close to redemption is if you get out of here and use your skills to help Zuko.
Just seeing you by his side will be enough to convince most of Ozai's supporters that he was wrong. But no, you'd rather just sit around all day, staring at the walls, naively thinking that makes up for all the lives you've taken." Aya said.
Azara couldn't find a flaw in Aya's words. She knew she was right. She had to take responsibility. Full responsibility for her actions. Azara lowered her head and brought her knees up, resting her forehead on them. She started to shake lightly.
"I... I can't." she said weakly.
"Of course you can! You took Ba Sing Se - this should be child's play to you!" Aya berated her.
Azara's head shot up and she looked Aya in the eyes - tears flowing from her own. "I can't! I can't look them in the eyes after all I did!" she shouted.
"Well, boo hoo, princess." Aya said coldly "You poor thing, scared of what they'll think of poor old you. Being on the wrong side and doing what you did have consequences. Grow up, and take control for once in your life. Realize what the right thing to do is - and do it."
Aya turned around and left the cell. She stood there for a few seconds, her back turned to Azara, barely keeping up her cold facade, when Azara spoke up again.
"Aya. Please call my brother. I... I want to talk to him."
Aya smiled and let out a slight gasp as she did, still not turning around, so Azara couldn't see her. She took a second to get back in character and said "Very well.", then turned and left to get Zuko.
Azara just shook her head, a serene smile on her face.
"No, brother." she said and closed her eyes, leaning her head on his shoulder "After all I've done, I deserve to be here. Finally, after all these years... the guilt is starting to lift. I'm paying for all the misery and pain I've induced. And it feels... good. It feels right."
Zuko also closed his eyes and leaned his head on hers. His eyes were watering, but a smile crept onto his lips, as he gripped her hand tightly in his. The two didn't move a muscle for what seemed like hours, watching the setting sun through the bars of Azara's cell.
---
Aya walked in front of Azara's cell. Azara was sitting on the ground, her head leaning against the wall behind her, her eyes closed. Aya opened the door and walked in. The noise got Azara's attention and her eyes snapped open. The serene smile on her face was gone.
"Aya. You've come to gloat, no doubt. It's alright, you have every right to." Azara said calmly.
"Gloating is boring when you already know you were wrong." Aya replied, smirking.
"So to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" Azara asked quickly, her patience obviously growing shorter.
"Zuko tells me you don't want to be let out of prison." Aya said, waiting confirmation.
"That's right. I've done terrible things and I deserve punishment." Azara replied in a matter-of-fact way.
"Then you're an even bigger fool than when you were fighting us." Aya said, her eyes narrowing. Azara didn't look angry or insulted, but more bemused than anything. "You think sitting here all day - day after day - will absolve you? You're one of the most powerful benders I've ever met. You're a brilliant strategist. And you're the biggest symbol of the past regime next to Ozai."
Azara was taken aback by all this. Was this really Aya? Complimenting her?
"The only way you'll ever be close to redemption is if you get out of here and use your skills to help Zuko.
Just seeing you by his side will be enough to convince most of Ozai's supporters that he was wrong. But no, you'd rather just sit around all day, staring at the walls, naively thinking that makes up for all the lives you've taken." Aya said.
Azara couldn't find a flaw in Aya's words. She knew she was right. She had to take responsibility. Full responsibility for her actions. Azara lowered her head and brought her knees up, resting her forehead on them. She started to shake lightly.
"I... I can't." she said weakly.
"Of course you can! You took Ba Sing Se - this should be child's play to you!" Aya berated her.
Azara's head shot up and she looked Aya in the eyes - tears flowing from her own. "I can't! I can't look them in the eyes after all I did!" she shouted.
"Well, boo hoo, princess." Aya said coldly "You poor thing, scared of what they'll think of poor old you. Being on the wrong side and doing what you did have consequences. Grow up, and take control for once in your life. Realize what the right thing to do is - and do it."
Aya turned around and left the cell. She stood there for a few seconds, her back turned to Azara, barely keeping up her cold facade, when Azara spoke up again.
"Aya. Please call my brother. I... I want to talk to him."
Aya smiled and let out a slight gasp as she did, still not turning around, so Azara couldn't see her. She took a second to get back in character and said "Very well.", then turned and left to get Zuko.