For a long moment after the escape, silence lingered over the city's highest point. The cage still swayed slightly from its chain, and the unfinished statue of Fire Lord Ozai loomed above them.
Then, at last, Bumi's chuckling voice broke through, his tone almost enlightened, as though he had reached some grand revelation.
"Ah, I know why they escaped," the old king announced.
Both Azula and Mai turned their heads toward him, curiosity flickering in their eyes despite themselves.
Bumi grinned through the small window in the iron coffin. "It's the blue fire," he said cheerfully. "I believe they thought you were that terrifying firebender, Tai Lung."
Azula's eyes narrowed.
But Bumi wasn't finished. He gave her a look full of mock pity, his voice lowering into something almost fatherly. "They must have mistaken you for him. No offense, but you look nothing like a girl, let alone a princess. Anyone could confuse you for a boy. I suggest you take better care of yourself."
For a beat, Azula and Mai both froze, blinking in disbelief at the rudeness of his words. Then Azula's face darkened, her fury barely restrained.
"I will throw you deep into the prison," she hissed, her hand raised with lethal precision. "So deep that the sunlight will never see you again."
At her signal, the chain above groaned and began retracting, lifting Bumi's prison upward then into the shadows of a rocky tower nearby. His laughter echoed until it was swallowed by the dark.
Mai stood silently at her side. After a pause, she finally said, her tone flat as stone, "Don't take his words seriously. He's just a senile old man."
Azula turned her glare upon her companion. "I am not. As if I would accept his words. The only thing that might be true is the blue fire, the Avatar and his companions must have thought I am like Tai Lung due to the blue fire"
Mai inclined her head in calm acknowledgment, her face expressionless, then asked "Why is the Avatar afraid of Tai Lung?".
——————
Far below, in the abandoned slums of Omashu's lower levels, three figures leaned against walls, catching their breath. Aang, Katara, and Sokka huddled in an abandoned building, their chests rising and falling heavily from the escape.
"There's a second monster among the Fire Nation ranks," Aang said at last, his voice shaken. "She has blue fire."
Katara's hands tightened around her water flask, her face pale. "Tai Lung was already a walking disaster. What are we supposed to do now that there are two of them? How did the Fire Nation even raise monsters like them?"
Sokka frowned, scratching the back of his head as though working through a theory. "Maybe that girl is his sister?"
Aang shook his head. "It doesn't matter now. What matters is finding a way to save Bumi while avoiding her."
"That's too dangerous!" Sokka cut in sharply. "If we get caught by her, it'll be the end of us."
Katara nodded firmly, her voice quiet but urgent. "She is too dangerous, Aang. We barely got away. Next time we won't be so lucky."
Aang hesitated, his eyes downcast. His fists clenched at his sides. "But we can't just leave. I need an earthbending teacher and Bumi is the best choice."
Sokka met his gaze with unflinching seriousness. "I'm sorry, Aang. But we have to leave Omashu. We can't risk it anymore. And now… they know you're here."
The words struck heavily in Aang's chest. He lowered his head, silent, the decision weighing on him like stone. Deep inside, he knew Sokka was right. Staying was impossible, not with a second Tai Lung, another blue-fire monster guarding the city.
At last, shoulders slumped, Aang turned toward the darkened sewer tunnels of Omashu. Without another word, the Avatar and his companions slipped away into the dirty hole they came from.
——————
Three days later, Tai Lung and Ty Lee finally arrived at Omashu. To Ty Lee's disappointment, they learned that Azula had already departed a day earlier, taking Mai with her to track not only her uncle and brother but also the Avatar. With little else to do, the pair spent a full day exploring the captured city before deciding to set off once more, wandering aimlessly across the conquered lands of the Earth Kingdom.
With the fall of Omashu, only Ba Sing Se, the great walled capital, remained as the last standing city of the Earth Kingdom. Every other stronghold had fallen under Fire Nation control. Here and there, small resistance bands persisted, but none posed a true threat to the Fire Nation's growing power.
Their journey stretched on for nearly two months. They drifted steadily northward until, at last, they arrived at a large military base near the Yanhai River. The broad river flowed west of Ba Sing Se toward the south where they came from.
What awaited them there made both Tai Lung and Ty Lee stop in their tracks. Standing beside the base was a massive construct of iron, the largest machine either of them had ever seen. A monstrosity of metal loomed before them, terrible and awe-inspiring.
Tai Lung and Ty Lee continued toward the main gate and as they approached, Tai Lung said "I am Captain Tai Lung."
The soldiers on guard stiffened at once. At the sound of his name, their bodies tensed, eyes widening. One among them stepped forward, voice steady but cautious. "Sir, could you please provide proof of identity?"
Tai Lung raised one hand. A flicker of pale flame burst to life in his palm,blue fire.
The soldier instantly bowed respectfully. "It is an honor to meet you, sir. We have all heard of your battle at the North Pole."
Tai Lung allowed the flame to die before speaking, his tone measured. "What is that giant machine standing there?"
The soldier straightened and followed his gaze. "That, sir, is a drill. A giant war machine designed to pierce through the walls of Ba Sing Se."
Tai Lung gave a low hum. "So there is a plan to mount an attack on the city."
"Yes," the soldier confirmed. "The War Minister Cheng and Princess Azula herself will both be leading the invasion force."
At once, Ty Lee's eyes lit up with delight. "Oh! Azula is here? That means Mai as well! Let's go meet them!"
The soldiers exchanged uneasy glances. This scarred girl had spoken the princess's name so casually it almost seemed disrespectful. Their looks did not escape Tai Lung's notice.
"Ty Lee is my fiance," he explained to guards "And a close friend of the princess."
That was enough. The soldiers bowed lightly to Ty Lee at once. "We apologize for not recognizing you, Lady Ty Lee"
Ty Lee waved her hand with a cheerful little shake. "It's okay, guys. I don't hold any titles, you don't need to be so formal with me."
Her easygoing warmth drew smiles from the men. The leading soldier straightened and said respectfully, "Allow me to lead you to Princess Azula's quarters."
And so Tai Lung and Ty Lee followed, walking side by side behind their guide. Along the way, the soldier could not help but express his awe and respect toward Tai Lung, recounting the stories he had heard of the Northern Siege and asking questions. Ty Lee listened with a smile to the soldier.
A few minutes later, the soldier led Tai Lung and Ty Lee to a well-kept, single-story building on the quieter side of the base. He bowed respectfully before leaving them at the door.
Tai Lung pushed it open, and the two stepped into a modest living room. The space was plain, furnished only with essentials. At the far end, a corridor stretched deeper inside, leading to several rooms.
"Azula? Mai? Are you here?" Ty Lee called out brightly.
From the corridor, Azula emerged in her sharp military uniform. For once, her mask of composure slipped, surprise flashing in her eyes. "Ty Lee! What are you doing here?"
Ty Lee hurried forward with a smile. "We were going to mount a ship from this base and head back south, but when I found out you were here, I wanted to say hi. Where's Mai? Is she here?"
Azula gave a small nod, then turned. "Follow me."
Ty Lee trailed after her instantly, while Tai Lung kept two steps behind. Azula led them into one of the rooms branching off the corridor.
The moment Ty Lee entered, she froze.
Mai lay on the bed, both her legs wrapped thickly in bandages. Her face was paler than usual, her expression even gloomier than the detached calm she normally wore.
Ty Lee gasped and rushed to her side. "What happened to you?"
Mai lifted her eyes to Ty Lee's but said nothing.
Azula answered instead. "While we were following the Avatar's trail, Mai engaged his companions. While she was occupied, the Avatar's bison came from behind and blasted her into the rocks, breaking her legs."
Ty Lee's eyes widened in shock. She clasped Mai's hand tightly. "I'm so sorry that happened to you, but cheer up! I'm sure you'll recover in no time."
Mai averted her gaze, offering no reply. Azula's voice cut in, with a quite restrained tone. "The healers think she might not be able to walk again."
Tears welled in Ty Lee's eyes. She bit her lip, her voice trembling. "I'm so sorry… I should have come with Azula. I could have helped."
Finally, Mai sighed and turned her head back. "You don't know that. Maybe I'd still be crippled all the same… or you would be in my place."
For a moment, silence lingered in the room. Then Tai Lung's voice came.
"Ty Lee," he said firmly, stepping forward. "Step away from Mai. I might be able to help her."
All three girls looked at him in confusion, but Ty Lee obeyed, sliding back.
Tai Lung knelt at Mai's bedside. Without another word, he placed his hands over her bandaged legs. A faint warm soft golden glow spread from his palms. The light seeped into her injured legs.
A full minute passed, then, just as suddenly, the glow faded. Tai Lung stood up again.
"Try to move now," he instructed.
Mai blinked, uncertain, but did as told. She shifted her legs then gasped. They moved. Slowly, hesitantly, she swung them over the bed's edge. With her friends watching in silence, Mai pushed herself up and stood.
Her eyes widened. She was standing. Her legs, broken just moments ago, were now fully healed.