Tai Lung's voice was steady, deliberate, as he looked at Azula. "You are no fool. You can see the faults of your father, he is cold, cruel, and unreasonable. The only reason he is still Fire Lord is because the high-ranking officers hold loyalty and respect toward the royal family, and they respect General Iroh way too much. If your uncle came back tomorrow and said he wanted to be the Fire Lord, everyone would be on his side."
Azula narrowed her eyes. "Your words are an admittance of treason."
Tai Lung didn't mind her words and continued. "I was never loyal to your father. And to be frank, I wanted to get rid of him. But again, my suggestion was shot down out of respect for General Iroh like I said."
Azula narrowed her eyes, suspicion in her tone. "What are you trying to say?"
"I want you to accept that your father is not perfect or a great man for that matter," Tai Lung replied. "He is not a model to follow and certainly not a person worth waiting for praise from. You are a prodigy, competitive and fierce, but you are holding yourself back. You've tied your self-worth and your destiny to your father's approval. You are dying for the moment he tells you he is proud of you, waiting for him to say he is grateful you are his daughter."
Azula was silent for a long time, her fists tightening on her knees, before she finally muttered, "You don't understand anything about me."
"I understand you more than you can imagine," Tai Lung said calmly. "An old wise master used to say: 'A person often meets his fate upon the path he took to avoid it'. He was right but I know now that it is not the whole truth. Just in the same manner, a person following blindly and stubbornly the path he believes leads to his destiny can end up walking away from his real destiny."
Azula's face twisted in anger, her confusion breaking through. "What has this to do with anything? Stop talking in riddles and say what you want."
Tai Lung's eyes narrowed. "You believe your father's approval and praise are the testament of your efforts, the eventual reward for all your hard work over the years. But in truth, it is not. You are straying away from the acknowledgement you truly deserve."
He paused, letting his words sink in, before continuing. "Look at yourself. You are the most talented and dedicated person I know. Your bending is already close to your father's level, and you are still young and growing while he is already at his prime. You are clearly smarter than him. I always thought it was a pity you were learning under him. If General Iroh was your teacher, I am sure you would have already surpassed your father by now."
Azula's lips parted, surprise flickering in her eyes "You think highly of me? Since when? I always thought you looked down on me."
Tai Lung tilted his head. "What made you think that? I always thought Zuko could benefit from a fraction of your competitiveness and determination."
Azula fell silent at that, her expression unreadable.
Tai Lung pressed on. "It is nice to have a father that treats you with love, to hear him say 'I am proud of you.' Trust me, I know that. But to throw away everything around you for a word from a father like Ozai, it is a waste. Frankly, you are waiting for the praise of someone lesser than you, even if he is your father."
Azula's voice was low, uncertain for once. "Then what do you think I should do?"
"Accept who you are, believe in your own effort and don't wait for validation" Tai Lung answered firmly. "Believe in yourself and accept that the word of others neither gives to you nor takes from you. Then walk your own path, the one you see as right. I am here on behalf of your two friends to bring you out. You can walk out with me now, and I guarantee your father won't be able to stop us. And if he annoys you after today, just let me know and I will straighten his behavior."
Azula breathed in deeply, holding it as she thought carefully. Then, slowly, she smiled. "Wait for me outside. I'm changing clothes."
Tai Lung turned without a word and left the room.
Azula stood from her seat, her eyes glinting with a dangerous fire. She had decided she would do as she pleased. She wanted to see how her father would react to this. [You punish me and call me a failure because of the Avatar? Fine] she thought, lips curling into a smile. [Let me see you oppose Tai Lung and uphold your authority and so-called honor.]
——————
The flames curtain and torches danced in the Fire Lord's chamber, casting long shadows across the pillars and wooden floor. As always, Fire Lord Ozai sat hidden behind the fire curtain, his presence both commanding and suffocating.
The chamber doors opened with a heavy groan, and a royal guard hurried in, dropping to one knee. His forehead nearly touched the floor as he spoke, his voice low and trembling.
"Fire Lord… Captain Lung has come to the royal palace. He… he headed straight to the princess's chambers."
The fire curtain roared and exploded upward as Ozai's voice boomed with fury.
"Why did no one stop him!?"
The soldier's shoulders shook as he pressed himself even lower. He hesitated, then forced the words out, "We tried, my lord. But he told us… he told us to tell you… that if you have a problem, he can have a private word with you."
Ozai froze. For a heartbeat, the fire itself seemed to still. Then his fists clenched, the veins in his arms burning with rage.
"This bastard!" he hissed, his voice trembling with restrained violence. "How dare he!"
The guard shivered, unable to lift his eyes from the floor.
Ozai inhaled sharply, forcing his anger down, and his tone shifted to one of cold control.
"What about the princess? What did she do?"
"I… I came to report immediately, Fire Lord," the soldier stammered.
"You fool!" Ozai snarled. "Go. Summon the princess, now!"
The guard scrambled to his feet and ran, each desperate step to leave the angry Fire Lord's chamber.
Ozai adjusted his seating behind the fire, his breath heavy. He was no fool. He knew better than anyone, Tai Lung could not be controlled or stopped. But Azula… his daughter, she could still be ordered, still bent to his will.
Moments later, the guard returned, his face pale and his body trembling. He fell into a bow, voice breaking as he spoke.
"Fire Lord… the princess… the princess has left with Tai Lung."
The flames surged violently, shaking the chamber. Ozai's voice thundered with outrage.
"What does she think she's doing!? Why didn't you stop her!?"
The guard's voice was barely a whisper.
"We tried, my lord. But… but the princess said… she said to let you know, if you have a problem… go talk with Tai Lung."
For the first time in years, the Fire Lord was unable to respond or think properly.
Ozai stared into the fire, his thoughts stumbling over the words. Then he looked at the guard and asked to confirm what he heard.
"Azula… said that?"
The guard nodded quickly, terrified and repeated.
"My lord. The princess told us that you can speak with Captain Lung if you have a problem… and then followed him."
The fire dimmed slightly as Ozai sat in stunned silence. His chest rose and fell with slow, heavy breaths.
He could not believe it. The daughter he had shaped since her childhood, the perfect tool, the one who obeyed without hesitation, who lived only for his approval had ignored his will.
Azula… had rebelled.
Ozai's jaw tightened as disbelief clouded his mind [How could this be?]
——————
Azula walked outside the royal palace next to Tai Lung. "That was easier and less dramatic than I expected," she said.
Tai Lung smirked faintly. "I didn't think for a moment your father would dare cause trouble. But I'm sure he's quite pissed."
Azula let out a soft sigh. "I never thought a day would come where my father would treat me like Zuko. A day where I would go against his will and orders. You know…" her voice wavered slightly, though her composure held. "Now that I've experienced my father's unfairness and unreasonable punishment, maybe Zuko was not entirely in the wrong."
Tai Lung turned his head, glancing at her sharply. "That's a quick change in opinion. But yes, your brother is a victim of your father's spite and stupidity. And make no mistake…" his tone hardened, "you are no better than Zuko. Both of you are the victims of spite."
"Not really," Azula replied. "I had days to rethink everything alone during my punishment. And don't act as if you know too much about our lives, even if you have some understanding." She paused, then allowed a small smile to curve her lips. "Still, thank you for coming."
"There's no need," Tai Lung replied bluntly. "It was Mai's idea, and Ty Lee jumped to agree."
Azula's smile lingered, softening her usually sharp features. For the first time, she felt something she had never allowed herself before… relaxed, free. And for the first time, she felt genuine appreciation for having friends. She fully understood that Tai Lung came only because her two friends had convinced him. And her friends hadn't done it because she was the princess, or because she demanded it, they had done it because they cared for her.