Hello everybody. This little idea was in my mind for months, but only around Christmas I had finally found some time to write a few lines to check, if I could make something out of it, that I can post here. So I have finally used the last weeks to write a bit on this one and so finally this little chapter was finished today. I'm still not sure, if and how fast I will update this one, cause I will keep my focus on my big story "A way back home", until it's finished. But I will go on with this one as good and as fast as I can.

The story isn't linked with my other ones and it ignores the comics. And I can promise a little change compared to the original cartoon. A minor but also not a minor change in fact but it will be shown in the next chapter, I have planned. I wish all of you a lot of fun with this little story.

Azula is defeated and locked away in a asylum since a long time, when a Fire Sage appeared in her cell. She didn't know why he came to her, but the things he did started to puzzle the former Princess.

The Fire Sage

Question

She was laying at a padded wall. The room muffled all her sobs, all her cries, all her angry screams and curses. A dim light gloomed from the ceiling but it was no fire, which brought some light in her room, only some sort of shiny crystals. And no sun. Nothing what she could bend to free herself, nothing what might fuel her inner fire. A fire which once had burned so hot and bright. Now it was almost gone. Stamped out by the feet of her own family, almost suffocated within the dust and dirt of the Earthkingdom. Instead of burning down this dirt with the comets help, its dust had covered her bright fire and water and ice had cooled it down until it couldn't burn bright enough anymore. All these elements had beaten her inner fire, leaving it not enough air to burn on so mighty and bright. And now she had no chance left to break free. She couldn't even turn her fire against herself, to end this misery, her shame, her failure. It was doomed to die a slow death, to flicker on, until all what was left to fuel it, had burned out, until her helpless tries had taken the last bit of air, her fire had needed to burn along. She could feel it with every breath she took, how her defeat was choking her. Not only mental. They had forced a mask on her face, which covered her mouth and nose. It made breathing difficult and it prevented her from burning her out of this place with her fire-breath. Her hands and feet were bound toward her back, so she couldn't direct her Chi the right way to break the door or even some of the bindings, which forced her to stay in this misery. She had truly lost. Her Nation, her family, her friends, her grace, her dignity. And now she was about to loose her fire and with it herself. She was rotting here too long. Too long for her fire to burn on. And so Azula cried again. She could feel, how her tears started to put out the last gloom of her fire. A fire, she would never see again.

She didn't know how long the Fire Sage had watched her, cause she hasn't heard him coming in. She didn't know why he had come to her and observed her fire dying. She didn't know who he was, cause his face was hidden under the hood of his cape. She stared back at him, broken, with swollen red eyes. The Sage seemed to hesitate as he recognized, that she was finally aware of his presence. But something in her eyes let him made a decision. He took a step forward and placed a hand at the mask, which covered her face. She tried to get back from him, but the bindings ended her attempts instantly. She turned her head harshly and frantic to free herself from the grip of the Sage. None of the contacts she got during her stay in this room had been pleasant or helpful. None of them had brought her hope, comfort or had eased her pains. She screamed in rage and panic, fighting hopelessly against the bindings and tried to twist and crawl away from him. But suddenly she stopped. The Sage had let her go. Azula was shocked and surprised at the same time. Never before had a person respected her will, since she was here within these walls. The Sage took a few steps back from her. She recognized, that he had made fists with both hands. The way he stood in the room showed signs of grief, sadness and frustration and this confused her deeply. But she wasn't sure, his face stayed hidden for her eyes. So she did something, what had only brought her pain and misery during her stay here. She dared to ask him.

"Why?"

It seemed to her the question, which would hold up the most possible directions for answers and the chance to get the most important answers. The Sage tended his head to his left side a bit. Azula was sure, that he was thinking about her question. He seemed to think about an answer, but to her frustration he didn't gave her one. Instead he nodded for himself and took place in the lotus seat in front of her. He grabbed in his robe and took out a candle and placed it between Azula and himself. With a deep breath and a motion of his left hand he lighted the candle.

The warm shine of the candlelight drove away the gloomy green light of the crystals. It was a small flame but it burned quite and steady, without a flicker. Azula felt the rhythm of the flame, controlled and peaceful. She saw the comforting light and even this little flame shared its warmth with her. She didn't know, how long she had watched the candle. She didn't know how long the Sage had observed her, watching the candle, but now she was sure, that this candle was the answer. And the answer, she had seen in the shining light made her furious. She took control over the flame and tried to direct the fire toward her bindings, but the Sage was faster and prevented the fire to reach her. Then she tried to blow the flames at him, but he also was able to stop this try. She realized, that she was defeated again and with an soul-splitting scream, she made the candle burning down in a bright flame within seconds. The green and gloomy light of the crystals returned to the room. The Sage stood up with a sad sigh and headed towards the door.

"My highest compliments for you."

The sarcastic voice of Azula made him turn around.

"Showing me, how my own fire is dying here by showing me the beauty and life of a burning flame for the last time. If roles would have been switched, I would be very proud of myself for having such an idea. Well played, Fire Sage."

Her voice was strong, but it couldn't cover her tears from falling. But the Sage just shook his head. Azulas eyes widened in surprise and fear as he rushed to her. Before she had a chance to fight his grip again, he grabbed the mask, burned the leather bands, which had fixed the dreadful thing before her face and took it away from her. The metal started to glow in his hands until this part of her misery was molten to a grotesque sculpture. He let it fall on the ground in front of her and walked to the door.

"They will put another one on my face."

Her voice was desperate. The Sage stayed a moment within the doorway.

"No, they won't"

She wasn't sure, but if she had ever heard his voice before, she didn't remember. But she could hear the controlled rage and anger in his voice. And this confused her.

"You haven't answered my question. Why?"

He didn't turn around, but he hesitated in front of the door.

"That is the right question for a start."

And with this words he left her cell.