A.N. As promised, another set of chapters for you lovely readers! Thanks to everyone for reading, voting, and commenting on this story, I really appreciate it! And honestly your support actually motivates me to write, so thanks!

This update has three chapters that will lead up to the Day of Black Sun episodes. These chapters are a bit darker in terms of material (more so the next two) so I'll be adding warnings to them. Went back and forth about how to do these chapters like a thousand times, so let's see how it goes. 

But there is a fluffy snippet at the end of Chapter 93 that I hope makes up for the angst. I promise the fluff will be back in full force soon, but there's just a bit more angst to get through first. 

Azara stood still on the pedestal as servants walked around her, layering expensive fabrics delicately over her body. "Breathe in, Princess," one of them instructed as two more servants walked over with a band of fabric.

Azara grunted as the belt was pulled tight around her midsection, grumbling curses to herself. "Spirits forbid a girl be allowed to have internal organs," she muttered under her breath before she was brought over to the chair in front of her mirror.

Her dark hair, freshly washed, was pulled back into an intricate bun. A headpiece with dangling tassels was pinned in front of her bun. Two thin bangs framed her face down to the tops of her cheeks, but otherwise every hair was pinned and gelled down. Not a single hair was out of place. The servants attached another set of headpieces, two Fire Nation insignias, to the front and back of Azara's bun.

Straightening up as a servant approached with makeup, Azara sat rigidly, staring into the mirror as her lips were painted red. She closed her eyes for them to be properly lined. The servants worked hard to cover the dark circles under her eyes, and with a light dusting of rouge on her cheeks, she was finished.

The servants had tried their best to make her a presentable royal bride-to-be. Everything, down to single hairs on her head and beads on her necklace, were planned out and properly handled. But they could do nothing about her eyes, which were uncharacteristically dull. Lifeless.

For a firebender, she seemed to lack any spark about her anymore.

"You look beautiful, Princess Azara," one of the servants complimented her, causing Azara to purse her lips together.

"I look possessed," she thought to herself before turning to the servants. "Thank you for your help." They bowed in response and walked away without another word.

Once the two servants were outside of Azara's room, they turned to each other with sad looks on their faces. "Doesn't she remind you of . . ." one of them trailed off, looking around for any sign of other people patrolling the halls.

"Yes." The two women shared another look before walking off. "Oh, how Princess Ursa would weep at this situation."

Left to herself for a moment, Azara had to will the tears back. She reached for her wrist, only to be reminded she had taken the bracelet off. It was for the best, she told herself. She couldn't have someone take it. Azula was already suspicious about it, so it was only a matter of time before someone else was as well. She couldn't lose her last reminder of the world outside the palace walls.

The door to her room opened, revealing Azula dressed in formal attire, but not nearly as formal as Azara's own. "Are you ready to go?" Azula asked, moving to stand beside her sister.

"Do I have a choice not to be?" Azara sighed before heading for the door.

She and Azula walked in relative silence until they reached the Fire Lord's hall. Azara stood rigid in the middle of the hall, waiting for her signal to enter. "Good luck," Azula spoke softly, giving her sister's arm a quick squeeze before walking into the room, the red curtains fluttering behind her.

Azara took a deep breath, lowering her head for a moment. Her thoughts drifted away from the palace to her friends. She wondered where they were. Was Aang alive and with them? Had they remained in the Earth Kingdom after Ba Sing Se? Were they captured? Was the invasion still on? She had a thousand questions and less than half of an answer.

"Princess," a guard called, causing Azara to open her eyes, staring him down with a piercing gaze. "They're ready for you."

Nodding silently, Azara took a deep breath. She clasped her hands in front of her properly, mindful of the draping of her trumpet sleeves. She straightened up completely, her eyes trained directly in front of her. Flashes of her tutors growing up smacking her shoulders and straightening her posture jumped to mind before she suppressed them again.

She was getting better and better at that. Suppressing emotions. Memories. All of it. She wondered if she'd even feel human in a few months.

She took short and elegant steps forwards, the guards holding the drapes open for her. Azara walked into the room with her head held high. She ignored the looks on the faces of those assembled for this stupid meeting, most of which were her father's advisors.

Turning at the right point, Azara walked over to her designated spot next to Azula. Neither of her siblings dared to greet her, aware of their father's calculating gaze on them. Her face remained expressionless as she stared across the table at Izen, who was also dressed in the finest clothes blood money could buy.

"Well, shall we begin with the proceedings?" the Head Sage asked Ozai, who smiled and nodded. The Head Sage pulled out a long scroll, starting to recite the proceedings. Azara closed her eyes for a moment, working to steady her breathing when her part came up. "Now, if the future bride and future groom would please come forward."

Standing gracefully, Azara walked around to stand at the head of the table, Izen doing the same from the other side. "As the Royal Family is presiding, we begin with the future bride's family."

Azara turned to her father, grabbing the gift from his hands, before straightening up. She didn't have the stomach to look him in the eye. Instead, she willed herself to make it through the damn ceremony. Staring up at Izen, Azara recited the sentences she had been forced to memorize.

"As a symbol of the commitment my family and I pledge to this union, I present nine gold coins to you. May our marriage be filled with great riches and success."

Izen accepted the bowl, before picking up his own from his father. Holding the bowl out to Azara, Izen repeated a similar vow. "As a symbol of the commitment my family and I pledge to this union, I present four pears. May our marriage be fruitful and fulfilling." Azara bit back a grimace at his words and accepted the bowl.

The Head Fire Sage walked forwards, holding the two bowls together before addressing the group. "This young man and woman have demonstrated their intent of marriage. May their future union be blessed and lead to great victories and prosperity for the Fire Nation in the future," he announced as a round of applause broke out in the room.

Azara and Izen lowered their arms as the Head Sage walked off before returning to their designated seats. Azara stared numbly at the chalice in front of her, which servants were hurrying to fill for her father's toast.

She was officially engaged. Thankfully, not married, but she was now engaged to a boy she loathed. She grabbed her wrist again but closed her eyes for a moment when she didn't feel the familiar cool metal, willing the tears back again.

"A toast," Fire Lord Ozai called for, raising his glass. Everyone else at the table hurried to do the same before Ozai continued. "First, to the happy couple. May their union begin a new era of prosperity for the Fire Nation," he stated, earning a small cheer of approval.

Azara did not dare meet anyone's eyes, instead staring intently at a point on the wall behind Izen's head. She felt sick. She felt completely and utterly ill. Zuko and Azula shared a worried glance, their eyes flickering over to Azara, who continued to remain rigid.

"Of course, proper celebrations will have to be put on hold until we crush the pathetic invasion coming on the Solstice," Ozai scoffed, sharing a look with his generals. Azara felt herself stop breathing, a sharp inhale of breath the only indication that she had heard her father's words.

He knew. They knew. Her friends were running straight into a trap.

"Though, I have complete confidence in our forces to quickly put an end to this little rebellion," Ozai continued, raising his chalice once more. "Which will mark the beginning of our final push to truly conquer the world!" A round of cheers echoed around the room.

But all Azara could hear was her heart beating out of her chest. They knew. They knew. They knew that her friends were coming. They knew that Sokka was coming. They knew.

After the celebratory cheers finished echoing around the room, the Head Sage stood up once more. "After the toast, it is customary for the future bride and future groom to have a walk through the gardens after the ceremony. Chaperoned of course."

"Prince Zuko, accompany your sister and Izen to the gardens," Ozai ordered, turning to Zuko, who nodded.

Azara got to her feet numbly, staring into nothingness as Izen walked around the table to escort her to the gardens. He offered her his arm, but she chose to keep a distance from him, much to Izen's disappointment.

They headed silently for the gardens with Zuko trailing behind them, keeping a watchful eye on his sister, who had not so much as blinked since the announcement about the Solstice. Passing under the archway, Azara walked silently down the stairs, her gaze focused on the pond in the center of the courtyard, and her mind anywhere else than with her body.

"Would you like to sit or walk around?" Izen asked as Azara refused to stare over at him. "Azara?" She closed her eyes for a moment, breathing in and out deeply to try and calm down. "Azara, please talk to me."

"What do you want me to say?" she whispered out, a defeated sound to her voice.

"I want you to talk to me," he replied, turning to her as she ignored him, walking towards the edge of the pond. Sitting in a heap of fabrics, Azara stared down at the water, her thoughts swirling around in her head. "Azara?"

"I don't need your help or your pity or whatever you have to offer me. There is literally nothing in the world that I want or need from you, Izen," she replied softly despite the harshness of her words. "I just want to go home."

"You are home, Azara," Izen reminded her as Azara shook her head.

"No . . . I'm not," she stated as she glanced down at the fish trailing through the water.

"This is where you were born, Azara. This is where you're from. These are your people, your family," Izen continued, sounding genuinely confused as Azara refused to meet his gaze. "Please, help me to understand."

"Home is not where you're born . . . or even where you're from," Azara spoke after a few moments, her gaze still trained on the water. "It's where you feel that you can be yourself. It's where you know that you're accepted . . . where you're loved."

"I can provide you with that, Azara, if you just give me a chance," Izen tried to convince her, but Azara had already shaken her head.

"No, you can't," she stated with a sense of finality before getting to her feet and starting to head back inside.

"Azara," Izen called again, grabbing her arm. "Please—"

"—Don't touch me!" Azara warned, ripping her arm out of his grasp. "Just leave me alone! That is the one thing you can actually do for me, Izen! Just leave me alone."

"But—" Izen didn't even have time to finish his sentence before he was tugged backwards by Zuko, who quickly put himself in between Azara and Izen. "Azara—" Izen took a step forward, but he was quickly pushed back by Zuko again. Izen stumbled but remained standing on his feet.

"What part of 'leave her alone' do you not understand?" Zuko growled out, his hands clenched into fists.

"We need to talk!"

"You need to stay away from her!" Zuko threatened, ready to push Izen away again.

Izen was about to retort something when he glanced behind Zuko to see that Azara had disappeared. "Where did she go?" Zuko spun around, looking around for any sign of Azara, but she was already gone.

Reaching the safety of her room, Azara pushed open the door, only to find Azula waiting for her, sitting calmly on her bed. "I thought you'd show up sooner rather than later," Azula drawled as Azara sighed, closing the door behind herself.

"Not now, Azula. I don't feel like it," she grumbled out, reaching up to unpin the headpieces from her hair, and tossing them onto one of the tables.

"I just wanted to let you know that I found that bracelet you lost," Azula continued, causing Azara to freeze for a moment. Turning to face her sister, Azara glared at her as she spotted the familiar cactus charm bracelet hanging from one of Azula's fingers.

"Give. That. Back," Azara growled out with a murderous tone.

"You said that you just threw it away. Why do you suddenly want it now?" Azula prodded, studying the bracelet. "Clearly it means something to you despite its horrible craftsmanship."

"Give it back!" Azara demanded, rushing forwards. Grabbing Azula's wrist, Azara twisted it harshly, causing Azula to drop the bracelet. Hurrying to scoop it up, Azara glared at Azula, who rubbed her wrist with a calculating gaze on her face.

"I knew you were lying about it," Azula huffed, getting to her feet. "So, what's its significance then?"

"That's none of your business!" Azara snapped as Azula rolled her eyes. Azara slipped the bracelet onto her wrist for safekeeping as Azula crossed her arms over her chest.

"Don't tell me it has something to do with that Water Tribe peasant Ty Lee thought was cute?" Azula sighed, tilting her head to the side as Azara froze, her hand still hovering over the bracelet. "Of course, it does," Azula scoffed, shaking her head as Azara turned to glare at her sister.

"If you—"

"—I'm not here to make a threat or even a deal, Azara," Azula interjected, holding up a hand. "But you need to let go of the past. The two of you were never going to work out. You're only hurting yourself by fantasizing about returning to him and—"

"—Get out," Azara cut in, straightening up. "Now!"

"Azara—"

"—No! I've fucking had enough today! Get the fuck out of my room, Azula!" Azara yelled, pointing at the door. Azula rolled her eyes at Azara's theatrics but walked towards the door anyways. Reaching for the door handle, Azula paused for a moment before turning back to her sister.

"I just don't want you to get your hopes up, Azara."

"Why would I? Every time I've tried, they've been crushed minutes later," Azara shot back, a hard glare on her face as Azula sighed before finally leaving the room.

Once Azula was gone, Azara dropped to her knees, holding her head in her hands as she finally allowed the stress of the evening catch up to her. Her shoulders shook from the strain as sob after sob tumbled out past her lips.

Pulling away, Azara stared down at the bracelet around her wrist, new tears coming to her dull golden eyes. The Fire Nation knew about the Invasion. They knew about Sokka's plan. Getting to her feet, Azara gripped the bracelet tightly in her other hand as she began to panic.

Her friends were walking right into a trap set by her family. Part of her naively hoped that the invasion was not going to go ahead now that Ba Sing Se was firmly under Fire Nation control. But the rational part of her brain knew that Sokka would only be more motivated to carry out the plan after the fall of the Earth Kingdom.

Azara began to pace erratically, her hands flying to her hair as she tugged on some strands. Her chest heaved as she tried to control her breathing, but she found that her chest was far too tight to even attempt to take a deep breath in. As Azara took another step, her head started to pound. Holding her head in her hands, Azara gritted her teeth as another migraine ripped through her head.

Azara . . . you must . . .

"Get out of my head!" Azara demanded with her eyes clenched shut as the voice echoed around.

Azara . . . your time . . . come to . . .

"Stop talking!" Azara growled out as the voice grew louder and louder in her head.

Azara . . . your power . . .

Azara . . . it is time . . .

Azara . . . your duty . . .

"Get! Out!" Azara yelled, before dropping to her knees again. She shook her head as the headache started to dissipate. Removing her hands from her head, Azara rested them on the ground, breathing heavily as the migraine finally faded away.

Glancing down at her hands, Azara spotted the rip in the carpet from where Azula had dug around for the bracelet. Reaching down into the hole, Azara pulled out the knife that Zuko had given her years and years ago. Azara got to her feet and pulled the scabbard off of the blade, causing it to reflect the dim moonlight.

Azara held the blade in front of herself for a moment, not even breathing, before tightening her grip on it and driving her arm out. The blade left her hand, flying across the room, and embedding itself into her wardrobe, and into the painting she had long ago hung up on the door of the piece of furniture.

Walking over to the wardrobe, Azara glared at the painting of her family, before grabbing the knife and yanking it out of the wood. The painting had ripped due to the blade, right where her father's face had once been painted in black ink.

Turning towards her desk, Azara placed the knife on the desk. Staring at the bracelet for a moment, Azara chose to slip it off, placing it on the desk as well, before heading for her balcony. Leaning on the railing, Azara glared down at what she could see of the Fire Nation Palace.

They knew about the invasion. And there was no way that she would be able to inform Sokka and her friends about that fact. But there was one thing she could do.

It was supposed to be Aang's job, she reminded herself. But Aang wasn't here. He could be dead for all she knew, though part of her knew that Katara wouldn't let that happen. But still, Aang was not here. He was potentially coming, but he could be trapped before he even reached the shores of the Fire Nation capital.

Staring up at the moon, Azara narrowed her eyes. If Aang wasn't here to take out the Fire Lord, then she would have to assume the role for him.

As Azara turned around and headed back inside, a dark cloud moved across the sky, covering the moon, and blocking any moonlight from the Fire Nation palace. Azara walked briskly back into her room, passing by her desk, before pausing. Turning back, she reached for one item, before walking off. The gold bracelet remained on the desk, the cactus charm face down. 

A.N. Just to clarify--Azara is not officially married to Izen, it was just a ceremony that I threw in there to let Azara know that the Fire Nation knows about the Invasion. 

And the "nine gold coins" and "four pears" were supposed to be references to symbols of bad luck in various cultures (ex: the number four is considered unlucky in some East Asian cultures) cause their relationship is doomed to fail.