Author's Note, 7/26/2015: Now features edited chapters. Similar to other stories I have edited, I welcome returning readers as well as new ones. I hope to have more chapters posted soon. Reviews are incredibly helpful, and keep me motivated. I should clarify that this story does not contain incest.
Like Father, Like Daughter
By Nikkel
(c) to Michael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Konetizko, and Nickelodeon
Azula looked across the courtyard and smirked. Good. It was empty.
She crossed the lawn, searching for a space where she wouldn't hit or collide with anything if she fell… Not that she would fall. Stopping, she slid into a firebending stance, and began to practice.
She was doing an excellent job compared to Zuzu. She had spied on his firebending lesson (needless to say, again), where he was still struggling to learn the basic form. Azula flowed through the kata like a natural, using her breath to time and control her pace, and not blunder through all of it like her brother often did.
She went through the form several times to make it flawless. It was one she hadn't officially taught by her teachers, but just from watching Zuko train, she knew where each step and punch was. She even congratulated herself by shooting off a small fireball from her knuckles at the end.
The sound of somebody clapping caught her off-guard. She spun around, her hands raised in defense, automatically challenging her lone spectator. The moment she saw the tall, regal form of her father, though, she dropped her hands and relaxed. He was smiling.
"That was a swell performance," Ozai complimented. "Wherever did you learn it?"
The little firebender's mouth went dry. She had been suspected of spying on Zuko's lessons before, and had always been punished for it. She never could understand why, though. She took every opportunity to learn about firebending that she could.
"I made it up," she lied with a casual shrug.
"Really now? You're certain that you didn't steal it from your brother's training? You know how your mother hates it when you spy on him."
"Nope. I made it all up," Azula lied again, this time beaming a wide, confident smile. Ozai felt as if he could laugh. He could see right through her, and knew that she was lying, but she played the part so well! How could he not go along with it? Unlike Ursa and Iroh, he didn't see the harm in Azula watching Zuko's lessons. It was just another way to learn.
"Can you do the form one more time, Azula?" he asked. Azula's smile curved into a smirk and she did as she was told. The fireball at the end of the kata shot forward from her knuckles and across the courtyard, leaving nothing but a puff of grey smoke behind.
"Very good, very good," Ozai crowed with a chuckle. "But, there is one thing."
"What?"
"Get into the final position. I have something I would like to teach you." Ozai walked towards her and leaned over her shoulder, grabbing her hand and pulling it upwards so they both could see. He forced her index and middle fingers out, making sure they were straight. "Extending your first two fingers marvelously increases your accuracy when firebending. Now, try it."
He released her, and Azula went into position. She took a moment, drew in a sharp breath, and then thrust her leg out to emphasize the release of flame. A jet of fire shot from her fingertips, and this time, the flame lasted longer and went farther, much better than her original shot.
"Did I do it right?" she asked, looking up at the shadowy figure of her father for approval. Ozai nodded, excited flames dancing behind his eyes. This time, when he smiled, he showed his teeth. Azula couldn't help but think he looked like a dragon about to devour a meal.
"It was perfect."