A young girl is walking down an ominous corridor. She looks upward nervously; there is a large door in front of her. She takes a deep breath and knocks twice.
A deep, smooth voice answers, "Enter".
The young girl obeys; she pushes aside the massive gate and faces her father.
"You skipped your lesson today."
"I am sorry father, we were playing hide and seek and I couldn't find them and I lost track of time-"
"You are foolish child who does not yet know the true power of the gift given to you."
She looks down the floor, her face full of shame and fear.
"Hold out your arm."
She makes a puzzled face but does not dare to question him. She holds her arm out in his direction. He gets up from his seat and grabs her by the hand very gently. She is suddenly very aware that they are alone in the room.
"Don't move" the hulking figure of a man orders. He then grabs her wrist tightly.
The young girl is startled as a small flame is conjured from his other hand placed just below her arm. She makes a small squeal and tries to nudge her arm free.
"If you move you are going to get burned, but if you stay still I will let go of you eventually."
The girl tries keeping her arm still but is shaking nervously.
"Please father!" she cries out.
He makes no response and she decides to stay quiet and take her punishment. She endures the painful stinging for ten seconds until tears break out from her eyes. He releases after fifteen seconds and puts out his flame.
"You see, even though the flame hurt you, you did not move because a fear of me kept you in line and a promise that I would let go made it seem logical to you to do so. I rule this nation in a similar manner. The war may have a price for some of our society but no one will dare go against me because of my power, and when I am offering a promise of a better future they find it better to just agree and let me handle things."
He gently pats her on the head and wipes a tear off her cheek.
"Next time try to control your emotions more. Let this lesson sink into your mind and tell me what you make of it tomorrow."
"Yes father."
She turns around and walks back down the corridor. The young girl goes to her room and lay on the bed, her eyes red from tears.
Suddenly that world melts away. Azula sits up and blinks several times. It's just a dream
She tries to look around but everything is engulfed in darkness.
Years later and once again I'm just sitting here, this time in a cell. Father can't help me now, no one can.