Here it is, the long awaited sequel to Silent- I hope it lives up to your expectations!
Azula ran with hurried steps down the long, cold hall. Her breaths were even and controlled, and her mind was full of dark thoughts. The summon from her father had been entirely unexpected- was it something she had done during training? Did he regret teaching her to bend lightning?
So many things had changed since Zuko left. After their mother's disappearance, their uncle Iroh had given up his throne and left his brother in peace- still, he didn't fail to realize the hostility between the new Fire Prince and Ozai- the man truly hated the boy, he'd told her many times. And so he'd delegated the fallen general to the job of Zuko's sifu, whereas Azula got two teachers, Lo and Li- useless old windbags. They had already taught her all they could, and their attention to every single miniscule detail was maddening. It made her dream of growing long fangs and sprouting claws, of roaring her fury as golden armor encased her lithe, strong, raging body-
She stopped, dead in her tracks, and felt sweat gathering on the back of her neck. Azula's stomach rolled as her eyelids fluttered shut, and she swayed, falling against the wall as something deep inside her mind battered at the walls that held it- but no. She couldn't. It had been years, an eternity since she had let them speak to her, control her. She was stronger now. She didn't need them. The thought made her grit her teeth and stand up straight, pushing off the wall with an iron-clad heel and marching once more down the blackened hall, her steps echoing off the high ceilings and following her like a cloying mist.
The fifteen year old girl barely acknowledged the bows of the soldiers at the door, concentrating only on what she would be called for this time. The metal doors creaked open and she stepped inside, immediately dropping to one knee and staring at the stone ground. She felt the heat of the flames on the back of her neck and shuddered, trying not to noticeably flinch.
"Your brother has turned traitor to the nation. He has failed to capture the Avatar- it is time that I sent you to do the job, Azula." Her father's voice drifted down like a poisonous smoke, encasing her body and sending adrenaline coursing through her veins. She raised her head slowly and saw his dark silhouette behind the wall of fire.
"Yes, Fire Lord Ozai." she murmured, and stood up, bowing and sending a small jet of bluebell flames into the great fire to show her dedication, before turning on her heel and exiting the room. The air seemed cooler against her face now- she could feel the blood roiling beneath the surface of her skin, simmering away and evaporating under the weight of her new task. Her footsteps sounded against her skull as she ran back to her chambers, long hair flying in a black streak behind her, her pale features reminding her every day of the mother who left before she was ready.
Ready- she was now. She was prepared to set out, away from the shackles and bindings of palace life, away from the heartless father who showed his approval with bruises and more work. Every success was met with a thousand failures before he allowed her to succeed again. It would be so much easier if I was more powerful, she mused distractedly, all I would have to do is release Them from the bonds and let their strength flow into- Warning bells screeched in her head, as forcefully as lava exploding from a volcano, and she grabbed her temples with a quiet shriek. No, no, no! Stay in there! I control you, not the other way around- leave me alone! She struggled against her thoughts, clawing at the cage doors and locking them just in time to keep the madness under control. Something hissed wildly at her before it faded away, leaving only a sense of foreboding, of loathing.
Azula slumped against the wall once more, catching her breath and looking around wearily. For the past eight years she had avoided detection, she had become emotionless and made it impossible to distinguish when she was battling herself for dominance. The struggle had never stopped, and it was becoming harder and harder to contain Them, and even more difficult to hide her warring.
But this was her chance to get away. It could all end once she was away from her father. She could find Zuko and be successful as she was always meant to be. Azula smiled at the thought- I can do this on my own, she thought savagely, I'll do it without your help.
She lifted her chin and straightened up, smoothing the strands of hair that framed her face, and resumed her walk back into her room. When Zuko had left, she had taken his quarters- they were larger and more open, and her servants had their own chamber set inside the room so that she could be attended to at all times. Not that she needed their help- the fools were simply there to pamper her, and she was there for them to admire and respect. It was simple, really.
"Lo! Li! Where are you?" she yelled when she entered the door, and immediately the two old women came around the curtain on her balcony. They bowed in sync and looked at her with patronizingly clever eyes. The back of her neck tingled and she clenched her jaw. They had no right to look at her as if she was imperfect. She was in control, not them.
"I have been granted the task of finding and capturing the Avatar, and killing my brother, the traitor Zuko." The words sent a shiver of anticipation through her, twisted by an emotion which she wouldn't name. "You must accompany me, and I assume that we shall leave as soon as possible. Is this clear?"
"Yes, my princess," they chorused, and she turned away, dismissing them as she called for the little servant girl to pack her clothes and weapons. "How will you find Zuko?" one of the women asked, and she hesitated for a fraction of a second. The feeling shot through her blood again, the name of it perched on her tongue even as she tried to swallow it back.
"I will follow the trail where it has left off, I'm sure that some vermin from the Northern Water Tribe must have seen him depart- and there are always paths to follow." The old women nodded and she waved them away as the servant brat hauled a bag of dirty linens from the room, scuttling away like a mouse caught in a trap. Weakling, she thought to herself, and once more pushed back at the memories of her ancient foes. They had haunted her briefly in her childhood, and she still had nightmares of their howling voices, their cursing screams. Even when most of her emotion had been locked away, most likely devoured by her constantly watched companions, she remembered her terror.
They had been right. She thought to herself, I was a monster, no doubt, but I'd also been such a weakling. I had fought against them instead of accepting them, she had refused their power. It hurt them deeply and truly, in all honesty, if only she would just let us back in, let us free, we could make the girl so much more powerful. Please, Azula, let us out! PLEASE, AZULA, LET US OUT-
"NO!" she shouted, and suddenly pain shot through her spine, causing her muscles to clench, making her arms spasm and her teeth snap shut. She cried out in anguish, the sound ripping itself from her throat and sending fire from her lips, singeing the backs of her teeth. She felt the cage slip open, out of her control, and desperately reached for it.
She was too slow. A maniacal laugh echoed from within the small, impossibly dark confines, and she froze as They emerged as one. Her knees gave out and Azula sunk to the floor, failure washing over her even as the frantic need to succeed took hold of her entire body. Something horribly familiar wrenched her body upright- she had nothing to do with it; she was no longer the one who held the reins. Foolish little darling, Pon whispered is her raspy voice; you should have known it was only a matter of time. Shui slithered around his companion and brought two images to Azula's eyes- one of her as a child, her eyes scarlet with the demon's influence and her blue flames ripping through the air with such a force that she could practically feel the heat. The other was an image of how she had looked a second ago, fallen to her knees and weak.
She opened her mouth to speak, to drive them back into the cage, but Pon cautioned her to wait. You remember how you imprisoned us within your emotions? Though they would have fed us, we have saved them especially for this moment. She let out a great sigh from her curved beak as something built in Azula. Ah, they return.
Happy sad anger rage hate jealousy sorrow pity pride disgust hate hate HATE HATE- The feelings all swarmed over her and she jolted sickeningly, her eyes rolling at the overwhelming evil that was now laced through every emotion she had ever had, poisoned by the eight long years trapped with Pon and Shui. She lurched forward and retched, trying to empty herself as she was stuffed with old rotten feelings. "Stop," she gasped, and heard a soft laugh from Shui even as she felt something stroke the top of her head, pushing back the black silk strands that had fallen from the top knot. Pon clucked her tongue in a motherly way. Come now, child, it's not so bad. We are finally reunited, mother and daughter- I know you've missed me.
Azula nodded, the pain subsiding as numbness once again reigned. It was all over. They were back.
Hello again! So sorry that it took so long- things have been hectic in my life right now and I can only hope that you understand. Sorry! Thanks for reading, please review!