Azula Forever

Chapter 1

By: RebLaw

Note: This is an AU story. It is in the same time period about as the Avatar TV show, with the same characters. There is only one minor change. Azula was born unable to firebend. (Which actually changes more than you would think.)

PS: I know my story Stockholm Syndrome is stalled, I'm rehashing the whole story, at the time I wrote it I didn't realize how unfocused it was, I'm editing it now and will start to post revised chapters soon.

-.-.-.-.-

It was the day. It was the day of her brother's Embarking Ceremony. Azula woke before it was light out. She had been planning for this day for years.

Her brother, Zuko, was Ozai's favorite. There were no words in any known language to describe the depth of her hatred towards him. But she would not oppose him openly, not in the palace.

Now he was going to leave the palace. In place of the best guard, her eccentric uncle was going to watch over him. It couldn't have been more perfect if she had planned it herself.

She caresses the bottle that would be her brother's downfall - that would be her key to the throne. Light shone through the bottle, adding a red-tint to its shadow. Red was the color of the Fire Nation's royalty and military. Ozai only had two children, and no wife. If something happened to the first born…

"My lovely young lady," a doddering white haired woman interrupted the princess with a gentle smile. "My, you're up early this fine morning. All excited for your brother I suppose."

"Of course Nana," Princess Azula replied with biting sarcasm. She quietly hid a bottle in the folds of her night robe. "What kind of a sister would I be if I weren't?"

"Do you want me to help you get dressed now?" the old woman asked.

-.-.-.-.-

"Why do I have to take that worthless old fool with me!" the young man demanded, hitting the wall with his fist. "He'll just slow me down."

"But it is tradition," the chamberlain said. "Iroh is the only uncle you have. He used to be a respected general as well."

"Exactly - he used to be- now he's a tea-obsessed simpleton. What good is meaningless tradition anyway!" he growled. "Pomp and circumstance with no real meaning."

"Don't say that master Zuko," the servant pleaded. "It means a lot to the people. They expect it, and they'll respect you for following it. You do still want to be Fire Lord after your father right?"

"Of course," Zuko replied quietly, realizing his mistake. "I want to be a good Fire Lord and have the support of my people. Even in ways I think are foolish."

"That reminds me," the chamberlain said with the slightest smile on his face. "Did you ask your father…?"

".. If I could bring you along on the quest?" Zuko finished. "No, he wants me to go with Iroh and the crew he's chosen for a reason."

"Alright," the servant sighed, playing on the sympathies of the young prince. "I guess I'd understand if you didn't want a doddery old man along, just slowing you down."

"No – Hinoh," Zuko said, putting a hand on the older man's shoulder. "You've never been anything but helpful to me. I'll ask father."

-.-.-.-.-

It was an hour and a half before the Ceremony would begin. Azula had been dressed and rehearsing what she was going to say for hours. She had to be perfect, same as always, but it was more important this time. To get caught meant execution for treason. And that would get in the way of her plans.

She listened through the door, she wanted to be sure to present the bottle to Zuko when he was alone. Good, no noise.

Knock, knock.

"Coming," a familiar voice said. It wasn't the voice she was expecting.

It was Iroh's voice. It wasn't what she expected, but it wasn't the end of the world.

"Uncle! How nice to see you," Azula greeted the Dragon of the West.

"Azula, I was not expecting to see you here," Iroh replied in his normal slow manner. "You shouldn't disturb your brother before the big ceremony."

"Move it Uncle," Azula snapped. "I'm his sister. I get to say a private good-bye to my only brother."

Iroh sighed, and left. The retired general had learned that some battles just weren't worth fighting.

"Azula," Zuko was facing the wall of his room. "I can't say I expected you to come see me."

"Don't be silly brother," Azula said smiling, and lying. "Of course I'd want to wish my only brother a successful trip. I wanted to be the first to do so."

"You're no where near the first," Zuko muttered. Everyone he had met so far that day had wished him well.

"What!" Azula snapped, before regaining her composure. "I wanted to give you a gift."

Zuko looked at his sister, sure the "gift" she had in mind was part of some sort of underhanded scheme. But he felt sorry for her.

"Here," Azula said shortly, thrusting out a wine bottle. "I went through great difficulty to obtain it. It's a bottle of the rarest wine in the world. Air Nomad wine."

"Thank you," Zuko said, amazed that his sister endowed on him such an expensive gift. "I'll drink it when I return home with the Avatar. It'll be fitting."

"No!" Azula yelled, before catching herself yet again. "Drink it for luck brother. When you're starting out on the trip."

Zuko shrugged, deciding to humor her. "Fine."

-.-.-.-.-

Zhao wasn't having a good day.

It was two hours into the ceremony, and it was only half over.

And his feet hurt.

He had just separated from his wife of nine years a little over a month ago.

He missed her, but siring a worthy heir was more important.

Standing up on stage, watching a ceremony for his cousin once removed who was the only real obstacle in his way to the throne. He hoped this would be the last he'd see of the boy.

But, Prince Zuko had a sister, Princess Azula. Zhao remembered visiting the two of them the boy was a toddler, barely able to walk, just shooting off his first sparks. The girl was a baby. He had heard rumors that she was completely unable to firebend.

It hit him with a shock that the beautiful young woman he stared at while lost in this thoughts was Princess Azula. In his mind she was still just a little baby. No where near the age of courting.

She had the best of both her parents in terms of looks, her mother's delicate features, but her father's strong expression. He had never considered his little baby cousin could've grown into such a beautiful maiden.