Chapter 1
"Azula, I've been meaning to talk to you." Azula frowned at the seriousness of her father's voice. Something was wrong.
"What is it, Sir?" she asked carefully, looking up from where she kneeled on the cold War Chamber floor.
"Someone has asked for your hand in marriage."
Drawing a quick, nervous breath, Azula coughed, "Who, Sir?"
"An Earth Kingdom prince."
Disgusting. Earth Kingdom? Surely the Fire Lord was lying. "That's...strange..." answered the princess with a smirk.
"Is it? Because I told him you said yes."
"Excuse me?" she gasped, scanning the room briskly and hoping there was a way out that was less obvious than the main door. There wasn't.
"He's willing to give me control of the entire Southern Earth Kingdom's military in exchange for you. That was an offer I simply couldn't refuse."
She was being traded for troops? "It's probably a trap. Maybe you should reconsider..."
"You think I'm not capable of making a good decision without your input, Azula?" growled Ozai, the bright flames surrounding his throne stretching farther up toward the ceiling.
"No, Sir. That's not what I meant. I was just saying that -"
"I didn't ask you to say anything at all," snarled Ozai, the corners of his mouth turning up in a sarcastic smile.
"Sorry, Sir." She wasn't. He probably knew that. Azula glanced bitterly toward one wall of the room which was covered in heavy red banners printed neatly with the ebony Fire Nation symbol, trying to imagine instead the ugly green banners of Earth Kingdom flags. No. That wouldn't work in here. "I'd be honored to accept this opportunity to serve the Fire Nation. I guess."
"Good. It really wasn't your decision to make, anyway." Azula frowned again. She'd always thought Ozai loved her. Obviously she'd been wrong.
"May I ask you something, Sir?" inquired Azula, straining to keep from looking as angry as she felt.
"Of course."
"Who's going to take the throne after you're gone if I'm going to be in the...the Earth Kingdom?" She shuddered slightly at the sound of the vile name.
"I don't know. It doesn't really matter right now. I'm not planning on dying any time soon."
"I hope not, Sir." Or did she? She wasn't really sure; maybe she'd think about it later. Now wasn't the time.
"So it's all settled, then. You may want to go pack."
"What? Why? When am I leaving?"
Ozai smiled slyly and shrugged. "Tomorrow morning."
A/N: This chapter's kind of boring, but the story is set to get better, so please keep reading.
By the way, my sister and I are writing another fanfic called Cut Apart the Moon which is a cool story you should definitely check out. Really different from this one, but totally worth looking at.
Please review!!
