The young fire-bender stood on her fire nation cruiser. That ship and her crew were the only things left that tied her to her beloved nation. That and of course her fire-bending. The cold wind started to blow again, she gasped as it raked across her face. Her newly scabbed scar did not take well to the icy wind. Her uncle walked to her. "Azula, this cold air is not good for you or any of us. Let's go to the Earth kingdom. We can try and start over there."
Anger rose in Azula's chest, "I don't want to start over," her voice was quiet, strong, "I am the heir to the throne of the fire nation. It is my duty to my people to succeed in this mission." Finding the avatar and bringing him to her father was her only hope. That was his request to prove her honor. If she didn't succeed in one year, the year of her 18th birthday, it was all over anyways. So why not try?
That's when she saw it. A pillar of blue light about 10 miles away shot into the sky. It was magnificent. A display of true power. Azula's eyes narrowed as she whispered, "The avatar." She ran to the control room. "Captain. Due east towards the Water Tribe Iceland. That must be where he has been hiding all these years."
The ship lurched forward as the engines kicked in propelling her towards victory. "I have you now old man."
When the ship landed in the water tribe's bay she was shocked. This was the home of the powerful southern water tribe? She had heard tales of the grand homes, water ways leading through the village, and beautiful ice sculptures decorating the town. Surely these impoverished huts weren't where the noble people of the tribe lived. She knew that the southern tribe had a different style than the northern water tribe, but shabbily put together huts? Something was not right.
"Captain," she shouted, "Hold the crew. This is going to be a solo mission. If anything happens to me the ship belongs to you."
"But Princess, it is too dangerous for you to go alone."
"Dangerous? Is this not the home of the southern water tribe who we have looked to for aide in the past?"
The captain hesitated, "I only mean for a lady of your order to go into a city alone is not proper."
Azula scoffed, "Captain, when you beat me in a duel I will take you to the city with me for protection. For now, I think I am fully capable of protecting myself."
The captain stepped back his face flushing a little, "As you wish."
The gangplank lowered and Azula walked down, shifting her scabbard further to the back to be concealed by her cloak. She walked onto the dock. The top was white with snow pack. She headed towards the gate of the city noticing that her red cape was clearly visible from anywhere in the white and blue expanse. Good thing we are on peaceful terms she chuckled to herself.
Now under the gate she got a better look at the snow huts. They were crudely put together, basically snow caves with an animal skin covering the doorway. She headed toward the center of the town where earlier she had seen smoke rising. Why did they put the fire out in the middle of the day?
As Azula got closer the huts seemed a little more put together with smoother edges and walls not looking like they were about to collapse, more livable. She got to the center of the town a little confused that she hadn't seen a single person. Did the town already turned in for the night? Sure, it was a little darker than before, but definitely not late enough to turn in.
"Hello? Uh, anybody here?" At these words one man stepped out from a snow cave. He was tall, probably a couple of years older than her. He had dark hair shaved on the side with the rest pulled up into a ponytail. He was actually kind of cute. He was clearly dressed for battle holding a spear in one hand and his face covered in paint. That would explain the silence! Maybe half of the tribe broke away and they were having a civil war that she interrupted!
"I see that you are dressed for battle. I am sorry to interrupt, but I am here for the avatar."
The warrior seemed to relax, "You mean you aren't here to raid us?"
Azula laughed, "Of course not! I am from the Fire Nation. I'm not from a crew of pirates or anything. Why would I raid you?"
The warrior's face scrunched up, "The Fire Nation used to pull raids here all the time when I was young to steal away our water benders. I thought you were here to finish what they started and conquer us completely."
Azula frowned. If the water benders were gone the Southern Water Tribe would be half as powerful and wouldn't need to be conquered. Wait, wrong point! Fire Nation raided the water tribe! "Did this happen to the Northern Water Tribe as well?"
"I'm sure it would've, but that tribe is about 20 times as large as we were and was more than 50 percent water benders. Down here we only had about 20 percent."
"But this cannot be! The Fire nation is in a small skirmish with the Earth Kingdom to gain the islands just off the main land!"
"I don't mean to be rude or anything, but do you really think that a skirmish for a patch of islands would last 100 years?"
The world started to spin as Azula realized he was right. How had she never thought of that before! "I need to speak with the avatar! Is he here?"
The young warrior nodded. Then a young man around her age came out of the same snow cave. He was shorter than the water tribe warrior but held himself with confidence. He had the traditional markings of an air bending master crawling over his head, down his head, and she guessed his feet as well. Something was sexy about the way his tattoos disappeared under his sleeves. "You are the avatar?" She asked, "But you are so young! The avatar should be about 118 years old!"
The avatar looked at her, "Uh haha, that's actually a long story. The good news is that I am new to the war as well. So, I know exactly how you feel."
Azula sighed, "It is good to not be the only one in the dark." Feeling a little more comfortable she took her hood off revealing her face. The avatar and water tribe warrior's faces both changed from horror back to neutral expressions very quickly, but it was still there nonetheless.
"I am Azula, daughter of Ozai, rightful heir to the throne of the fire nation. I have been banished for the time being, unless I can bring the avatar back home. Which I don't really think is an option anymore."
The Avatar smiled, "I am Aang and relieved that this didn't have to come to a fight, you look," he looked her up and down making her want to blush, "well prepared. And I gotta say I am a just a little bit rusty."
The water tribe coughed into his shoulder, "Yah, like 100 years rusty." He stood up straight and held out a hand for her to shake, "I'm Sokka! You could have met my sister, but she ran off crying when she saw the smoke from your boat. Pretty traumatic for her."
Azula assumed the worst, "Oh, I'm sorry about that."
Sokka shook his hand, "Eh doesn't matter! We are all so glad you aren't here to kill us! This is great."
"Yah, but there is someone else I would like to kill." Azula turned around and stormed off back toward her boat. The boys unsure of what else to do followed her. She got outside the gate and could see the bay, but no boat.
She heard Sokka behind her, "Well this is awkward… Looks like they knew about the war." She felt a hand lightly touch her shoulder, "Are you okay?" It was Aang. She sighed, no she was not okay! Her flipping country was a bunch of lying pigs!
"I'll be okay. So, Avatar what's the plan? Aren't you all about balance and such? Ruling all of the nations can't be good."
Aang nodded, "I agree. That's why I am planning to take down the fire lord. I mean if that's okay with you?"
Azula smiled, "I would love nothing more, where do we start?"