Hello :3 I've been writing this fan fic and it starts out a little slow, and in my opinion awkward, but it does get better! Haha!
Chapter 1
Since we were little, I'd been Azula's Chamber Maid, a Lady in Waiting of sorts. Being but two years older than her, I was hardly skilled at my job, and perhaps I spoiled her. I've often been described as a mouse: skittish and eager to please if it keeps me out of trouble. I suppose that's why I'm the only one she's had for more than a few months. She resents authority with a passion unrivaled by the most anarchical of criminals, and I wielded no authority with her, only subservienthood. She viewed me as a pet, and I suppose she developed a soft for me.
I remember my first day as her maid; she was six, I eight. She was in the courtyard, and I was forced to watch, horrified as she flung rocks at turtleducks. Quietly, I entreated her, "Please don't throw rocks at the birdies!" She responded with a sharp, "I'll do as I please!" One of the rocks hit a duckling, knocking it out of the air a few feet from us. I stood over the bird, and instantly knew he was dead. I glanced up at Azula, and for a moment, I thought I saw pity, maybe even remorse in her eyes. Quickly, though, it was replaced with a sneer, and she stomped off to the other side of the yard to continue stoning animals. Grateful for her absence, I sobbed quietly on my knees, digging a make-shift grave to put the broken bird to rest.
I learned my place that day, and it defined the rest of our relationship. When I brought the wrong tea, she threw it at me, told me to clean it up. If I took a step too close to her, she would instantly whip around and drill me about showing the proper respect for a future queen. When she noticed me eying her brother curiously, and later, as I began to mature, more desirously, she taunted me, and reminded me of my low status. "Peasants don't marry royals, Hanabi," she would sneer. Of course, I also saw her moments of weakness. When news of her mother's disappearance reached her, she stared blankly at a wall for a full hour before ordering me to leave the room. When I closed the door behind me, sounds of destruction and agony seeped from her room. I knew she had always been vying for her mother's attention and affection. She felt inadequate, knowing Zuko was the favorite. I knew she felt she had failed, and maybe she blamed herself for her mother's desertion. Upon re-entering, I discovered ripped pillows, curtains torn down, vases broken, and Azula looking cool and collected, as if she hadn't caused-or even noticed- the chaos around her. She slipped past me quietly, more than likely to go take out her rage by torturing Zuko, and I was left to clean up the mess.
It was inevitable that at some point I would run away. I'd spent my life attempting to please Azula, nodding only when appropriate. I wanted to learn to think for myself. I dreamt of the freedom other girls my age had. I had maintained a crush on Zuko for a few months, secretly entertaining thoughts of becoming close to him, and I understood if I left there would be no more seeing him. But after Zuko's banishment, I had nothing and no one to hold me back. I worked out a plan for years after he left, carefully plotting out every detail and when the night of my escape would finally arise, I could not have been luckier, for murmurs of the Avatar's return had the entire palace distracted. I tip-toed out of my room, and past a cluster of guards, all debating whether or not the Avatar was a fairy tale, and made my way toward the gate. The two guards stationed at the door were hunched over each other discussing the appearance of the avatar, puzzling about his age. Apparently, the avatar was 112 with the body of a twelve year old. I held back a snort. Surely this was a rumor spread by the Earth and Water nations to deter the Fire Nation from its goal. Not that I cared if the Fire Nation won the war. I knew from the stories that the Earth Nation people were vile pigs, and the Water Tribes were full of deceivers, as wishy-washy as the liquid they trusted so much. But knowing Azula and her father, who banished my crush, I wasn't sure the Fire Nation was so wonderful either. I was able to slip past them easily enough. I stepped on a stick that broke with a loud crack, and they looked up for a moment before deciding their discussion was too interesting to put on hold. I slowly scaled the wall, which was ridiculously tall. Toward the top, my arms almost gave way, but my body understood that if we fell, it had no chance. It pulled itself up the last few feet, and I sat at the top of the wall panting, praying the Yu Yan Archers would not see me until I was at least able to run. I eyed a vigilant Archer in a watch-tower several yards from me. I had to choke back a sob of fear, realizing that more than likely, he would be the one to kill me.
The chances of my making it alive were slim, and I had known that the whole time planning, but this was the first time it really hit home. I clutched a small knot made of red string meant to give me luck, and said a quick prayer before hopping the edge and scurrying down the wall. It was easier this time, adrenaline stores providing my body with large tides of energy. I dashed for the woods, and became a bit cocky when I made it half-way through the field without the Archer noticing. As if he could sense my expanding ego, the Archer sent an arrow my way, grazing my right shoulder. I gave a small cry as another one pierced my left. I stumbled and fell as third flew right through where my heart would have been had I not tripped. I had mere seconds to pry myself off the ground and fling myself aside before another arrow lodged itself in the ground beside me. I had no idea how I would make it. I managed to dodge another arrow, and another, and almost stepped right into one as he predicted my reactions. I wasn't going to make it. I felt rage well up in me: after all, how dare anyone come between me and my freedom. I surprised myself by plucking an arrow straight from the air, a reflex I contributed to catching all the tea pots I'd had hurled at me throughout the years, and snapped it in half. My boldness caught the archer off guard, and he took a moment to send a flaming arrow into the sky, flair to call for back-up. Panicking, I forced myself to resume my mad dash for the shelter of the woods. Slowly, more arrows began to rain down on me, first a sprinkle, then an all out monsoon. I shouldn't have survived, but the wind turned wild, confusing their aim. Gusts blew the arrows off their course, and several times even sent arrows flying the other way. I rejoiced as the woods drew nearer, and finally I managed to take refuge behind a tree, and wondered if I had simply gotten lucky, or if those winds had been supernatural…..