Suki tested her bindings once again, boredom had overtaken her days back. Barely hours after leaving Boiling Rock in fact she found herself frequently testing her bonds, finding some excuse to move around, to fidget. The relief was was transient and she sighed and shifted in her seat again.
Perhaps in another lifetime or as a another person she would have been thrilled to be here, exhilarated beyond belief at the people and sights; awed by the majesty and empire. Humbled the history surrounding her even. However, Suki was not Fire Nation. Suki was a Kyoshi warrior. The greatness of the Fire Nation was her failing. Their strength was her weakness, and simply being there inspired a wave of shame and remorse.
After all, how could such a soft people have broken the world so thoroughly? Mothers hugged their pudgy cheeked happy children, merchants hocked exotic spiced meats to smiling people passing by. Women oohed and awed at some shimmering fabric at a store front, holding their own exceedingly long sleeves in front of their mouthes as they demurely laughed at some private joke. How could such a soft looking people inspire so much fear? How could they so effectively rein down destruction?
Did they know how many families had been ripped apart across the Earth Kingdoms and Water Tribes? Could they remember the Air Nomads now disappeared from the planet? Would they mourn the Avatar?
Suki turned her head up to the sky, and allowed the wind to dry her unshed tears. Her warriors were imprisoned, some of her friends were very likely gone, and her home far behind. Her chains, exceedingly short held her hands too far down for her to wipe her eyes without ducking her head between her knees. It was a precaution her warden had taken. Shortly after they had landed at port, and she had been transferred to the cart. She had taken it upon herself to jump over the side to stretch her legs. Her guards had over-reacted off course. After all, even if she had attempted to escape where could she have possibly gone? The Capital was a rather well fortified island with an exceedingly homogeneous population; her auburn hair turned most heads, while her prison garb made the people gawk.
Eyes dried she looked around again. The short ox-buffallo drawn cart had begun ascending the central mount of this island some time ago. It seemed as they rose in altitude the surroundings grew in opulence as the docks had melted into the markets had melted into the residences. Rich marbles gilded the multi-floor buildings in this area, engraved marble that looked as if it could stand for ages. Beautiful stained glass looking into the buildings in patterns and designs Suki had never seen in her brief life. Yet still even greater homes stood off in the distance. Iron wrought fences barring passage for the common people. Beautiful white cobble stone roads, pristine in the mid-day sky, yet standing out distinctly from the dark green forestry that encompassed the island.
Suki wondered how Ba-Sing-Se would compete, or the Capital of the Northern Water Tribe. The masonry of the most skilled of earth benders against the crystalline brilliance of pure ice habitations. But it was likely she'd have the opportunity to see neither. It was likely things would end here. Likely at the end of this particular road. Which very likely led to the imperial palace.
The cart stopped with little celebration. The palace guards stepped around the cart, inspecting her and wearily keeping watch. Her warden produced a scroll from his sleeve, and moment later her legs were freed. Led by the chains at her wrists Suki was pulled from the cart and led onto the Palace grounds.
And what a palace it was. Suki passed under a grand entry way, probably eighty feet high beneath a giant brass gong. Deep red lacquer embellished the dark brown doors which currently stood open. The palace was surrounded by an outer wall, probably thirty feet in height, white brick and patrolled by archers and intermittently a small group of guards. They were protected from the sun by burnt orange terra-cota roof that stood proudly against the bright clear blue sky. Inside the walls were grounds large enough to likely accommodate all those in the city below and then some. A wide white cobblestone road would lead deeper into the palace.
Off in the distance ahead was an additional wall, and some ancillary buildings. The outer courtyard was divided in two, on her left was a field of green interspersed with the odd tree, and rose bush. On her right was... something... It looked like a sunken pavilion or auditorium, she was too far away to tell. Whatever it was, it was patrolled heavily, men in light armor, red masks and bows. The Yu Yan archers. A very distinct clang of metal on metal grew as they approached.
But weapons weren't necessarily bad. Weapons meant fighting, fighting was opportunity. Freedom was beyond her, but maybe her end would be... interesting...
The sunken pit was indeed a pavilion. At the far side was a raised stage patrolled by further archers, an enormous slab of glassy Obsidian emerged from the ground behind it to act as a ceiling. In gently downward sloping semicircles off-center of the state were rows of benches, staired walkways between them, and in the very center was a grassy knoll occupied by several well-armed body guards tightly clustered, and all observing two armored female figures who slowly circled and occasionally struck out at one another. Off to side was table holding a number of armaments.
The first of the two was dressed in an off-white Gi, trimmed in red. Her waist length hair was braided tightly. She carried a short-sword at a high guard as she took slow steps to the right. Her adversary was in a low pose, a trident held firmly in both hands. Her short dark hair was hidden beneath an iron helm, her dark clothing interrupted by strips of metal. Her tan skin was marred by a burnt orange foundation across half her face. They had obviously been parrying for some time, sweat covered them both.
One of Suki's guards yanked on her manacles and she came to a stop. A second one walked forward around the mass of body-guard and took a knee, whispering something to the one they protected in the center. Several heads swiveled towards her, and a clean, crisp, young and most regal voice called out 'Stop!'. A voice that commanded respect, a voice that demanded respect. A voice most unique.
Both fighters froze in place and turned to face the princess. The tight swarm of body guards spread out, finally granting Suki a view. Princess Azula, without whom she wouldn't have been in this mess. Azula sat on a metal stool near the center of the grassy know. Though it was only a stool, she almost seemed reclined in her position. Her hair was done high in a knot. Her smile tight and as always her eyes calculating.
Suki's remaining guard unlatched one of her remaining chains and took a few steps back, so only the two foot long chain between her wrists remained. However all eyes rested on Azula.
"Whomever kills her gets the job." the princess called out dismissively with a flourish in her hand as if the entire affair were an afterthought.
The fighter in white moved like lightning, within a moment of the princess's words. Sword high and yelling out a battle cry she bore down on Suki. However momentum and volume rarely equated victory. Two quick steps towards the oncoming fighter prevented her from bringing her weapon down in time to strike, and Suki just spun in a quick circle, rolling around her attacker and from behind quickly striking at the back of her knee, sending the fighter in white sprawled into the grass, her sword falling a few feet away. The fighter in black, made no battle cry but was equally noisy in her approach. She raised her center of gravity as she closed the gap between her and Suki, stabbing down with her trident. Suki dove beneath the strike, rolling beside the very surprised warrior.
Springing up from her roll she launched herself hard at her attacker, driving her shoulder into the woman in black's lower black. Suki felt her lurch forward and begin to fall. The fall was quickly accompanied by a scream as the trident was inadvertently driven into the thigh of the warrior in white. The trident's prongs too deep to easily remove, the warrior in white could only sit prone as the her sword was taken up by her once enemy.
Suki brought her still chained hands together. Interlocking her fingers so the remaining loop of chain was brought between her thumbs and pointer fingers she braced for the next attack. The warrior in black allowed caution to slow her movement as she approached and took a swing at Suki with the short-sword whizzing through the air. However the blow was very much telegraphed and easily dodged. Suki stepped to the right and jumping high in the air, arms fully stretched out, hand still joined, twisted her body most sharply, and the short length of doubled chain attached to her manacles came down very heavily upon the remaining warrior's head.
With a loud crack she crumpled to the ground, and Suki was the only one left standing. Suki's heart was pounding, the only noise she could hear was her own breathing and the slow clap of the Fire Nation princess.
A/N - First time writing on in 5+ years. This is the first Last Airbender story I've written, but I've had this story on my mind for some time. Let me know what you think, and thanks to my beta, IGdude117.
