Many people might think my job was boring and stupid… and it was, as you'll soon see. As for my recent past: for two years, I had basically been hiding… who knows from what. I had wandered aimlessly through the Earth Kingdom, until I came to Ba Sing Xe. It was strange being a part of the hustle and bustle of a city, after being alone for so long.
I stood by my cabbage cart, watching the small procession go by. People around me shrunk back and bowed. How was I supposed to know what that was all about? It was unusual enough to see such a procession traveling through the lower ring of the city. Instead of bowing, I tried to see what the procession was all about. In the middle of this procession was a litter, in which a teenage girl rode. She glanced around, barked out an order, and the procession halted. A blue fireball flew at me, and I quickly ducked… my cart shattered, and cabbages flew all over the street. My boss- the cabbage man- was going to kill me for this. A sharp voice rose from the litter, "Dai Li: arrest him and take him to the palace."
"Damn… lost my job and got arrested in two seconds." I thought to myself, as two Dai Li agents bound my arms with their rock gloves, and led me behind the procession.
An hour later, I stood in the palace, in front of a giant throne. On the throne sat the same teenage girl- but now I recognized her, I knew her- Azula, Princess of the Fire Nation.
"Kneel," she ordered, and I was forced to my knees by the two Dai Li agents. They quickly backed away, as Azula stood up. "Your name?"
"Roku."
"Hmph… named after Avatar Roku? He was a firebender, not a peasant." She paused, staring at me as I rose to my feet, "I ordered you to kneel. Defiance is bad. You will learn obedience." She stood up with a smirk; she moved her hand slowly in a circle, the air around her crackled dangerously.
I spun around, and the lightning hit the rock that encased my arms. I turned to face Azula, but she was now sitting on her throne.
"Mai. He's all yours."
A girl in red robes jumped out of the shadows. A shower of small knives flew out of her sleeve. I slipped off my shirt and spun it in front of me. The knives flew into it and stayed stuck; I dropped the shirt. She drew a dagger and slashed at me. I ducked under it, and tried to kick her feet out from under her. With cat-like reflexes, she jumped back, out of my range.
A thought entered my head… a quote my master had used often as he had trained me. "Basics! Break your opponents root." Time seemed to slow down as a thought entered my mind, "why have I been hiding? It's a gift, not a curse…" I took a deep breath and breathed out.
A column of fire and smoke flew out of my mouth. As I stepped forward, small waves of fire sped towards Mai's feet. She stumbled backward, off balance. She fell, and I stood there with a fire around my hands. It felt good to play with fire again.
"Enough!" shouted Azula. A bolt of lightening flew at me. I redirected it, remembering what my master had taught me. A flash of pink; several quick jabs, and I fell to the ground, unconscious…
Hope to get new chapters up every week or so, depends on how much time i get and everything. please R&R!