Intoduction: A Request
She stood on the balcony outside of her small room, her charcoal black hair swimming slightly in the invisible breeze. Her golden eyes scanned the grounds, watching her father's soldiers setting objects ablaze using nothing but their own hands. Boredom eventually reached the child, and she sauntered back into her quarters. With cat-like grace, she jumped and landed with a soft thump onto her silken covered bed. She looked around for signs of any guards nearby, and smiled slightly to herself as she realized that she was alone. From under her mountainous array of decorative pillows, she pulled out a small doll, dressed in the same scarlet robes as she, and softly stroked its strands of synthetic hair—
"Azula," a husky voice sounded from the entrance to her large room, "You know how the fire lord feels about toys."
"Let me be," the small girl instructed, without averting her gaze from the tiny object which she cradled gently.
"Your presence has been requested in the throne room. Your father would like to have a word." The guard was doing his best to look fearless and intimidating, but he could not hold a steady gaze.
Pathetic, he thought to himself, afraid of a child. Hold your head high, coward.
Azula bounced childishly off of her mattress, no sound emitted as her feet struck the floor. Hands held behind her back, she walked upright towards the muscular figure, which most would cower from in fear. She had no respect for this authoritative figure, let alone an inkling of cowardice towards him.
"Has this anything to do with my lessons? I've been keeping up with them," the young girl replied, "Would you like a demonstration?" Azula flashed into her fire-bending stance, one arm directly out in front of her, palm facing towards the guard. The guard gulped, a bead of sweat forming on his brow.
"I'm not sure what the fire lord has requested you for, princess. Please, if you would follow me…"
Azula shifted back to her regular stance.
"Alright," She said, "But if anything he says is to upset me, you'll be the first to know."
Azula pushed past the guard, and started down the torch-lit hallway.