I do not own Avatar the Last Airbender (IdnoAtLA ) Please enjoy my story! All constructive feedback welcome.
Real quick, since each season is a book and each episode is a chapter: I decided to call each story a chapter and each
actual individule chapter in said story a Page to keep with the whole book theme. Additionally, All stories I write may contain: Violence, death, torture, betrayal, pairings and any other twist, nasty or virtuous thing. I will not give away a plot point by going "Warning contains Char death/Sex/Rape/ etc" Read my story and be prepared for any of it. ENJOY!
Book 4: Spirit
Chapter 1: Azula's Lost Days
Previously on Avatar:
Azula glared at Mai, the utter shock was evident on her face. Why, why would Mai choose her failure of a brother and treason over her? "I guess you just don't know people as well as you think you do…" Mai spoke in that infuriatingly monotone voice of hers as she looked up defiantly at the Fire Princess. "You miscalculated. I love Zuko more than I fear you."
Azula felt something inside her snap as her normally calculating and composed expression screwed up into a twisted snarl as she lost control. "No you miscalculated! You should have feared me more!" Azula took her stance as Mai drew out a knife. It didn't matter. Mai would pay for betraying her, for choosing Zuko. Azula lanced out her arm to Bend when two sharp jabs left her unable to move, with Ty Lee's extended arm being the last thing she saw, as her momentum drove her to the hard metal floor.
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Azula's victory over her defiant hair was short lived as her wide smile withered and she gazed in shock at her mother's reflection. She hadn't changed at all in the years since she was banished. She was still dressed in her royal finery as she was on that last fateful day she saw her. When, Grandfather had ordered her father to kill Zuko. That was the day when her mother had shown how all she loved was Zuko, how there was nothing left in her heart for Azula. Her anger flared as she listened to her. "Don't pretend to act proud. I know what you really think of me…" Azula snapped at her mother's reflection, unwilling to turn and look at the woman who abandoned her.
Ursa's voice was soft and kind, exactly the way she would speak to Zuko, never the way she would speak to her. "I think you're confused; all your life you've used fear to control people, like your friends Mai and Ty Lee." Azula's face scrunched up, as her eyes burned and she closed her eyes trying to shut out her mother's words.
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Zuko stood resolute. Determination was set in the eyes of the banished prince as he stared at his sister from across the courtyard. Katara was still staring in shock at Zuko's plan to take Azula on alone and at the height of her power. "There's something off about her. I can't explain it, but she's slipping" Zuko said in a quiet confidence.
Katara looked from Zuko's grim face back to Azula's, and she winced at the crazed smile and wide eyes rimmed with dark lines from what must have been lack of sleep. She swallowed and knew Zuko was playing a dangerous game.
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"You mean it's not obvious yet?!" Azula screamed in an uncharacteristically emotional voice as Zuko looked up at his sister from her airship. His eyes narrowed at her less than stellar control over herself. "I'm about to celebrate becoming an only child!" With a wild eyed expression and a cruel smile The Fire Princess grabbed the railing and lanced a kick, sending wild, hot, blue, flames screaming towards her brother. The thought of watching him burn and ending the horrific nightmare of his existence, the thought of no one being able to choose him over her ever again, nearly made her heart burst with elation.
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Azula stared deep within the flickering flames of the bon fire her brother and friends shared at Ember Island; her voice carried itself softly into the night, softer than the salt laden air from the ocean in a rare moment of introspection. "My own mother thought I was a monster…"
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"…you think I'm a monster." Azula half accused and half bitterly accepted as she tore her eyes from her mother. She felt a sick knot in her stomach, as she pulled her eyes from her mirror, not sure if she was turning her back on her mother, or on the wild haired reflection she saw gazing back at her.
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Azula saw her brother lying prone, vulnerable and helpless as the wasteful scum her father, always knew her brother to be. She watched him twitch as left over lightning crackled around him. She felt a thrill she hadn't felt in years; she charged, as the Water Tribe peasant rushed in to help him. She didn't realize, as she managed a staggered run as her arms flailed limply, that she was laughing like a twisted child given sweets.
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Azula summoned up her indignation at her mother's attack against her character and turned defiantly towards her. Her sleep deprived body leaning heavily against the table for support. Why did she choose now to return from banishment? Did she just want to tarnish Azula's coronation? Did she have to taint that as well? "Well what choice do I have!?" Azula challenged the woman who deserted her so many years ago, because Zuko was more important than she was…
…She could not take anymore. She grabbed the hair brush, eyes burning so much as she spun, and heaved it with all her might at her mirror. The massive shattering and crashing of the broken pieces of the mirror masked the sound of her knees hitting the floor and the first few seconds of her sobbing.
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Azula nearly hyperventilated as she panted and struggled against the chains that the Water Tribe bitch tied her down with. She stared, fixated on her brother. Her rage and humiliation built with each breath until her heart was overflowing and she felt as if she were choking. Finally it caught in her throat and her face shot down and her eyes closed tightly feeling bile rise up as if she was going to be sick. She lost. Not just the Agni Kai, she lost everything. She was utterly and unequivocally alone and defeated. It was too much for her pride to take and all reason and rational deserted her. She screamed, and she poured all her rage and misery into a disturbingly beautiful and uncontrollable blast of blue flame from her mouth. She screamed and screamed until the force of her flames forced her back, stretching her back painfully past her exhausted body's limits. The final humiliation was her own flames turning on her. Something inside her gave and she just sobbed brokenly; tears streamed down her face in rivers as she used the last of her strength to right herself as best she could, and with one final, choking sob passed out into merciful blackness.
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