THE BLUE DRAGON
MIDDLE

1. Lively

Children play an odd sort of game in the village street, their mothers watching from individual yards; Azula sips at her tea, and compares this Earth Kingdom village to one in the Fire Nation, and sorrows for her people.

2. Remorseful

"I'm sorry I can't help you," Piandao says, even as he hands her a pai sho tile- white lotus, a copy of Iroh's favorite piece- "but I've heard no rumors of the Avatar in my domain- have you tried the Earth Kingdom?"

3. Dismiss

Ozai's pale with rage, hands shaking that little bit that tells anyone with eyes and knowledge that he is seconds away from firebending; "Azula, you will apologize to General Isamu, and then get out!"

4. Heavy

Her uncle is a heavy weight across her shoulders, but heavier is his disapproval- Azula ignores him as best as she can, because that is the only way she knows how to deal with him.

5. Forward

Azula is, unfortunately, taking a sip of her drink when the man leans over her shoulder and whispers something crude in her ear; the only good part of the evening is spitting all over Iroh in shock, and then kicking the rude man's ass around the tavern three times and then out the door.

6. Prowl

Azula knows exactly where she's going, because her guardian and kitsune prowl the nights ahead of them, following the faint trail to the Avatar.

7. Cut

"Our hairstyles give us away, and the further we get from the colonies, the worse it will get," Azula says, and before Iroh can reply she's cut her hair short, chin length, and thrown the rest into the stream.

8. Compromise

"I'm going," Azula says, but Iroh replies "I should go, I'm older and won't be missed," and by the set of his jaw and the look in his eyes, Azula knows he's not going to let her leave on her own, so she sighs and offers the only thing that will make him yield, "We can go together."

9. Impulse

Iroh is studying knives laid out for view; firebenders traveling in the Earth Kingdom risk much, and no 'bender would carry a weapon, but they are very expensive- he looks up to check on Azula, and sees her warning off several men- he buys three knives and resolves to teach her how to use them.

10. Hush

The her guardian spirits can talk, but choose not to; they are here, she hopes, with Agni's blessing, but whether any other spirit will regard their presence favorably- best not to risk it.

11. Morals

The girl is practically a baby, and hurt so badly; the entire town is cowed by the Fire Nation soldiers, but Azula's from- elsewhere- and that her own people have fallen so badly, well- of course she has to do something, and with fire dancing in her grasp, she even knows what.

12. Engage

Azula is thirteen- back at the Fire Nation, in the capital, she would be presented officially to the court as a young woman, and families would begin competing for the honor of marrying one of their sons to her- and at the moment, all she can feel is frustration, as her uncle gives her some useless feminine frippery yet again!

13. Voice

The Blue Spirit would clap his hands over his ears, but it's a useless gesture- after all, Iroh's singing can probably be heard back in the Fire Nation, let alone on the roof, and if this keeps up, participation in the Earth Kingdom's spring festival or not, he'll cut the man's tongue out and be done with it.

14. Awkward

"Iroh, there is- that is- I need, ah- IthinkIhavemymoontime."

15. Lower

Huong Ming is a peasant, orphaned and traveling with an old family friend, willing to do whatever odd job is available in the towns she travels through, to help Mushi with the money situation; Azula is surprised at herself, at how quickly she takes to common chores.

16. Plead

It is certainly the most interesting request for help the healer has ever received; "Please," the young, gold eyed girl asks, babbling man leaning heavily on her shoulder, "put him out of my misery."

17. Caring

Iroh cannot bring himself to trust the spirits that have attached themselves to his niece, but he also cannot deny that her safety and happiness are the first thing they consider in every situation.

18. Believe

"The Avatar is not dead, Iroh, and I will find him, however long it takes!"

19. Found

At first she thinks they're pirates, but then the leader of the rag-tag group of gold- and green-eyed men gives a shout and claps Iroh on the shoulder, yelling something about having 'found you, you thrice damned landlubber!'

20. Shield

Iroh occasionally talks about his experiences fighting 'benders of earth and water, and he makes sure to mention their defenses, particularly the ease both elements create shields, though what he's trying to convey, Azula doesn't know.

21. Open

Iroh remembers a happier time, when his son and nephew lived, when his brother was aggressive but not bloodthirsty, when Ursa was sane and Azula was open to a little advice now and then.

22. Tactile

She likes touching them, black silk under her fingers one minute, silver fur sliding under her palms the next; at times they seem so very other that it is only by touching them she can assure herself that they're still there, physical and bound to the earth and to her.

23. Journey

When she turns eleven, the princess develops an interest in maps, the training of the foot soldiers, in the logistics of supply; she lets people think what they may, even as she continues to prepare for her journey.

24. Scowl

The expression is as much a fixture of her face as her nose, so it is all the more surprising when she changes, and the scowl drops away to be replaced by a brilliant, beautiful smile.

25. Hero

To the soldiers of her own nation, she is a horror, a traitor who cannot be predicted or tracked, but to the Earth Kingdom citizens forced to bow to their new overlords, she is closer to being a hero.

26. First Kiss

He's only a little older than she is, and his family is on the other side of the burnt out barn, figuring out what's needed to repair the fire damage; Azula's nervous but she surges forward and up anyways, clicking her teeth against his as she mashes their lips together in a bruising kiss.

27. Lies

"I don't need you" after Iroh's talked her out of a chancy situation again; "I could have done that myself" after he's spoken with one of his White Lotus contacts and gotten them information desperately needed; "I wish you'd just go away" after spending nearly two weeks nursing him back to health after he'd been bitten by a snake; but the only thing she says that probably isn't a lie cuts him the deepest- "I hate you."

28. Happy birthday to you

The anniversary of the destruction of the Air Nomads, the day the war officially started, is a bitter one for the Earth Kingdom, and a celebration in the Fire Nation; that day, on noon, Azula is officially one year older, and as always wishes she'd had the misfortune to be born in winter, like her brother.

29. Fireworks

The Earth Kingdom celebrates their new year in early spring, and they celebrate by crowding the streets, hanging paper lanterns everywhere, and yelling, but Azula's favorite part is when, once the sun has completely set, they light the fireworks and fill the sky with multicolored bursts of light.

30. Daybreak

This is something she does alone, or at least, without any other mortals around; with the Blue Spirit to her left, and the kitsune to her right, she sits wherever there's privacy and watches the sun rise, muttering a prayer to Agni as it does.