[Royal Palace]

For a noble not to serve at least for some time in the military was a disgrace. A service that some took them more seriously than other. For a rich or powerfull there was a nice escape, do your duty in the royal guard. Prestegious, with all the off dutie pleasures the capital had to offer and of course secure. With a bit wit there were quite a few secrets to hear, contacts with other important families to make and you silently learned the way things worked at the palace. Only a few grim veterans from the front lines actually had the harsh requiements - immage had to be maintained after all. The perfect position... well that is if you are not close to princess Azula.

Usually unconfortable and prone to hurt she had gotten even worse after her return - on a good day. Her personal servant already confirmed that it was that time of the month and wisly took a day off. Then she had a conference all morning, the two smashed behind the big metal doors had an inking on her mood. It was not a good place to be anywhere in the palace, let alone in the guard at her first 'training' session to blow off steam... and occasionally body parts.

[Azula pov.]

Telegraphing your moves to lure me in, for once not butchering the moves. Is that... this isn't an opening to lure me in but your actual attack? How... how can ANYONE think that this is a good idea, even if you DO hit you have no escape out. Not to mention the foot, ah the whole stanche is wrong. How can you get it that wrong, that's nearly two inches with the left foot, the angle of your right arm is 3,5 degrees off, and even the breath is not deep enough. I hear that even you maggot can go more steady and deeper. Heck, I was better when i was five - and that was before dad started training me. I refuse to belive that this is the niveau of our fire bender, let alone royal guard.

Here, THIS is how you block and... already flying? How could I make this easier to dodge? An earth bender could dodge that attack! I don't even feel the heat, did he hold back? Or am I really that far above their level? How do you even fight if you are that weak. Is... he IS unconcious. ONE weak hit...

"I SAID you don't have to hold back. Next."

Fear... what... WHAT IS THIS SUPPOSED TO BE? YOU YOU RAPIST! YOU RAPE THE NOBLE ART OF FIREBENDING! DIE SCUM! Oh, already smashed one there, lucked out this time. But only because I heared some ribs of the other criminal offender break.

"Next."

No, don't even try. Let's have a training accident... he's alive? Oh, the heat in front of the fireball created a vortex and carried him. Interesting, maybe I'll use that. Seems at least the armor is somewhat usefull, it did protect.

"Next."

A diffrent stance? Hmm... defensice, compleatly against our doctrin this could be interesting... no.

"Is this supposed to be a joke?"

This is not even a school of bending. Either you make up moves as you go or one I've not read about it yet. But going from the level of competence and the fact I know a LOT of schools you're just failing epically at this.

"NEXT."

Nespotism, they have to be here because of their connections, not because of skill. Never joined a proper bending school. Our benders are not that pathetic and weak... nor cowards. A... you didn't do that... you didn't just... you did. I never thought this ... this atrocity would be possible with fire bending. You got yourself a nice little training accident, let's test this armors on lightning resistance. Let's see how many walls I can cut through with this rage. Gather the power, absorbe that weak fire... doesn't even get through the outer flames of energy conversation. Bath in the power, the feeling of being a god. Mark the path in your brain while feeling the power...

"Fire princess Azula, the a-"

FOOL... change ... the path... I... can... do... this! Whew...now at least one challange today. Raining steel, how thick is the roof? Eh, less than battleship armament, and this would've cut through without a problem. No on to YOU servant. No, not today, I won't suffer those fools. Can't I'd kill half of them. . . Oh thank the spirits, an escape. A competent face to brighten my day. Or rather darken it, eh Mai?

"Ah right the private audience with my old friend Mai. I'll be done here in a second."

Thought you got away? After what you've done to my beautiful bending? HA! Well... not exactly as planned, but I guess smashing through the wall head first into the toilets will do for now. I could swear there were two dozen when I started, and I've only gotten through to number six. At least some have a bit of a brain and stealth. Fine. This is quite important, and I rather not see what the rest of you ants think passes for bending skill ...

"I suggest you take your training more seriously. Dismissed."

So you CAN move rather fast if you want to. Messenger, this means you too. I dare you to tell me what to do. Give me an excuse... no? Not that suicidal? Good, he get's it. He'll learn in time. Mai, still see our sign language... do you - yes you do understand. Now where was that secret entrance... there

As it is I gave the guards enough initiative to follow. And this little chamber is new, a little addition of my own. The only people who did know about this addition were the prisoners helping me build it. Their ash doesn't tell any tales.

"Coffe, pitch black?"

A simple nod, always the conversionalist. Let us start with the official reason, the industrial complex in Omashu. A fortress close to the front lines, mines close a perfect place... well if you disregard the roads and ignore the rebels. There WILL be a war there, one I might have to lead myself in any case. The elite earth bender army of King Bumi is basically unscratched, the rebellion is 'silent' but get's rolling and our high command just doesn't want to see the problem. Everyone is focused on Ba Sing Se, or more precise to secure a foothold there. I've fought for an appropriate army and all I got was a few companies of third grade troops and invalids. Not even that... the problem is you CAN ignore the problem as long as we hold the city and secure a perimeter arround the streets. It will come back to haunt us, but we can do this. On the other hand I had to convince them not to concentrate ALL our ressources there. Speaking about it, let's get over the political part.

"How is your family doing, Lady Mai?"

"Fire princess Azula, my family thanks for your generous support in new Ozai."

I get your sarcasm. True your family got less because of me, and we both know your father doesn't want any troops. Especially not third rate, criminals, routed units and the like. As a bonus he can't command them properly to safe this life. Not even if there was not the mess of command chain with units from three diffrent armies. Gives him quite the hedache, and you've got quite enough on your own plate with my foolish brother. Yet if your family pushes the point and your father makes a stance he IS the highest ranking officer in his damn city. Which is the idea.

"Your father commands enough troops for the rank of a general."

Technically correct, if you add garnision, call the support and logistic groups 'troops' and recruit some of the workers. She gets it and all it's implications. You know the true power is with the high command, the admirals and generals - who are from the same noble families that controle whole regions and major cities.

You need both, but as everyone knows your father is no general. Even now new Ozai doesn't count as major city but major fortress. Your family plans to change that, the next generation - Tom Tom would be in a position to make the jump. You know all this. You are nearly as politicial sawy as family will control the whole region as one of the major players because of me.

"They belong to diffrent armies and are only there to resupply."

Yet all you see are the problems. True there will be quite a few. At the moment the only thing your family sees is trouble.

"Armor and weapons, a bit of drill and third class troops will get to regular can't get worse at any rate. Your family equipps them, your family drills them, your recruits join them, the govenor requested a bigger guard - and builds one himself. Can hardly chose anyone else but him as a general."

They could if they get wind from this.

"The high comand will love this idea. You know how well my father fights his battles."

Or set him up with tasks to fail as you imply. Why does everyone think I set them up? First Zuko, now you... ok fine, bad question I do often do that. Often enough that I did use Zuko out of habit as failsafe. In my defense the case was a one in a million chance.

"Continued production of new Ozai has priority over securing a few mountain villages. Competent officers count for much, delegate the task to someone trustworthy. Speaking about trust..."

Pause, we're getting there. You rarely kill, I wonder because you find incapitating enemies less boring or something else.

"Ozai won't accept a weak sucessor and Zuko is weak."

Not as weak as those guards... well in a way even weaker. Won't even kill a child or incarnate a village if it served his purpous... at least he doesn't butcher firebending.

"I don't follow."

"The story goes even further down the line, but it comes down to General Iroh's weakness all those years back. Ba Sing Se had fallen. Our troops were ready, one final conclusive battle yet... he pulled back. The war would be over already but because of this weakness we still have not won. Ozai want's to secure his sucessor would make the right choice. Had I told Ozai I killed the avatar, brother would already be dead."

"I am supposed to believe that capturing Ba Sing Se count's for nothing?"

"Ozai sees the siege of the north pole as a victory because it allowed him to finally get the high treason charge on Iroh. The only reason my Uncle still is alive is his torment. In an ideal world you would marry Zuko and become my sister in law."

You get it, him or me... I already know your choice, yet you probably think diffrently. Can read nothing on that mask, hope you can't neither.

"This might come to pass if you can sway his views to the doctrin of my father and I show I've got NO interest in the throne. Show, not actually have no interest. I'd be content enough, boring tasks get's Zuko, I get nearly all of the power with few of the duties. However... how probable do you think it is that Zuko actually becomes a ruthless tactician?"

"..."

Exactly none... good, it took ages but I know your telling signs. Now every word counts...

"I care for my family, even for my dumb treacherous uncle who is responsible for the last decades of war. I could, no should have killed the old broken man. Zuko had a suicidal task - capture the avatar.I should have left him, and set up an accident. Instead I gave up my own honor and redeemed my brother, yet even you think I set him up."

I did and you know it, yet the rest is true too.

"Quite the story."

She does not quite believe me, I've to get through to her. Somehow get her out of should do it.

"Tell me are you pregnant?"

"This is NONE of your business Azula."

Quite the contrary and you know it. Sucession, conflicting loyalties, and should you be pregnant things might still work out.

"If my 'loyal' assassin has conflicting loyalties it IS my business. It is a simple question, a simple yes or no Mai."

"No, no I am not."

"An educated guess if your love can change his belief system?"

"It doesn't work that way, you do not understand love."

It is true, I don't understand love. I guess it is some form of strong loyalty. Heck how should I know? Never was loved, never loved myself. You are more useful treasured tools. But just because I can't understand love I won't disregard it as unimportant nor weakness. I am not my father. One wrong word now and only one of us two leaves this room...

"Everything is messed up. This should be a triumph, a few years of cleaning up, then we would rule the world. Damn, I... I think I am slowly loosing it Mai. The comet does not only increase power, but also causes mental instability."

Why... why am I telling her this right now... at least there is not a dagger in my throat right now. Or rather my arm, if I get an instant to react.

"Is that plan true... the one Ty Lee rambled about in her sleep?"

"There are a few logical reasons for it, we simply can't occupy that much. Burn the most rebellious part to break the rest."

Zuko would throw a fit, much like Ty Lee. I am exalted about the ode of destruction and mastery of firebending and you Mai... you don't care about it. You don't care about the end of the world if it would not affect yourself and your desires. This is why I respect you.

"Zuko would never follow a plan like that."

"True, but still things might work out. Yet that would be the best case and you know my opinion about them."

"They do not happen. So what do you propose?"

"If it actually comes down to it a third option. In the outrageous scenario that crown prince Zuko has lied to the fire Lord and follows the traitorous footsteps of Iroh..."

She does not really believe me, that I actually go there. I do say the truth more often than not. Well, even more I love to tell not quite the full story. Half truth and ormiting details is important, as important as knowing your allies and enemies.

"See, I don't like small children and our line somehow has to go on. As it stands I might arrange a secret night should he be traitor… or even try to get it official."

And she can blush. Never thought that would be possible, yet it answers my question. I should have tried hooking the two up, maybe a drug… wonder what Mai sees in my brother anyway. At least their offspring would have a small chance not to be like Zuko.

"There is nothing wrong with your love, Mai. ZuZu is now the CROWN prince after all. I even approve of you as a sister in law. With you as mother there might even be hope. The problem is I doubt father would see it my way, and you know how much I like to be forced to do something."

Now a few things you don't now.

"During the eclipse fire bending won't be possible for eight minutes."

Now that's what I call gaping. I've truly become a monster... it finally sinks in. Well, it actually is the decision between killing my brother or killing my father. Both have strong cases, but killing both isn't in the cards... yet.

"Azula, are you mad? Even just suggesting that…"

This is why I like you, you get me. I want you to assassinate the crown prince.

"I didn't suggest anything, I am just plotting out a scenario. Nothing can happen to our esteemed father, since the avatar is dead. But in the scenario is alive, even our esteemed fire Lord will lose a fight against the avatar without fire. Crushed below a stone like a bug…"

Or rather his dead body crushed by one of my agents by Earthbending so it looks like the Avatar did it. Wonder if you get the hint.

"That scenario has too many ifs to be plausible. If there actually is a group strong and desperate enough to make an attempt during the eclipse"

Which, as we both know is a given. You also know that I always plan for the worst 'if' case with the avatar. So this how I expect things to work out.

"If they somehow break through our garrisons, deal with all our precisions, manage to hit the critical time and find the hidden fire Lord. Even for a dedicated group of elite warriors with the Avatar this is nearly impossible."

And we all know the Avatar usually does the impossible.

"The point is moot anyway. As you know the Avatar was hit with lightning. NOTHING has ever survived that, yet… he was in a strange state. Neither his body nor his water bending wrench has been found. Anyway provided he IS alive and manages all that… there STILL is the problem that our young kind hearted boy that IS the avatar has with killing. Ah… so many ifs. It is a lot more probable that assassins try to use that timing window… Mai,if you are bored you may guard this secret passage, few know about it. It directly leads to the true safe room for our 'beloved' fire lord."

"That assassin would have to fight against the fire Lord and eight men of his personal guard. Quite a waste if you ask me. I will voce my opinion they should be used to hold the line during the eclipse. Same with a few Di Lee, but they will stay on the off chance the avatar gets there. Of course just one or two, nothing you or the remaining guards couldn't hold at bay. Few know about these layout anyway, and it's only a few minutes. Say, do I bore you?"

I clear the way for you as much as I can, the avatar or my earth bender will take the blame and Zuko will be fire lord – or at least survive if I get the throne.

"This sounds as boring as our last trip."