Sorry it took so long. School and life got in the way and I just didn't have the inspiration, but I'm back and ready. I know just where this story is going and have got the next 2 going on 3 chapters written. I'm really excited. Thank you to all my readers, reviewers and people who have this on alert. This was written for you. Remember to Review. It helps with the next chapter.


Azula looked out her bedroom window and wondered where had the day gone. It was nightfall and she was due in her mother's moon room, but fear was holding her back. She could admit it, she was afraid. Her whole life had been one big great dream, were she was a little princess, her and Zuko got along, and war was something far off, but everything changed when her father died.

Ozai was the shinning light in Azula's life. He was everything she wanted to be, a great warrior and a wonderful dad. He played with her everyday and taught her new fire bending moves. She told him secrets and he never told anyone, he was her everything, "I miss him."

She had to say it out loud, to make it real. His death seemed like a bad dream and she was trying her hardest to forget it. She missed him more than ever and with no one, but Mai and Ty Lee to hold her up, she was falling fast. Mai and Ty Lee were her best friends, but they weren't her dad and they weren't fire benders. They didn't always see things like she did and she couldn't tell them all of her secrets, but they did help. They were there when her family didn't care and they really did try to help her. She was thankful for them.

A knock at her door snapped her out of thoughts, "Come in."

A servant around her age came into the room, "Princess Azula is to see Fire Lady Ursa at midnight."

Azula felt a rush of air from the window and turned away from the massager, "You may leave."

The princess heard the door click and knew she alone again. She was worried about what would happen, her mother was a grown woman and her mother. She should be hiding from the woman and running from her in fear, but she knew she would go to the woman tonight. If she didn't she had no idea what her punishment would be and she didn't want to find out. She shouldn't be afraid, she just spent the whole day with the woman, but she could feel tension the whole day.

First when they were shopping, Azula could feel her mother watching her. Any place they went into costumers were kicked out so the two women could shop in peace. She couldn't say she didn't enjoy the shopping cause she did, but she knew what was coming and that stopped the joy. They had seen so many pieces of clothing Azula head hurt when they left the store. Her mother had spent countless amounts of gold on clothing, half of it Azula would never wear, but she knew Mai and Ty Lee would come and raid the closet for her.

Next they went to the spa and that was the moment that stood out in Azula's mind the most. The conversation she had with her mother had been floating around in her mind.

Azula was sitting in a mud bath, with her mother in another tub across from her. They had been laying there for a few minutes and the fire bender was actually relaxed. She looked over to her mother, to find the woman's eyes on her, "Mother."

Ursa leaned to the side of the tub and sighed, "Shut up."

Azula turned away from her and closed her eyes. When her mother didn't want someone to talk, they shut up, ether in fear or smarts.

"Are you enjoying your self? Shake your head yes or no. Your lips remind me of your father and I'd rather not see them moving."

Azula nodded her head yes. She felt like leaving the tub and the room, but knew her mother would get up and follow her.

"Good. That's what I want, for me and you to have a good time together. I wish we could send more time together, but I don't have the time for it. Don't you?"

A nod yes.

"You know with the war and your brother's training, I never get to relax anymore. I miss just sitting around the palace doing nothing."

Azula turned her head and looked at her mother. The Fire Lady looked relaxed, she seemed tamed almost.

Ursa looked the girl in the eyes and yawned, "This makes me tired. You know I use to hate these things, but your father loved them. I think it had something to do with being dirty. Do you like it? You can talk again."

Azula let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, "I like it."

"Why?"

The younger fire bender leaned her head back and sighed, "The light warmth and I guess the dirtiness of it. The palace is always so clean and neat, but this isn't. It's a change."

Azula waited for her mother to say something, but nothing came. It was silent for a long time and that worried the princess. She turned her head to find the woman watching her with a glint in her eyes, Azula didn't like it.

"So...my baby likes to be dirty." Ursa said, laughing lightly.

Azula slid deeper into the mud and sighed, she must be magnet for this woman.

"Don't try to hide."

Azula put her arms on the sides of the tub and sat up, "Sorry."

"No need to say sorry. It makes you look weak."

Azula sighed, her mother went quiet and stayed that way for the rest of their mud bath. The princess was happy for the quiet.

Azula come back to the present, she felt dizzy and tired, but she knew she had to go. The young fire bender was glad she hadn't changed out of her clothes or she never would have made it. A part of her knew what was going to happen and hated it. She should be telling someone or doing something, but she didn't. If she told, who would believe her and if she hide or ran, her mother would find her. She had to go to the woman or be forced, but a part of her liked it. She couldn't lie to herself, a part of her wanted any attention from her mother she could get. So many years, spent in the s of her brother and father, she wanted as much as the woman would give her.

The princess walked slowly to the moon room, but knew stalling wasn't good. She could see red light spilling into the hall, making the normal red look darker. The city was dead silent around the palace. A hunters moon was a bad sign and the city was hiding. Officers had been sent to protect the city as soon as the sun went down and were expected to do so until the sun came up. No member of the royal family was allowed outside the palace and noble men and women were expected to side inside their homes. Ty Lee had rushed over as soon as Azula was done with her mother, but could only stay a few minutes. Since her father was a general, she was taken home by guards and told to stay there. Mai had written her a letter, saying she was bored at home and would rather be out in the danger. Azula had to laugh at the thought because she knew her friend was telling the truth. If she didn't have to see her mother, she would be with Mai and Ty Lee sneaking out the palace.

The princess's laugh was cut short, she was at the moon room.