[Royal palace Azula POV]

Intrigues, infights, greed... welcome back to the court. At least these war council meetings are somewhat fun...if I didn't know we had to clean up this mess. As important as their capital was they care more about the fact that the avatar DID show up. The earth king vanishing turns out in a legend as well... should've put his head on a pike above the main gate. Stay calm, you need a definite show of force to take them over. Bide your time, make allies, identify those that would follow you and those that are competent at the warfare you plan. Stay calm, as long as you control the invasion defense everything else is secondary…

"After your grand victory my vicorious troops conquered the port. Several hundred enemy soldiers were captured, the eastern army of Lu Seng is no more."

The port burned to the ground, several hundred amounts to three hundred. That is with militia and civilians added for numbers while you lost track of the real army. How do you lose track of a damn army of several thousand men?

"We are regrouping and send some of our soldiers to help in occupying this territory towards the north east of Ba Sing Se."

'Regrouping' or rather retreating towards our fortification, not that you have a choice… and once again my conquest gives you a nice excuse for your blunder. In time you will find another army in due time, the army you lost track off. While advancing your legacy you also mark a nice territory for your and your noble family. Oh, I wonder how YOU will cover up your defeat. 213 soldiers dead or missing, 317 wounded due to constant harassment, retreating. Here it comes again…

"We burned the city of Chu down to the ground and are returning to our fortresses."

Just because it had a wall it wasn't a city. Come say it with me…

"We will regroup and send occupation troops to Ba Sing Se."

You sure do love that excuse don't you. Wait a second for the infight to start...

"On their way they will conquer the rebellious villages left by General"

"Not necessary, my troops already dealt with them and should be entering Ba Sing Se."

There we go. Only the last part is true, you were quick to 'advance' out of the difficult to hold hills around Omashu, leaving that hedach for our newest general. We are pushed back everywhere, loosing platoons and whole companies left right and center. And all you sorry lot care about is the territories your family will occupy when the war is over. Was I the only one successful? Does I have to do everything myself? Time for the little naïve princess to make a comment…

"With that many troops, why don't we send the eastern fleet here to destroy their last major port this side of omashu?"

You can't because these are REAL reinforcements and none of you actually plans to send troops helping with the mess that is Ba Sing Se. Now THAT is a melting pot, probably the only one worse than the rebellious army fighting around Omashu.

"Your majesty, while the troops are not needed the eastern fleet transports supplies and material needed to build or adjust the industry in Ba Sing Se."

Of course, the troops coming with that are not needed. Agni I swear we would have won without this stupid infighting decades ago. ARGH.

"Maybe you need a break?"

Implying I am weak? YOU backstabbing – wait no. I see, admiral Yamamoto leading them on a false, path good thinking. Deception, the basis of all strategy.

"As a matter of fact I do."

It wouldn't do to kill the self serving or criminally incompetent greedy bastards right now. Some of you have to stay, else your families – and the cities they rule - make trouble. Most of you are not even incompetent, you just think the war is already won.

Our people sure do. The fortress of Omashu fallen, the Capital fallen, their armies destroyed or driven back, the avatar dead. Except the avatar might be alive, their armies hides or advance, the capital is too big to properly occupy with our forces and the earth king got away. Even if it were as our citizen believe we would have to occupy a territory several times the size of the fire nation, denser populated to boot. We already had trouble with the recently conquered regions, this stretches the lines thin.

As we can't occupy them with our current strategies, burning a good part of it makes sense. The surviving would cover in fear, and it STILL would be somewhat of a gamble. As it is pure fear has failed as an occupation strategy. Some is still needed, but the way this runs a LOT of people will rise up in arms... the fighting would be as fierce as during the first invasion in our OWN territories... and this scenario is without the avatar. As great tool as it is fear alone won't work. But what would...

Maybe an adapted propaganda, mind washing here and there… or maybe the other way around, tell the atrocities of the earth kingdom. Mind break of the Dai Lee should not be too hard to beat. Maybe a show of our dead and wounded… ah depends on the city. Show we have families too. For some reason pesants hesitate to kill family and friends. Wonder how that feels, not to worry about being killed by your father… anyway. Back to research... no, not without some light reading. Maybe a bit of history, or on firebending styles... ah why decide, I'll just take both.


"So many scrolls again princess…"

Many? These are just six for light reading. You should see my chamber, now THAT is what I call many scrolls.

"Let me help you Az."

NO one touches my reports, who dares… oh still here Ty. Can't train with you yet. On that thought should've started with falling and rolling as you said and not with the flying attemts, the sand was harder than expected.

"Ty why don't you take a rest? Even you need to sleep."

I can take care of myself. Sleep is for the dead.

"I do."

A full five hours… two days ago… I naped during the audiences... that should be enough together with the time I slept during conferences.

"No you didn't. Your aura is all fizzy and and…"

You're fizzy... ugh... don't tell me what to do…

"Az please you were so bright a few days ago, when you talked to Mai. Now it is even brighter but fizzy and bluring and and barely holding pace. Az, I am worried about you. Even you need some rest."

. . . wait no you didn't...

"You know I didn't sleep... you can you tell when I lie, can't you?"

That looks says it all, she can. She can, and not just because I'm a bit off.

"Your sight… that chi…"

Why did I never realise how damn scary that aura thing is? She can read emotions, an empath… no, not quite... something different. This was spot on. I was elated after my decision, realizing what running that mess means… well damn me.

"Y- yes."

A risk, yet what an asset… if I understand this just a tiny bit better I might be able to tell how people tick - through Ty Lee. At least some emotions, that is pure gold. Yet... if she is an empathy, why should she stay with someone like me?

"You stay with me because of that aura, don't you?"

"No. I mean yes, I… it is complicated. Sometimes it is so bright and beautiful sometimes it is horrible and scary and… ah I am rambling again. You are not angry, aren't you?"

Hell if I know… quite of a shock today.

"Maybe you are right and I do need a vacation. Yet there is too much to do – no don't... open it that fast."

Crashed into it no... to late. There goes my stack reports from the western fleet...knocks of the one of our southern fleet… economical data… noble families… colony reports… no, not these…

"Sorry… eh… (cracks)"

Seems a wooden desk can only support so much weight…

"Er… you are not angry?"

This whole mess wouldn't have to happen if only... argh there are so many reasons I should be developing my bending right now rather than waste time with this shit. We should already have conquered the world three times over. Argh... this... this actually was kind of funny. My world of paper breaking apart arround me. Half of this isn't even true. Never would've thought reading can be so mind nubingly boring. Oh poor Ty Lee, are you afraid? You don't have to be... today.

"Not about you or this. Only about incompetent leadership, stupid plans, weak soldier, excuses, people butchering firebending… give me that one."

Seriously, a sea snake attacking your vessel after you engaged with a captured ship? Do you think ANYONE will believe that excuse for your failure? Here, even marked at false.

"Look at this Ty…"

The chances of this happening are about a million to one.

"Hey, they survived with quite a story to tell. Azula?"

One in a million chance… the AVATAR! A million to one is always the worst COURSE this shit happens to be overlooked. Worse, not even checked. How many strong female water benders are out there?

"Find that captain and find out if it is true."

Calm down, you're not hunting for him at this very moment. With a bit of luck he's dead - or he will kill father. Who am I kidding, neither will happen.

"Oh, I already talked to some of the crew, no one wanted to believe them."

Only you Ty. Screw my life. Of course no one believes such a story. By now the merry group of the avatar should be… damn they could be anywhere in that sea. If these reports had been properly controlled… anything else that can go wrong?

"Princess, Lord Orthrew asked if you would compliment him and his son to a dinner."

Screw you life. The tenth idiot asking something like this today alone. Maybe if I start to castrate they'll stop trying to get into my pants. I am really temted to start shooting the messenger, this could safe time. I swear one more and I will burn down our whole useless inbred nobility.

"Azula you are burning."

… and now I am slowly losing control. Breath in. Breath out. Breath in. Breath out. ANYTHING ELSE? WAIT MY REPORTS... Damn… well, so much for the reports.

"YOU… I lost control because of your STUPID proposal. Guards. Take him away before I incarnate him. And see to it that this captain and his crew get in the program for our new weapon."

If you ask me anything right now I WILL end you. I dare you to ask me, I doubledare you.

"Y- your highness… as your wish your highness."

Seems you peons have brains. Maybe you are capable of learning when NOT to bother me.

"With that track record they will be attacked by a dragon next."

Hehehe, oh with my luck these beasts somehow still exist and will help our enemies. What am I thinking, dragons are extinct, and even if those beasts wouldn't help anyone. Now that would be a great irony, the last airbender eaten by the last dragon while trying to save it. Thanks Ty, I've got it under control… and you somehow know.

"Do you need a written permission? You have your orders! And if you didn't notice I need a bit time to calm down. Slowly, for you: .Guests. Get it, or do I have to burn you? Good, now GO! Not you Ty."

By Agni I need someone half competent arround here. Spirits, I need someone like you to stay sane. I should just leave this whole mess to those selv serving bastards and run... not that father would let go... and I'd have to obey rules nah. This is MY damn nation, and as nobe it is MY damn duty to care for it. Damn it Zuku I brought you back to deal with all the boring stuff, the idiots and peons and be the good nice fire lord while evil little actually holds the power and incarnates anyone opposing that too hard to understand. Geez... maybe I should tell him up front and he'll understand. Maybe with a tiny bit of luck you find your honor. And maybe I'll find and tame a dragon.

"Are you going to kill me now?"

Right you where still here. What the hell... oh right I see your point... poor little Ty. What to do with you... I am a monster aren't I.

"Yes, a dragon."

... you can read my thoughts?

"Sometimes."

. . . fuck. No, no this does not happen. I am dreaming... damn no, I don't WANT to kill you, but I can't have someone reading me like that and... w- wait does that mean...even that one time when we... yes. Thousands of possiblilities, think Azula there should be a way... maybe... yes why not, you can read my thoughts anyway. Maybe you are right, but dragons protect their treasure, don't they?

"I... I am your treasure?"

Probably, at least you're worth more than any other person I met today. Maybe we should go to sleep.


"Hey… Az…"

"Hmm… four in the morning… Ty you shouldn't wake me at this time if it is not an assassination or invasion."

Were you ANYONE else I'd killed you for waking me. As I can't replace you, and you're a good little tool. So much for my four hours of sleep…

"You said to wake you at that time if I am really really troubled and wanted to talk without any lies."

"I did… oh right. Fine, but only because you can read auras anyway..."

And for some reason she nearly can read my mind. Well, to be completely honest for once is nice.

"Az, are you seriously planning on genocide?"

"We are at war Ty. All the people of both water-tribes combined are but a fraction of our colonies in the earth kingdom alone. The next avatar might be more vicious. I can ensure the next Avatar won't kill a lot more of our people by such a thing then I won't hesitate."

"Wait that's not the plan... you are planning"

"Shh... some things should not be said."

"But... the other one is horrible too."

"Why do you care about them Ty. You should only care about me."

"I do care about you most. But I can't help I care for other people too. And you are making excuses again…"

"Sad but true... I want to kill them all… so badly…"

"Schhh, not true… you don't care about them… you want to kill what makes you afraid. You are afraid of them. Afraid of all of them, especially the avatar…"

"I have all the reason to be afraid. I've even to kill you if you turn on me…"

"Yet you don't want that."

"For some reason yes. You are one of the few that I can be sure won't kill me given half a chance. Everyone else, even our own people. Those nobles… they plan to kill me. Not now, but I know they plan to do so at an opportune time."

"You are too strong and smart to die. And I will protect you Az. Mai will protect you."

"… Thank you Az. I know you didn't want to give them a chance."

"My father would call it weakness. Let him rot. I proved how efficient diplomacy is at Ba Sing Se."

"I am proud of you. Good night Az."

"… I think the world would burn without you, Ty. It is refreshing to speak like that once in a while."

"You would become crazy without me. Eh?"

"The most feared crazy princes to ever walk this plane."

"You already are Az."

"I am a monster Ty…

"Yes, a vicious terrible dragon. But dragons protect their treasure, they don't destroy it."

"Hehehe… I guess you are right… I still don't trust to ask how my aura looks like…"

"A terrifingly beautiful-"

"Shh… I rather not know. Go back to sleep Ty."

I will take your advice and go on a vacation. Somewhere NOBODY expects me... except you.