Let it burn
Author's notes: thank you for the amazing reviews and I have decided to put on hold my other story's and do this one so expect faster updates. If you're confused with why Azula is stronger than Sokka its simple Sokka Is a hunter yes but Azula has trained since birth in intense physical training and martial arts prowess. She has also done fire nation army training and if you disagree with me then *cough* June *cough* seriously what's with June being so strong and having no muscle? Like at all! Anyway on with the story oh and in a review someone said mai was out of character slightly so I have attempted to correct that.
Chapter 3: Mistakes
Sokka didn't have time to blink let as known dodge, fortunately for Sokka katara wasn't as stunned and using her water whip nudged him out of the lightning's path.
The lightning sailed past Sokka and hit a storage barrel containing fire salts, causing a huge explosion.
The explosion threw up a dust cloud that burned and clawed at everyone's eyes.
While all this was happening Azula just stood there stunned at what she had tried to do.
However it didn't last, her mission was clear get the avatar, she could meditate these imperfections out of her later, right now she had to continue with her plan.
Aang took a deep breath before exhaling, blowing all the fire salt dust away from there now red raw eyes.
He then spun around deflecting fire balls as he protected katara and Sokka.
"Katara where's my clubs?" Sokka yelled
"In the saddle!" katara yelled back as she too was now drawn in to fighting Azula.
Sokka leapt up onto Appa's back and began searching through the mess that only a teenage boy would make.
"Got it" Sokka yelled before jumping down, however due to his watery eyes he had misjudged the jump and landed on his backside.
Azula smirked, typical she thought to herself.
It was however at that moment ty lee and mai entered the fight
Ty lee immediately went for Sokka and mai assaulted katara.
"Hello cutie" ty lee chirped a smile across her face
"urm hello" Sokka rubbed the back of his neck before ty lee lunged at him.
Sokka jumped back nimbly dodging her attacks, she was lightning fast but years of being hit by his sister taught him how to dodge.
"You're really cute" ty lee said "but your covered in bruises" ty lee had genuine concern in her voice.
Sokka would have laughed at the irony but was far too busy dodging her right until…
"Ouch" Sokka fell to the ground, ty lee had found her mark but Sokka wasn't done yet
Sokka kicked ty lee's legs out causing her to fall down, however unfortunately for ty lee she landed on top of him, now the reason this was unfortunate was because a certain fire nation princess was watching them intently between attacks and was now a little jealous.
Princess Azula could feel her anger boiling towards her friend. Get up off him, does it really take that long She thought to herself.
That was it Azula had had enough she launched a small ball of blue flames in ty lee's direction, catching her friends cloths on fire.
Ty lee leapt up. "Azula!" she began running around attempting to put it out
Azula's concentration was lost as she watched her friend unsure why she had done what she did.
Aang saw his opportunity and hit her with an air blast, causing Azula to be launched into the air and crash into a market stand.
Aang then turned his attention to Mai.
Mai looked around at her friends and seeing they had clearly lost raised her hands and said "I'm done" she then just casually sat down as if it was nothing.
Katara and Aang just looked at each other and blinked, their faces said it all.
Sokka hopped up onto one foot before hopping over to Appa.
Katara helped him on board.
"Appa yip yip" Aang said as the great bison took flight.
Azula crawled out of the wrecked market stand and watched as the avatar slipped through her grasp.
Azula turned around and began to walk away "mai, ty lee" she yelled to her companions almost like they were her pets to beckon and call.
"urm Azula?" ty lee asked rather sheepishly
"What" her voice's usual calm and venomous manner
"You accidentally set me on fire" ty lee said in her usual joyful way
"oh that was no accident ty lee" Azula said turning to face her friend, her expression was her usual sinister grin, almost daring ty lee to do what Azula knew she was going to do next.
"So it was on purpose?" ty lee turned white
"Well ty lee if it wasn't an accident then by definition it would have been on purpose" Azula spoke to ty lee as if she was a child
"Why would you do that?" ty lee began to tear up
"Why would I do that? Hmm let me think ty lee, perhaps because you were flirting with the enemy, I mean you pretty much threw yourself at him" Azula returned her anger rising.
"It wasn't like that Azula honest" ty lee was now balling her eyes out
"Get out of my sight" Azula turned and stared down mai before walking off back to the inn
-lee min city inn (moments later)—
"Princess Azula I have just been informed about wha..." the sergeant was cut off by Azula raising her index finger
"Sergeant I suggest you get your men and start gathering Intel about which way the avatar has gone, oh and I also suggest you do it at the double, almost like your life depended on it" Azula shot him a look and the sergeant understood what she meant
"Yes princess" the sergeant snapped to attention before running off to complete Azula's orders.
Azula picked up the key from the floor and opened her room's door, she walked in and slammed it firmly shut, bits of the already damaged hinges fell onto her armour, but she didn't care.
Azula backed up into the door and slid down it until she was sat on the floor with her back against it.
She dropped her head into her hands and began to cry, the last few hours had put emotions into her head that were causing her to do things detrimental to her mission and worse these emotions hurt, it was a pain deep in her gut, she didn't like it, not one little bit. "What's happening to me" Azula said to no one in particular.
"You the future fire lord sat here crying to yourself ha you're pathetic" her father's voice boomed in her head
Azula then stood up and brushed the muck off her armour she wiped her eyes and composed herself
Azula shook her head before punching a wall… hard
She growled to herself "he's right your weak Azula, pull yourself together"
She sorted her hair out and took a deep breath, perhaps some meditation was in order and then some sparring with the sergeant, Azula was no fool she knew she needed to be ready to fight the avatar and with her head like it was she certainly was not ready.
-Appa's back (same time)—
"That was too close" katara said before turning to her brother
"You know Sokka that's the second time she has nearly caught us because she has followed you!" katara scolded her older brother
"I don't think it's his fault katara" Aang chipped in
"I mean Azula is smart after all" Aang then continued flying Appa with his reigns
"Yeah smarter than the plan guy" she glared at Sokka.
"Look katara I'm sorry okay" Sokka grovelled to his sister.
Aang yawned "I'm so tired"
"Where are we headed now" katara asked still glaring at her brother
"Well there's a large fancy dress ball in a settlement just west of here, it could be nice to go?" Aang said while passing a leaflet to katara
"Hmmm sounds good to me but I think we should get some sleep it's really late" katara said while putting the leaflet down.
"Your right" said Sokka
-lee min city inn (10 minutes later)—
Azula took a deep breath and opened her door. She then walked down the corridor until she came to ty lee's room; she knocked the door and waited.
Ty lee opened the door and in a very happy manner yelled "hey Azula"
"Hello ty lee, urm this is not, easy to say and I won't be saying it again! But perhaps my actions earlier were… regrettable and I'm… I'm sorry" Azula looked very uncomfortable saying it.
Ty lee didn't move she studied Azula's face for any signs.
"And to make it up to you we can do something you want to do" Azula scrunched up her face a little
Ty lee perked up, she threw her arms around Azula and started yelling "thank you Azula thank you so much!"
"Uhhh your welcome ty lee now get off me" Azula held her hands in the air unsure how to react to this sudden physical contact.
"Ohh I know what I want to do" ty lee skipped into her room
A few moments later ty lee came skipping out holding a leaflet
"There's this fire nation fancy dress ball in a settlement just west of here and I have the perfect outfit" ty lee squealed with joy
"Then that is what we shall do" Azula said trying to force a smile.
Author's notes: in this chapter I sort of wanted to explore Azula's character behind closed doors, after all she is a teenage girl and hell when I was her age I found it hard enough with girls, school work and friends etc imagine how she feels? Anyway I am also starting the ball rolling on a few other things aha oh and the ty lee thing just so no one misunderstands that scene if you have watched the episode where ty lee is in a circus, Azula puts her life in danger by releasing dangerous animals and burning her safety net and ty lee sees her do it but is just like "the universe gave me signs" in her happy manner so they are both in character with how they deal with it I think but the only reason she says sorry here unlike in the series is because she literally hit ty lee and we all know Azula is more fond of ty lee then mai. Thank you for reading and please review the next chapter will be up ASAP depending on feedback etc thanks guys
