Hello all! Good news: New chapter full of fun. Bad news: I have empty page syndrome (aka writer's block) so the next chapter is going to take a while.
Special shout out to bricksailor93 for the inspiration for this chapter. Another shout out to Fancy Pants Penguin Jiao-Jie for making me feel welcomed to the fanfic community and being the first to support me with constructive criticism. Please feel free to review.
I do not own ATLA but I do own my vivid dreams.
Book 4: Air: Exodus
Chapter 1
Six years earlier…
She awoke feeling the warmth of the sun on her blushed cheeks. She lay on the sand, its grainy texture grazing against her skin. A breeze blew through her long hair. Azula surmised she overslept for next to her were embers of what was a camp fire. She stretched her arms yawning. Surveying the surroundings she thought, "How did I get to be on Ember Island?" she scoffed. This was the last place she wanted to be. Despite her morose she decided to bask in the beauty of the day. She got up from the sand and brushed herself off, when in front of her stood Lo and Li. Azula nearly jumped out of her skin.
"Welcome to Ember Island," said the twins.
"Didn't I banish you Li?" she said pointing at Lo.
"You banished her!" echoed the old ladies blaming the other.
Azula put up her hand and waved it off, "Never mind. Why am I on Ember Island? What's father up to?" demanded Azula.
"Ember Island is a magical place keep an open mind," said Lo.
"The beach has a way of smoothing even the most ragged edges," said Li stroking a rock.
Azula looked at the twins in confusion. Was this déjà vu? Azula shrugged her shoulders and walked to the beach house. She walked up the stairs while Lo and Li followed. When she reached the house she opened the door. It was vacant. The only life inside was a blue flame in the fireplace. Over the mantle was a picture of her family. Azula not being pleased slammed the door behind her. "We must leave this place at once! It's too depressing."
Lo and Li bowed to her and escorted her back to the beach. She felt more serene outside than she did inside the prison of the house. Lo and Li held red umbrellas over Azula as she walked the coastline. She noticed no one was on the entire island. What fun is a beach, if there were only two old ladies smelling of perfume and fire flakes? Azula shuddered at the thought. She glanced behind her where she had walked. The waves crashed against the sand fine foam. "Like waves pushing away footprints, Ember Island gives everyone a clean slate," said Li.
"Ember Island reveals the true you."
Azula stood back staring at the elderly women. Now she knew she heard this before. However, Lo and Li were old; they always repeated themselves. Lo and Li clapped twice, snapped their fingers and disappeared into the shadows. Azula went to reach for them, but they were gone. The sky turned gray and cloudy. An elderly man stood over Azula wearing a traditional Fire Nation robe. Azula knew who this man was. "Avatar Roku? How interesting. Well, Zuzu is officially a man after all: I'm dead aren't I?"
"You are very much alive my child. You are in a deep dream state," said Roku.
"I'm just unconscious then. Won't my brother be surprised? Wait a minute, why are you in my dream? Aren't you more for that bald monk?"
"I am your mother's grandfather. I am your blood."
"I see now, you're going to me on some spiritual journey through my childhood to present. When I awake I will love my mother and be nice to Zuko and Uncle. Let me assure you that will never happen."
"This dream is not about change, but a source of reflection. It is now your decision to make. If you want to live, you must guide yourself through the gate of tribulation. If you wish to die, you must bathe in the lake of sorrows."
The latter was not an option for Azula, so she boldly asked, "How do I get to the gate?"
"You must go where it all began," he said pointing at the beach house on the hill.
"You mean if I go in that house, I'll wake up?"
"Yes"
Azula wasn't fond of the idea that the place she detested was her only was back to reality. A pain that she thought was dormant and cold rose to the surface. Azula thought of all the alternatives, but didn't have time to make this decision. Finally, a smile came over her face as she thought of spitting in her brothers damaged eye. "Let's get this over with!"
"Very well" Roku raised his hand creating a wave of fire that transported Azula to the entrance of the beach house. She looked at the door that seemed so intimidating and daunting. She placed her hand on the knob. Her hands shook violently as she turned it. She squinted and opened the door as it groaned. The inside was barren once again. She looked to the fireplace: this time the blue flame was bigger, engulfing the fireplace it was housed in. She looked inside its hypnotic light and was transported instantly to the shore of the beach.
The scene was a cool night. The midnight sky was clear with flickering blue stars. The pale moon shone brightly. The water was calm. Azula saw a sad figure looking out at the sea. Azula with hesitation walked close to the mysterious creature and saw a cloth face with patches for a nose and mouth and black thread for eyes. Azula became irritated, "Is this some sort of joke?"
"Azula, why don't we play anymore?" spoke the creature.
Azula looked at the agony in the cloth face. For a brief moment, she almost felt pity for it. That feeling quickly passed. She kicked sand into its face. "For Agni's sake I'm not a child! I don't play with toys."
"Don't you remember? I taught you firebending. We were friends."
Azula had enough of this things sad state. She boldly stood in front of it and pushed it down. "I learned everything on my own. Besides, why would I want to be acquainted with you?" Azula said coldly.
The giant rag doll looked wide eyed as blue liquid seeped down its cloth cheeks. It began to whimper and groan. The doll remained on the ground and cried blue flames nearly incinerating everything around it. "She doesn't love me anymore!"
Azula looked around half-panicked at the wild flames coming from the doll, "Foolish thing you're going to burn yourself!"
Just then a tall wall of water ascended above Azula and the doll. Its congealed presence was humbling to the proud princess. She tried to run from the wave, but it crashed down onto her. She helplessly floundered in the vast ocean trying to reach for the surface. She gurgled, sputtered and coughed up the water that was threatening to drown her. In front of Azula was a bright light. Its current was pulling and tugging her. The waters rip tide was too strong. The white light with its brightness grew over her body.
She was instantly transported to the entrance of the Fire Nation palace. She gasped heavily, expelling the water in her lungs. She tried to rise to her feet except her robes were fully saturated. Azula wrung out her clothes creating puddles on the ground. She strengthened her legs and lifted herself off of the ground. Azula walked forward for a moment. Suddenly, a dark shadowy figure with red eyes blew fire at her. She dodged to the side nearly missing it. She went to firebend, but was unsuccessful. The shadow came closer with a fire whip slashing at her flesh. With sharp determination, she faced the ominous form head on. She leaped as it attacked her feet. She blocked the attempts to cut her face. The shadow stopped. Azula patiently waited for it to make a move. The shadow grinned widely and balled up its fist. The ground below Azula quaked and waved, turning soft. She sank centimeter by centimeter thrashing to be free. The shadowy figure came close to Azula's face, her eyes shrinking in fear. Suddenly, blue flames hit the figure. An older gentleman wearing ceremonial white burial robes entered, carrying a bowl. "G…Grandfather"
"My namesake, please drink with me."
He sat the bowl in front of her. It was filled with bubbling slime and a snake slithering inside of it. "No, I'll pass actually."
Azulon put a hand on Azula's shoulder, "I know it looks disgusting. I'll show you there is nothing to be afraid of."
Azulon drank the swill with enthusiasm. Azula nearly vomited at the sight of the jade slop gracing his grey whiskers. "See nothing to—"Azulon coughed harshly and begin to gag. He lost his footing falling face first onto the ground. Azula struggled to rush to his side, but her feet were still stuck. With one last fit of exertion, she freed herself. She was too late: he turned to ash. Azula sifted through the remains and pulled back blood. "No," she whispered.
A small stature wearing a black cloak entered, walking through Azulon's remains. "Get up!" commanded the voice.
Azula sneered at the shorter image. "What authority do you have to command me?"
It pulled back its hood, to reveal Azula as a little girl. "I am you."
Azula stood up, even more annoyed at her smaller self. "Come with me!" said little Azula.
With much hesitation, Azula followed her into the courtyard. This was the stage of her greatest failure. Multiples of Mai, Ty Lee and Ursa were chained to the grates, wearing all white gowns. The grates sprayed a mist upward, as they sobbed heavily. The water peasant sat on a throne made of ice, wearing Fire Nation royal robes. Her face paint was dark and menacing. She was holding a gold goblet adorned with topaz and sapphire. "Bow to your master!" bellowed the water tribe girl.
"No one rules me! I should have killed you peasant!" Azula yelled.
"Well," the waterbender poured black liquid out of a cup, which turned into ice and froze Azula up to her neck. Little Azula slapped her older self.
"And they say I haven't any manners. Speak the name of your royalty!"
"My father Ozai is the only one I serve!" Azula affirmed.
Little Azula punched her adolescent double. Azula spat blood from her mouth at the waterbender. Child Azula's eyes widened, "She's going to kill you!" she said in a sing-song manner.
"Show the vagrant how to respect authority!"
"With pleasure" cackled small Azula.
Little Azula climbed the ice block and whispered, "Prepare to be marked!"
Child Azula lifted her hands with blue flames surrounding her hands. Azula could only watch in horror. The flames branded her face with its powerful heat. Azula felt the melting of her flesh and heard the sizzling. She bit her lip. The agony was unbearable. Her flesh was burning even more. She screamed a blood curdling scream. The water tribe girl bent the ice in front of Azula. "Behold your true self!"
Azula looked up at her reflection. Her left eye was scarred like Zuko. "I'm not like him!" she shrieked.
"No, you're worse! You're a monster!" said the water tribe girl as she laughed maniacally.
Tall walls of water surrounded Azula and crashed in the courtyard. The black storm clouds floated over her head. A blue bolt of lightning hit her directly. Azula convulsed; her life felt like it was coming to an end. She gritted her teeth. Her world was cobalt and dimming. In an act of willpower, she smiled as the ice burst into shards. "I...WILL…LIVE!"
Azula's body turned into a large bolt of lightning. She shocked everything in her presence. Her breathing was labored after displaying so much power. Her world turned black.
In front of Azula was a white tunnel. Inside the tunnel were prison bars and a cold stone floor. Azula was frightened, knowing the environment she would wake up in. Azula stepped forward, shuffling her feet at first and paused. The world wouldn't be a dream she could control. Her failure would plague her mind. The soldiers and citizens, whom she scorned, would want retribution. She would have to face her father with disastrous results. Zuko is now Firelord. He would certainly not let her free. She would live just so she could die. She turned away tearing up. Azula didn't feel ready. She took a deep breath mustering up all the vigor she could. She prepared her mind for what was ahead. She walked inside the tunnel and disappeared into its light.
Azula has returned.
