Unleashed

Ozai watched his daughter with a satisfied smirk on his face. She went through her exercises with precision and power- she was already at level two while her brother had yet to master the basics. She extended her fingers like most female fire benders did, wielding her flame like a knife. At her sixth birthday party, he had presented her with metal arm cuffs- a necessary item for any fire bender who would also train in martial arts, and the very next day he had drilled her until she collapsed. He laughed at the memory, remembering how she had stood up and wiped the blood from her chin with a shaking hand before her eyes went dull and she had dropped to her knees, and then fallen sideways onto the ground.

Ursa was too soft; she treated her son like a little lamb when he needed a wolf, someone who was ruthless and completely loyal to him. He never expected to find that in his daughter. He raised a hand to eye level and pushed fire out from his fingertips, admiring the heat, the power of it. All it had taken was a few lessons and she had found out just how displeased he had been with her weaknesses. He went back to watching Azula, just in time to see her small foot come down crooked.

She had been focusing completely on her fire bending, striving for perfection, when she felt heat scorch her feet. She skidded away and whipped her head around to look blankly at her father, not letting herself cry out or show any pain from the small burn on her foot. He stalked over to her and grabbed her by the roots of her hair, forcing her to look up into his face- it scared her. She was less than half his size…Can't you tell just how much he wants to kill you? You're worthless. You will never be useful to him, and he will never love you. No one will. She screamed back at the voices inside her head, the ones that taunted her at every misstep and laughed at her in the silence of her room, to shut up, to just leave her alone- but they never did.

"So. You thought that you could slack off, make mistakes, and be fine? Do you think I would let you get away with that?" he asked her coldly, accentuating his words with sharp tugs on the back of her head. Her eyes were blazing, but with intelligence, not emotion-with time, she would learn to be as cold hearted as him. He released her and she stood up, arms folded behind her back, staring straight ahead like a soldier. "Go through it again."

She slammed her fist into the air. Breathe, idiot, you're not going to be powerful enough the way you are. Flames shot in front of her only to be sliced in half by her foot, sticking straight out in a forceful kick. Your leg isn't high enough, and you need to be faster. She let out a breath and jumped high in the air, pushing fire from her hands in two distinct shots. Agni, little monster, can't you do anything right? She heard her father leave as the voices started to laugh, but she didn't stop- she wasn't perfect yet. She slid her foot along the ground at just the right angle. Good for you. No, really, I'm so proud. She gritted her teeth as the voices turned sarcastic and started overlapping. Someone laughed, and she forgot to breathe correctly, the flame wasn't as strong as it should have been. Suddenly the casual mockery turned to rage.

You stupid little weakling! Someone as worthless as you should just go away. You should just die, die, die, DIE-

"NO!" She screamed and clapped her hands over her ears, tearing at her hair, claw marks raking down the side of her neck. "Shut UP! LEAVE ME ALONE!" She stomped her feet as the voices mocked her again, as the one who sounded like Mother repeated her death sentence. Suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder and whipped around, snarling like a wounded animal. Ursa stood there, looking deeply concerned; reaching for her daughter's scratched up face. She leapt back as Azula attacked her then retreated, shooting fire from her fingers, singing the bottom of her robe.

"Azula!" She exclaimed reproachfully, shocked, staring at this… this creature that had taken over her little girl's body, which now lay shaking and moaning on the ground, crumpled like a puppet without it's strings. The six year old drew her soot stained fingers back to her ears and screamed inside her mouth, not opening her lips- it was as if she wouldn't allow herself to feel terror, though it was plain in her eyes. Ursa ran back to her side just as her body arched in the air in a twisted, sick way, and fell back to the ground, limp and unconscious. Ursa screamed.

"Honey? Azula, honey wake up. Azula!" she cried, panicked. She looked around for help, and then tried to pick her up off the ground- she'd gotten heavier, and the metal of her fire bending gear was too clunky, she couldn't do it. She saw her husband watching from the porch, and screamed to him for help. He walked over casually as her anger and frustration mounted- he wasn't hurrying or even remotely interested in their daughter lying on the ground after a psychotic breakdown.

Suddenly Azula woke up- she relaxed, sighing in relief as her six-year-old daughter opened her eyes. "Thank Agni," she murmured, and looked deep into her eyes. They were just like her husbands, almond shaped, golden, and impossible to read.

"Mom?" Azula asked her hesitantly. "What happened?" She felt Ozai come to a stop right above her shoulder, and watched Azula's frightened gaze break from her eyes and slide to the glare of her father. Her body went rigid and her eyes narrowed all at once- she got up so fast that Ursa didn't even see it coming. Stunned, she looked on as Azula bowed to her parents.

"I am sorry for slacking off, Father. I shouldn't have taken a break- Mother, thank you for waking me up from my nap- I must have dozed off. I apologize. Would you like me to continue training or may I go refresh myself in my room?" Azula said smartly, looking straight into her mother's eyes, which were wide in confusion. You had better hope she doesn't rat you out, little monster. She knows it wasn't a nap. You're a liar. And a bad one, at that. Shameful. Her mother nodded almost imperceptibly- clearly telling her they would discuss it later. She focused on her father- his eyes spoke to her- he would obviously deal with her when the time came, he'd seen right through her lie. He waved her off- she bowed again and walked away, forcing herself to keep a measured pace.

As soon as she was gone, he turned to him wife and spat in her face, grabbing her arms and pulling her in close to his body. "You will never, ever look at me or yell at me like that again. Do you understand me, Ursa?" he hissed, enjoying the play of fear across her face before she closed her eyes. She sagged into him, nodding, submitting to him.

Once Azula was out of sight, she glanced behind her and broke into a run, pushing her body as fast as it could go. She looked behind her again, knowing that her father was coming after her, but seeing no one. Her foot caught on a step in the floor, and she fell to the ground, uttering a short, surprised cry before her hands grated against the stone hallway.

"Azula?" Zuko peered out from behind the corner, clutching a tapestry in his hands and staring at her in disbelief. She sat up slowly as he came around the corner, and composed herself. She felt her face go blank, and she went to the place in her head where she could stay silent and no one would even notice what she was thinking or feeling. She looked to a spot just above Zuko's shoulder.

"Yes, Zuko?" she answered, trying to make her voice as imperious as possible. He came a little closer, and then looked down, his eyes widening as he took in her scraped hands and charred clothes. He sighed and helped her up.

"You're hurt." He muttered. Weakling. You need help. You should be able to do it alone. Look at him; he never has to ask for help, he works at it. However, you're lazy. Stupid little girl. The voice was louder than ever, it hurt her ears. She gasped and whimpered, and Zuko turned and put his hand on her shoulder-she flinched away.

"Get away from me!" she yelled, "I don't need your help! I don't need anyone!"

He watched his little sister shy away from him, and noticed something. She used to walk with small steps, like she was trying to not be noticed. She used to look at him differently, like she admired him- but only when Father wasn't looking. Now, she was scared, and something in her expression kept him from going back to her. Without a word, he turned and started walking away. He didn't stop when he heard her hit the floor again. He focused on stepping in a straight line instead of the sounds of her gasping.

But he froze when he heard her small voice murmur his nickname- "Zuzu…" At once, all he could remember was the mocking tone of voice his father had used when he called his son that- and how right afterwards, Ozai had said that awful thing. I deserved to be born too, he thought, and anger rushed into his stomach. He turned around, glaring at his sister, the family favorite, their dad's newest protégée.

"Don't call me that anymore, Azula." he spat, and she lowered her head. He felt guilt rise in him, and all at once, he couldn't take it, he didn't want to be part of this twisted family anymore- he ran away from her, and away from the guilt she made him feel.

A couple hours later she was in her room, lying listlessly on the bed. She heard a knock on her door and didn't bother to answer, instead brushing her hair back. It was getting long, and her mother liked it short- she'd have to get it cut again soon. Speak of the devil, the voice hissed as the door opened, and her mother came in, closing it carefully behind her. She sat up, wiping her cheeks for any moisture and congratulating herself when she found none. "What do you want, Mother?" she asked tiredly. Maybe she'd keep her hair long after all.

"Azula, I'm worried about you." Yeah right. She doesn't care about you. "To see your only daughter in so much pain…" Liar. You're a liar, Mother. "I hated it. Honey, you need to tell me what's wrong. Who were you talking to when you were screaming?" You tell her. Go ahead. Then you'll be locked up in a cell, a cage- how fitting considering that you're Daddy's little mon-

"Mother, let's get something straight. We both know that I'm certainly not your favorite child, no; Zuzu is for some strange reason. So why don't you go play with him and leave me and Father alone?" The words spilled out from her lips, and she was shocked- they weren't hers. The tone of voice wasn't hers. It was as if she was silent inside her body and the voice- Her eyes widened. She stared disbelievingly into her mother's hurt eyes and wanted to take it all back. But she couldn't because all of a sudden, the voice was no longer just inside her head. They laughed, all of them. She shuddered, and felt bile rise in her throat.

Stupid, stupid little monster. Did you really think you could control me? You're too weak.

It was unleashed.

Sorry for not updating very quickly! I'll try to be better at it. Hope you enjoyed this chapter, please review.