Chapter 4

During the following weeks Sokka had a full schedule every day except for one, which was his day off, to relax and enjoy free time. He trained hard with Master Piandao every morning to learn the way of the sword. He was a diligent student and both he and Master Piandao were pleasantly surprised how well he progressed. The rest of the day he studied various topics such as mathematics, algebra, poetry, history, and the art of war, also under Master Piandao's tutelage. Twice a week he was summoned to the Fire Lord and while enjoying a game of Pai Sho they discussed the art of ruling, philosophy and diplomacy. Sokka's mind absorbed his tutor's knowledge with a speed that baffled them all. Sokka truly loved to learn and it showed in his handling of the sword and in his questions to his teachers.

He did not meet up with the rest of the Royal Family except during meals. Zuko ignored Sokka as much as possible and even Azula usually left Sokka alone. When Prince Ozai was present the meals were eaten in a cold silence. Strangely Ozai's ire was mostly directed toward Azula, his golden child. Sokka did not understand and he couldn't just ask, unfortunately. Zuko and Ursa didn't know and Ozai and Azula obviously wouldn't say anything.

During an especially frigid dinner, while Azula was shivering whenever Ozai glanced over her, Sokka noticed a thin trickle of blood on her wrist. Sokka's mind nearly froze solid when he suddenly understood that Azula's failures of whatever it was she was supposed to succeed at meant that she got beaten! Sokka looked at Ozai and truly saw the man for what he was, a man not capable of anything remotely like empathy or love. How could a father do such a thing toward his own daughter? Sokka glanced to Zuko and saw a frightened young man that at least had his mother's protection. What about Ursa then? Sokka studied her carefully from the corner of his eye. Did she know what Ozai did to Azula?

After a while Sokka indeed observed that Ursa noticed the trickle of blood that now left ugly red spots on the polished table and on Azula's plate. Ursa's eyes noticed and then ignored it. Sokka was even more shocked. That Ozai was an unsympathetic man he understood quite early in his stay here at the Royal Palace. But Ursa had always been nice and he had considered her as one of the good guys. Azula looked exhausted, her face was pale and her eyes were bloodshot and she was at the mercy of Ozai alone. Before Sokka could say anything dinner was over and after the leave of the Royals, Sokka sat back and pondered on what to do? Could he do something? Should he?

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Fire Lord Azulon considered the young man sitting in front of him. Sokka's game today was unfocused and he had not noticed the simple trap Azulon had set in the beginning of the game. This would be an easy game if Sokka did not rally soon.

"You seem troubled, young one?" Azulon said softly while studying him closely. "Something you wish to discuss, perhaps?" Azulon continued as he put down a tile, reinforcing the trap for Sokka.

Sokka's eyes locked on to Azulon's and after a short while Sokka made a grimace.

"Yeah, something is troubling me, my Lord. Prince Ozai is beating Princess Azula over something and Princess Ursa is totally ignoring it." Sokka burst out. "This has been going on for several weeks by now. It has something to do with her bending I believe. It is horrible!" The young man exclaimed quite heatedly.

"My son Ozai is not a man known for his tolerance of failure and only expects the best from himself or his daughter or so I understand. He has the right to train and raise her as he sees fit," Azulon said neutrally. Why is this troubling the boy? "Surely this is custom in your tribe as well?" Azulon asks curiously.

"Of course it is!" Sokka says with a quiet voice. "But now I am in the middle of it all! It goes against everything I have learned and believe in. And more importantly, now I know! And it is eating me inside!" Sokka explained with a sigh. "She is a prodigy and a master firebender in her own right, so I've been told. Why would Prince Ozai punish her this way?" Sokka asked the Fire Lord, his blue eyes bright.

"It is not for us outside the family to interfere." Azulon said with a frown. "I urge you to step lightly in this matter. I understand that Azula is a very strong young woman. You cannot be a master firebender at her age and not be strong." Azulon assured Sokka.

"She is strong, alright." Sokka replied while frowning at the Pai Sho board. "But strength and hardness are not the same thing. My father taught me that. And Prince Ozai is not raising her to be strong but hard." Sokka mused. "Unwittingly perhaps, but the consequences for Azula will be dire if this continues. A strong individual understands when he is wrong, understands his own shortcomings and admits and learns from mistakes. That makes him strong" Sokka explained softly and with self-confidence, now looking directly into the Fire Lords eyes.

"A hard individual will shatter and be undone, sooner or later." Sokka stated with a small nod.

Azulon and Sokka sat in silence and continued playing the game. Azulon considered the young man's words. He knew that his granddaughter Azula had not been able to generate lightning and that Ozai drilled her without mercy to achieve just that. Azulon had not been giving it much thought really, this was Ozai's family and frankly, Azulon despised his only son. The prince was conceited, petty and cruel. Ambition and power were the only things that he loved. Unfortunately, he didn't know what to do with them. Azulon tolerated his son only because Ozai controlled several powerful noble families such as Admiral Zhao's. He had his uses, Prince Ozai…

"Do you care for princess Azula?" Azulon asked softly while wondering if that was the real reason for Sokka's concern.

Sokka blinked and felt confused. Did he care for Azula? She had been cruel and downright mean towards him from the very beginning. So why was he so troubled by what he had seen? It's not like he hadn't wanted to teach her a lesson himself and take her down a peg or two. But not by violence and abuse. Azula and Katara were the same age, perhaps that was it, his brotherly instincts kicking in? But on the other hand he couldn't stop thinking of the spark in her eyes whenever he thought about her…

"I don't know, my Lord." Sokka answered honestly. "I truly don't know. But what I do know is that I find this situation both sad and horrible. Her father is beating and abusing her for not learning fast enough. Her brother is blind to it all and her mother notices but does nothing. Azula will never ask for help or stop trying to please her father. That leaves me." Sokka said with an air of despair.

Azulon considered Sokka's words. He knew he already had decided to act. He would intervene and save Azula from her father's abuse in this matter at least. How could this young man, a boy not even native to the Fire Nation, affect him so? Well, his life was not boring anymore, for sure. He smiled to himself.

"No, Sokka." Azulon says with the smile still in place. "You are not alone in this. You are a wise young man and don't forget that I'm her grandfather and Fire Lord. I will act and end Princess Azula's suffering in this matter."

He was rewarded with a huge smile from the watertribe boy.

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Authors note:

The story is progressing as planned.

Please review and if you have any questions please ask!

And if any out there are interested to be beta-reader that would be soo welcome. English is not my first language end it is extremely frustrating to make simple grammar mistakes. I know I do but fail to see them… Any takers? Let me know!

Hope you enjoy OE as much as I do!