A/N: Yes, this chapter is awfully short. But I really like this one, seeing as it gives reason for Azula to banish her followers. I like the detail, even though somewhere in the middle it does get a little morbid. So beware. Do NOT try to imagine what Azula goes through with the Imperial Guard, for you will be plagued with nightmares and horrid images if you do. But R&R anyway. I like this chapter, lol.

--

Three Years Earlier, The Throne Room—

Azula peered around the corner, her eyes flashing about with caution. If only Li and Lo knew what she was doing…She shook the thought from her tainted mind as she took a step into the Throne Room, her slippers padding quietly on the marble floor. A nervous smile rose to her lips as the red flames decorating the dais slowly turned to blue with each step she took.

"Sorry, Daddy dearest, but…I shouldn't think something would go horribly down hill if I just…" Azula started, tracing her fingers on one of the twirling shafts rising to the overhead of the throne as she walked around the pending seat. She suddenly dropped down with her legs crossed, the smirk widening. "Steal your seat."

A chuckle rose to her pale lips as she glanced around the room, imagining every corner filled with loyal servants and guards, all ready to lay their lives down for the soon-to-be Fire Lord if need be. She saw the Dai Li and the Imperial Guard…all she needed was the Avatar in chains to view her victory.

But suddenly, the flames went out and the room was suddenly empty. She heard the shuffling of feet on the floor and she glanced about the dark, getting to her feet. She resisted to call out for help or to ask who was there…for Fire Lords can handle their own lives for sure.

"Sorry, Princess…" Azula turned right around, only to meet the green eyes of the Dai Li leader and a searing pain in her stomach. She looked down with a look of shock all over her face and found a dagger planted firmly in her abdomen, blood spilling freely from the wound. She looked back up and frowned at the Dai Li leader who was now standing in front of the entire league of Dai Li.

"Traitor," she said, loud enough to hear her voice bounce off the walls. Azula's eyes snapped open, a gasp escaping her lips. She glanced about and settled with the thought that she had fallen asleep at the throne and had a nightmare. She calmed herself and went back to imagining her victory day, but this time without the 'loyal' Dai Li.

--

The room contained only those Azula had sought loyal enough to trust. The empty room overlaid with the ghost of her imagination, the Dai Li's area completely empty save one of the Imperial Guard's foot out of place. She ignored it and glanced about the room once more, happily.

The flames abruptly rose to a tremendous height and the heat seemed to rise even more than her own flames should've been. She jumped to her feet and tried to look through the flames to see who she suspected had started the flame attack, but she only saw the orange of the blaze and her own reflection in her golden eyes. The fire blocked out her sight and then her hearing once she had established the roaring belonged to the inferno.

Suddenly, a red hand grabbed her by the forearm and pulled her through the flames, burning her robes and her hair and more so…her skin and flesh. It was horrible; the stench of burning bodies and burnt hair…the feel of it all in her mind and even when she looked at her own hands. The skin on her hands and arms and surely everywhere else was peeling clean off the muscles and the bones…It didn't take much longer for the flesh to fall completely off of her skeleton.

Azula jumped as her eyes snapped open once more, her face sticky with tears. She looked around and took note that she had fallen asleep once more, putting the fire out long enough for her to thrash about enough to push herself off the dais. She growled and got to her feet, approaching her seat once again up on the platform.

--

The room was almost empty in her mind now…With the Dai Li and the Imperial Guard gone, all that remained were the servants and a few of the cooks. There was no possible way they could assassin the Princess…no, not Princess anymore. The Fire Lord could not be overthrown by a bunch of ratty-haired zombies born to fulfill their Lord's every need and desire. Azula was convinced.

"Would you like another cherry, Your Highness?" a servant girl asked, raising a platter of fruit up to Fire Lord Azula, her eyes lowered down to the floor with a seemingly shame-full look upon her face. Azula looked about the room, her suspicious gaze watching for any glint of a dagger or any spark of flames. Satisfied with nothing ensuring her death, Azula cautiously picked up a cherry and tossed it in her mouth.

As she dared swallow, Azula heard laughter from the crowd of persons down at the base of the throne. It was then that it became apparent—a cherry pit was caught in her throat. Her breathing constricted and she started to gasp for air, but she only tried in vain. Her lungs screamed at her, but all that was there to answer was a lifeless corpse lying on the stairs of the dais with the laughter of her servants down below.

--

Azula was later found unconscious by her Dai Li agents and brought to her room to sleep. Li and Lo were informed, but they could do nothing for the hallucinating Princess even if they knew her fault.