Pro-bending Circuit Round 5: The Capital City Catgators have teamed up to present An Avatar Christmas story.
PART ONE OF FOUR: A CHRISTMAS CAROL: The Spirit of the Fire Nation
Prompts Used: Romance, Red and Green, Gingerbread Cookies
Element included
Word Count: 3495 (Without Author notes)
"The Boulder says…ONE…TWO…YOU!"
The cameras rolled capturing a gorgeous, pale, blue backdrop with 40 meticulously, hand-painted white snowflakes exactly six inches away from one another. Panning back, the white silk, runway made its debut along with exactly twenty, real, icicle carvings designed as the classic Fire Nation emblem, lining the runway's edges, ten on each side (courtesy of the Northern Water Tribe for ¥41,680.20).
The camera slowly ascended from the silk runway as slim, toned legs accented with nude stockings and ¥2,778.68 dark, blue, suede, ankle-strapped, platform, high-heeled pumps with a golden bottom, strutted lightly over makeshift snow descending in time to reveal the snow-print of the Mad Princess franchise with each step.
A switch to a second camera revealed a full-body view of a gorgeous, dark-haired woman in an all-white dress accented with exactly 200 diamonds worth ¥27,786,800,004.17, that showed most of her tanned legs and only a tasteful amount of bosom. As the camera moved to the woman's face, she gave a wink with Mad Princess eyeliner (¥416.80) and a pucker of Mad Princess "Agni's Desire" gold lipstick (¥625.20) along with a perfectly timed twirl at exactly five minutes to reveal a huge set of white dragon wings attached to her back.
With a sinisterly, delicious smile towards the final camera, the woman spoke in a low, sexy tone. "Santa, Baby, I am the mad princess and I've been an awful, good girl. Why not spoil me for Christmas this year?" With that, she blew a thick puff of black smoke from her nostrils with a final wink and smirk as the camera faded to a misty black.
"And CUT! The Boulder approves!" Announced the self-proclaimed "best director in the business".
"Not bad, considering how little we're paying you," grumbled another woman, standing to the right of the director.
Her arms were crossed about her chest and her eyes could barely be seen beneath her long, black bangs.
She may just like this. Thought the woman as she watched the star of the commercial snatch a bottle of water from a set assistant and forcefully push the guy away as she stomped towards them.
"Can someone please fetch me a cigarette! Agni! I think I snorted that useless excuse for snow!" She was saying, kicking a camera-man in the head with one of her blue pumps as she shook them off. Stopping in front of Mai and The Boulder, she pointed a long, painted nail in his face. "Who the fuck wrote these pathetic lines?" She growled looking to her assistant. "Mai, is this some sort of joke?"
Or not… Mai concluded with a heavy sigh.
"Well, I did of course, Your Majesty!" Announced the idiot director with a bow.
Mai rubbed the bridge of her nose. Here we go…
Screams suddenly filled the room. "OH GOD! THE SET IS ON FIRE!" Screamed another camera-man. The sounds of hundreds of shattered lights and shrubbery soon followed.
"And there goes the Christmas tree," grumbled Mai, lightly kicking a broken Santa ornament across the floor.
"How…how could you! Grandma Boulder designed that tree for me this year!" Cried the disheveled director.
The woman in white pushed a piece of her sable hair from her face as she spoke. "You should worry less about flammable trees and worry more about flammable bodies that I'm still mulling over creating". Looking to her assistant, she added. "Mai, you know Princess Azula does not DO Santa, Baby".
The woman shrugged. "Well, with Christmas being tomorrow and this commercial debuting tonight, maybe the strategy will be a good marketing gimmick," she pointed out.
Princess Azula tapped her chin. "Hmm…uh…no. Let's do it over. No Santa this time".
"The Boulder requires payment, first," piped the director, boldly.
Stepping between Azula and the director to avoid any head-cuts, Mai quickly added. "We only paid for one take, Azula".
The Mad Princess owner's face softened as she thought on this. "One, huh?"
Mai nodded. "Plus the set is destroyed. That's an extra cost".
"41,680.20 in yuans to be exact," corrected Azula. "Oh, well, nevermind," she concluded, shrugging off the dragon wings and throwing them, with more force than necessary, at a set assistant. "Let's go, Mai".
As the two began to leave for the dressing room, The Boulder cleared his throat. "Ahem, and the damaged Christmas tree?" He asked with his hand outstretched.
Without turning around, Azula leaned into her assistant's shoulder. "Take it out of his check, Mai".
#
"Ahh," moaned Azula, sinking into a warm, hot-spring a few feet from her glamorous apartment in the Upper Ring of Ba Sing Se.
Using her chi, she increased the temperature, basking in the steam that filled her nostrils.
"Whoa, I wanted to get in, but I think it's too hot".
Azula peered her eyes open at the interruption to reveal a large-eyed 16-year-old across from her. Closing them again, she answered with, "As Agni's Hell. Why are you here, Kiyi? The filthy peasant, public hot-spring is in the Lower Ring. You should go dive in, head first". The young lady giggled, cheerfully, making Azula grimace. "That wasn't a joke," she added.
Ursa's youngest child pouted for a moment before asking, "Well, how's it going, Big Sis?"
"Fire-peachy up until about 30 seconds ago".
Ignoring the condescending tone from her half-sister, Kiyi walked over and sat next to her, placing two feet in the scolding water.
"MAI! Bring me a towel, NOW!" Azula screamed suddenly.
Mai appeared, greeting the young lady with a solemn nod as she gave the businesswoman her towel and left as quickly as she arrived. Azula immediately wrapped the towel about her glistening, steaming body as she emerged from the water. Like a puppy, Kiyi followed her sister into her massive apartment.
"So…will Mai get the day off tomorrow? I really wanted to invite her to Zu Zu's Christmas party".
Azula stepped behind a saffron, three-panel room divider to change into her nightgown. "No," she answered sharply.
"But it's Christmas!" Whined the child. "Izumi wanted me to invite her. She said you would rather eat moth-wasps, but you're invited too!"
Azula appeared from behind the divider. Grasping a cigar she lit it, blowing the smoke in her half-sister's direction. "Zu Zu's daughter was always my favorite. She knows me so well. And yes, tomorrow is the biggest marketing machine on our calendar, which is why Mai will be pulling a triple," pausing to take another intake and exhale, she added. "She has my new commercial to ensure is aired in all of the intact nations, followed by setting up my ribbon cutting event for the renovated Mad Princess headquarters in Yu Dao-"
"Republic City," corrected Kiyi, batting away the smoke.
"Don't…interrupt. Also, my charity event in the Lower Ring needs coordinating and tallied before taxes, so I can write it off for the new year. Mai simply doesn't have time to take a break for some kids' holiday that only benefits the rich anyway. And neither do I have time to spend my fortune on presents for family rodents when I could be expanding my fortune ten-fold in one day. Oh, well, you wouldn't understand, anyway, unfortunately you and your father lack royal blood. Hmm…come to think of it, Zu Zu behaves like he lacks it too".
Kiyi sighed heavily, scanning the insanely large room until her eyes fell on a small painting on Azula's nightstand. The businesswoman's estranged beaming wife, Ty Lee, was dressed in red and green with an elf hat sitting next to a smirking Azula in a Santa Clause get up. In their laps sat six-year-old Zaheer and newborn Yasuko. Azula's eyes followed her sister's. Immediately, she gracefully turned the portrait on its face before slipping into bed.
"You may leave now," she ordered smugly as she wrapped the red, silk bedsheets around her body.
"Do you miss them?" Kiyi couldn't help asking.
"I miss my money I foolishly spent on that new beach house on Ember Island. So, I need to rest so I can merrily make it back tomorrow. Now, once again, leave".
"Ok," said a seemingly defeated Kiyi. "I hope you will reconsider someday, but I won't stop asking. Mom and Zuko really want to see you and Mai for the holidays".
Azula did not answer and Kiyi was surprised to hear light snoring within seconds. Taking light steps, she left the apartment.
#
Azula jumped from her sleep, clutching her chest. A nightmare. She told herself.
She could vaguely remember the dream, only that it involved her estranged wife and children. Grumbling, she left the bed and searched for the strong, whiskey she had Mai retrieve on their way to her apartment. Pouring a single glass, she lifted the cup to her lips and took a gulp. The liquid burned her chest deliciously. Next, she gathered two sleeping pills to ensure that she would be well-rested for tomorrow.
Where did I put those cigars? She wondered, after she chased the pills down with another glass of whiskey.
"Mai!" She screamed.
It was exactly five wasted minutes later before Azula realized her assistant did not hear her. That was unusual. Azula moved towards the door and yanked it open to an empty hallway.
"Mai!" She called again, no answer.
Angrily, she slammed the door, shattering a clock that fell from a nearby wall. "That's coming out your paycheck, Mai!" She yelled out, crossing her arms and pouting as she leaned against the door.
The sound of chains was her response. Immediately on high alert, Azula took a stance. She had grown a little rusty with her firebending since Sozin's war and ambitious new business ventures, yet she was sure she could take down whatever peasant was attempting to break into her mediocre, earth kingdom home.
"Who's there?" She called. "Show yourself, Coward!"
A flash of a gruesomely, disfigured old comrade appeared on Azula's ¥1,389,340.00, red, mink carpet. Gasping the prodigy created a flicker of lightning. A gaping hole appeared where the figure was.
"Damnit! That was a small fortune," Azula grumbled, sighing as she headed back to bed.
~We wish you a merry manhunt/
We wish you a merry manhunt/
We wish you a merry manhunt and a zappy new year!~
Azula nearly burned her ¥27,2786.80 silk sheets as she snatched them from her bed. "What is this?" She asked no one, frantically searching her bedroom for the source of the ridiculous recording, she, Mai and Ty Lee had made along the mission to find Zuko and the Avatar years ago.
~You're a mean one/
A-Zula Scrooge/
You really are a heeeeel/
You're as cuddly as a pee-cactus/
As charming as an egg-eel/
A-Zula Scroooooooge!~
Azula bared her teeth, turning to focus on a mirror near the far wall. Zirin, again! Her dead, former friend-turned-traitor was singing her heart out, holding her head away from her headless, charred body.
Maybe they were onto something about the PTSD crap at the nuthouse. The businesswoman thought, grasping a nearby whiskey glass. Azula created a ball of fire and shattered the mirror.
"Aarrrgh! Ok…" she panted. "Just a hallucination. Breathe…chi flow…how did Ty Lee do it again?"
She paced her room, in deep thought of her estranged wife when a chair and small table appeared before her with Zirin sitting completely whole with golden chains around her charred body. "You're NOT real!" Azula screamed, angrily lighting her fists.
~You're a MONSTER/
A-Zula Scrooge/
Your heart's an empty hole/
Your brain is full of spider-monkeys
There's garlic in your soul/
A-Zula Scrooooooge!
"ENOUGH!" Yelled Azula, lunging for the singing apparition, but falling short.
"Ha-ha! You idiot, you killed me, remember?"
Azula twisted unto her back. "Yes, so why aren't you in the bowels of Agni's Hell where I sent you first class?" growled the businesswoman.
"Oh, Queen, I am in a place far worse, believe me. A purgatory of sorts".
"No, you're in my home, wasting my precious time".
The apparition scoffed. "You know, if I didn't have to wear these chains for all eternity, I would be fine with letting you suffer worse than I, but no. I am here to warn you and help you. Your soul is in danger, Azula".
Azula poured herself a glass of whiskey. "Since when have I cared? They said I was mad too, now I can be the soul-less, mad princess," she commented raising the glass to cheer before gulping the drink.
"You could lose your children and Ty Lee forever. Your chains would make you immobile at the bottom of Agni's Hell. No whiskey there".
Azula raised an eyebrow. No whiskey? She pondered, looking at her empty glass.
"Anyway, you will be visited by three spirits tonight-"
"They need an appointment. I'm booked".
"And it's up to you how your pathetic life turns out," finished Zirin, vanishing.
Azula threw her glass towards the vanished apparition. "PTSD my ass! How many pills did I take?" She grumbled, heading for her bed.
#
~Leaves from the vine/
Falling so slow/
Like fragile, tiny shells/
Little soldier boy says/
Carry me home/
Sleeping soldier boy/
Is carried home~
"Can't this wait until morning?" Groaned Azula, rubbing an eye as she sat up to meet a smiling Iroh, tea in hand. "Matter of fact, it's never too early for another cup of strong ale".
"Today, destiny is our friend, Azula".
Sitting upright, Azula glared at her uncle. "I have no friends, Uncle. I made my own destiny. It's gold and calculable. Now, if you don't mind piss—UGH!" She gasped as Iroh grabbed her wrist and they floated up and out of the apartment through the ceiling. Gripping Iroh's forearm tightly with both hands, Azula nearly cried as her very pricey liquor flew towards the fading Upper Ring in the distance.
"While it is always best to believe in one's self, a little help from others can be a great blessing," Iroh was babbling.
Oh, fuck, fuck, fuck! Thought Azula as they traversed over the wall of the Earth Kingdom capital.
"Where are you taking me, Fool?" She shrieked.
"Where you should be for this festive holiday, of course. Home".
With that, they made a fast and dramatic landing in the heart of the Fire Nation capital. Azula dusted herself and attempted to calm her nerves.
"Don't tell me you were afraid," chuckled Iroh.
"No, just your dragon of the west breath in my face made me want to pierce your heart…again".
Iroh shook his head. "You know, Niece-"
"Don't call me that, Fuddy Duddy! I'm an adult with children of my own, now".
"Yes," Iroh said, smiling sweetly. "And how are they?"
Azula's lip curled as she tried to think of a snarky remark. Iroh did not probe further, sensing the overwhelming sadness in his niece's eyes. The poor woman exuded pure confidence, yet was completely shattered inwardly by life's hardships. Glancing at the small brand on the woman's neck from her time as a prisoner, he shuddered to think that he may have given up on her too soon.
"Is that gingerbread sugar cookies?" Azula sniffed suddenly, pointing to a stand in the capital's square.
"Ah! Yes, the best there are in the capital".
The pair walked towards the stand.
"I want one, Father!"
The pair turned to see 10-year-old Azula, holding her father's hand, pulling him in the direction of the stand.
"Ah, a gentle moment for my brother, I see," said Iroh.
"You have an indulgence for those, My Dear. I doubt you'll fit into your costume tonight. I picked red and green for the holiday".
Iroh was about to ask adult Azula about the costume when he heard a pitiful gasp. Turning he saw the businesswoman stalking away from the memory. Hurrying to catch her, he placed a hand on her shoulder to still her, gasping himself at her bloodshot eyes and curling lip.
"Agni, why are you showing me THIS, Iroh?" She whimpered. "Did you come to just torture me? I…remember…"
Confused, the spirit pointed to two girls running past them. He recognized them as Azula's old friend and pretty wife, Mai and Ty Lee.
"Fire Lord," they said in unison, bowing. "Can Azula come lava sledding with us?"
Ozai grimaced.
"Please, Father?" Begged the child. "I don't want to dress up tonight".
The fire lord's nose flared. "You would defy your fire lord?" He asked.
Hanging her head, Azula did not respond. Ozai turned towards the two girls and knelt before them. "Hello, Girls," he paused, licking his lips towards Ukano's solemn daughter. "Since Azula's mother abandoned her, she has added…responsibilities to her lord. Christmas is no excuse for not performing".
The girls bowed respectfully. Azula watched them leave, stepping into the palanquin with her father.
"ENOUGH!" Screamed the businesswoman. "Please…"
"I don't have control over the memories, Azula," explained Iroh, wondering just what terrified the woman so.
The scene around them changed as a little girl's heart-dropping cries filled their ears. They were now in Azula's bathroom in the palace.
The child sniffed as she scribbled words on a misty window. Writing backwards, she finished, and waited. A light from an adjacent house flickered on. Slowly words formed on the window in the house.
'He did it again?' The words said.
Little Azula erased her message. Blowing her breath until her window fogged again, she wrote backwards as if she had done this numerous times.
'I want to run away'
Moments later another message appeared.
'Me too'
'Circus'
'Yep'
'You can'
'With you?'
'He would catch me'
'I won't let him'
"Where are you, My Prodigy? Come back to service your lord".
Little Azula's face hollowed as Iroh's sunk in disbelief.
'Goodbye Ty Lee' wrote Little Azula.
A messenger hawk entered the room as she stood to leave.
'Don't think about it. Think of our lava ride instead'.
The old general feared turning to see his niece's reaction. "While you were sipping tea with ZuZu, I had monsters in my bed," she grumbled, face cold.
"I never…Ussie…"
Azula smirked at the old nickname Iroh called her in "the good old days" for her strong resemblance to Ursa.
"Can we see something else? There weren't very many merry Christmases in this place".
Iroh nodded. "Let's".
#
They were on a sleigh! In the middle of a molten lake!
"Um…" Iroh did not understand the hype with this revamp of snowy sleigh-rides enjoyed in the Water Tribes.
Azula beamed. "Ha! Lava sledding!" She exclaimed like a child.
"Oh, Azula, lighten up!" An 18-year-old Ty Lee called to her angry friend in front of them.
"ZuZu's an idiot. I'd rather be in my cell, pumped full of sleeping pills for Christmas".
Iroh gave his niece a look. "You were never one for gratefulness, huh?"
Azula shrugged. "Eh…the nuthouse does that to you. But believe me, this was the best time of my life, watch…"
They careened the lava slopes, adrenaline pumping. Azula clinging to a happily screaming Ty Lee, who's arms were flailing in the air.
"Stop moving, damnit!" Azula growled.
"Ooooh, Azula look the burning mistletoe wreathe, hurry, kiss me".
"Absolutely not, Traitor!"
Pouting, Ty Lee stood, placing her toes on the handles as they neared the edge of the giant slope that bottomed out at the wreath.
"Ty! Stop before you kill both of us!"
Ty Lee outstretched her arms. "I'm the queen of the world!" She screamed.
With a strong arm. Azula grabbed the acrobat as they plummeted over the slope. The acrobat collapsed dramatically into her lap. "Wasn't that fun, 'Zu?"
"Not if I had lost you," Azula said, leaning over to kiss the pretty acrobat.
Iroh smiled from the shimmer in his niece's golden eyes. There was definitely good still there, somewhere.
"You see, Ussie, just because the past did not turn out as you wanted, doesn't mean your future can't be better than you ever imagined".
#
Azula was back in her apartment. In her bed. She reached over to feel emptiness in her circular bed. With a sigh, she closed her eyes, hoping to return to that moment in her dream forever.
Credits to kdinthecity for the inspiration as well as allowing me to borrow her awesome "Wish You a Merry Manhunt" carol. Also if you wish to read more about Azula's adventure check out my teammates! Enjoy! No ownership of ATLA!
