Lesson 2 –
Show no mercy.
After weeks of fire bending training, Lo and Li decided that Azula was ready to begin sparring with another fire bending student. She was far ahead of Zuko by then, but Zuko's new teacher (Iroh had left months ago for Ba Sing Se, along with Lu-Ten) decided that he would begin as well.
He probably just doesn't want to look like a bad teacher for allowing Zuko's little sister to pass him up, Azula thought with a smile.
To Azula's pleasure, Ozai and Ursa were going to watch the practice, and she couldn't wait to get out there and show her father what she could do, this time she would not make a mistake, but Zuko was up first.
Zuko looked at his family anxiously; Ursa gave him a comforting smile which made Azula scowl. The princess crossed her arms and watched her brother step into the circle and bow to the other boy who returned the gesture, then both of them stepped into their stance.
Her masters' caught Azula's eye from the other side of the training ground and the old women's lips pursed. The girl got the point. Sitting up straight, she uncrossed her arms and folded her hands in her lap, then rolled her eyes when the old women looked back to the boys.
The other boy struck first, Zuko ducked and swept his leg around, which sent a wave of fire towards the other boy. He jumped and easily evaded it, but Azula was still happy her brother didn't go down on the first hit.
That would have been embarrassing, the princess thought, watching the two boys circle each other; she knew he was going to lose but at least he could put up a good fight while their father was watching.
The fight lasted longer than Azula expected, Zuko narrowly dodged a punch, and the shoulder of his school uniform was smoking when the fire cleared. It seemed to empower Zuko, who fought with renewed vigor.
The prince punched several times, shooting fire at the other boy's feet, exactly the way his uncle had taught him. The boy lost his balance when he dodged, and he landed awkwardly on one knee, his other leg out to the side.
Azula's eyes went wide, Zuko shot another fireball with a low kick and the other boy fell backwards when he tried to jump up. He landed on his back on the outside of the circle.
Did…Zuzu win? Azula thought. Zuko looked as surprised as Azula felt; he smiled and looked at his family. Azula turned to see their reaction, Ursa clapped and smiled but Azula's heart felt the biggest stab yet when she saw a small smile on her father's lips. The empty space in the princess' chest had just begun to feel whole again. Her heart had just started to rebuild only to be smashed again.
She couldn't let Zuko beat her.
She would not let him take their father away too.
The princess stepped passed her brother, ignoring him when he smiled at her, and into the ring. Her chest ached and her veins felt like they were on fire, but she had been taught how to keep her face blank when she fought, and so she kept it emotionless now.
Azula had turned to her father as a role model; he was strong, brave and powerful. People did what he said the second he said it and every time he smiled at his daughter or put his arm around her shoulders she felt her heart soar.
Now, seeing him look at Zuko proudly she hated her brother more than she ever thought she could and every memory of how they used to play together or of him helping her disappeared. All she saw in him was the person who stole her parents; the only people who ever loved her.
Azula stepped into her stance facing the boy she would fight (she had yet to realize that she was one of the few girls who was trained to fight). The boy must have seen something in her eyes because the princess could see his fists shaking from her place across the ring.
"Begin" Li and Lo chorused.
Azula focused all of the white rage, all of the emptiness, and all of the hurt into her bending. She thought of the smile on her father's face, of Zuko pushing the boy out of the ring, of falling in front of Ozai, of seeing Ursa carry Zuko to the healer while she cried alone in the courtyard, and even Azula was surprised when she punched four times at the boy, and her fire was not red, but a bright, hot blue.
The boy's eyes went wide and he tried to push Azula's fire to the side using his own bending. It was too hot and there was too much, the blue fire touched the boys hand and he screamed. Azula's head felt light and her heart was beating fast.
The princess did not let up for a second. She acted without thinking, jumping into the air and kicking another fireball at him. The boy jumped backwards and out of the circle holding his blistered hand against his chest.
Azula stood alone in the circle. She expected to feel guilt but none came. Instead of the sinking feeling in her stomach that she anticipated, all she could feel was an empty space in her heart. It overshadowed all else.
"Take him to a healer." Azula turned when she heard her father's voice. She saw him wave towards the burnt boy, instructing a servant to take him away. She noticed the smile on his lips, a real, genuine smile. The princess didn't see the cruelty behind it, all she saw was that her father was proud of her; more so than he had been of Zuko, and that was what counted.
Azula also didn't notice the worried look on her mother's face. How could she do that? Ursa thought.
It felt to Azula like one of the pieces had been put back into her heart.
A/N: I really liked writing this chapter so I hope you enjoy reading it too. =]
I would really love to hear feedback! (hearts)
