"Wow. She's certainly agile, isn't she?"
"Agile? Is that all you can say? Look at that speed, that flexibility, those somersaults, those moves… Why, if she'd been that much in control five years ago, she would have blasted us all to the ground and burnt us into cinders. We'd be ashes by now, Zuko. Watch and praise the spirits we survived."
"Hm. Next time around, we might not be so lucky." The hot glow in the Fire Lord's yellow eyes belied the caution of his words.
They were both standing discreetly to one side of the Palace sparring grounds, watching in badly masked awe as the tall lithe female figure twirled and struck, throwing blue flares and balls of flame, creating scorching azure screens and hurling sharp zigzags of white blue lightning at unexpected angles and edges. The flames and lightning sparkled like fireworks against the backdrop of a perfect blue sky, illuminated by a golden flow of red hot sunshine. It was truly a glorious day for Firebending, and most glorious of all was the young woman performing her lethally beautiful battle dance on the smooth velvety green grass of the Royal sparring field.
Watching her intently, the Avatar smiled and wiped the sweat off his forehead and bare torso with a towel that one of the Palace servants had discreetly provided. His own sparring fight with Azula earlier that morning had ended in a draw, like most of them seemed to do. Sometimes, he defeated her. Sometimes, she defeated him. But most times, they were evenly matched. By now, they'd tried out all possible combinations of fighting, with her Firebending matched against his own being Aang's particular favourite. However, Azula seemed to prefer the more complicated challenges, with either battling his elemental bending one after another, or all at the same time. Either way, Aang was strangely happy. Not just for sparring with the one person in the Four Nations who he knew had not only the capacity but also the actual mindset to kill him. Certainly, that played a part. But what elated him the most was to see Azula this way. Free. Embodying her element freely. Burning brightly, not with the crazy fierceness of a shooting star, but the true inner glow of a sun, of an eternal ember. As his eyes followed the perfection of her every movement, the Firebender in him resonated with a steady hum. It was a disconcerting sensation.
Ok, so probably the Fire Sages and Zuko himself had been right. Aang could sense it in the very essence of his being. The events at Sozin's comet had created an imbalance, where the element of Fire had come close to becoming extinguished. Having experienced the same thing about the element of Air before, he responded to the realization with intense discomfort. No. That state of things just couldn't be allowed to be. If he could do anything to set things right, to restore the original Balance, he would. After all, what was the purpose of the Avatar but that?
Fire and Air feed off each other. They nurture one another. They make each other strong, alive, more prominent. They need each other to live, to be.
Roku's voice echoed through his mind as from behind a far off mirror wall.
Yes. I know.
Of course, he'd always been aware of it. He'd always known his fate. Whenever the Avatar state in him took over, the visions would indicate the one possible way to take. In daily life, as Aang, he'd just sensed the strong and fierce attraction to-
The wrong one. His enemy. The one trying to kill him. The only one who had ever had the power and determination to succeed.
That alone should have been the sign. But then, she'd been caught in her father's web of lies, struggling to take control of her own fate by means of controlling the world. In spite of her violent approach, part of him applauded her valiant effort.
Azula was a fighter. She'd never be a quitter. She could be mean and spiteful in her focus on her goals, but then again, whoever calls a male king and warlord mean and spiteful? Azula was a girl, and thus had been twice as condemned for-
The ones who lose will always be condemned for their crimes against the victors.
Ok, I know. If she had defeated Zuko, everyone would have hailed her. Still, her mental unbalance would have remained. Now, she's sane, and all grown up. But the world around her remains unbalanced. Water and Earth have prevailed. Air and Fire are diminished. Because of the unbalance, the World Spirit has become weakened. Something needs to be done.
I'm an Airbender. I need Fire to thrive. Water could never nurture me, no matter how much it tried. Only the Earthbender in me responds to it. That's why I'm here.
Over at the sparring grounds, another hopeful non-bender contender had been forced to acknowledge defeat. Ever since the shocking appearance of Princess Azula at her brother's court, myriads of suitors had crawled out of the woodwork to present themselves and their availability. Not just Fire Nation hopefuls, but also representatives of the Earth Kingdom and the Water Tribes. The Fire Nation Princess was simply a major catch and also apparently back in favour with her brother. Judging from her behaviour at court, she'd overcome her mental breakdown five years ago. She was beautiful, gifted and a Firebender. Of course, there were suitors. A whole fucking long line of them, waiting to present themselves and to impress her. What better way than to offer themselves up as sparring partners for her practice sessions?
Aang and Zuko both winced visibly as, over at the sparring ground, another hopeful was hurled away and thrown painfully to the ground by the impact generated by Azula's lightning. As his squires assisted him in rising and basically carried the poor man away, the stench of charred clothing assaulted their nostrils. In the middle of the cropped green grass, Azula twirled and flashed the assembled members of the Royal Fire Nation Court a brilliant smile. Evidently, her victories had put her in good mood.
Her skimpy training outfit left little to the imagination. A sleeveless, low cut flame orange bra top that exposed lots of pale smooth skin and showcased the somewhat outrageous curves of her bosom. Skintight knee length training pants in the same vibrant colour, that clung to her long slender thighs and small pert, perfectly rounded behind. The muscles of her long lean limbs and taut abdomen, mercilessly displayed, testified to perfect physical control. The red leather triple flame hair ornament flashed impertinently in the eyes of the court members and diplomatic representatives who'd managed to, like the Avatar and Fire Lord Zuko, rise with the sun. Arms akimbo, the Princess flashed her challenge at them all.
"No more volunteers? Well, I guess that in the past five years, the whole world's grown lax and lazy. There's something to be said for war."
A gleam went on in the Avatar's grey eyes. Pulling his yellow silk shirt off to bare his spectacularly muscular nude torso, he made as if to move over to the sparring grounds. A strong dusky skinned hand stopped him.
"No, Aang! You've already sparred with her this morning. Frankly, I can't stand seeing it. I can't stand the risk of her hurting you, or worse. No. It's time to put Azula in her proper place. Stay back."
By the time that Aang and Zuko had the time to voice their protests, she'd already flowed down the marble steps and was halfway across the lawn adjoining the sparring grounds.
The Waterbender's outfit consisted of a longish belted sleeveless blue tunic on top of loose white pants that certainly weren't unsuitable for sparring. Her dark brown hair was pulled back from her face into a long thick ponytail. Katara was ready for battle. Ready to take on her chosen enemy.
In the spectator's seat, Zuko inhaled audibly.
"You… You don't think we should intervene here, Aang?"
The Avatar shook his head. "No. Let's see what happens. Let's not intervene until there is a winner. I think they both need to sort this one out for themselves. "
Ok, so he was kind of excited to see this.
Katara entered the sparring area with the confidence of a World Champion challenged by a well-known inferior competitor. Taking up position opposite the Princess, she stared the Firebender down with bright blue eyes.
"Don't get any ideas. I thought the lot of us had put you firmly back in your place years ago. I'm happy to return you there."
As Azula switched into fighting position opposite her, her pale beautiful face froze in concentrated joy.
"Why, Katara. I'm pleased to see you too. Welcome to my training ground. I'll be even happier to eject you out of here."
The solid wall of ice was split instantly into a thousand shards by white-hot lightning. Around them, the spectators scattered to safer ground.
Azula approached her opponent with a tiny grin on her full lips.
"Ok, so my nannies always told me that I'd grow to an unseemly height. They admonished me firmly to catch my future husband before that happened. And look what came out of it."
Blue flames kept heating water waves into an eerie mist.
"Pity they weren't around to admonish you, Katara. I mean, I'm as tall as a man. But you… By the flame of Agni, five years have turned you as wide as Appa!"
Laughing heartily, she somersaulted easily out of target range of the barrage of lethally sharp icicles. The glowing range of fire stars singed the air around the Waterbender, who barely had time to extinguish them with her water showers. She retaliated by means a series of intense rain attacks, along with an ice slide intended to bring her enemy down.
In the spectator area, Aang shook his head. "Oh-oh. This isn't a friendly game of sparring, Zuko. This is the real deal."
The Fire Lord eyed him sourly. ""Yeah. What the fuck did you expect, Aang? This is what I've feared would happen all along."
Boomerang lightning was attacking the Waterbender from the sides and from behind, ricocheting back at her plump form. She managed to roll out of target range just in the nick of time. Of course, as everyone could see, five years had brought a certain disadvantageous change to Katara's body. While Azula had sprouted and increased her height by 15 centimetres, the Waterbender had gained some 15 kilos instead. Bulldozing herself forward on the green grass lawn, she kept a steady barrage of icicles and water tornadoes raining down on her opponent. For a brief while, Azula just stood there, countering the attacks by means of her blue flames and lightning. And then-
Nothing happened. She stood quite still, countering the Waterbender's furious attacks almost as if by rote. No movement. No-
Azula shot up through the air to somersault back over her opponent's head. By means of pure luck, Katara managed to stumble back and direct a flash of ice at the sharp peak of lightning aiming for her crown. As she did so, a hard bare lower arm caught her neck in a deadly grasp, while a bare foot kicked the back of her knees to make her stumble. The arm kept pressing at her larynx, threatening to break it. Her opponent's voice was hard and sharp in her right ear.
"Accede victory, Katara. I've got you."
"NO!" The Waterbender twisted before her, throwing her hands back to aim them at her born adversary, calling in her final forbidden power to direct it at her. It wasn't even conscious, merely an instinctual response.
"Ah!"
The bloodbending caused Azula to relinquish her grasp and fall back on her knees. As Katara turned to face her, the Firebender's hands shot up, palms out.
"No. Step into this, Katara. I own your mind."
The Waterbender's eyes widened significantly. Then , she sank down slowly to her knees, hands plastered to both sides of her head. Her mouth changed into a silent O of a scream.
Released from the bloodbending, Azula scrambled to her feet to resume her position behind her enemy before whatever unholy power she'd directed at her was able to fade out. The long sharp arm was back, threatening to break the Waterbender's larynx. Katara's face had gone a bright strawberry red.
"Accede victory, Katara. Admit defeat."
"N… No! Never!"
The grasp around the Waterbender's throat increased.
"Ouch."
Aang shook his head. Next to him, Zuko fiddled restlessly. Below them, the Waterbender was causing a steady waterfall and huge boulders of ice to run down the soft green lawns in front of her. The hard grasp around her throat increased. The long slender hand of her enemy was aimed at the back of her head, as her bright yellow eyes glowed like magma. Both Firebenders, Zuko and Aang could sense the heat and pressure increasing.
"Fuck, Aang! What is she doing?"
"I don't know, Zuko! I really don't know. Some Firebender correlate of bloodbending, possibly. She's directing her fire at Kataras internal system, she's-
Oh fuck. I should have realized the stakes.
He was up and running down the trail of white marble steps. Everything was drawn out, as if happening in slow motion.
"Accede victory, Katara. Admit defeat."
"N… No!"
The two long fingers came down in a sharp stab. As he reached them, Katara slumped down in the arms of her enemy. Her dusky skinned face came to rest on Azula's full breast, as if finally peaceful at the bosom of her mother.
"Oh, can it, both of you. That was merely a move that I learned from the staff at the Facility. I didn't really hurt her. I just blocked her chi. You know, by punching her neck meridians. I've unblocked it and she should be ok. But really, that girl's some bad loser. That kind of behaviour just pisses me off. I had to teach her a lesson."
Zuko was staring at his sister. "I… I just can't condone that kind of behaviour, Azula! Katara is…"
The Avatar inserted himself nimbly into the conversation. "Excuse me Zuko, but in that case you shouldn't allow Katara to participate in Azula's sparring sessions at all. She clearly harbours a personal grudge and can't admit defeat, no matter what. Really, Zuko. What did you expect?"
Azula's golden eyes were gleaming with mirth. "Yes, Zuzu. What did you think would happen? Were you really looking forward to seeing Katara kick my ass? Oh, my poor deluded Zuzu." She shook her head exaggeratedly in pity,
The Fire Lord's hands clenched and unclenched, as if he were contemplating strangulation. Which of course he was.
"I… I…"
"There now, Zuko. Let's take a realistic look at things. No one came to any real harm. Azula unblocked Katara's chi after everyone had witnessed her being defeated and carried out unconscious to the changing rooms. Of course, I've heard about the method in question being used in martial arts. 'The Strike of the Cobra'. Very effective. If you do the counter move within half an hour, the recipient will survive. You need lots of practice to get it right, though. I guess you got that at the Ember Island Mental Health Facility, Azula."
She shrugged. "Yes. I used to help them out in handling their worst cases. It's no big deal, though. You just punch them out, and punch them back again once you're in control. Everything's fully functional. That's the point. It just irks me that she wouldn't admit defeat. She even tried to use her bloodbending on me. Well, I don't mind. It's just that I took it one step further. Katara should have realized that and been able to admit defeat. Aang does that when he loses against me. So does every single one of those simpleminded buffoons. They all play by the rules. Except Katara. So, I decided to teach her a lesson. Namely, that I can defeat her not only by means of my bending, but also with my bare hands. Let her suck on that one for a while."
Zuko drew a deep breath. A warning stare from Aang prevented him from speaking. The Airbender reached out to embrace Azula's slender shoulders.
"Everybody present, including representatives of all four nations, witnessed you defeating Katara. Don't worry about whether she's ready to admit it or not. Both Zuko and I realize that today, you're the true winner. No, Azula. I don't consider this to be merely a fluke win in a sparring session. Today, you defeated Katara, just as she defeated you five years ago. You've evened out the score. I'm just envious that I can't figure out the final technique that you used on her. You know, the one to counter her bloodbending. I mean… I almost sensed that you used your Firebending to heat her brain and nervous system beyond anything she could control. She looked like she was being seized by some kind of panic attack. Is that it, Azula?"
She shrugged. "I learned a lot at the Facility, Aang. Not just handy martial arts moves. I realized how to turn my Firebending inside and use it in a mental way. I can't explain it any further. One day I just knew it could be done, and indeed it proved to be true. If you want to protect Katara, I suggest you tell her to stay away from me, Zuzu. Also, I think you should consider your own feelings for her very carefully. If you want something, it's better to go for it without apologies. If you don't, then let it go."
"Yes, Azula. That's very good advice."
Aang's deep grey eyes were burning into her mind and feelings. Startled, she twitched and drew a deep breath, not knowing whether to draw back or to approach.
If you want something, it's better to go for it without apologies. If you don't, then let it go.
