Chapter Eight: Enemies and Friends
Katara stood there, waiting for Azula to get up. Azula kept breathing out steam through her nostrils, trying to warm herself. It wasn't working. Her armor was too thin. No wonder she joined the Navy. She was pathetic. She lost much of her soul and lifestyle when the new Fire Lord took over. Katara laughed to herself, but she didn't lose concentration.
"Why did you come back?" she hissed through her teeth, kicking Azula in the side. "What do you want with my people?"
"To take you down," Azula stood up with a grunt, grabbing her side and shoulder. "The Water Tribes are a worthless part of this world. I'm not leading them, oh no. They think Princess Azula is dead. As a matter of fact, I lived quite well. I had slipped a potion inside my mouth that caused me to fall asleep, and appear to be dead. Amazing, isn't it? Then Mai and Ty Lee gave me the antidote, and I was fully alive. Quite amazing what things a princess has access to, don't you think?"
"You are a monster!" Katara raised her fist and aimed to punch Azula's face, but the princess' quick hand movements got the young mother's fist with ease. "You don't deserve to live! The spirits should punish you to Koh the Face Stealer! You should have your face stolen and never be able to see again!"
Azula chuckled. That evil chuckle that Katara always had entering her nightmares; those nightmares that warned Katara that something terrible was going to happen. She should have listened to them! Katara jerked her arm back quickly, her long braid flying as she brought up water about her in the form of an octopus.
"Try me..." Katara breathed through her teeth. "I am a High Master Waterbender...You are nothing more than a lightning bender! Water make conduct lightning, but I will beat you for once!"
Azula now gave out a high-pitched laugh that chilled Katara's spine, paused her voice, and made her chest tighten. Katara wondered if Zuko were still alive. That was impossible! Azula wouldn't have helped her brother. They hated one another more than anything. Azula formed the blue fire about her hands, ready to attack. Just then, a gust of snow surrounded her. Katara turned her head to see Aang in the Avatar State, but he smiled at her. He was able to see and control all his actions!
"Thank the Moon Spirit you came, Aang," Katara muttered to him, and began to move about the water tentacles of her octopus. Azula was in deep danger now. She tried, with all the might she possibly had, to stop Aang and Katara, but the two powerful benders united couldn't be stopped. They used their combined Waterbending to stop the Princess of the Fire Nation, who surrendered when she was under a pile of snow; only her head visible above it.
"You win again," she gasped, her cheeks a burnt red from the frigid air. "I'll come back again. My brother will, too."
"Your brother is dead. I killed him," Aang said, his voice booming. "Don't you dare tell me he is alive. I will hunt him down. I don't want my daughters to live in a world like my wife and brother-in-law did! Not the same world you grew up in ruling!"
Azula laughed, her pale gold eyes staring into Katara's ocean blue ones. She had fear in hers, but Azula had strength, bravery, anger, hatred, and power in hers. Katara turned away. She knew that this was going to be a futile attempt. Azula had trained a whole new generation of Fire Nation soldiers; or at least someone she knew personally that could take her place while she was still in hiding.
My daughters...my husband...my people...my tribe...they are all in danger because of me...they want to kill me first so I won't be in the way of Azula taking over. Katara thought as she went back up the wall; the Fire Nation had retreated for the time being.
