Authors note: Okay, after you read this you will be like "what the heck is she doing this makes no sense." But don't worry, next chapter everything will be cleared up for you. I just didn't want you to worry that I was going insane. I'm NOT INSANE!!! Have fun reading!!! ;)

Chapter 10: Weakness

So they are still following me. Curse that stupid boy!

Azula narrowed her golden eyes and glared down at her two enemies. She picked the dirt meticulously from her long lacquered fingernails. A gust of wind ran by trying to take strands of her black hair with it. She scowled as they entered the forest. It had taken her less than half a day to get through it, so she expected the same out of them. They wouldn't get lost in there, that water tribe boy was too good of a tracker.

Azula's expression hardened and curled her delicate hands into powerful fists. She couldn't shake him nor could she kill him. He had gone beyond pest to an out right tormentor. He was a lot smarter than he looked and he was getting smarter by the day. Everything she threw at him he managed to get by; the swamp, Ba Sing Se, Serpents Pass, everything! A hot rush of fury began to course through Azula's veins. Relax, she told herself. Azula cleared her mind and took a deep breath.

Azula tried her best to show no emotion, ever. Showing your emotions was weakness and when her mother died, Azula hid her sorrow very well. But her sorrow was instantly replaced by hatred. How dare she die? How could she be so weak! Groveling pathetically in front of the fire lord she begged feverishly for the worthless life of her son. Her mother's kindness had lead to her demise. The conclusion Azula came to was that love was weakness. If she wanted to be strong Azula knew she would have to be like her father; hatred was real power. Who was the fire lord now? Was it her uncle Iroh with his love and understanding? No. It was her father Oazi.

But now another soft weakling, Zuko, was the fire lord. This was only because of his birth right for Azula knew that she deserved that position. She should be fire mistress and Zuko the one banished. Curse Zuko! Oh, how she wished to kill her foolish, soft-hearted brother. How dare he banish her! The memory of it kept her going. It reminded her why she needed to kill Zuko.

Bound by heavy chains and gagged Azula was thrust forcefully to her knees in front of the wall of flame roaring between her and Zuko perched unrightfully on a golden throne.

"How nice of you to join me, sister." Zuko said without any expression.

That pig how dare he talk to me, acting like you invited me to dinner, you make me sick.

Zuko shifted in his chair. "I bet you are wondering why I called you here."

Called me here!? You had me dragged out of a jail cell, gagged and covered in chains like a lowlife peasant! And of course I know why you've called me here; you're going to kill me aren't you, you little coward!

"Azula, I should have you executed you know, for all that you've done. Mainly crimes to the throne, but there is the factor of murder too."

Crimes to the throne? I should be the throne!!! I am the fire nation! And murder, ha! You call taking care of traitors and enemies to the fire lord murder?

"But I won't have you killed, sister dear. You will suffer, what I had to suffer; banishment from the fire nation. Have you anything to say in your defense?"

Azula felt her gag untied so she could speak. But Azula did not speak she screamed.

"You can't banish me!" she had roared, spittle flying from her mouth. "You weakling! Kill me! Come on Zuko!" Flame began to pour from her mouth as she shrieked. "Be a man; don't shame me like this!"

"Take her away." He commanded with a lazy flick of his hand. "Be warned though," he said as the guards replaced her gag and began to drag her away. Smoke began to sprout from her nostrils. "If you should return, you will be killed."

Zuko would pay for his torturous deed. Azula had always know her brother was a weakling, but a coward? For her sake and her fathers, she would eliminate the plague of weakness from her family. Once and for all.

By the time she was thrown onto the earth kingdoms border, Azula had Zuko's assassination already fashioned in her clever mind. But before she could put it into action, someone had gotten in her way. That accursed water tribe boy the lover of that Kioshi warrior she had killed. When he found her he hadn't come for a talk, he meant business. He meant to kill her. So Azula had to change her plans and run away. She didn't want to waste any effort on killing the boy; she thought she could lose him easily. But the boy was more that she had expected and for five years Azula had run from him. Now she had reached the limit of her patience. He had to die. No more running, no more traps, she was going to kill him, personally. But now, it would be more difficult.

The day she had tried to get him killed at serpents pass, she was surprised to see that he was no longer alone in his quest. The little earth bending girl that had caused so much trouble back when the war was still going on was now with him. Azula knew the earth bender would pose a threat. But she could be taken care of. She has a weakness; if she can't bend, she can't see. But even better, the blind girl was a weakness. When the girl was thrown into the water, the water tribe boy chose to save her over coming after Azula. Foolish boy, weak boy! Azula knew the boy loved that girl and she could use it against him. It was the same weakness that destroyed her mother. He would do anything to save the earth bending girl which gave Azula an advantaged that the poor little boy could not even believe.

But first things first, she would have to lead them into a trap, which meant she would have to leave a track or too behind. Azula looked up to the sky; it was clear not a cloud in the sky. Perfect. Azula made her way through the rocky terrain thinking hard about the task ahead of her. The boy was smart. If the trail was too obvious he would get suspicious and be on the look out for a trap. But if her trail was barely recognizable, she might a good chance.

Azula leapt nimbly over a large pool of mud. But as she went away from it, an idea sprang into her mind. She halted and spun around to look at the mud. A smile curled her lips. Fire sprouted from Azula palm, dancing gracefully in a perfect ball. She bent low moved the fire slowly over the mud back and forth. The mud cracked as the water evaporated from it leaving it dry and dusty. Excellent, she thought. Azula stood up, closed her eyes and took a deep breath, concentrating hard on her task. Her eyes snapped open and in a graceful movement of her arms commanded her fire to shoot out of her hands and onto the mud. The fire quickly baked the rest of the mud, completing Azula's task. Azula doused the rest of the flames and folded her arms as she admired her work.

"Alright little water boy." She whispered to herself. "Show me what you can do."