Been a while, but finished another chapter. Kinda long so let me know if you think I should split it off into two chapters. Now some important details; You'll notice I changed three things. One, the title and summary for the story, which I'm halfway satisfied with the latter, but not the former. So if anyone has some suggestions feel free to let me know. Second, I changed the cover art. I know you're suppossed to have permission from the artist to display their image, but several problems with that. I can't find a definitive source of the photo and what's worse the person I think who drew it is from a different country and I'm honestly afraid to ask him\or her for permission on account of me making a ass out of myself with google translate and not even sure if this person is indeed the original artist. That and it would crush me not to display such a amazing work of art. When I saw it I thought it perfectly captured the essence of how Azula feels in my story. So that being said I TAKE NO CREDIT FOR THE AMAZING WORK OF ART. If anyone can tell me who the illustrator of the amazing piece of art is please message me and I'll ask proper permission and give proper credit for the art. Now lastly and perhaps most importantly in regards to the actual story you'll notice I changed the main genre of the story to romance. This is not a mistake and yes this story is one about love and romance. Now, before you run for the hills let me clarify some things. This by no means, means there won't be any less action, drama, hurt, comfort in my story. I like to add a blend of almost every genre including a bit of comedy at times to give it some good balance. Now in regards to the actual pairing of the romance, I'm not going to say who it is, but let me make one thing clear this will NOT be a incest story. I know this is only fiction, but still feels wrong to me so I will not be doing it. That being said I've posted at the bottom closing notes of this chapter major spoilers on a hint of who the pairing is (I've labeled a spoiler warning ahead of the actual spoilers so you're safe). Okay that's it see ya.
Consciousness began to return to Azula as she slowly opened her eyes.
She was on the floor lying on her stomach in a sea of complete darkness.
Rising to her feet she looked around the endless void that she was surrounded by.
"Azula…" She heard a voice that made her heart skip a beat.
Turning around with wide eyes she was met with a completely healed Zuko standing with his back to her, a couple yards away.
"Z-Zuko…?" Azula choked out.
"You're healed…" She said smiling in tears as she began walking over to him with her arm outstretched.
Azula's smile turned into a frown as picking up her pace Zuko appeared to be traversing further and further away from her.
"Zuko!" Azula called breaking out into a run trying not to lose him.
"Azula…" Zuko called again as he turned around now completely covered in bandages.
"You failed me." He said.
Azula's eyes widened in horror as she saw Ozai appear behind Zuko.
Ozai smiled sinisterly as Zuko was completely engulfed in flames.
"No!" Azula screamed as she shot up in a cold sweat.
Gasping for air, she looked around.
She was in her room…She was alive…
"Zuko!' Azula's eyes went wide as she jumped out of her bed to run to the door.
She crashed to the floor soon as her foot touched the floor.
Her body was so sore.
"Zuko…" Azula muttered forcing herself up to her feet.
Stumbling, she forced herself forward out the door as she broke out into an unsteady run, using the hall she ran down as support.
Approaching Zuko's room, Azula grunted angrily with teeth bared as she saw the two guards from before.
"Princess Azula!" The first guard alerted the other as they rushed toward her.
Azula let go of her crutch of leaning on the wall as she stood unsteadily and faced the two guards.
"Please allow us to escort you in the prince's room." The two guards said surprising Azula as they draped her arms over their shoulders and helped her to Zuko's door.
Opening the door, Azula's eyes widened in surprise and she could feel a wave of relief wash over as she saw Zuko lying on his bed unharmed.
Helping her over to his bed, one of the guards pulled up a chair next to his bed as they helped her take a seat.
"We'll be right outside if you need us for anything princess." The second guard said before him and his fellow guard turned to leave.
Silence befell the room as the door closed and Azula sat in her chair facing Zuko.
Pushing herself shakily off the arms of her chair, Azula stood to her feet and stumbled toward him.
Falling to her knees in front of the edge of his bed, Azula picked up Zuko's hand in her own.
"I.. I can't take this anymore…" Azula uttered out as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"You've suffered enough. You don't deserve this…You didn't deserve any of it…" Azula cried bowing her head.
"I don't know why he spared us or what he has in store by allowing me to see you, but I promise I'll get stronger...I'll get stronger for you Zuko and I'll make sure…" Azula raised her bowed head to reveal a grief stricken eye poking out from behind her hair.
"No one ever tries to hurt you again…"
The two guards outside Zuko's door looked in surprise as the door opened and Azula hobbled out.
"Princess!" they both called out reaching to help her.
A hand from Azula ordered them to stop.
"I'm fine…I can do this by myself…" Azula said struggling as she made her way past them.
She had to push herself to get stronger. Her father was planning something and he wasn't going to wait until she recovered from her injuries to make his move. She needed to be ready; Zuko was completely defenseless because of her, so she needed to defend him.
Looking ahead, Azula saw a familiar face approaching from down the hall.
"Oh, you're still alive too. " Mai said in her usual uninterested voice as the two stopped in front of one another.
"Great…" Mai said her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Azula glared at Mai when suddenly she got a idea.
"Do you still keep in touch with Ty lee?" Azula asked.
Mai looked at her confused at the random question.
The next day, Fire palace training grounds…
"Azula, is that you?!" Ty lee's voice squealed as she ran up to her and wrapped her arms around in a hug.
"It's been so long! It's so good to see you again!"
"Hello, Ty lee." Azula said already tired of her bubbly personality.
"How can you bear to be that close to her? I can smell her stench from over here." Mai said holding her nose.
"I don't smell anything bad at all." Ty lee said with her eyes closed and tears running down them, a big smile plastered on her face.
"You're still a terrible liar." Azula said sadly breaking free from her hug as she faced them both.
"I appreciate you both coming." Azula said.
Mai scoffed immediately.
"I'm not here out of my own free will." Mai said defiantly folding her arms and turning her face away.
"The guards you sent with the big armor and weapons kind of did make it hard to refuse…" Ty lee said awkwardly scratching the back of her head with a smile.
Azula frowned bitterly. Zuko wouldn't want this.
"So are you going to tell us why you dragged us out here? I doubt you did it to catch up with some old friends." Mai asked crossly.
"Yes, all I ask is you hear out my request, after which if you choose to reject it and you'll be free to leave." Azula said.
Ty lee and Mai looked at one another skeptically.
"What did you need, Azula?" Ty lee asked hesitantly.
"I want you both to train me, so I can protect Zuko." Azula said.
Mai scoffed again.
"But Azula, we're not firebenders." Ty lee said ditzy.
"Yes, I'm aware of that Ty lee." Azula said tiredly.
"So why then?" Mai asked.
The two locked eyes as they glared at one another.
"Both of you can hold your own against a bender despite not being benders yourselves. I want you to train me in how you fight." Azula said stonily.
Mai scrutinized her with a stare.
"Why would you want that when you can bend ?" she asked.
"I've realized recently that in order to protect Zuko, I can't rely solely on my bending anymore." Azula said heartfelt as she conjured a small flame in her palm.
"I have to be better-rounded in case my bending isn't enough." Azula said the flame dying out as she clenched her hand into a fist.
"Why not just focus all your efforts into improving your bending then?" Mai asked.
"My physical shape affects my bending so as it stands..." Azula explained.
"As it stands your about 20 pounds underweight and look like a walking corpse." Mai cut her off bluntly.
"Mai…" Ty lee said fretful.
"I think you look great Azula. Although, you probably should consider putting on a little weight, boys like a girl with some meat on their bones." Ty lee said smiling uneasily.
"I'll work on the weight problem." Azula stared at Mai awaiting a answer.
"Fine, I'll help you train." Mai said folding. "But just to be clear this is for Zuko not you."
"I heard about what happened to you and Zuko when you encountered that terrible dragon, I'm really sorry. You can count me in too." Ty lee said.
"Thank you." Azula said.
"Wow, never thought I hear those words come from your mouth." Mai said.
"Oh Azula, just hearing you say that I can see your aura getting better." Ty lee said clasping her hands together as she beamed at her with a closed eye bright smile.
"Please don't tell me your still doing that." Mai said bothered.
"Doing what, reading auras?" Ty lee asked confused.
"Yes that, I thought you would have grown out of that nonsense by now." Mai said shaking her head.
"Nonsense?!" Ty lee repeated shocked. "It's totally real." She defended.
"Whatever you say." Mai said cynically.
"Mmmph." Ty lee puffed up her cheeks frustrated.
"I'll prove it to you then." Ty lee said as she squinted at Mai in concentration.
A moment passed before Ty lee busted out into shock.
"W-Whaaaat?! You-You don't have a aura?!" Ty lee exclaimed.
"No Ty lee, because they don't exist." Mai said dully.
"That's not possible everyone has an aura even Azula." Ty lee said earning a look from Azula.
"No offense." Ty lee said looking toward her with a nervous smile.
"But you Mai you're… aura-less." Ty lee said shocked looking back at her with Azula.
"Ty lee, you two can discuss this later." Azula said.
"Right, sorry Azula." Ty lee said apologetic.
"Now, both of you come at me." Azula said.
"Ha?" Ty lee sounded completely taken by surprise.
The sound of metal cutting through the air sounded past Ty lee's ear as one of Mai's knifes struck Azula in her chest taking her off her feet as she fell back.
Ty lee gasped, before turning her head to Mai who had her hand extended out from throwing the knife. "Mai!" Ty lee said bewildered.
"Oh my gosh, Azula!" Ty lee called, turning around and running to Azula's side.
Mai scoffed at Azula. She was holding back when she threw that knife too.
"Are you okay?" Ty lee asked as she helped Azula sit up with a knife lodged in her shoulder.
"I'm fine…" Azula said as she pulled out the knife.
Ty lee sighed in relief, before shooting Mai a upset look.
"What the heck Mai?!" Ty lee reproached.
"What? She said come at her." Mai said unsympathetically.
Ty lee was about to shoot back when Azula stopped her.
"She's right, Ty lee. She was just doing what I asked." Azula said rising to her feet.
"Now I want you to do the same. No mercy."
"What?! Azula…" Ty lee said worried.
"The fastest way to learn is to experience it firsthand." Azula said.
"But…" Ty lee protested.
"Are you really that stupid?" Mai interrupted facing Azula.
"Or are you still that proud and arrogant?"
"Mai…" Ty lee tried to stifle.
"You know I thought after what happened to Zuko, you might have been humbled." Mai continued.
"Mai!" Ty lee pleaded as Azula's hand balled into a fist.
"But I see now it was just an act. You're still the same monster your mother hated, and who's directly responsible for the condition Zuko's in." Mai finished.
Azula's fists trembled as a searing blue flames began to swirl around her.
Ty lee gulped backing up shocked as Mai faced Azula unflappably.
Just when the flames were about to hit their peak, they ceased altogether as Azula drooped down to her knees.
Tears fell to the ground below her.
Ty lee and Mai stared at Azula.
"I…I just wanted to…I have to get stronger…Zuko…He needs me…"Azula lamented.
Ty lee frowning in sympathy walked over and knelt beside Azula, putting a careful hand on her shoulder for comfort.
Mai staring at her hardheartedly spoke tersely.
"If you really want to help Zuko you'll respect the abilities of the people you're asking to train you so they can teach you. You won't be any use to Zuko if you're dead." Mai said.
"I do respect your abilities… that's why I asked you two here." Azula said honestly.
"Then you must know currently you don't stand a chance against one of us, yet alone both. So what is it then, you have a death wish or something?" Mai asked.
"Learning through combat…it's all I've ever known and it's the fastest way." Azula said.
Mai closed her eyes and shook her head.
"But, you're right; I can't protect Zuko if I'm dead. So I'm willing to do this your way." Azula said.
"Please, teach me." Azula said bowing on her knees with her hands resting on them before Mai and Ty lee.
Mai's face lit up in surprise as did Ty lees.
"Tch, stop bowing to us, before you get us all executed." Mai said looking away with an annoyed expression.
"Besides, I already agreed I'd help you, didn't I?" Mai asked rhetorically.
It was late into the night as Azula walked into the fire palace through the training grounds entrance.
Her ragged clothing torn in places revealed her pale grime stained skin as her long, oily, knotted, hair covered her face as she walked down the dimly lit palace hallways with a frown.
She had spent the last 16 hours straight training, the first half with Mai and Ty lee and the other by herself.
Azula brought her open hand up to her face.
She had lost a lot of power over the last year; it was going to take a lot of work to get to where she was before.
Even then she needed to become much stronger, Azula thought as she closed the hand into a fist.
A low growl rumbled from Azula's stomach as she put her hand over her sunken in stomach while she continued walking.
Ever since the incident one year ago she had completely lost her appetite, the little food she forced down to survive, she would often have trouble keeping down.
Although she still didn't have appetite, she was determined to eat right so she could protect Zuko.
Approaching a pair of guards that stood at attention, Azula wondered if she should order them to wake the palace cooks.
She decided against it as she passed by them without a word.
It wouldn't be right, and although she could care less about the petty morality of doing right or wrong, or doing it on her account or anyone else's sake, there was one person she did care to do right by.
Zuko.
It wasn't so much his view on what was right or wrong that mattered to her but rather she wanted to please him by carrying out his will.
So she adopted his principles as her own and she would defend them with as much integrity as Zuko himself would.
Reaching the end of the hallway, Azula made a turn opposite the way toward her room.
After a while, Azula finally reached her destination, as pushing the giant doors to the room's entrance, the fire palace kitchen in all its excessive grandeur stared back at Azula.
Walking in, Azula grabbed a plate and whatever food was in her path until the plate was full.
Plopping down on the floor against a cabinet, Azula ripped a bite off a small loaf of bread off her plate as she began eating her food in the dim lit room in silence.
Gulping down her last bite of food left on her plate, Azula was surprised she was able to keep it down as she rose up and placed her plate on the table before leaving.
Walking back to her room, Azula stopped as she came across Zuko's room.
The guards standing in front of the door moved aside as she stood looking forward unmoving.
Peering over at her one of the guards whose face was still bruised from when Azula had fought them a day previous , noticed Azula visually fidgeting over whether to enter the room or not.
This went on for about a minute before the guard couldn't stand to watch anymore.
"Excuse me your highness." The guard said interrupting Azula out of her fidgeting as she looked at him frowning.
"We would like to apologize to you, for the other day." The guard spoke for himself and his fellow guard.
"We didn't recognize you; we would never try and keep you deliberately from the prince in a time when he needs you so desperately." The guard said sincerely.
Azula's face lit up in surprise although her eyes remained hidden behind her hair.
"It's alright…" Azula said inattentively as she walked over to the door and after a second of hesitation with her hand on the doorknob, walked in.
Soon as the door closed behind Azula, the two guards let out a breath they had been holding since she had stopped in front of them.
Inside Zuko's room, Azula stood frowning right in front of his door, staring over at him lying in his bed.
Taking a step forward, Azula began walking slowly over to Zuko's bed.
Stopping at the side of his bed, Azula sat in the chair beside it with her head bowed and hands on her knees.
Gripping the fabric on her thighs tightly, Azula's lip quivered as she tried to bite back tears.
This was the first time she was here without a dire purpose.
Sniffling as she wiped her nose with the back of her hand, Azula put on a sad smile as she looked at Zuko.
"Hey Zuko, it's me again. I just thought you'd like some company." Azula said cheerfully as she could muster.
There was of course no answer from Zuko as he lay motionless.
"Right, well why don't I tell you about my day?" Azula asked rhetorically her voice cracking slightly mid-sentence as she tried to keep on her smile.
"I met up with some old friends, Mai and Ty lee. They've both agreed to teach me how to fight like they do, since my firebending is a bit lacking at the moment, but don't worry I'm working hard to fix that." Azula said.
Zuko's silence ate away at Azula as she thought, he couldn't even ask more about Mai and Ty lee or just tell her to shut up and leave him alone.
Azula felt herself falling apart as bowed her head and closed her eyes.
That's when she felt it.
Azula's eyes sprung open as she had to make sure she wasn't dreaming.
A hand resting on top of her head…just like one year ago when…Azula's mind flashed back to that day in the rain with Zuko as she raised her head and met his golden eyes, telling her he loved her.
Only this time when she raised her head to meet his eyes, they were shrouded by the bandages that covered his entire face.
But she could see…even with those bandages…she could see his golden eyes staring at her with the same sad eyes that mirrored her own, telling her that he…he still...
"Zu…Zuko!" Azula cried hugging his still laying down body in her arms as she wailed loudly.
"Good morning."
"Good morning."
"Good morning, Ty lee."
"Good morning." Ty lee replied chirpily to all the people she passed with Mai walking down the fire palace hallways.
"Good morning, Ty lee. I have some extra croissants that the cook made, just out of the oven." A servant offered Ty lee cheerily.
"Oh wow, thanks Fan!" Ty lee said excitedly as she took platter of croissants.
"Didn't you just eat breakfast before we came here?" Mai asked annoyed.
"Yeah, but it's like a mile journey to the palace from where I live." Ty lee defended as she took a bite of the warm pastry.
"So good…" Ty lee sang with a smile.
"You know I'll be honest, at first I was pretty bummed out about leaving the circus, but now that I know it's to help Zuko and we get to eat this scrumptious food every day that the nice people bring to us, I hope Zuko always needs our help." Ty lee said happily as she held another croissant in her hand, before finishing her sentence and eating it.
"First, Ty lee, that mile journey it took for you to get to the palace, you rode in a carriage, I would know that because I was right beside you as you stuffed your face with the breakfast they served us in the carriage. Two, if this training with Azula does end and you keep eating like this; you're going to become fat. And three, wishing Zuko always needs our help indefinitely for the sake of stuffing your said face, has to be the stupidest things I ever heard you say." Mai said tersely.
"Sorry…" Ty lee apologized with sad eyes through a mouth full of pastry in her mouth.
Mai scoffed and shook her head exasperated by her childish nature that made her unable to stay angry at her.
"Have you noticed a change in Azula?" Mai asked her demeanor becoming serious.
Ty lee gulped down the last of her food, before handing off the platter to a servant passing by and replying.
"I have…!" She said with a smile.
"She seems less, "It's all my fault."." Ty lee imitated Azula with a bowed head, depressed look and dejected voice as an air of gloom appeared behind her.
"And more, "Hey."." Ty imitated Azula with a somber look and wistful voice.
""Hey?"" Mai asked.
"And let me tell you about her aura…" Ty lee began eager.
"No one asked you about auras." Mai said annoyed.
"Before it was grey and I mean pitch grey, which usually means depression, sadness, and or grief." Ty lee explained.
"Now though, it's kind of like a greenish grey, like an olive!" Ty lee said smiling as she picked an olive off of a tray of food a servant was carrying past her.
"And what do olives mean in auras?" Mai asked sarcastically.
"Well…" Ty lee said eating the olive off of the toothpick it was on.
"It usually means the person is trying to heal, but struggling with feelings of guilt, remorse, and sadness." Ty lee said thoughtful.
"Yeah, that settles it." Mai said.
"What?" Ty lee asked confused.
"Your auras are completely a figment of your overactive imagination." Mai said walking ahead of her.
"What?! Mai, wait up!" Ty lee said surprised chasing after her.
Mai and Ty lee entered the training grounds where Azula was already waiting on a bench.
"Hiya Azula, nice weather today, ha?" Ty lee asked friendly.
"Hey." Was Azula's plain response as she sat with a small frown on her face staring straight ahead at nothing with her hair hiding her eyes.
Mai's eyes darted over to Ty lee for a second with a suspicious look before looking back at Azula.
"Oh, what's that next to you Azula?" Ty lee asked bending halfway over and looking at a cup of what looked like bubbling sludge next to Azula.
"My lunch." She answered plain as the first time.
"Whaaaat?!" Ty lee exclaimed.
"Why would you want to eat that, when the cooks here can make the most delicious foods in the entire kingdom?" Ty lee asked baffled.
"Taste doesn't matter to me; this has all the nutrition I need." Azula said dully.
"But-" Ty lee started.
"You're wasting time Ty lee, she's not underweight anymore and she said that has all the nutrition she needs, so let her do what she wants." Mai said.
"Let's begin, then." Azula said getting up.
During their lunch break from training, where Azula usually accompanied Ty lee and Mai in the palace to dine, today instead she sat on one of the benches in the training grounds.
Unbeknownst to her however, Mai was watching her from behind a stone column.
Even though Mai had agreed to train Azula, she still had her doubts about her, she wanted to see firsthand if she was true to her word about not caring about taste and if she would really drink that slop she called her lunch.
Picking up the cup in her hand and bringing it to her face, Azula's nose crinkled in repulsion from the smell as she moved it away.
Mai knew it; there was no way she was going to-
Just then Azula chugged back the whole cup of slop, shocking Mai.
Rising up and walking away from the bench, Mai took the opportunity of Azula leaving to deftly sneak up to the bench and grab the cup.
Examining the cup, Mai dipped her finger in a bit of the leftover slop and brought it to her tongue.
Mai immediately began spitting repeatedly trying to get the taste out of her mouth.
"Here." A voice said as Mai looked to see Azula standing in front of her with a bottle of water in her hand.
Taking it, Mai swished the water in her mouth and spat it out, chasing out the taste.
"Gah, what the heck is in that stuff?" Mai asked.
"Lunch." Azula replied with a playful smirk.
Mai handed back her water bottle as the two stared at each other for a couple seconds, before Mai walked off.
Azula was walking down the hall to visit Zuko when she saw someone in black hooded robes exit Zuko's room and close the door behind them.
"Hey!" Azula called the person in black robes as they immediately started running.
Running up to Zuko's door, Azula busted it open to see to her horror that Zuko was no longer in his bed.
Rushing back out the door, Azula sprinted off in the direction that the person ran off in.
He took Zuko, or at the very least he knew who did!
Reaching the end of the hallway, Azula spotted the person in black robes trying to escape through the palace front doors.
Struggling to open the massive doors of the palace, the person in black robes was tackled to the floor by Azula as they slid on the floor with her on top of him.
"Where is he?! Where did you take him?! Where's Zu-" Azula screamed jerking the man's collar, before she gasped with eyes wide in shock.
The person in the black robes…It was Zuko.
His eyes were visible between the layers of the bandages on his faace as they were wide in horror as they looked at her.
"Zuko…why…" Azula almost whimpered releasing her grip on his collar and trying to touch him.
Zuko held up his arms covering his face as he flailed in a panic, trying to scream, but the bandages on his face muffling them.
As he did the bandages on his arms began coming undone as blood splattered everywhere.
"Zuko please, stop, stop, it's me! You're hurting yourself, please stop!" Azula emotionally tried to calm him down as she was forced to grip his wrist from causing himself anymore harm.
"Please Zuko I'm not going to-" Azula begged halfway in tears.
Zuko arm's suddenly busted into blue flames as Azula jumped back in horror.
The blue fire spread across Zuko's entire body as he rose to his feet flailing in pain, his screams of agony being muffled by the bandages across his mouth.
"No…No…" Azula watched with tears streaming down her eyes wide in horror as he burned.
Azula's eyes shot open in tears as she was back in her room sitting with her back propped against her bed.
Eyes drooping in grief, Azula closed them completely; she would let her tears from her nightmare stream down her face before rising up to her feet to start her day, just like she did every day.
Walking to her door after the tears had stopped, Azula was met with something out of the usual as Mai and Ty lee were waiting outside her door with a out of place glitzy female girl.
Had she overslept?
"Good morning, Azula." Ty lee said in a nasally voice more serious than joyful which meant something serious was going on.
"What's going on? Is Zuko-"Azula questioned.
"He's fine, reason we're here is because of you." Mai said nasally.
It was just then Azula noticed all three of the girls were wearing clear nose clips.
"Why are you wearing nose clips?" Azula asked.
The three stared at her intensely, trying to get their point across to her without words.
"Azula, I've spent a lot of time thinking of the nicest way to say this without sounding mean, so here it goes-"Ty lee started compassionate.
"You stink." Mai said bluntly.
A large bead of sweat appeared on Ty lee's temple as she let out a defeated sigh with a smile and head bob.
"Is it really that bad?" Azula asked.
"No, no, it's not so bad." Ty lee said nervously with a smile.
Mai jabbed Ty lee's rib with her elbow.
"Yeah, it's pretty bad." Ty lee said.
"What about you, what do you think?" Azula asked the girl next to Mai and Ty lee, who was about her age.
"Your highness, I don't smell a thing…" The girl said with a buoyant smile and small wave of her hand.
Mai removed the girl's nose clip.
"Blegh…" The girl held her mouth and doubled over.
"You see my point?" Mai asked.
"Oh my gosh, my eyes, they burn!" the girl cried as the other three girls carried on their conversation.
"Message received, I'll take a bath." Azula said about to close her door.
"Not so fast." Mai said putting her foot in the way of the door from closing.
Azula opened back the door as Mai glared at her.
"That stench of yours isn't going to come out on its own. That's why we brought a professional." Mai said motioning to the girl retching in a bucket.
"Meet my cousin, Mei." Mai introduced.
"It's a pleasure your high-blegh!" Mei retched again.
"I also suggested a couple other things like maybe a haircut, manicure, skin treatment, and pedicure?" Ty lee offered.
"Is any of that really necessary?" Azula asked.
"Well sure, don't you want to look pretty for any boys?" Ty lee asked playfully.
A light blush appeared on Azula's face and her eyes averted in a certain direction behind her hair, something that went unnoticed by Ty lee, but not Mai.
"Well that sounds really shallow and stupid…but let's try it." Azula said shyly.
"Yay, oh Azula trust me, you're going to be the prettiest girl in the whole kingdom." Ty lee fawned.
"Let's get this over with." Mai said walking with Ty lee and Azula past Mei hyperventilating on the ground in a bucket.
"Hurry up, Mei." Mai called.
"Azula, a princess. A girl barely alive…fashionably. We can rebuild her. We have the technology. We can make her better than she was. Prettier, cuter, and even more gorgeous then she was befor…"
"What are you doing?" Mai asked snapping Mei out of her monologue.
The two girls along with Ty lee were standing over Azula who sat in a cushioned chair, her long straight hair still damp from being bathed clean.
"Ugh, Mai!" Mei whined, "You ruined my speech!"
Ty lee snickered in the background as Mai glared at Mei.
"Fine….I'll skip the speech." Mei huffed grudgingly.
"Now, step back ladies, I need room to work." Mei said as she brandished dual scissors, one in each hand.
"Oooo." Ty lee admired as her and Mai stepped back.
The sound of scissors snipping rapidly was followed by the sounds of brushing, scrubbing, clipping, and finally filing.
"Voila! " Mei exclaimed with her hands.
"I present to you the princess of the fire nation!" Mei said dramatically as she spun the chair with Azula in it revealing her to the two girls.
Ty lee squealed with clapping hands and a giddy smile as Mai gave a lopsided frown and a raised brow.
"Not bad." Mai said.
"Not bad?! I've restored the princess of the fire nation to her former beauty! Why she's practically a living monument to this country!" Mei flared dramatically.
"Would someone hand me a mirror please?" Azula asked.
Mei handed her one with a smile.
"I went for a shorter style than the one you had before, you like it?" Mei asked.
Azula examined her now chin length straight hair that was parted down the middle as her full length bangs ran down the sides of her cheeks.
A sad look came across Azula's face as she bowed her head.
"Huh, what's wrong?" Mei asked.
"Azula? Do you not like it?" Ty lee asked concerned.
"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, well don't worry I can fix it!" Mei said panicking as she began picking up longs strands of Azula hair and putting it up to her face, "All I need to do is create some extensions. See?" Mei said as they fell out of her hands.
"Oh, please don't send me to prison your highness! I wouldn't last a day in there; they tend to single out the ones with any sense of chic!" Mei whined at her feet.
"Hey calm down Mei, Azula's not going to send you to prison." Ty lee said kneeling down and comforting her.
"She's not…?" Mei questioned sniffling.
"Nope, crime like this deserves the capital punishment at least." Mai deadpanned
"Whaaaaat…?!" Ty lee and Mei exclaimed.
"That's not it." Azula said softly catching everyone attention.
"It's not that I don't like the haircut, it's just…" Azula's sad eyes quivered looking down remembering a memory from long ago.
"Infernal hairpin." Azula complained slamming her fork on her plate as she sat in her chair in the palace dining room eating her lunch, a lock of hair dangling in front of her face.
Zuko sitting across from her picking at his lunch looked up at her with a leer and a busted lip.
The two had just finished sparring in the training grounds.
Removing her hairpin, Azula let her long hair flow down as she examined the pin.
"If I find the fool who made this trash I'll sear him alive." Azula declared.
Feeling his eyes on her she looked up to see Zuko staring at her with a bitter look.
"What are you staring at?" Azula glared at him.
"You should cut your hair." Zuko said solemn.
"Excuse you?" Azula asked peeved.
"You wouldn't even need the pin if your hair wasn't so long. Not to mention if it came off during battle your hair would just get in the way." Zuko defended.
Azula's eyes narrowed staring at him. She didn't know why, even though his suggestion made sense, it still made her angry.
"I didn't ask your opinion, Dum Dum." Azula spoke with ire.
Zuko's face contorted into rage as he slammed his fork on his plate, slid out his chair, and stood up leaning his two hands on the table.
"What's wrong with you, I was just trying to help you out!" Zuko shouted.
"Yeah, nice suggestion moron, let me cut my hair short like a guy!" Azula shouted back with sarcasm, sliding out her chair and standing up as she leaned on the table with her two hands as well.
"What's wrong with short hair on a girl?! I think it would look nice!" Zuko shouted.
"That's because you're an idiot!" Azula shouted.
The tension between the two escalated quickly as the candle in the middle of the table between them began melting from the sides in.
Finally snapping, the candle which had melted twice as fast from her side fell as Azula shot a ball of flame at Zuko.
Zuko ducking under the table to avoid it leapt back on the table with a fiery fist heading toward Azula.
Gripping the table cloth, Azula pulled it out from Zuko's feet as slipped back on his behind in the center of the table.
Throwing the table cloth over his head, Azula then gripped the end of it and ran along side of the long table dragging Zuko on his back across all the food and silverware.
Reaching the end of the table, Azula tossed him off of it and into the tall head chair of the table.
Landing in a sitting positon in the chair with the cloth still over his head, Zuko almost titled all the way back in the chair, but managed to tilt it back only for Azula to connect a ball of fire point blank in front of his face.
Zuko was blown back out of the chair in a flaming confetti of what was once the table cloth as catching himself in a roll he grabbed the sides of the tall chair and came at Azula with it.
Making a vertical swipe with her two fingers, Azula cut the chair in half at its base as Zuko swung at air with his half of the chair.
Swinging it back in one fair swoop however, Zuko managed to hit Azula across the face sending her stumbling back in a spin.
Charging at her with the chair in an overhead swing, Azula spun attempting to swing at him, but missed as Zuko cracked the chair into pieces over her head.
Crashing to the floor, Azula laid face down unmoving as Zuko stood panting watching her closely.
As he began to catch his breath, his anger began to visually fade off his face as Azula still made no signs of movement.
A pool of blood forming around her head, Zuko's eyes widened in concern as he moved to help her.
Soon as he was in arms reach of her, Azula conjured a fireball point black into his stomach sending Zuko flying back crashing into a glass cabinet shattering glass on the ground everywhere.
Azula raised her head livid.
Zuko dazed and wincing in pain leaned against the broken cabinet of glass, before Azula gripped his collar and spun him around, slamming him into the floor.
Getting on top of him Azula then began punching him repeatedly in the face.
With every blow the cracked glass under Zuko's head cracked further and further.
Continuing to pummel him, Azula suddenly stopped as her eyes widened in shock.
Looking down on the floor next to Zuko, reflected in a piece of broken glass was the image of her hair strewn face.
Turning her head Azula looked all around her to see the displeasing image of her face reflected everywhere in the shattered glass.
Azula's mind flashed back to when Zuko hit her with the chair.
Her hair had obstructed her vison allowing Zuko to connect his attack.
"Not to mention if it came off during battle your hair would just get in the way." Zuko's words rang in her mind.
Azula looked at Zuko's bruised and beaten up face staring up at her self-righteously.
Gripping his collar with both her hands she brought his face up to hers as she snarled at him with clenched bared teeth.
Releasing him with a toss, Azula stomped out of the room.
"Zuko…" Azula muttered softly with sad eyes.
"The prince? I don't understand, what does he have to with this?" Mei asked nervously as Mai's eyes narrowed on Azula.
"Azula…?" Ty lee called comfortingly as she put a hand on her back.
Azula closed her eyes and opened them back up with a sad smile on her face.
"Thank you." Azula said surprising everyone.
"P-Princess?" Mei asked confused.
"A long time ago, Zuko had suggested I cut my hair. I think it will make him happy when I tell him I did." Azula said smiling sadly.
"I'm sure it will, Azula." Ty lee said smiling warmly.
"Right, well you and Mai can take the day off today, I'm going to spend the day with Zuko." Azula said rising out of her chair and walking toward the door.
"Okay, we'll see you tomorrow then, Azula." Ty lee said happily.
"Tomorrow." Azula said with a small smile before leaving the room and closing the door behind her.
"Ha…." Mei let out a breath of relief once Azula left.
"Maybe my dad was right, I should have stayed in the military." Mei said earning a look from Ty lee and Mai.
Walking down the hall to Zuko's room, Azula came across a full body mirror against the wall as she stopped in front of it and examined herself in it.
This was the first time in over a year she had even looked in a mirror.
Her filthy ripped up royal armor that she hadn't changed since the fight with the dragon one year ago was finally replaced with a fresh one. Her stomach no longer caved in and her skin didn't stick to her bones as she was almost the same weight she had been. Her short silky hair that cascaded down the sides of her face was a stark contrast to the long oily knotted mess it was.
Moving her hair out of the way of the sides of her face, Azula examined her skin.
It was completely free of the warts, blemishes, and acne it was just littered with hours previous. A trick Mei had accomplished with hot steam and a firebenders natural resistance to heat.
Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, Azula continued back down the hall.
Knock. Knock.
"Afternoon, Zuko, it's me." Azula greeted pleasant but a little nervous as she opened his door and stepped in.
"I know I'm here a lot earlier than usual, but something happened today and I thought perhaps you'd like company for the day." Azula said walking up to his bed and taking her usual seat on his side.
"How are you feeling today?" She asked smiling warmly at him.
Zuko rose his thumb up.
Azula smiled warmly. He was getting stronger every day.
"That's wonderful, Zuko." She said sincerely.
"So the reason I'm here so early is actually because Mai and Ty lee stopped by my room this morning and told me about my personal hygiene or lack thereof." Azula explained a little amused with a sad smile.
"I'm sorry; it was extremely inconsiderate of me to put you and everyone else through that." Azula apologized shamefully.
"Anyway they brought along a beautician who fixed the problem." Azula said upbeat.
"She even gave me a haircut…" Azula said shyly.
Zuko reached out his hand toward Azula.
Kneeling down in front of the bed, Azula supported his arm as he moved it toward her face.
Closing her eyes with an emotional look on her face, Zuko ran his fingers through Azula's short hair.
Opening back open her eyes as Zuko brought back his hand back to his side he rose to his thumb up again to show his approval.
Azula smiled shyly with a blush.
"I'm glad you like it, Zuko." Azula said happily as she tucked her hair behind her ear.
"So..." Azula said sitting back in her chair.
"What's today's topic: news, literature, game, or something else?" Azula asked smiling.
Zuko tapped his finger once indicating the first choice.
"News? What do you want to hear about; politics, the war front, palace gossip, or something else?" Azula asked.
Zuko tapped his finger twice.
The war front; Azula hated this subject, as she did anything else that brought stress to Zuko.
It couldn't be helped however, as Zuko, the benevolent soul that he was, cared about his countrymen and always wanted to hear how they fared on the battlefield.
"He was going to make such a great Fire Lord one day…" Azula thought smiling warmly.
A nagging thought crossed Azula's mind at that moment; Zuko was still unaware of his nation's true intentions for this war they were waging.
No good could come from telling him now; there was nothing either of them could do to change the way things were in Zuko's current condition.
"Boys and war." Azula teased playfully Zuko's choice with a roll of her eyes trying to lighten the mood, before she donned a somber expression.
"Word came today about the large scale assault to take Ba Sing Se that's been in planning for the past month..." Azula spoke delicately.
"It was unsuccessful."
Zuko's hand twitched at the words.
She didn't say it, but she didn't have to, Zuko knew a lot of men died in the failed attempt.
Azula frowned sad fully before continuing.
"Better news on the southern front however, as we captured another village today." Azula said.
Zuko didn't show any reaction as Azula bowed her head feeling immense guilt building up inside her.
Here she was telling Zuko that the people of the man who saved his life being pillaged by his warmongering father was good news.
If he knew the truth, Zuko would probably…
"I hope casualties were minimal…for both sides." Azula uttered out softly.
Moving his bandaged hand on top of hers, Azula raised her head and looked at Zuko.
He gave her hand a light squeeze of comfort making her smile warmly.
"Agreed, let's change the topic." Azula said smiling.
"How about some literature from your study?" Azula asked as she got up and walked over to a shelf with a collection of books on it.
Looking for something she thought Zuko would like, a particular book caught Azula's interest as she pulled it out and walked back to Zuko.
"I never read this one before." Azula said sitting down and opening the book.
"The Prince and the Peasant"
There once was a young prince who was born in a land where knowledge was coveted above all.
The sole child of the king and queen, the prince was to be the most enlightened ruler that ever lived with the greatest minds in the kingdom teaching him.
The prince however, wasn't gifted with nor had a pension for knowledge, but instead for adventure.
One day, escaping from his studies to explore the vast kingdom that he would one day inherit, the prince came across a peasant accused of stealing food while disguised as the prince himself.
The prince was amazed at how much the peasant looked just like him and how the peasant acted and even spoke like him; if it wasn't for the peasant's clothes that gave him away they could be mistaken as siblings.
Bailing the peasant out of trouble the prince befriended the peasant who was actually a girl.
She had been orphaned since she was a child and the way she survived was posing as the prince.
In order to use this ruse the peasant had stolen a vast collection of books that she read making her highly learned.
That's when the prince got an idea.
The peasant would pose as him so she could have a home and he could explore the vast kingdom like he always wanted.
The peasant agreed and two lived a period of happiness.
The prince adventured across the lands and the peasant lived a life free from poverty.
Soon however, the appreciation the peasant once felt toward the prince turned to envy and resentment.
She was more learned then him, better then him. So why did she have to give this life up one day? Why should he blessed with this luxurious life, with power, with a people that loved him?
The peasant decided the only way to keep the princes life was to kill him.
So the peasant set out one day to do just that.
It took many weeks, but eventually the peasant finally tracked the prince down on the outskirts of the vast kingdom.
What the peasant was met with wasn't what she was expecting.
The prince sat on a cliff sadly overlooking the sea.
By the looks of him he had run out of money quite a while ago and was struggling to survive.
Approaching him, the peasant asked why he was sitting there sad and all alone.
The prince's only reply was that he was there because he was waiting for her.
Staying her hand with the dagger to execute him with, the peasant needed to know, so asked why he hadn't returned home.
"Because then we would both be lonely and sad." The prince said to her.
The peasant realized at that moment that it wasn't adventure the prince was looking for when he left home but love.
Looking at the vast ocean spread about her with the sun rising on the horizon, the peasant came to terms that it wasn't the prince's wealth or power she envied, but the love he received from the people around him.
Tears streaming down her face, she also realized what the sad prince had.
Those people didn't truly love them, only their knowledge that they coveted so preciously.
Tossing her dagger off into the sea, the peasant confessed to the prince in a fit of tears what she had planned to do prior to coming here.
The prince's response was to clasp her face and kiss her.
"I've traveled across this entire land and you're still the most beautiful thing I've seen." The prince told her.
"When I look into your eyes I can tell you're not looking for intelligence, power, or wealth like everyone else."
"You're just looking for someone who sees past all that…like me."
The prince and the peasant with their combined knowledge and love for one another overthrew the king and queen and ushered in a new era for the kingdom where love was the most precious thing in the land, where they lived happily ever after.
The End.
Closing the book, Azula smiled warmly.
"A little sappy, but a enjoyable read none the less. Don't you think Zuko?" Azula asked looking at him.
He was fast asleep, she could tell by the slow movements of his chest.
Azula smiled warmly.
"Pleasant dreams, my sweet prince." Azula said softly.
Please let me know what you think, because at this point I know where I'm going with this story, I just don't know if it's the right direction.
MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!
DON'T
CONTINUE
IF
YOU
DON'T
WANT
TO
KNOW!
So to give this some perspective when I first saw this show I thought Zuko and Azula weren't brother and sister. So imagine my shock when they were. Awkward... Anyway in light of this being only fiction and none of these characters are actually real, I've decicded to create a scenario where they can be together in a way where it wouldn't be you know... that. (Don't think to hard how it'll ruin this story if you're still with me) Now I'm aware some people will still be weirded out and be like "ewww I still see them as the way they were written" and "I don't care what you say thats gross" well I can't help you there all I can say is it's fiction. Not real. I in no way condone "that" even in fiction thus why my story isn't "that". So if you're still reading and you're on the fence about if you should continue let me just say, this romance I intend to keep it sweet. The M in my story is for violence, graphic descriptions of said violence, lanugage (at times), and dark themes. The romance aspect will be kept G and PG-13 at it's worst. No lemons, ever.