I had school today ugh! But I do have study hall- the perfect time to write more for the fanfic :D hope you like, and more is coming soon! By the way I failed to mention before and also because I only have so characters for the summary but the point of view will change to one or more characters in the near future, but don't worry, it will switch off so that Sankari will have her side as well.
~th3rdhal3~
I followed General Zhao into the throne room. I wondered what the Firelord could possibly want with me. Had I done something wrong? Was I in trouble? Thoughts were swimming and buzzing around my head. I tried to ease my mind as I bowed down to my superior. "Firelord Ozai, you asked to see me?" He was not sitting upon his throne. Instead, the Firelord stepped down the stairs and stood before me.
"Yes, and how many times must I tell you? There is no need to address me so formally." Ozai almost seemed as though he were smiling. I didn't buy too into it that time. My feelings towards him had changed after the Agni Kai; I wasn't as naïve as I used to be. Ozai had a cruel side- one I didn't like. But at the same time, he was my ruler, my leader, I gave him that respect. "I have been noticing your progress over the last three years and I am highly impressed. Your martial arts are excellent and your fire-bending is far more than satisfactory." He was praising me. So I wasn't in trouble for anything; but where was he going with all of this? "We, the Fire Nation, need those like you who posses such talent in the fighting arts." Ozai continued as he paced around me. "Our military would be at its best with individuals like you, having large numbers at their command." I was beginning to understand what was going on and what he wanted of me. "This is my proposal:" The Firelord stopped in front of me, hands together. "How would you like to be, a General?" My heart skipped a beat as I comprehended his offer. Me? A General? My ears couldn't believe it. There was no way that could happen. I was too young, wasn't I?I was overwhelmed. I stammered a reply to him.
"But, I-I'm only twelve years-"
"But you have so much skill and potential, Sankari." The Firelord spoke over me, feeding my ego. "Think about it; you could lead our nation into victory. You could take your father's place-you'd be legendary." A window of opportunity opened in my mind. I could continue on my father's legacy. I would make his spirit proud. Yes, that's what I would do. I pretended to mull it over in my head for another moment or two, though my mind was already made up. I knelt down on one knee as if I were to be knighted. I bowed before my ruler. "I would be honored to serve as your General, sir." Ozai grinned, a hint of triumph in his eyes.
"What happened?" Ty Lee asked as soon as I regrouped with her, Azula and Mai in Azula's room. The pink loving girl was standing on her hands when I entered the room, her long braid touching the floor. Azula glanced up from filing her claws.
"So, did Daddy give you a beating because you made of with my stuff?" she asked sarcastically. Haha. She was so funny that one. I stuck my tongue out at her; very mature, I was aware.
"You guys won't believe this," I began t to share the news. "But Azula's Dad just made me a General." All six eyes were on me. They all looked up at me in sync, too; that was just a little creepy. Just a little.
"What now?" Mai gaped as if she hadn't quite heard me clearly.
"I am a General now." I proudly repeated. Azula's eyes were very wide, as if she could not believe it that it were true. There was no response from Ty Lee. I glared at the three. No support from them, figures. "What?" I stared them down, kind of irritated at that point. Mai dipped a brush into the black nail polish in front of her and began to apply a coating on her left hand. "Well no offense dear, but you're...not the sharpest tool in the shed." How rude! I admitted that I was no braniac or anything like that, but I was smart enough to get by; or so I thought. Ty Lee giggled at her comment. Sure it was funny, but not to me at the time. Azula punched both of them in the arm to stop them from teasing me.
"I think that's great, Kari." She changed her attitude. "You're finally taking initiative." Well at least someone was encouraging. I mean, I loved Mai dearly, but sometimes I wanted to give that girl a good 'ol smack upside the head. I wasn't quite as mad at Ty Lee because she was normally sweet and positive.
"Yeah," I agreed. "And I've already been assigned to a mission." It was surprising enough that a twelve year-old was given a high ranking military position; now I was going to be commanding a ship. The thought scared and thrilled me at the same time.
"When do you leave?" Ty Lee wondered, somersaulting across the floor. Could that girl ever sit still? Just for once? But that's what I liked about her. She was so energetic.
"Two weeks." I responded.
Ozai needed more troops in the Earth Kingdom. I would be shipped out with other soldiers to conquer towns and villages in the name of the Fire Nation. Like Zuko, I didn't know how long I'd be gone for or when I'd return; so we decided to live it up before I had to navigate a ship.
The four of us decided to have a sleepover party one of the nights. We stayed up late, goofing off, eating candy and playing truth-or-dare; fortunately, we kept the chocolate away from Azula...and me. I finally got the sweet taste of revenge when I made Mai do jumping while singing the Fire Nation Anthem, outside in the freezing cold of night, in only her undergarments. The other two and I had a good laugh at that one. When we finally went to sleep, we crashed on Azula's floor. Though her bed was a queen, there was more room for all of us on the ground. I slept pretty well and peacefully until I was awoken when I felt arms around me. I jerked around quickly to see whom they belonged to. Azula! I shifted myself one way so that I could tell her to knock it off, but she was in a deep sleep. "Let go!" I hissed into the darkness. She mumbled but showed no sign of being awake. "Azula, I am not a teddy bear." I moved my elbow sharply on accident. A little too sharply. SMACK!
"Ow! What the hell? That was my nose!" She hit me in the arm. The princess was awake now. She must not have been a really heavier sleeper like she had appeared to be moments ago.
"Well I don't appreciate being used as a stuffed animal." I snapped back, trying to bop her with my pillow.
"Hey lovebirds," Mai's husky voice came from my left. It was muffled slightly because she had half of her face pressed into her pillow. "Calm it down over yonder." Ooh, she was gonna get it and get it good. I twisted to my other side and gave Mai a swift kick in the butt. The older girl reacted exactly how I wanted her to. "Ow! Why are you abusing me? Go hurt Ty Lee or something." she whined, distancing herself from me. Though it was pretty dark, I could only see the three of us.
"Guys, Ty Lee is M.I.A. Where'd she go?" I whispered to my friends. Where the hell could she have possibly gone anyway? Was she a sleep walker? I could barely see Azula pointing up to her bed.
"There's the little hooligan, she must have climbed in when she thought we were all asleep. Sneaky bitch, if I weren't so tired I would kick her ass." I actually found it amusing, but I was tired as well as the princess, so I didn't even attempt to laugh. I placed my head on my pillow and Azula did the same beside me. I scooted a few inches away.
"Oh no you don't!" I warned. "You stay where you are."
"But you're warm..." she protested. I had to have been hallucinating. It was late at night-or early in the morning after all. No more late nights for me. They were effecting my brain.
"Good night, Azula." I rolled over away from her, not even giving her a second thought.
Too soon it was time for me to leave my friends. I stood on the same docks as my father had years ago, in full armor. I had shoulder pads just like Zuko, now. And the Fire Nation symbol stretched from my lower stomach up to my chest. The uniform had actually belonged to my father, but I had it hemmed and re-sized so that I could wear it as well. I stood there, inspecting my ship. It was large, but not as enormous as some of the other vessels. I swallowed my pride and sighed deeply. I didn't think that I was ready for this, but I really didn't have a choice anymore. There was no way I could back out then. Not when there was so much to do. Yes, I was nervous, but excitement filled me as well. I hadn't been to the Earth Kingdom in just about decade.
Azula stood with me on the pier as the crew and engineers readied the ship for departure. I had said my goodbyes to Mai and Ty Lee already. My little acrobatic friend was sad to see me leave. She hugged me for a long time. Though Mai remained almost emotionless, like usual, I could see sorrow behind her dark eyes. Things would be different without them being with me. There was an awkward silence between the princess and I. We didn't know what to say to one another at the moment. I broke the silence first. "Well," I started, scratching the back of my neck. "I guess this is goodbye for now." I was barely finished with my sentence when Azula wrapped her arms around me into a close embrace. In all of the three years in which I had known her, that was one of the only times when she had hugged me and truly meant it. I returned the affectionate gesture.
"I'm gonna miss you like hell." she laughed in my ear. I smiled at her words because I was going to miss her as well. It felt like one of those perfect moments as we embraced. But like all moments, it eventually died.
"Things are definitely going to be less chaotic without you around." I joked, watching her eyes sparkled as she laughed with me. I tried not to think of the pain that would come, knowing that I wouldn't see her, Mai or Ty Lee for a while. One of my usual grins masked my inner feelings."I won't be gone long." I guaranteed her. If I had inherited anything from my father it was his no concept of time.
For the first time in nine years, I boarded my father's ship; now my ship. Mu uniform and armor gave me a feeling of authority and leadership once I stepped onto my water vessel. No longer was I the little lost girl who couldn't find her place. No more was I the goofy kid who just wanted a friend or two. Once I waltzed into the captain's control room, I was now an all important military official. I was the equivalent to General Tsong. The Captain was a man by the name of Boldbaatar, or so I was told. He bowed once I entered. "We are at your command." The Captain stated the obvious. But even though it was redundant, I liked hearing the words as well as knowing they were so. It gave me a sense of power and I liked that. "What are your orders?" He pulled out a grid sheet out onto a table, one used to chart the path that a ship would go. I answered as though I had twelve years of experience.
"Set a course for the Western Earth Kingdoms."
"As you wish, General Sankari."
