Chapter 12: Working under the Fire Lord

Azula's POV

69

After being on Hāmonī which was my home for more than half my life I felt strange seeing an area full of snow and permafrost. Our first stop was to drop off Katara who was now dressed in a blue anorak and trousers lined and trimmed with white fur, her hands covered in mittens and her feet was protected by mukluks. Even though she hasn't worn this type of outfit in years she somehow still made it look like she has worn an outfit like this one all her life. Her uniform was placed neatly inside of her pack so that when the time arises she could be ready. After that the ship will be going around the world to drop off disguised bending/non-bending group that would go to their respective places (Earth Kingdom, Northern Water Tribe, Fire Nation, and the Northern Air Temple) to start recruiting trustworthy people.

I held Katara around her waist as she leaned against the guardrails on the deck of the ship. Her blue anorak clashed against my long sleeved, high collared bright blood red shirt that rested under my black short sleeved tonic. As I laid my head down on her shoulder I thought about how I was exactly get Fire Lord Ozai to believe I was her niece so that we could do the Blood Rites.

"Azula, how all do you think we'll be a part?" Katara asked me as our boat started to dock. Mai, Toph, and Ty came over when they heard that.

"While I would like to think that the Avatar has already learned all four elements and somehow got stuck in some icy prison we all know that is highly unlikely. The Avatar is at least a master air-bender, that being known I'll say we'll be separated for six to eight years at the most. I'll give him two years per element if he doesn't act like a complete child and waste time doing unrelated things. That being said I'll try to get to the highest rank in the Imperial Fire Knights so that I can somewhat curve his adventures back on the task at hand" I told them as I pressed my body closer to Katara's in hope that my body heat would linger on her soon after we part.

"And what if the Avatar can't beat your father, or if he runs away from his duties like he's been doing for the last hundred years?" Mai asked me as she looked indifferently into the fog that slowly parted to show the Southern Water Tribe.

"Then we'll deal with the Fire Lord ourselves and say the Avatar did it" Ty answered with a surprisingly neutral expression on her face. Her light gray eyes suddenly glowed as they darkened like a storm cloud ready to burst.

"We'll punish the Avatar after everything is done and stable. It's not our job to finish the Avatar's and if he can't do what he was made for then the Avatar is no longer need" Toph said as her eyes glowed a jade green when her hand connected with Ty's.

"Agreed" Katara and I answered at the same time, I could my eyes burn as my pupils elongated into vertical slits and flash a bright gold. I turned to face the others and in doing so I brought Katara with me. I put my hand out with my palm facing down and looked at Toph.

"Terra" I said to her as my voice turned husker making her smirked.

"Hell yeah, it's gonna be just like old times right Agni? What about you Luna?" Toph said to Katara with her cocky smirk still on her face. Her now glowing jade eyes matched perfectly with her Earth Kingdom styled clothes.

"If Agni's going you know I will also. Zephyr?" Katara's soft voice fluttered in the wind as she set her bright luminescent pale blues on Ty.

"While giving into worldly concerns is against my morals, Fire Lord Ozai must pay for his crimes against humanity and I'll be happy to help" Ty Lee said with a calm and wise voice which kind of clashed with her otherwise obnoxious and loud pink outfit she was sporting.

"Mai, while unlike us who are gods reincarnated you also hold a great importance. When we first decided to make the Avatar our friend, Sanji, helped us make the first Avatar who was without a nation. He was born with all four elements inside of him and he was purely raised by us. Sanji became our councilor and with her help we could decide which element would house the next Avatar. So I ask you Mai will you be our Sanji, will you be The Councilor of The Gods?" Ty asked her as she looked back at us with the cool calmness that was always a part of her.

"Sure" she said with a shrug as her monotone voice rung through the noise of the ship cutting through the water like a knife.

A week later

After Katara was dropped off and we neared Whaletail Island just pass the Southern Air Temple a long cylinder shaped flash shot through the sky. I shot a beam of lightning towards it to signal to Katara that we've seen it. Our plan has just been set into motion and in a few day we'll be on the docks of Fire Fountain City where Ty and I will be dropped off with all the other Fire Hāmonīans. Then Ty's group would scatter along Ember Island, Shu Jing, Jang Hui, Crescent Island, Hing Wa Island, and Kirachu Island to become a part of the entertainment and artistic culture. My group will spread out into Capital City, Royal Plaza, and Fire Nation Bazaar so that they can enter the Army, Navy, Air Force, Prison Force, and the assassination group called The Black Flames. Then Mai would be dropped off with half of the Earth Hāmonīans at New Ozai which was formally known as Omashu. Then they split up into Tu Zin Village, Gaoling, Chin Village, Foggy Swamp Tribe (1/2 of the Water Hāmonīans are going here only), General Fong's Fort, Senlin Village, Gaipan, Ruins of Taku, Pouhai Stronghold, Abbey, and Makapu Village so that they can infiltrate into the Earth Kingdom patrols, becoming farmers, workers, and rebels. While they are doing that Mai will be reacquainted with her family.

Then they will past the Western Air Temple into the Northern Water Tribe where the other half of the Water Hāmonīans will be so that they can join the Northern Wolf Warriors. Toph's Group will filter into Ba Sing Se, Serpent's Pass and Chameleon Bay. The Bei Fong family will be reunited and Toph will enter the underground fighting syndicate under the name "Blind Bandit".

Two years later

Under the hot Fire Nation sun we of unit thirteen stood with our backs straight, feet shoulder-length a part, arms behind our back. We wore black and red lightly armored uniforms with black steel-toed boots, all new and fire proof to so degree. Unit thirteen was made of advanced to master fire benders that worked directly under the Fire Lord. Like all units in the Fire Nation we were renamed after we passed our Fire Baptism.

Because we worked directly under the Fire Lord he got to name us himself. Funny enough when he asked me my name he renamed me "Azula" after his beloved daughter that he lost trying to unite the world. It seems that my father was still using my name to rally up my former fellow countrymen to fight in this asinine war. None the less I honorably accepted my name as well as my new rank as high general.

Being ranked as a high general meant that I could sit in on war meetings and discreetly give out confidential info down the ranks to the resistance. But I made sure that every pieces of info was as correct as possible before I gave it out.

"Lately people have been spreading rumors about my late nephew having a child. I want you to find the people spreading these rumors and if these rumors are indeed true, I want you to find and bring that child to me" Fire Lord Ozai commanded. His voice was like thunder as it rung through the throne room. The only thing separating him from the hidden blade in my pouch was his wall of fire that every Fire Lord must have.

What the Fire Lord didn't know was that I already knew who was spreading the rumors. Now if I can turn this the way I wanted to go I'd be known as his blood niece in a few days, hopefully.

69

I'm just setting things up so that the next chapter will have more interaction.

See you later

Nyckole