Chapter twelve!
I woke up early because someone knocked on my door.
'Come in.' I said rubbing the sleep out off my eyes.
The door was opened and the princess stepped inside. As quickly as I could I stood up and bowed. I was surprised, the princess had changed so much.
'Good morning Kozakura.' the princess said.
'Good morning princess, is there anything I can do for you?'
'Yes please. I want you to help my with my math, but first dress.' she said. 'I'll see you in three minutes.'
I bowed and while she went to her own room I dressed myself. I was really exited actually, she had really asked for my help! But than fear struck me, what if I wouldn't understand, would she be mad at me? I knocked on the door and waited for the princess to give me permission to enter.
'Come in, Kozakura.'
I entered and the princess mentioned me to sit down next to her. I took a quick glance at the math book and sighted in relief. I knew this stuff by heart.
The princess understood me really well as I explained the exercises. I actually had quite a good time.
While the princess was out eating breakfast I made my own breakfast. And that's when it struck me, the princess had known how to solve the math-puzzles. Than why did she ask me for help? Did she want the check my math skills or was it something else? I was still wondering while the door was opened, almost at the same time I heard a loud thunder, followed by pouring rain. I opened my thick red curtains. The sky was filled with dark clouds shooting lightning.
'The Gods must be angry.' The princess said from behind me.
I turned around immediately and bowed.
'I'm sorry princess, I didn't see you come in. Yes, they must be.'
She went to stand next to me and together we looked out off the window. We both laughed when we became soaked by the rain.
'Close the curtains, Kozakura. Let's warm ourselves by the fireplace in my room. Make us a pot of tea.' she demanded.
When I came back with the tea the princess was already sitting in front of the fireplace. She watched the fire with fascinated eyes. I walked up beside her and waited for her to speak up.
'Kozakura, sit down and give me a cup of tea, take one yourself, if you'd like.'
I handed her a cup and sat down, holding my own cup in both my hands.
'Thank you.' I said, feeling the pleasant warmth run down my fingers.
'No problem. You know what, I hate my teacher. She is staying at home, because her husband got killed in the war. She is not capable of working at the moment, such a disgrace. Now I don't get the chance to study today.' she sighted. I didn't agree with her. Of course she couldn't work! It's very hard losing someone you love, I do know. I wiped away some tears with my sleeve and sipped my tea.
'What did you want to become, when you were younger?' the princess asked.
'To be honest with you, I wanted to become a… a princess.' I said. It was true. My dad always called me his little princess and than he would make me a dress out of towels with a cape. He would be my ostrichhorse and mama would be my servant. Than mother would put me into bed and tuck me in. She would tell me a story about a lost princess in a far away land. She had to find her way home, but all she had was one servant and an ostrichhorse. In the end they made it and the princess married a handsome prince. By the time the prince showed up, I was already fast asleep, dreaming about me being the princess walking through the forest, while my servant plucked me some fresh apples.
The princess laughed at this. 'Of course! At least you're very close to it now.'
I laughed with her. I didn't want to be a princess anymore, it is much harder than it seems.
'Do you want to be someone else, princess?' I asked.
'No. I have always wanted to be a princess, sometimes I wish I was the first-born though.' She said while looking at the fire.
'Follow me.' The princess demanded while she stood up. We walked towards her closet.
'This a huge secret. Only the royal family and their most important servants know about this. She opened the closet and shoved aside some clothes. Behind the clothes was a wooden plate and I didn't understand the secret.
'Look over here.' the princess said while pointing at a plate on the floor. She opened it, a big black hole was visible.
The princess went down the hole and I followed her after closing the gap. She formed a blue flame in her hand, she had finally mastered it. There were stairs leading downstairs to a dark area. The princess walked down and I followed her. We finally stood on a platform. There were various doors on all the sides and paintings all over the ceiling. The floor was covered with beautiful mosaics. Although some of the painting had come off and the mosaics were a little bit damaged, you could see the original figures clearly.
'This is the old palace. Two hundred years ago, the volcano where we live on erupted. The royal family and the villagers had left before the eruption, but the palace had disappeared under the lava. They decided to build a brand new palace above the old one. While digging, the workers found out that the insides of the palace were left unharmed. They made stairways in the new rooms, leading to the old palace. If the royal family ever has to hide, or run away, they can use the old palace. That's why we have to know the old palace's map by heart.' the princess said while she continued walking. 'Although the lava reached some rooms, like the old servant room. Those maids didn't know what happened, until they were all buried in lava. But they were worthless anyway, that's why they were left inside the palace while everyone went away. They now live in this palace forever. Do you want to see it?' she said while she turned around and looked at me with a grin on her face.
'No thank you, princess. I'd prefer looking at the beautiful paintings.' I wasn't going to see that, that's so horrible! I hadn't seen it yet, and I was already afraid I wouldn't sleep much this night.
'I know what, it is really beautiful, but it is quite a walk. It's nine a.m. so we could easily be back at twelve. I don't need a tea break anyway.'
She began walking and I followed her. We walked through the old palace, it was extremely big. We had walked for about half an hour when I finally saw some light. We hadn't talked much on our way there.
'There it is.' the princess said.
At the end of the hallway was a gap. Behind it was a beautiful garden, flowers and grass and also a waterfall with a lake. I gasped, because it was all I could do. The ceiling was covered with beautiful crystals, shining brightly, reflecting the light of a huge flame on the left side of the garden. I wondered how it was even possible for a flame to burn without dying. I was about to ask, when the princess gave me my answer.
'There are just a few fires that never stop burning, this is one of them. They represent the power, will and soul of the Firenation. It seems weird, but this fire bends itself. Some say that Agni himself lit these fires. If one of the royal family dies, they are turned into ashes by this fire. Their ashes are put into this fire after that, so we can feel the power of it even after death.'
I looked at the huge flame, it was really beautiful and making incredible forms. I understood why the princess said the fire bended itself, she could probably feel the bending movements herself!
'Do you want to feel the water? It's warm because of the magma underneath the ground.'
'Yes, I would like to, princess.'
'I can't believe I'm saying this, but please, call me Azula. If we're not in public of course. You're my friend Kozakura.'
I couldn't believe it. I hugged her and she patted my back, before she pushed me away.
'Thank you princess, I mean Azula. It's an honor to be your friend.'
'I know.' she just said. 'Let's feel the water.'
We walked towards the water and I could feel the warmth coming from it. I kneeled down and put my hands in the water. Before I knew what happened Azula pushed me and I fell into the warm and nice water.
'Is it nice, Kozakura?' she laughed.
'Why don't you try yourself princess?' I said while I grabbed her ankles and pulled her into the water.
We both laughed while she reached the surface. She threw water at me and I did the same. I swam away, but she was much faster and pushed me under water, not too long tough. We swam to the grass at the same time and lay down on it.
'Wow, I never expected a piece of heaven underneath the Firenationpalace!' I said.
'I don't think heaven can be greater than this. We'll just have to find out, don't you think?'
I looked at her with a scared face.
'I mean after we die a normal dead, idiot!' she laughed.
I laughed with her, but you could never know for sure with the princess. I didn't trust her fully.
The princess dried herself using firebending and after that dried me. I thanked her and we walked back. We talked all the way about me and my family, my village, the four nations and the Avatar.
'Do you think the Avatar still exists?' I asked the princess.
'Yes I do. But I think that the Gods let him non-existing for now, so the Firenation can win this war. Of course everyone thinks the airnomads were all killed, but I don't believe so. There must be a few hiding, or in disguise. But as long as there's no hope, there's no fighting, there's an easy win without much sacrifices. At least if those stupid people didn't try to fight their destiny.' she answered.
I didn't agree with her. Of course I hope there are some airnomads left, but I don't believe the Gods would let us suffer, for the Firenation to control this world. That couldn't be possible! But I think I might have just found the Firenation's weak point, hope. If people start hoping, they are unstoppable. At least mentally.
The rest of the week was easy. Azula and I shared our thoughts about everything. From something very serious like the Avatar to our favourite candy. Of course to the world we were princess and maid, but we knew better. We are friends. I still can't believe it though, this world is full of secrets, and I hope to learn them all. Our destiny is something we can't decide ourselves, but we can make our own fate. That's what I believe.
Hey! As you might have noticed this chapter starts really.. well it's not the best I've written, I mean I really had to try to keep things happy and stuff the end is somewhat happier. That was because of the weather over here. When I began writing this, it was raining hard. Normally I wouldn't mind, but I have summer holidays! I deserve some nice weather! But it's getting better now. So, enough about the weather. I hoped you enjoyed this chapter!
