Rubik's Cube

A/N: Hey, so I felt like a huge turd for not updating, so I'm making a filler chapter and putting my own opinions in the story. I'm writing this in a café. This is fun. It smells of coffee in here. Remember, italics flashbacks. I didn't feel like looking for the actual quotes, so forgive me if I am off a little on some flashbacks.

Chapter Eleven: Never Forget; Never Forgive

Azula stood, waiting for the Gaang to prepare to search for her blasted mother. She looked at the sky, to see how late it was really getting. She groaned, seeing dark clouds rolling in along the horizon. She frowned. The search would have to be postponed. The others saw this and had begun setting up camp once more.

She shook her head, walking over to a thick tree; using it as a refuge from the coming rain. She sat down, deciding one again to stay secluded from the others. She needed to be in silence to think everything over. Why was she planning to murder her own mother?

Ursa sat with Zuko at the small pond in the courtyard, laughing together, feeding the turtle-ducks; spiting her. When Zuko sat down at the pond, their mother was sitting at his side in an instant. But when Azula sat there, Ursa would simply walk past and let her sit there for hours on her own; until her father would came and comfort her.

A six-year-old Azula came running over "Mom! Zuzu! Look at the new kata Lo and Li taught me!" Azula smiled and flawlessly went through a form meant for benders twice her age. She smiled, looking at her mother and brother for approval.

Zuko had turned his head, scoffing at the display; he hated that his sister was better than him. He was the boy; he was supposed to be better! And he was older! Ursa forced a small smile on her lips, seeing Zuko's reaction to his sister's display. "That was very nice, Azula."

Azula could clearly hear the forced pride in her mother's voice. She looked at her mother, visibly hurt by her words. "… Liar…" murmured the child. She may be young, but her father was her teacher. She wasn't naïve. She shook her head at mother with tears in her eyes "...Liar!"

The young princess stalked off angrily quietly muttering her secret mantra to herself as she walked "Trust is for fools… Fear is the only reliable way…"

Ursa barely even watched her long enough to see the tears run down the child's face as she tended to Zuko. She told him he'd get better. She gave him hope… She gave him love.

Azula growled, the memories flooding her head more and more, they wouldn't stop. She had to make it stop… She held her head tightly. Make it stop! She couldn't control her own mind any longer; all because of her treacherous mother. She growled in frustration, it was always about Zuko with that woman. Even when he was a failure he got praised. When she failed she was burned.

"Azula, why don't you show your grandfather what you have learned," ordered Ozai. The now nine-year-old princess nodded; taking a deep breath, preparing for her kata. She ran through the forms in her head before she began performing them. She executed form after form, each being flawless and more complicated than the last. To finish off her performance, she jumped in the air with a kick; a flame coming from her foot in her trail. Azula landed in a bow then quickly went back to her father's side.

She looked at him, her father was smirking. That was a good sign. She would not be punished for lacking in her performance during their next training session. "I want to show you what I've learned!" shouted Zuko.

He stood, starting to go through katas. They were all sloppy. Their father's smirk had disappeared. Oh no. Zuko tried to patch up his performance by attempting the kick that Azula had executed; only to fall on his arse. Their mother ran up to comfort him. Azula growled quietly.

"I failed…" muttered Zuko.

"No," said Ursa "I loved watching you. That's who you are, Zuko; someone who keeps fighting even though it's hard."

Azula scoffed. What about everything she had to fight through? What about all of the hours of training that she had to endure while he sat and cuddled with mother; the training to become the perfect tool of war. He did not deserve praise. He deserved what she would have gotten if she had failed. He deserved to be burned.

The dam had burst; memories flooded Azula's mind, nearly overwhelming her. No, no, no; this had to stop! Please! Not here, not now. The storm had finally come, lightning striking the ground that she sat on. The others were in their tents, taking refuge from the rain's endless onslaught. The loud crashes of thunder making her think of all the times she had been scolded by her mother.

Azula rolled her eyes at her mother's formality "Fire Lord Azulon. Can't you just call him grandfather? He's not exactly the all powerful Fire Lord he used to be." She smirked "Someone will probably end up taking his place soon."

Ursa bristled at how cold her daughter was "Young lady! Not another word!" She watched as Azula rand from the room to go get into her formal wear to prepare for her grandfather's presence.

"What is wrong with that child," uttered Ursa.

Azula stopped once she got to her room, shutting the door behind her. That was her confirmation. Her mother thought she didn't hear her; that foolish woman. That woman thought she was a monster. That woman was her own mother. Well… if Ursa thinks she's a monster; then other people must think it too, maybe even Mai and Ty Lee. Well, if they think it, what's the point in proving them wrong? Azula nodded and started getting ready.

She clenched her eyes shut, she was so lost… She didn't understand. Her hallucinations they tried to counter everything she thought to be true. Those hallucinations were lying… They were lying. Just like her mother always did. She would not – she could not believe a single word they said.

"You're lying! Dad would neverdo that to me!" exclaimed a young Zuko

"Your father would never do what to you?" asked Ursa, entering the room.

"Azula said dad was going to kill me!"

Ursa's eyes widened and her lips pursed as she looked at Azula "It's time we had a talk." Said the woman sternly; grabbing Azula's wrist pulling her out of the room and into the princess's own.

"I'm sick and tired of your lies, Azula." scolded Ursa.

"But I'm not-"

"You're just like your father!"

"But mother, I'm not-"

"All you'll ever be"

"I'm-"

"Is"

"Not-"

"A monster!" finished Ursa glaring at her daughter.

"I'm not lying!" shouted Azula, turning away from her mother, tears running down her cheeks. She would not let her mother see her cry, she would not let her see her cry, she would not let her see her cry. Azula ran this through her head, refusing to let Ursa see anything but her back.

Ursa's gaze instantly softened "Azula…" said the woman quietly, setting a hand on the young girl's back; only to have her flinch away "I didn't mean-"

"Get out," muttered Azula through her tears.

"Azula-"

"Leave!" yelled Azula, whirling around with a stream of fire causing Ursa to stumble back a little. The fire dimly lit her room for a short while, but it was long enough for Ursa to see the tears that had streaked down her daughter's cheeks. Her eyes widened slightly as she quickly left the room.

Azula slammed the door shut behind her mother. She clenched her eyes shut and held her head tightly; she was completely distraught. She leaned against her door heavily; sinking to floor as she finally let the sobs come out. She felt so betrayed… so-so trapped and overwhelmed. She didn't know what to think, she couldn't understand anything. Her mind swam around in circles. Her own mother thought she was a monster…

Ursa stood on the other side of the door, eyes downcast as she heard her daughters sobs. She was so ashamed of herself. She called her daughter a monster. She felt Azula's sobs shake the door and she muttered quietly, barely even enough to convince herself "I'm sorry, Azula…"

That was the last time Azula would see her mother.

Her lip quivered slightly as her body shook from the cold caused by the storm. At least, that's what Azula told herself. Her mind was so constricted with madness; her heart was so abused with hate and her beliefs so vulnerable by her own insecurities. She sat there, holding her head choking back sob after sob. She barely noticed the mirage of her mother.

"I'm sorry Azula…"

A/N: Well, there you have it! A filler chapter so you guys didn't have to wait so long, haha. Hope you all liked it! Remember; read and review!