Chapter 4
Caught then killed
Like some kind of wild animal that had managed to sneak into the palace, she sunk her teeth into the fluffy pillow which made her tongue go dry. Ty Lee was pressing too hard on a weak point, the princess did nothing but worm around to try and escape the pain. Of course she moved away right before the acrobat would be able to find out what's wrong, so the pink wearing girl had to do it over again. So they'd been sitting there for an hour torturing the fire bender's pressure point.
The acrobat got comfortable again and looked over at Azula who only chewed the pillow harder. "You promise not to move this time?" Her girlfriend asked. She just wanted to be done with it already. She nodded quickly before gripping the pillow with an iron grip. The acrobat sighed. "Okee pokee." The girl muttered.
At first it didn't hurt. Ty Lee's innocent hand sneaked under her shirt once more, poking lightly trying to find the target for the millionth time, it kind of tickled. But once she found the spot the girl's stiff fingers jabbed it. It was like a pinched nerve, a sharp pain shot through the fire bender. Now she cursed Ty Lee. Her eyes were so tightly closed they might've fused together. Not only did the jab hurt but then the acrobat applied more pressure and the stinging just felt so much worse. It was getting to the point she wouldn't be able to take it anymore but she held out, she didn't want to do this again.
Her body shook from the pain getting worse, she lifted her head up, spitting out the pillow. "Do you know what's wrong yet?!" She hissed as a wave of stinging crushed what seemed to be every nerve in her body. The acrobat pushed her fingers harder and the princess gave an angry shout again. She couldn't take it anymore and shoved the acrobat away from her.
The fire bender squirmed away breathing heavily. "I don't care what's wrong me, we're not doing that again." She said struggling to breathe. The princess collapsed on a sitting pillow, trying to calm down from the hour of suffering she'd just gone through. The pressure point stopped stinging but now it was just throbbing, every pulse hurt the nice bruise Ty Lee gave her.
Out of guilt the acrobat came over to her and tried to give the princess a hug. The last thing Azula wanted was a hug from the person who caused the pain in the first place. She pushed Ty Lee away from her roughly. The acrobat kept the distance for awhile but slowly moved closer like a cat desperate to try and snuggle. Ty Lee laid down next her stroking her forehead caringly. "I'm sorry…" The girl said quietly. "Do you need a kiss to make it feel better?"
The acrobat was expecting a harsh threat in return but instead the princess just nodded silently. The girl moved closer to Azula and kissed the prodigy's forehead. "I really am sorry." The acrobat whispered as she lay on the princess' back, which was actually supposed to be a lazy hug. "I found out what's wrong though, if that helps."
"And?" The fire bender let out a long sigh.
"You're chi is blocked." The acrobat answered while petting Azula's head. "But no one's attacked you, so your chi hasn't been physically blocked." The girl continued. The fire bender rolled over under Ty Lee.
"So what? My emotions are blocking it?" She asked and Ty Lee nodded. The fire bender frowned. This never happened before. Her emotions never affected her fire bending except maybe her anger. If they did, why all of the sudden? "But I don't have any problems! I'm…happy." She said through the corner of her mouth not wanting anyone to know that.
"That's not what your aura says." The acrobat said. "Maybe you told a lie and it's been bothering you." The fire bender's face began to burn up from fear. Yeah that lie she said to Ty Lee that made the girl come back to her, the thing nagging her every time the acrobat smiled at her. The scary feeling of knowing that if Ty Lee found out she might need "space" again.
"No…that's just ridiculous." The princess said as she slid her arms around the acrobat but Ty Lee moved away and stared down at the fire bender. Then a sad expression melted over the acrobat's face.
"You're lying to me right now." The girl said sorrow filled. The fire bender sat up still keeping Ty Lee in her grip so the girl couldn't escape.
"I have nothing to hide from you." She lied with a kind smile.
"Have a nice night General Iroh." Ming said happily as she closed the thick door to the old man's cell. She headed down the dark hallway of the prison tower. She tiredly removed her helmet and moved a hand through her hair. It was probably late at night, she hated working long days, she felt like the walking dead, she hasn't seen the daylight in so long.
At some point the walls of the prison turned into the walls of the city buildings. Her eyes were focused on the large cement tiles which made up the roads of the city. There was hardly any sound around. She didn't worry about getting hurt by the creeps usually wandering about. She guarded maniacs for a living, not much scared her anymore. She heard the sound of dragging feet and looked up ahead of her to find the acrobat who as usually around the Fire Princess walking by.
"You're out again this late?" She said with a smile. "I think you're trying to look for trouble." Ty Lee lifted her head confused as she saw Ming standing there. Feeling like an idiot Ming slapped her forehead. "You probably don't even know me, sorry, I'm Ming." She held her hand and Ty Lee just looked at it before shaking hands, obviously it wasn't something the pink wearing girl did often. "I was the one who rescued you last time."
The acrobat's eyes went wide and the girl glanced back at the palace. "But…Azula told me she…?" Ty Lee's confusion was replaced by irritation. "That meanie! She's been lying this entire time saying she saved me!" Ming was surprised, not too sure why the princess would lie about that.
"Well, at least you know the truth right?" She said trying not to get involved. The acrobat seemed very frustrated now. She was about to walk away and head home but the girl leaped onto her and gave her a hug squeezing with all her might. "Um?"
"I owe you a big thanks, but I've got to have a little talk with someone." With a tiny wave the acrobat raced off heading towards the palace. She chuckled at the thought of the Fire Nation's prodigy getting a lecture from a girl like that. Yawning tiredly she continued to head home, knowing she'd be hearing from either Ty Lee or the princess her self soon.
The princess wandered around the room after taking off her armor. She'd been locked away in the room figuring out ways she could ruin the Avatar's invasion plan. Her gut kept telling her he hadn't been defeated. She wouldn't let her guard down, there was no way she'd let the Avatar catch her in her undies on the day of black sun. Of course she could not share this plan with her father because well, he'll start asking questions. Everyone will know at last minute when there is no time for asking why.
She stared at her surroundings, the tall walls boxing her in, the desk in the center of the room where piles of crumpled up paper sat, the huge window which looked down at the wall around the palace. It was so quiet in here, the entire palace in fact. There was hardly any sound ever in this place. It was nice some times but it just reminded her of how empty her life was at some points.
Her brain was hard at work trying to think of a way she could distract the Avatar if he found out they'd be hiding in the bunker. The gears and engines in her head were moving frantically as she forced them to work yet they produced nothing. Nothing worth using at least. She was about to start punching the walls hoping that might give her an idea. Right now she was just stalling, trying to avoid actually doing this.
The door flew open and she was caught by surprise and relief. She thought she locked the door. Maybe it was thrown open so hard the lock was broken. The acrobat stomped into the room with an angry look on her face. The princess just grinned in response, now she could stop stalling and waste time talking to Ty Lee. She moved forward to meet the acrobat with a hug. When they were in arms reach the acrobat swatted the side of the fire bender's face. "OW!!" The prodigy hissed. "What was that for?!"
It was far too easy. The guard who was supposed to be watching this section of the wall was fast asleep. He jumped onto the walkway acting like a shadow as he found a good spot. His eyes looked up at the window where the princess was arguing with the acrobat. Looking around once more only to find no one would stop him.
He lifted the bow in his hand remembering all the years it took to perfect his skill. His eyes never left the sight of the princess' back. With his free hand he slowly freed an arrow from the quiver strapped to his torso. He strung the arrow to the bow and steadily pulled back, the wood of the bow groaned. Azula was beginning to step away from the window. Now was his chance.
Letting go of it all, the arrow shot forward rapidly he could not track it with his eyes. But he watched as the tiny ant looking princess jerked forward, and he knew he didn't miss.
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