Chap. 21

Interlude Part 3

Azula knelt in front of the table in her old room, dressed in a long red robe. Her eyes closed, she reached out with her mind towards the seven burning candles in front of her. She began to take slow, deep breaths, calming her mind. Slowly but surely, the flames began to move in sync with her breathing, growing longer and shorter as she breathed in and out. It was an old exercise, one that Azula had been taught at the very beginning of her training. But despite all her progress since then, she had always remembered it and used to relax her mind in times of stress. She had never once suspected that her brother used it for the same purpose, but then again she had never thought much of her brother's problems. Her own had always been her first priority.

And now, Azula had true problems to face. She had been home for almost two weeks, and things had not improved for her. Her father had decreed that she would remain in the Fire Nation until he had found a way for her to atone for her dishonorable deeds in Ba Sing Se. How she would do that, he did not know, but Ozai had promised he would find a way. Since then, Azula had been caught between coming up with lies to placate Ty Lee and Mai and trying to stay out of her father's way. The Fire Lord had an unpredictable temper, and it took very little to make him angry. Azula had done all she could to stay away from him, and when she had been forced to be around him, Azula had remembered the old law that women should be seen and not heard. Azula merely prayed that he managed to find a task for her soon, so that she could regain her honor.

Of course the irony was that Azula had already been formulating a way to regain her lost honor. Everything that had happened to her had not been a wasted experience. Azula had learned from her mistakes, and her quick mind had been studying them all to determine the best plan of action. After a few days, she had come up with a brilliant plan that would finally regain the honor she had lost. But she was not about to even consider suggesting it to her father. No, he would never accept any plan she came up with now. He would consider her request arrogant; after all, he knew the best course for her to regain honor. Anything from her dishonored mind would be ill conceived and doomed to failure. But Azula knew that she could put her plan into effect. All she needed was a chance to go out into the world and put it into effect. All she needed was one, simple, chance.

Suddenly, there was a rap on the door. For a moment, Azula was startled and the flames rose high, but she regained control a second later and they returned to normal.

"Enter." She said, her voice as stern as always. The door creaked open, as a servant stepped inside.

"I apologize for intruding, Princess." The servant said, as he stood there, wringing his hands.

"If it does not waste my time, I won't consider it an intrusion." Azula said. "Now what is it?"

"Your father wishes to speak to you to in the throne room." The servant said. "He says it is of utmost important."

Azula sat there in silence a moment, and the servant swore that he could see a tightening of her body. But it was gone a second later, and Azula said, "Tell my father I will be there momentarily."

The servant nodded, and left the room, as Azula got up and began to put her armor back on.

A while later, Azula walked up to the doors of the throne room. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the doors open and stepped inside. The throne room was empty, save for a man dressed in the robes of a moneycounter and of course, Azula's father. At the sound of her entrance, Ozai turned his head and said, "Welcome. Hazin, you know my daughter, Princess Azula."

"Of course. It is a honor Princess." The moneycounter said, as he turned and bowed to Azula.

"Hazin is one of the accountants that total up the sums of the supplies needed for the army." Ozai explained. "He came to me today because he has determined that there has been a very interesting discrepancy with some of our supplies."

"My department is in charge of the food harvested from the westernmost isle." Hazin explained. "Recently, we traveled to the island to collect the food for this term. However, the harvest was far below normal standards. I spoke to the head of the farmer's council, and he claims that the farmers were simply not able to grow as much as usual."

"But you don't think that's the truth, do you Father?" Azula asked.

"No." Ozai replied. "I've had problems with that farmer's council before. I purposely collected the best farmers in the Nation and sent to that isle to grow food for our Army. But even with the supplies I send them, they have stolen food from their shipments. Selfish, ignorant fools."

"I see. What is it you would like me to do?" Azula asked.

"I want you to go to isle and investigate the situation." Ozai said. "I will give you your ship back, and you may select your crew from any stationed here. This will not be enough to completely restore your honor, Azula. But if you succeed, it will be a step in the right direction."

"As you wish Father." Azula said, bowing her head. "Is there any way you would like me to approach the investigation?"

"Do what I would do." Ozai said, as a dark smile crossed his lips.

Azula returned the smile, as she rejoiced inside her mind. She could not have asked for a better situation then this. Now she had a ship, an excuse to leave the palace, and as she opened her mouth, she was granted the crew she needed to finally put her plan into action…….

Sorry for the shortness guys, but I just couldn't think of anything else to put in that would fit. But don't worry, the next chapter will be longer, and have a whole lot in it.