Hello again. This chapter feels like it's pulled between the fun and the serious in a highly inappropriate manner (inappropriate as in out of place). I was thinking about the actual ATLAB series and I remembered that comedy was an essential element of the show. I thought to myself, "It would be great if I could incorporate some of that spirit into this piece." I was writing the chapter and realized somewhere in the middle of it all that some fairly serious and dark things were going on within the plot. So, yeah, the comedy may be a bit out of place. Just warning everyone, this could be hit or miss. Whatever it is, I hope you'll enjoy!
"You've gotta be kidding me," Aang lamented as he placed both hands on either sides of his head.
The Avatar let out a small, pleading laugh in the hope that his friend would reveal the report to be some sort of elaborate ruse. However, Sokka's expression remained unchanged.
"Look, Aang. If I were joking around, you'd know it," Sokka said with his arms crossed while providing a casual shrug.
Aang groaned as his hands made their way to cover his face as if to shield him from the reality of the situation. He wished that it were all part of the rumor mill of the palace that he found himself in once again. At this moment he wanted nothing more than to hide himself in the compound's deepest recesses in the hopes that it would just blow over.
"Yeah, if you were joking, I wouldn't find this to be so funny," Toph remarked.
"I'm funny," Sokka protested while raising his hands in the air, "Besides, there's nothing laughable about what's going on."
"Well, not so much as ha ha type of funny," Toph explained while scratching her head, "but more of an 'even the blind girl saw this coming' type of funny."
"We don't even know if it's true," Aang started, still holding on to some shred of optimism. "Besides, this could all be some misunderstanding."
Sokka opened his mouth to speak, but stopped himself and placed a hand to his chin. The Watertribe warrior absentmindedly caressed the rough stubble surrounding his jaw as he glanced away from the Avatar. Carefully, he formed his words, attempting to be as diplomatic as possible.
Sokka sighed, "Look, Aang, I know you don't want any of this to be true, but consider the facts here. Iroh hasn't arrived as of yet and he was supposed to be here earlier last week. There are confirmed reports of Fire Nation troop movement and naval ships are being prepped for travel in vast quantities. And last but not least, Kuei's army is apparently heading towards Yu Dao. I can only guess what's going on, but it certainly extends far past rooting out plots to assassinate the Fire Lord."
Aang glared at Sokka with wide eyes, catching the almost overt implication behind the facts presented.
"She would never," Aang protested quietly.
"Go behind your back?" Toph cut in. "Sorry, Twinkletoes, but she definitely would."
"Not after all of this time, she just wouldn't," Aang argued as he placed a hand on his forehead.
"Don't take it personally, she's doing it to everyone as far as I can tell," Toph added while placing her hands on her hips. "It seems like she has everyone running about willy-nilly."
Aang's brow rose in a jumble of confusion and astonishment.
"Everyone?" The Avatar asked.
Toph snorted deeply, prompting Aang to step a few paces away from his Earthbending master.
"Well," Toph began before launching a sizeable glob of mucus at the ground.
"Hey, watch it," Sokka exclaimed as he hopped away from the spot that Toph spat. "Give a guy a warning or two before you go spitting everywhere. "
"Sure," Toph chuckled. "Where was I? Yeah, Fire Lily is keeping everyone busy and giving them incomplete orders, from what I can gather at least. It's kind of difficult to explain."
"Toph, if I may," Sokka interjected while puffing out his chest.
"Be my guest, Snoozles," Toph said as she gave Sokka a light jab to his stomach.
Sokka doubled over as his breath caught in his throat.
"Thanks," he croaked. Readjusting himself, the Watertribe warrior stood upright and continued with his explanation, "From what Toph is saying, it sounds as if Azula is preparing for some large military movement. She's probably giving orders to the generals and admirals that can only be completed with the addition of another's orders. It's a tactical ploy that prevents any coherent information about troop movement or plans of attack from leaking in full. If no one person knows the entire plan, then there is less of a chance of the enemy getting wind of what's going on."
"Thanks professor," Toph proclaimed sarcastically as she threw her hands in the air. "Where would we be without you?"
Sokka reserved his response to a small pout.
"Why would she be doing this?" Aang whispered to himself.
Sokka rubbed the back of his head as he looked down toward his friend.
"Look Aang," he began, attempting to do his best to cushion the blow he was about to deliver, "all signs point to her preparing to meet Kuei's forces at Yu Dao."
"So, yeah, she's planning on going behind your back with this one," Toph added.
Sokka threw Toph a stern look that the Earthbender would, undoubtedly, miss.
"Thank you, Toph," Sokka growled through his teeth in attempt to berate the young woman.
"Anytime," she replied, crossing her arms with a full toothed grin.
"This can't be happening," Aang said while shaking head.
"I know it's tough to hear, but it seems as if all evidence points to the contrary. It is happening," Sokka reaffirmed.
Aang turned away from his two friends before speaking again.
"No, I mean that this can't happen," Aang said plainly.
Despite his calm tone of voice, both Sokka and Toph could read the Avatar clearly. It was as if the depth of his waters remained unsullied by his false air of tranquility. Sokka saw the blood drain from Aang's knuckles as the young man's grip strained against the wood of his glider. Toph could feel her friend's heartbeat accelerate rapidly, far beyond any singular moment she could recall.
"This can't happen, not now. If what you're saying is true then this will end in war. If that happens then all that we've done would have been for nothing. It can't be for nothing. I…," Aang paused as his voice began to waiver, "I'm not going to fail the world again."
The Avatar advanced, leaving the pair behind him. Sokka gazed at his friends back and, for a sliver of a moment, saw the spectral outline of a legion of men and women. Air Nomad, Watertribe, Earth Kingdom, and Fire Nation marched in step with the young Airbender. An unfamiliar and irrational fear filled Sokka's mind, causing him to reach out toward his friend.
"Wait," Sokka called out.
The Avatar's pace did not cease, nor did his resolve falter. He moved swiftly through the palace halls unbound and free, possessed by his will to maintain peace. Sokka's words were lost on the air itself. He dropped his arm, realizing that his attempt was fruitless.
"I wonder what he's going to do when he sees her. I've never seen him that way before," Sokka whispered to himself.
"I hope he chooses his words carefully, for your sake," Toph said.
"Me, why me? Won't he be the one getting hit by lightening?" Sokka asked.
"Yeah, but I'll have to teach the next Avatar Earthbending. Which means we're going to have to find another hole to trap you in while a Sabertoothed Mooselion charges at you," Toph huffed, blowing her bangs upwards.
Sokka grimaced at the young woman despite the futility of the gesture.
"But seriously, do you think he'll be ok in there?" Sokka asked.
"With Fire Lily? Of course, I was just joking about the whole teaching the next Avatar business. Azula wouldn't hurt him if she wanted to. Again, I mean. It's not what she'll do that Aang has to worry about," Toph stated confidently.
"Then what does he have to worry about?" Sokka pressed.
Toph grinned.
"He's gonna have to be careful how he reacts to what she's saying. Fire Lily has a sharp tongue, too sharp sometimes for her own good. It could get in the way of what she has to say and cause Twinkletoes to do something he'll regret. If he learned anything from me, then he'll wait and listen before acting," Toph commented.
"She does have a way with words. A really evil way, but a way nonetheless. I hope Aang is careful," Sokka adds.
"Like I said, if he's learned anything from me then he'll be alright," Toph said confidently.
Sokka frowned as he thought about what he saw as Aang set off to approach the throne.
"Yet, for some reason, I'm still kind of worried," he said.
"Sissy," Toph said as she delivered a rather forceful punch to Sokka's arm.
"Ow," the Watertribe warrior whined.
The doors to the throne room burst open, slamming on either side, yielding to a raging gust of wind. The flames surrounding the Fire Lord swayed violently as if fragile trees facing the brunt of a monstrous storm.
The Fire Lord's full, red lips arched upwards at both ends. The orange flames stabilized and illuminated the room once more.
"Oh, hello, Avatar. How may I help you today?" Azula welcomed her guest with what appeared to be a sincere greeting.
The Avatar silently began to approach the throne as four disheveled guards timidly followed a significant distance behind the determined monk. As the Avatar ceased his advance, the guards stumbled into one another, preventing themselves from getting too close. Eagerly, they hid behind the red and golden pillars of the throne room in an attempt to shelter themselves from his wrath.
"Guards, what are the rules about your presence in the throne room after last week's incident?" Azula playfully chirped towards the four men.
One of them replied cautiously, sticking his head from behind a column, "But princess…"
The air of levity that surrounded the Fire Lord was immediately shattered as her brow dipped and the ridge of her nose crinkled. Her golden eyes burned into clumsily tongued guard.
"I mean Fire Lord," The guard anxiously corrected himself. "Fire Lord Azula, this intruder wouldn't halt when we commanded and-"
The guard was interrupted by a shrill laughter that flowed forth from the throat of the Fire Lord and echoed throughout the chamber.
"Overzealous guest," Azula corrected the guard.
"I'm sorry," The guard drawled, dumbfounded.
"The overzealous guest wouldn't halt…" Azula reaffirmed while twirling her hand in the air, urging the guard to continue.
"Oh, right," The guard said, while looking down. "Uh, the overzealous guest…"
He looked upwards towards the young woman sitting on the throne. Azula nodded to the man with a smile.
The guard continued with increased confidence, "The overzealous guest wouldn't halt when we commanded him to and we weren't able to –"
A burst of orange flame splashed on the ground near the pillar, causing the guard to jump back and release a feminine screech of terror. As he landed on his hindquarters, the Fire Lord began to speak.
"First things first," Azula began while relaxing her form and returning to her seated position, "You'll learn to address your Fire Lord with respect if it's the last thing you do. Secondly, you do not command the Avatar to do anything, ever. Last of all, this throne room is restricted to all of the royal guard until further notice. Failure to follow these rules will not be met with another warning. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Fire Lord Azula. I understand," the guard said while fumbling to kneel at the scorched ground before him.
Azula frowned, "If you understand, then why are you still here? Your companions seemed to get the message."
The guard glanced over his shoulder just in time to see the three other guards scurrying out of the doors in a panic. Looking back in front of him he was met with the image of his Fire Lord shooing him away lazily with her hand. Taking a cue from the others, he began running towards the exit, but not before tripping over himself and being forced to scramble towards the door on hands and knees.
Azula's smirk held wide as she returned her focus on the Avatar. His gaze had not left her the entire time.
"Azula," Aang initiated.
"Yes?" Azula mused.
Their eyes maintained contact, unwavering and unyielding to one another.
Aang sighed, "Is what I hear from Sokka true?"
Azula shrugged, "I don't know, is it?"
"This is serious," Aang exploded as his free hand clenched in a tight fist.
Azula's demeanor held strong, as did her carefree smirk.
"I know it is serious, Avatar. Rumors running wild around the palace create an atmosphere of disorder. Honestly, it's no way to rule," Azula commented.
"Azula," Aang warned in a stern voice.
Azula rested her chin on her knuckles, looking down at the rigid monk.
"Yes," Azula mirthfully answered.
"What did you do?" Aang questioned while swiping his hand through the air, causing a small gust of wind to flow to his side.
"Why do I feel like you already know the answer to that question? Furthermore, why are you asking a question that you know the answer to?" Azula teased.
"Just, please, answer me," The Avatar requested, abating the emotion within his voice.
"Fine," Azula said with a sigh, almost as if the Avatar forced her to cease some activity that brought her immense pleasure. "I'm doing what's required of me as Fire Lord."
"What you're doing goes far beyond that, what you're doing endangers everything that Zuko and I have worked for," Aang explained.
"Well, I think you should go discuss the matter with the fool king, Kuei. Because, if I'm not mistaken, it was he who first initiated the troop movement," Azula reasoned with a shrug.
"That doesn't mean you have to answer his actions with more of the same," Aang countered.
"Oh, but Avatar, it does. It means that I must protect my subjects. Lowly colonists or not, I owe a duty to them. It would be unbecoming of the Fire Lord to ignore the safety of her people. I'm sure you've realized that this is something I'm not going to budge on. In fact, if memory serves, I recall you informing me that my brother had disagreements over a similar topic of interest. So, do you see, Avatar? I'm doing a lot more to protect what my brother set out to do than you realize," Azula argued.
"Restarting a century long conflict is not protecting the era of peace," The Avatar bellowed as he stepped forward to crack the ground with a forceful stomp.
Two guards peeked into the chamber, only to be met with the Fire Lord's harsh gaze. As quickly as their heads appeared, they retreated into the darkness.
Focusing her attention upon the Avatar once more, Azula attempted to clarify her position, "Again, Avatar, go take this up with Kuei. I'm simply matching troop movement with troop movement. You need to realize that I'm protecting my citizens. If Kuei is going to move his armies to take back colonies that are filled with my citizens, he should naturally expect resistance. It's your job as Avatar to uphold this balance and peace that you seem to cherish. If you want to do your job, then I'd suggest heading to Yu Dao before any significant casualties come about."
Aang closed his eyes and cycled his breath. He was growing tired of Azula's games.
"When is Iroh getting here?" The young Avatar asked.
Azula covered her mouth and snickered, "There's just so much that you don't seem to know. This was the first of Kuei's little stunts. I guess I simply embarrassed him so much by taking his city from under his nose that he was waiting for the day to challenge me again. He definitely seized the opportunity. I can't blame him really, having a young girl bring down the walls of Ba Sing Se with nothing but her wit and tactical prowess is quite the humiliating blow."
"Azula, what's going on?" Aang asked, slightly unbalanced by Azula's assertion.
Azula sighed, dropping all pretense of playfulness. Her voice hardened and became more forceful as she relayed the information to the Avatar, "It seems as if my fuddy duddy Uncle is confined to house arrest in Ba Sing Se."
"What?" Aang almost shouted.
"Inside voices, Avatar," Azula chastised with a wag of her finger.
Her comment was met with a fierce glare.
Azula rolled her eyes. She was tiring of having to explain every little detail to the Avatar.
"It would seem as if Kuei wanted this Yu Dao situation to be decided between himself and yours truly. Well, at least after he heard that Zuko was out of commission and I was ruling until Iroh arrived."
Aang cried out "King Kuei would never-"
"Seek to reestablish his ability to rule after a lifetime of being an uninformed figure head whose strings were pulled by Long Feng? I do believe you are mistaken, Avatar. This is the perfect opportunity for that fool to save face and regain whatever honor he thinks I stole from him. So, before you come to lecture me, I think you should go speak to Kuei. I'm merely doing what I can to protect my citizens and keep together what my brother attempted to create," Azua cut in.
The forceful winds of his glare seemed only to build the fire behind her eyes.
"Call the Fire Nation military and navy back," Aang demanded plainly.
The young woman tilted her head back and tapped a single finger against her chin. She casually hummed to herself as she began to bob her head from side to side. After a few moments she stopped, and looked down upon the Avatar once more. Her smile grew wide.
"No," Azula stated.
"No?" You just can't say no," Aang argued as he slammed the butt of his staff against the ground.
"No," Azula repeated while her patented smirk remained painted upon her face.
"Azula," The Avatar yelled.
"Avatar," Azula mockingly matched the Avatar's outburst. "You do your job, and I'll do mine. If you are successful, which I have no doubt that you'll be, then it won't come to me doing what I find necessary. Besides, if you had simply allowed my father to burn the Earth Kingdom down to the ground during Sozin's Comet…" Azula paused as she noticed the foul expression corrupting the Avatar's face
"That was a joke," Azula explained.
"I'm not laughing," Aang said.
"Your loss," Azula shrugged. "Now, go be the Avatar and prevent the war from staring up again."
"When I come back," Aang started as he pointed at the young woman.
"This," Azula interrupted, "should all be wrapped up neatly. Especially if you stop dilly dallying and hurry."
He could not bear to look at her any longer. He shut his eyelids tightly and dropped his head to the side. He turned abruptly, and began to exit the throne room.
"This isn't over," he warned in parting.
Azula sighed to herself.
"I know," she whispered.
"You're going to Yu Dao?" Katara asked, grabbing the wrist of the Avatar in an attempt to slow his pace.
"I have to," Aang said as he turned to face the Waterbender, "if I don't the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom will be at one another's throats and the war will restart. Everything we worked for will be destroyed if I don't."
Katara's grasp on Aang's wrist loosened, allowing him to pull away as he traveled towards the palace court yard.
"You can't let her do this," Katara said.
Aang turned to meet her gaze, "I won't, that's why I'm taking you and Toph to Yu Dao to settle this."
The Waterbender halted in her step, causing the monk to slow down.
"What's wrong," he said as he came to a complete stop, "We have to get going."
"What about Azula?" Katara asked, while frowning and folding her arms. "You're not going to just leave her here on the throne, are you?"
The Aang stared at Katara, her gaze was cold and aggressive.
"I'll deal with Azula when I get back , but right now…right now we have a war to prevent," Aang said while slowly walking backwards in an attempt to urge Katara forward.
She remained in her place.
"I'm not leaving," Katara said.
"Katara, now's not the time," Aang pleaded anxiously, arms wide and open.
"I'm not leaving her here with Zuko," Katara stated. "Not in good conscious."
"Please, Katara, I need you," Aang begged. "Besides, Suki along with the rest of the Kyoshi warriors and Sokka will be here. They won't allow anything to happen to Zuko. And Azula wouldn't do anything to hurt him."
Katara laughed.
"Just like she wouldn't do anything as interim Fire Lord that we'd come to regret?" Katara pointed out. "I'm staying, Aang. You, however, should go. The faster you get there the faster you can prevent this from happening."
"You can't be serious," Aang groaned.
Katara sucked her teeth as she placed her hands on her hips.
"Why not?" She asked. "Someone has to stay here and prevent what anyone could see coming."
Aang slowly approached the young woman.
"This is just one of the reasons you need to come with me. Toph and I will need your help and," the Avatar paused, "I don't want you to stay here only to do something that you'll regret."
"Something that I'll regret?" Katara practically yelled.
Aang ceased his advanced, standing a few paces in front of Katara.
"Aang, if there is anything I regret, it's allowing you to give into Zuko's pleas almost a year ago to try and reach Azula. I should have talked you out of it then, and I surely should have forbid it after she burned you," Katara protested. "My biggest regrets so far in life have all been the result of my inaction, not my actions. You won't have to worry about me doing something I'll regret."
Aang gazed into the storm brewing in the Waterbender's deep blue eyes, and against his better conscious, yielded.
"Ok, I'm going, I'll see you when I return," Aang said as he began to slowly back away. "But Katara, please, be careful."
"Don't worry about me. Go out there and do what you have to do in Yu Dao, and be careful while doing it," Katara said with a tight, combative smile.
The doubt within the Avatar's mind formed an aura of darkness around the Waterbender. He desired to speak out, to convince her to join his side for the coming colonial conflict. However, time moved on and the more of it he wasted in the palace, the more likely he would not be able to prevent the reemergence of war.
"Katara, please, be careful," He said as he turned to run towards the courtyard to meet his Earthbending master.
Katara turned on her heel and begin to walk into the flame lit walls of the castle. Her fists tightened with each and every step.
Fire Lord Azula…who comes up with this stuff? Alright everyone, the next chapter will be extremely short. It will be the prelude to one of the most significant events in the story. Read, critique, and review. Thank you for keeping up with this and putting up with me for so long.
