warning: there are some slightly edited dialogue spoilers in this chapter. nothing too obvious, but if you havent seen the boiling rock, be warned. if you have seen the boiling rock, i swere i thought up this idea first!!
Chapter 35: What happened in Omashu
Azula breathed the fresh air of the Fire Nation as she descended the gangplank, pleased to be home. As she stepped regally into a waiting litter, she closed the curtains and allowed a hand to trace two long scars running horizontally across her cheek. Fury entered her gaze as she remembered the unfortunate turn of events in New Ozai.
One week ago...
New Ozai. Strategically, it was a military wonder. Having it under Fire Nation control had proved the turning point in controlling the enormous monstrosity that was Ba Sing Se. Unfortunately, things had changed since she'd last visited.
Azula sat luxuriously in a tent, outside of New Ozai, the governor on his hands and knees before her. Or rather, the ex-govenor.
"Tell me again how you managed to lose this city to earthbender rabble?"
Azula's voice was deceptively calm as she glared at Mai's father, who was not daring to look up from his bowed position. Mai's mother stood beside her daughter, holding Tom Tom tightly, fear obvious in her eyes. Ty Lee stood at Mai's other side, watching the confrontation with large, worried eyes.
"Please, forgive me Princess, I-I can't explain it! They just came from nowhere and King Bumi! I-I don't know how he managed to escape but..." the governor shuddered,"we didn't stand a chance."
Azula sighed theatrically and stood slowly.
"I'm tired." She sighed.
"Perhaps you would like to rest" The Governess began, but was cut off by Azula's fierce glower.
"I'm tired of being surrounded by incompetence!" She snarled. "You're worthless to me and to the Fire Nation."
Azula's hand waved forward violently, sending a stream hot blue flames washing over the governor.
"No!" His wife shrieked as she rushed to her screaming husband, Tom Tom wailing in her arms at the sight and sounds of his father desperately trying to extinguish himself.
None of this was noticed by Azula as she stepped back aghast, wide eyes as two blades narrowly missed her face, instead grazing her cheek.
"That's enough Azula!" Mai shouted over her parent's cries, her normally bored expression filled with rage.
"Mai! What are you doing?" Azula spat, blood already seeping from the slashes on her face. "Don't interfere with my judgment!"
"I said that's enough." Mai repeated defiantly.
"Well you're wrong! I decide whats enough! I decide who lives and who suffers! And if you think otherwise then you haven't learned your place!" Azula barked, her arms moving in a circular motion, her fingers set and ready to fire a bolt of lightning at her former friend while Mai stood her ground and drew another dagger.
It was then that Ty Lee moved, a quick cartwheel and somersault before her hands speedily jabbed into Azula's side, cutting off her chi. Azula fell, gasping in fear, while Mai looked at the gymnast, visibly shocked.
"I...Azula...I..." Ty Lee stuttered, standing over the princess.
"We need to get out of here!" Mai shouted, running forward to grab Ty Lee and turning to her mother and father.
"Guards!" Azula shrieked from where she lay, alerting all in the vicinity to her distress.
Within seconds, Ty Lee, Mai, and Mai's family were captured.
Held up by a pair of guards, Azula glared at her former friends, ignoring the severely burnt governor and his wife as the woman tried to calm Tom Tom down.
"What should we do with them, Princess?" A guard asked respectfully.
"Lock all of them in the prison hold of the ship. I want them all sent to the Boiling Rock once we've returned home. They don't deserve anything less."
Azula clenched her fists furiously, ignored the pain of her sharp nails piercing her palms. Traitors. All of them. Everyone in her life had betrayed her in some way: her mother, her uncle, her brother, and now her friends. Now only her father remained. But even his usefulness and loyalty would reach it's limit. Never again would she allow another betrayal like this.
Azula felt a strange wetness on her cheek and reached up, looking at first with surprise at the tear on her fingers, and then with disgust. She wouldn't let this affect her. It was a weakness she wouldn't let herself feel.
"They'll learn there place. They'll all learn." The firebender muttered to herself.
"We have reached the Palace, Princess Azula."
Azula swept out of the palanquin and stormed through the Palace, making her way to the throne room, where her father would be waiting for her. She entered the impressive room and knelt on her hands and knees, bowing before the figure
shadowed by flames.
"You have returned home, without your brother and uncle." Her father said, and moved down from his seat. Azula stared at the ground as Ozai stood in front of her, looking down at his daughter. "And the Avatar still lives. Perhaps you are as much a failure as your brother."
"I have information about the Avatar, Father." Azula said, struggling to keep her anger down. How dare he compare her to Zuko!
"What have you learned?"
"He's planning to attack the capital on the day of an eclipse. He's bringing an army as well."
Ozai stared at Azula for a moment, then nodded.
"Stand."
Azula obeyed, raising her eyes to her father's face. Ozai's golden eyes immediately found the two scars on the cheek.
"I trust you dealt with whoever did this to you?"
"I did, Father. They're on their way to the Boiling Rock as we speak."
Ozai smirked slightly.
"How merciful of you Azula. But then, they were your friends."
Azula decided not to comment. Of course he'd know, he was the Fire Lord.
"They were never my friends, only pawns to be used."
Ozai said nothing, but there was a knowing look in his face.
"You are dismissed. Welcome home, daughter."
Azula bowed and left the room, seething with anger. How dare he call her a failure! She was a prodigy, the best! She slammed the door of her bedroom, unaware of the wincing servants she'd passed.
Zuko and Aang were in the engine room, keeping the furnace roaring, while Iroh steered the ship. The others were either exploring or resting on the deck with Appa and Momo. Zuko watched his former enemy out of the corner of his eye. Iroh was doubtless a good teacher the boy was manipulating the large flames within the metal casing with ease. He could see a slight sheen of sweat on his forehead, and his short hair was sticking to it. It was so hot they'd both stripped to just their pants ages ago.
"If you need a rest, you can leave." Zuko said quietly.
"I'm alright." Aang said stubbournly. There was a brief silence between them.
"Hey, Zuko?"
"Yeah?"
"Can you use lightning?"
Zuko looked at Aang in surprise.
"No. Not yet. I think I've nearly got it though. I need to talk to Uncle about it. Why?"
"I'm gonna have to learn how to use it, aren't I?" He asked, looking apprehensive.
"You don't have to, but if you truly want to master firebending..." Zuko trailed off at the look of fear now on the younger boys face.
Aang rubbed his neck nervously.
"When...you got your scar, were you afraid to bend afterwards?" Aang asked cautiously.
For a moment, he thought he'd overstepped some sort of boundary when Zuko's face darkened with memory.
"No. I was determined to get better...so I could capture you. I wanted to be better than Azula, and regain my father's love, but...I guess some things can't be won by displays of strength and skill."
Aang's eyes widened as the young man put a hand on his shoulder, his scar shadowed by the flickering flames, making it stand out more, giving it an intimidating air.
"Aang, you need to get past your fears and doubts. If you're not strong enough to face my father before the comet..." Zuko met Aang's eyes, the seriousness in his own sending shivers down the airbender's spine, "there won't be anything left."
Aang looked down, feeling an immense weight on his shoulders. Zuko was right. He needed to sort out his problems, and needed to concentrate on what was important to stopping a war.
"You know, you're better at pep talks than Katara gives you credit for." Aang said hollowly.
Zuko raised his eyebrows and, to Aang's shock, a light blush touched his cheeks.
"She told you about that!" He managed weakly.
"Yeah." Aang laughed. "Toph's going to be asking you to do an Iroh impersonation at dinner."
Zuko groaned heavily, covering his face.
"Last time I try to make her feel better." He muttered.
Aang studied the older boy for a moment, then shrugged.
"Come on, let's take a break. We've been doing this all day and I'm bored."
"Good idea." Zuko said.
The boys grabbed their shirts and made their way up to the deck, to find the other were all up there, sunning themselves on the warm deck.
"Hey, Katara, can you cool us off?" Aang asked as they walked.
Before Zuko could respond, he found himself soaked with seawater. Zuko glared at the waterbender, ignoring the gang's laughter.
"Thanks." He said thinly, shaking his hair like a dog.
Katara blinked as the Fire Nation youth straightened, and steamed the water off his body using firebending. She'd never seen him without his shirt before and he was... impressive. And now he was evaporating the water that had been
dripping down his muscles-
"Are you alright, Katara?"
She jumped to see the object she'd been staring at was much closer than before.
Katara blushed furiously as she looked up into Zuko's concerned face."Um..."
"You look really red. Have you been out in the sun too long?" He asked, pulling his shirt back on.
"Yes!" Katara cried a little too loudly, relieved at the excuse and that he'd put his shirt back on. "I-I'll just go...sit in the shade." She managed, gesturing to the shadow cast by Appa. She went and quickly sat down, burying her face in her hands. What had just happened?! Had she just been...attracted to Zuko?
Author's note: yes katara, you cannot resist wet shirtless zuko! lol, bet you werent expecting this to be done so quickly. unfortunetly i have a bit of writers block with the next chapter, but it will come! i was amazed to see that i actually got reviews for the last chapter...i thought youd have all given up on me lol. so thanks all so much for the patience and R&Rs