There shall be no smiting with fish (though you were probably looking forward to it) for I have the chapter up when I promised. Pretty much, I'm sick of reading about American History and getting mad at my country for some the stupid things it's done (I have a serious problem with manifest destiny… and you wonder why the world thinks we're arrogant bastards), but anyway enough of my ranting, there's a chapter for you to read and enjoy. By they way, I'm thinking that the story will end next chapter and then I'll get on to the epilogue, which could turn out to be enormously huge depending on how many loose ends I have to tie up. But that's the plan, so enjoy the chapter and do review when you're done.
VI. "Choose my father or you?" Azula asked him weakly—and she hated sounding weak.
"You can't have us both, Azula," Jet said calmly. "If you want daddy, you'll have to leave me here to die. I can't turn my back on everything I've fought for. I'd give my life for it."
Azula's stomach fluttered slightly. There was that power he radiated again, what had originally seduced her. "What would you have me do?"
"Damn it! I want you to make your own choices for once! What do you want?"
Azula swallowed. "I want power. I want to serve my Nation. I want you."
"And how can you do those things?" Jet prompted.
"Power… I have power already. You… I need to make things better again. But my Nation? How do I serve my Nation?" she asked.
"Ending the war is the only solution I can think of," Jet said quietly. "And if you let me, I will help you."
"So serving my Nation means destroying my father," Azula mused.
"If you can do it."
"How would ending the war help them?"
"Saving lives. Imagine the prosperity if there was peace among all the Nations," Jet said.
Azula pulled a ring of keys from her pocket. "Hold out your arms," she said to Jet.
He held out his manacled appendages. It took longer fro Azula to find the right key than it did to unlock his chains. The metal fell to the floor and Jet rubbed his wrists.
Azula looked at Jet. "Will you… will you hold me?" she asked.
Jet obliged her, pulling the think girl close against him. Azula rested her head comfortably on his chest. Jet was warm despite the chill of the prison cells and Azula felt enveloped by his warmth.
Agni knew how much time elapsed until they separated, but they did at last. Azula handed the keys to Jet. "Let the others out. I am stronger than you. I can fight whoever tries to stop us."
"Well, I've been in a cell the past few days, of course you're stronger," Jet muttered.
"What, are we starting the classic argument already?" Azula asked.
"True. We've barely made up," Jet said smirking. Agni how Azula loved that smirk. She found herself grinning back at him.
Then came the big step. Azula had to leave the cell. She had to turn the door knob and enter the world as a traitor to her father. Azula hesitated only briefly. She knew the terrible things he did to her people now and how he hurt her Nation. She was okay with betraying him. He was just using her anyway. She meant nothing to him.
Even so, her palms were sweating as she gripped the handle. Nothing happened just yet as she entered the hallway. Azula blinked in the dim prison light. It had actually been brighter in Jet's cell. The guards stationed at the end of the hallway didn't move, at least not until they saw that Jet's arms were unchained.
"Princess, he's free!" one of the guards shouted, pointing over her shoulder.
The strange look on Azula's face confused him. "I know," she replied. "Lay down your weapons."
"W-what?"
"Lay down your weapons," she repeated.
"B-but—"
"Do not question me!" A threatening flame engulfed her hand.
The guards did no abandon their swords and spears. They sensed something strange in the whole circumstance as if something was not quite right with their fearless leader. But what could that something be. "He's a prisoner," one shouted. "What in Agni's name is going on?"
Azula's patience—patience she had very little of to start with—had run out. She attacked them. And as she fought savagely against her own men, Jet found and freed both his friends and the Council of Five. They watched her fight with grace and agility, not a hair out of place.
"What happened?" Longshot asked Jet.
"She decided to do what she wanted," he replied.
"Well, I still don't like it," Ju Lin said.
VII. Zuko and Katara were on the first ferry that left the port that day. Still, they would be spending a night on the swaying ship. Katara had left instructions for the army that followed on the next ferry to meet at the zoo Aang had created many months ago. It would be far too conspicuous and dangerous to meet in the train station.
Katara found them a nice corner of the ship to lay out their bedrolls for the night. "Over here, Carru," she called to Zuko.
He smiled faintly and sat down beside her. Crew men were walking up and down the decks, handing out food rations to the various passengers. Zuko looked down to see it was not the same slop he'd been served the last time he'd been on a ferry. "Oh good, no stealing tonight," he muttered. Katara did not hear him.
Pretty soon the sun was setting and the refugees were beginning to roll themselves up in blankets and close their eyes in a somewhat vain attempt to sleep. "We should try to get some rest," Katara said softly, considering the dozing passengers around them.
Zuko nodded and began to roll their blankets out on the deck. Katara snuggled herself up closer to him. Their lips met in a brief, chaste kiss and they closed their eyes to try sleep.
Zuko woke up again much later at night. He was sure it was around midnight as far as he could tell by the position of the moon. As his eyes flickered open, he tried to figure out exactly what had woken him up. He glanced around and saw the lumbering figure of a clearly inebriated man. He giggled as he stumbled around.
The drunk seemed to notice Zuko's attention for he looked around and stared at him. "Pretty woman you got," he slurred.
Zuko's arm tightened around Katara but he did not reply, hoping that the drunk would simply go away.
But he didn't. "Whatser name?"
"You should leave," Zuko told him.
"'Sfunny name," the drunk said. "But I don' mind. No sah, I don' judge. She pretty."
"She's my wife. Move along." The words didn't even seem all that strange as Zuko said them.
"Say how 'bout wes fight, yes? For the lady."
"No, I don't think so," Zuko said. He gently released Katara. Moving swiftly, he rose to his feet and took hold of the drunk's collar.
Even with all his care not to disturb her, Katara woke up. "Z—I mean—Carru, what are you doing?" she asked sleepily.
"This scum disrespected you," Zuko growled.
"Oh, let him go," Katara said. "He's drunk."
The drunk who was very much afraid nodded vigorously. "Yes, I drunk. Won't remember anythings."
Zuko released him with utmost reluctance. "You're lucky," he muttered.
VIII. Azula breathed deeply, only slightly winded from her mini-fight with the entire force of prison guards. The squad was unconscious on the floor, some sporting what look to be painful lacerations. Not a single one of them had thought to run for help, a fatal flaw called arrogance that seemed to lurk in a large number of the Fire Nation populace.
She turned to face the small crowd of prisoners watching her, Jet standing at the front. "Ta da," she said blandly.
Jet smirked a bit. "To the throne room then?" he said.
"Yes, I think so," Azula said and turned to lead them out of the prison.
"Princess Azula?" a familiar voice called out.
Azula paused in mid-turn. Her eyes closed briefly before she opened them again and faced the newcomer. "Hell, Falc," she said pleasantly.
"What's going on here?"
"The end of my father's plans, Falc, the end of my father's plans."
"Sweet Agni, what the hell?"
Azula sighed at the tedium of explaining herself. She hated to be questioned. "I have freed the rebels here and the Council of Five. I'm giving the city back to the Earth Kingdom. Then I'll probably go home and help the Avatar kick my father's sorry ass," she said nonchalantly.
"What the hell?" Falc repeated. "Why?"
"Because my father is the spawn of demons. Oh and I'm kind of in love with Jet," she said, growing rather impatient.
"In l-love?"
"Funny how you react to that but not the insults to your Fire Lord. Strange little soldier you are. But that's beside the point. Are you going to get in my way, Falc?"
Falc was paralyzed.
"I don't have time for this," Azula said. She brushed past him, the former prisoners following closely behind her.
"Wait," Falc said hoarsely, regaining control of his body. "I have to stop you. For Lord Ozai."
"Fire Lord Ozai," she corrected. "Honestly, you think his reign will last forever?" She narrowed her eyes. "Keep going, Jet. I'll catch up."
"Princess, you of all people know that this city is crawling with the Fire Lord's soldiers. You can't possibly survive this," Falc reasoned.
"You're wrong. They're my soldiers. And hopefully some will begin to see sense and obey me. Before that happens again," she added gesturing to the twenty or so unconscious bodies arranged tastefully on the floor.
"But I should fight you," Falc said uncertainly. Falc had been one of Azula's sparring partners for several years and he knew for a fact that his abilities were no match for hers.
"We all should do a lot of things," Azula said. "I should obey my father, but I won't. Falc, you have always been loyal to me and one of my trusted advisors if not a friend. I hope that does not have to come to an end."
"I don't know," Falc said.
Azula felt a strange sense of déjà vu. The occasion was so similar to when she was trying to persuade Zuko in the crystal catacombs. She had come a long way. "I'll leave you to decide, Falc. Remember what I have said. I must catch up with Jet."
She knew referring to Jet would sting Falc's ego, but it could not be helped.
IX. Aang and the others had led their portion of the army half of the way across the pass by the time the sun was setting. Most of the soldiers had their tents set when the first few stars blinked into existence above them. Their day had been an uneventful one full of solemn marching and little excitement. Small crowds gathered around their fires, some bringing out a die or two for a game of chance and others a stack of cards.
Toph had finally stopped yelling at Sokka for some idiotic blunder of his when she noticed that Aang had disappeared somewhere. She extended her senses, searching for his familiar presence among the massive vibrations in the pass. It took her a few moments but she finally located the airbender behind a clever outcropping of rock on the edge of the pass.
She made a beeline for the outcrop but paused when she heard someone singing. She realized after a few seconds that it was Aang whose voice she listened to. She had never heard him sing before:
It's a long, long way,
To Ba Sing Se,
But the girls in the city,
They look so pretty,
And they kiss so sweet,
That you really want to meet,
The girls from Ba Sing Se.
Toph smirked ridiculously. "But what's a girl from Ba Sing Se to a kickass earthbender from Gaoling?" she asked.
Aang jumped and flushed a bit. "There's no comparison," he agreed. "Iroh taught me the song."
"It sounds like a drinking song," Toph said. Knowing Iroh it probably was.
"It does."
"Do you do anything but agree with me. I know I'm fabulously brilliant and all…"
Aang laughed. "Yes, that's why I like you so much, Toph." He grinned. "And you're kickass."
"Got that right, sissy."
"Hey!"
Toph silenced his protest with a quick peck on the cheek. "Come back to the real world when you're done singing to yourself, Twinkle Toes."
X. Azula encountered no one, save a few unconscious bodies, on her way to the throne room. It was strange to be opening the doors herself when she was so used to having them opened for her. She headed straight for the large generals who composed Ba Sing Se's famous Council of Five.
She inclined her head in respect. "I am Princess Azula of the Fire Nation. We haven't exactly been on pleasant terms, for which I sincerely apologize. I'm hoping this will be the beginning of an alliance. I hand over the city to you and I offer my assistance in removing the hostile Fire Nation presence here."
"We appreciate this," one of the bearded generals said. "You are a fantastic ally to have in this war. I think we must begin by discovering who amongst your soldiers will aid our cause."
"I agree, General," she said. "There are many of them unconscious right now. Where would you like them kept until the palace is secure and they can be moved to the infirmary?"
"Here, I think," a mustached general said. It seemed that most of the notable Earth Kingdom military leaders had some sort of facial hair. "Would you like to stay here and guard them?"
Azula nodded. "If you need my help, come get me."
"Of course," the first general said.
"I'd like to stay here too," Jet said.
The general nodded. "Everyone else, come with us. We'll split up into teams and cover the palace." The general paused a moment. "We'll carry the unconscious ones back for you," he said to Azula.
"Good."
Azula and Jet were alone again. "You did it," he said.
"The city isn't secure yet. Most of the troops aren't in the palace. We can hold this easy, but the rest of the city? I don't know how—"
Azula was interrupted as Jet took hold of her and kissed her deeply. Azula's knees went weak and she was nearly hanging onto Jet for support. "You worry too much," he whispered to her.
Azula felt her lips curl into a grin as she leaned in to kiss him again. "You know, I never believed in love before," she said.
"No?"
"No."
"Hmm…"
They pulled away very reluctantly as the doors opened. They weren't expecting it to be Falc, nor were they expecting him to carrying one of the other unconscious soldiers.
He bowed to Azula. "I met the generals in the hall. I managed to talk some of our other soldiers into helping out, Princess."
"That's fantastic, Falc. You don't have to keep calling me 'Princess.' You can call me Azula if you'd like."
"Yes, Azula."
"Excellent. Oh damn!" she shouted.
"What?" Jet asked alarmedly.
"Kahn! Governor Kahn! He's coming tonight," Azula said, her eyes going wide.
Falc and Jet stared at this girl who never lost her cool, ever, and was now most clearly freaking out.
"Oh, damn it!"
"Azula!" Jet shouted, grabbing her shoulders. "Calm down. Remember who you are!"
Azula's jaw dropped before she regained her composure. "You're right. I kick ass and take names."
Jet grinned. "As soon as the palace is secure, we'll go to the wall and make sure he doesn't get in."
Azula nodded, then turned to Falc. "Well, get back to work. We've got a palace to secure."
"Yes, Azula."
OK, first off and apology for my horrific over-kill of the phrase "kick-ass" in this chapter. I don't know what the hell was wrong with me. Other than that, I'm quite proud of this chapter and I hoped you liked it. So let me know with a review please, because the story is almost over.