Cat and Mouse
Azula watched the servant pour the tea and walk to the end of the table to serve her master. The princess's eyes wandered to the tea in her cup, filling her nose with a sweet aroma of ginger and honey. Her gaze shifted to the wood columns that stood in the corners of the room. Carvings of mythical beasts and scenes from Fire Nation lore sprung to life as they reached up and out, twisting up towards the mural painted ceiling.'Truly the work of a master carpenter.'
She'd seen similar pillars around the palace, taller of course, the most majestic in her father's private study and bedchamber. Only nobility could afford such dignified displays of art and wealth. 'Or royalty.'
Her gaze shifted to the man at the end of the table. His back was straight as he sat crossed-legged, resting his hands on his knees. His face betrayed no emotion. 'A hardened military man. It shows.' She smirked. She'd expected as much from a general in her father's army. Looking towards the door as it opened, her eyes fell on a schoolgirl who bowed low.
"You must be On Ji." Azula motioned towards a seat. "Sit."
On Ji nodded and sat beside her father, hiding her sweaty palms in her lap. She had never met any member of the royal family but she'd heard war stories about the cunning and formidable princess.
Azula stared at the girl, her eyes narrowing. "Your father tells me you were in a less than desirable situation several days ago. Tell me about it."
On Ji's eyes widened, her brows slanting in confusion. 'Why would the princess want to know about something like that? I'm sure she has more important things to worry about than an unsupervised party and students skipping school.' She breathed deep. "I met a boy named Kuzon at school. He said he was from the colonies, so when he got in trouble a lot we weren't surprised."
Azula nodded. "What did this Kuzon look like?"
"He had brown hair." 'Soft brown hair.'
"Did he have any markings? Tattoos?"
On Ji tilted her head to the side in thought, images of her friend coming to mind. "No. I don't think so."
Azula stared at her, entwining her fingers as she leaned on the table. "Nothing?"
On Ji thought back. 'He wouldn't be able to attend school if he did.'
"Maybe he covered it with something?" Azula pressed.
"Um...maybe? I-I never saw him without his headband. He-he said he had a scar, so the teachers allowed him to wear it."
"I see." Azula's eyes glinted at her answer. "Where did he live?"
"I never went to his house...but he was always at a cave on the beach."
"Did he have others with him? Two boys and two girls?"
On Ji gulped, her hands began to shake. "Y-yes, Princess. How did you know?"
"And this Kuzon's pet must have been a large white beast?" Azula grinned as On Ji gripped the edge of the table, her face losing its color.
Azula stood and turned to the general. "Your daughter has unknowingly entertained several criminals and a traitor to the Fire Nation."
On Ji's heart jumped. 'Kuzon is...?' "What?"
Azula looked at the girl with a level gaze. "Do not fear. I understand your ignorance in this matter." She frowned. "However, you cannot stay here. If the Avatar finds out you have betrayed him, he may come for you."
"The Avatar? K-kuzon can't be—"
"There is no Kuzon," Azula said, placing her hand on the girl's shoulder. "Only the boy who deceived you. It's not the first time he's tricked young girls into aiding his crimes." She gave On Ji's shoulder a light squeeze. "Or turned families against each other." She turned to the general. "Your daughter will accompany me. She is a valuable witness and is in danger of being targeted by the Avatar."
The general nodded, his gaze shifting to On Ji. "Yes, Princess Azula."
"Good." Azula snapped her fingers; the sliding door behind them opened to show a smiling Ty Lee. "This is my friend, Ty Lee. She will help you prepare your things." The princess glanced between father and daughter. "I will allow you a few moments before leaving." She motioned for Ty Lee to follow her out the door.
On Ji watched them leave, her hands still shaking as she stared at her father. Her lips quivered as he stood and walked to her, his gaze softening.
He opened his arms and embraced her. Patting her head, he whispered, "You are the daughter of a general. Such weeping is unfit for you." He held her at arm's length. "Do not make the princess wait." Kissing her forehead, he pushed her towards the door and met her eyes one last time before the door closed. "And do not make her angry."
The ship glided across the sea as the sun set before them, painting the clouds orange and purple. A breeze blew over the ship, bringing sea foam which sprayed On Ji's face as she closed her eyes.
She held her breath and leaned against the railing, staring at the village where her loved ones remained. The moment she'd stepped on the iron bridge, she'd felt as if she'd been thrown into a cage. Everything she had ever known had been erased. 'I miss my home. I miss my mother and father.' Her eyes watered.
Hearing footsteps behind her, she wiped her eyes and turned around.
"If you're feeling lonely, Azula says you can share my room. It's really big!" Ty Lee smiled, eyes wide with anticipation. "It's going to be fun with another girl on this boring ship. Azula is always so busy so I never get to see her."
On Ji smiled. "I'd like that."
Ty Lee nodded and stood beside her, resting against the railing. "Don't worry about your family. It's safer for you to be with us."
"I know." On Ji brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, turning back to the sea. She jumped as someone touched her head.
"I'm sorry!" Ty Lee said, pulling her hand back. "I didn't mean to scare you."
"That's okay! I didn't expect you to do that." On Ji said. She glanced at the ocean as Ty Lee continued to stare at her.
"You've got brown hair like me. There aren't many Fire Nation natives who have hair like ours."
"Yeah." On Ji frowned, thinking of her village. "I used to get teased about it." 'The villagers used to say bad things about mother, too. Because of my brown hair and brown eyes.'
"Well, no one will tease you now," Ty Lee said, grinning. "You're traveling with the Fire Nation Princess!"
"Yes, I guess you're right." On Ji sighed, staring across the ocean as the last bits of sunlight began to wane. She remembered watching the sunset with Kuzon the night before the party. 'He always had the funniest stories to tell.' Her gaze dropped to the deck as tears filled her eyes. Were those stories even true? Is Kuzon really the Avatar?
"Hey, don't cry. Everything is going to be alright." Ty Lee wrapped an arm around On Ji's shoulder.
Tears rolled down On Ji's cheeks as she let Ty Lee hold her. Was Kuzon really who Princess Azula said he was? 'Is the Avatar...really a terrible person?'
"What did you say?" Ty Lee asked. "I didn't hear you."
On Ji sucked in air. 'I said that out loud?' She wiped her eyes, and tried to stop her voice from shaking. "Is the Avatar really a bad person?"
Ty Lee frowned, tilting her head to the side. "He's kinda' nice actually. He's not really all that mean...but he's the enemy of the Fire Nation."
"Why?"
Ty Lee stepped back. "He's in Fire Lord Ozai's way of sharing the prosperity of the Fire Nation to the rest of the world."
On Ji frowned, unsatisfied with Ty Lee's response. It had been the same thing she heard day after day in school. 'Kuzon...Aang was never mean to me. He didn't hurt anyone. Why does the Fire Nation want to capture him?' She had learned about the Avatars in school. How each one rebelled against the previous Fire Lords and encouraged the other nations to rebel as well. They had even told her the Avatar's sole purpose was to eradicate the Fire Nation. Surely, Aang was different? 'He never tried any of those things. He's nothing like they said he was.' Her gaze dropped to the deck. "I don't understand. What has he done wrong?"
Ty Lee cleared her throat. "I think it's time to go to the cabin. It's getting dark," she said, forcing a smile.
"There you two are."
The girls turned to see Azula behind them, arms crossed, tapping her foot against the deck. "Ty Lee, I've been looking everywhere for you."
"Sorry Azula."
"That's all right." Azula turned to On Ji, the corners of her lips turned up. "You look home-sick. Do you wish you were home?"
On Ji shook her head. "It is an honor to travel with the Princess."
Azula grinned. "If only the circumstances weren't so glum. Well," she said, motioning towards the access doors. "Dinner is almost ready. Why don't we retire for the night?"
On Ji nodded. She followed behind Azula and Ty Lee, listening to the pink-clad girl tell the princess about her new acrobatic achievements as they reached the access door. Ty Lee's previous words played around in her thoughts. 'He's kinda nice actually.' If Kuzon...Aang, she had been told his real name was so nice, why did the Fire Nation want to get rid of him? What had he done wrong? 'Who is the Avatar?'
Ty Lee knocked on the door, standing on her tiptoes to look through the peephole. She heard rustling, then the sound of a chair being pushed against the floor.
"Who is it?"
"It's me, Ty Lee. Can I come in?"
"Oh. Yes."
Ty Lee opened the door, her gaze drawn towards the fire in the hearth. 'It's warmer than usual. She must be thinking about something.' "You always have a fire going."
"I like fire," Azula said, smirking. She motioned to an empty chair. "Sit down."
Ty Lee sat next to the princess, folding her hands neatly as she stared at her friend. "Azula...are you okay?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you seem upset about something. Is everything alright?"
Azula crossed her legs, and entwining her fingers together, rested her chin on her hands. She stared into the fire. No. Nothing was right. She should have caught the Avatar by now. 'And that traitor brother of mine. Nothing I do matters if I can't capture the little brat...and kill Zuko.' "The Avatar keeps evading my grasp. He's a slippery snake. Father has expressed...his displeasure with my failure."
Ty Lee frowned. She'd never seen Azula this...unsure. Fire Lord Ozai must really be disappointed with her. She felt sorry for her. She breathed in and out. "You'll catch him. You're much stronger than he is, and smarter too." She hugged her knees to her chest. "We've got a good lead and we should reach the coast by tomorrow. Then we'll follow him on foot, right?"
"Yes, that's the plan." Azula's eyes narrowed, her lips turned down in sneer. "Father has sent me a message to stop in Shu Jing."
"Why?"
"To visit an old friend." 'A traitor.'
Thank you all for reading the next chapter of, "The Weight of Hope,". I hope you all are enjoying this story as much as I am enjoying writing it! Please don't forget to leave a review (I love those!) favorite or follow. Thank you all, and Happy Valentine's Day!
Painterofemotions
