19 chapters in, I think that's my record for the longest I've gone in a fic without having a boring transitional chapter. But alas, I present to you, boring transitional chapter that isn't as fun as the next one will be. :v
SOKKLAFIL: Azula just has a lot of hard choices to make. Like this poor baby has a lot to handle. But this time around a crisis was averted. And yeah, it was something that she needed to get off of her chest and will help her in the long run. Just to say it out loud and know that she can have someone to talk to if need be. "I could draw parallels between the ghost story and the fact that Azula will become a beacon that will allow Sokka to return home..." Draw all the parallels! Right or wrong, I love reading them!
Gems: You're welcome, it's always so wonderful to hear that they are appreciated. I think that it's great that your mornings are made happier by new chapters and mine by nice reviews! "And wow what an intense chapter. I have felt the tension in every line." Indeed lol, that one was a more fast paced, action driven one. "I love the ghost story very much and it is amazing" thank you! I enjoy me a good ghost story. Though I think that I'm still going to change the genre because supernatural is no longer a central theme lol. "And the storm was as hard and dangerous as I expected. I had such a tight grip at my tablet during reading." :D Glad to know that it was a tense and riveting moment. "I love how Azula still decides who to catch beside all the raw shock and the flashback of old memories." Azula's a fighter. I can't see her being the type to freeze up in battle; I think that the panic would set in after the fact. "I love how Ozai proves them all that including himself that he can be there for them." And yes, this was an important moment for him. It kind of helped with self-confidence and with mending relationships and trust. "And finally Azula dares to speak about the loss of her mother and the decision she had to made." This was also important as a heavy burden has been lifted from her. "Such a strong written moment." And thanks again, it was a really fun scene to write, he knows his daughter and how to get through to her. "And the way you're throwing in the vision of Sokka's ship is perfect. I love the way you're dealing with this supernatural element so much cause you're leaving it open if there is really a ghost ship or if the sight of the sails and the ship is just caused by the panic and stress." Thanks again! That's why I chose that moment lol. But as I said, I still think that I should probably change the genre lol. I think that family might work better than supernatural. And thanks once again! You have a wonderful week.
Azula winces, what a wonderful thing it is to wake up to such intense throbbing. It is expected but unpleasant all the same. Mostly her arm aches but her legs and abs aren't feeling much better. She doesn't need to look to know that her body is covered in a decent helping of bruises, some of which are quite notably large. She rolls over on the mattress several times over and resigns herself to that she won't be getting comfortable no matter which way she positions and angles her body. The comfiest position has her weight pushing against a particularly large knot on her hip. She punches herself up and utters a soft irritated groan.
At first she thinks that it is a miracle that she had slept at all that night, but it is rather clear that sheer exhaustion had knocked her out completely.
"I can get you some ice." Katara mumbles as she rubs the sleep from her eyes.
Azula nods. "Ice might work." She hopes that it will provide her with at least some relief.
She finds herself musing about what might have happened to her if she had successfully managed to get her boat on the waters before her father could catch her. What might have happened, had she tried this journey alone.
Having left around a month earlier, she wouldn't have run into that storm. But surely she would have had to deal with another.
She might not have made it. But then, she wouldn't have had to worry over Katara and Zuko. She thinks of the snapped sail, about the unfurling of the storm sails. A sea storm is a task for many not for a solo adventurer.
She wouldn't have made it.
She thinks of Sokka, a solo adventurer.
Azula tries to still her thoughts, she is going to spiral...
Katara comes back with the ice before she can. In the other girl's hand is one of the small painkillers that had been prescribed to her at the hospital. Azula takes the pill from Katara and drinks it down.
"Here, let me." Katara offers.
Azula turns her more aching shoulder to Katara and allows the girl to hold the ice pack to it. She sighs, "I feel like this is my fault. If I would have just stayed below deck…"
Azula cuts her off, "it isn't your fault." She has come to decide long ago that it never really is. She has come to decide long ago, that storms are to be feared. And yet she can't ever truly shake away the intrigue. She isn't sure what exactly it is, but something pulls her to them. She thinks that in some twisted way, it makes her feel closer to her mother.
"I still feel bad." Katara sighs.
Azula shrugs, wincing in an instant.
"Don't do that!" Katara scolds.
Azula gives her own sigh, she hadn't realized just how much she shrugs until she had gone and mess her shoulder up. "I wanted to go out to sea." She says after the pain passes and she can ungrit her teeth.
Katara gives a soft smile. "Regret it yet?"
Azula thinks for a moment. The first thing that comes to her mind is a sunset with dolphins and poorly cooked shrimp. The second is the feeling of cat fur on her calf and the horrid taste of pineapple seafood on her tongue.
She finds that, even in conjuring, in her mind, the events of the storm that she most vividly latches onto her father's tight embrace after it had come to pass. That fierce feeling of protectiveness and of being protected. There had been a closeness, one that hadn't been there in such a long time.
She thinks of the satisfying splash of her father's final liquor bottle hitting the ocean water as it finally claims something from her that she hadn't wanted in the first place.
"I don't."
Katara rolls her eyes, "of course not, that was probably fun for you."
"Hmm." Azula ponders again. It might have been had she not been so completely horrified. "It was...exciting, that's for sure."
"Exciting in a good way?"
She shakes her head. "Not this time."
"Let's go up on deck, Zuko said that your dad spotted land."
"Land sounds wonderful." She pauses. "Inhabited or uninhabited?"
Katara shrugs.
.oOo.
The island is lush and teeming with various flora and fauna. A fragrance of hibiscus, pineapple, and coconut wafts in the air weaving through tall grasses, jasmine, and bromeliads with the hues and brightness of a sunset.
A short distance from the island, Ozai has convinced Zuzu to go for some father-son time. Much to her brother's dismay, Ozai's choice activity is fishing. Zuzu always did hate fishing, he'd never had the patience for it.
"I wish I'd have remembered my camera." Katara remarks.
"That's what phones are for." Jet points out.
"Not if you want a high resolution photograph." Azula shrugs and flinches.
"You have got to stop doing that." Jet chuckles.
The girl frowns and massages her shoulder. "I caught something!" She hears Zuko shout. She hopes that this means that they will be heading into town soon. Granted town is a cluster of private homes and a few recreational facilities. It is a small and hidden pocket of the world. Which, according to the locals, probably wouldn't be known at all if not for them making trips to buy food.
For the time being, Azula stretches herself out on a beach towel and lets the sun warm her back.
"Sunscreen?" Katara offers.
"That's probably a good idea." Azula holds her hand out. "Jet?"
The boy rubs sunscreen upon her back, arms, and legs, taking the care to avoid any cuts and scrapes. Goodness, it looks like she has just emerged from a terrible fight, she hopes that the locals won't take all of these bruises the wrong way. She isn't sure if it paints a better picture or a worse one with Katara's back decently banged up as well. She is fairly certain that Zuko's hand are raw and cut from having the sail so forcefully torn from them. Her father has a rather sizable knot on his own shoulder, she isn't sure exactly what it is from.
Ultimately, she decides that people will probably not that they are sea travelers and that there had been a storm and put two and two together.
"It's kind of nice to have a break from ocean water." Katara remarks.
"Those two are crazy for not taking advantage of it." Jet comments with a head nod towards Zuko and Ozai.
"They'll come to shore soon." Azula shrugs.
.oOo.
"We're due for another spat of bad weather." Ozai informs.
"When?" Zuko asks.
"Two nights from now, they predict." he replies. "So I have found us a place to stay. There is a small motel on this island, we will stay there until the storm passes, I don't have the funds to repair our boat after another beating like the first one."
"That's probably a good call." Katara agrees.
"I guess that I can use a longer break." Azula nods.
He is thankful that the decision is unanimous. Truth be told he frets over the prospect of losing Azula to a storm. He had come so close. Had his hand slipped he would have lost his own daughter and then would have had to explain to Hakoda and Kya how he'd lost theirs too.
Truth be told, he is afraid of a lot of things at sea.
Truth be told he isn't thrilled about this journey.
It has its perks and he would be lying if he said that he doesn't have any happy memories from it. But it has its risks. Too many of them for him to be wholly comfortable. All the same, he would rather be there than have her run off alone.
The clouds roll in near sunset, he watches them from the balcony. Wispy and grey with rain, they carry with them a chillier gust. They don't have the thick and bloated darkness of a more powerful storm. They are merely a grey washed warning of what the next several days will bring.
Weak as these clouds may be, he can't help but feel a sense of foreboding. It swells in his stomach as a light tingle, an itch that something will go amiss. At the very least, that something significant will happen. Khozen has always called that the sailor's instinct.
Ozai inhales deeply, they are far inland in a sturdy motel, so long as they keep their boat docked, they will be fine.
He puts his head against the pillows. However plush they are, he doesn't get much sleep from them. The first pitter patters of rain come down. He hears the drops upon the window. The sound of rain carries into his dreams. Dreams wherein it comes down like a liquid wall and lightning forks above waves as tall as buildings. His hand is wrapped around Azula's and then it isn't.
Azula's hand slides out of his and he watches her fragile body get swallowed by the waves.
He shouldn't be able to hear her over the roar of the waves and the fury of the gales, shouldn't be able to hear her through the water filling her lungs. But he does, clear as day. She asks him how he could let her fall, how he could leave her to drown.
Her voice interweaves with Ursa's and, against all logic, his wife's face flickers onto and off of Azula's.
He wakes with a chill, the rain is falling harder.
In the bed over, Azula stirs.
He takes a deep breath and tries to go back to sleep.