A/N: I planned on this chapter in longer but then like it's 1053 and I wanted to post it before I went to sleep so I'm like you know what yeah. Anyway I hope you guys enjoy and as always please review.
BOOM ONE: FIRE
CHAPTER EIGHT: BOOBS (I couldn't find a title, so my step sis helped me)
The ship rocked back and forth with the waves, lulling Azula to sleep. She used to hate their time at seas, but she had grown to enjoy it. Truthfully, she didn't want it to end. Perhaps it was the fact that she feared having to return to the caldera. Because, the meant retuning to her father empty handedly. Not only that, it meant she needed to fufil her destiny. Though, she wasn't sure what that meant.
She had spent her time on ship alone. She locked herself in her compartment and did nothing but train. Infact, she barely got any sleep. Worry kept her up late at night. She decided worrying was a waist of time, and a better use was perfecting the technique hamma had tought her.
Throughout her journey she practiced bending her own blood. She began to use it as water. She learned how to cool it, and how to heat it up. However, whenever she tried this on someone else, it wouldn't have the desired affect.
It was lunch time and Azula had been working, training, nonstop the whole day. She decided it was ready to put her technique to use. She called a servant to take her food, and the instant they walking through the door she set to work.
She decided that blood bending was just bending water she couldn't see, right? So, she had focused on the water in the mans body. Closed her eyes and clenching her fist she sent a wave of cold his way, attempting to freeze the water in his veins. However, instead of doing this, the man simply gave a shiver, before asking her if she wanted the heat to be turned up.
She spent time contemplating why this didn't work. She could freeze her blood when she couldn't see it, why not this mans. Why was it so difficult to control. It was just water.
It took her awhile but she eventually realized her mistake. His blood wasn't just water, it was under his control. It was like trying to bend fire in someone elses grip, that someone else created. It wasn't hers to control. The instant she began cooling his blood, his body would heat it up. When she tried to bloodbend, his body resisted. It was natural. It all came down to will. That's why it could only be done on a full moon, she realized. A waterbenders power, will, was heightened then.
After coming to this conclusion she gave up. This wasn't something Azula did often, nor was it something she took lightly. Azula was persistent if nothing else. But, she also recongnized defeat, as any good princess would. And, she was temporarily defeated. The next full moon was the night after they would dock, and she would get no time to practice then.
She wondered what would happen when she returned home, but she tried not to dwell on it. Instead, she focused on the waves as they lapped against the ship. She focused on the soft pillow under her head. She was grateful for it, after sleeping on sand or cots it was refreshing. She focused on the silk sheets that lay apon her skin, stroking her gently. Slowly Azula fell into a deep sleep.
That night her dreams were filled with pain. Nothing but pain. All the pain was being experienced at her or her nations hands. It was asif to remind her just how cruel they were. It was a warning, a warning not to fail. She dreamt of Zuko, seeing her father brun his face. She saw Irohs son, Lu Lu as she called him. She saw him dying in a war he knew nothing about. She saw soldiers dying, both her people and those of other tribes. In one particular dream she saw the fall of the air temples.
It started out peacefully, the nomads playing a game of something she learned to be airball. Then, the sky turned red. The people marveled, though the knew this was coming. They called it Suzas comet, and watched as the dragon flew through the sky. They didn't see it coming. They were ambushed. Fire Nation soldiers rode on dragons, and burnt everything in their paths. She saw children fall trying to defend their home. The adults motioned for them to run, but they didn't. No, they needed to defend their home. It was a slaughter. Man, woman and child wo=ere killed mercilessly. A woman, pregnant with child, was executed on the spot. And the worst part, the soldiers knew what they were doing. It was not blindly following orders like some of the scenes Azula had seen. No, they enjoyed this. They enjoyed the screams of the dying. This was not the most disturbing dream Azula had however. No, that one had to be with her mother.
Azula was seeing herself from the third person. She was around 9, and sleeping soundly in bed. That's when her mother came in. she came in silently, as not to disturb the sleeping child. She walked over to Azula, and brushed her lips over her cheek. After kissing her she stroked the burns on her back gingerly. She could see the pain in her mothers eyes as she looked at the wounds her father had inflicted on her child. And as she spoke, her voice was filled with that pain.
"I'm so sorry Azula, I failed you. I'm sorry I must leave, it's the only way you will be safe. They can not know. I promise you Azula, I will return to you." with that she left. Her hood covered her face as she escaped the Caldra.
Azula was left in darkness, confused by what she had just seen. Had her mothern known? But, why had she left? She promised to come back but never did. Azula began to sob, allowing the tears to be swallowed by the surrounding darkness.
This is how she awoke, tears streaming down her face. The first thing she noticed was the sun, already high it the sky. The next thing she noticed was the knocking.
"Princess," the man at the door sad. "We are docking, Admiral Zhao humbly requests your appearance.
"Give me ten minutes," she said in her menacing voice. She sounded perfectly composed, asif she had been up for hours. However, she wanted to scream. She had slept in. because she had demanded that no one enter her corders and stated she didn't need help getting ready, she would be late.
She bolted out of bed and ran to the bathroom. She took the brush and undid her tangled hair. The raven streaks fell down to her mid back. What to do about that, she panicked. She didn't have her pin, and without it her topknot would seem bare. She ran her hands through her hair. She could leave it down, but her people may not recognize her. She shook her head, she would have to.
She quickly dressed in her armor, making sure everything was perfect. This was her return home, she needed to be presentable. She decided her hair looked good down, and smiled at her reflection.
In a split second she analyzed her flaws. Her skin was too dark, her lips were not full enough. The armor was too big, and she looked as if she had lost a few pounds. Biting her lip she decided it would do. Putting her cuffs on to cover the scars on her wrists, she made her way to the top of the ship.
Once she was there she instantly saw him. Zhao stood looking over the outskirts of the capital city. She joined him silently. He nodded toward her. It should have upset her, him not showing her the respect she was due, but it didn't. She actually appreciated it.
"So princess, are you ready to go home?" he asked her, still staring at the port.
"Yes," Azula lied.
The carriage ride to the inner caldera seemed to take forever. Azula's worries took this time to fester. She was glad she was alone, because she didn't feel the need to be around everyone. The carriage stopped, and the door was opened for her. A man stood there, holding his hand out to her. She recognized where she was. She was at the outside of the inner city. She could see the volcanic walls surrounding them, closing her in. she should have felt relieved, but instead she felt trapped.
She was offered a ride in her palanquin, and accepted. Gra\eatfully. This way of travel was much slower, but it was tradition for royals to go this way. She felt the pace decrease and began to think they were here. However, no one ushered her out. She became worried as she heard admiral Zhao yelling at someone to move out of the way. Were they in trouble?
She quickly jumped out of her palanquin, losing patience. There were crowds gathered around them, and everyone gasped at her. It could have been her appearance, or the fact that she was not hiding behind the curtains. She remembered how these people reacted. They worshipped royals like gods. Either way, she ignored it.
"What's the hold up," she demanded admiral Zhao. she walked up to him, and was surprised to find he was arguing with a mother. The woman was stout and seemed fearful. Azula knit her eyebrows together upon seeing the child she was protecting. "What's the meaning of this," Azula snapped at Zhao.
"I'm so sorry your highness," the woman spoke fearfully. As she did so the child appeared out from behind her, eyes gleaming with interest. She looked as if she had seen agni herself. Her eyes were so innocent and curious. When she looked at Azula it was like she was staring at a god. "My daughter doesn't understand, she wanted to meet you. She ran in the way." she stammered, holding the girl close. The girl was holding what seemed to be a doll, it's jet black hair in a topknot.
"What's that?" Azula asked sweetly, desperately trying to ease the fear in the women. Instead, she seemed to tense more.
"It's you," the voice of the small child said excitedly. Azula could see it now, the resemblance was uncanny. The way it was blobbily shaped. She had to remind herself not to roll her eyes.
"Is that so," she said kneeling down to be on level with the girl.
"Yeah," the little on said. "My momma and I made it." Her eyes shone with fear, but not the type Azula was used to seeing. It was nervousness. It was the same look she used to have whenever she saw her dad. She was eager for approval.
"It's beautiful," Azula gave the small girl what she wanted. At her soft words the older women seemed to release her slightly. Azula was aware that everyone was staring at her, gaping. However, she paid no mind. She was a princess and she would do as she wished.
"You know, it looks alot like you too," she poked the child's nose playfully. The girl laughed and looked at her doll again, smiling. Azula smiled back, a real, genuine smile.
"What happened to your knot hair," the small girl asked cluelessly. She saw the mother tense again. However, she continued smiling.
"Me and my brother got into a little fight," she said. It was a supreme under exaggeration, but the girl didn't need to know the details. "I think I lost it then." The little girl nodded, seemingly entranced by her story. She realized Zhao was seething next to her, and decided for everyone's safety not to draw it out further.
"I have to go to the palace," the girl's eyes fell. Azula felt a twinge of sadness."but how bout," she continued more playfully. "How bout you stop by later and you can tell me about her." The girl seemed ecstatic, jumping up and down excitedly. It completely caught Azula off guard when the girl wrapped her small arms around her.
"Thank you," she said smiling. Azula nodded, standing back up. She looked into the eyes of the women. Her eyes were much less scared, but scared nonetheless.
"Thank you," Azula said to the women. And then, she bowed. It was the second time she had done so to someone far under her station, and earned astonished shocks from the surrounding citizens. Zhao shot her a look which she simply ignored. "Ill see you at the palace," Azula smiled at the mother. Her eyes were wide with the realization that Azula truly meant it.
Azula walked back to her palanquin still smiling, and got in. she noticed that the men holding it had not set it down, and smiled to herself. They were getting a raise.
Their pace continued smoothly until they came to a halt. They were at the palace. Azula excited her ride and walked through the gates. They closed behind her. She had never felt more trapped in her life.
The rest of the day was spent with maids all around her. They were washing her down, rubbing her until her skin was red. It was as if they were sanding her. She wondered why it mattered what the color of her skin was, but dared not to ask. Instead she simply thanked the servants who did it, and gave them the rest of the day off. Then she was dressed, her hair combed, a new pin put on her head. After she was deemed ready she was sent to the throne room.
She stood outside the door, stomach churning anxiously. She hadn't seen her father in mouths, what would he think of her. Would he be disappointed with her weight loss. She had only lost the extra (thin) layer of fat she had. So, her but and boobs were smaller. But, would it matter. Would he be disappointed? Would he be disappointed in her still slightly darker skin. Or, her uncut hair (they had not had time for it today). But, worst of all she was worried if he would be disappointed in her failure to capture Zuko. But, time did not know this. And so, it did not slow. No, it seemed less than mere seconds before a voice beckoned her into the room.