A/N: Merry Christmas to all that celebrate it, and happy holidays to those that don't! This chapter was slightly delayed as my writing has slowed due to a busy holiday season and I also just wanted to post on Christmas (as a kind of present if you take it that way). The chapters will be consistent enough, but may not be weekly depending on how much I can write. I hope you enjoy!
Word Count: 4857
10. Ember Island Distractions (Apollo Kids Vs. The Girls and Zuko… I Actually Don't Know)
Azula leant against the railing of the boat, facing away from their destination. They were on their way to Ember Island.
She was doing her best to remain passive and in control with her arms crossed, but she was feeling weak. And what was worse, she drained and numb. Ty Lee was standing next to her, looking forward towards the island, in one of her endlessly positive moods that seemed to be trying to counteract the downer mood that the whole group found themselves in.
"I'm so excited to spend the weekend on Ember Island. It's going to be great to hang out on the beach and do nothing."
The gymnast held her hands behind her head to mimic lazing about on the beach.
Zuko kept shooting Azula looks, and she felt disgusted that they seemed… pitying. But in all honesty, she couldn't really find it in herself to speak up about it. She was just so shattered.
Her brother stood up from where he was seated next to a gloomy Mai.
"Doing nothing is a waste of time. We're being sent away on a forced vacation. I feel like a child."
He walked over to one of the side railings, thankfully away from her.
Azula turned around, clenching her hands on the front railing of the boat. She desperately watched the water lap at the bow, trying to count in her head. The princess disregarded the concerned look she received from her bouncy friend. She responded, trying to keep her voice as level as possible.
"So Dad wants to meet with his advisers alone, without anyone else around. Don't take it personally."
But that was the thing, Azula had to take it personally. Her father had said so, directly. This was her punishment, and it was eating away at her. She couldn't find it in herself to think about all that had happened. The only reason she got away without being burned was because she'd scarred that man for dishonouring her. Worst still, she felt like she deserved that punishment, and that that would've been better than this.
She'd always thought that her father would never treat her like Zuko, but he was banished. Was this 'forced vacation' not just a step in that direction?
You should've captured Percy. You had plenty of opportunities. You should've just married Junsik. Made the Fire Lord proud.
Azula felt Ty Lee sidle closer to her on the railing as her sharp nails had dug holes into it. She realised she'd drifted out of the conversation. That really wasn't like her. Well, it wasn't like who she wanted to be, nor who she used to be.
"Azula?" Her friend asked softly.
"Yes." She bit back, sharply, although Ty Lee didn't react poorly to it.
"I asked, doesn't your family have a house on Ember Island?" Ty Lee asked in a very worried voice.
"Oh, yeah. We used to come every summer when we were kids." She responded, looking towards her friend, appreciative of the topic change.
"That must have been fun!" She said, brightly.
"That was a long time ago." Her brother cut in, sourly.
The princess remembered that long time ago. Azula saw her mother's face in the water, distorted by the crashing waves as they approached the shore. She shook her head, digging her nails into her palms, as they docked onto land. The beach houses looming over her, unable to cast their huge shadows in the light of the midday sun.
They reached the jetty, only to see Lo and Li dressed in very casual clothes and way-too-wide hats.
"Welcome to Ember Island, kids." They said, in their creepy unison voice.
They all looked up to their small shack. In comparison to the larger buildings around it, it was tiny. And once they'd gotten inside, it looked even smaller. The open plan room had just enough beds for them and a couch, with a small balcony outside. Cramped, was how Azula would describe it, especially compared to the lavishness of the Fire Nation palace.
You deserve this.
The princess shuddered.
She walked around, checking on everything, but not really paying attention. It was not too dissimilar to the size of Percy's cave, although she felt none of the cosiness in this shack. She heard her brother say something about smelling like old ladies.
Which, duh.
Even her attempts at brevity didn't change the feelingless-ness. Looking at young Lo and Li didn't bring her out of her numbness either. She just stared off into nothing, her father's words echoing in her head. The memory of her hand slicing down with fire following its path, seared into her brain.
Azula ignored the light bickering of her two friends on the décor of the little shack. Lo and Li finally managed to bring her out of her thoughts, but it was with something she really hadn't wanted to keep talking about it.
"We know you're upset that you were forced to come here this weekend." Lo said.
"But Ember Island is a magical place. Keep an open mind." Li continued.
Or was it Lo? Who cares? It's not like they know the truth. The truth of why we're actually here.
"Give it a chance." One of them kept going.
"And it can help you understand yourselves and each other." They spoke in unison.
Ew, I hate when they do that.
"The beach has a special way…"
"of smoothing even the most ragged edges." Li finished for Lo.
Azula, being both bored of their one-sided conversation and wanting to stop talking about anything to do with them being forced to be there, tried to yawn in an effort to act aloof. Ty Lee gave her a side-eye that suggested she didn't play it as detached as she'd have liked to.
Startling the princess slightly, the two old women clapped. She flinched a little and Ty Lee's worry became a little more obvious.
"Time to hit the beach!"
They threw off their robes to reveal very loose-fitting bathing suits. She found Mai covering her brother's eyes mildly entertaining, and Ty Lee seemed to smother a laugh, but Azula couldn't really find it within herself to be all that amused.
Azula left her things on her bed, having brought with her some minor things along with the fur blanket, and they all started preparing to go down to the beach.
Once the princess was done, she sat on her bed waiting for the rest of them to be ready. She sat directly on the blanket. Its softness being almost as comforting as the now quite faded smell. Azula pulled and tugged on the hair, attempting to get some feeling back into her body. It was starting to work as well, if only marginally. As she had her eyes closed and was running her hands through it in her attempt to calm down, she felt a weight sit down next to her. The usually bubbly Ty Lee looked quite serious.
"Hey Azula." She began, almost awkwardly.
The princess knew what she was going to talk about, but didn't particularly want to.
"I just… if you need someone to talk to, about what happened… I'm here for you."
Azula looked into her grey eyes and was pleasantly surprised with what she saw. The flicker of appreciation built for her friend, but she still definitely didn't want to talk about it.
"I'm fine, Ty Lee." Her voice lost all its venom as she responded and her friend just looked at her understandingly and fondly.
"Hey! What's this?"
And just like that, her bouncy friend returned, although Azula didn't particularly want that topic to be discussed either. Ty Lee ran her own hand through her pelt.
"It's so soft and comfy!"
The firebender was suddenly very thankful that Mai and Zuko seemed to be taking their time getting ready.
"It's a fur blanket."
Azula tried to answer as deadpan as possible, in the hopes that Ty Lee would drop it. Her efforts ended, rather expectedly, in vain.
"It's so fluffyyyy!"
She leant back in it, rolling around slightly. All too suddenly, her friend stopped her bubbly attitude and rolling, looking very confused.
"What does this smell like?"
She sat up, pulling a corner of the blanket with her to have a smell.
Azula froze, her eyes narrowing slightly on Ty Lee.
"It smells really familiar." She mumbled, taking another whiff.
Her friend paused. She seemed to be thinking until she came up with an answer.
"Very beachy. I guess that's just because of where we are then." Ty Lee finished.
Almost as quickly as the gymnast had stopped, she shrugged and popped back up again. Ty Lee didn't meet her eyes as Azula watched her walk over to the door. The firebender tried to notice if anything was off about her but couldn't. It frustrated her to no end. Moments later, a slightly unkempt Mai and Zuko walked out towards the door together, but the princess was far too distracted with her other friend.
Finally, Ty Lee turned around, seeming like she always did. Very normal.
"Azula, you coming to the beach?" She asked, picking up her bag.
The princess put on her regal façade, picking up a beach blanket from the end of her bed. Ty Lee picked up her huge bag and Mai and Zuko had their arms full.
"Yeah, I'm coming."
As she spoke, she felt that same emotion she really didn't like churning in her stomach. It felt ugly, and she was starting to itch with a certain irrational anger.
Azula strode past all three of them to lead the group down to the beach. She was seething, and she didn't quite know why. As they began to walk along the shoreline, the smallest things were prickling at her. Mai looked way too happy to be standing with Zuko under an umbrella, although her brother did seem distracted. Ty Lee looked around so happily and uncaringly it made Azula just shudder with rage.
Two little kids were building a sandcastle in front of where they were walking.
Well they shouldn't have put it in my way!
She stalked up to it and put her foot straight down on top of it. The sand collapsed into a little mound and the kids looked up to her in terror.
Good.
They scampered off and she kicked the bucket after them. Ty Lee was standing behind her and Azula wanted to kick backwards but she stopped herself.
She's my friend. I wouldn't hurt my friend. How does she know what it smells like- NO!
She shook her head and placed her blanket on the ground when they came to a free spot on the sand, laying on it. Azula saw a boy walk up to her gymnast friend.
"Hey, you need some help unpacking?" He asked, practically drooling.
Azula rolled her eyes.
"Sure. Thanks."
Ty Lee handed the boy her bag and it immediately and comically made the boy fall straight to the ground under its weight. Azula wanted to laugh at his misfortune but there were too many other raging emotions inside her.
The boy still unpacked though, flinging her friend's belongings all over the beach before pulling out her blanket. He laid it out with all the pomp and circumstance of a servant aiding a princess, and it rubbed Azula completely the wrong way.
Fawning over her, when it should be you, the actual princess.
She turned away from her friend, looking out to the sea, the colour of which gave her no peace. The reflection of the sun off of the waves seemed to shine just as brightly as those eyes did, judging her for the fire that traced across the chest of her recently disgraced almost-fiancé.
Mai was supremely happy. While her face showed mere contentment, she was blissfully enjoying her vacation. Azula hadn't told either her or Ty Lee why they'd actually come here, but her bubbly friend had told her after the boat trip that based on the princess' aura, it wasn't for the reason she'd said it was.
She hadn't failed to notice the reaction to explaining to Zuko why they'd come, although she'd been far too interested in her boyfriend. Her thinking was that maybe getting him away from the capital and his father would be the best thing for him. She also… well, it was just fun to be without the direct supervision of any adults or royal guards. Even in his room back at the palace, there were still always guards posted outside.
The dagger-throwing girl had watched the random Fire Nation boy first come up to her friend and ask to help unpack. It was obvious flirting and Ty Lee was eating up the attention. It got Mai to raise her eyebrow slightly as she watched it unfold.
"Could you scooch just a little bit more to the-" The boy moved to block the sun across Ty Lee's face. "Perfect."
Her friend turned back to her and Mai gave her the eyebrow raise directly to her face. The gymnast just rolled her eyes back and turned back out towards the water. Mai hid a chuckle at her friend's antics. She was definitely still Ty Lee under all the more mature emotions and self-awareness.
A boy ran past them and she saw Zuko reach for a shell.
Well, that's something Ty Lee would love.
"Here. This is for you."
He offered her the shell. Mai bit back a response about not wanting it.
"That's sweet, Zuko." She said, her hand clasping over his, enclosing the shell back firmly in his hands. "But I'm not really into that kind of thing. Can't we just sit here, together. I'm fine with that."
"But I thought it was pretty. Don't girls like stuff like this?" He asked.
Mai scoffed and rolled her eyes.
"We're not all the same." She said, deadpan.
Mai gestured to their two friends laying in front of them. If any two people were proof of that it was those two.
Or Ty Lee and I.
Her boyfriend seemed intent on getting angry at her though, much to her annoyance.
"Forget it." He huffed out in annoyance, throwing away the shell.
He stood up and went over to get something else.
Mai just sighed, watching the shell sit there. It didn't sit for long before yet another boy saw it. This time, the boy turned to see Ty Lee. Mai hid a smirk again.
At least this is going to be somewhat entertaining.
He had a lovestruck look in his eyes, one many boys their age got when looking at her friend. Before it might've made her roll her eyes and be slightly annoyed, but right then, on the beach, she just found it incredibly funny.
Her friend was soaking up the attention, giving no indication that she reciprocated any of their feelings as the new boy came up to her. He was down on his haunches, holding out the shell to her in no time. The clearly jealous first boy seemed to be bunching up his fists behind the new guy.
"Wow! Thanks. This is so pretty." Ty Lee's voice carried across the sands with the excitedness that was typical of her.
"Not as pretty as you are."
Mai gagged hearing that. Ugh, gross.
"The shell's not so great!" The initial boy said, moving to the side.
"Ahem! Shade. Shade!" Ty Lee said.
Finally, her friend looked back at her once more. Mai gave her an extremely pointed look with both eyebrows raised. The gymnast mouthed 'I know', looking guiltily down at her hands.
Her boyfriend appeared next to her, holding two ice cream cones. She sighed inwardly.
Could he not listen, just once?
"I thought, since it's so hot… here." He offered one to her.
She appreciated the gesture, she really did, but she'd just told him all this stuff wasn't necessary. To add to that, as he handed it to her, the ice cream fell out of the cone directly onto her leg.
"Thanks." She said sarcastically. "I'm sure that would've been really refreshing."
She took the cone from him and used her fingers to scoop it up. Her boyfriend looked at her, surprised. She leaned into him.
"You know, I meant it when I said I just wanted to be with you."
Her boyfriend didn't appear to be listening as he looked at the left-over melted ice cream sitting on her leg in anger. He didn't reciprocate her lean, instead sulked to the side of her. Mai huffed, annoyed. She was trying, harder than she'd ever tried before.
A little give from him would be nice though. Maybe he just has too much pent-up energy.
She didn't even want to think of his father on her vacation so she thought of ways to get her boyfriend to relax and be more present.
Azula sat on her towel, still stewing while Ty Lee was fanned by two boys and shaded by another.
That should be you.
She wanted to look away, at anything else to distract her. Her eyes scanned the beach, before she saw a game of kuai ball. A game was going on between a group of about 8 kids.
Finally, a distraction. She smirked. Maybe this will get some of the attention off of Ty Lee.
"Hey, beach bums," She snidely yelled over to the group of teens. "we're playing next."
Azula turned to Ty Lee, her arm quaking as though it wanted to firebend on its own.
"Ty Lee, get over here, now!"
Her friend stood on her hands and walked over to the princess.
Show off.
Both her brother and Mai also got ready, Zuko taking off his shirt and throwing it to the side. Azula watched the other team closely as they all wandered over into a huddle on one side of the net. As she pulled them into the huddle, she noticed something.
"See that girl with the silly pigtails? When she runs toward the ball, there's just the slightest hesitation of her left foot. I'm willing to bet a childhood injury has weakened her. Keep serving the ball to her left, and we'll destroy her and the rest of her team. Dismissed."
She ended her little war meeting and went over to grab the ball. Azula threw it up in the air and leapt after it. Connecting perfectly, the ball went right through all of them and landed right to the left of the pigtailed girl.
They served next and Zuko was the one to slide and keep the ball in the air with his foot. Azula jumped behind him and backhanded the ball to the same spot, as the girl dove but couldn't get there. The ball flew past the growing crowd watching the game and landed next to a couple boys. They turned and watched over at the game with interest.
So is that what boys are into? Competitiveness?
In the next phase of play, it went back and forth until Ty Lee rose high into the air and spiked the ball downwards with her foot. Those same too boys watched her with smirks on their faces.
Ugh.
And as she landed on top of the net, they turned more towards the game. Azula was seething some more. They began brushing their hair back overtly when Mai got more involved in the game.
That's it. Time to end this.
The ball was the highest it had been and she saw Zuko bending over. Taking his cue, she ran up to him and pushed off his back, using it as a springboard to fly towards the ball. She spun, swinging her leg around for it to smash into the projectile. It went sizzling across the net, seeming to be set aflame, and crashed into the opposing side of the field. The scorching speed of it left the net on fire and a crater deep into the sand.
Azula landed with purpose, close to the blazing net. She looked upon her enemies, victorious.
Well, if that doesn't get the boys' attention, then what will?
The net still burning away in front of her, she taunted them.
"Yes! We defeated you for all time! You will never rise from the ashes of your shame and humiliation!"
She turned to look back at her friends. Now that she'd shown her superiority and clearly would get all the attention, that fire in her stomach, the one that felt ugly and uncontrollable, had simmered to a halt.
"Well. That was fun."
She saw the two boys that had been watching them closely wander over to Ty Lee's side of the group.
Good, now some attention for that victory!
"I'm having a party tonight." The taller of the two guys said. "You should come by."
Azula didn't miss the way he was mainly talking to her flexible friend. He had a similar physique to Percy's just nowhere near as defined or lithe.
Why am I thinking about Percy?
"Sure. I love parties." Ty Lee responded, brightly.
"Your friend can come, too." The other guy said, gesturing at Mai.
The fire within her came back with a roar.
How dare they?! How dare Ty Lee?!
"Uh… what about me and my brother? Aren't you going to invite us?"
She watched them look at each other, the cold voice in her head begging her to just tear them down.
"You don't know who we are, do you?" She asked.
"Don't you know who we are? We're Chan and Ruon-Jian."
So I'll take that as a no then. Interesting.
"Yeah." The shorter one replied.
She felt Zuko walk up aggressively but Azula stopped him.
Maybe I could get something out of this.
"But, fine, you're invited. Just so you know, though, some of the most important teenagers in the Fire nation are gonna be at this party, so try and act normal."
Azula smirked widely.
"We'll do our best."
Ty Lee had felt Azula's heated glares throughout the whole day. Ever since she'd said the scent of her blanket was familiar, it had been unending. Of course, the princess seemed to think that she was being subtle about it, but she wasn't. The way her eyes seemed to shoot fire through her, especially when she was being doted upon by all the boys down at the beach.
Ty Lee had enjoyed that aspect of their 'vacation'. There wasn't any kind of attachment behind it, but it was enjoyable to finally be the one being noticed out of everyone. That being said, it brought her none of the happiness, nor the warmth, that being seen by Percy did. Being heard and listened to was just something she still wasn't used to yet. The attention she got on the beach had no thought or emotion behind it.
The smell of the blanket was something she still couldn't place. It felt like it was right on the tip of her tongue, right next to her, but she just couldn't remember when she'd smelt it before. But she knew she'd smelt it a lot, and felt comforted by it.
With how Azula was acting, she felt she needed to show her that she was still her friend. Even if she couldn't really think of anything she'd done wrong, she didn't want to be the cause of any of her friend's anguish.
"Why didn't you tell those guys who we were?" Zuko asked his sister.
They were seated around the table on the balcony of their beach house, with Lo and Li sitting opposite each other. Ty Lee sat next to Azula with the two lovebirds on the other side. They did seem to be sitting further apart than when they'd first got there though, and the gymnast sensed some distance being placed between them by Mai. If she'd had to guess, probably due to Zuko. His aura was just so angry.
"I guess I was intrigued. I'm so used to people worshiping us."
"They should! You're the prince and princess. You deserve it."
That got a raised eyebrow from Mai and Azula seemed slightly off balance.
"Yes… I know, and I love it." She said, reacting to Ty Lee hesitantly. "But, for once, I just wanted to see how people would treat us if they didn't know who we were."
"Like waves washing away the footprints on the sand." Li started. "Ember Island gives everyone a clean slate."
Awww yay!
"Ember Island reveals the true you." Li continued.
I want to see the true me!
They both stood in unison, clapping and snapping their fingers. They pointed upwards. The two old ladies were truly odd.
"To the party!"
Azula walked up to the big house, the one where they were told the party would be. She didn't really know why she didn't want to be known as the princess for this party, but something had attracted her to the possibilities.
She got to the front door and used the knocker. The door opened to reveal Chan.
"Um… you're a little early. No one's here yet."
"I heard you telling someone you'd be partying from dusk till dawn. It's dusk, so we're here." She replied.
"But that's just an expression."
"We are the perfect party guests. We arrive right on time, because we are very punctual."
The boy in front of her shrugged and gestured for them to follow him. Azula was followed in by Ty Lee and the other two walked in behind Chan.
"All right, listen. My dad's an admiral. He has no idea I'm having this party," he turned to her, "so don't mess anything up."
Azula smiled.
So I have his attention. Let's see if this works.
"That's a sharp outfit, Chan." He looked at her oddly. "Careful. You could puncture the hull of an empire-class battleship, leaving thousands to down at sea," she pointed at his shirt, "because it's so sharp."
"Um… thanks." He responded, uncomfortably.
Azula pouted.
So that just doesn't work on anyone?
The traitorously soft voice spoke up. For who? Who do you want it to work on?
She tried desperately to get that question out of her head as she watched Chan walk away from her.
No one! The princess screamed internally. It didn't make it go away.
Azula felt like shrivelling up, feeling the pitying look hitting her right in the back of the head from her grey-eyed friend. She didn't particularly want to stand there any longer, so she walked away towards the side of the room, completely ignoring Ruon-Jian. Her friends followed her, which she was mildly pleased with. Only slightly.
"Hey! First ones here, huh?" She heard him say behind her.
"He thinks he's so great." Zuko said, angrily. "Well, what do you think of him?" He questioned his girlfriend.
"I don't have any opinion of him." She replied exasperatedly. "I hardly know him. Do I have to tell you one more time, I-?"
"You like him, don't you?" Zuko interrupted her.
She heard a huge huff of annoyance, before Mai stormed past the princess and Ty Lee, over to sit by the side of the room by a bench.
Trouble in paradise?
Azula went and stood by one of the posts in the middle of the room. People began slowly entering the home, none of them giving her more than a quick glance.
You should be getting all the attention. You're the princess!
The firebender couldn't find it in herself to move as the noise grew. Everyone seemed to be chatting around her and she felt like she was frozen in place. Her hands became fists and her heart clenched. Loud bangs, laughs and shouts startled her. She kept trying to hold back flinching at them, but it was getting more difficult.
She sped as calmly as she could over to the balcony, bursting out into the fresh night air. The sounds of waves lapping at the rocky cliff below her began to slow her racing heart.
Azula heard footsteps following her outside.
"Are you alright, Azula?" The sickly-sweet voice of Ty Lee carried past her as she looked down over the railing.
"I'm fine, Ty Lee." She responded harshly.
This time, her friend appeared to be frustrated and angry. Apparently, the princess had used up all of her unending patience.
"Hey, I was just coming out here to help." She snapped, right back to the princess.
Azula's eyes widened. It was the first time she'd ever heard Ty Lee speak like that. To her, no less. The princess couldn't find her voice, she just looked into those grey eyes that seemed to be searching for something in her own. With a huff, her friend spun on her heel and re-entered the party.
Suddenly, the balcony that brought her warmth and freedom with the waves lapping at the rocks felt cold and disconnected.
Suddenly, the darker firelight surrounding her felt entirely disconnected to the bright, vibrant light shining from inside.
Suddenly, Azula felt very alone.
A/N: So, this was the first of 'The Beach' chapters. Got an insight into Azula post-Agni Kai and also how her friends are treating her. I always thought it was an excellent subtle storytelling point how Azula jumps at the opportunity to not be the princess in everyone's eyes, not only to try and be normal, but to do so on an island that "shows you who you really are". Could be seen as hinting that being the princess wasn't something that Azula necessarily wanted, but that was put upon her. You can read it other ways, but I like that one. Mai and Ty Lee are starting to show how they're growing, and Zuko hasn't changed much from canon for obvious reasons. Ending with Azula... alone. The ending of the previous chapter also helps re-contextualise this one, so while a quite a bit of the dialogue is the same, Azula's reasoning for it is quite a bit deeper than in canon. Next chapter will be a continuation of the beach, hope you enjoyed this one and enjoy the chapters to come.
Some review replies:
Gabe1234: Thank you! Yeah, I do really enjoy writing Sokka, it's one of the many reasons I decided to give him a proper non-canon arc that'll be a nice counterpoint to both Percy and Aang's views. You got the beginnings of Azula on Ember Islands, and Percy will interact with more Lotus members, it just may take a while.
WildMan98: Thank you! Yup! And whilst its very similar to canon, in each battle he shows consistent growth with what Percy would've taught him.
Tom2801: Thank you, you'll be getting some more Sokka, but it'll have to wait for a bit.
Artorias78: Thank you so much! Truly appreciate the praise. I will clarify again (as you've found out in this chapter) that that was more my lead in to the Beach episode rather than her going on her own. I will also say that it is a very emotionally abusive relationship and a lot of times it doesn't necessarily matter whether or not they show they care, its still very hard to break out of it. And he sends Azula there for a very specific reason that you'll find out in a few chapters time. She will be isolated too, foreshadowed/shown at the end of this chapter. Hope you have a great day too and have enjoyed what I did with it.
Iamironman15/HellRaiderS/Death Fury/IAmOutOfIdeas: Thank you all! I'm glad you enjoyed it and hope you do this one too!
A-gods-flame: In bed is the best way to read, so agree. Glad you enjoyed it, and there is more from Sokka and the White Lotus to come (though not for a bit). Yeah, the Fire Sage is my headcanon for how Zuko got the letter in 'The Avatar and the Fire Lord' episode. And I tried to write him as White Lotus-y as possible. I'm happy you're still enjoying the character building, and you take care too! An excellent thing to hail as well.
Requiescat1nPace: He really is hype
CyrusWolfricFaust81194: So, the spirits will be a part of this story, in at least one aspect of it. I've hinted that its a possibility that he'll interact with a lion turtle, and I've got plans for a lot of those things so I hope you enjoy them. I am treating spirits more like dryads and nymphs, because whilst some people hate it (I actually quite enjoyed a lot of it) Korra is canon, and the spirits in that act quite similarly to the dryads, nymphs and other mythological spirits in pjo. The nature of bending I see as both. Because they were given the gift generations ago by the lion turtles, but the natural born masters were the ones that taught them the forms of bending (like seen with the dragon dance and Toph with the badger moles). So without the bending animals, humans wouldn't have been able to use bending well at all.
CRUDEN: White Lotus are making moves, and they're pretty good at it too. On Ozai wanting Azula to kill him all along, I'd say no, that was not my intention. You can read it that way, and it's valid, but for him, I'm trying to write him very similarly to how narcissistic, egotistical manipulators work in real life. The point was, he didn't particularly care what Azula "chose" to do, because he would gain no matter what. I pm'd you a more in depth description and anyone who wants to know can ask me, but basically, if she says yes to the marriage, he's gets more support and Azula has to fight even harder for his attention (so she'll do more for him), if she says no, what happens happens, she becomes desensitised to things and also becomes much more like a mini him.
Guest: Christmas! As it turns out haha. Glad you're loving it, next chapter should be within a fortnight like last time.
hiddendragonflys: I truly appreciate it, and you caught up just in time for a new chapter! Stoked you're enjoying it though!
Hope you all enjoyed it! And once again, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
-PS