Chapter Three: Defiance
Azula awoke on cushions of the finest silk and felt the rays of the sun on her face. She turned over in her bed, then sat up. Immediately she threw on her clothes and rushed out the door. There was Ty Lee and Mai sitting in that same damn desk.
"Azula, you're awake. You've got to try this breakfast." said Ty Lee. "They have the best sausages-"
"Forget the damn sausages! We're leaving, now!" yelled Azula.
"But what about-" began Mai.
"No time for it." said Azula.
"But how-" said Ty Lee.
"No time for that either. Follow me." said Azula.
Once again they went down into the catacombs. Ty Lee looked at the crystals with interest, while Mai looked as bored as ever. Azula realized she hadn't brought them down here before. Or been down here herself except while looking for Zuko.
It was actually pretty nice.
"How do you even know about this place?" asked Mai.
"I read about it on a map." lied Azula. "We've got to get out of Ba Sing Se as quickly as possible." She made her way into the place where she had fought the Avatar before. "Now we just need to, yes, yes this is where the way lead out. We'll just scale up that waterfall and be home free."
It was that same waterfall the water peasant had escaped through.
"...So, we're going to scale up a waterfall?" asked Mai.
"Yes." said Azula.
"How?" asked Mai.
Azula thought about how to answer that. "...We'll climb."
Running toward the wall, she leaped into the air and tried to get a grip on the cave wall. She promptly slipped off, fell into the river and hit her head on a rock. Everything went black.
She awoke.
In a prison cell. Ty Lee was looking over her. "Azula, thank goodness your awake. You got seriously hurt in that fall."
"Why are we in prison?" asked Azula.
"Well um, that waterbender girl helped us." said Ty Lee. "And then reported us."
"Ugh..." Azula stood up and bashed her head against the wall.
Azula awoke on cushions of the finest silk and felt the rays of the sun on her face. She turned over in her bed, then sat up in a rage. She stormed out and found Ty Lee and Mai at the table like always.
"Azula, you're awake. You've got to try this breakfast. They have the best-"
Azula turned over the table and sent the dishes flying across the floor. Many of them shattered. "I don't want sausages, damn it!" She took a deep breath. "I've got to get a meeting with the Earth King."
The Earth King looked at her sympathetically while petting Bosco, the Bear. "So you need to leave the city?"
"Yes." said Azula. "I need special authorization to get out."
"I don't see why you'd need that." said the Earth King. "People are always free to leave and enter Ba Sing Se, as long as they have the proper channels."
"But..." Azula paused. "Didn't you shut down the gates pending a sandstorm?"
Oh yes, that. Well I suppose you could wait a day." said the Earth King.
"I really can't." said Azula.
"Why are you in such a hurry?" asked the Earth King.
"Some... family matters came up." said Azula. "I really need to get back home."
"Well going into the middle of a sandstorm would get you killed." said the Earth King.
"Don't you have some kind of secret passage that you can use to escape the city in times or peril." said Azula. "Or if royalty needs to move about unseen."
"Which one is this?" asked Earth.
"It's both!" said Azula. "I'm a Princess of the Fire Nation in an emergency!"
And that was how she ended up in prison again.
Next loop around Azula tried again.
"It's an emergency." said Azula.
"Sorry," said the Earth King, "that isn't the sort of thing I can reveal to just anyone. Don't worry. By tomorrow the sand will have blown over."
"Well what is there is no tomorrow?!" asked Azula. "There wasn't one today!"
Then she ended up in prison for raising her voice in front of the Earth King.
The next time she marked out with renewed purpose.
Ty Lee opened her mouth. Azula covered it. "Mai, Ty Lee, if you were going to scale a waterfall how would you go about it?"
"Well we could get climbing equipment." said Mai. "But what-"
"Get it." said Azula. "Get it quickly!"
"But what about the coup?" asked Mai.
"The coup can go straight to-"
Azula ended up in prison again.
"Wow, who would have thought that that waterbender would spot us while we were buying climbing supplies." said Ty Lee.
"No, no, no, no!" snarled Azula. "No, no, stay calm Azula. I'll just wait until next time."
This time Azula slipped into the store and stole what she needed with no one the wiser. Getting Mai and Ty Lee to go with her into the catacombs they scaled up the wall gradually.
At that point, she heard voices.
"These catacombs used to be an ancient city. Ba Sing Se was built over these ruins, and we've been working to excavate them." said the Earth King. "I'm glad you're interested."
"Well I like learning new things." said the water peasant. "I'll have some stories to tell Gran Gran when I get back."
Looking down, she saw the water peasant and the Earth King entering. They froze, and the water peasant saw her. "Azula!"
What were they even doing here?
She woke up to find Ty Lee staring down at her. "Azula, thank Agni your awake! You nearly died in the fall!"
"Are we in prison again?" asked Azula.
"Nope!" said Ty Lee. "We're in prison for the first time!"
Azula covered her eyes with her hands.
Azula awoke on cushions of the finest silk and felt the rays of the sun on her face. She got out of bed with shaking fists. That was the last time that water peasant interfered with her plans. She quickly stood and wrote out a note, just to spite Long Feng. Then she stormed out with her teeth gritted.
Ty Lee beamed. "Azula, you're awake. You've got to try this breakfast. They have the best sausages."
Azula grabbed some rope and stormed out of the room. Ty Lee and Mai walked after her. "Um, Azula, where are you going?"
"To get rid of a nuisance." snarled Azula.
She found the water peasant as she was leaving the war room. Azula tapped her on the shoulder. "Excuse me."
"Yes?" asked the water peasant.
Azula punched her in the face. She hit the ground like a sack of potatoes, and Azula put a foot on her neck. Then she drew out the rope. "I need a moment of your time, water peasant."
Tying up the water peasant was immensely satisfying. Not only was she a constant nuisance, but she also was nice to look at. She liked the feel of her struggling against her grasp. The way she struggled as Azula carried her into a room and tossed her into a broom closet was immensely satisfying.
"So why are we locking this girl in a broom closet?" asked Mai.
"MMMPH!" scream the water peasant.
"I need to get her out of my hair long enough to complete my plan to get out of Ba Sing Se." said Azula.
Mai blinked. "But I thought we were-"
Azula shut the door. "Quiet! They may hear! They're always watching, always trying to stop me! But we will be cunning! So cunning!"
"Azula, you are really weirding me out." said Ty Lee.
Azula shoved the letter into Ty Lee's hands. "Send this letter to the Earth King. Then meet me at the crystal catacomb city thing."
"But Azula-" began Ty Lee.
"No time!" cried Azula, before storming off.
She made her way to the entrance of the caverns. There she waited, pacing back and forth. Mai and Ty Lee did not come. Azula tore at her hair. "Where are they?!
"They wouldn't be delayed like this. There must be something else. Yes, someone else is plotting against me. Making me relive the same day over and over. But I won't keep reliving it. I will escape.
"Will escape.
"Where are Mai and Ty Lee?"
At that moment a group of Earthbenders appeared all around her. "Excuse me; we're going to have to ask you to come with us."
Prison. She was not going to prison again.
"Never!" cried Azula, summoning a lightning bolt.
And then she was slammed by a wave of earth.
Azula woke later in prison. Ty Lee and Mai were looking at her in concern.
"Um, Azula, sorry we were late." said Ty Lee.
"Where were you?!" asked Azula. "You were supposed to meet me in the ancient city!"
"You didn't tell us where that was." noted Mai.
"Yes, yes, that is what they want you to think!" cried Azula.
Azula awoke on cushions of the finest silk and felt the rays of the sun on her face. Azula stood but did not go into the breakfast room. She would meet Ty Lee, and Ty Lee would say the words. Instead, she paced back and forth.
There were so many people interfering. People stopping her from winning. Ruining her perfect world.
"Need to get them out of my hair. Our of my hair. Out of my hair..." said Azula. Then she saw herself in the mirror. She had lots of hair. Hair disheveled from sleeping. Disobedient hair. Not doing what it was supposed it. She snatched up scissors and grabbed the hair in front of her face. "That's it hair! Prepare to meet your doom!"
And she cut it off. Her enemy was slain.
Then Mother was there. "Oh, such a shame. You had such nice hair."
"Shut up, Mother!" said Azula. "Leave me alone!"
"You shouldn't shout, dear. You might upset your friends." said Mother.
"Quiet!" roared Azula, before shooting a lightning bolt through the mirror.
She rushed out into the breakfast room. "Azula, Mai, Ty Lee! Up! We've got work to do!"
Ty Lee blinked. "...But you're Azula."
"I know!" snarled Azula.
She half donned her Kyoshi Warrior Makeup and then stormed out of the palace. She made her way through the streets. Tricky streets. Dangerous streets. Streets had it out for her.
They were all watching! All watching!
She came to the door. There were the guards. "You, step aside now!"
"Don't tell me what to do, lady." said the guard. "We've got a massive sandstorm coming in from-"
Azula shot him in the face with a lightning bolt. She unleashed a flurry of flames that blasted the other guards away; then she ran out into the fields. Yes, yes she was out! Out at last!
"What are we doing, Azula?" asked Ty Lee. "Why did we have to shoot those people?!"
"Shut up!" cried Azula. "Shut up! We made it! We are out! Quickly, we have to go now!"
"Azula, remind me why we're going to all this trouble to leave the city we were trying to take over?" asked Mai.
"We have to get away!" said Azula. "They're always watching!"
"Get away from what?" asked Ty Lee.
"You should calm down, dear." said Mother.
"Shut up Mother!" snarled Azula. "You can't stop me!"
"Azula look! A sand storm!" said Ty Lee.
"I don't care! We go through!" snarled Azula.
The sandstorm washed over them.
Azula awoke on cushions of the finest silk and felt the rays of the sun on her face. Azula stood, feeling utterly dead. As soon as the sandstorm had hit her, she'd been back here.
She stood and walked out of the room. There was Ty Lee and Mai. Again. And now Ty Lee was going to say it. "Azula, you're awake. You've got to try this breakfast. They have the best sausages."
"You should eat something dear. You need to keep up your strength." said Mother.
"Get... get out of my head!" cried Azula. "Leave me alone, Mother! You left! You left! You can't just come back now!" She fell to her knees.
"Azula, are you alright?" asked Ty Lee as she ran forward.
As she did Azula saw the window. An open window. It was leading to the city of Ba Sing Se. The city she couldn't escape. Or could she? "No, no I won't go on like this! I won't!"
Death first!
Azula rushed out the window and leaped down toward the courtyard below.
"Azula!" cried Ty Lee.
Azula hit the ground, and everything went black.
Azula awoke on cushions of the finest silk and felt the rays of the sun on her face. She was still alive. The fall had not killed her. She stood and walked out and saw the same damn scene once again.
"Azula, you're awake. You've got to try this breakfast. They have the best..." began Ty Lee, as Azula walked past her. "...sausages."
"Where are you going?" asked Mai.
"To fill up a bath." said Azula.
"Oh." said Ty Lee. "But don't you usually bathe at night."
"Usually." said Azula.
She plugged the bath, turned on the water and watched. Watched as the water filled up inch by inch. Foot by foot. When it was filled, she turned it off, stripped off her clothes and lay down in it.
Then she fired a lightning bolt into the tub.
There was a flash of light.
Azula awoke on cushions of the finest silk and felt the rays of the sun on her face. She was still alive. The lightning hadn't made a difference. She walked out of the room and saw the same scene.
"Azula, you're awake. You've got to try this breakfast." began Ty Lee. "They have the best..."
"Not now Ty Lee." said Azula. "Mai, could I borrow one of your knives."
Mai drew out a dagger and tossed it to her. Azula caught it and mused that it was a bit small for her purposes. Even so, beggars couldn't be choosers.
The knowledge that she had become a beggar made it that much easier to stab herself in the gut.
It hurt. A lot. She fell to the ground as Mai, and Ty Lee rushed to her. Azula drew out the knife and watched as her blood coated the carpet. As her vision faded, she smiled.
She awoke in a prison.
"...Why am I alive?" asked Azula.
"Well the good news is that the water peasant knows how to heal stomach wounds." said Mai. "The bad news is she recognized us and got us thrown in prison."
"Oh no." said Azula.
Azula awoke on cushions of the finest silk and felt the rays of the sun on her face. She had botched the job. She wouldn't botch it this time.
She walked into the room and found Ty Lee and Mai waiting. "Azula-" began Ty Lee.
"I don't want any breakfast!" snarled Azula. Then she took a deep breath. "Mai, could I borrow a knife?"
Mai presented a knife.
"A bit longer." said Azula.
Mai presented a longer knife. Azula smiled. "Thank you."
This time she stabbed herself in the throat.
Azula awoke on cushions of the finest silk and felt the rays of the sun on her face. The knife had failed her for the last time. She would use another means.
She made her way out. "Azula-" began Ty Lee.
"I don't care." said Azula, before opening the packs. Where had she put that rope?
"What are you looking for?" asked Mai.
"Rope." said Azula. "I think it would look good on that chandelier up there."
"But why would you-" began Ty Lee.
Azula found the rope and made her way up to the table. She drew out a chair. "Can I borrow this chair? Thanks."
Standing up on it she tied the rope to the chandelier and then tied a noose. From there she fitted it around her neck and pulled it tight.
"Azula what are you-" began Ty Lee.
Azula kicked the chair away. She felt the rope constricting around her neck. She couldn't breathe. She didn't care.
"No! Cut the rope! Cut the rope!" cried Ty Lee.
A knife slashed through the rope, and Azula fell and hit her head on the table.
She woke up in a prison. "What happened?"
"Well after you got knocked unconscious I had to take charge of capturing the Earth King." said Mai. "I did manage to get that far. Corrupting the Dai Li? Not so much."
"It doesn't matter." said Azula.
Azula awoke on cushions of the finest silk and felt the rays of the sun on her face. He execution had been faulty. This time she stormed into the room.
"Azula-" began Ty Lee.
"Shut up! I don't want breakfast!" cried Azula.
Finding a rope, she quickly set it up like before. Then she high kicked Mai in the face. She landed unconscious on the ground. Azula then put the rope around her neck and kicked the chair away.
"Azula!" cried Ty Lee.
Azula smiled.
Azula awoke on cushions of the finest silk and felt the rays of the sun on her face. Alive. Still alive.
"It makes me sad when you kill yourself, dear." said Mother. "Maybe you should play with your friends instead."
Nothing helped.
Azula rose up and walked out. Waiting for Ty Lee to say the same damn thing as always.
"Azula..." Ty Lee paused. "Azula you look terrible. Did you sleep bad or something?"
Azula needed to get out of here. "...I'm going to go get some tea. Are you coming?"
"What about the coup?" asked Mai.
"It'll work itself out." said Azula in defeat.
Author's Note:
And here we have chapter three of Bear Day. I'd like to apologize for not getting out a new chapter of Reign of Azula. I've gotten stuck on the Ember Island Players. Bear Day is a lot easier to write.