Chapter 9- pranks to be pulled
Azula shot up in her bed covered in a light layer of sweat she shuffled to the end of the bed with her legs hung off the side she looked down at her feet. She took some deep breaths.
In out. In out.
Just like when bending, right. Once she was able to calm herself down Azula looked up to the window. The sun had been peeking out over the horizon in a few moments the palace staff would be rising and not long after Zuko. This meant she would only have to stay in her room for a bit.
Azula sat on the ground, legs crossed getting ready to meditate. She sat quietly for a few moments before a beautiful wicked thought came to her mind. She had just had a restless night of nightmares and panic attacks she needed to do something to cheer her up. Azula knows she was never the nicest person even before her fall from grace, but there was nothing wrong with a little prank right.
The problem was she always did pranks with a partner. A funny skit or scene to amplify the reaction of the prankies normally Zuko or Mai. Azula use to do pranks with Ty Lee all the time.
Ty Lee, she thought to herself.
No, she won't let her day be ruined because of some traitor.
Azula gave a bit of thought to who her new partner in crime would be. She wanted to prank the water peasants both for sure. Zuko was also a fun target and we can't forget the oh so terrible Kyoshi warrior. In all honest Azula doesn't know any of their names but that didn't matter. Her partner in crime would know them well enough to help her come up with a dastardly plan.
Who is a somewhat smart snarky kid who Azula doesn't despise that knows about the group of people she wants to prank personally? Then it hit her. The dirt bender.
When the sun rose the palace staff could be heard shuffling around the palace. The morning had gone fairly well. Azula had asked to eat breakfast in her room which Zuko allowed since he was fearful of early morning interaction between his sister and his friends. No ones happy in the morning so best to keep them away from each other till tension lighten up. The Gaang ate breakfast together in the dining hall while Azula ate by herself in her room. Azula looked down at her bowl and a brilliantly evil plan formed in her mind. But she would need some help.
Azula room door was unlocked since Zuko woke up. Everyone was done with breakfast and lingering around the palace. The Gaang who in the courthouse had claimed they had nothing to do were actually quite busy. They had originally come for Azula's trial sure but their was much to delegate win the fire nation. Sokka, Zuko, and Aang were gathered around a table talking about plans for rebuilding the South Pole along with plans for something called republic city, whatever that was. Katara and Suki were out helping around the city. There were plenty of protests to be shut down along with small crimes they could help with.
Azula had left her room a while ago and was walking around in search of the earth bender. 'Agni I don't even know her name, I don't know any of their names.' Azula thought to herself. Approaching Toph's room Azula held her hand up to knock on the door. While Azula can be very disrespectful and ride she knows how to respect other privacy, because it is something she wants.
Azula was about to knock on the door when she heard Toph's voice boom from inside. "Princess Cray cray is that you? Come on in."
Azula took a small step back before smiling. This earth bender was powerful she had to admit it was nice to be in the presence of someone with much in common to her. Azula unlocked the door and walked in. Toph was leaning on the bedpost closest to the door. She was crossing her feet and had a smile on her face, "What do I owe this honor, that the o so magnificent princess evil has blessed me with her presences." Toph said in a joking tone.
"While yes it is your honor I have a proposition for you." Azula snapped back just as fast.
"No I won't help you kill your brother and take the throne."
"Very funny, I could do those things by myself gremlin."
"Gremlin? Hey I think I like that." Toph said arms crossed.
"Good because your other name is dirt peasant or groundhog."
"Ha, knew one truth be told, ms. coo coo was a jokester."
"Yes well that is actually the reason I am here." Azula stated before raising an eyebrow with a smirk. "How would you like to pull a prank with me."
"Oh man really, Super Queen Katara never lets me pull prank and never ever wants to pull one." Toph said excitedly "I'm in! But why do you need me?"
"Two reasons you see, first off you seem like you would be a good look out since you have some weird earthbending powers"
"It's not weird, it's awesome but go on."
"Secondly, I don't know anything about your friends and I believe with your knowledge and my skill we can pull the greatest prank of all time!" Azula said enthusiastically.
"Calm down their crazy, I don't know what you have planned but I'm in. What do you need to know? "Toph agreed.
"Let's start with names ,shall we? "
"You don't know any of our names? You chased us around for almost a year and you never learned them."
"Well forgive me but we never got a chance to talk during while we were fighting " Azula rolled her eyes.
"We knew your name." Toph shot back
"Of course you did. I'm the princess. Everyone knows my name." Azula responded with a slight glint in her eyes, not that Toph could see it.
"Whatever, the water bender sugar queen is Katara, she's the mom of the group."
"Very good next."
"Sokka is her brother, he's the funny one."
"Go on."
"Suki is the Kyoshi warrior, she pretty cool I guess."
"Next"
"Obviously you know your brother. Aang is the avatar."
"And your name." Azula asks
"I'm Toph the greatest Earthbender ever."
"Well Toph, I'm glad to know that I am going to be partners with the best. Only the best with the best right." Azula stands up.
"You know it." She pumps her fist in the air. "Now let's go start this prank of yours."
Azula's signature smirk and then they were off.
The door to the kitchen creaked open, chefs were all on break so it was the perfect time to hatch their plan. The two bender girls slipped through the door closing it gently behind them. Carefully walking over to the stove where a big pot of soup sat Azula pulled out a small vile from her pocket. "Hey Azula, when you said prank you didn't mean poison your brother so you could take control of the throne, did you?" Toph raised her eyebrow.
"Of course not, though the idea is intrigue I would much rather fight my brother than watch him die slowly."
Toph blinked and tilted her head tapping her foot.
"It's hot sauce idiot."
Toph just shook her head. Azula poured the liquid into the pot and popped the lid back on. They tiptoed out of the kitchen and set off to their rooms to get ready for dinner and more importantly their prank. Walking back to her room Azula started to think that maybe the is pushing it too much. She's been back at the palace for barely a day and she is already causing trouble. Zuko won't be happy if someone gets hurt, even if she just wants to play a harmless joke.
People are always looking for the worst in her and she doesn't really give them much reason to see different. She is cruel and selfish and mean but right now all she wants to do is play a joke on her brother and his overly stiff friends. A little prank can't hurt. She shook these feelings as she got to her room.
She opened the door slipping into the dark room, the sun was setting and she had only a few hours till dinner. Azula had been quite surprised she had been invited at all. If the roles were reverse Azula knows she would never let Zuko leave his room much less eat with her. That's what make us different she supposes.
Once she is in her room she lights the candles ablaze with flickers of blue fire. They die out within seconds turning to a sunset orange still beautiful but not nearly as vibrant. Water starts to rush as Azula draws a bath for herself. Normally this would be a task for servants but she is feeling quite motivated to do things on her own again. Azula had schemed the day of her trail but she hasn't schemed for the fun of things for a while. Pulling pranks use to be one of her favorite pastimes. Mostly pranks on Zuko and Mai, sometimes on Lu Ten when he was around which wasn't very often.
She stopped after a while because father told her they were childish and mother told her they were rude and suddenly the pranks she use to find full of risk and adventure turned into a boring waste of time. Azula was glad she was doing this, so what if someone got a bit hurt at least she could have some fun.
Fun, that wasn't something Azula had in a long time.
The water in her bath got cold and it seemed as if it was time to get ready for dinner. Water dripped from her as she took steps to her towel. The scarlet towel that was on the counter was now wrapped around Azula holding her tight. For some reason she remembered the asylum always being stuck in a straight jacket but finding a sense of warmness in the feeling of the 'hug'.
Azula stepped out of her bathroom and to her wardrobe. She pulled out a fine Burgundy top with baggy maroon pants. After slipping the cloths on she headed to her night stand where she ringed her soaking hair leaving it as damp as possible. Azula called out for some servants to come do her hair she was not ready mentally or physically ready to do that particular task yet. The servants tied her hair into a high top not bun a symbol of royalty and strength. Examining her hair she noticed a missing piece.
Reaching out she opened one for her drawers and pulled out her crown. It wasn't her golden crown that she had been given by her father and the state but a deep red crown that was given to her by her mother. Azula was most certainly sure it was one of the only things her mother had ever given to her besides an unhealthy amount of childhood trauma. With shaking hands Azula grabbed the crown and sat back infant of the mirror. She carefully and skillfully placed the flamed shaped crown into her slick wet top not. She leaned back a bit examining her work. Once she was quite pleased with her makeup and hair she stood up and headed out of her room.
Azula had always been very well put together, she knew this of course. Last time she had interacted with her brothers friends she had been out of control, crazy, she would not have that same humiliation tonight. It would also make her prank look much more sophisticated and thought out. In all reality the prank was fairly simple, but it would well due.
Azula entered the dining hall and took her spot at the table. Most of the seats were empty save for Zuko and Mai the only punctual people. This made sense of course what else could be expected of foreign scum. They can't even show up to dinner on time at least she had that amount of respect for the leader of her nation, Azula thinks to herself.
The water tribe peasants arrived at the same time. They had been laughing about something unknown to Azula or the other two guest. Toph and Suki arrived a few moments after coming from different entrances. Suki who looked rather displeased with the seating arrangement pulled out the wooden chair next to Azula. The seating chart look something like this, Zuko sat at the head of the table the only thing excepted of a reasonable Firelord. To his left was Mai who sat with a blank expression on her face, then came Toph who sported a smug smile obviously thinking about the prank. Azula who sat in-between the excited earth bender and annoyed Kyoshi warrior just gave a small shrug at the fact that she was seated next to one of her enemies. Who would have thought Princess Azula sitting next to two of the Avatar's companions one of which is her accomplice. The water tribe siblings sat across from Azula and Suki leaving the chair in front of Mai empty.
The tension hung over them like a wet blanket and for a short while the group sat in utter silence, which was broken by one very loud and some what irritating snow savage.
Sokka leaned onto the table pointing a finger oh so rudely at Azula's face. "Why are you letting her eat with us!" His finger got closer,
"Food is something that you share with friends and family not people like her."
A deep scowl took over Azula's face. 'How dare some peasant accuse me of being out of place and point a finger at me like I'm some lowly child.'
"Azula is my sister she is technically family." Zuko pressed his head to his head rubbing it slightly." And in case you forgot, she's the Princess so she pretty much go wherever she wants "
Azula smirked a bit before batting her eyelashes, "Look at you Zuzu defending you sister from the insolent words of some water tribe wash-up." Azula crossed her arms. As much as she didn't like the Earth kingdom she hated the water tribes more probably something to do with the opposite element things she overheard from her uncle.
"How can you be so openly racist!" Sokka's threw his arms up angrily. Katara's face turning into a distorted frown and her eyebrows pushed up.
" Considering you are literally trying to bar me from eating in MY OWN HOME, I'd say its justified " Azula glared at the water tribe brat" How can you live in an ice block ? "
"Azula!" Zuko turned to his sister with a small frown, " I get that you're angry but that was rude apologize." Zuko leaned back in his chair still rubbing his head in annoyance at his friends short temper and his sister's obvious racism.
"You're right Zuzu that was quite uncalled for, I'm sorry." Azula waited a moment before smiling even larger, "I meant ice cube."
Sokka lunged for Azula but was held back by a very tempted Katara. Azula simply leaned back in her chair and Toph let out a small chuckle, Mai and Suki both rolled their eyes in disinterest and annoyance while Zuko just grimaced.
Two servants appeared holding trays topped with fine china bowls each holding a warm helping of soup. The bowls were placed in front of them and Azula picked up her fork taking small dignified sips of the soup. Azula lived in the fire nation home to the most fierce spices in the world. Over the years Azula had developed a liking for spice and eventually found that she was able to take large amounts of it without breaking a sweat, part of being a protege she supposes.
Her brother and Mai have also developed the tolerance to spices though not as much as Azula they bother were able to handle many dangerous flavors. The foreigners might not be as fortunate. The water tribe peasants and the dirt kingdom warrior all took a sip of their 'helpless' soup. Toph had politely refused making up some excuse for why she couldn't eat it, something to do with being blind.
The group all took a sip of their meal when someone grabbed hold of the table cloth. The water tribe warrior had thick bunches of cloth gripped in his hands his tongue sticking out rapidly panting begging for water, no wait milk. The Kyoshi warrior shot out of her seat grabbing her water ferociously gulping the whole thing feeling no relief. Finally the water bender bended a large amount of water from the nearby fountain and bended it into her mouth some spilling out of the sides dripping down onto her shirt.
Mai and Zuko sat in complete shock until they realized what was going on. Toph started to burst into fitful laughter falling out of her chair wiping tears from her eyes. She flamed around muttering things about 'how stupid they looked' and how 'it would be worth a scolding.'
Mai and Zuko soon figured out what had been going on. Azula loved to play pranks just like this when they were younger except she would take things a bit too far sometimes leaving people hurt. The Firelord and his girlfriend looked too Azula with a displeased look on their face.
Azula simply watched the show unfold in-front of her taking another light slurp of her soup. A smirk crept onto Azula's lips. It had been a fun night indeed.
