Azula
Why am i here again ? Azula mused, as she saw Aang enter the room, she called his name and saw the shock in his eyes even through the dim lit room, she still doesn't know what she's doing here but she couldn't help herself, she had to talk to him, in order to achieve inner peace, one must face his problems head on, and Aang was her main problem, of course there was the problem of her Mother's love that still bothered her, but Aang was the main problem, she saw him light a candle with his Firebending, then he turned around to look her in the eyes..
Azula almost flinched at his intense stare, it was almost like his eyes were talking to her, telling her to go away, her pride told her to just turn on her heels, and leave him be, but she let her pride slide away this time, she had to have this conversation with him, she heard him call her name in a questioning manner, and she finally decided to speak.
"You haven't been here for a long time, and i wanted to welcome you back, i didn't get the chance in the war room." Azula said without any hesitation in her voice, she stood as solid as ever, as though her insides weren't crumbling at the moment.
"Yes, and that's 'so you' to welcome someone back, right ?" Aang asked sarcastically, Azula understood his remark and gave a soft chuckle.
"Well, you know me, there're certain people that i can't keep my strict manner with them." Azula said making sure she didn't show too much, but at the same time, not showing too little, she wanted Aang to get the message without feeling that she's head over heels for him.
"Zuko must be one of those people, right ?" Aang made another remark as Azula saw him fetching something from his luggage, that weren't unpacked yet, Azula got a glimpse of what he was trying to remove from the luggage, it was a wine flask.
"Yeah, Zuzu is really one of them.." Azula said but her focus was on the flask in his hands as he removed the bottle cap and took a sip.. "You shouldn't drink this piss you know, we have better wine here for the ceremonies."
Aang snorted at her statement, she thanked the spirits that he gulped his drink before snorting.. "Do you really believe that what i'm drinking is the piss and not your wine ?" Aang quipped taking another sip from the flask, Azula felt offended, she's been drinking Firenation wine almost ever since she was old enough to drink, and now he's calling it piss ? but Azula decided to brush it off, as there were more important matter at hand, but before she could say a word Aang decided to speak again.
"When we were conversing you and your father about the spirits problems, i noticed that you haven't said a single word during the whole meeting." Aang said all of a sudden, Azula felt the color drain from her skin, she didn't know what to say to that, but she tried anyway.
"What you said shocked me to the core, i didn't know what to say, you talked as if it was the end of the world." Azula half-lied, of course what Aang said shocked her and she believed him even though her father had his doubts, but that wasn't the full truth about why she remained silent, but Aang believed what she said anyway.
"More or Less, If the dark spirit went on with his plans without me there to stop it, It's gonna be the end of the world as we know it." Aang informed taking another sip of his flask, Azula felt real fear surge through her body, she suddenly forgot her problems with Aang, forgot about her father's plans, she decided to discuss the important matter.
"But, Aang, isn't there a way to stop that from happening ? i mean, there must be a thing The Avatar Spirit can do to stop The Dark Spirit as it did for a thousand of years." Azula said, as she saw Aang looking down, his brows furrowed, his lips pursed together, finally Aang decided to speak again, still looking at the ground..
"The Avatar spirit would've stopped him, if i wasn't The Avatar." Aang said sadly, that stunned Azula even more, Aang had many remarkable qualities, but Self Pity wasn't one of them, what happened to the real Aang ? The Aang that made her forget about her mother's love, the strong Aang that stopped another war from happening, nonetheless Azula didn't what to do to comfort him, comforting people wasn't actually her territory.
"I suggest you go jump in a volcano and be done with it." Azula said making Aang perk up abruptly with a slightly irritated look on his face.. "Aang, i've known you almost my whole life, i've never seen you this wimpy and weak, the real Aang would've been ashamed of this version of Aang." Azula said in a calm vocie, but she made sure her tone emphasized her point, she saw the look on Aang was face made sure that she achieved her goal, at least for now she grabbed his attention..
"What're you trying to say ?" Aang asked with a slightly stronger voice, that warmed Azula's heart, finally she's making progress.
"What i'm saying is, you shouldn't feel sorry for yourself, Aang, feel sorry for the world, maybe then you'd serve it better." Azula said, she knew this was the only way to make Aang feel better, to encourage him this way would make him stop his self-pity and care for the world, Aang isn't a kid anymore, comforting him would only make him weak, but encouraging him, that'd leave a mark on him, and Azula got what she wanted as Aang was finally convinced by her words.
"You're right, as offensive as that sounded but you're right, Thanks, Azula." Aang said with a smile, then he took another sip from his flask, his smile warmed Azula's heart, and she remembered again why she came to his room in the first place, she wanted to find an approach to start the conversation, as she saw the slightly tired look on his face, what she's going to say must be interesting so that he doesn't tell her to go out making excuses about sleep.
"Aang, i wanted to talk to you about what happened between us a year ago." Azula said straight forwardly making Aang's cheeks turn bright red as he looked at her with, she felt heat rush to her cheeks as well, but she decided to continue anyway.. "We've never discussed it, and it bothers me a lot, so i decided to just come here and talk to you about it." Azula clarified waiting for Aang to speak.
"Yeah, I wanted to talk to you about it too, but not right now, Azula, i'm too tired to speak." Aang said, taking another sip of the flask, Azula's blood boiled as he said exactly what she was thinking, she grasped his shoulders almost making the flask fall to the ground and said..
"No, Aang, we need to discuss this, i've been having sleepless nights, because of this, we need to discuss it NOW !" Azula yelled making Aang visibly flinch, but he decided to put the flask on the desk beside the bed, he removed Azula's hands from his shoulders and he decided to speak.
"What's there to discuss, Azula ? i can't even quite remember that night, i was drunk, remember ?" Aang stated, making Azula even more angry..
"Drunk ?! so you come to my bed, you fuck me, and by the way that was my first time, and then you don't remember any of it ? As if it was nothing !"
"I know it was your first time, that made me feel more guilty than ever, but you brought me to your room."
"Yes, I did ! but i never told you to fuck me, i just offered my room to you because you looked too tired to go back home alone !"
"You should've let me go home, at least i wouldn't have felt this guilty." Aang said with slight anger in his voice.
"Yes, i wish i did too, but what happened has happened and we need to discuss it."
"We're discussing it."
"Yes, but we're not here to discuss how we slept together, we're here to discuss our feelings." Azula informed, immediately regretting what she just said, she hated herself for stuttering and saying words she hadn't thought of in front of Aang.
"Our Feelings ?" Aang asked, he knew Azula had feelings for him, but he never thought she would want to converse him about it.
"Aang, almost everyone knows i have feelings for you, it's true i do.. but these feelings are making me weak, i'm not the princess i used to be, every time i think about you i lose focus, and i can't think straight, it's just so frustrating." Azula said with an angry tone, she saw the look on Aang's face, it was a look of bewilderment and and confusion.
"You have feelings for me ?" Aang asked, Azula fought the urge at laugh at his expression, but this was a serious situation, and she was beyond confused and angry at herself to laugh at the moment.
"Yes, i do, and i have confessed it, what about you ?" Azula asked feeling somewhat hopeful, she saw the look of bewilderment on Aang's face turn to one of embarrassment, he looked like he didn't know what to say..
"Aahhh... I was.. Look, Azula, i knew for a long, while that you have feelings for me, and i have feelings for you, but it's complicated, we can't be together." As Aang said this, Azula's hopes were crushed from the look on Aang's face, it must have been very visible on her face, she decided to gather herself.
"Yes, that's not what i was asking of you, Stupid, i only said that i have feelings for you, and that i need to get rid of them to be the same person i used to be." Azula said in a somewhat squeaky voice, but Aang hadn't noticed the hurt in her voice and that was enough for her.
"Alright, how about we get to know each other again as friends, Azula ? that way, we might stop feeling that way for each other." Azula was somewhat satisfied when he said 'for each other', but she decided to brush it off, Aang was right, she had to move on.
"Though i'm not convinced by your plan, but anything to stop feeling weak again." Azula said, looking at the ground.
"Though i'd like to see you look weak from times to times, instead of that constant solid posture that makes you look like a boulder." Aang remarked sarcastically trying to lighten the mood, and Azula chuckled a bit, but she saw the tired look in his eyes and she decided to turn in herself, she stood up.
"Alright, Aang, I can see the tired look in your eyes clearly, have a good night's sleep, Aang, don't let your stupid nightmares kill you." Azula quipped as she was walking out of the room, she heard Aang laugh and say good-night to her, she opened the door, got out and closed it behind her, as she got out, her facade dropped and she looked as broken and hurt as ever, she wished Aang would die, she hated that he rejected her, even though she hadn't clarified her feelings for him, but she that was still a rejection..
he said 'We can't be together' ? Why ? should i be a tavern wench for him to like me ? That Bastard ! she thought bitterly, making her way back to her room, she hoped that she'd feel better during the ceremonies the following morning, because right now her insides were burning with rage and she just felt the urge to kill somebody.
Crescent Island, Near Roku's Temple, The Fire Nation.
General Shinu finally arrived at the edge of the island with his war ship, he brought a crew of ten men with him in case of any misfortunes, but he decided to enter the island alone, because that's exactly what The Princess asked of him, he didn't know why, or what she or The Firelord are plotting, but his life was in danger, his wife's life was in danger, maybe they know where his son 'Shun' is, and maybe his life is in danger too..
he groaned inwardly but kept walking cursing himself with every step of the way that he decided to enter the world of politics, he was a peaceful man when he was younger, he just wanted to have a family and home, but his love for his nation drove him to be the man he is today, had they reversed the time he might have done the same thing all over again, but he still cursed that he's that kind of man, the kind of man that'd put his country's concerns before his own,
he sighed as he kept on walking to the place he was supposed to infiltrate in, The Rebels' base near the volcano of Roku's Island Of course, The Island was abandoned ever since the great eruption of the volcanoes, they said the eruption was heard and felt throughout the whole Firenation, people who lived to tell the story from the island including Avatar Roku himself, who decided to abandon the island along with his people when he knew that even with The Avatar State there was no hope, they said it was nothing like anything they've ever seen, it was like 100 dragons attacking the island all at once, it was a catastrophe indeed, one he wished he'd never have to suffer,
He almost reached the place The Princess told him about, when something stopped him all of a sudden, he heard some movements from behind the rocks, he raised his hands in surrender knowing very well who's behind those rocks.
"I came in peace, I'm not here for a fight, you can come out now." The General said in his gruff voice, still raising his hands, suddenly one of the rebels peeked out from behind the rocks and said a word General Shinu never thought he'd hear it again.
"Father.. ?" The General's head shot abruptly in the direction of the speaker, he was too stunned to even mouth the words he was here to tell, turns out the rebel who peeked out from behind the rocks was a young man in his mid twenties, light skinned, dark brown hair and golden silver eyes,
his son 'Shun', so many thoughts were running through his head right now, he finally mouthed some words but they came out as stutters..
"Sh-Shun... W-What.. I, What ? What The h-hell are you doing here ?" The General finally said the words, he wanted to do a lot of things right now, hug him and tell him how much he missed him, strangle him for being here with the rebel group, shout at him for letting him and his mother worry all those years, The General had a deep scowl on his face, but surprisingly enough Shun had a smile on his face as he came out from behind the rocks to confront his father..
"Hello, Father, it's been a long time." The smile on Shun's face was even more disturbing than the situation at hand, doesn't he know how much trouble he is in right now ? doesn't he know how much trouble he's caused his family ?
"Stop evading the question and answer me, What're you doing here, Shun ?" The General said in a high pitched tone, displaying his anger and frustrations with his son, Shun's smile didn't even falter, as he confronted his father once again..
"What you have always taught me to do, serving a bigger purpose, serving my nation, Father." Shun said, determination filling his eyes, which frightened his father even more, nothing is worse than a man thinking he's doing the right thing.
"Serving your nation by rebelling against it ? That's what you've been doing ever since you left home ?" The General asked his tone as angry and frustrated as ever.
"Guessed it right as always, General, I've been serving my nation ever since i left home." Shun said still keeping the smile on his face, and his posture sa relaxed as ever, his father never saw his son so relaxed and looking so powerful, it's true his son was a Firebending prodigy before he left home, but he was never this confident with his powers, The General never knew whether to feel proud or angry about this.
"That's not serving your nation, that's treason against your nation." The General huffed, His breaths coming out in fire from his anger, suddenly he heard another voice from behind him that caught his attention immediately.
"And of course, you think of yourself as the savior of this nation, General." Shinu turned to make sure his ears weren't fooling him.
"Commander Zhao.. ?" The General breathed in disbelief, the shocks that he had to endure today would last him a lifetime.
"No longer a commander, but i appreciate the compliment." This was a lot to take in for the general, Both his son and Zhao working for the same organization that threaten the safety of The Firenation, he couldn't even speak anymore, Zhao saw the look on the general's face, and decided to elaborate some facts for the general.
"I'm the leader of this group of honorable men and women, General, they're a group of people who really want to serve their nation and Firelord." Zhao clarified, The General gave Zhao a startled look, clearly the words of Zhao had a deep effect on him.
"Their Firelord ?" The General mouthed the question in utter disbelief.
"Yes, Father, their Firelord, We're no traitors, it was Firelord Ozai who summoned us to do a mission he is incapable of doing." Shun elaborated more.
"Now, i believe The Firelord sent us some information with you." Zhao said with a smile extending his hand for the general.
"I have nothing, he sent Azula to ask me infiltrate your base and join you, she gave me papers of the location, nothing more." The General mouthed the words finally, he was unable to speak for a while, too much Shock.
"That's exactly the paper we need, Father." The General gave his son a questioning look, not sure what he meant, but he handed Zhao the paper anyway.
"You see, General, The Mission we're about to do, only the Firelord and us know about it.." Shun lit his hands for Zhao, and Zhao put the paper on the flame, "Azula doesn't know anything about it, so the messages had to remain hidden." Zhao finished still keeping the paper on the small flame.
"Hidden where ?" The General inquired.
"In The Messages, Father." As Shun finished his sentence, The Words written in the hidden ink finally showed clear as day, Zhao took the paper and began to read the message while Shun, The General and the rest of the rebels kept anticipating, Finally Zhao's brought his face up after he finally he finished reading the words.
"I can't believe it.." Zhao said in a very stunned but somewhat happy voice, which set an uncomfortable look on Shun's face, Zhao looking genuinely happy ?
"What's it ?" Shun inquired from his leader, Zhao looked at him, a real smile on his face, his eyes almost glistened with tears.
"It's time." Zhao informed, The General didn't know whether to feel good or bad about the look that set on Shun's face, can only be matched by the look on Zhao's face.
"Are you saying.. ?" The General heard Shun ask looking into Zhao's eyes trying to make sure, as if the pure shock made him at a loss of words all of a sudden.
"Yes, Shun, It's time.." Zhao gave Shun the paper to read, and turned to his men.. "The Day we've all been waiting for is finally here, Lads, OUR MISSION IS FINALLY UNDERWAY!" Zhao yelled at his soldier in a motivating voice, The Crowd of soldiers erupted in cheers, the sound of the cheers could be heard a mile away, The General still didn't know what was going on, he gave his son a quizzical look, but his son still looked stunned to the bone of the news, finally his son turned his face to his father smiling genuinely this time.
"The Mission is finally underway, Father." His son whispered in a happy voice.
"What're you Morons talking about ?" The General inquired clearly still clueless, thought he didn't show it, but that smile on his son's face frightened him to the core.
"Patience, Father, The Ceremonies are drawing near." Shun informed his father in a menacing voice, Now The Fear showed clearly on The General's face.
Looks like the ceremonies aren't gonna be that fun after all.
