Prologue:
"Your Uncle Iroh is a traitor, and your brother Zuko is a failure. I have a task for you." (A/N: Yes, this was quoted from the season one finale) Zula kneeled before her father the great fire lord, then shifted her gaze up to him, waiting to hear more.
"I'm listening, Father."
"Zuko will stop at nothing to capture the Avatar. Though he does not pose a threat, he must be stopped at any costs necessary. With him out of the way, you my daughter, will be able to capture the Avatar, and guarantee the Fire Nation's victory in the war."
Zula thought for a brief moment. Her hazel eyes flickered, and her mouth slowly spread into a mischievous grin. Zuko was a weaker fire bender than she, but he possessed a determination that couldn't be broken. Unlike his bones, she thought to herself, her mouth forming in an even wider grin at the thought of her brother being squished by some heavy object. With him out of the way, I'll be able to capture the avatar with absolutely nothing in my path, and have undying honor once the he taken captive… I would be a legend. (A/N: Not that she already isn't already?)
She was rapidly pulled out of her thoughts as Fire Lord Ozai continued. "I need you to hire someone to get rid of him, an assassin perhaps. You cannot go after them yourself, for the Fire Nation needs you here. And though your bending skills are excellent, it is far too risky"
"Say no more, father." Zula paused and looked at the shadow of her father's face, "Consider them…taken care of." Her forlorn eyes flickered again as she got up to leave. She slowly began to walk out of the war council room, gaining confidence with each stride she took.
"Excellent. I know you will not fail." He called out to her as she froze in the doorway. Though Zula couldn't see her father's face, she could practically visualize his smile through the many flickering flames that surrounded his throne. "I trust your judgment, Zula." He called out to her, "However I am recommending you take a fleet of my soldiers to head them off at their next…" Zula stopped in the doorway, then looking at him with a coy smile said,
"Soldiers, weren't what I had in mind…"
-Later the afternoon-
Two hours later, Zula paced uncomfortably around her bed chamber. The sounds the squeaky floorboards made as she stepped across them seemed to taunt her.
Squeak-squeak
Squeak-squeak
Trai-tor
Trai-tor
"Ugh!" She shouted as she tossed her silver hair brush onto the floor. The Fire Nation insignia carved into the back of the brush chipped off as it landed with a thud on the floor. "Why am I so anxious?" She wondered aloud to herself as she continued pacing about the room. (A/N: Gee, maybe because she's hiring an assassin to finish off her own flesh and blood?) Finally after what seemed like an eternity, her bedchamber door swung open, revealing two fire nation soldiers holding a cloaked figure.
"Well?"
"We followed you orders precisely, Princess Zula, here." Answered the soldier on the right, thrusting the cloaked figure into her room.
"Excellent, you are dismissed." Zula nodded curtly, and both fire nation soldiers exited, leaving her alone with the mysterious cloaked figure. An eerie feeling suddenly settled over her stomach. "Come in." Zula said quickly then turned on her heel back into the bedchamber. "I've called you here for a very important reason. My sources tell me you're the best in…" Zula settled herself into a chair and gulped, "…the business. "
"Your sources do not lie," Replied the cloaked figure. "Of course, my services require a small price."
"Of course," Stuttered Zula as she reached for a bag of coins tucked neatly away under a nearby bookshelf. "Will this do?" She asked as she carefully placed the bag on the table.
The cloaked figure withdrew a sword from somewhere deep within the mysterious cloak. Zula gasped, as the sword ripped through the burlap material of the sack. Coins spluttered out of the bag and skidded across the table.
"Oh yes," said the cloaked figure smiling. "This will do."