Chapter Four - Showdown
When Tala came to she kept her eyes closed. She knew that she'd end up shackled again. She could feel the shackles around her wrists and ankles. She was correct. When she opened her eyes. She was in a cell with the other three ladies-in-waiting. "Where is she?" Tala asked looking at them.
"She is with Prince Ozai." said one. He name was Kali. Kali's voice was shaky. "He's going to kill us. He said he's going to start with you."
"He probably is." Tala muttered.
"Mialu tried to fight back." Another girl pointed out. "And she's still unconscious. Her face has been blue for about an hour now." And sure enough, the third girl was blue faced on the floor. Tala fell to her knees and crawled towards her. She put her head on her chest. And lifted her head again.
"She's dead Mika." Tala said. "Strangled, you can see the marks on her neck." Tala looked at her neck. White fingerprints were visible on her neck. Her eyes were wide open. They were open as if they had a secret they couldn't reveal. "What did she fight back against?"
"She slid through the bars..." Kali explained. "And came back with guards after her. She only had time to tell us-"
"That it's about Ozai...then the guards-"
"Grabbed her and when they brought her back-"
"She looked like that-"
"We don't know what happened. Mialu was a great earth bender..." Kali finished.
"You do know I'm a fire bender right?" She looked at them. They stared back at her with a look that said they hadn't known. "About four of five years ago...I snuck into the fire nation army and was found out. Ozai banished me. Then some earth benders came and noticed that I was one of the people that had escaped capture. When they brought me to the earth lord...I told him my story. He put in as the Princess' bodyguard. That way if anything happened to her...I could fight fire with fire...you should know the rest. Especially when I found about Milieu's arranged marriage." Kali and Mika looked at her. "Nobody should have to go with an arranged marriage. Especially someone as innocent as Milieu...to someone as heartless as Ozai...I brought her here for a wedding...and by golly...their not going to get a wedding..." Tala stood up and went to the cell bars. "Guard!" she called as a guard came. "I would like to request an audience with the fire lord."
"Why would he want to talk to a traitor fire bender?"
"I'm not a traitor. Ozai has rubbed that into your head. Now take me to the fire lord or I will beat your sorry ass..."
"As if..." the guard started to walk away. Tala knew she couldn't get that guy to believe she could kick his ass even though she could...so she decide to use her femine side.
"Your right..." She said in an innocent voice. She put her head down. "I can't beat you...I guess I am a traitor..." She started to cry fake tears. "And now that damned brat Ozai is going to kill me..." The guard stopped to listen. "And I've never...never...lost my burden..."
"What burden?" The guard was intrigued. Kali and Mika were trying hard not to laugh; they knew what she was doing. The guard looked at her. She really did look sad.
"The burden of chastity...and I was planning to give it to someone who would allow me to speak to the fire lord...so I could beg him not kill me...and maybe that someone would stand up for me...and...and..." She sobbed uncontrollably. Then fainted. The guard quickly opened the cell doors. And picked her up. He shook her head gently and she came to.
"I'm so...so sorry..." She said through her truly false tears.
"Don't worry ma'am." The guard said. "I'll take you to see the fire lord." He started to stand her up, but she fell again. "What's wrong? Why can't you walk?"
"The chains make it difficult to. Do you think you could loosen them for me...?" She sobbed. "And I'm frightfully cold in this thin earth nation wear. Do you think you could help keep me warm?" Before she had finished she was out of the chains. And quickly rendered the guard unconscious. She then stole his armor. "Thanks Hun...your armor will keep me warm." She then freed the other two girls.
"Go...find your mistress...and if you run into fire guards along the way...let your instinct take control..." Tala then ran off. She walked through the castle. She didn't know her way around it very well, and she ran into dead ends often.
"What are you doing here?" she ran into a guard. Tala removed her helmet.
"I'm a present for his Fire Lordship." She said in the sweet voice that no one could resist. Her hair covered up her scar.
"He sent for a geisha? Ok." The guard led her to the fire lord's chambers.
"Your Lordship..." Tala said when the guard left; she bowed respectfully to his throne.
"Wench! How dare you come here now!" He thundered.
"Please sir!" Tala begged down on her hands and knees. "I mean no disrespect now! I know that what I did was wrong! I betrayed my countries honor! I defiled their laws, and I served my just banishment today by injuring your son, His Highness Prince Ozai, but believe me now! I mean no disrespect!"
"And why should I believe you!" The fire lord shouted as the flames around his throne erupted.
"Because, you believed me enough once to marry your son, His Highness Prince Iroh, why should your trust be any different. I SAVED YOU SONS LIFE!" Tears poured down her face as she sobbed bitterly remembering those times.
"Why should I put my trust in you? You took away my sons independent marriage by causing him to loose his temper!"
"Because you and your son took away EVERYTHING that I had! You killed EVERYONE I ever held dear! And your son finished them off! I have more reason to hate you more than anyone alive..." She stopped shouting her fears, and her sobs ceased a little. "And I'm forgiving you for the wrongs your family did to me..."
"You make a point! But nothing, NOTHING, can repair the shame you distinguished upon a royal member of MY family!"
"Was I not your family to? You gave my father money to provide and guards to protect me from-"
"Shut-up you Insolent brat! The only way to repay what you've done is an Egni-Kai!" He shouted at her. Tala started to think back on her life. She didn't really want to battle Ozai...and until now she never knew why...Earlier it was just to make him happy, but now she knew the real reason.
"Your Lordship..." she said still on her hands and knees. "I never really wanted to dual your son..."
"And why not! It's probably the only decency you have left in this nation! You stole your father's armor! Impersonated a soldier! By the law you should be dead."
"Because..." She looked at the fire lord. "I love him."
"WHAT?" he roared.
"You can beat me, torture me, bury me alive...I don't care, at least my conscience will be clear...I have forgiven my enemies and those that did me wrong...what guilt do I have to face?"
The fire lord was silent for a moment. The fire lord was wise, and there were many things he didn't teach Ozai. Reason was one of them. "I understand Ms. Tala. Forgive me for my rants. It has taken awhile for it to sink in." He said still in a slightly angry voice. "As you have stated, at one point I did consider you as family, because you were to marry my son, Iroh...and you did save my son, Ozai, from almost certain death." He said. He raised his voice. "But the shame you committed against him cannot be forgiven. You were sent here for a wedding, and a wedding there shall be. Between you and my son..."
"Prince Iroh?"
"No...Ozai."
"What! No your lordship! I couldn't! I don't want to-"
"Non sense! If you love him and he loves you then by Avatar there will be a wedding!"
"He what! He loves me!"
"Yes." The fire lord said as guards grabbed her wrists. "He would never forgive himself for banishing you...after all...you are the most beautiful girl in your generation." The guards started to drag Tala from the room.
"No! You don't understand! He can't ever know! Your lordship! No!" She screamed as she was dragged from the room.
The fire lord smirked in his triumph. True, he had taken care of her and maybe his spoiled worthless son. Ozai, who had been standing in the shadows over heard their conversation.
"Hello, son." The fire lord said descending the throne.
"Father." Ozai bowed stepping towards his father.
"Feel better."
"About what?"
"Knowing that the girl you love loves you back. I see why she intrigued you."
"Huh?"
"Well think about it. She's attractive, except for that scar, she can fight, and she beat you in combat. Hell, she's not even in my age group and I'm attracted."
"Dad?" Ozai said in a 'that's gross' kind of voice.
"Of course, when you're fire lord, age doesn't matter."
"Father! I won't let you!"
"And who says I can't!"
Ozai thought for a moment. "Fine. I'll marry her. But, I'll be far nicer to her than you were to mother; it's the least I can do for her." Ozai left.
The fire lord was alone. "The boy is learning fast. If he marries her, he'll become smarter in how this monarchy is actually run. I can't allow that. She'll talk sense into the boy. The same way his mother tried. His mother might have won over Iroh, but this girl will not win over my son, no matter how gorgeous she really is." He sat back on his throne.
"Hey...Uhh...Ozai." Iroh said as he came up behind his brother.
"What!" Ozai was furious.
"Uhh...I was just wondering. Why are you so mad?" Iroh asked as his brother told him the whole story.
"Oh...so what are you going to do?"
"Huh?"
"What are you going to do about it? You're not just going to let dad have his way are you."
"What choice do I have?"
"Do you remember what you told me years ago?"
"I tell you lots of things, why would I remember one thing."
"You said that you were the Prince and you could do whatever you want. What happened to that Ozai? That was the Ozai I remember. Not this one who does as he's told, the one who broke the rules."
"Your right..." Ozai said. He thought for a moment. "And a heads up dude...stop reading proverbs, you'll give yourself a headache. Plus it's a turn off." Ozai left his brother.
"Whatever, just remember. I had her first." Iroh ran off.
"Idiot...he never even met her, he didn't know his luck." Ozai stormed down the corridor. When he got to his chambers he heard someone beating against the door. "Great..." he rolled his eyes. "Back away from the door Tala!" he shouted opening the door and quickly closing it.
"Great it's you...how else could my day get worse!" Tala shouted trying to open the door again.
"What, shouldn't you be happy to see me?"
"Why would I be you murderer!"
"Because I heard you talking to my father."
Tala froze. "What..." Her eyes opened wide.
"Ya, I heard the whole thing." Ozai crossed his arms.
"How...how do you know I didn't lie?"
"Because you're at a loss for words now, like I uncovered some truth." Ozai turned away from her. Tala looked down. She couldn't bring herself to think of a comeback...yet.
"But..." She stated. "You love me too..."
"So...after all, in your own words, 'I'm just a spoiled prince' how do you know your love is really love."
"Because. Your father said you couldn't forgive yourself for this." She moved her hair from her face as he turned around. True the scar was hideous and she couldn't ever be the same, not with that huge ass scar.
"I can fix that..." Ozai said taking her hand. She pulled away.
"You have no right to touch me!"
"I'll touch you if I want to touch you!"
"Says who!"
"Says me! Hey! If it wasn't for me you'd be dead!"
"What does that have to do with you touching me!" She punched him. He grabbed her wrists.
"Look! Do want that scar to be less noticeable or what...now come on!" He dragged her down the corridors. She was protesting all the time. Eventually they got to the medical chambers. "Now sit down." He ordered as he shoved her into a chair. "Stay."
"I'm not an animal!"
"You're behaving like one."
"And like your not."
"Shut-up!" He got a metal container that had a little cream at the bottom. "Well this is the last of it...I'm not even supposed to know it exists."
"What is it?"
"Third-degree-burn ointment."
"But aren't you supposed to apply that right after you get the wound and not five years later?"
"It's long-lasting." Ozai said as he took the little bit of it out and put it on her scar. "Now leave it there." Ozai ordered putting the empty container away.
"You want me to walk around with this cream crap on my face?"
"No. We'll stay here...of course by we, I mean you."
"You're not going to leave me here are you?"
"Of course I will." Ozai said about to leave. Suddenly Tala's mood changed.
"Okay..." She said innocently standing up and walking over to him. "I guess I could stay here...alone...but..." He turned to look at her and raised his eyebrows. "It'll be awfully lonely in here. Who knows what I'd do." She whispered in his ear.
"Yes." Ozai said sitting her back down again. "It'll be awfully lonely in here, but you're a big girl, I think you can handle it."
"But Ozai..." she said in a fake sob. "I don't like being alone." She said batting her eyes.
"Look, Tala..." Ozai said. "Although your need to be near me is really wonderful and all, I have been with many, MANY girls in the past and I know the fake sympathy and need card. Nice try. But if you're serious..." Ozai started to take off his armor. He was as fit as he used to be, except better. Tala seriously considered it, until her mood changed.
"I hate you!" she spat at him.
"Really because it sound like you just wanted me desperately...what are playing at?"
"Why are trying to get rid of my scar?" she changed the subject.
"Because..." He walked over to her in his fit self. "I can't marry someone with a scar the size of the earth nation, and speaking of the earth nation, like I'd actually marry her...she's on death row. We knew you were helping them out, It was a trick to get YOU here, tuts." He said leaving.
"What!"
"That's right. Sorry about that, Hun."
"You...you..." she thought for a minute. "You knew I'd come back to you. Ever since you left me in the forest...you knew...so you planned this out in order to...in order to get your way! YOU SELFISH, SEXIST, LIEING, EGOTISITCAL, HYPOCRITICAL BIGGIT!" She spat in his eye. "I hope you choke on your own bile!" Ozai smirked. "You wanted to marry me!"
"No actually...I didn't..." Ozai said. "I was SUPPOSED to marry Milieu but I didn't want to. We wanted to capture you, and in the process I was supposed to marry that princess. Father forced me to, but then you went and begged him for mercy, then he said that we have to marry...but trust me, I never wanted to marry you."
"Then why did you want me?"
"Same reason I wanted every other girl in my life."
"Why you little-!"
"You slipped through my fingers and I couldn't have that."
"You really are a beast!" Tala shouted charging at him. Ozai grabbed her wrists and burned them teasingly.
"Now, now miss Tala." Ozai said sitting her down. When he had her in the chair he put his knee in her stomach. "Calm down. After all you don't want to be hurt by a beast." Tala tried to free her wrists. The cream on her face was sinking into her face turning it normal again. "Know what, you were a lot tougher as a guy." He smirked as he leaned in to kiss her. She pushed him off into the wall.
"Stay away from me!" she started to cry. "You filthy, lying, ungrateful creep!" She was still in the chair.
"Fine...stay in here!" Ozai said. "And to think, I was going to keep you company, doll." He left.
"Grrr..." Tala said after he left. "He's so stupid! He thinks that because of his good looks and dreamy figure that he can get any girl he wants." She sobbed to herself in a low voice knowing that he was standing outside the door. True, she did love him. He was strong, good looking, some times understandable, and he actually felt guilt for hurting her. No one had ever done that. Also he looked really good. (imagine an older non-scarred Zuko drools on keyboard woops sorry...) "Oh who am I kidding..." she said to herself as tears rolled gently down her face. "I should have known this would have happened. If I'd have only stayed where I was when daddy died, instead of seeking revenge...or whatever the reason was that I joined that army..." She held her knees and closed her eyes crying so slightly that only she could hear herself. "I'm so stupid." She buried her face in her knees as the cream dissolved into her face. As she sat there by herself she remembered what her mother would say to her when she was upset, before the fire lord killed her. Tala could swear she could hear her mother's voice, telling her:
"Tala, Tala, Tala." Said her mother's voice. "It's not your fault...well maybe it is but, I know you hear this all the time but, well, no matter ho bad things get they can always get worse."
"How momma..." she whispered as though her mother was there.
"You could be stuck with that awful Prince Ozai..."
"But, I am momma..."
"Well then...look at the Brightside you could be fat (no offense to fat people...fat people rock! except me...I'm not fat...)...or bald (no offense)...or have bad breathe... (please, take offense to that one)" Tala laughed a little.
"Momma, you always knew what to say in situations like this. I miss you so...so very much." Tala said. This time her mother's voice didn't ring in her ear. Tala felt a little better. But it still haunted her that she was the last of her family; if she died then they'd never go on. But what would Ozai care, he'd probably have his way with her and then kill her. She felt her face were her scar had been. She couldn't feel the cream.
"I must have cried it off..." she sniffled to herself. She waited until she was completely sure that you couldn't tell she had been crying, before she stood up. She carefully walked to the door and found it unlocked. She stuck her head out into the hall. No one was there. You could only see the torches that lit the hallways. As soon as she stuck a foot out of the door, she heard someone.
"Who's there!" she called. No one answered. Instead, she saw Ozai standing there. He still had his chest armor off. "Get away from me."
"Make me..."
"I would rather die..."
"THAT CAN BE ARRANGED!"
"If you think I'm going to warm up to you...forget it." She said keeping her rather sad; I don't really care what you do voice.
"You'll warm up to me eventually." He said as she turned away from him.
"Not in the Hell I won't..." Tala said. "And there's no way your going to make me."
"I'll give you a choice my dear, you can go easy, or you can go hard, but one way or another you will warm up to me." He put a hand on her shoulder.
"No...give me one good reason why I should." Tala moved away.
"I saved your life."
"And I saved yours...now give me a good reason..."
"I love you..."
"And so do I now show it you asshole!" Tala ran off down the corridor only to find guards at the end of it.
"I do...I show it by anger and brutality...and YOU WILL warm up to me..."
"NO..."
"Fine...then I'll just have to court you like a normal person." He took her hand.
"Don't touch me..."
"What are you juvenile come on..." he pulled her down the corridors. He led her into an empty chamber. He let her go. "I'm sure you are well aware that there is magic in this world, yes?"
"Yes...maybe...no..."
"Well there is...its called music."
"You're a musician?"
"No...but this guy is." He pointed into the shadows of the room. Iroh stood next to a piano. He started to play.
"You're using your brother to court me! Oh my Avatar! You have to be the most selfish person in the world!" She started to leave. Only to get caught by him again. "Do you ever tire ever grabbing me or do you just like the view?"