An 4/16/22: hi guys, it's future me. I am edition the pewvious chapters and probably changing some things (not a lot or plot just like small things, adding more character development) because I did write this over and year ago and of course my skill has improved. My current readers know that it gets better and have stuck with me but I don't want to turn away new readers so here I am. Anyway I hope you enjoy.

Book one: fire

Chapter one: the girl in the palace

———————

"Fire that's closets kept burns most of all"

Shakespeare

———————

"Around 95 years ago, our glorious nation defeated the airbenders with the power of Sozin's comet. We created a world in our image, and though some may not agree with it, they will eventually be persuaded. Though we mourn the loss of lady Ursa and Late Firelord Azulon, we come here to celebrate the crowning of a new one. As was the Firelord's last decree, his second born shall inherit the throne. Thus, I crown prince Ozia, lord of the fire nation. May the spirits bless your reign." With that the ment gently lowered the crown. Azula watched as he sunk the spike into her fathers topknot, securing the crown on his head.

Azula would have breathed a sigh of relief, but the corset she was wearing made it hard to do so. Azula had ordered the servants to make her look older, she hadn't wanted to be seen as a little kid in front of her whole nation. However, the corset was a pain. It squeezed tightly around her small waist, making it much smaller. That part felt fine, but what didn't was the crushing sensation in her lungs. It was tight around her ribcage, confining her lungs to a small place. Azula had to constantly remind herself that she wasn't drowning, and to simply take deep breaths. Still, even with the deep breathing, she was starting to see black spots in her vision.

She had lasted for the first two events of the day. They were both funerals, one for her mother and one for her grandfather. In total they took about eight hours. And, for Azula this was eight hours of trying not to die of laughter. Her grandfather's funeral took place first, and she was overwhelmed with the amount of pazaz. She could see her father was too. Occasionally, when they were talking about how mighty the firelord had been, she could see him hold back a chuckle. Throughout the funeral they would make eye contact, and as they did so, her father would send her an eye roll or funny face of sorts. She would have to hold her breath in order to hold back laughter that threatened to consume her body.

She knew her mother wasn't dead, and that was the worst part of her funeral. That, and the fact that every other sentence was about how everyone would miss Ursa because she was such a great mother. Cry. Me. A. Fucking. River. She was never a good mother, not even a good person. Unless, killing the firelord somehow didn't count as murder.

The day her grandfather had asked her father to kill her brother was the day the firelord died and her mother disappeared. She remembered with glee the moment Azulon asked Ozia to kill her brother. "You must understand the pain of losing a firstborn," he had said. Her father readily agreed. He wanted the throne, and he hated her brother. So, win win. Everything would have gone fine if mother didn't interfere. She guessed that was just another thing her mother would do for Zuko, murder a powerful world leader. She suspected her mother had used poison, as there weren't any open wounds on his body. And, Azula actually applauded this, maybe she had gotten some of her cunning from her mother after all. But, nonetheless it hurt. Because her mother had left her, her last words to the child being that she was a monster.

But, right now it was hard to contemplate such things. She was on a knee bowing, the corset digging into her ribs. The robe she wore was white, however thick enough to absorb the sun nonetheless. Her wrists ached from supporting her wait, and her neck had started to ache. Worst of all, she was bored.

To distract herself she had started eyeing the audience. It was a game Azula liked to play when she was bored, which was often. She would find a person, and based on their appearance determine everything about them. She never knew whether she was right or not, but she suspected she was.

She bit the inside of her lip, trying not to snicker. Though he was older than her, poor Zuzu looked so young. He seemed to shake slightly and when she searched his eyes all she could see was sadness. Was he still sad over the disappearance of their mother, she wondered. They were given a whole day to grieve which was more than enough for Azula. But then again, her brother had always been slower than her, at firebending, and while everything. She rolled her eyes, he was so weak.

Then why did mother love him more? The voice in her head asked. Azula banished it, not having time for the intruding thoughts. But, they were right. No matter how hard she tried to gain her mother's attention. No matter how many firebending forms she mastered. Her mother never looked in her direction without a lecture on her tongue.

For the rest of the ceremony, her thoughts were consumed with princess Ursa. She was barely present when the sage placed the crown on her fathers head, or when the crowd bowed. Nor was she present when her father gave his speech. However, she managed to hide the fact behind the porcelain mask she had inherited from him.

Hours later, after the ceremony was finally over, they were allowed to depart. Her father had stuff to attend to in light of becoming king, so she was left to her own vices.

Today, unlike every other day of the princesses life, there was no real schedule. Azula had always been organized. Her room contained very little as to keep from cluttering and maids were never allowed in her wing of the palace. Every day she had a specific schedule she would follow. But today, there was none. It was freeing in a sense, but also terrifying. She found herself strolling to her room, her normally brisk pace relaxed, her shoulders slightly hunched over. She had no idea what to do with herself, she realized as she collapsed onto the king sized bed in the center of her sleep room.

The corset dug into her ribs, reminding her of the uncomfortable gowns and giving her an idea of what first she would do. With the events of the day over, there was no point in continuing to wear such a hideous thing. She walked over to her closet, entering it and lighting the candles that framed the walls. Sighing, she looked down the neat rows of clothing, wondering what to wear. Her eyes landed on a light summer comino, the color of her fathers crimson fires. Smiling, she decided to put it on. After all, she hadn't worn it in years and this was a special occasion.

Once she had fastened the many strings and tied the dress correctly, she turned to the mirror. She was face to face with a girl, no older than herself, a girl that seemed to have everything figured out. The girls face was hardly pale enough and her eyes had the faintest hint of other colors, blues mixed with the golds, but she didn't seem to care. Her stature was small but she held her head up high. Her mother had just died yet Azula didn't cry, she was strong. Only Azula knew she did care, knew that she only smirked to mask the fear, and knew that though she held her shoulders high no one would ever see her as more than a small weak child. Knew that her mother wasn't dead and worse she had abandoned her. Why couldn't she be more like her father, she had most of his looks, why couldn't she be tall like him. She was strong but as a girl she would never be as strong as he was. She knew that as she stared into her own eyes that she was staring into the eyes of a failure, and in those eyes she lost herself.

—————

"What are you doing child," hissed the angry voice of Azula's mother. She looked up from where she had been watching and wrinkled her nose.

"I'm looking at the flowers, don't you think they're pretty?" She asked before turning back to watch the petals burn. It was fascinating, the way they curled but refused to char until finally they gave into the heat. She hadn't meant to burn them, had simply been picking them to examine but she had trouble controlling her inner flame and lit them on fire. Now she watched as the element licked away sat them until their was nothing but char left. Only her mother had wanted to interrupt her fun, hadn't she been playing with Zuko, what need did she need Azula for now? Azula knew it would be something of course, it had to be, she never bothered interacting with her unless it was.

As the last of the flames died out she turned towards Ursas face, seeing the confusing written in her eyes. "How could such a lovely woman give birth to such a monster?" She asked, and Azula rolled her eyes. Her mother wasn't a lovely woman, she was lonely and bitter and only cared for Zuko. But of course Azula would never make this opinion heard instead she would pretend she didn't hear what her mother muttered under her breath and maintain the inpassive smile.

"What is it you want," she would ask graciously and Ursa would shake her head of the confusion. "Your Uncle sent a letter, and a gift for you," she would say before grabbing the girls hand and guiding her away. Azula would smile more, this time not fake. She truly liked hearing her uncles crazy stories though she would never admit it.

———-

Azula shook her head, clearing her thoughts. She didn't have time to think about that retched women that had birthed her, they had been given a day which was enough, she told herself as she walked over to her discarded garment and folded it. After placing it outside her door for the servants to wash, she made sure to remove any crinkles from the fabric of her bed. The maids were never allowed in her room unless she strictly gave them permission that said other wise, and today was no exception. Once she was forced to spend hours re organizing and cleaning because the maids had so ruined her perfect system. Almost perfect wasn't good enough for the young princess, and she trusted no one but herself to be perfect.

Azula left her room, walking down the halls that led from the princesses corridors. She wandered further and further from her rooms, having no destination. This was rare for the peincess, she almost always had something to do and if she didn't she made something. Only, today she had nothing nor was she allowed to. A new firelord had just been corrinated and it was, in a sense, illegal to do anything. So… she supposed she was to have fun.

Her direction changed as her mind subconsciously decided on where she should go. She found herself heading to the gardens. She decided she would head to the turtle duck pond, the place her older brother always went when he was feeling.. well anything. Maybe it was to pasture him, or maybe to comfort, she didn't know. No, it couldn't be to confort Zuzu tho, after all she had hardly ever done such a thing why would she now. Unless, maybe she herself needed comforting? Azula brushed the thought from her mind as quickly as it came. Traitor, she thought, referring to her own mind's insistence on making her life so difficult.

When she reached the turtle duck pond, little Zuzu was nowhere to be seen. Though she would never admit it, this worried her greatly. When he was sad he came here, that was almost a law. So why wasn't he here, she knew he was sad.

She turned to look at the servants scurrying around the palace, contemplating asking them, but decided against it. She could still have fun. Only, when she turned around again to face the pond there was a woman sitting there. Though she was facing away, Azula knew exactly who it was.

"What are you doing here?" She asked her mother. However, Azula got no response. Instead, the women tossed more seeds to the turtle ducks. Azula became angered, and began to approach the traitorous women. "Mother." Azula was trying frantically to get her attention, but she was too busy with the baby turtle ducks.

Always too busy for you, the voice hissed.

Azula scowled. "What did you come back for Zuzu?" Still no answer. Azula became angry and reached for her mother's shoulder, however her hand only grasped air. Her mother was gone. Confused she looked around, she couldn't have just disappeared right? But, she did. She had left Azula, again.

In a fit of anger, Azula turned to the pond in which the turtle ducks were peacefully swimming. She clutched a fist and thrust it forward at the water, aiming for the mother who seemed to be cleaning her babies. Instead of the heat of a flame coming from her closed fists, something else happened. Something strange, something impossible. Air swirled from her fist and flew into the water, startling the ducklings and mother but doing no real harm. Azula stared down at her fisted hand, unsure of what had happened. Had she air bent?

AN 4/16/22: if you are a new reader I seggust you wait for the updated/ rewriten versions of chapters but ofc that's up to you. I'm not going to give a real date bc I never follow those. Anyway I hope you enjoy trust me this book gets crazy.