AN: hi guys, a big thank you to my returning readers and welcome new readers. I noticed the saves and likes whatever went up. I'm glad you guys are here, I'm glad you stuck with me. I'm at a new school now, and you would think the start of school would mean I would update less. But guess who gets English credit for updating this fanfiction? Well, me. Yayy im so excited because we are back and I hope to really get grinding. I always say ima do it by -- and then don't so I'm not ganna say thag but my goal is to have the first book done by the end of august. There are 3 more chapters after this one, the next two are completely mapped out, the third I'm still working on. Anyway, this is a short one, but I hope you enjoy it!
BOOK ONE: FIRE
CHAPTER SIX: THE WATER HEALER
Agni was already peeking his head over the horizon by the time Azula managed to make her way out of the maze of tunnels and to the brothel. The light he shed wasn't ideal for the princess, who would have much preferred the cover of darkness. However, she couldn't turn back time, and she couldn't wait for the sun to set. The second her father realized she was gone there would be a capital wide lockdown. Azula had to get her information and get back before that. That was, assuming she returned at all. Azula wasn't quite sure about that, if she allowed herself to be honest with herself. She shook her head, realizing that those problems were for a later time. First she had to sneak into the back of the brothel, locate the women, and force her to tell her what she knew. The hardest part, she had to do all of this without being recognized.
She bit her lip, scheming up a plan. She was no longer wearing her royal robes, having ditched it for some far more practical apparel on the way. How she acquired said apparel, suffice to say some poor women would be waking up almost naked in the back of an alley. She should have known better than to wander alone so early in the morning, Azula decided not to feel bad.
Still, even with the clothes she was far from recognizable, she realized. Most every noble had seen her face, and with her golden eyes and long ebony hair she would instantly be seen. Even as she ran her fingers through it, making it to frame her face, she wasn't quite sure.
Not everything could be perfect, she decided as she entered the brothel. Considering the time, it wasn't as lively, and hopefully those here would be far too intoxicated to do much. Azula pushed her way past servers, allowing her hair to fall in front of her face and obscure her eyes. Still, she rolled them as the servers gave her angry looks, as if she could respect someone who clearly didn't respect themselves. That had to be it, there was no way any self respecting human being would show so much of themselves to anyone who just so happened to wander in. it disgusted her, and she had to stop herself from scoffing in their faces. Instead she decided to crinkle her nose as she examined the servers.
She noted that many of them were very clearly of watertribe decent, many having wavier brown hair. Some of them even had blue eyes, something Azula was accustomed to seeing and found truly beautiful. However, there was a large portion of the women working that very cleary seemed to be firenation. Still, all of them wore strange beads in their hair, something Azula assumed to be reminiscent of their ancestry. No, perhaps it could be some cheap appropriation of water tribe culture, as many firenation men fetishized it.
Azula never understood this aspect of her culture, all her life she's been taught that the fire nation was the supreme nation. So why would fire benders settle for lowly savages from the water tribe. Why would they desire this? Was it that it was exotic, or was it simply the action of having something beneath you. Men always like to feel in control, I still have noticed this growing up in the palace. Perhaps it was that. They felt more confident in themselves when around someone that society deemed less than human. Azula herself had always seen one tribe citizens as less then, so did that make her? Was she a lowly savage, did her royal blood cancel it out?
Azula Shuker thoughts from her head, closing her eyes and blinking the questions away. She scans the room, looking for something. She wasn't sure exactly what it was she was looking for, but it definitely wasn't what she found. When her eyes landed on his form, her nose scrunched tighter, lips subconsciously forming a scowl. The reflexive urge to gag was difficult for her to suppress, and so she swallowed harshly.
Across from her, seated out of a table surrounded by many of the exotic looking hookers, is General Zhao. Of course, she thought angrily, just her luck. Without wasting any further time she slipped back into The crowded areas, keeping her gaze down as she maneuvered past the woman. Her eyes caught on one headed to the back, and seeing an opening she took it.
She followed the server into a restroom, and as soon as she was alone attacked. It didn't take much, The blue-eyed girl had never been trained in combat. Even if she had, no one skills bested Azulas. It took her a meer five minutes for Azula to knock the girl out, taking her uniform and changing into it quickly. Azula by no means liked it, feeling as if she was walking around naked. But, it was a good disguise. She placed the beads in your hair, copying the style down to the color of the bead. When she was done, she placed the woman inside the stall, sitting her up as if she was using the restroom and leaving. Too bad it was a public restroom, as well thought. They weren't common in the fire nation, but of course some brothel would have them. Still, should anyone see her legs they would simply think the stall was occupied.
Azula exited the bathroom, making her way deeper into the belly of the "establishment." She didn't pass that many people, and though she did didn't seem to pay her any attention. However, she had no idea where she was going. Perhaps had she been thinking more clearly she would have interrogated the woman before knocking her unconscious. However, that too had risk, as the woman would have screamed for help. No, she had made the best decision she could at the time, and now she had to make another.
Eventually she made her way underground, where the majority of the brothel actually lay. The top is simply for gas, and down here Azula could see the workings behind everything. It was like a maze. Azula wandered around it aimlessly, hoping to see something that would put her in the direction she was going. Eventually, by Agnis grace, she found it. She recognizes the room, or the door to it. She assumed she would also recognize the inside. This must've been the room where her father took her to get healed. How she recognized it, she wasn't quite sure. Perhaps she had awoken more times than she could remember, Endo her brain wasn't fully conscious she remembered the general area.
Swallowing down her nerves Azula knocked gently on the wooden door, waiting for an answer. She wasn't sure if she wanted one, but nonetheless one came. The door swung open, and standing face-to-face with her was the woman. The woman instantly recognized her, now dropping open this up to say something. Azula quenched I thought with a razor face, a small blue flame flickering light within her hand. The flame only lasted for a second, and Azula closed her fist. Still, the intent was clear. The women understood, opening the door to allow for Azula to enter.
Once the princess was inside, the water bender closed the door, latching a lock into place. Azula looked around the room, scanning it as she had not had the ability to prior. It was small, decorated with blue silk and fur, and there was a bed in the middle. Azula remembered laying there as the women worked on her back.
"Princess," the old woman said, bowing deeply, "what brings you here?" She asked.
Azula inhaled deeply, pausing before answering. "I want to know about Umi, I want to know about my mother."
AN: I cannot express how excited I am for the next two chapters. I've been working on them before I finish this chapter, and I'm just going to say I am in love. I don't wanna spoil but it's amazing!