Ch7

Azula stood before the war tribunal. Representatives from each of the nations, spare the air nomads, sat behind a long desk before her. Behind her, a large gathered, multinational audience sat in observance. People from the water tribes, earth kingdom towns, Ba Sing Se, Omashu, and even people in the Fire Nation came to watch. And in the front rows, the group responsible for ruining everything, the Avatar and his friends. To top it all off, Zuko of all people was the highest point of contact in this hearing.

The audience had booed and spoke vulgarities at her as she was led in. Soldiers who once obeyed her every word, and feared her, now handled her as if she was an ostrich horse being captured and detained. Azula didn't care. None of this phased her, visibly. They were all vile and filthy scum, the lot of them. And these people and troops from her own country? They're all traitors, dogs that ruthlessly bite the hand that fed them. Ungrateful peasants!

Her wrists and ankles were shackled with heavy iron chains. She would injure herself if she tried to melt through them, and the process would take far too long to reasonably accomplish. On top of this, the room was full of benders that would be just itching to strike her down. Maybe that would be best, she thought. There was no getting out of this anyway, was there?

Her hair had still been jaggedly cut. She hadn't recovered from her self-imposed hair style. Her trademark bangs which normally framed her face neatly were still uneven, one still much longer than the other. A clear diagonal line marked the direction the scissors hastily travelled. The entire experience was humiliating, and her infatuation warmed her from within like a raging ironworks kiln, but she was somewhat glad to be back in her uniform.

Whether it had been to make a grandiose impact, or to add effect to her sentencing and the public's opinion, she did not know. But for her final appearance for her sentencing, she had been fitted to make an appearance in the attire she wore when she had been defeated. It was better and lifted her mood from the prison robes and tunics she had been wearing, and although reminiscent of a defeat her past armor was much even miles ahead of wearing a straitjacket. As if adding insult to injury, they even provided Azula with her former hairpiece; the golden three-pronged flame crown of the princess of the Fire Nation. The weight of the armor plates on her shoulders and the boots on her feet was comforting. Her makeup was really the main indicator that she had since settled since her day of coronation.

"For aiding in the suffering and advocating for the complete and total destruction of the Earth Kingdom, taking military action against non-military targets, as well as committing espionage under a foreign uniform, bringing about the fall of Ba Sing Se, launching a government coup, in addition to the cruel treatment of prisoners, this court finds you guilty of all charges and sentences you to life in prison with possibility of parole," the presiding judge declared. The bang of his gavel hammered in the officiality of the decree. Azula held a strong scornful face at the tribunal. Her gaze was like lasers, burning a hole straight through anything in their path. It was a facade.

Life in prison?

That- That's it isn't it.

There's nothing more to this anymore.

They've done it. They've taken everything from me.

I'll never experience anyone's company anymore.

It's over.

Azula was led from the courtroom in chains which clincked and rattled with each step she took. The rooms and halls were filled with the loud shouting which erupted from the audience and crowds which had gathered to watch the convicted former princess paraded into captivity.

Despite the uproar and the circumstance, Azula maintained her smug look or scorn, her eyes fixed straight ahead and not granting the crowd the privilege of her attention or reaction.

"Azula," an older voice called amid the sea of shouts. She could hear someone shuffling through the dense sea of people behind her. "Azula!- Excuse me, let me through!"

The procession paused, allowing her to turn about to see who was approaching. It was her Uncle. The wise old man, still donning Earth Kingdom greens of all clothing available, was panting as he tried to catch his breath after forcefully shoving his way through the crowd.

"What do you want, Uncle? You want to humiliate me further? Are you happy? I'm sure you are," she scorned. "Guards, let's get a move on! We have nothing to discuss!" The detail continued its advance forth through the crowd.

"No! Of course not. Listen, the ruling, I want to help you," he pleaded.

"There's nothing to help, uncle. You've done quite enough."

"I'll talk to Zuko, and to the Avatar. I'll work something out!" he tried to keep up with their advance through the courthouse.

"I said that's enough," she barked. "A princess serves with honor," she said referring to her court sentence, to her destiny. "Besides, I'd rather this than being saved by the likes of you- a traitorous, lazy, and weak old man; or by Zuko- the family disgrace!" Her words were sharp and pierced the hearts of even the spectators.

"Please, Azula," he pleaded desperately. "I'm begging you! This is your life! It's a life sentence! You're still so young- too young to be locked away like this. There's nothing wrong with letting the people who love you help you!"

She stopped walking once again and darted around. Her eyebrows furrowed and her nose crinkled. "People who love me?" She snorted, "Do tell, Uncle. Who exists in that group? There is no such person! Everyone hates me! Don't you understand that? If not, you're still just as foolish and deluded as you always have been! It's no wonder you've failed when faced at a crucial point, and lost who you've lost at those times!"

Iroh was taken aback. Her words managed to stab deep. She was referring to Lu Ten. She expected him to yell back, but he didn't. "You're right, Azula," he admitted. "I wasn't there for him, to help him. That's why I've tried to make up for it by being there for others." Tears welled up in his eyes. "For Zuko during his journey, every step of the way. I know we had a bit of a rough conflict between us for the past year, but you're still my niece. I won't abandon you, Azula. Work with me!"

She shut her eyes and turned away. "I'm sorry, Uncle. This is reality. Goodbye."