To a truly amazing History teacher who always played us a movie

when we were having a hard day…

oooooooooo

Here I am with more of THIS…

I'm actually having way too much fun writing something set in a school, even if I am usually only following the characters during one of the classes. Unlike wars, robberies and other stuff I usually write about this is something I've actually experienced.

Anyway, hope you enjoy it :)

oooooooooo

Chapter 2

"We need to find a way to make her pay."

It was the first thing Azula said to her friends when they saw each other the next morning.

"Make who pay?" Ty Lee asked, genuinely lost.

"The History teacher, Miss Omori," Mai explained.

"We need to show her she can't just come here and decide how things work..."

"Yeah, that's your job, Azula."

Both Mai and the Princess rolled their eyes.

"Maybe I'm missing something," started Mai. "But can't you just, like, tell your father and he'll take care of her?"

"I can, but he's not home right now. He's at the front, solidifying his claim to the throne."

"What claim? He's the Fire Lord. It's done."

Azula didn't feel like explaining the intricacies of ruling to them right that second so she ignored the question. "What is certain, is that I don't know when he'll be back."

"So you can't do anything?" A small smile formed on Mai's lips.

"I can do plenty! You'll see… We'll do it together."

"What's the plan then, Azula?" Ty Lee asked with blind faith that it'd be a good one just because Azula came up with it.

The Princess though back to her father's lessons again.

"Guerilla warfare."

"What about gorillas?" Mai wanted to roll her eyes at Ty Lee's question, but found herself no less confused.

"It's what you do when you're faced with a stronger and more organized enemy. It's mostly clever and targeted sabotage." Azula was currently half-way through a book on the phenomenon. In truth, she didn't even understand why she kept reading it, since the Fire Nation would never find itself at such a disadvantage.

"So you want to annoy her into leaving?" Mai asked.

"I'm not criticizing your ideas, I would never do that, but can't you just… Set her on fire?" Ty Lee suggested. "It worked last time…"

"I could. But it's getting boring… I want to do this."

Azula did not plan on telling them she didn't want to get caught doing this. Partly because she refused to be dragged into detention another time and partly because her father told her to talk to him when one of her teachers was incompetent, not to act on her own.

oooooooooo

"She's late," announced Chubs from her desk in the back of the classroom.

"Again," Blinker added.

There was a short silence and one by one all the girls turned to look at Azula.

"Or maybe she's not coming at all," she said with a smile on her face. Zyra Omori wasn't dealt with for good, but she was dealt with for today, so Azula would enjoy it. Enjoy their scared stares on her, imagining what the teacher was going through right now…

Miss Omori burst through the door, half of her hair, her face and her coat covered in light green paint. She was nervously patting the coat with a cloth, trying and partly succeeding in getting the paint out, while she paid no attention to the color in her hair.

The room broke into chatter, everyone had a question about this and Azula put on her best fake surprised face. She predicted the woman would go home if the trap worked, but she was happy she got to see the results of it up close. It looked terrible.

"Don't worry, I'm perfectly fine… I had an accident." Miss Omori threw the dirty cloth away. "I'm just sorry I ruined my school issued coat."

"But your hair…" Mouse pointed.

"Yeah, I realize… It'll come off. I hope."

"What happened?" Ty Lee asked, pretend like she was innocent. Azula just hoped she wouldn't give it all away.

"It isn't important… We should get started with the aftermath of the revolution." Miss Omori used her hand to check if the paint in her hair was still fresh. "At least this way, I'll keep your attention."

Some girls laughed, but Azula just rolled her eyes. Who did this woman think she was?

And why did she seem so immune to everything?

Azula ended up being more upset by her sabotage with the paint than Miss Omori was. The woman continued with the class as usual, cracking jokes and trying to include everyone. At one point, while describing a conflict between a Fire Nation roque state and the Earth Kingdom, she used the paint to her advantage. She turned the green side of her face to the class when she was talking from the Kingdom's point of view, and the other when she was representing their opponents.

The class loved it, Ty Lee clapped at almost everything the teacher said, and Azula was almost sure she saw Mai smile at one of the jokes.

"That's when we decided to take their capital!" Miss Omori said in an exaggerated voice, showing her green side. "But what was its name again? Who will help?"

South Najin…

"Yes, Taka?" she called on Blinker.

"Khagol!"

"No…"

Some girls put down their hands, since that was obviously their answer. The next two guesses were wrong too and, even though it was usually beneath her, Azula raised her hand. It was just her and Crooked who still had ideas.

"Azula?"

"South Najin."

"No, sorry." The teacher turned to Crooked. "Sora?"

"It's correct," Azula persisted.

"It's a common mistake. The royal family declared their independence in South Najin, but then, for strategic reasons, moved the capital to…" She pointed at Crooked.

"Tanchon."

"Yes."

"It's not true!" the Princess insisted.

"Azula, some of my ancestors are from there. Believe me, I know the history." Miss Omori still looked amused. It absolutely enraged Azula. "I said it in class yesterday."

"Like you couldn't be wrong! I read about it last night. It's South Najin."

Miss Omori agreed to check, and moved to her desk to open the book describing the war, when the two girls followed her. Azula wanted nothing more than to be right about this. She needed it. She watched as their teacher flipped through the pages.

"Here it is," The woman stopped finally. "Sora's right."

Azula shoved her way to read the words for herself. Unbelievable! She'd read the same book last night… She must have mixed up the two places. But how?! She didn't mix things up. She didn't forget! And she was not bested by ugly-toothed freaks like Crooked.

She must have been letting her feelings show, because Azula soon realized some of the girls were smiling, watching her stand there at the front of the classroom, completely humiliated. Crooked flashed her horrible smile.

"But we all had a very productive day today," begun Miss Omori. "And that's why I'll let you leave early for lunch. Come on, you're free…"

Hearing that, all the girls stood up and started walking to the door, chatting amongst each other. Crooked started making her way to her best friend, smile still on her face, but Azula tripped her over her foot and the girl fell flat on her face.

"Azula!" The teacher jumped forward to help Crooked up. "Detention, again! Sit on my chair and wait for me."

Azula reluctantly obeyed while the rest of the girls cleared out, all giving Azula judgy looks.

You'll be looking at me with more respect once this one's gone…

She vowed to herself one more time to get rid of both Miss Omori and Crooked once her father was back. He'd believe her. She'd make him believe her…

Even after a few minutes Azula could still see Miss Omori talking to Crooked in the hall. The girl was waving her hands, explaining something passionately with tearful eyes. Spinning lies probably… And this idiot teacher would almost surely take her side.

Azula tried to keep her expression neutral as the woman walked back into the classroom and kneeled next to where she was sitting.

"Why can't you leave that girl alone?" Miss Omori asked in the gentlest tone of voice Azula'd ever hear being used at her. She didn't even know how to react to it. "You have a crush or something?"

"I- Why can't she leave me alone?!" Azula's words came out sounding more pathetic than she wanted them too.

"There are more important things in life, than being the best, or the smartest, or the strongest... And if you weren't trying to choke her every other day, I think you and Sora could be great friends."

Azula scoffed.

"Really. You two are the best students here. If you let it, you might actually find talking to her interesting."

"I already have friends." Azula pushed the teacher's suggestion away, especially, because it was starting to make sense.

"You can never have too many…" The teacher paused for a second and then took the history book from the desk into her hands. "And do you know why I carry this with me? Because even I can't remember every single fact from here in every situation. You shouldn't expect yourself to be able to."

She waited for an answer from Azula then, but got none.

"Well, that's it. That's what I wanted to say… You can go now. See you in detention, for the last time hopefully."

oooooooooo

But it wasn't the last time…

It became a daily thing in the upcoming two weeks. Azula's detention included more posters, some alphabetizing of books and cleaning out a cluttered room. She'd handled them with more grace after the first time, but she still threatened Miss Omori she'd pay for it every time. The woman never seemed fazed in the slightest.

It seemed like everything at school was changing. One day, Tremors bumped into Azula accidently and didn't even give it a second thought, let alone be afraid of the consequences. The Princess was losing control, or rather realizing she'd lost it somewhere in the last two weeks.

The worst time, without question, was during lunch. Miss Omori removed Azula's right to a separate table for her and her friends. At first no one wanted to join them anyway, but soon girls came and sat by Ty Lee or Mai, starting up conversations. And it wasn't just that, the other tables… Girls chattered loudly, laughed and squealed, not having to worry about making themselves a target. Mouse, who was always incredibly quiet, hummed a melody while eating her food.

Azula was about to complain about it to Ty Lee when she saw the girl was turned away from her, clapping her hands together with Chubs to the rhythm of some nursery rhyme, while Nasal braded her hair. On the other side, Mai seemed to be telling a funny story to Bones. Azula couldn't eat anymore, watching that. She left the table in silence, and wasn't sure if her friends, if anyone, noticed. She went back to the classroom to wait for recess to be over. At least she could have some peace and quiet there. She probably wasn't allowed to do it, but it didn't matter. She'd already earned detention that day, by setting fire to school property. Little did the teacher know she was aiming at Blinker…

Azula tried analyzing her fall from power but came up shorthanded. She just didn't understand why the techniques she learned from her father hadn't worked. It should have worked! They should respect her, she was still a princess! They should adore her! They should listen to her!

Her thoughts were interrupted when Miss Omori walked into the classroom.

"Here you are…"

Azula got up to walk out, but then saw the woman had no intention of stopping her or forbidding it. Then she turned back towards her. "Why do you hate me?!" It came out angrier than Azula intended. "Ever since you came here, you worked as hard as you could to ruin everything for me!"

"Azula… I don't hate you. I am you. Or I was you…" The woman stopped for effect and Azula's eyes drifted to the still slightly green part of her hair. "Good family, unbelievable talent, potential, power… And the cruelty, entitlement, isolation… It doesn't lead anywhere good, I can promise you. I want to help you not be like that."

Oh, how original… Someone who thought there was something wrong with her. Azula was beginning to realize that was most people, they were just too cowardly to voice it. But it was their problem, they just couldn't recognize greatness even when it was staring them in the face.

"I have something for you." Miss Omori reached into her bag, which Azula considered setting ablaze just minutes before. The woman pulled out a worn-out book and handed it to the Princess. It was a History textbook.

"Why?"

"I thought you and Sora might be interested in some extra work. You both excel at what we go over in class, I thought you'd appreciate a challenge. We can even discuss some things together, all three of us." Then the woman's face changed, like she hated what she was about to say next. "It's the book the Boys' Academy uses."

Azula didn't ask why theirs was more advanced, she knew why.

"How did you come by this?"

"Oh, it isn't hard if you have the right family name and say your imaginary son is enrolled there..."

"You… Stole the books?" Azula couldn't believe what she was hearing. She was not hiding her surprise well.

"I took it from people who don't think daughters deserve the same level of education as sons do. If I'd stolen a hundred books, we still wouldn't be even for what they're doing…"

"Alright. I'll do the extra work."

"Good… We'll see how you girls like it and next year maybe we can get them for the whole class." Miss Omori beamed. "I suppose it'll be even easier to be inconspicuous when you don't have green hair."

oooooooooo

"Last wall today." Azula noticed as she waited for Miss Omori to find her a brush. They both stood in a completely empty room with three freshly painted white walls and one somewhere between grey and yellow.

"Are you sure we'll finish today?" Miss Omori handed her a brush, but a small one, barely thicker than a toothbrush.

"You have to be joking…"

"Afraid not. I'm running out of errands around here you could do… And unless you want garbage duty, I suggest we make this one last longer."

Azula flashed one of her glares her way, then took the brush and got to work painting the wall. She wondered silently if so much work with paint was a sign that Miss Omori really did know who panted her green that one day. Neither Azula nor her friends ever got punished for it. She hoped that if the woman really did know, Mai and Ty Lee would be here, applying paint right by her side.

"So did you get a chance to read something from the book?" Miss Omori asked after a few silent seconds of painting. "Sora did. But she says the vocabulary is a bit much for her…"

"Aren't you eager to start using this office?" Azula asked.

"When did I say this was going to be my office?"

"You didn't. I deduced it, since you work in the middle of the hallway and this room was used for storage of things no one wanted." If she had to pick the worst part of her detention experience, it had to be while they carried out the old, useless rubbish from the room.

"It was actually given to me to serve as an office, but I have other plans for it when we're done. We'll turn it into a library."

Azula chuckled. "Why?"

"It's not funny. I was transferred from this school, when I was a bit younger than you. I was given an opportunity to go to the Boys' Academy. They have a library. A comprehensive one."

Azula then considered complaining to her father about that. Maybe she could get him to invest in the school. He could do anything, sure he could make them buy some books… But would he want to? After considering it Azula concluded he'd just send her to the better school. It was easier for him, but for her… She'd lose her friends. She already felt like she was losing them anyway.

"I suppose you can steal some more books…" Azula jabbed.

"No, I'll purchase them. I'm not a Princess, but with my family's money, it shouldn't be a problem."

Azula had a couple of comebacks to that. She could say that people are supposed to earn money on a job, not spend it. Or she could ask why the woman was even working here if she was as rich as she said.

"Even strokes, Azula. Don't get distracted." The teacher corrected and Azula stopped to push back her sleeves before going back to work faster than before.

Zyra was about to compliment the change of pace when she noticed them. Fresh bruises up the girl's right arm. The woman knew she should have asked about it casually, but Azula caught her staring very intently at her arm.

"Where'd you get those?" There was nothing to do then but ask.

Azula pulled her sleeve down, hating the fact she forgot they were there.

"Azula, you do know no one is allowed to hurt you, right? No matter who they are, no matter what you did."

"I know, I know… Because I'm the Princess…"

"Because you're a human being!"

"Alright. It's from training." Azula couldn't believe how worked up the woman got. If she could see her ribs… "You wouldn't understand."

"I'm a bender. Let me see, please." Zyra put out her hand, but Azula just stared back at her full of doubt. The woman made a little flame in her palm to prove her claims and only then did Azula put out her arm. "I don't know what kind of training you're doing. But this isn't normal."

"It's my non-bender combat teacher. Father told him he was going too easy on me, and that I'd never learn that way."

Zyra imagined a grown man hitting a nine-year-old while calling it teaching and it made her want to go steal something. Or possibly set something on fire.

"Whoever he is," she spoke after a pause. "You tell him the Omori family sends a warning. There will not be another."

Azula wasn't entirely sure if she was joking or not.

"Unusual. It's the firebending teachers that have a reputation of having uncontrolled tempers." Zyra went back to painting. She suspected it would help Azula relax.

"Well, not mine. I have two and they're both non-benders." Azula got back to work as well.

"Their names wouldn't happen to be Lo and Li?"

"Yes…"

"They're still teaching?" Zyra chuckled. "You know, my father thought he was mocking me, punishing me, by giving me non-bender teachers. But they are the best… They know their stuff. I was doing nothing but quoting them when I tried to teach firebending."

"I don't know about best…" Azula really wasn't sure they were speaking about the same old crows.

"Oh, do you know about their mother? She was the best female firebender, maybe ever, and she taught them everything… You should ask them about that, it's very interesting."

Azula thought about it and realized she knew nothing about the women, despite the fact they spent so much time together every day.

"You get to this line." Zyra made one on the wall near the Princess. "And you're done for today."

"Why? Just because we had the same teachers?" Azula wasn't exactly sure why she was questioning it.

"Because this punishment was for bad behavior and you are now exhibiting good behavior. Well… Normal behavior. You haven't insulted me since we started. No threats…"

It was partly true. Zyra was noticing slight improvements in how the Princess behaved around her, but it wasn't yet what a normal teacher would call enough. The reason she suddenly felt bad for the little girl was her own childhood. She suddenly remembered how hard it was to learn firebending, or any martial art at that age. You worked at it day and night, were always in pain, or at least sore and tired, and it was never fast enough. And if anyone felt that pressure it was this girl.

Zyra got slightly mad at herself, thinking she made Azula carry things or stand and paint for hours while being in pain or hurt. The girl would surely never talk about it. The nobility loved to teach their women to bite their tongue early.

"Hey, Azula!" a voice came from the door. Azula turned and saw Crooked, Blinker and Tremors where she expected Mai and Ty Lee. What was this? Had Zyra called them?

"Taka forgot her bag, so we had to go back." Crooked offered as an explanation for why they were in the school, not here in this room.

"Better hurry before your parents worry," Zyra said in a tone that was less than cheerful, which was unusual for her.

"We wanted to see how you were doing, Azula, since we were here…" Tremors said.

"Nice… Brush!" Blinker added and all three of them burst into laughter.

Azula was ready to start yelling and threatening when she caught Zyra looking at her. She wasn't sure why she cared about what the woman thought, but she didn't want to fight with them in front of her. But she did want to fight them…

"And what will this be?" Crooked asked.

"Maybe a cell for misbehaving kids?" Tremors asked meaningfully.

"A library," Azula said, her tone harsh, but without raising her volume. "It's a place you come to read books. You wouldn't understand…"

"With how much work you've put in, Azula, they could name it after you," Crooked said, with a snare. "How many hours did you spend here at this point?"

"Since you girls are showing such interest in the work, why don't you join?" Zyra cut in before the conversation got uglier. Azula watched as all three girls' smiles disappeared.

"No…"

"We really…"

"No need."

"Really. I insist." They had no time to protest, Miss Omori was already handing them three identical brushes, as small as Azula's. "Azula can show you how it's done." The woman then turned to the Princess and winked. "She only has a few minutes left, but you girls will stay and help me, won't you?"

The girls took the brushes reluctantly, Tremors and Blinker glaring slightly at Crooked, since it must have been her idea to come and gloat. Azula tried and failed to hide her satisfaction at the turn of events.

oooooooooo

After all those weeks Azula wasn't quite sure what she thought about Miss Omori, but one thing that was clear was that their History lessons had never been better. The woman was many things, but first and foremost a very good teacher.

Her father would undoubtedly return soon, and she could finally tell him about being put in detention. She wanted that since the very first day she crossed paths with the teacher, but Azula was having doubts. It was very unlike her, but honestly a lot of things she was doing lately were a lot unlike her.

"And please make sure you do the assignments because I will be checking them next week," Zyra repeated for those who were drifting off a bit, before sitting down at her desk and cleaning off the paint from her cheek. The rest of the girls loved that one class where she had paint on one of her sides so much, Zyra started painting her cheeks with different flags' colors every time she had to explain a complicated conflict.

Azula didn't find it necessary, she actually found it rather silly, but the rest of the class seemed to be enjoying it and actually remembering things because of it. The Princess found herself with a lot more competition than usual.

The bell sounded and everyone cleared out. Azula was in a hurry, but before she could disappear through the door, she heard Miss Omori's voice.

"Azula, could you stay behind, please?"

No, this couldn't be happening… But she obeyed, because what else was she to do. She watched as everyone else slowly left the room, and as Ty Lee closed the door after her with an uneasy face. But for the first time, Azula didn't know what it was about either.

"I didn't get detention today. Doesn't that mean I can leave?"

"You can. I just want to talk to you first." Miss Omori said as she stood up and gestured for Azula to step closer. The Princess was sure it would be one of her life lessons, that were getting more and more common by the day.

"As you know, I just recently returned to Capital City. I didn't even recognize you as the Princess at first, but lately I've been catching up and…" Zyra paused. "I only found out this morning that your mother went missing a month back." She saw the girl's mask of apathy melt away before her eyes. "If I'd known the violence, the disobedience, that it all had a cause, I wouldn't have been so hard on you. I stand by my rules, but I understand if you need some time to get back to normal. I'm sorry I didn't take an interest sooner."

"I don't care she left." Azula attempted to sound indifferent, but her eyes were brimming with tears. "My mother has nothing to do with what I do… I'm happy she left!"

"Azula, I don't know the situation, but I'm sure your father is doing everything in his power to find her…"

"That's right, you don't know anything!" Azula shoved Zyra back, not really with any force, just to express her anger. "Here, now punish me! Give me detention…" Or maybe to prove a point. "She isn't missing, she's dead to me! You don't know… She was horrible and I hated her, and she hated me! And I'm so lucky she left…"

"You're just angry, but you don't mean that…"

"I do! It's better if she's gone and I've already forgotten about her… I never needed her anyway!"

For the first time since meeting Azula, Zyra felt out of her depth. She wasn't a psychiatrist, and she didn't have nearly enough experience with children to help now.

"I think you need to talk about it to get through it." She managed to keep her calm tone. "I'm here if you need me at any time. Or maybe you'd prefer someone who knew her…"

Instead of screaming Azula swung a fire fist at Zyra. The woman stopped it with ease, but the girl kept attacking. She kept firebending frantically, without strategy, not really wanting to hit the woman, but continuing anyway. Soon tears started draining from the girl's eyes as the fire from her fists died out, but she kept punching.

"Azula…" Zyra started, her voice not strict, but sad. The girl didn't respond, just kept throwing punches, until suddenly, and very much unexpectedly, the violence turned into a tight hug around the woman's waist. Azula sobbed quietly, but audibly into the red fabric of the teacher's coat and Zyra instinctively hugged back. She didn't dare say anything, for fear it may make Azula pull away, so she just held her and stroked her hair while she waited for the crying to end.

oooooooooo

So my girl Zyra stays, of course, because Azula needs a positive female influence in her life.

I actually came up with this idea a while back, when the teachers in my country were all on strike. It kind of hit me how we should all be more thankful for the good ones (who are sadly the minority in my experience).

Anyway, as you can see, I really liked the idea of Azula not really referring to the girls by their names in her mind, instead using nicknames based of their biggest flaw in her opinion. I felt it kind of goes well with her whole thing about perfection. If you're not perfect, then you're supposed to be defined by your imperfection.

oooooooooo

Julyza – As you probably noticed, I'm putting off the parent-teacher meeting because I want to enjoy the set-up some more before that, but I promise it's coming.

And thank you so much :)

JHLZ. NTL – Yeah, this wasn't originally supposed to be about gender roles at all, but the concept of single-gender schools just irks me, and I don't plan on controlling myself here.

Anyway, thanks, your comments always mean a lot :)

And I wrote some stuff since you last commented so if you're interested while you wait for me to continue this…