Seventy Years Later

...

Azula sat alone in a small room. Her legs were crossed, her eyes were closed, and she was in a deep meditation. She was reflecting on that day, long ago, when she had been trapped here.

"I was a fool." thought Azula aloud, "I made a foolish mistake and I'm paying the price for it."

It had been over seventy years since that fateful day. She still remembered it like it was yesterday. She had found a genie and in her madness, had wished for the Genie's powers-And also her servitude, leading to her entrapment. Her imprisonment would have driven her crazy if she wasn't already crazy.

She had spend the first few decades screaming, crying, cursing and blasting the interior of the Bottle with her magic, but all to no effect. Then she would grow bored and just lie down and weep for long times, and then would lie down desolately. Then when her strength was renewed, she would go ballistic again, futilely trying to escape.

After a while, the routine become boring and she tried turning her insane mind to mediation, trying to make sense of everything. It had been hard, but after decades of frivolous temper tantrums, it was refreshing.

She considered herself wiser then she had ever been. She was still trapped, but wasn't wasting her powers in useless efforts.

Sighing, she opened her eyes at last; dimly aware that she could think more clearly she could ever remember.

Getting to her feet, Azula examined her prison. The interior of the bottle was very different then the exterior would suggest. The Inside was like an empty prison cell with red metal walls, and for the first time she noticed that some areas of her prison had some red stain glass-like windows or something.

"I wonder..." Azula murmured thoughtfully.

She walked up to one of the glass areas and touched it. The glass glittered and became clear like the crystal. Azula looked out and felt her heart skip a beat. She could see outside her bottle. She was still in the dark cavern she had entered all those years ago.

Azula sighed. She examined her hand. Then she pointed, generating a beam of red magic at the wall, which had no effect. She sighed. "OK, that still won't work." She concluded. "I'm trapped and can't escape on my own." She closed her eyes. "What can I do?"

Then she felt a new sensation. She focused as she accessed her inner powers and ideas started filtering through her mind.

"Knowledge." She whispered. "Knowledge of genies is available to me." She grew excited. "Maybe I can discover a way to escape."

She knew it was a long shot, but after years of madness, she had to try. She went back into a meditative state.

...

...Azula scowled as she came out of her mediation. She knew everything about genies; their history, their powers and limitations. And she was no closer to escaping her imprisonment.

"I can't take this anymore!" Azula screamed bitterly. "I want out! Out!" She went into frenzy and once again blasted the walls with her magic. It had absolutely no effect like always.

Azula stopped and groaned. "This isn't working." She said sadly, eying her prison. "I'll never escape."

Azula contemplated her opinions. She couldn't use her magic to escape. But she could still entertain herself. She raised a hand and the interior of the bottle was magically transformed.

Azula looked around. She found herself in the throne room of the Palace and on the Fire Lord's throne. She was clad in the royal attire of the Fire Nation Royal Family. In front of her were arrays of servants.

"Hail Fire Lord, Azula." They chanted. "Slayer of the Avatar and Conqueror of the World!"

Azula smiled. She knew all this was just a magically constructed fantasy. But she would enjoy it for all its worth.

A Year Later…

Azula sighed. She was still trapped. She was currently sitting at a table for a royal banquet in her honor. She knew she didn't need to eat food anymore, but that didn't' stop her from enjoying the taste. But right now, it didn't seem to matter anymore.

A servant came to her with a pitcher. "I'm not thirsty." Azula snapped. "Leave."

She waved her hand and the servant (and her dinner guests vanished). She was alone at an empty table with the best food she could imagine.

"What shall I do next…" She asked herself. She considered her opinions. She could create scenarios where she killed the Avatar and brought his corpse to her father in honor. She could have another scenario where she fought Zuko and destroyed him. Or she could do one where she was exterminating villages of the Earth Kingdom and the Water Tribe or torturing prisoners.

So many possibilities and all were boring. She had done every kind of power play or atrocity she could imagine hundreds of times in countless variables. But now they had no meaning.

"What else can I do?" Azula growled, snapping her fingers and the banquet room reverted to her prison.

She pouted. She considered her opinions. She was trapped till someone found and released her (as their slave). Violent scenarios bored her silly. She considered what else could do. Then a thought came to her.

"It would be nice to have a mother who didn't think I was a monster." Azula whispered thoughtfully.

She snapped her fingers and the prison morphed into her old bedroom. Azula looked around, waiting for something.

"Azula..." A familiar voice called softly.

Azula turned and saw her mother standing at a door way. Though she knew this entity wasn't her real mother, she felt a slight hint of fear of rejection.

"Mother." Azula began softly. "Do you think I'm a monster?"

"Of course not." Her mother exclaimed in shock. "You're my daughter."

Azula felt relief. "Do you love me more than Zuko?" She asked slowly.

"Of course." Her mother said in disbelief. "You're my favorite."

Azula felt herself grow weak. She had long to hear these words from her mother for years.

Losing control, she ran over and hugged her mother, who returned the embrace.

The ruthless dignified part of her considered this behavior petty and improper, but the same part calculated that it was alright since no one could see her acting like this.

Months Later

Azula was pacing her prison. She had given up the delusion of a loving mother. Her mother had feared her and no fantasy could change that. "It's been a long time since I became a genie."

Azula told herself. "I wonder what has happened to Zu-Zu and his friends since then." She smiled.

Utilizing her powers, she accessed Time, laying bare the history of the world. I don't think I have ever observed the world outside my bottle." She told herself. "I will see what has happened to Zu-Zu."

The inside of her prison changed into a swirl of colors which became images. She saw her brother Zuko, regally dressed and having a meeting with Fire Nation officials- Azula gasped in disbelief. There were also Earth Kingdom and Water Tribe officials present. They were discussing territory and the strife in between them. Being inpatient, Azula played the scenarios rapidly, the knowledge of events downloaded into her mind, she blinked in disbelief. Zuko had returned all conquered territory to the Earth Kingdom and Water Tribe.

"So like Zu-Zu." She muttered, and then it occurred to her. She wasn't angry, at least not as much as she ought to be. She had just a slight irritation. Not white hot rage like she ought to have. Shrugging it off, she continued viewing Zuko's history. He had married Mai- fitting that the traitor would bond with her loser brother. He had become...a great Fire Lord, respected by many, within and without the Fire Nation.

Azula felt waves of jealousy. Her failure of a brother had become great, while she was trapped and forgotten. She grew amused as she saw moments in his life where things weren't perfect.

There were insurrections who wanted to restore the War, and terrorists among the EarthKingdom and Water Tribe, who which struck against the Fire Nation, damaging the fragile peace (though the Avatar always quenched them).

She then focused on every moment in Zuko's life where he wasn't happy. They were amusing, though he always survived and didn't wilt. Azula then gasped when she saw one strange scenario.

Mai and Zuko had always wanted a child, and had tried for many years. Only recently had they concluded that something was wrong. Contacting a monk, he confirmed that Mai could never have children.

Azula saw Mai remain calm and rational, but knew that deep down, she was in agony. Zuko was more expressive about this unfortunate news, taking it out on Mai at first and then apology and reconciling.

"How odd." Azula muttered. "I don't rejoice in this." She racked her mind. She never considered fertility special. But seeing the pain in Zuko and Mai jolted her.

Azula continued viewing Zuko's history, not focusing only the bad things in his life. He and Mai continued their reign, though they didn't have an heir.

Then at age fifty, Mai had become sick. Zuko was by her side, comforting and loving her with what little time they had left. Zuko continued his reign, peacefully. He courted other women, but never found a new queen. Later he was assassinated by Water Tribe radicals who sought revenge for the war.

Azula couldn't belief it. Zuko had died while she had been trapped. It was a hollow victory. He had become a great leader. He had friends that didn't betray him. He was greater than she ever was. She couldn't tell what she felt. She was angry, but she not as much as she ought to be. And there was...some other feeling she couldn't identify.

Sighing, she sat cross-legged and meditated. She examined the other people who ended the war.

She saw the battle between the young Air Bender and her father, Fire Lord Ozai. The young boy refused to lay a blow against Ozia, too entrenched in some personal ethics. She saw him go into the Avatar State, full of power and invulnerably. He almost killed Ozai, but stopped himself at the last moment.

She saw her father take advantage of his hesitation and- Azula froze in disbelief at what she saw. The Avatar used some unheard of ability and removed her father's bending, making him as weak as any other. Azula shuddered, to think of his fate becoming her own. Then she continued viewing the Avatar's life.

Shortly after the war. The Air Bending Avatar had continued to keep balance between the three nations, suppressing any insurrectionists who wished to continue the war.

He had also begun seeking out people and using his new ability to transformed them into Air Benders. Within a few years, the Air Nomads were restored. In his late teens, he married the Water Peasant girl. They spent most of their time traveling the world, till the Avatar's wife was with child. Fortunately, the world was at peace and they settled down most of the time. Most of their lives were peaceful, except for a few insurrections and the lost of friends over the years.

The Avatar lived for many decades till he died traveling a storm about a year from now. The world mourned his passing, while his wife, and their children and grandchildren continued to maintain peace.

Azula felt hollow. Even if she could escape, any ideas of vengeance were taken from her. She continued viewing the others.

Toph become an Earth Bending Master, though she reserved metal bending to those that earned it. She never married, remaining an independent woman. She remained a daring risk taker, and in her old age, the risks out up with her, leading to her death.

Sokka and Suki remained a team and eventually married. During a war between Kyoshi island and another Earth Kingdom, Sokka and Suki perished in the battle, dying side by side.

Ty Lee had become a Kyoshi warrior shortly after the War ended. Naturally of all the painted faced females she was the perkiness and fun loving of all. She never married, preferring independence. She resigned after her arm got crippled in a battle, though she retains some of her gymnastics.

After many years and the lost of her closest friends, she left Kyoshi Island, becoming a recluse at Ba Sing Se.

Azula came out of her trance perplexed. Ty Lee became a recluse. That so wasn't her. "Well a lot can change in several decades." She commented. She glanced at her reflection. She was still a teenager. While a genie, she retained her youth, while everyone else grew old and died one way or another.

"And a lot of good that does me." She murmured. "I'm still trapped."

Even More Years Later…

A woman stood outside the doorway, setting up an explosive. She was lean and wiry, with long dark hair, lean face, and blue eyes. She wore tattoo symbols of an Air Nomad, on her head and arms, but her attire contrasted: She wore black tunic and trousers, and her face was grim. She had researched much information and calculated where secret chambers with the genies were most likely located in the desert. It turned out that one was actually at the edge of the west side of the desert.

She almost gave up hope finding a genie when she found a legend indicating that only a bender can open the chambers. Lucky for her that she was a Bender.

Inside the Chamber

Azula was in a meditative state. She had long ago given up believing that she would ever be free. Meditation was practically the only thing she could find even remote bliss. Every other scenario she had done for amusement had become empty and meaningless as the illusions they really were. She sometimes viewed the outside world, whether it was a major event or a specific person. Then she would do some mediation; which at least seemed to have relaxing effect and seemed to make years seem like minutes (not that it mattered if she was never to be free). Azula snapped out of her trance as she became aware of a ripple in the magic surrounding her.

"Something is happening." She murmured. She became aware that something was happening outside her bottle.

Azula went over to one of the crystal surfaces to see the outside. The dark cavern where her bottle lay in was lit by light pouring through the opened entrance. After so many years, someone had opened it again.

A woman had entered the cavern. Azula recognized the Air Nomad symbols her head and hands, but her outfit and aura clashed with those people. The woman was looking around the cavern and then looked one direction and walked foreword.

Azula's excitement grew as she came closer and closer to where her bottle lay, half buried in the sand. She watched the woman come.

"Closer, closer, that's it" she whispered to herself.

The woman reached foreword and grab the bottle. Azula was thrown hard into the wall of the bottle when it had been lifted it, but was unharmed. Being immortal, she couldn't feel any pain or be injured. She got up, and watched the woman from her window.

"Can it be?" The woman asked incredibly. "Have I found one at last?"

Azula grew tense. "Come on, rub it, rub it!" she cried out.

The woman rubbed the bottle.

Azula was surrounded by smoke as magic began to work. "Now the game begins" She thought as she transformed into red smoke and exited the top as fast as she could. As she materialized she, looked down on the woman who had released her. She was staring at the solidifying smoke with a mixture of shock and awe.

Taking a professional pose, Azula bowed low. Years ago, Azula wouldn't have even considered such graveling to anyone. But being trapped in a bottle for almost a century had tampered her pride, so she was now willing to stoop to any level of humiliation till she could be free of her imprisonment.

"Greetings, master." she said aloud." My name is Azula, genie of the bottle. In exchange for being freed of that wretched bottle I will grant you any wish you want."

The woman grew exited. "Finally." She exclaimed gleefully. "You are mine."

Azula frowned. She didn't like the way she was looking at her. 'But least I'm free of that bottle." She thought to herself.

The woman had an idea. "I wish to rule the world!" She declared.

Azula felt a flash of jealousy and scowled, and then froze, knowledge of the rules echoed in her mind. "I can't grant that wish, master." She said evenly.

The woman scowled. "But you're a genie." He reminded her. "How can you not grant a wish?"

Azula stood straightened. "My powers have limits." She told him. "Some things I can't do."

"OK." The woman growled. "What can't you do?"

"My powers can't extend more than a hundred feet." Azula explained. "The world is beyond that. I can affect someone's mind, but limited."

"Affecting someone's mind?" The woman asked carefully.

"I can maybe hypnotize someone to do or think something, but the affects won't last." Azula said. "Also, some can resist."

"Anything else you can't do?" The Airbender asked.

Azula frowned before continuing. "I can't kill any living thing directly." She told him.

"Directly?" The woman asked.

Azula shrugged. "I can't just point and kill the person you want dead." She elaborated. "But I can make someone very uncomfortable or provide you with the means to kill them yourself. Also I can't harm the Avatar or violate anything the Spirit World has touched." Azula warned. "That would be very risky."

The woman frowned as she considered her opinions. "I wish for a bag of gold." She said.

Azula snapped her fingers and a bag of gold appeared on the cave floor. The woman eyed the bag greedily. She grabbed the gold and put it in a pouch on his belt.

"I think I'll be enjoying your powers very well." The woman told Azula. "Now get back into the bottle."

Azula froze. "But master-." She started.

"Don't argue with me." Her master demanded. "You will obey me."

Azula felt her powers compelling her to obey. Sighing, she allowed herself to be transformed into red smoke and decent back into the bottle.

Azula grunted. She was back in the prison she had long to escape from. She felt the bottle getting lifted as her Master picked it up.

"Don't worry." The woman said, holding it tight. "When I return home, I will figure out what kind of wishes you can grant me."

Azula sighed. A lifetime of servitude a waited her and she loathed it. Then she thought that after being cramped in this bottle for so many years, it would be worth it. When her master freed her again, she would endure the humiliations...till she found a way out of it. Her eyes narrowed. She would find a way out.

Azula fell backwards again. Though it didn't hurt, it was annoying. Raising her hand, she altered the gravity of her prison so she would stop bouncing around.

"I better figured out what kind of person my new master is." Azula said to herself.

Accessing Time, she saw the history of this woman. Her name was Chari. She belonged to the restored race of Air Nomads. Unlike most of the Air Benders, she was aggressive and headstrong in her youth, utilizing her bending in combat formations rather than evasive ones.

"She has the heart of a Fire Bender." Azula commented to herself before continuing.

In her teens, Chari became fed up with pacifistic views of the Air Nomads and left them. She had studied the history of genies and the legends surrounding them, and became convinced that if she could find one, she could have her heart's desire. Involving herself with what monks would call dark arts, she had figured out where to find her.

"Now I belong to her." Azula murmured thoughtfully. An airbender with the heart of a Fire Nation warrior).

...……

It was night. Chari soared high in the sky on her glider. Her destination was Ba Sing Se. There she would calculate how to use her new found power to change the world. Suddenly without warning, the strap of her pouch came undone and the pouch fell down into the blackness.

"Noooo!" She screamed and soured down the catch it. But the land looked like a black mass, and couldn't see anything. She flew in circles, getting lower and lower. Before long she reached the ground.

"I can't lose it, not now!" She exclaimed anxiously, fingering the ground and then in fits of frustration send gusts of wind in different directions.

Belong she gave up, and stomped off, unknown that Azula's bottle was about fifty feet away from her.

Inside the Bottle…

Having sense something had happened, Azula utilizing her powers, she saw what had happened. Her master had lost her. Now she was alone and still trapped.

"This is doesn't change anything." Azula murmured. "I'm much a prisoner now as I was when in her possession."

…

TO Be Continued…

Sorry that this chapter is very fast pace. Hopefully it will get better.

Author Note. Azula's personality is radically different, but I think it works. Experience can mold us and being unable to escape, Azula is forced to think things through.

I pondered what Azula could do while trapped and I felt that she could do certain things while imprisoned and it would be a good storyline if she can magically construct tangible fantasies to pass the time. But constant pleasure can leave one feeling empty which is why Azula eventually doesn't enjoy them.

As for the history of the Avatar World, before Legend of Korra came out, I had my own ideas for the characters, the nations and the Future. And when Korra first came out I decide to stick with my direction.

In Last Air bender, we had seen villainous Earth Benders, Water benders and lots of Fire Benders. That's why I made Chari an Air bender. Also since Air Nomads are all about Spiritual stuff, I figure that she could be involved in dark spirits.