Chapter 4

Disclaimer .I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender.

Story- Set 5 years after the series ended. A young fire nation officer is given the task of watching after Azula .Can he succeed after others had failed.

Featured- Azula/OC

The next day arrived bright and Ando sat up and looked around before realising he had spent the night tossing and turning on one of Azula's couches in her quarters and that shortly he was going to be doing some fire bending training with her. The gleam in her eye's when she announced it last night made him feel uneasy and he had slim hope that the Princess would have changed her mind. That hope evaporated when one of her servants arrived with a small meal with the strict instructions that Ando have a morning meal then immediately join Azula in the courtyard for their private training which would go the rest of the morning and only stop when Azula felt it was time to.

Arriving after hurriedly finishing his meal Ando found Azula sitting there in the courtyard legs crossed as if she was deep in mediation. Her eyes opened and she looked at him before leaping up to her feet in one graceful movement. Her eyes had the same gleam as last night and she seemed invigorated at the very thought of displaying her prodigious fire bending abilities. She walked towards Ando and stood close to him intently watching the young man;s reaction.

"So good of you to join me now lets see what you've been taught show me right now" Azula leaned in and whispered . Ando nodded and started with some of the basic form's he had been taught .Azula watched him like a hawk more closely than the regular instructors at the academy ever did . She didn't stop him nor praised any of his technique. Her actions were one of study measuring what Ando could do forming a plan of training in her mind. When he finished Ando stood there in his stance sweat dripping down his temple weather from the heat or nervousness out of how close Azula was watching him he couldn't say. Without a word she walked over to him and circled the young man twice. Then without so much a warning she swept out her leg and used it to cause Ando to topple over and fall onto the ground with a thud.

"You think to much and your stance was to open really if someone attacked me I'd be better off defending myself " Azula told the stunned Ando before shaking her head. His technique wasn't the worst she'd ever seen but by her own standards was barely adequate . As if to show him how far superior she was Azula leapt and sent a flash of lighting that hit the ground millimetres from Ando's head. Smirking Azula waited for the young man to run off and cry to Zuko and get sent back home to his colony. Ando however sat back up and wiped his cheek and looked back at Azula almost defiantly that took her aback.

"I see your highness well please show me how to improve" Ando spoke . Inside his heart was racing and the smell of the burnt part of courtyard filled his nostrils . He wondered why he didn't leave but deep down he wanted to prove something to himself ,Lord Zuko and most of all Azula. She looked back down at him and smiled before moving off and ordering Ando to watch her and learn. Azula then moved around showing her skill .blue flames illuminating the courtyard each move done with precision. Ando watched in awe amazed at such power combined with grace the made Azula sparkle more than he ever thought. It was very humbling and he felt honoured to be seeing this side of Azula in close proximity. She finished then told him to stand and soon the two of them were training together. Azula pushed Ando hard demanding more and more from him as the time passed.

Ando collapsed and lay on the ground panting as Azula knelt on one knee beside him. The heat of the day had forced them to discard some of their clothing leaving he in a sleeveless shirt her with her hair flowing out as her hair clip was tossed onto his clothing. Azula looked at him and smiled .It had been a long time since she'd been able to go near to all out .The time spent away in the institution had hindered her abilities so that she mostly trained at a quarter of what she was capable of . Perhaps keeping this Ando around might be of some benefit to her after all. She stood and beckoned him to follow her and ordered a servant to bring some water for them to drink .

"Not bad at all I'll make a decent solider out of you yet " Azula smiled as she took her drink and tasted the refreshing liquid . Ando blushed at the complement and they sat quietly recovering from their training session until a servant arrived with a message for Azula .She read it and scowled before sighing in annoyance. She looked at Ando and headed him the message .Lord Zuko wanted to see him for a report that evening away from his sister. Ando folded the paper up and excused himself to go clean up promising to return later if her highnesses desired so .Azula watched him go and for the first time noticed how well balanced Ando was .Dismissing the thought she summoned a servant to arrange her visit to the fire sage temple without delay as she had business to discuss.

4 hours later.

Ando sat waiting outside the Fire Lord's conference room. He could hear robust discussion going on between Lord Zuko and his council. Requests were met by resistance and counter offers and the sound of fists being slammed into the table made Ando startled. The door opened and a group of five councilmen walked out arguing some muttering threats with Lord Zuko's name being very much the talking point . Ando was then hurried into the room where he found Zuko sitting on his chair going over a map of the fire nation . He beckoned Ando to come sit with him and waited before folding the map up to get to the matter at hand.

"So I hear you and Azula did some fire bending " Zuko began raising an eyebrow as he looked at Ando. For a moment Ando thought about denying it but knew that if Azula was asked she would most likely not deny it and even use it to annoy her brother.

"Yes we did and I take full responsibility if it was wrong then I shall accept punishment Lord Zuko" Ando stated and awaited whatever Zuko decreed. To his credit Zuko decided not to punish the young man figuring that as long as Azula was kept busy and carefully watched it should not be an issue . The rest of the report went quickly and it was decided that Ando report every three days unless anything concerning occurred and that he and Azula may train as much as she wanted .

"Before you go one word of advice Ando keep close watch on my sister there are those out there that would greatly look to either use her against me or get revenge for my family's actions in the past" Zuko told him whispering close in a hush. Ando nodded and excused himself .Zuko watched him go and stood and paced round the room his mind troubled and worried .

Ando arrived back and headed to Azula's quarters to see if she required any of his service that evening . He hoped that Lord Zuko's fears were false but resolved to keep a closer eye on Princess Azula over the coming days. He had just stopped in font of her door when a voice spoke up behind him.

"Excuse me is Azula in I'm not sure she got my letter and Mai hadn't said anything to her about me visiting" the voice said in a cheery voice. Ando turned around and was surprised to see there standing in front of him a Kyoshi warrior in all her glory. This was odd and Ando was about to ask what she was doing here at the precise moment Azula arrived back from the fire sage temple. Azula stepped out and her eyes widened before she scowled as the surprise visitor opened up her arms ti embrace.

"What are you doing here Ty Lee? " Azula spat out before angrily storming past Ando and into her quarters slamming the door shut behind her. Ando looked back at the young women from Kyoshi who sighed and lowered her head upset. He apologised and would see if Princess Azula would like her to join them for dinner. Ty Lee raised her head and smiled hugging Ando before skipping off to where she was staying at the palace .Ando watched her go and opened the door and went to seek an audience with her highnesses.

To be continued.

Hey all hope you enjoyed this chapter sorry if I kept you waiting a bit after the 3rd chapter just was bust sorting things out for a trip to Canada in May. Thanks to those that have reviewed so far please keep them coming .

Also as you can see I've brought Ty Lee into the story now and may bring some more of the Avatar crew in .If there's anyone you think I could add to the story please do and if I can fit them in with where this is going I shall endeavour to do so

Comments and feed back are welcome but no flames please.