Chapter 6
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.
Ando awoke far earlier than he would normally in his room at the Fire Nation Palace. He had barely slept a wink and his head felt like he'd had a giant boulder placed on top of it by an Earth bender. Tossing his bed sheets aside he walked into the small bathroom attached to his quarters and poured some water into his hands, then splashed it onto his face in an effort to wake him. Looking up at the mirror he stared back at his own reflection intently. There were bags under his eyes and his forehead looked slightly creased compared to only a couple of days ago. If it was any other day Ando might have turned round and headed right back to bed. However not on this day, as he had agreed to help her highness sneak out of the palace for a day out and last thing Ando wanted to do was to go back on his word. It was a no win situation. Either he'd sneak out and pray that Fire Lord Zuko didn't find out and send the royal guards after them, or change his mind and Princess Azula would make his time however little it might remain in her employment a living hell. Sighing Ando thought he better get something to eat before heading to see Azula knowing that whatever happened he was in for a busy day.
After getting a meal from the royal kitchen, he secretly went about securing a set of worn down clothes for the two of them to wear. The less attention he and the Princess drew the better and much more manageable this visit outside the place might be. Ando had already adjusted his hair making it scruffier by furiously rubbing an old brush through it. He walked across the courtyard to Azula's quarters mindful of avoiding any of the place guards and even Fire Lord Zuko himself. Fortunately most of the servants that attended to Azula were scarce and he was able to reach her door and enter. She was already there waiting for him, a look of anticipation on her face of what they day had in store.
"I almost thought you were going to chicken out," Azula spoke breaking into a grin. She was looking forward to finally escaping the confines of the palace. Causing a stir amongst the citizens to would be a delightful treat and she could just picture Zuko frantically panicking and sending out all of his guards to find her. Ando would be a mere pawn in the game she had planned and if need be Azula was willing to sacrifice him. Standing up from her chair she walked over towards him and noted that he had altered his appearance slightly. He had done his homework, making sure to wear no clothing that might connect him with the palace. Azula stared at the clothes he had brought and looked back at him in annoyance that he was expecting her to play along with the charade.
"I gave my word, I thought it best we go incognito," Ando answered seeing Azula looked aghast at the clothing he had procured for the pair of them. She scowled and took a set of clothes, as she left to change into them, leaving Ando to his own thoughts. Once she was ready he pondered it would be best to exit via the east wing of the palace which had the least amount of guards. Still they would have to be careful; if even one guard saw them it might be enough to raise the alarm. They might be fortunate but Ando knew it was best to count on what could go wrong might occur. Azula returned and slipped off the hair pin that held her hair in place. It fell around her shoulders and Ando blushed at how different she looked. Snapping himself out of his daze Ando walked over to give one last look to see if any servants had drawn near. Azula however was in no mood to be cautious and strode past him into the courtyard.
"Well come on then I don't have all day!" She said back to Ando who just watched in amazement. Scurrying out behind her he followed two steps behind. By fortune and a little luck no guards crossed their path until they were near enough to the main gate. There they happened to see two guards patrolling the gate. Avoid them and it was freedom from the palace, but how to do so? Ando looked over at Azula who seemed to be weighing up the situation and forming up a plan in her mind. She smiled and looked at him, eyes wide in anticipation. Azula dashed behind a nearby pillar and waited for the right moment to strike. Tearing a piece of the old clothing off, she focused enough fire on it before tossing the cloth over into a nearby bush. Smoke billowed and the two guards upon seeing it left their post to find the cause.
"Move, now!" Azula hissed nudging Ando as they moved from their hiding place and raced towards the gate. Ando held it open as Azula raced past laughing to herself in delight and feeling the wind through her hair. Chasing after her, Ando caught up as the Princess reached a crossroad leading towards the city. She was happier than he had seen her, no doubt relived to have left the palace behind her and out and about to do as she saw fit. Ando settled himself hoping that the distraction didn't cause an investigation at the palace that might but the guards onto them. For now it best to still play it safe that's if Azula gave him any consideration.
"That was too close your highness," Ando said as they moved down the road heading into the city. Azula just ignored him and looked intently ahead. It had been a long time since she had been into the heart of the Fire Nation's capital away from the palace. Last time she had been there was two days before the day of Black Sun and the attempted invasion by the Avatar and friends. Azula smiled recalling how she and her father foiled the invaders forcing them to flee. Of course Zuko left the same day and everything changed, and now Azula was a caged bird with little power and a forgotten figure.
"Here we are your highness." Ando announced as the pair of them entered the city. They had come on a busy day .The local markets were busy and people went about their business. Ando watched as Azula looked around noting each and every shop and store that was in the area. He wondered on which course of action he should take. Offer to take Azula to one of the stores to buy whatever she fancied? Or should he just hope that all she wanted to do was look round before making their way back to the palace and hope that their absence and gone unnoticed. Whatever Ando had intended was for naught, as Azula took a sharp turn left and headed down an alley way forcing Ando to hurry behind her. By the time he caught up Azula was standing outside a store looking up at the sign, a look of satisfaction on her face and a smile etched on her lips.
"Well at least this is still here come on!" Azula commanded and stepped inside. Ando looked at the sign and was surprised to find this was an old antique and books store. Entering the store Ando noticed how slightly cluttered it was. Wiping some dust from one of the book shelves he noticed the title of one of the books was the early history of the fire nation. Another book was one hundred and one secret fire bending techniques used by the Fire Lord. Ando watched as Azula walked around the store, thumbing through books and taking a close look at any antiques that caught her eye. The owner of the store looked up from his counter and for a moment Ando swore he seemed to recognize who had just walked into his store. Nothing happened as the owner just went back to checking some papers, causing Ando to let out a small sigh of relief.
Azula smiled to herself. It didn't surprise her one bit that the owner might have recognized her the moment she walked in. On her infrequent visits outside the palace after indulging Ty Lee and going through what seemed an eternity of clothes shopping that left Azula and Mai restless, they would head to this particular store. Azula would eagerly take any books on the history and lore of the Fire Nation and once back at the palace absorb the knowledge eager to show her father her capabilities. Indeed while Zuko was chasing round after the Avatar she was expanding her knowledge preparing herself for the moment when and one day she would be crowned Fire Lord.
"Is there anything you want to buy?" The owner finally spoke, his voice slightly nervous. Ando looked over at Azula who ignored him for a moment and picked up a small necklace and ran her fingers over it. For his part Ando decided to pick up a couple of books just to buy something to avoid any incidents that might alert any guards that might have been sent out for them. He walked over to Azula and waited for her to turn around. The necklace she was holding was a carved stone in the shape of flaming sun with the emblem of the fire nation on the back. It was well out of his price range and would cost at least half of the money Ando brought with him to cover things. Still it might please Azula to have the necklace and he was responsible for her care so he'd pay regardless of the cost.
"Allow me to get that for you," Ando spoke up holding out his hand to Azula. She scowled at him and was on the verge of dressing him down for not adding 'your highness' when a couple of shoppers entered the store. Dropping it into his palm she strode past Ando muttering curses under her breath and went to wait outside. Azula looked round and saw a small notice board with its string of paper notices flapping in the breeze. Curious she went and had a look noting that it consisted mostly of travel offers to see the rest of the four nations at a cheap price. Travel now between the Fire nation and the others must now be more available than during the war. Azula took one of the notices and read it recalling how she chased round after the Avatar and Zuko and capped it off with the glorious capture of Ba Sing Se from right under their and the Earth King's noses. She smiled deciding that she must visit the site of her great triumph again and was planning how to mastermind the escape from the palace when Ando exited the store and joined her at the notice board.
"Well you took your time," Azula spoke turning and walking away having seen enough of the notices. Ando watched her go then rejoined her as they walked around the rest of the city. They stopped occasionally when Azula wanted to look at something or when she flat out felt like not walking. Due to having an early breakfast Ando felt his tummy growl as they drew near a small tea shop. Azula only agreed to stop for brief refreshments on the condition that they sit far in the corner away from the rest of the customers.
"I'll take a sweet jasmine tea with milk," Azula briskly told them as she took her seat. Azula watched as Ando went to order for them. He was well built but not as egotistical as some of the young men she had been approached by. That time at Ember Island was one time a boy ended up getting more than he bargained for. But this boy was different. Azula dismissed that thought and went back to pondering her next escape from the palace.
Ando glanced back over his shoulder as he waited in the queue to order. Azula was sitting there gazing outside the window and tapping the table impatiently. He wondered what she was thinking. Had the way the city had changed made her feel out of place? Five years was a long time and maybe he should talk to Lord Zuko and arrange for his sister to be allowed more free reign to travel outside the palace. He reached the counter and ordered their tea being careful to make sure he ordered exactly what Azula had asked for. Taking the two teas back to where she was waiting, Ando placed the warm tea in front of Azula who just let it sit there cooling while she was lost in a train of thought.
"This is a nice tea shop I should come here more often," Ando said sipping his tea and trying to start a conversation. Azula merely flicked him a glance before taking her tea and sipping it. The very site of this shop reminded her of her Uncle. In fact the tea tasted like one he would make. Zuko had mentioned he had begun his own tea house after the war and it wouldn't have shocked Azula if he was responsible for the one she now found herself in. She drank her tea in silence as Ando rambled on about how busy the city was and that he rarely visited it due to his duties at the palace. The last part he said with some trepidation in case Azula took it as an insult.
"I'm not stopping you coming here, I can look after myself," she finally spoke. Azula had heard enough to convince her that the young man viewed attending her as a duty that he should do as a good solider of Zuko's. Admittedly he had lasted well beyond her estimate and to his credit had helped her escape the palace which while entirely her idea he had co-operated on despite his protests. Azula herself would admit she barely had any support to back her any more. Mai barely spoke to her and Ty Lee was off playing a warrior on Kyoshi Island. Any supporters of her father had failed to approach her yet on a possible taking of the throne. Zuko had it seemed to know all this from the beginning and it irked her tremendously. Finishing her tea Azula looked at Ando and started to reflect on what her fate was to be in the changed world. Ando looked at Azula and took her hand and lead her out of the tea house.
"Come on I want to show you something," he said speaking more confidently. Azula was about to protest but the curious looks people were giving them as they left hushed her. Ando lead them up a path to one of the tall hills overlooking the city. The sun was high in the sky and shone beyond just the mere walls of the city. It was if it was expanding its reign beyond the Fire Nation and out and over the whole world. Azula looked and her eyes widened as she admired the view. Ando watched her as she stood there, the wind billowing through her air.
"The day I arrived here I found this spot. My Home is over that direction," Ando pointed to the West. Azula nodded as the two stood there a little longer before turning to head back to the palace. Nothing was spoken as they walked back each lost in their own thoughts about what they had learned that day. Strangely there were no guards back at the entrance to the palace. Quickly moving back inside the two headed back towards Azula's quarters. No servants were around either which made both suspicious and on guard. Opening the door Ando felt two sets of hands grab him and push him against the wall.
"What is the meaning of this?" Azula shouted but before the men could reply Zuko came into view. He at first looked relieved, glad to see his sister had returned. But soon his face turned into a frown and he ordered Ando be taken to his room and placed under guard. Ando looked back at Azula then bowed his head as he was lead away. Azula watched him go and angered turned to face her brother, her fingers lighting up as she stepped one pace forward. Zuko stood impassive and waited until his sister was close to him before speaking.
"We need to talk now Azula" he said firmly with all the spirit he could muster. Azula looked at him and her lips broke into a smile as she slowly sat down on a nearby seat. Not taking her eyes off Zuko she slowly put the fire emitting from her hands out. She was angered by what he had down and wanted to make him suffer right then and there. She would hear him out but if she didn't like what he had to say there would be consequences.
"So speak up dear brother." She spoke, her voice barely above a whisper...
To be continued?
Hey everyone .1stly apologises again if I've kept you all waiting for the next chapter. Real life (my trip to Canada ) and a bit of writers block caused the delay . But here we are hope I didn't end on to much a cliff hanger there and promise you this fic is not yet fished by a long shot. Thank you to all those who have reviewed and favourite this fic with special thanks again to RJC27 for checking up on me.
As far as the next chapter goes at this stage I will most likely post it once I get back from my Canadian trip in June. I leave here in New Zealand on the 22nd of May and return June 4th. I'll be attending Anime North 2013 while I'm there so in case you run into me feel free to say hi. Once back I'll get to work on the next chapter though weather the rating of the fic might change I'll let you know as things will pick up next chapter. As always comments & suggestions welcome no flames please .