Five The Beach
A giant sea lion broke the surface, pulling behind it a large, ornate ferry. Onboard, Ty Lee stood with Azula, Mei close behind them.
"I can't wait to spend the whole weekend on Ember Island!" Ty Lee exclaimed. "It's gonna be great to hang out on the beach and do nothing." She crossed her arms behind her head, smiling contentedly.
"We're only here because my father wanted to meet with his advisors in private." Azula replied. "However, I think I'll enjoy this trip."
"Doesn't your family have a house on Ember Island?" Mei asked, stepping out from under the canopy.
"We used to come here regularly when I was still a little girl."
Ty Lee grinned. "That must have been fun."
Azula stared at the Island. "It was a long time ago."
Li and Lo were waiting for them on the dock. "Welcome to Ember Island kids." They chorused.
The three girls looked past them to their small, shabby beach house, frowning in disappointment. And then they went in.
The girls walked through the small, tropically decorated room. Small trinkets were everywhere, and the place had a definite smell of old lady.
Ty Lee crossed the room to where a painting of two young, beautiful girls posing was. "Who are these two beautiful women?"
The twins replied in chorus. "Can't you tell? It's Li/Lo and me!" The struck the pose from the painting, a sight the three girls desperately wished they hadn't seen.
Ty Lee inspected one of the beds, dropping back on the spread. "I love this seashell bedspread!"
Mei stood above her. "Are you serious? It looks like the beach threw up on it!"
Li spoke. "We know that you're upset you were forced to come here this weekend. But Ember Island is a magical place. Keep an open mind."
Lo stood next to her, continuing. "Give it a chance."
They chorused. "And it can help you to understand yourselves and each other." They handled a smooth flat stone from a shelf. "The beach has a way of smoothing even the roughest edges."
They clapped, and tossed off their outer robes, dressed in swimwear. "Time to hit the beach!"
"I know swimming is fun and all, but do you really think you should be exposing yourself like that?" Toph asked Aang from her perch on a boulder. "Cover up!"
Aang floated past her, drifting toward the shallows where Katara, Sokka and Zuko sat. "What you mean? I'm wearing trunks!"
"That's not what I'm talking about!" Toph gestured emphatically. "I mean your arrows! What if someone sees them?"
"There are walls all around us." Katara called. "We're safe!" She sputtered, a splash soaking her, and turned around. "Who did it?"
Sokka and Zuko pointed at each other.
Aang floated away, playing with Momo. The lemur perked up, and Aang looked ahead, grinning. He angled toward the rapids, and the tunnel beyond.
Aang spun through the slide, laughing the whole time as he spun, spiraled, and looped through the entire thing. "Whoa…hey!" He shouted, gleefully.
"Man, this has to be the most boring assignment in the whole Nation!" A soldier complained, fanning himself with a bundle of leaves.
His partner absently cleaned his toes with a sword hilt. "Nothing ever happens here."
They heard a joyful shout, followed by a huge splash, and spun. A boy was floating in the pool of water under a waterfall, a strange monkey clinging to his head, chirping angrily.
"Let's go again!" The boy shouted, and rose from the water with a splash, bounding up the rocks with inhuman agility.
The two shoulders held each other, shaking with fear. "The Avatar's alive! We need to send a message to the Fire Lord!"
They wrote it out, and then sent the fastest hawk they had. "A black ribbon message." One of them said. "This is so exciting!"
After Azula ran off two small boys who were playing, a crowd of eager boys surrounded Ty Lee, frantically setting up the beach spot.
Mei glanced at Azula, who looked a little jealous, and was forced to look away before a smile crept over her lips.
Azula looked over to a wide ring in the sand, where two teams were playing volleyball. She watched, a glint in her eye as a girl jumped up high, sending the ball smashing into the sand on the side of the goal.
"Hey, Beach Bums, we're playing next." Azula said. She turned to Ty Lee, still sitting on her towel. "Ty Lee, get over here now…and bring one of your boyfriends…that one!" Azula pointed at the one who looked most athletic.
The two other boys groaned in dismay when Ty Lee grabbed the designated teen and dragged him behind her. "Come on, Hideo!"
"Do you see that girl with the silly pigtails?" Azula asked. The four teens were huddled, about to start the game. "There is just the slightest hesitation of her left leg when she runs toward the ball. I'm betting a childhood injury has weakened her. Keep hitting the ball to her left and we'll crush her…and her teammates."
Hideo swallowed, but something about Azula's look caused him to refrain from speaking. He just nodded with Ty Lee and Mei, and the huddle broke.
Azula threw the ball up toward the sun and launched it toward the other team, who dove, managed to return. Hideo slid for the ball and kicked it up into the air. Azula ran toward it, spun around and smacked it toward the pig-tailed girl. The pig-tailed girl dove but missed the ball completely.
As the game continued, the ball flew over the crowd of teens watching, landing close to two boys who were surrounded by attention, obviously thinking themselves important. They turned to watch the game, suddenly interested.
Ty Lee zoomed through the air toward the ball. She kicked it and then landed on the net. After a short volley, Mai darted toward the ball, and sent it back over with her knee.
The other team again managed to return the ball, and this time, Azula ran up a startled Hideo's back, propelling herself into the air, kicking the ball with all her power. The ball rushed toward the ground, catching flame. It landed among the other team with a small explosion.
Azula landed in front of the net, her expression sinister as she gloated. "Yes! We defeated you for all time! You will never recover from your loss and humiliation!" She turned to her team. "Well, that was fun."
The two boys who'd been watching approached Ty Lee. "Hey, I'm Chan. I'm having a party tonight. You should come." The first said.
"I love parties!" Ty Lee replied.
"Your friend is invited too." The other said, indicating Mei.
Azula stepped forward. "Thank you. We'd be glad to come." She replied calmly, inviting herself.
The second boy started, but Chan spoke up. "That's great. Ruon Jian didn't mean to be impolite. You all are invited. But uh…some of the most important teenagers in the Fire Nation are going to be there, so try to act normally."
Azula smiled widely. Cringing, Ty Lee and Mei recognized the ill humor behind her smile. "We'll do our best."
Hideo sighed, forgotten.
The girls sat around the table with Li and Lo, eating an elaborate meal. "Why didn't you tell those guys who you were?" Ty Lee asked.
Azula tossed her hair. "I suppose I was intrigued. I'm so used to be feared and respected, and worshipped…I wanted to see how it would feel if no one knew who we were."
Li and Lo spoke. "Likes waves washing away the footprints on the sand, Ember Island gives everyone a clean slate. Ember Island reveals the true you." They clapped twice, and stood, both raising their right arm. "To the party!"
The messenger hawk soared through the sky, instinctively intent on its goal. It didn't notice the shadow rising above it until almost too late, when it dove out of the way of the Raven Eagle.
The hawk flew even faster, flying around obstacles, trying to lose the larger predator, but it was too slow.
The Raven Eagle struck it, a ribbon wrapped it it claws wrapping around the hawk, which fell to the ground, screeching angrily.
The Raven Eagle took the hawk's message, and flew off, landing on a metallic arm.
Azula's assassin took the note from the Raven Eagle, and read it, glaring. The note caught on fire, the assassin moved, already closer to his goal.
Chan opened the door, looking displeased, When he saw who it was, his look changed to surprise.
"You're early. No one else is here." He replied.
Azula was standing closest to him. "I heard you say you would be partying from dusk to dawn. Its dusk, so we're here."
Chan blinked. "It was just an expression."
Azula stepped past him. "We're the best party guests. We arrive right on time because we're punctual." She sliced the air with her hand to impress her point.
"All right." Chan led them over to a table with food. "Listen, my dad's an admiral, and he has no clue I'm throwing this party, so don't mess anything up."
Azula singled Chan out. "That's a sharp outfit, Chan...careful, you could puncture the hull of an Empire-Class Fire Nation Battleship, leaving thousands to drown at sea... because it's so sharp." She pointed at his outfit.
Chan pointed back unenthusiastically. "Um…thanks."
Azula's smile turned to a frown as Chan walked away.
"First ones here, huh?" Ruon Jian turned away from a mirror to greet Azula and her friends as they walked past.
"Hmm…he's very concerned with his appearance." Azula commented as they passed him by.
"What do you think about him, Mei?" Ty Lee asked.
"I don't know him. How could I judge?"
Ty Lee's eyes twinkled. "You like him, don't you?"
Later, after the party got under way, Azula watched as a crowd of boys surrounded Ty Lee, pressing her to tell them which one she liked most. Ty Lee escaped by knocking them out, and joined Azula.
"I'm glad you're here! These boys won't leave me alone!" Ty Lee exclaimed. "I guess they just like me too much."
Annoyed, Azula turned on her. "Ty Lee, you can't be this ignorant. They only like you because you make it easy. You're not a challenge, you're a tease."
Ty Lee blinked, and a tear rolled down her cheek. Azula relented, and took her friend's hands. "Okay, okay, calm down. I didn't mean it." Azula looked away, frowning. "Maybe I said it because I'm…" She whispered the last part. "Jealous."
"Of me?" Ty Lee asked, surprised. "But you're the most beautiful, smartest, most perfect girl in the world!"
"Well, you're right about those things." Azula gestured across the room, filled with boys. "But whenever I meet boys they act like I'm going to do something horrible to them."
Ty Lee giggled. "You probably would." She saw the slightly sad look in Azula's eyes. "You intimidate them. Look, if you want a boy to like you, look at him, smile a lot, and laugh at everything they say, even if its not funny."
"That sounds shallow and stupid." She grinned. "Let's try it."
Mei crossed her arms, bored. She was close enough to hear Azula and Ty Lee practice, and all the talk about boys annoyed her. The only boy she had ever liked was currently an enemy to the whole nation. I'm bored...and hungry.Azula walked up to Chan, who was chatting up some girl. "Chan, I'm ready for a tour of the house."
Chan grinned, and handed his drink to the girl. Azula followed him, handing the girl her own drink.
The girl watched them walk off, the liquid in the two cups steaming as her eyes narrowed angrily.
"Is this your first time on Ember Island?" Chan asked, leaning against a balcony.
"No." Azula replied. "I used to come here years ago."
"It's a great place it you like sand." Chan declared, trying to be funny. He was encouraged by a soft laugh from Azula. "Yeah, its like, welcome to Sandy Land!" He laughed with Azula, feeling pleased.
Azula drew back on Ty Lee's advice. "You arms look so strong." She said.
Chan flexed. "Yeah, I know." He kissed Azula.
Azula smiled victoriously. "Together, you and I will be the most powerful couple in the world!" She turned to the nighttime sky. "We will dominate!"
Chan looked uncomfortable. "Uh…I gotta go." He smiled awkwardly, and scooted around the balcony.
Azula looked confused as she watched him go, then her eyes narrowed angrily. She walked after Chan, and moved through the party.
Ty Lee and Mei, who had to ectract herself from Ruon Jian, followed her, concerned.
They had camped at the crater, too tired to move on. Toph yawned, and sat up, wondering what disturbed her, then she opened her eyes. "Hey, guys, you're all gonna think I'm crazy, but there's a metal man coming!"
Aang yawned, sitting up, and flinched when light hit his eyes, he followed it, and saw a man standing above them on the crater walls. The moon was reflecting off his arm.
The man took a deep breath, and Aang rushed forward, bending the air in a wide shield just in time to stop the strange explosive beam that emanated from the man.
Even with his shield, the force of the explosion threw them all to ground. Aang hurriedly checked his friends to make sure they were all right.
Sokka held his new sword out, staring at the man with a scowl. Toph moved to the offense, sending dozens of boulders surging toward the man. Aang saw Zuko and Katara together. He'd obviously caught her before she fell from the earlier explosion. Aang swallowed the feeling that came from seeing her in Zuko's arms, and turned back to the attacker.
Toph's attack had been smashed to gravel; now flame and water burst toward the assassin, who struck again, his blast scattering Katara's attacks into steam that drowned out Zuko's.
Who is this guy? Aang wondered.
They found Azula standing in front of her family's old beach house, glaring at it. "Are you all right, Azula?" Ty Lee asked.
Azula turned around. "Let's go to the beach., This place is old and depressing."
They headed down to the beach, and found a place to sit. "What's wrong with you, Mei?" Azula asked suddenly. "Ever since Ba Sing Se, you've barely spoken."
"I don't have much to say." Mei replied softly.
"She misses Zuko." Ty Lee teased.
"Shut up!" Mei snapped.
Explosions rocked the area, and the gang crowded behind a thick boulder, unable to see where the assassin was beyond all the steam and dust.
"This is crazy" Sokka exclaimed. "How can we beat a guy who blows things up with his mind?"
Aang frowned. "We can! Jump on Appa, I'll try to distract him!" He ran into the cloud of steam to face the assassin.
Both Aang and the assassin ran around, attacking blindly until they entered a field of old pillars. Aang hid behind one, and glanced around it, the assassin coming to a stop and attacking.
Aang ran as his pillar blew up, but the next did as well, and Aang took to the air, jumping from pillar to pillar as they exploded.
He landed behind one and bent it toward the assassin, but it exploded before it hit him.
The assassin took a breath and attacked again. Aang jumped, bending a wall of air around the explosion, but the force of it broke through, and Aang went flying through the air.
He aimed himself, punching through a mound of rock
The assassin ran through the pillars, and stopped, looking around for Aang, who had bent the rock to hide, leaving only his eyes showing. The assassin looked away, and Aang burst free.
The assassin spun, and his blast caught Aang directly. Fortunately, the boy had bent rock around himself like a suit of armor, and it shattered, Aang flying up into the air for the secodn time.
Appa swung down from the rising cloud of mist and dust, and Aang landed in the saddle, Sokka at Appa's reins.
"Are you okay, Aang?" Zuko asked.
"Yeah." Aang replied. Momo hopped on his back. "I'm fine."
"That was random." Toph declared.
Zuko shook his head. "No. I've heard of that guy. He's an assassin, and something tells me he's looking for us."
"Yeah, well, let's get out of here." Sokka called back over his shoulder.
Even Azula was somewhat surprised at Mei's outburst. "I was just teasing." Ty Lee said softly.
"That's the problem!" Mei exclaimed. "Everything is a joke to you. You're always off in your own little world where everything and everyone is happy and full of joy…you circus freak!"
Azula smiled, snickering. Ty Lee looked away. "So I'm a circus freak." She replied sadly. "I grew up with six sisters who looked just like me. I barely even had my own name! At least I'm different now. Circus freak is a compliment." Ty Lee glared at Mei. "And what's your excuse? You were an only child for fifteen years. You should be happy and bright, but your aura is a dingy gray."
"I don't believe in auras." Mei replied.
"You don't believe in much." Azula noted.
Mei frowned. "I'm sorry I can't be as high-strung and crazy as the rest of you."
"Maybe you should be." Azula couldn't help but goad them both. "Ty Lee just called your aura dingy. Are you going to take that?"
"What do you expect?" Mei asked. "Some teary confession about how hard my childhood was? It wasn't. I was a rich only child who had everything I wanted…as long as I behaved, and sat still, and didn't speak unless spoken to. My mother said I had to keep out of trouble. We had my father's political career to think about." She got quieter as she spoke.
Azula cocked her head. "Well, that's it then. You had a controlling mother with certain expectations, and if you got out of line you were shut down. That's why you have trouble expressing yourself. Or caring about things."
"You want me to express myself?" Mei asked angrily. She stood up and shouted. "Leave me alone!"
Azula clapped. "Wonderful perfomance!" She laughed.
Mei sat, and Ty Lee looked at Azula. "You don't get it, do you?" She asked.
Azula smirked. "No, I don't have a sob story. I could sit here and complain about how my mother liked Zuko more than me. My mother…my own mother…thought I was a monster." Azula trailed off, then smiled. "She was right, of course, but it still hurt."
Ty Lee rubbed her arms, and picked up a smooth stone. "I feel all smoothed. Li and Lo were right. The beach did help us to learn about ourselves. I'm going to remember this trip."
Azula stood up, smiling. "You know what would make this trip really memorable?"
Chan opened the door, the party swtill raging behind him. He looked confused. "You came back?"
Azula smiled. "We have some bad news. Party's over."
The next few minutes, the three girls ruined the house, disturbing food, sending teenagers running in fright, breaking antiques, and cutting down tapestries.
Chan watched, too numb to do anything to stop it. Close to him, two chandeliers came crashing down.
Azula finally stopped, arms crossed, a pleased look on her face as she watched Chan sobbing.
Al Fin
Ah, the long awaited chapter five. Okay, that was a little cocky, but the reviews for this story are just plain awesome. My thanks to all my readers, reviews or not.
I've been asked several times, both in reviews and by those who read my work offline, if this will wind up a Zutara fiction. Listen, I'm not answering that. It would ruin the ending.
Now, I would like to say that for those of you who like Zuko and Katara interacting...you will definately like "The Avatar and the Fire Lord."
For your enjoyment, and for my own:
Ryu managed to roll over on his back. His legs felt numb, his whole body was on fire. The young firebender walked calmly up to him.
"Poison from the Blood Orchid." He said calmly. "It will keep you numb for hours. I couldn't risk you managing to elude me, cousin."
Ryu spat at the firebender, and the older boy laughed cruelly. "Dear little cousin, that won't work. Now, give me my crown." His fingers tore through Ryu's clothing, and Ryu glared with hate as the firebender found what he sought. Ryu watched as Azulon slid the crown his father intended for Meilin into his hair.
Azulon sighed, pleased. "Next, I will claim the throne. But that will take time." Azulon smirked down at his cousin. "You really do look just like the traitor Zuko...almost. I can fix that."
His hands thrust toward Ryu's face, and the young prince screamed in agony.
Adversus solem ne loquitor.