The Past
5 days, 13 hours, 27 minutes and 4 seconds earlier
The throne room of the ancient underground Fire Nation palace was very much the same as the current throne room, only dustier. However it somehow lacked the charm of the new palace, perhaps lacking the possibility of sunlight that the above ground palace purposefully blocked out.
Many of the people in the room believed themselves to be suffering from a severe case of déjà vu, however they had actually been in this exact situation a few months earlier- thereby negating the true definition of déjà vu- however even if any of the people in the room were told this they would likely be too distracted to care.
Mai and Ty Lee stared across the room at the lone figure standing against them, no emotion reaching their faces.
The small tattooed boy standing near them was the first to speak. "Azula, we're here for the Fire Lord."
"I have the strangest feeling that we've been here before. No matter..." Azula's tone changed from wispy to authoritive. "Unfortunately Fire Lord Ozai is currently not here, in future you should announce when you'll be arriving so we could be better able to better accommodate you." The Princess turned casually as if that were the end of the matter and began to exit the hall.
"Azula!" Aang's shout rumbled across the hall, the airbender was unsurprisingly good at shouting- but certainly could have benefited from a deeper tone.
"Oh very well- if you are that intent on fighting. Mai, Ty Lee- attack!" The group of fighters simultaneously flinched, desperately readying themselves for an attack from within. Mai and Ty Lee slightly tilted their heads, partially questioning each other out of the corner of their eyes before turning their full attention back upon the Fire Princess.
Azula's cold laugh echoed off the stone walls. "These are the friends you've chosen? I would have given my life for either of you without hesitation." A similar pain tugged at the heart of each girl, only Ty Lee showed its signs, Mai masked it with indifference, Azula with cold hatred.
Suddenly a blue bolt of fire flew towards the ceiling, another towards the ground- a stream of fire hurtled across the hall threatening to consume the entire group in one fell swoop. The large group of rebels scattered for cover, the roof of the ancient palace began to cave in as more blue bolts were flung in every direction.
Aang managed to dodge a stream of lightning but by doing so crashed in to a fallen stone pillar. Katara almost electrocuted herself as her watery shield almost collapsed upon her. Toph was spent all her energy desperately trying to keep the entire hall from collapsing by tearing rocky supports from the floor. Mai panicked as she saw Azula's lightning directly hit Zuko, the noblewoman's life flashed before her eyes at such a rate that even the monotonous drawl of reality seemed new and entertaining to her.
Azula was caught off guard by a combination of Zuko's redirected assault and her father's inability to admit the smallest of defeats. She nevertheless turned her own confusion in to an attack- lunging towards Mai. Partial victory at hand- Azula produced an unpractised fire dagger from her right fist, the favoured move of her brother. As Azula swung the dagger down towards Mai's neck she whispered sweetly "Goodbye, old friend."
It hit the Princess like sound, a feeling that she would never relate to anyone. A large clang- her arm felt funny and she could swear she could smell burnt toast. Two more clangs and almonds filled the air. As she turned, the prodigy saw the pinkish deliverer of her annihilation. "Ay Ankslish Beckfet." The Fire Princess delivered her final words proudly with her chin held high before she fell in to unconsciousness and the arms of the weeping acrobat.