Azula Forever

Chapter 2

By: RebLaw

Note: This is an AU story. It is in the same time period about as the Avatar TV show, with the same characters. There is only one minor change. Azula was born unable to firebend. (Which actually changes more than you would think.)

There are going to be some scenes omitted that appeared in the TV show (it should be obvious which ones) they will be implied, but not retold as they will not changed.

This is a really short but really dense chapter. I'm sorry it's taking so long, I'm working full time and being a lazy-butt when I'm not working.

-.-.-.-.-

It had been a year since Zuko had boarded the ship on his quest. The red silk ceremonial robes that had been worn on the day of leaving had spent the year collecting dust.

Azula had inquired every day as to the status of her brother. The magistrate thought it was so cute how she "cared" so much about her brother and looked sad every day she was told that her brother was in good health but the Avatar had not been found.

With each passing day it grew more and more apparent to her that her plan had failed. Either the poison failed, or her stupid brother forgot about it. It became evident to her that she would need to go abroad to finish her brother off.

While her father likely didn't care what she did, as long as it did not affect him, she did not wish for rumors to spread. She was aware she'd need the publics support to take the throne away from her Uncle Iroh and cousin Zhao.

Women did not ascend to the throne often in Fire Nation history; it was uncommon but not unheard of.

There was once a great warrior queen, ChiuLing. ChiuLing ascended to the throne after dispatching her tyrannical brother. She was considered the first fire bender and the matriarch of the modern Fire Nation royal line.

-.-.-.-.-

"Good news for this Fire Lord," Iroh said as Zuko who was watching his prey which had just escaped. "The nation's greatest threat is just a little kid."

Zuko glared at Iroh. What had been shaping up to be the best day of his life, capturing the Avatar, a feat which would secure him a place in Fire Nation history, was quickly turning into one of his worst. The Avatar had escaped. Not just that, but his stupid, worthless uncle was now making jokes in a stupid attempt to make him feel better.

"Shut up," Zuko snapped. "I won't underestimate him again."

Iroh sighed and went to help melt the crewmen.

The young prince surveyed the damage the "little kid" had done to his ship. The foredeck was damaged. The prince barked orders to his crewmen to melt the ice.

He hoped the damage was only superficial.

It wasn't. A good portion of the food and supplies were destroyed. The soldiers tried to salvage what food they could, but in the end they could only salvage enough to make it back to Fire Nation territory.

Even though the bottle of poisoned wine Azula had given him had been destroyed, Zuko wasn't happy.

-.-.-.-.-

I t was common for Princess Azula to receive between five and twenty-five letters a day from men containing various invitations, from seemingly innocent invitations to private parties and social events to marriage requests. One day she even received proposals from five men of the same family.

Normally she ignored them. She hadn't found the perfect husband; they were always the wrong age, too willful, or completely spineless. The princess needed a man strong enough to take the throne, but weak enough to give it to her.

There was only one man she had found that had any chance of fulfilling her requirements. Her second cousin, Lieutenant Zhao.

She decided to test the waters, visiting him with a gift. The princess had had no problem securing a promotion for the lieutenant, as he had been showing promise anyway, captain wasn't that high of a rank. Azula needed to see how he'd react to the news before she could decide if he was worthy of her.

So about the time Zuko left to visit the Fire Nation Naval port, Azula had arrived and given Zhao the news.