Well it has been a while hasn't it, I got no real excuse for why it has taken me so long to update other than, writers block, jumping out of a plane, breaking my hand, getting surgery, going on vacation, golfing, fishing, and playing lots of video games… so yeah NEW CHAPTER YEE HAW! Im not entirely happy with this chapter, mainly due to zuko being an ass to portray correctly, and still get my point across, so to me it feels a little off, but hell what ya gunna do?
Shout out to-( helljumper41, Sgt. Mehoff, lily938, Dbananad, fandorsoul, yuridodero, ZeeMonster, .Loba, choasrin, Dark Twili Dragon, Fluent, ArchAngle-Wolf, callmeluci, yorunes, ChiMeko123, OddWolfLife, FurFurFanga, tayr98, TheAnimeGeek21, and Irohllgirl,) for all the fallows and favs that you guys gave me, it means the world that you guys like it.
Special thanks to-( modman33, tb7753, interesting1, CelloDude8432, Amakatsu, TheOstrichLord, and Revengest) for all the awesome feedback that you guys gave, I lurv all u.
Song that finally got me off my ass and made me write this chapter- Don McLean- American Pie
Without further ado, enjoy chapter 4.
There is something about silence that can be both a comfort and a joy, yet it is also at times disconcerting and nerve racking. For Azula silence had never really been a factor in the way she went about her life, the time in the cell had made certain of that; but there was something about this silence that irked her. Perhaps it was the fact that her brother was sitting in front of her, staring her down like a bird of prey stares at its soon to be prey. Perhaps it was the migraine that was threatening to split her skull open at a moment's notice, or maybe the golden eyed woman was simply sick of silence. Headless of the potential consequences the black haired princess cleared her throat and spoke, "While this little staring contest is wonderful, I'm certain that there is a better reason for me to be here."
Zuko seemed to think a moment before answering, "Yes there is a reason you are here, a rather good one as it were." His tone neutral, face unreadable.
Azula raised an eyebrow but allowed him to continue, more interested in an answer than interrupting him, regardless of how amusing that may be. "You are here for… Rehabilitation." Zuko continued, seeming to choose his words carefully.
The former princess scoffed, but before she could retort Zuko continued, "It is either that, or you face execution for your war crimes." At this two golden eyes fixed upon Zuko, all traces of arrogance forgotten.
Azula watched as Zuko let a small smile play across his face, she wanted nothing more than to wipe it off as painfully as she could, but now was not the time to be entertaining these thoughts. "Zuko isn't the type to go and kill people for no reason, he was always to spineless to finish what he started, someone else is pushing for this, someone with influence." The black haired princess reasoned.
"Go on." She muttered. Zuko began speaking at once, it was clear to Azula that he saw that he was the victor for the moment in their unspoken contest, "A congregation of nobles and military officials believe that all remnants of the old Fire Nation need to be cleansed to show the other nations that we are indeed committed to change."
"Get to the point Zuzu." Azula growled, growing impatient.
"Hmm, looks like some things never change," Zuko grunted before continuing. "The point is, either you prove to me and a select group of others that you have indeed regained full control of yourself, or… well at that point I will have no choice but to call for a public execution. That, and I have another problem that we have to deal with, and by we, I do me you and I. You see along with this call for your execution, there have also been a multitude of attempts on my life over the past several months."
A Black eyebrow rose above a golden eye. "These attempts, while nothing new, were different than the usual attempts made against any ruling faction, these were not only professional in nature but I also familiar. I know who attempted to execute them. Our fathers network of spies and assassins, the Black Flame." Zuko stopped for a moment and Azual saw he was attempting to decide what to say next, most likely wondering how much was safe to tell her.
"Smart." She thought glancing out the window at the sight that lay beyond it. Squinting past the cloth in her, still slightly painful, eyes She looked out and saw the deep green of the royal gardens, with the twinkle of a waterfall onto a small pool in the middle of all the blooming plants. Some part of her realized that it must be spring, for the flowers were blooming, but more than anything she relished the colors, the rich greens, the reds, and the blues, orange, purple, gold, and white. All these things struck her, even though her cloth covered eyes she recognized these colors, after so long of black and nothingness they were entrancing to behold.
After several more moments of gazing out the large windows, Azula turned her attention once more to her brother.
"I am not entirely certain as to why they are trying to kill me but my guess is that they are under the control of one the nobles or generals who want you killed as well. They then will attempt a coup to gain control of the nation while it is still attempting to recover, or at least in theory." Zuko stated. "Your role in this is to not only prove yourself but to bait whoever is attempting this in to showing their hand."
The former princess allowed herself a few moments to let all the information to sink in, and perhaps gain a grasp on her situation. "So many things have happened while I was gone, yet… how long have I been gone?
Zuko however continued to press on, "Despite the past few years we-"
Azula felt her entire body stiffen, words echoing in her mind. Years, it had been years, locked in the dark for… years. Golden eyes flicked down at her hands as she felt warmth trickling down them, fresh blood dripped from her palms were she had unconsciously dug her nails into the flesh of her palm until blood freely dripped down her fingers. The deep crimson against the pale skin of her hand, the sun's rays glinting of the blood like small crimson gemstones, it was almost hypnotic in a way. Zuko fell silent when he noticed this.
"Exactly," Azula's voice deadly calm, "how long was I in that cell?" she asked, eyes never leaving the dripping crimson.
"Two, almost three years." Zuko replied, shifting were he sat, suddenly slightly uncomfortable in the brightly lit room.
"That long." Azual whispered to herself. "That's how long I have been trapped in that dark little hell." The golden eyed princess mulled that through her thoughts for a moment before she began to laugh, a hard echoing laugh. "Hahahah AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA…"
"It is rather funny isn't it. Heheh, funny. What's even funnier is that you let it happen, haha, YOU! You worthless maggot, HAHAHA you let this happen to you, HAHA, and why you ask? Because you let yourself get betrayed, HAHAHA YOU LET IT HAPPEN! Now that's funny AHAHAHAHAHA!"
"NO!" Azula screamed, not caring who heard her. "It wasn't my fault! She was supposed to be my everything, and she said that she would always be there for me! She lied to me, it wasn't my fault! She made me lose everything, ALL OF IT!"
Leaping to her feet, Azula searched for escape, anywhere that it couldn't do harm. However as her eyes locked on the large windows, she could see a shadow swimming in the reflection of the glass. As she watched with mounting horror the shadow pressed itself against the glass. It surrounded her reflection and covered it, replacing her with nothing but an oily black outline. A horrific smile emerged, all teeth gnashing and mashing, it grinned at her.
She could vaguely hear the voices of Zuko, and the guard captain calling her, however she was transfixed on the apparition in front of her. Even when a she felt a hand on her shoulder she could not look away.
"Such a good little liar you are!" she heard the voice cry gleefully. "Able to lie to yourself so well, it's almost sad, if it weren't so damned pathetic. How did he ever think you would be able to rule over it all? Then again all you wanted to rule was her, now isn't that right? You were willing to give up all that power, for what? AN ACROBATIC WHORE?! NOW GIVE IT BACK! GIVEITBACK! GIVEITBACKGIVEITBACKGIVEITBACKGIVEITBACK! GIVE IT BACK YOU WEAK PATHETIC THEIF!" The voice screamed in her head.
A splitting pain erupted in her head as she ripped herself out of the grip holding her, falling to the ground, tears leaking out of her eyes even as she screwed them shut. "NO!" Azula sobbed, "no no no no no no no, not weak, not weak."
In some distant corner of her mind she could sense people standing over her, someone yelling for help, then blissful darkness, sweet, comforting darkness.
Grey eyes snapped opened in the darkness, sitting up in the blackness the brunette breathed heavily as her heart slowed its frantic pounding. Ty Lee glanced warily around the small bedroom of the house she used when visiting the capital of the Fire Nation. The room had not changed since the last time she had awaked in a feverish sweat, hear wildly pounding. The same windows overlooking the city, moonlight gently lighting the room, the same dresser, same vanity, same everything.
Standing shakily, Ty Lee moved to the night stand next to the bed for the pitcher of water she had placed on it in anticipation of another restless night. Taking the clay pitcher, she raised it to her lips and drank greedily, savoring the cool taste of the water on her parched throat. Yet even with her thirst slacked, the thing that had awoken the young women from her slumber still haunted her mind, those piercing gold eyes so lost and fearful, silky hair turned to oily strands, smooth skin turned almost transparent.
"And it's all my fault." Ty lee thought with guilt welling up inside of her. "No! Get ahold of yourself, you did what had to be done; she would have ended up killing herself the way she was going!" Yet Ty Lee could not forget the Azula she had seen, the broken and scared women she saw still left her near tears. "Perhaps she would have been better off dead than what I put her through."
Letting out a tired sigh, the brunette resolved to attempt to at least go back to her bed and get a few hours of sleep. Climbing back into the soft folds of her bed and closed her eyes, she was about to drift back off when a pair of thin arms fastened themselves around her waist and pulled her close a soft, warm body next to her.
"Something wrong?" a soft, sleepy voice next to her asked.
With a small smile Ty lee shook her head and glanced over at the girl lying next to her, "Nothing's wrong Yumi, just a bad dream, go back to sleep."
Silken black hair draped over her, and light blue eyes looked down at her, from soft angular features, "You sure, I'm here if you need me." Yumi said, sleep still clinging to her voice.
Ty Lee simply smiled, leaned over giving a light kiss to ease the girl's worries, "I'm sure, now go to sleep, ok?" The blue eyed girl nodded before burying her head in Ty Lee hair and sighing, "Good night." Yumi murmured. Ty Lee's only response was a light nod in return.
Grey eyes stared at the ceiling, despite the wishes of a good night, Ty Lee was certain she was not going to have a good night, perhaps for quite some time.
That's where I end this chapter you say? Why yes, yes it is. Why you ask? Because I'm evil. If you liked, leave a comment, a fav, or a fallow, if not thanks for reading it anyway, that's it for now, Draconian Calocor out!