Hmm... maybe I'm rushing the plot line...
Disclaimer: I do not own the respective products other than this weird plot. Now you can't sue me for stealing!
XXXXXXXXXX
Location unknown…
Some people said that waking up was a slow process; you do not simply become aware instantly.
That was the truth, yet also a lie.
People woke up instantly, like a switch. You simply started working, but whether you were aware of your surrounding was another matter at hand.
Azula can testify to this, for when she woke up, she woke up easily aware of everything around her, where as Ty Lee usually took a second or two to get her bearing intact.
Of course, when Azula woke up to an unfamiliar room, with unfamiliar voices assaulting her ears and an unfamiliar bed under her, the first thing she thought of was that someone had kidnapped her or busted her out of that cage.
The second thing she thought of was… well, she didn't exactly have a second thing to ponder upon, seeing as her train of thought froze at the fact that she was outside.
"I'm… actually outside…?" Azula asked herself, her golden eyes wide to take in the site of an unfamiliar ceiling. As opposed to the nice, polished wood, she was faced with old, chipped blocks.
It looked even better than the high ceiling of the New Imperial Palace, Azula realized with a start. It looked so much better indeed. It made her repeat herself despite her loathing to do so. "I'm actually outside."
"Yes, yes, you are outside. It is quite refreshing isn't it?" A deep voice called out, and Azula jumped into a fire bending stance, only to blink at what she saw in front of her.
Large, big framed, with shaggy white hair that reached just slightly past his shoulders. Looking to be in his thirties, the man's blue eyes twinkled with amusement and a depth that Azula never seen. There were lines on his face despite his relatively young age (or what appeared to be), but they were lines born from laughter, not stress. Then there were six lines one him, three on each cheek that stood out; whiskers if she must.
Dressing in worn but flexible, long-sleeved, gray top and loose gray pants, the ends stuffed into shin-high boots, the man looked imposing. Despite his large grin and relaxed stance with hands folded within his sleeves, Azula simply knew that he was not to be trifled with.
"Good morning Princess. How did you sleep?" The man asked, his deep voice glided in the air with a smooth tone. There was an undercurrent of authority to it, but it was not aimed at her. It was simply a question; one that did not have an ulterior motive to it.
"Who are you?" Damn it Azula! It was just a simple question! An honest to Agni question! What are you doing? "What do you want?"
"Hmm… a life full of lies and deceits. Your mannerism takes paranoia into a whole new level I see." The man commented, his grin growing a trifle larger, and Azula had this strange sense that he was mocking her. It made her angry… and also aware of the fact that her pride seemed to only be jaded, not gone. "Ooh, and prideful too, or at least, you used to be very prideful. Now you're just prideful."
How was he simply reading her like a freaking book? She had better control than that! "A bit of a control freak too I think."
A twitch kicked her left eyebrow slightly higher than it should be, and Azula's lips down turned a little at that comment. Her eyes narrowed just by the tiniest margin, but the stranger's eyes took it all in, and his grin grew even larger. "I was right, wasn't I?"
This one was not a question.
"Who… are… you?" Azula grounded out; her teeth clenched in an effort to not blast this man into the next room (or the next building if it suited her). He was obviously the one that got her out from his frame and his voice, so the least she could do is NOT burn him to a crisp.
"Right, you're an impatient little girl." Azula's left eyebrow twitched again at the little girl comment instead of the impatient part. "I'm Zuma. As you have probably guessed, I took you out of that hospital. Your brother is kind in that aspect I suppose, though I question that part about you losing your sanity. Snapped under the pressure of the moment, sure, but gone insane? Definitely not!" The man paused in his talk, his eyes digging into hers as he said, "But you changed…"
"Have anyone ever told you that you talked too much?" Azula asked, her mouth now showing an obvious frown while the rest of her visage remained mostly stoic. She had yet to relax her stance however, but it was starting to tire her a little. It was obvious that her stamina was not what it used to be after her seven months of inactivity.
The man's eyes widen before he burst into laughter. Then between laughing and gasping for breath, he said, "All the time! People always said I talked too much. But let me tell you something Princess." The man was then suddenly within her defense with his face right in front of hers. "Sometimes talking is all it is needed." Then he was back in his original position.
Azula could only stare. "How did… what did…" Immediately remembering who she was, she shook her head and reestablished her stance, exclaiming, "What do you want with me?"
The man only blinked back at her, and as if to mock her further, he said, "You do know that you're wearing a sleep gown… right?"
Oh, what a stupid question! Of course she… Wait, what?
XXXXXXXXXX
After nearly killing the man in an impromptu outburst about low life and perverts, Azula managed to change into some… peasant clothes. It was disgraceful, but she can't complain.
Black robe with red trim, with wide sleeves and breathable material; it was good for light fire bending. Heavier things required more specific stuff simply because there was a risk of burning down her clothing. Same with the top, her skirt was flexible and breathable, and most importantly, it was wide, allowing many movements without exposing herself despite the cotton pants she wore underneath. It was also red, and somehow Zuma –the crazy fool that he was- somehow managed to find one with black fire designs on its end.
The boots, light and comfortable, was made of high quality leather and Azula knew form experience, they were good for long distance travel and long term usage. She probably won't need another pair for a long while unless she grew out of this pair.
The question that did plague her is how did he manage to get her size so well? "Hey low life, did you feel me up when I was asleep or something?"
"Nope." The honesty within his answer was unquestionable. "I am just very good at guessing I suppose. My luck is always rather devilish from what people told me. I don't think they're exaggerating either. You see, I always seemed to win in gambling, even when it was rigged. There is just something about me and winning games with chances I think."
Azula resisted the urge to palm her face, and instead she exited the room to face the man that pulled her away from that cage. "You really do talk too much. So what now?"
"Now? Why are you asking me?" Zuma asked with a laugh, and Azula once more had to resist the urge to blast him with fire. The man was infuriating. "We can go wherever you wish Princess. We could wonder the Fire Nation, or we could storm the New Imperial palace right now if it strikes your fancy." Zuma suggested with a grin, though upon seeing the serious look on Azula's face, he discarded those ideas. "We could find a boat and go to the Earth Kingdom. The land is vast and there are plenty of places to visit. Of course, whether I go with you are up to the next question."
"And that is?" The Princess asked, more curious than an actual need to know. She can manage without him.
…She hoped she can manage without him.
The man raised one eyebrow as his eyes narrowed, he leaned forward, his weight shifting, his body posing into a stance that convey his seriousness. Azula had to wonder if he was going to ask her to fight him or something similar. A challenge she could probably handle, but anything else?
"What do you think of the color orange?"
That was not what she expected at all. In fact, that was probably the farthest thing she could think of. So forgive her for her rather… intelligent reply of, "Huh?"
"You know, orange!" The man exclaimed as if you told him that his biggest wish was about to come true. Then he simply went into this rant that left Azula lost for a lack of better words. The Princess can only blinded back at the man's animated action, her hands limp at her side and her knees a little stiff from standing in the same spot too long.
Oddly enough, this felt like a no-win situation, because no matter what she answered, he will follow.
How right was she and this was the first time ever that Azula wished she wasn't.
XXXXXXXXXX
Outside a port town somewhere within Fire Nation…
Azula now seriously doubted her father if she hadn't already. If she was born lucky like he always claimed her to be, then she wouldn't be stuck with… with…
"You know, I could go for some noodles. Do you like noodles? I think you're more of a grill type than anything. Still, do you want noodles? If so, do you prefer the soup ones or the dry ones? How about the spices? Hot? Mild? Oh, and can't forget about the type of meat!"
With this fool… Zuma, the Talkative as she so happily named him.
He was competent, that much Azula will grant him. Out of her experience of seeing people work, he was by far the most reliable in terms of... well, apparently everything. He could get his things together, if not by skills then by sheer luck. He knew his landscape, managing to get them from a town located somewhat deep within the land to a port town within a day's walk. He was also a very accomplished pack carrier if that gigantic luggage that looked almost as tall as he was anything to go by, though he insisted that she carry a small duffel bag for some reason. There was hardly anything in there except for two sets of clothing and some jerkies.
He also insisted on the large straw hat that now topped her head and covered her face with its shadow, just like he was at the moment. It was a wise decision on his part, but must it be so big? It also reminded her of those Dai Li agents, and she had to wonder briefly what happened to them after she banished them in her moment of... nervous breakdown. It gave her something to think about if for the simple sake of satiating her curiosity.
"Do you know that fear only achieve so much?" Zuma suddenly asked, his deep voice losing its cheerfulness, and instead was replaced with a dead seriousness that seemed so uncharacteristic that Azula tripped on her own foot. She didn't fall of course. She was too skilled for that to happen. "Fear was never really the right choice for a ruler to go with. It is foolish; often time it just required a brave soul with enough charisma to upset that fear. Love on the other hand... I think you know what love can do."
Azula thought she did, if what Mai did was any hints. As far as she was concerned, love was a foolish notion that begets nothing but pain. She loved her father after all, and his abandoning her had cut her deeper than she would like to admit to even herself.
"What does this have to do with whatever it was you're prattling on? And what are you on about anyway you fool?" Azula hissed, hiding the slight pain she felt from her foot as she glared at the strange man by her side. The girl half hoped that Zuma was somewhat insane instead of philosophical or on a quest to impart some other worldly wisdom. Insanity she can deal with, the other two, not so much.
The white haired man only stared at her for a few minutes before smiling. "Hmm… Nothing, nothing at all." Then he was back to his cheerful and talkative self. It reminded her of Ty Lee… except without the random outburst of philosophy. Ty Lee had random outburst of hugs and giggles, but never philosophy.
Azula once more questioned if her father was insane already when he told her she was born lucky…
Or maybe this was some strange punishment that had to do with some karma crap or something else. Her mother and uncle were always rather touchy with spiritual stuff such as that.
"Oh, right. I keep forgetting to ask this. How is your fire bending holding up?" Zuma suddenly asked, once again out of the blue, and this time Azula tripped on her foot also. "I mean I'm sure the guards did not let you do any of the more physically challenging forms… right?"
Except this time, she did fall, and she didn't get back up immediately.
She was too busy staring up at Zuma, who was simply grinning like he did not just questioned her skill.
She was a fire bending prodigy. She was Azula, the azure flame bender. Nobody questioned her skill and got out unscathed.
Hopefully, no, not hopefully; when she was done with him, he will never question her skill again.
With a low growl from the back of her throat, the Princess rolled from her position on the ground into a fire bending stance. "I'll show you how it's holding up you fool!" Taking in a deep breath, the Princess gathered her chi and moved it just the way she needed to make fire. As she exhaled, she extended her striking palm, expelling the chi at the same time.
Instead of the powerful stream of fire, all she got was a small puff of azure flame.
She blinked, Zuma –who was already dodging to the side- blinked, and they both blinked once more.
That was definitely not supposed to be what happened. As if to mock her further, Zuma said rather innocently, "Was that suppose to happen?"
Thinking that it was just a fluke, Azula retracted her hand before she repeated her attack, doing the same breathing and exhaling one more time.
The result was the same small puff of flame, if only just slightly bigger.
Azula stared wide eyed at her flameless fist. Straightening, the Princess brought both hands in front of her to stare at it, wondering if she missed something.
Did she miss a step? That shouldn't matter though.
Did she not breathe right? No, she got it perfect.
Did she not pull at the chi right? No, she had done it some many times that it was second nature.
What happened?
Not satisfied and confused, Azula immediately discard any thought of harming Zuma and instead settle into a basic fire bending stance. With years' of practice and experience, she flow through the kata, expelling her flames and breathing in as the kata required her. However, with each small puff of flame, her actions grew more frantic, until finally all she was doing was punching the air.
After the fifth straight punch with the same weak flame, Azula stopped.
There was no doubt anymore.
She still bended, but she could no longer bend like the way she was before Sozin's Comet.
"That might be a problem…" Zuma wisely commented, and Azula felt a surge of anger flooding her before it died just as quickly as it came. This was a problem. "You know… maybe we can try tomorrow? It might just be some lingering substance in your body from the asylum…"
Maybe it was… "Fine. We'll wait until tomorrow to see. In the mean time, go get us a ship out of this place. I want to put some distance between me and Zuzu as fast as possible!"
"Man, you're one ungrateful brat." Zuma commented at that, though he still went about inquiring for a ship. "I suppose that's what you get when your companion is a princess."
As she watched the large man disappeared within the crowd surprisingly well, Azula felt herself slump in defeat before staring up at the sky. It made her wonder why he listened to her at all.
She was the fallen princess, the psycho locked up in the asylum by her brother Fire Lord Zuzu. Here he was, someone good enough to not only bust her out of there, but also got them the necessary supplies within a short amount of time. He could probably do a lot of things to her or with her already, but he simply followed her every whim and command.
It confused her to no end.
Maybe she could use this to her advantage... Such blatant loyalty usually meant a powerful benefactor. Powerful benefactor usually meant someone of great importance if not very resourceful.
This could work out quite nicely for her if she played her cards just right.
XXXXXXXXXX
As Azula boarded a simple trading ship, the wide straw hat still on top of her head, she suddenly wondered whether she should be alarmed for the lack of any and all anger toward her brother.
Bitterness she had plenty of, but oddly enough she did not have the burning anger that she recalled fill her entire being the first or so month of her stay in her gilded cage.
What paused her in mid step was the sudden epiphany that she did not want revenge against Zuzu or his water tribe peasant. When Zuma turned to regard her, Azula simply resumed walking as if nothing happened. Zuma seemed to think nothing of it either as he too resumed his ascend onto the ship. Still, Azula decided that her lack of anger and a need for revenge was something that troubled her. Ozai always told her that if you were wronged, then pay them back tenfold; she believed him as it was imprinted into her mind so thoroughly despite her rarely acting upon it simply due to the fact that no one stand in front of her long enough to wrong her.
Except her weak brother and that water tribe girl.
And the blasted Avatar.
Monkey's feather. If she wanted to get all technical and what not, then she could even count in her bastard of a father and that good for nothing mother.
Despite all of this, Azula still couldn't summon up even a spit of anger. Her temper was still intact, but strangely enough, her anger seemed to be extinguished like how her firebending seemed to simply regressed to an amateurish level.
Now that was something she should sleep on...
XXXXXXXXXX
Nearby another ship, two men in loose red robes and white baggy pants, wearing identical straw hats with hands hidden in sleeves and feet covered by the robe looked at one another.
They nodded as one before turning and walked calmly away from the port.
No one noticed that they were even there to begin with.
XXXXXXXXXX
Aboard the ship...
As the moon reached its peak in the night sky, Zuma shifted his gaze from it to the door that led to the ship's cabins. The man's blue eyes lingered on the metallic door for a moment before they focused back onto the moon once more.
"Her will is broken… her drive gone." The man started to say, his deep voice but a whisper in the night as the ship bobbed with each pacing wave. "She lacks a motive; a purpose. I wonder if it really is worth the trouble."
Then give her a motive. Find her a purpose. I heard that you're very good at giving people purposes. A voice sounded, and its owner soon appeared by the man's side. Transparent and flowing, the Moon Spirit Yue gazed at the man with soft eyes. She was once so full of pride. It is sad to see her so broken.
"Pride is but one of seven deadly sins." The man said, his voice wise and his tone knowledgeable. "Perhaps she will learn humbleness as she fixes herself."
Perhaps; and hopefully you will offer the necessary help. The Moon Spirit conceited with a shrug. The manifestation then turned her eyes onto the figure next to her and said, As to whether it is worth the trouble, only time will tell. Besides, I'm sure uniting a daughter with her mother will do all some good.
"Perhaps." Zuma said as he too shrugged. "Still, I do not understand why it was asked of me. I shouldn't be needed anymore. She also isn't the model citizen if you know what I mean. What could she possibly accomplish?" The man tilted his head back a little before continuing, "Assuming, and I do mean assuming that she wanted to change, wouldn't it be better if the task was given to someone more... I don't know, attached to the world? Besides, if she wants to see her mother, wouldn't she had searched for a long ago?"
The universe worked in mysterious ways. Yue replied mysteriously with a smile. Not even I know what to do half the time. Besides, Fire Lord Zuko understand his sister better than he realized. After all, Azula always lied, so why wouldn't she lie about her own self interest? Then as if to consider something, the manifestation tilted her head to the side, then said, Teach her the might of a tiger. It will help her survive until she regains her fire. I see danger within the Earth Kingdom. The shadow that befallen this land has yet to pass.
"I intend to teach her something, if nothing else than to open her eyes and see the world for what it is." Zuma answered, and Yue was slightly worried at the slightly dark tone. "If it comes to it, I will personally spank her." That had the Moon Spirit hiding a series of giggles with a sleeve before gazing up at her representation: the moon.
Silence covered them for a moment as both enjoyed the sight offered by the night. It wasn't long before it was broken by Zuma saying, "Do you know how long I've been in this world?"
A very long time I would imagine. Yue replied after a second of thought. Casting a curious look at the person next to her manifestation, the Moon Spirit raised one eyebrow and offered a smile. Does it matter? You are part of the world in every sense of the words, as I am now. You are needed to keep the balance as much as the Avatar is needed to help maintain it.
"Sometimes I think that was the problem. People depend too much on us without even knowing it." Zuma murmured tiredly before yawning. "Oh well. We'll see what the future has to offer. Not even I know what will happen."
True. I will leave you to your rest… Though do grant me this little answer. Yue said her eyes full of curiosity as she gaze at the large figure of Zuma. Do you eat and sleep out of habit?
Zuma smiled. "Not really. I just like doing them. It makes me feel closer to them. Whatever habits I have were long gone."
XXXXXXXXXX
Author's corner:
Yes, Zuma is Naruto. No, he is not the Naruto we're used to. What that mean will be revealed bit by bit eventually. Yes, he will bend. What he bends though isn't that hard to guess, but also isn't exactly conventional. Nothing like metal bending though. I personally think that's all Toph, so too bad Naruto. That will be all I say in regard to this issue, so discussion close!
Other than that... Azula may seem a bit OOC. Part of the reason of this story is so I can practice a somewhat dark character and see if I can make his/her trail and potential redemption believable. Again, to do that, this may just be drabble like material or epic length chapters, I don't know. I'll see how this turn out.
Next issue. I might need a beta. I can only proof read a chapter so many times a day without getting tired of it. I also can only catch so many error with my rather questionable grammar. The mistakes are probably mostly little things, but unless someone point them out, I will probably miss them. Well, we'll let this run for one or two more chapters to see I guess.
That is that. Tell me what you think by leaving a review please. Constructive reviews are extremely welcomed. I can't judge how my work turned out to be by simply seeing how many people put me on alert or favorite... So really, leave a review to tell me what you think. It'll be most appreciated.
Oh, and speaking of alert and favorite... please be careful that you set the option to "Add Story to Alert" or "Add Author to Alert" instead of "Add Story to Favorites." You will never see me update if you choose "Add Story to Favorites" because it does not alert you to any update at all haha.