Disclaimer: You know what should be here. But just for the sake of it; I do not own Naruto or ATLA.
Beta: TheHumanWiki
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Underground Labyrinth of Ba Sing Se…
Within the labyrinth like dungeons under Ba Sing Se, a pair of man dressed in loose green robes and topped with conical hats lightly and calmly talked down a specific tunnel. With their hands folded within their sleeves behind their back and their head slightly bowed, the two appeared formidable.
They were formidable.
However, ever since Sozin's Comet, they were not as they once were. They were once great, and they once ruled the great city of Ba Sing Se within its shadow, having reduced its king to nothing but a figure head.
Now?
Now they appeared to be nothing… This won't do. No, this won't do at all.
So here they were, walking down a specific hall towards a specific cell to meet a specific someone. After seven months, they had decided that it was time to return to their former glory. Besides, they weren't idol the last past seven months. No they were not. New members have been recruited and trained, and their forces have been bolstered. It was time to make their move.
They will be great once more, and nothing can stop them.
Nothing will stop them. They will make sure of that. But first, they must retrieve their master.
They must free Long Feng.
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Kyoshi Island…
Everyone felt it, but no one was sure what caused it. It was very clear that Princess Azula's personality had taken a darker turn. It meant more sarcasm, more biting remarks, and more venom wherever she went.
The Kyoshi Warriors were very close to jumping her, rules and reputations be damned, but Ty Lee had successfully so far kept them in check with Suki's help. Too bad the captain would probably be the first to jump Azula, except her self control exceeded that need.
Zuma seemed to take the blunt of that temper tantrum or whatever it was that the Princess was in. The white haired man seemed to be taking more verbal abuse and sometimes an extra punch or two from what Ty Lee could tell. The man in return just kept on grinning and smiling, as if it didn't bother him at the slightest. The acrobat suspected that he had done this sort of things before; looking after princesses she meant. Well, hopefully Azula kept her fire out of sight as she was doing so far. Ty Lee did not fashion seeing Zuma burned something she wanted to see.
Still, the most prominent change was that Azula's cold shoulders weren't so cold anymore, but Ty Lee wished they were still. Instead, the Princess had turned her venom on her, spitting out harsh words with harsh expressions. Even her aura had taken on a harsher outlook, and Ty Lee did not like that at all.
Still her own stubbornness allowed her to continue despite how much she liked to break down and weep. She kept telling herself that Azula was a lonely girl, and it was her duty as a friend to let her know that she was not alone.
So far it was a complete failure, and with each attempt Ty Lee grew even more discouraged. It seemed that the only thing that kept her going is Zuma's secretive encouraging smile because not even Suki believed that what she was doing was worth the time.
Speaking of Zuma, Ty Lee had quickly formed a bond with the man. He was like a distant older brother that was weird, but in a good sort of way that cheered you up. He also made quite a mean tea. Zuma was kind of like Uncle Iroh, except without his jelly disposition and soothing personality.
That comment had Azula almost in a raging fit; good thing Zuma quickly guided the Princess away before Ty Lee was reintroduced to her azure flame.
Everything turned even more sour after that, and that was two days ago. According to Zuma, they would be leaving probably in a day or two.
"I only intended to stay on Kyoshi Island for about a week. There are still much to do in the main continent, and I don't think it can wait." Zuma had explained when Ty Lee asked him why he was leaving so soon. The explanation was cryptic at best and the acrobat felt compiled to simply follow and get a hand in the adventure. But of course she had her duty with the Kyoshi Warriors.
Also she did not think Azula would appreciate her presence when they were still so… well, the idea was that Azula won't be happy.
At all.
Not like the way they were now.
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"We'll be leaving soon." Zuma suddenly said after dinner one night, making Azula paused to turn around to regard him. "I would suggest that you make your peace before we set off."
"There is no peace making here." The Princess said lowly, her tone resembled a rock as she turned around to her trek back to her room.
The white haired man gave a shrug as his grin turned lop sided, as if he knew something that she did not and said, "I wonder about that…"
Azula did not reply to that.
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Middle Ring of Ba Sing Se…
On the top side sitting within a simple house in the middle ring, a man well into his years sipped his tea calmly. His silvery treads framed his face as his clean shaved face marked by the years twitched in content at the tea he was drinking. Dressed in tailored robes and comfortable shoes, the man sighed in content as he relived his youthful days. He also wondered about himself seeing as the war was now over finally, so his service most likely won't be needed anymore.
No. Perhaps now he could live his life as an aged man was supposed to.
Then as if struck by a hidden signal, his eyes snapped open, revealing sharp brown orbs that belonged to one of brilliance and wisdom. They narrowed before shifting to the right just as two men dressed in loose green robs with hands hidden behind his back appeared form the shadow. They too wore conical hats and with their heads bowed.
"What do you want? I do not tolerate pests within my house." The old man asked, his tone soft and quiet, but had an underlying edge to it. The two unknown men traded glance, and the aged individual could easily detect their unease.
Good, they should feel that way.
"Sifu-." One of the men began, only to be cut off by the old man sharply.
"Do not call me that. You fools had forsaken that right long ago when you sided with Long Feng. You are nothing to me."
The man that spoke gulped audibly and the other had to pick up seeing as the first was too nervous to continue. "Master TiFong… We are here with disturbing news."
The old man named TiFong barked out a sharp laugh, and the two other shrank from it in fear as if he would strike them down within an instance. He could too, and they knew it despite his advanced age. "What could be more unsettling than Long Feng taking over Ba Sing Se? What could be more disturbing than you willingly brought down the wall of Ba Sing Se? What could you possibly tell me that could make this old man despair further?"
The two men traded glance once more before the first started, "Master TiFong, the Dai Li is… divided. We are at odd within ourselves."
"And I should care, why?" TiFong asked with a cruel smile, and the two men shrank even further in shame and fear. "The Dai Li had long fallen in shame, corrupted and broken to greed. It no longer concerns me. Leave."
The two men finally identified as Dai Li agents hesitated before they dropped to their knees, forehead touching the ground as their gloved hands flatten against the earth. TiFong only regard them in disgust as they said in chorus, "We are in the wrong. Forgive us Master for we have learned. Please aid us in our time of need!"
As if that was the cue, more Dai Li agents appeared from the shadows, some directly rose from the ground and other dropped from the ceiling. All of them immediately dropped to their knees and begged for forgiveness in front of the old man, calling him master or sifu as they had a long time ago.
TiFong just stroke his chin in thought, pondered upon the situation for a moment before he sighed. Taking another sip from his tea, the aged man focused his gaze upon a specific agent and asked, "Tell me everything. Leave no stone unturned. I will know if you lied to me. I also want to know where my granddaughter is. You've kept her from me long enough."
All the Dai Li agents raised their heads, their eyes wide and their spirit raised in hope. Master Lee TiFong may well grace the shadow with his presence once more.
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Kyoshi Island…
The second day before their departure, Azula suddenly found herself constantly within Ty Lee's company. It sickened her how the girl can be so persistent, and it grated her nerve to know that she probably won't be giving up anytime soon.
It unsettled Azula to know that she not only tolerated the girl's presence so far, she also seemed to welcome her constant chatter. It made the Princess loath herself, calling herself weak and worthless. Her father's voice had been constantly in her mind ever since that afternoon, and the girl was slowly but surely gravitating towards it.
Kindness was useless, power was everything. Without power, you were nothing. Nothing dear mother said can change that. Nothing that fool Zuma told her can change that.
Yet it rang hollow within her every time she repeated it. Azula did not like it for some reason because it left this bitter taste within her mouth. It always did, back when her father was still the prince and mother was still smothering Zuzu in kisses and hugs. But father said it, and it had ringed true.
It did at times, but never the absolute truth. Ursa piped up cheerfully, and Azula gritted her teeth harder at it.
She half wondered if she could convince Zuma to leave the island a day early.
Probably not. He'll probably spout something about making her peace, and most likely the deadline was the day they depart… which apparently could be extended however he liked.
The man was infuriating, and the worst thing was that Azula can't do a saber tooth tiger-moss's shit about it. How frustrating.
As for Ty Lee, she seemed to be prattling on and on about some recent Earth Kingdom gossip. Apparently her eldest sister Mei Lee, who married the governor of one of the colonies, had told her some news about unrest within it. It shouldn't be a surprise though. Unrest always followed a war, as shown in histories long before Sozin.
Having heard enough of that for now, Azula asked not so gently, "Why would I care about what happened within the colonies? As far as I know they're nothing but trouble. It was one of the few things I disagreed with my father."
"Mm? Really? That was new." Ty Lee commented, completely ignoring one part of the question while focusing on the other part. "I mean you disagreeing with Phoenix King Ozai was like… unheard of!"
"Unheard of yes, but not impossible. I simply kept my mouth shut. Father does not tolerate insubordination." Azula bit out the last word with bitterness, remembering a particular harsh training when she accidentally questioned his methods. That never happened again. She still felt phantom pain at her left shoulder sometimes despite it having no scar to show for it.
"Umm… let's talk about something else." The acrobat quickly tried to change the topic, and it was then that Azula remembered what she was doing and instead clump her mouth shut. Ty Lee seemed to not have notice though and continued to prattle on and on about something else. This time it was something about the Avatar's little Water Tribe Peasant girl.
The mere thought of THAT girl made Azula sick with rage.
"I do not fancy hearing about her." Azula said quickly before the rage took over. It won't do to lose control like that. Ty Lee seemed to understand, and instead switched to something else. This time it was about some local drama about two Kyoshi Warriors and one unlucky boy that moved here recently with his parents.
It was unfortunate and irritating at the same time. It reminded her of her none existing love life, just the opposite of Ty Lee who never seemed to run out of admirers. A rather nasty term came to mind, but Azula quickly squashed it. As much as Ty Lee angered her by her betrayal, she did not deserve that.
Why not? She was nothing but a slut after all! Boys and men flock to her endlessly. Ozai called out gleefully, and Azula stomped him down before further similar ridicules could be said.
You stay out of this. Ty Lee does not deserve such treatment. Azula found herself hissing back regardless. That was a mistake.
Ah, you have indeed grown weak my daughter. I wonder if it was because you were always weak to begin with or was it something… more complex. More… forbidden?
The mocking and the implication were undeniable, and Azula found her rage building further.
Ah, did I strike a nerve my dear child? Perhaps the perfect child isn't as perfect as she like to think she is? Ozai's voice continued taunting Azula, and it affected the Princess so much that it stopped her in the middle of the street. It wasn't the fact that Ozai implied she was in love with Ty Lee that annoyed her, but rather the condescending way he did it. It was like Ty Lee wasn't worthy to be in her presence.
But she isn't right? You said it yourself that she was not worthy of your words, let along your time. She did say that didn't she? But that was angry Azula talking at the moment, right? It was angry Azula that did most of the talking right? Oh poor child. Stop lying to yourself. Your brother taught you better. He knew never to lie after all.
The mention of her brother and how he might be better than her in something sparked another fire within her already burning rage. By now her hands had clenched into fists and Azula was slightly aware that any harder and she'd be drawing blood.
"'Zula? Are you alright? You're going really red in the face, but you kind of blanked out… Did you eat something bad?" Ty Lee's cheerful and curious voice broke the Princess from her trance, but not her rage. Her burning ember eyes darted to the girl, who took a step back in surprise at the amount of anger in them. She seemed to be doing that a lot ever since she got here, Azula noted.
"No I did not Ty Lee. In fact the food was quite good." The Princess said, though there was still clear sarcasm despite the honesty within them. It seemed that her method of complimenting and insulting something at the same time remained the same. Ty Lee only laughed nervously in response to that. The acrobat probably thought she said something wrong again.
Oh but she did. In fact she wronged you! That my dear is unforgivable, and you know it. Traitors receive no mercy!
"Shut it father…"
"What? 'Zula, who are you talking to? There's no one here but us… Are you alright 'Zula?" Ty Lee asked with concern filling her voice. Normally Azula would said something to disarm that concern, and if need be, toss in a soft smile to get the cheerful girl up again.
This was not normal Azula however, this was Angry Azula. Angry Azula did not think at this moment, so she spat out, "I'm completely fine Ty Lee. It's not like a traitor like you would care about what happen to the ex-princess of the Fire Nation now would you? You are after all on Zuzu's side, and the spirits know that he does not like me."
"But 'Zula, I'm not on Zuko's side. I'm one yours!" Ty Lee said innocently with confusion. She obviously did not know what Azula was so angry about. Azula did not know either, but she was not below taking it out on the most conveniently placed target.
"Oh sure you are! That was why you took me down with your chi-block instead of Mai wasn't it? Of course it is, don't even bother explaining! I see through it all you filthy traitor!" Strangely enough to Azula, that did not lessen her anger or appease her like she thought it would. All it did was making her even angrier at everything and nothing. Angry Azula was becoming Raging Azula, and there was nothing Azula could do about it because the dam was broken. "Just like my useless brother and uncle. All of you are traitors! Every single one of you!"
"'Zula? What has gotten into you? I'm your friend! I never betrayed you!" Ty Lee asked with increasing distress. It did nothing to sooth Azula's anger however.
"LIES! Then why did you go after me on Boiling Rock instead of Mai? Answer me filth!"
Silence prevailed, and Azula glared heatedly at the acrobat for quite a while. Ty Lee was aware that her makeup started to run from the sweat forming on her forehead, and she was also aware of how her heart was racing as fast as humanly possible. The familiar prickling sensation within her eyes told her that she was tearing, and there was a lump in her throat that made breathing difficult. Guilt weight down her soul and fear made mush out of her stomach. Ty Lee knew that it was only a matter of time before it crushed her to pieces.
It wasn't long before she broke under the glare. What really got her was the madness shimmering just behind the anger within Azula's eyes as well as the shimmer of hurt that was buried under the madness. "I'm sorry okay? You and Mai were going to kill each other! What was I suppose to do? You two were going to kill each other!" Ty Lee wailed, tears flowing from her eyes and she shrunk under Azula's burning gaze. Everyone can see that she was fighting off sobs. "What was I suppose to do? My two best friends were going to kill each other. You were so angry and so scary, and Mai was so furious too and everyone was so tense and angry and stuff! I have to do something!"
"Oh, and shutting down my chi is the way to go?" Azula bit back without mercy, and this time Ty Lee openly sobbed.
"I'm sorry! I didn't know what to do! It just happened! I didn't think! Please forgive me! I'm sorry!"
"Ha! As if saying sorry will solve everything! If so, everyone only needs to say sorry and the world will be a big, bright, and happy place filled with rainbow and bunnies!"
"I'm sorry! Please forgive me! Please don't be mad at me Zula! I'm so, sorry! I'll do anything!"
"Then how about killing this wench that you called captain?"
"Please 'Zula! Please!"
"You're not worth my time. In fact, I don't think you're worthy enough to even be in the same area as me. Good bye stupid girl." Azula hissed before she pushed past a distressed Ty Lee, knocking the already off balanced girl onto her behind. That was where the acrobat crawled into a ball and sobbed as much as she allowed herself to. Ty Lee continued to call out apologies and asking for forgiveness, but Azula kept on walking, head held high and shoulder squared, never looking back.
If she did, she would probably crack, because Ty Lee sprang to her feet and ran into the forest, face buried in her hands as she sobbed without restrain.
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That was uncalled for child…
"Hush mother. I do not care for your opinions."
Yet you know truth when you hear it.
"You speak as if Ty Lee's woe would bother me. She is nothing but a filthy traitor; weak and useless."
Ah, but you are bothered. You care more than you like to admit my dear.
"Quit talking as if you knew me mother. I am a little monster remember? You are too weak to understand."
But you're MY little monster Azula and regardless I love you. I understand.
"Lies… You're a liar just like everyone else."
But this isn't about me my dear. This is about your friend Ty Lee.
"She is not my friend mother. I have no friends."
Yet you know you do. Ty Lee had, has, and will always remains your friend.
"And how would you know mother?"
Hmm… I'll tell you this first: I do not condone such language.
"Nonsense, I did not swear at all…"
Not yet…
"What is it that you wish to say?"
...I know because she is the only person who is here for you, and yet you pushed her away… Oh and because I know you, I do not condone such language.
"Lies, because no one was here for me… You lied like everyone else… And Ty Lee is… and… Oh shit, what have I done?"
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"Good girl…" Zuma mumbled with a silly smile out of nowhere, and it garnered the attention of the man sitting next to him. Said man happened to be the elder of the village, and he appeared completely lost. "Nothing. Just that I'm glad a certain little girl finally learned something."
"Ah. I see…" The elder said with a chuckle. Then as one, the two men sipped some tea and sighed in content. They blinked just in time to see a blur crashed into the forest and disappear. It caused Zuma to smile even wider while the elder raised an eyebrow. "It seemed she is in quite the hurry."
"She should be, else I'd make her life miserable for a while." Zuma replied, his tone still light and cheerful, but the elder winced nonetheless. In the back, sitting with the shadow, Suki gulped at the bad vibe the white haired man emitted. It scared even her despite her never knowing him.
Then the elder turned his face just slightly and started saying, "Shall we…?"
"No. Leave it for tomorrow. We should see what comes of it first. Today is simply for enjoying a cup of tea."
"Of course. Let us enjoy the finery of tea. Suki." The Kyoshi Warrior shifted upon hearing her name called, and she was alert and ready to serve. "Please bring us some water and some of the finer tea stored within the house. Don't bother with boiling the water girl, just bring it out please."
"Of course elder." The girl replied –if slightly confused- as she gracefully stood up to go and carry out the command. She completely missed the knowing look on Zuma's face or the mischievous look in the elder's eyes.
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If Ty Lee wished not be found, she would not be found. It was something she learned to do in her family, because if you can hide from your sisters, then you can hide from anyone.
It wasn't hard either. It was like a basic principle that people often forget. People do not look up, and that was why hiding above a tree was such a good method of avoiding people when you needed to.
Crawled into a ball and obscured by leaves, Ty Lee sobbed into her knees as she hugged her legs as much as she could without crushing her lungs. She sobbed like there was no tomorrow, and it probably was true to some extent. Her best friend had basically just renounced that she wanted nothing to do with her, and Ty Lee despite her stubborn streak and big heart simply couldn't take the abuse. Not when she was so vulnerable.
Azula had hurt her before, but not like this. Never like this.
Part of her wanted to forgive the Princess, arguing that she was simply angry and that she just happened to be there to take her anger. Another part, the part that was heartbroken screamed that if Azula did not want her around, then fine; she should leave her to her retched loneliness.
Then Ty Lee would thought of how terrible it was of her to think that, and she'll sob all that harder because of it.
She was a horrible friend for not being able to help her friend. She was a horrible girl for wanting to leave her friend to her suffering. She was a horrible person for not being able to make up her mind.
"TY LEE?"
Azula's thrilled voice broke Ty Lee from her sobbing, and the girl hiccupped a few times as she raised wet gray eyes to stare at her surroundings. It made her wonder if she was so broken that she imagined Azula coming after her.
"TY LEE? ANSWER ME YOU STUPID GIRL!"
Oh, she wasn't imagine it. The acrobat let lose a bitter giggle at her own treacherous thoughts. Part of her want to do what she always did and run out there to greet the Princess. The heartbroken part wanted the girl to work for her forgiveness, like she was working for her only to be spit in the face with her effort.
"GET OUT HERE! I SWEAR TO AGNI IF YOU DON'T! ...ARGH! TY LEE!"
Then in a flurry of twigs and leaves, Azula burst into the clearing just below her, ember eyes wide and frantic as she turned this way and that. Her robes were loose and there were twigs stuck in her hair. Her face was also flushed with something other than anger, and the acrobat found herself taking a closer look. Ty Lee blinked at that image, wondering what was different about this Azula before tossing that aside and hugged her knees to her even tighter. That seemed to be a mistake because it caused a small noise.
It was sufficient to caught Azula's attention, because the Princess turned large golden eyes up to her immediately. With her brows in a frown and her lips down turned, the Princess shouted, "Ty Lee! You stupid girl! Get down here!"
Shaking her head, Ty Lee shifted backward to make herself as small as possible. It wasn't hard too, considering that her specialty was contortion with acrobatics as a bonus to it. The action only seemed to displease the Princess though.
Pointing a finger at her, Azula exclaimed in a harsh tone, "I order you to get down here! You will obey the order of your Princess!"
"No! Go away!" Ty Lee found herself saying before she could process it. Her already large eyes widen in fear as Azula's widen in surprise before narrowing in something... determination?
"You have the count of three to get down from that tree..."
"No..."
"One..."
"Go away 'Zula. I don't want to see you!"
"Two!"
"Go away!"
"Three... Alright, you asked for it!" Azula exclaimed with her hands fisted by her side. Ty Lee whimpered at the prospect of what could happen to her. Most likely Azula would burn down the tree to force her out. She's cruel enough to do that. "I'm coming up!"
That she did not expect. But sure enough, Ty Lee blinked as Azula took a running start at the tree, and with a shout jumped at the last second to grab a lower branch. With a grunt, the Princess slowly pulled herself up, and Ty Lee started to panic, though from fear of what she did not know.
"Stay right there. I dare you to move you idiotic girl!"
She couldn't exactly move either. Surprise had rooted her to her spot. Then she remembered that Azula was not exactly adept at climbing tree. That was one area Zuko beat her at hands down simply because of his longer reach as well as his ability to disappear at plain sit. The older of the two siblings were always better at stealth -which required climbing- than the Princess.
Then Ty Lee learned that she feared for Azula's safety, not her reaching up here. "'Zula..."
"Stay there. Do not move. I'm coming up."
"Um... 'Zula..."
"I say don't move!"
"N-no. I mean watch out for that branch!"
"What branch? -CRACK- Oh... this bra-AAH!" With a yelp, the Princess fell onto the ground with a loud thud. Ty Lee winced as she crawled forward to peer down at the wincing and panting Princess. The imagine it made was quite new though, because instead of anger, Azula was peering up at her with sadness.
It was such novel sensation that Ty Lee had to blink at it.
"You could have warned me about that earlier..." Azula grunted, but she made no move to get back up. She simply lay there with sad eyes looking up at her.
"S-sorry..."
"No, no. Don't apologize. It's not your fault." Hearing those words from Azula's mouth with such honesty shocked Ty Lee so much that she recoiled in shock. The Princess must have took that as something else though, because she sighed and said, "Oh, you probably thought I'm lying again... I'm a horrible person huh?"
Ty Lee had no answer for that. She did not know if she should lie for Azula's sake or be honest. The girl had to pay attention to Azula's aura though. Gray and a dirty yellow; depression and pain.
"You know... This situation is kind of symbolic." Azula started talking in a soft tone that was once heard on Ember Island, by the camp fire almost a year ago. It snagged Ty Lee's attention immediately. "You're all the way up there, and I'm down here. I thought it should be the opposite you know? Me being a Princess and all that..."
A stab of anger polluted Ty Lee's mind for a moment before she shoved it out. The acrobat had to hear what Azula had to say.
"Hmm... it's ironic that the truth is the complete opposite. It's you who are up there, and I'm the one who don't deserve your friendship... I was horrible to you and Mai all those years huh?" Azula continued unobstructed, her eyes having taken on a faraway look, no longer focused on the acrobat, but rather on something far away. "I wonder if it's karma, like they said you know? Or maybe this is what it was the whole time. Perhaps I'm just some creature stuck in the bottom of a well, looking up. You're probably the bird that flied over the entrance day after day."
That was funny, because Ty Lee always sort of put Azula on a pedestal. To hear from her that she considered herself lower than the cheerful acrobat was... surreal. Was this truly the Azula she knew all those years?
Yes... and at the same time, no. This Azula was... different, and Ty Lee somehow got the feeling that she was also better than the old Azula. Listening to her going on and on about some metaphor about their situation made Ty Lee realize that this was probably the closest Azula went to apologize. It threaten to made her smile, because Azula never apologize.
Thinking that it was worth a try, Ty Lee slowly climbed down from the tree, her movements slow and deliberate as she kept her eyes upon the still babbling Princess. When her feet touched the ground, Ty Lee hesitated for a moment before she got on her hands and knees and slowly crawled towards the Princess, ready to bolt at a moment's notice.
When she was within touching distance of her, the acrobat noticed the Princess's shoulders shaking slightly with eyes clenched shut and biting her lower lip. The sight caused a frown to appeared on the aura reader's face, thinking just how wrong it seemed to see this expression on her usually tough as nail Princess. So Ty Lee reached one hand out to touch the girl, and just as her slender fingers touched Azula's shoulder, the Princess's eyes snapped open and she suddenly lunged for the acrobat.
Ty Lee yelped in alarm as Azula tackled her down onto her back, and she panicked for a moment before a foreign sound graced her ears.
"I'm... I... I'm s... s-sorry... I'm s-so sorry..."
It took her a minute to realize that it was Azula sobbing apologies into her shoulder, and the Princess's arms wound around her in a tight hug. It took her another minute to react by pulling her arms around the sobbing girl. It was another minute before the acrobat noticed that she was cooing nonsense into the Princess's ears, just as her sisters or mother would do when she herself was in tears.
Again, it was quite the novel sensation, but for one Ty Lee was not complaining. It only confirmed Ty Lee's belief that Azula was only a lonely little girl behind all that tough Princess exterior. A small, hurt, and lonely girl who felt like the world had abandoned her.
Well, Ty Lee was still here. "I'm here 'Zula. It's alright. Everything is okay. I'm here."
If anything, it only seemed to made Azula cried harder. But the acrobat didn't mind. She didn't care that Azula was soaking her uniform or that she was making it a little hard to breath with how tight her arms hugged her. It didn't matter that there was a chance Azula would just back into her old personality after and threaten to burn her.
"It's okay 'Zula. I'm here. I'm right here..."
It really didn't matter, because right now, everything really was just fine.
XXXXXXXXXX
It took a few more minutes before Azula calmed down, leaving only the occasional hiccups that raked her frame in shivers. Ty Lee had long since settled for rubbing soothing circles on the small of the Princess's back. Absently, the acrobat noted that Azula did feel more womanly, with her waist narrower, hips wider, and the swell of her breasts larger. It was still nothing compared to her own figure, but hey, she was growing.
Despite how weird it felt to think it, Ty Lee couldn't help but thought of how it seemed only yesterday that they were those innocent eight years old that had Zuko tackling Mai into the pond to put out a burning apple on the crown of her head.
"Ty Lee...?" Azula asked softly with her face still pressed into Ty Lee's shoulder. The small voice brought gray eyes upon the crown of raven black hair.
Blinking once, Ty Lee replied just as softly, "Yes 'Zula?"
"What time is it?"
Giggling the silly question, Ty Lee peered up at whatever sky she could see through the thick forest and said, "It's almost dinner. Maybe we should head back?"
"Can we stay here instead? I'm not hungry..."
"...I guess. Suki and the girls will be worried though."
"I don't care…"
"Eh, I guess you don't." Ty Lee said softly with a giggle. It rocked Azula a little, and that caused a peer of ember eyes to peer at her shyly from her shoulder. Ty Lee couldn't help but comment, "You know, you look pretty cute like that."
A very Azula glare answered Ty Lee, but the girl couldn't find it in herself to be afraid at the moment. So instead she just giggled once more. "I'm not cute…"
"Whatever you say, Princess."
Azula just huffed before shifting so that instead she was burrowed into Ty Lee's side. "Um… Your shirt…"
"Don't worry about it. It's laundry week anyway."
"Oh…"
"Yup."
"…This is nice."
"Mhm."
"…Just so you know, I'm not into girls…"
"Me either."
"…You're a good friend Ty Lee. You're always by my side no matter how bad I treated you before. I'm glad to have you."
"And I'm glad that you see me as a friend 'Zula. It makes me happy."
"Ah, don't cry! Did I say something wrong?"
"Nah, I'm just happy 'Zula. Don't worry."
"Oh… okay…"
"Mhm."
"…You may be my friend but tell a soul of this, I'll deep fry you."
Blinking, Ty Lee turned fearful eyes upon Azula, expecting to see narrowed ember orbs of doom and the nastiest smirk ever. Instead, she was met with a small smile and golden eyes sparkling with mischief. "Just joking." Azula sang out with a laugh, and the acrobat had to blink once more at this side of Azula.
Ty Lee's bright cheerful smile blossomed on her puffy and tear-stained face and without a doubt things will be different from now on. She liked this new Azula quite a bit more than the old one.
"Seriously though Ty Lee, don't tell anyone I cried… I mean it."
XXXXXXXXXX
The morning sun was bright and the air warm, but Suki was not happy despite being a morning person. The reason behind her sour mood was the fact that Ty Lee had gone missing yesterday afternoon, and report was that Azula drove her to tears and the acrobat dashed into the forest to hide.
Sadly the Kyoshi Warrior couldn't find the Princess either, or else she'd be with her in the infirmary right about now sporting black and blue decorations on her skin.
In fact that particular notion still remained within her mind. As Suki hurried down to Ty Lee's room hoping that she'd returned yesterday night, her fists were clenched in the hope that she'd met a certain royalty on the way.
As she neared the door that led to the room belonged to a certain acrobat, Suki slowed as she heard noises coming from it. Smiling, the captain hurried over and tossed the door open, a cheer on her lips only for it to die a horrible death upon seeing just who was in the room.
"Oh hey Suki! Um… about this…" Ty Lee said sheepishly while in her arms laid a particular bundle of clothing. Dressed in another copy of the Kyoshi Uniform –minus the makeup, the girl looked like her usual self, except there was an extra cheerful air about her. On the bed was a case opened and half filled with items that belonged to the acrobat and several more leaning against it, ready to be packed. That wasn't what caused Suki the pause though. It was the other person within the room.
Dressed in a red robe with loose black pants and hair once more tied in a low pony tail, Azula raised a fine eyebrow at her before she returned to her task of stuffing more cloth into the case. It was Ty Lee's case. Those clothing were Ty Lee's clothing.
Immediately Suki's mind came up with several reasons behind this, and most of them were unpleasant.
"Ehehe, Suki, don't be mad, but I'll be leaving for a while. You see, I'm going with Azula once more. We're gonna travel the Earth Kingdom!" Ty Lee cheerfully announced as she tossed up her arms, only to quickly bring them down to catch the falling clothing she accidently tossed up. "Oops, let me put this down first."
"…Ty Lee… Why is she here?" Suki asked as calmly as she can though she still jabbed a finger at Azula, who seemed to be sorting through more of Ty Lee's items. Knowing that she was being addressed, Azula paused in her activity to grace Suki with another raised eyebrow. The action served to increase Suki's anger by a margin. As such, before the acrobat can answer, Suki hissed, "What are you looking at you filth?"
That got Azula's undivided attention. "Filth? I'll have you know that I'm royalty!" The Princess hissed in displeasure before a smirk formed on her lips. "Though it hardly matter what you said. Your words are worthless peasant." Instant Suki was within Azula's personal space, and blue eyes glared into gold as the captain growled.
"At least I kept my mind, psycho." The captain grounded out, and then she asked, "Why foul method did you used this time to convince Ty Lee to go with you, you witch?"
"I'll have you know that she agreed to come by her own free will." The Princess sneered back with her lips twisted into a triumphant smirk. With the way Suki felt her cheeks heating up and her teeth gritting against one another, it worked to increase her anger.
"Oh, is that so? I am surprised that you even know the term. You're just as tyrannical as your failure of a father."
"You have no right to compare me to my father. I may act like him but I am NOT my father."
"Oh really? I would hardly notice the difference since both of you are such hateful creatures."
"Are you trying to start a fight bitch?"
"I would be happy to oblige whore."
"Um, girls? You shouldn't be fighting." Ty Lee meekly said, only to yelp and jump back when both Azula and Suki turned fierce eyes at her and exclaimed, "YOU STAY OUT OF THIS!"
That of course started a rather unpleasant chain reaction. "HOW DARE YOU YELLED AT TY LEE! WHY ARE YOU COPYING ME? YOU WANT A FIGHT? I'LL GIVE YOU A FIGHT!"
Then as one, the two struck out with a fist, and as one they blocked with their forearm. Leaping back, the two furious girls circled one another as ferocious predators, ready to pounce when given the chance. Suki broke first by leaping into a low sweep, which Azula easily jumped over only to return with an ax kick. The Kyoshi Warrior swatted the kick aside and returned fire with a roundhouse.
Azula blocked that with a grunt, the force sending her skidding a foot to the side just as Suki drew her fans in one motion and flipped them open. Azula dropped into low stance, knowing that without her fire bending she could force Suki into a corner. The Kyoshi Warrior also had the advantage of the longer reach courtesy of her battle fans. It spelled trouble through and through.
Sure enough, Suki soon jumped back into the fight, fans already moving in their elusive manners as Azula tried with some success to deflect them. With them out, the Kyoshi Warrior was like a relentless storm of feet, fans, and hands. Azula managed to remain uninjured mostly due to her natural agility and flexibility, but that can only last her so long. It didn't help either that she couldn't counter such mass of movements without her fire bending.
Suki seemed to pick up on that fact, and taunted, "Where is that blue fire you're so proud of huh?"
"I don't need it to show you your place peasant." Azula replied confidently, but everyone within the room knew that it was false bravado speaking at the moment.
Then as if struck by an epiphany, Suki smirked. "You lost your bending huh?"
The confident smirk on Azula's face fell, and her eyes narrowed in true anger while she exclaimed, "Do not presume to know me."
"Girls? What are you doing?" A deep voice interrupted the fight, but so tightly wounded was the two that they instinctively snapped out with a high kick each at the source. The kicks made contact, and the feet responsible stay attached to the target.
Said target turned out to be Zuma, whose cheeks suffered abuse at the hands –feet- of Suki the Kyoshi Warrior and Azula the Princess. The two girls can only blinked wide eyes at the man, whose lips look puckered with his cheeks pressed together by a pair of footwear. Then as if unaffected by it, the man said cheerfully with little difficulty, "You should not fight amongst yourself! Today's enemies may be tomorrow's allies. So you girls should kiss and make up! …Okay, maybe that's going a little far, but you should still cease such behaviors at once."
Azula and Suki blinked as one once more. They simply do not know how to react to someone like Zuma at the moment.
"What? Is there something on my face?" The man asked in annoyance with a slightly muffled voice, crossing his arms and pouted (or as much as his puckered lips allowed). Again, Azula and Suki can only blink before lowering their respective legs. "Hmm… oh well. Lady Ty Lee, are you finished or would you like some more time?"
The forgotten Ty Lee, who too can only blink at the enigma that was Zuma, jotted awake at being asked a question. Looking around, the girl touched one finger to her lips as her brows lowered in thought for a second before she said, "I think I need a little more time Zuma if that's okay with you? Oh, and just call me Ty Lee is fine!"
"Sure! Just find the elder when you're ready. That's where I'll be!" The man said cheerfully before turning around and leaving the room, a cheerful whistle on his lips and a bounce to his steps. He had successfully left two bewildered warriors behind and a highly amused acrobat.
"…Was he always like that?" Suki was the first to break the silence that ensured by directing a question to Azula.
Azula shuddered first before replying, "You have no idea…"
"And you're traveling with that… that…"
"Freak? Weirdo? Psycho?"
"…I was going for mentally unsound, but those worked."
"I suppose…"
Ty Lee's loud giggles gained the two's attention once more, and as they turned, the found a shaking mass of limbs on the bed kicking her feet. When the two asked simultaneously "What?" it only succeed in bringing the girl's amusement to a new height.
"T-trust the Zuma wisdom. It'll get y-you through everyday's life. He is just that awesome." Ty Lee gasped out between giggles as tears gathered by the corner of her eyes. Her face had long since turned red in laughter. What she said only served to increase her laughter to the point that it was painful. "Oh my stomach! I can't breathe!"
"The Zuma wisdom?" Azula asked with loads of skepticism within her voice and one fine eyebrow higher than the other. To her, Zuma and wisdom simply did not fit in one sentence. Zuma and philosophy in the same sentence, maybe, but wisdom? No… It is definitely a no. "Ty Lee, I don't think Zuma has much wisdom to spare. Insanity he has plenty of though."
"He is not that bad…" Suki said uncomfortably with a frown. As much as she wished to defend the man who their elder had taken quite the liking to, the captain simply can't forget the bad vibe he gave her last night. That was just something about him that told her to keep an eye on him.
"Are you daft? The man is a walking nightmare however you look at him. He makes Ty Lee look tame! No offense." Azula said with wide eyes as she clearly displayed her opinion of her traveling companion.
Off on her bed, Ty Lee just giggled some more and said, "None taken. But I like Zuma."
"You like everyone Ty Lee." Suki stated with a sort of it-is-very-obvious tone. Clearly the captain was a bit exasperated by that.
"But he is awesome. I mean he made you two stop fighting, and are now talking like friends!" The acrobat exclaimed happily, and Azula and Suki blinked once more in shock. It was true that they were no longer fighting, and the conversation up to now had been… civil.
Of course, old resentments can't just go away like that. So with a scrawl, Suki folded her arms and asked, "So what's the plan now? You still going with Azula on whatever she's doing?"
"Oh relax Suki. It'll be fine! I trust Azula." Ty Lee replied happily as she returned to packing. Occasionally she would accept an item from Azula before viciously cramming it into the case. By the time she was done, the case was filled to the brim, but the girl had pretty much packed everything she owed. "It'll be fun! I can feel it."
"Well I don't trust her." Suki replied with folded arms and distrusting eyes, clearly showing that she was very uncomfortable with the idea of Ty Lee going with Azula once more. The Princess just gave a shrug and stated, "It hardly matter whether you do or don't. Ty Lee does, and that's all I need to hear."
"I really don't think this is a good idea. She should be in a prison somewhere, or perhaps back in her room within a mental hospital. You shouldn't be out here running around." Suki said sourly as her frown deepened. As far as the captain was concerned Azula deserved to be locked away. Call it hate or call it a belief in karma, whichever worked; Suki just did not like the fact that Azula was out here.
It made her wonder just what Zuko was thinking… What was Zuko thinking? "By the way, how did you convince your brother to let you out?"
Azula just smiled the most mysterious smile, clearly saying "I know something you don't." It only irritated Suki further by it, though Ty Lee's sudden outburst caught her attention.
"Ah! 'Zula, did you really lose your fire bending?"
Suki scrawled at that question and said, "Ty Lee that would be a ridiculous notion. I said that only to rile Azula up. It's not like she really-."
"Yes. Yes I did." Azula interrupted, and Suki's jaw could be seen dropping in shock while Ty Lee gasped in horror. The Princess just shrugged before punching her fist out, creating a small burst of flame with a poof for sound effect. It left the other two in the room speechless. "As you can see, I have it, yet I don't. It's strange."
"Holy crap." Ty Lee commented, and Suki had to nod her head in agreement, completely ignoring Azula's chiding about the acrobat's language. The notion that Azula, THE Princess Azula couldn't fire bend was like… like saying that Sokka was not the meat, sarcasm, and idea guy. It just simply won't do.
"It's just like Zuko that one time…" Suki found herself mumbling, and when the Fire Nation Princess snapped her eyes to her, the captain quickly said, "Nothing. Just commenting on how strange it is to not see you barbequing everyone."
"Yes, it's strange, but I can't really do anything about it can I?" Azula asked as she wondered over to Ty Lee's bed and grab a hold of the case. "It's not like I could just find some secret society and asked that they help me restore my fire bending."
You have no idea… Suki mentally commented at the irony behind that statement. She remembered Zuko's story about how he regained his fire bending after joining Team Avatar. Of course the captain was not going to be telling that to Azula anytime soon.
That was when she noticed that Azula had already left the room, case in hand, with Ty Lee happily trailing her like a puppy. The idea that Azula would willingly carry anything struck Suki as weird once more. She half wondered if Azula was really changing or if it was something the Princess ate or, spirits forbid, it really was some plot to gain Ty Lee's trust once more.
"Suki, we're leaving you behind!
"Just leave her Ty Lee. I doubt she would be seeing us off."
"Ah! Wait up! And hush Azula, I'm going to see Ty Lee off. I could care less about you!"
XXXXXXXXXX
One of the many Fire Nation dock…
Two men dressed in red robes with black pants, hands hidden within their large sleeves and head shadowed by identical straw hats walked calmly into a particular office. The manager of the office only peered up for a moment before returning to whatever chart he was poring over, though he did gestured to the back with a tilt of his head. The red robed men nodded their thanks before they made their way out back.
Once they're behind the building, one of the men tapped the ground once and waited as a sort of panel opened up to reveal a stair case. The two walked down it and didn't bother to turn back as the panel closed itself shut. Instead they just kept on walking down the stairs, lighted only by the torches that dotted the wall every four or so feet. It was eerily quiet between the two, yet a sense of understanding surrounded them. For those who knew them and their… ex-organization it shouldn't come as a surprise.
For Dai Li agents who always worked in pairs, knowing your partner (in life, in crime, or just in work) was essential. After all, Dai Li agents worked the best when together. They were trained to reach maximum efficiency when working in pairs or in larger groups, thus making them a superior fighting unit against many.
At the end of the stairways, the two men found several doors on each side of the hallway. They ignored them completely and instead traveled to the end where a single metal door laid closed on the wall. One of the agents raised an earth-gloved fist and lightly tapped on the door three times then retracted the hand back into his sleeves. The door was unresponsive for a second before it groaned and swan open. On the other side was another agent who beckoned for them to enter. Once in, the door was shut once more, but the two agents were not interested in that.
They were interested in the man who sat on a cushion at the end of the room, surrounded by other Dai Li agents, or rather ex-agents. After all, they can no longer be Dai Li, because they were no longer loyal to that organization.
They were now only loyal to one person.
"We must seek out Princess Azula." The man at the end of the room said his voice rough from an old wound that marked his throat with a vertical line. This specific Dai Li agent raised his head to reveal hard brown eyes and youthful face as he continued, "It is our duty to protect the Princess, and we have failed for the past seven months. No more. We leave tomorrow for Earth kingdom. Those who couldn't make it will be left behind…"
XXXXXXXXXX
Kyoshi Island port…
The farewell was short and to the point, seeing as how the ship Zuma asked to take them to the main continent was another merchant ship and it was pressed for time. Within a matter of minutes, Azula, Ty Lee, and Zuma were watching as the island disappeared into the horizon, each submerged in their own thoughts.
For Azula, the black haired girl found herself unsure of what she was to do now. The first thing that crossed her mind when she was in Fire Nation was to get as far away as she could from her brother and his loyal subjects. She had done that with the help of Zuma, and now as they departed from Kyoshi Island with Ty Lee and truly set sail for Earth Kingdom, Azula was unsure of what to do within the vast continent.
There weren't much to do now that she thought about it, or rather there weren't much that caught her attention. She wouldn't visit the city of Ba Sing Se, and the fact that now she remembered her uncle to be within that city thanked to Ty Lee's reminder, Azula decided that she would like to stay as far away from there as she could too as well. Besides, she did not think the Dai Li would be happy to see her after she used them only to toss them aside like trash.
Omashu was not an option simply because she did not think that the crazy King Bumi would welcome her. Actually, she did not know for sure what the King would do. He was too… unpredictable for her liking, so she'll stay away from him too.
Any of the Fire Nation colonies within Earth Kingdom were probably already geared to look for her and return her to Zuzu. That prospect alone made Azula distasteful of the idea of visiting any of them. Besides, Ty Lee mentioned that there was unrest within them, and she was not prompt to get caught in it. She liked to stay away from politics for just a little longer.
So then that left… Well, that did not leave much for her to choose from at all.
As if sensing her trouble, Zuma asked, "So where do you want to go now Princess? I mean when we landed in Earth Kingdom of course."
"Oh, oh, can we go to Ba Sing Se? I want to visit Uncle!" Ty Lee asked cheerfully, but she deflated quickly when Azula shot that down with, "No, I rather we stay away from there for now. I doubt the Earth King or the Dai Li would be happy to see us."
"Well, how about Omashu?" Zuma supplied, but he quickly corrected himself when the Princess shot him a glare. "Forget about that idea. I don't think we'll be going to Gaoling either. Toph Bei Fong lived there, though whether she went back was unsure. Still, I'm pretty sure you don't want to run into a member of Team Avatar yet… Too bad though, they have this great noodle restaurant there." The way Zuma said it with a strange smile annoyed Azula for some reason. It was like he was baiting her, but this was Zuma, so that possibility was probably nonexistence. It must have been Zuma being himself.
"There was the town that originally connects to Kyoshi Island. Maybe we can go give it a look?" Ty Lee asked, thinking back to the history lessons Suki probably taught her. Azula gave that thought a moment of consideration before shaking her head no. She simply did not have any interesting in that town for the moment. Well, if she wanted to be honest with herself, it was more of the fact that it had something to do with another Avatar, and Azula did not want to be involved with anything Avatar-ish for… at least a few more weeks.
As she tuned out Ty Lee and Zuma's discussion, Azula stared out at the vast ocean while letting the soothing sway of the ship rocked her into a comfortable mood. It brought onto the surface a memory of a time long past, when her family was still in one piece, and Zuzu was still that same whiny little kid while she was still the fun loving Princess who was often misunderstood.
Her father was still Prince then, and her Uncle Iroh was still putting Ba Sing Se under siege. It was during a day in that period when her mother, Lady Ursa comforted her by putting Azula on her laps and hugging her while rocking her softly. It was one of the rare moments when Ursa paid attention to Azula.
…Her mother…
"Well, I don't know what happened either, but she's just GONE one day. She disappeared. It hit Zuko pretty hard, and while Azula may not show it, I KNOW it hit her just as hard. Do you know that Azula is a pretty good actor?"
That was it. She had an idea, and she couldn't help the self-satisfied smirk that appeared on her face.
"Err… Zula-chi? Your smirk is kind of creepy…" Zuma commented, and the Princess's smirk only grew. It didn't help the man's nerve when the Princess didn't even retaliate for that "disgraceful nickname" as she called it. Ty Lee on the other hand only smiled wider, having seen that smirk on the old Azula just before she did something quite worthwhile. So instead of being creped out like Zuma appeared to be, Ty Lee just asked, "So what now 'Zula?"
"We're going to look for my mother. I think it's time Zuzu dearest gets reunited with her. But I know for a fact that with the way I am now, I won't be able to do much. So with that in mind…" Here Azula paused before she turned her golden eyes, filled with determination and a drive unseen since seven months ago, to Zuma and ordered, no not ordered, asked, "I need to learn, and I know that you have much to teach. No just anyone can bust me out of something as guarded as the asylum. Will you help me Zuma?"
"I will, but you have to call me sifu." Zuma replied naturally with an innocent grin and an amusing sparkle within his eyes. There was also something else within them, and Azula decided that she liked that something else.
"We'll see…"
"Then it is a no deal." Zuma said and crossed his arms, but when he saw that Azula's smirk grew into a somewhat sweet smile, he knew she caught onto his game.
When she said what she said next, it only confirmed his suspicion. "We all know you'll teach me regardless. I'm just asking nicely now."
Zuma only grinned in reply. Taking a look at Ty Lee, Azula couldn't help but notice how instead of her usual large grin, it was a soft smile laced with approval. Azula smiled back.
Good. It seemed like their next adventure was set.
XXXXXXXXXX
Author's (Corny) Corner:
Right. Another chapter is finished. I tried making Azula be meaner, but I'm not sure if I succeeded or not. I keep feeling like I can probably make her more… monster-ish, but couldn't think of how to do that. Hopefully what I did do satisfy.
The Dai Li is… interesting for me. First, they rule. Secondly, it was never quite clear what happened to them. I'm coming up with what happened, and hopefully it's within the "it is possible" category. I am not going to suck them into some black hole after all (and they certainly do not disappear completely). As to how many members are in it… I peck them to be numbered in about the thousands at most. You need that much man power to rule a city within the shadow I think.
This slow update was due to me having some stuff to do and my beta going slightly MIA (or me MIA… don't know, we tried contacting each other but somehow we couldn't reach each other until a day or so ago). Also Starcraft 2 came out not long ago, so that means even more MIA time… not for me though. I didn't buy it. HumanWiki did, I didn't. We'll have to see. Besides, there are more craps to do recently for me.
Grammar/Spelling was checked and rechecked. If something occurred that we missed, feel free to tell us. Any reviews are welcomed except flames because really, if you have time to troll around, you have time to do something productive. Like write your own story. Constructive reviews are the most welcomed, but I'll take what I can get.
In that sense, please review and tell me what you think. As far as any opinions are given, the story can improve or shift so that it becomes better.
APH, signing off.