The Golden Wolf Warrior
By: Agent-Ayu
Chapter 11: The Northern Water Tribe
Note: I have re-written this chapter several times, I finally have it where I want it. More of Cazu in this chapter. Next chapter is the Book 1 finale. I think you all will enjoy the finale as much as I do. And I'm the one writing it.
Disclaimer: Disclaimer from Prologue still applies.
After weeks of traveling, they finally arrived to the Northern Water Tribe. Immediately everyone felt the different energy of the Northern Tribe compared to the Southern Tribe. There wasn't the family based feeling, but the city itself distracted Sokka, Katara, and Azula from that feeling.
"This place is beautiful!" Katara exclaimed.
"Yeah, she is." Sokka responded dreamily.
Azula looked down at Appa's tail to see Sokka watching a boat they passed continue moving the opposite direction. She noticed the young woman in the boat with white hair and immediately knew what Sokka was talking about. The firebender carefully slid down the sky bison's tail so she was next to Sokka. She nudged him in the side and raised an eyebrow while smirking towards him.
When she got his attention she gently nodded in the direction the woman with white hair was traveling. "Oh, be quiet." Sokka grumbled blushing furiously as he climbed back up Appa's tail.
"You've got it bad, Sokka."
The group was guided to the deepest part of the tribe where the Council Hut was held. When they entered the plaza, they saw the chief sitting in the center of the first row. He's right side was vacant while to his left was an elder man and four other elders sitting in the second row. The four teens kneeled and bowed towards the Water Tribe Council.
"Please, rise. You're our honored guests." The chief announced to the teens. "It is an honor to have our brother and sisters from the Southern Water Tribe as well as the Avatar."
"I am sorry Chief Arnook, but there is only one sister. There is a firebender among them." The old man to Arnook's left replied.
"Yes, I am a firebender. However, I am also a member of the Southern Water Tribe. Chief Hakoda declared me a member of the Southern Tribe three years ago. And unless I'm mistaken, but makes me a sister of this tribe like Katara does it not?" Azula announced to the council.
"If the chief of your tribe declared you, a firebender, a member of the Southern Tribe… then yes, you are our sister as well. We will be holding a feast in your honor tonight in the Central Plaza. For now, you will be escorted to your hut." Chief Arnook finished.
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Later that night everyone in the tribe had gathered to the Central Plaza in celebration of the Avatar's arrival. As the Chief's honored guests, Azula and the others were to be seated with the Chief and the Council Members. Katara and Sokka took their seats. Sokka was already on one side of Katara, while the other side of the Southern waterbender had enough space for one person to sit between her and Chief Arnook.
Aang grinned confidently this was his chance to sit next to Katara. However, Katara grabbed hold of Azula's hand and forced the firebender to sit down next to her. Aang frowned and sat at the end of the table. Once the giant crab was placed into the steaming water Chief Arnook stood gaining the attention of the tribe, reminding Azula of the bonfire celebration three years earlier.
"Tonight, we celebrate the arrival of our brother and sisters from the Southern Water Tribe. We are blessed that one of our sisters is a firebender who is loyal to the Southern Tribe. They have also brought with them someone very special; someone whom many of us believed disappeared from the world until now. The Avatar!"
The entire tribe cheered. When the cheering died, Chief Arnook continued. "We also celebrate my daughter's 16th birthday." He backed up revealing the young woman with white hair followed by two attendants. "Princess Yue is now of marrying age."
"Thank you, father. May, the great Ocean and Moon Spirits watch over us during these troubled times." Yue replied sincerely.
"She's beautiful." Katara whispered to Azula.
Azula smirked. "You're more beautiful to me." The firebender whispered back.
Katara blushed and looked away. She saw Azula's hand on the table. Slowly Katara reached over and placed her hand over the firebender's hand. The waterbender scooted herself closer to Azula leaning against her.
"Now, Master Pakku and his students will perform!" Chief Arnook announced before sitting.
Master Pakku was the old man who sat to Chief Arnook's left in the Council Hut. He nearly had the full attention of everyone in the tribe as he and his students displayed their amazing waterbending abilities. Azula watched from the corner of her eye. Most of her attention was on Katara's reactions. Seeing how excited and the enthusiasm in the waterbender's eyes was more enjoyable to watch.
She briefly looked over at Sokka and saw him trying to smooth talk Yue. "Hi, there. Sokka, Southern Water Tribe." He greeted in a chessy voice.
Yue slightly bowed towards him. "Very nice to meet you."
The two looked away from each other not sure what else to say. Sokka caught Azula's eye. He could tell from the firebender's look she wanted him to say something else to Yue. Azula was silently cheering Sokka on.
"So…" Sokka said trying to desperately start up a conversation with the princess. "Uh… you're a princess!"
The Water Princess smiled and nodded. That gave Sokka a little more confidence. Azula smiled and decided to watch the last of Master Pakku's performance.
"You know, back in my tribe, I'm kinda like a prince myself!"
Katara laughed. "Ha! Prince of what?"
Azula mentally smacked herself. Katara just ruined the moment for Sokka.
"A lot of things!" Sokka replied angrily. "Uh, do you mind? I'm trying to have a conversation here!"
The Southern waterbender mockingly bowed to her brother. "My apologies, Prince Sokka." She responded sarcastically before leaning against Azula again.
Sokka turned his attention back to Yue. "So it looks like I'm gonna be in town for awhile. I'm thinking maybe we could… do an activity together?" He's voice got a little higher has he tried to recover the coversation.
"Do an activity?" Yue asked smiling and emphasizing on 'activity'.
He lost the conversation. There was no chance in recovering it. Sokka did the only thing that came to his mind. He stuffed his face with food.
"Very smooth." Katara said. She was clearly amused by Sokka's failed attempt to court.
"Hey, give him a break. He's trying." Azula whispered to the Southern waterbender.
"Azula, he didn't have a chance when he said he was like a prince." Katara gently countered.
"But he's right though; if Yue is the Princess of the Northern Tribe because her farther is the chief. You and Sokka are Chief Hakoda's children so I guess that's makes you royal to the Southern Tribe. Maybe I should call you 'Princess Katara' from now on." Azula flirted.
Katara blushed of the thought. "'Princess Katara', huh?" She snuggled more into Azula obviously want to hear more from the firebender.
"I don't see why not. Remember when you and Sokka were sick? When Aang and I got back, you had a crown on your head and Sokka told me you were a princess. The title suits you, your highness."
"So what does that make you to me?"
Azula blushed. She gulped not sure how to respond. "What do you mean?"
Aang looked at Azula and Katara flirting to each other. At first he was hurt seeing Katara being so close to Azula, but after seeing the looks in their eyes, he couldn't help but smile. He noticed how happy they were even though he had no idea what the conversation was about. The airbender's memory wandered back to one of Gyatso's teachings of how love comes in many forms. While his romantic love for Katara may not be returned, he could still love her in a new form of love. The love for his new family created from their friendship.
"Avatar Aang." Chief Arnook interrupted Aang's train of thought. "I would like to introduce you to Master Pakku. Please follow me."
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Five year-old Azula sighed. She was sitting in front of a Pai Sho table waiting for her uncle. Her uncle insisted that they play at least one game of Pai Sho before they started her lessons for the day.
"Alright, let's get started in our game of Pai Sho!" Her uncle said cheerfully as he set a tray of cups and teapot next to the Pai Sho board.
"Uncle, why must we play Pai Sho? I want to practice firebending!"
"Patience. Pai Sho is a great way to learn strategies and to relax. Here, drink your jasmine tea. Clear you mind and begin to learn." Her uncle passed his niece her cup of tea. "What I am going to teach you may come in handy for you someday. I don't expect you to remember the pattern right away, but that's why we're going to work on it. Playing Pai Sho can help find out who are truly your friends in times of need."
"What do you mean?"
"You'll learn in time. Now place your white lotus tile on the center of the board."
Azula did what her uncle told her to do. After all the tiles were finally placed onto the board in a certain order she noticed a pattern. "It looks like the lotus tile."
Her uncle just smiled and nodded. "Out of all the Pai Sho tiles. The lotus tile is the most important. Never lose the lotus tile."
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Even though her eyes were closed, she was awake. Azula rolled over onto her side attempting to get a few more minutes of sleep. She thought about all the times her uncle and her played Pai Sho at least once every day before her firebending lessons. The firebender smiled remembering the lotus pattern on the Pai Sho board. To this day she wondered why her uncle wanted her to memorize how to create the pattern.
With no luck of falling back asleep, the firebender sat up and stretched. Once she knew she was fully awake she realized she was the only one in the hut. Azula looked around questioningly until it dawned on her.
"Right, waterbending lessons for Aang and Katara, and warrior training for Sokka." Azula got up and put her arnook on. Instead of training with Sokka and the Northern Warriors, she chose to spend her first day at the Northern Tribe familiarizing with the area and their customs.
As she walked out of the hut, Azula bummed into someone who was walking in. "Oops!" Azula caught the person she bummed into before they fell down. "Sorry about that. Katara? Wha- what are you doing here? I thought you'd be at your waterbending lesson."
"He won't teach me!"
Azula raised her eyebrow. "What do you mean he won't teach you? You're a waterbender just like he is. If he won't teach you, why don't you find someone else to?"
"No one will teach me how to fight Azula. They say it's against their customs for women to fight. Female waterbenders can only use their waterbending for healing." Katara explained as her voice started cracking.
The firebender didn't know how to respond.
"It's not fair. I know I have healing abilities, but I want to fight too!" Katara screamed venting her anger towards Azula.
"Hit me." Azula simply responded.
Without thinking Katara threw a punch at Azula, only to have it blocked by the firebender. Blocking her punch caused Katara to become angrier.
"What's the point of telling me to hit you, when all you're going to do is block me?" Katara threw more punches towards Azula.
Each punch was either blocked or redirected. Soon enough Azula threw a punch back. Katara easily blocked the punch. Before they knew it they were sparring each other. Katara took one step forward and fell to the ground hard.
"Are you alright?" Azula held her hand out.
Katara grabbed hold of the hand and yanked Azula into the snow next to her. "Just slipped in some ice. And thank you for allowing me to at least try to hit you."
"It was my honor, your highness." Azula responded while giving Katara a cheesy smile.
The Southern waterbender giggled, but quickly stopped. "When we came here, we thought I would be training with Aang, but I can't. If the waterbending masters here won't train me, there is no one left in the world who can."
Azula smiled. "They will. When you set your mind on something you never let anything get in your way. What time is it?"
"About noon."
"Geez, I can't believe I slept that late. What were you doing if you were turned away earlier today?"
Katara stood up. "Let's go for a walk. I'll tell you about what I learned in the healing class."
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The two walked through the city as Katara told Azula everything she learned from Yugoda. After Katara explained to Azula about the betrothal necklace, the firebender stopped and reached for Katara's neck. Azula played with the pendent as she let the new information about the necklace sink in.
"Whoever made this necklace for Gran Gran put a lot of work into it. It's the symbol for waterbending."
"Yugoda said Gran Gran was supposed to marry a waterbender. It makes me wonder how life would be if she didn't run away and married him." Katara said as she leaned against the rail of the bridge they were standing on.
Azula climbed over the rail to sit on top of it. "Life would be very different. Instead of being raised in the Southern Water Tribe, I might have been killed along with Mizuki and the others. If Gran Gran stayed, Hakoda wouldn't have been born in the Southern Tribe… actually he wouldn't be born at all. And if he weren't born, you and I wouldn't be having this conversation. I'm glad she ran away."
Katara smiled. "Yes, I am too. Do you sometimes wonder about…" she dragged on not sure how to continue her question.
"About what our lives would be if my family wasn't murdered?" Azula finished. "It crosses my mind from time to time. All I know is you and I wouldn't be friends. If we did meet we'd be fighting each other."
Silence fell between the two as they stared towards the horizon. Katara was the first to speak.
"In that case, as horrible as it was for you, I'm glad you're here."
"Me too."
The two smiled at each other. Subconsciously they started leaning in towards each other. Katara closed her eyes waiting for Azula to kiss her. She jumped when she heard a splash from the canal below them. When she opened her eyes she didn't see Azula sitting on the bridge's rail. The waterbender looked over the edge to see Azula emerging out of the water.
"Uh oh!" A little boy said as he climbed to the rail Azula was previously sitting on. "Sorry! I didn't mean to hit you with the snowball."
"Yuki!" The little boy flinched when a girl about Katara's age ran up to him. "What did mom tell you about throwing snowballs?"
"To be really careful and not hit anyone but you, sis." Yuki responded innocently.
Katara stared at Yuki's sister. "Teruko? Is that you?"
"Katara? I thought it was you, Sokka, and Azula last night sitting with the chief." Teruko exclaimed.
"What are you doing here? I know your family left the Water Tribe, but I never thought you'd come up here to the Northern tribe."
"Neither did I. We stayed in the Earth Kingdom for a few months, but the Fire Nation was attacking nearly all the small villages we went to. By that time we were close to the Northern Tribe and my dad decided for us to live here. Katara, it's great to see you again." Teruko hugged the waterbender.
"Uh, sis. What about the girl down there?" Yuki pointed down towards the canal.
Both teenage girls looked over the bridge and saw Azula climb out of the canal. Azula was shivering when she got out. She took a deep breath and breathed out puffs of blue fire warming herself up.
"Stupid brat. I almost kissed her." Azula mumbled to herself before looking up towards the bridge. When she saw Katara looking down at her trying not to laugh, Azula gave the waterbender a sheepish grin.
"Excuse me. Are you the firebender traveling with Avatar Aang?" A young man asked Azula.
"Yes, I am. I have a name though. It's Azula."
"Master Pakku sent me to look for you. He'd like to speak with you as soon as possible."
Azula's eyes widened. "Um… okay, where I can find him?"
"He's by the Council Hut. That's where he trains all his students."
"I'll be there shortly." Azula looked up towards Katara.
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It took a lot of convincing for Katara not to go with Azula. The last thing Azula wanted to deal with was a repeat of Katara and Pakku's argument. When she walked up the final steps toward the Council Hut she saw Aang practicing the push and pull of a stream of water.
Pakku was waterbending his soup. "You're moving the water around, but you're not feeling the push and pull."
Azula silently agreed with Master Pakku. Aang was forcing the water.
"I'm trying!" Aang replied while gritting his teeth.
"Aang, you should relax. You can't force the water to change its course." Azula instructed.
"Oh, hey, Azula!" Aang greeted.
"Concentrate!" Both Pakku and Azula snapped.
The air nomad threw the water to the ground in frustration. "Not another Jeong Jeong!" he screamed as he threw his hands into the air.
Pakku took a big sip of his tentacle soup. "Maybe that move is too advanced for you. Why don't you try and easier one?"
Aang groaned. He waterbended the water on the ground and began practicing the push and pull again.
Azula and Pakku looked at each other. "You wanted to see me, Master Pakku?" Azula asked trying to be polite.
"It's unusual for someone of the Fire Nation to be against the war that they started. Let alone teach someone how to waterbend, when you can't even do that yourself." He took a sip of his soup again.
"I told you yesterday, I am Azula of the Southern Water Tribe. I haven't been part of the Fire Nation in nearly ten years. As for bending water, I spent years trying to think like a waterbender and I can tell you I've succeeded in manipulating fire to act like water." Azula enforced.
The master waterbender finished his soup before talking. "Very well. Pupil Aang."
The air nomad dropped his stream of water. "Yes, Master Pakku?"
"You're lessons are done for the day." Aang air-spirited as fast as he could away from Pakku and Azula. "You, follow me." Pakku ordered Azula.
The firebender stayed where she stood glaring at the master waterbender. Pakku sighed, "Will you please follow me?"
Azula followed Pakku to a tea hut in the central part of the city. "What tea do you want to have? My treat." Pakku asked.
"Do they have jasmine?"
"They don't usually have jasmine. Sit at the Pai Sho table, I'll get you something you might enjoy."
She sighed as she walked over to the Pai Sho table. Azula carefully brushed her hand over the board remembering the games she played with her uncle. It was only four months. She spent four months training under her uncle, but every time she drank jasmine tea or played Pai Sho, she felt connected to him.
"Have you ever played Pai Sho?" Pakku asked as he poured a cup of tan liquid and handed it to Azula.
"I haven't played since I left the Fire Nation. My uncle taught me. He always wanted me to play a game with him and drink tea before he gave me my firebending lesson for the day. He was nothing like the firebenders I see today. What is this?" Azula asked referring to the hot liquid in her hand.
"It's a different kind of tea. This is black tea with milk and a few sweet flavoring."
Azula laughed. "My uncle would have a heart attack just hearing what you do to your teas." She sipped the tea. Her eyes widened at the mouth watering sweet taste. "It's delicious."
"I'm glad you like it. Now how about a game of Pai Sho? Since you're the guest, why don't you make the first move?" Pakku gestured towards the board.
Automatically Azula went for the white lotus tile and placed it in the center. She was relying on her instincts. Something was telling her that what her uncle was trying to teach her so many years ago was going to help her.
"Hm. Interesting. This is also unusual for someone, especially your age to be favoring the white lotus gambit." Pakku observed losing his cockiness and taking Azula serious now.
"I've been taught the white lotus is the most important piece in the game. I have reasons to favor it right now." Azula smiled almost smirking.
"Very well. Study closely."
Before Pakku could place his tile down, Azula knew which tile was going to be placed where. He did exactly what Azula predicted. She quickly countered causing Pakku to raise his eyebrows.
Soon they were quickly placing their tiles on the board already knowing what the other was playing and where. Once all the pieces were placed, a lotus was formed from the tiles on the board.
Pakku was slightly shocked to see Azula knew how to play the lotus. He cupped his hands and bowed towards Azula. "As unusual as it is, there is no doubt. Welcome, sister."
Azula was now confused seeing what Pakku was doing, but returned the bow the same way.
"Many things will happen to you. Great things can come from you. Finish your tea and then we shall go on a walk. There's a story you need to hear the story about the lotus."
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As Pakku promised he explained everything to the firebender. They walked through the city not concern about their destination. "That is why your uncle told you the lotus was an important tile."
"So, you're telling me, my uncle was part of this secret society where there are members from all the nations wanting to bring balance in the world."
"That is exactly what I am saying. I have a feeling I know who your uncle is, but I'm not going to tell you." Pakku raised his hand to silence Azula before she could argue. "I'm not going to tell you, because it's a hunch. I don't want to give you the wrong information."
Azula leaned over the bridge's railing looking at the moon's reflection in the canal below. "All this White Lotus business sounds like my uncle and my cousin, Lu Ten. My uncle, as amazing as he was… he didn't seem like a firebender. Something about him was different and hearing about the White Lotus made me realize he would have been an amazing Avatar."
Pakku leaned on the bridge's railing as well. "He tried passing the teachings to you as well as your cousin. Because he taught you how to play the lotus pattern on the Pai Sho board disguised as a game, I know I can trust you."
The firebender smiled. "I can trust you too. 'You can find true friends when playing Pai Sho. It's more than just a game.' I remember my uncle telling stuff like that every day. He was right."
"Master Pakku said this move is all about sinking and floating." A voice in the canal said.
Both Azula and Pakku looked down at the bridge and saw Aang trying to teach Katara waterbending. They watched as Aang passed the stream of water over to Katara.
"I got it!" Katara exclaimed.
Furious of what was happening in front of him, Pakku bent the water out of Katara's control.
"That was amazing!" Aang cheered.
"That wasn't me." Katara simply replied before looking up.
Aang and Katara cringed when they saw Azula and Pakku on the bridge above them. Pakku froze the water and separated them into icicles, forcing them into the bridge's edge.
"I… I was just showing Katara a few moves."
Azula shook her head in disappointment at Aang. This was exactly why she didn't want Katara to come with her to see Pakku earlier today.
"You have disrespected me, my teachings, and my entire culture."
"I'm sorry, I-" Aang tried to apologize.
"You are no longer welcome as my student." With that Pakku left leaving Azula on the bridge.
"Well?" Katara asked quietly looking up at Azula. "What do you have to say?"
The firebender took a deep breath before leaning against the bridge again. "You're not going to appreciate what I have to say."
"I want to hear it though!" Katara snapped. Tears were threatening to pour down her face.
"Don't kill me for telling you what I think then. I understand that you want to learn how to waterbend. However, I understand and respect the ideas of ones culture. If it is forbidden for women to learn waterbending here then accept it and learn to heal with the other women. No one said you couldn't learn after we leave the Northern Tribe." Azula paused letting what she had to say sink in.
"But Aang, you once again disrespected your teacher. At this rate, you will never become a fully realized Avatar. What are you going to do when we have to find your Earthbending teacher?"
"We're going to get Bumi to teach me." Aang replied quickly.
"He may be your childhood friend, but will you disrespect him like you did with Jeong Jeong and Pakku? They know what they're doing. They are the masters of their element."
"Why are you suddenly sticking up for Master Poophead?" Katara asked. "Earlier today you were agreeing with me. Why were you even with him just now?"
Azula blankly stared at her friends. "All I can say is that I trust him with my life. Katara, if you want to learn how to fight, the only way you can get him to teach you is by showing him." With that Azula walked away.
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About a month had passed. Azula was walking up the stairs to the Council Hut like she has everyday. When she got to the top she saw Katara and Sangok in the sparring circle. She observed how nervous Sangok was and knew there was no hope of him winning the sparring match.
Sangok turned the ball of water into ice and threw it at Katara. The Southern waterbender easily redirected the ice. She melted the ice and sent a huge steam of water towards the boy. Sangok was washed up to more than ten feet in the air before being frozen in place.
Azula smiled at how far Katara and come with her waterbending. She was right about Katara being a waterbending prodigy.
"Katara, you have advanced more quickly than any student I ever trained. You have proven that with fierce determination, passion, and hard work you can accomplish anything." Pakku praised before turning his attention to Aang who was playing with Momo. "Raw talent alone is not enough."
The firebender thought about what Pakku had just said. "Sounds like something Uncle would say." She quietly told herself.
When she looked up she saw Aang waterbend the snow to cover himself up looking like a snowman. The three master benders gave the Avatar a look of disdain. Both Azula and Pakku shook their head in annoyance when Momo pounced Aang to the ground.
"Katara, you are dismissed for the day. Well done." Pakku smiled towards his only female student. "Everyone else, up! You've been training under me longer, if you think this is hard you might as well stop slacking off and learn from Katara."
Azula opened her arms when Katara walked up to her. Katara smiled and hugged Azula. "So, what do you want to do today?"
"I found this place going back to the hut the other day. It has to most beautiful sight you'll ever see. C'mon!" Katara grabbed Azula's hand and like many times before dragged the firebender.
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"Princess Cazu." Zeng stopped Cazu from walking into the war room. "Another letter for you from Lady Ty Lee."
"Thank you, Zeng." Cazu took the letter and folded it up and placed it in between her armor and belt.
Like the previous war meetings, all the admirals, generals, and War Minister Qin bowed towards her as she walked up to the throne platform sitting on her father's left.
"Now that everyone is here. War Minister Qin, what are your reports?" Akuzo asked.
"Governor Bao, has reported that there are some rebellions in Omashu, nothing our soldiers can't handle. That shouldn't be to any of our concern. King Bumi surrendered the city without a fight."
"Father, if I may?" Cazu asked. She didn't dare speak out of turn again like she promised. Akuzo nodded allowing Cazu to continue. "That's rather odd, don't you think, War Minister?"
"King Bumi has been known for being crazy, Princess."
"Crazy enough, to possibly outsmart us perhaps." Cazu countered.
"I'm sorry, but I'm not sure what you mean exactly, Princess."
"I have a feeling that King Bumi, may be planning something. What kind of lockdown is he under exactly?"
General Shu stood up and addressed the issue. "He is confined in a metal coffin with only enough space for his face to be exposed."
"That's it?" Cazu asked.
"What else do you expect us to do, Princess?"
Before Cazu could respond her father interjected. "Princess Cazu, enough. Thank you for your observation and questioning. We now have a more elaborate detail of the aftermath to Omashu's downfall. There's nothing to worry about. Moving on."
War Minister Qin and General Shu sat down on their placemats. Cazu took a deep breath and listened to her father.
"Admiral Zhao has sent me a messenger hawk earlier today. Which is the main reason I called forth this meeting. He and his massive invasion force will be invading the Northern Water Tribe today. Probably even right now as we speak. By tomorrow night at the latest, the Northern Water will have fallen and the Moon Spirit removed forever."
Cazu eyes went wide as she jerk her head to stare at her father in disbelief. She didn't hear anything through the grapevine gossip of the servants about Zhao's invasion. The last she heard about it was during Zhao's proposal in the last war meeting. All the admirals and generals clapped in excitement about the Water Tribe's downfall.
"This meeting is adjourned." Akuzo announced. Everyone bowed and left quickly leaving their Princess and Fire Lord. Akuzo sighed, "What do you have to say?"
"How could you grant Zhao permission to eliminate the Moon Spirit? Bringing down the Water Tribe is one thing, but killing a spirit? Dad, that's going to bring the world out of balance!"
"We have nothing to worry about. This war will be over soon enough with the waterbenders gone."
"I can't believe how stupid you and the previous Fire Lords are." Cazu stood up and quickly walked off the platform.
"Cazu! Don't you dare talk to me that way." Akuzo growled.
The Fire Nation princess stopped and turned towards her father. "Are saying that to me as my father or as my Fire Lord?"
"What are you talking about?"
"What I'm talking about is that you have not been my father for the past nine years! For over half of my life I've seen Zeng, my servant, more times in one week than I ever had with you. You never let me walk outside the palace, the only time you ever see me is for these war meetings, and both of my friends are no longer in the Fire Nation. I hate living here!" Cazu shouted.
"Are you finished?" Akuzo casually asked.
"NO! I'm just getting started. If the world believed in Fire Lord Sozin's vision, we wouldn't be fighting in this stupid war for nearly one hundred years. Mom would still be alive. Also eliminating the Moon Spirit isn't going to hurt just the Water Tribes. Everyone will be affected, including the Fire Nation. We shouldn't mess with the spirits!"
"You have been around that circus fre… circus acrobat too much."
"She has a name! Her name is Ty Lee." Cazu clenched her fist. "Whether you like it or not, she is my girlfriend. I haven't seen her in two years since she ran away to join the circus."
"Why bother with her? She ran away."
"She ran away because her family was driving her crazy! Dad, I want to get out of here. I want to see Ty Lee, see Mai in Omashu, and I want to find that Fire Nation traitor."
Akuzo raised an eyebrow at his daughter. "You want to track down that girl? Cazu, you don't have any experience fighting. How could you possibly eliminate her?"
"Tch. This is exactly what I'm talking about. You know nothing about me!" With that Cazu walked out of the war room. Before she fully left she turned back to her father. "By the way, Zhao's forces don't stand a chance tonight or tomorrow. It's a full moon. The Fire Nation will lose against the Northern Water Tribe."
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"Hey, isn't that Appa?" Katara asked. Once again she was leaning against Azula as the two sat on a bench.
"I think Sokka is trying to impress Princess Yue, your highness." Azula replied while gently playing with Katara's hair loopies.
The waterbender smiled at her new nickname from Azula. "You do know you're the only one who can call be 'princess', right?"
"I feel very honored, my lady." Suddenly Azula felt Katara lightly smack her arm. "What?"
"You're enjoying this royalty nicknames for me aren't you?"
"You deserve it, Princess Katara."
Katara sat up and stared at Azula. "I could call you 'Princess Azula' if you want."
Azula shook her head. "No, you're definitely the princess in this case. I could be your… duke or duchess in this case."
"Duke. Duchess doesn't fit your personality. Fine, I'm Princess Katara of the Southern Water Tribe, and you are Azula, Duke of Fluffiness."
The firebender banged her head in Katara's shoulder. "Fluffiness? You hadn't teased me about that in a while."
"I saw the way you looked at that Koalaotter yesterday." Katara wrapped her arms around Azula's neck and sat herself on the firebender's lap. "Just admit it, I have you whipped."
"No." Azula quietly responds starting to lean into Katara.
"As your princess, I order you to admit I have you whipped." Katara started leaning forward too.
"An order, huh? Yes. Yes, Princess Katara, you have me whipped." Azula began to close the gap, but before her lips could touch Katara's, the waterbender pulled away.
"Ow!" Katara reached up towards her cheek.
Before Azula could ask what happened there was black snow falling from the sky. The two benders looked towards the sky seeing heavy amounts of hot black snowflakes fall from the sky. Katara got up from Azula's lap. Azula knelt to the ground and picked up a handful of snow and black snow.
She brought the snow up to her nose. Immediately Azula recognized the scent. "Soot. There's soot falling."
"Azula." Katara responded just above a whisper.
Azula looked over to where Katara was looking. When she stood up she thought her whole world stop. There was huge black cloud with a massive naval fleet just barely seen across the horizon.
"The Fire Nation."