The Golden Wolf Warrior
By: Agent-Ayu
Chapter 12: The Siege of the North
Note: Real note is at the end of the chapter.
Disclaimer: Disclaimer from Prologue still applies.
Azula sat outside of the Council Hut with Aang. They listened to how quiet the tribe became when they learned of the Fire Nation's incoming raid. Sokka was with the other warriors preparing for an important mission. Azula would have gone with him if Katara didn't stop her.
"I want to put this out in the open." Aang said suddenly.
"What?"
"When we first arrived here, you were flirting with Katara during the banquet. You, Sokka, and Katara are my family, but I love Katara more than that. And I know you like her."
"I don't like her. I love her more than you do. You've known Katara for only a few months. I've known her for nearly ten years. I've noticed since Kyoshi Island you had a crush on her."
Aang was silent as he thought of his reply. "Then I guess we're rivals now."
"Don't flatter yourself. You're not even a player." With that Azula walked away from Aang.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
Katara continued to lean against Azula as they saw more fireballs hit the tribe wall. Yue was trying hard not to cry as she watched her people fight for their tribe.
"As terrible as it sounds, I just wish they would break the wall already." Azula wished out loud. "We can't do much if they stay out at sea. Then again neither could they."
"What are they chances they're stupid enough to continue attacking us through out the night?" Katara asked rhetorically.
"It's been nearly eight five years since the Fire Nation attacked us. Why are they attacking us now?" Yue asked.
"Besides Ba Sing Se and Omashu, the Northern Water Tribe is the only stronghold against the Fire Nation." Azula answered casually. "If the Northern Tribe falls, there is no chance for the Southern Tribe. They already took all our waterbenders, except for Katara."
"All the attacks from the Southern Raiders stopped after Azula arrived to our tribe. Fire Lord Akuzo's navy hasn't been spotted around the south for a long time." Katara also filled in.
They stayed where they were until the sun was below the horizon.
"Aang!" Katara pointed towards the sky as Appa descended.
Once Appa landed, he laid on his belly exhausted. His feet were too tired to keep him up. Aang slowly slid off Appa's head to the ground leaning against his bison's forepaw.
"I can't do it." He says as he placed his hands on his head. "I can't do it."
"What happened?" Katara asked.
"I must have taken out a dozen Fire Navy ships, but there's just too many of them. I can't fight them all." Aang explained. He was panicking from all the stress.
"But, you have to!" Yue exclaimed. "You're the Avatar!"
"I'm just one kid." Aang replied in defeat.
"Which is why you need our help." Everyone looked over at Azula. "Yes, Aang is the Avatar, but he's not a fully realized Avatar. Even if he were, he would still need our help. Everyone needs help in some way."
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
Cazu looked at the full moon from her balcony window. After the war meeting and her outburst, all she could do think about was finding a way out of here. Zhao and his men were currently attacking the Northern Water Tribe. She thought about the war meeting Zhao proposed his attack. The princess leaned her head on the railing trying to block out the thought of what was happening in the north.
"Princess?" Zeng asked.
"Huh? Oh, what is it, Zeng?" Cazu looked back towards her room.
Zeng was the closest thing Cazu had to an older sister figure. "Usually after receiving a letter from Lady Ty Lee, you have one ready for me to send off to her after reading her letter."
"After the war meeting today, I didn't even bother reading her letter. She knows I miss her, but I can't express how much I miss her on paper. I need to get out of here, but my father isn't going to let that happen." She turned her attention back to the moon.
"Word has spread through the grapevine that Zhao is leading his attack on the North Pole as we speak."
"Yes, I heard about that at the war meeting. I was surprised that the information didn't go through the grapevine earlier. I have a really bad feeling about this though. Something terrible is going to happen but I can't explain it."
"Then I probably shouldn't tell you this, but I will." Cazu turned her attention back to Zeng. "Your father has asked for you."
"In his war room?" The princess asked coldly.
"At the Turtle Duck pond."
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
Katara looked over at Azula for the umpteenth time Aang crossed over into the Spirit World arrived at the Oasis. She couldn't tell if the firebender was sleeping or meditating.
"So, is Azula your girlfriend?" Yue suddenly asked.
"What?" Katara blushed. "Wha… well… I…"
"Since you're nervous I'll take that as a yes." Yue smiled. "You're lucky, at least you two can be happy with each other."
"The thing is… she's not my girlfriend. I have feelings for her and I'm positive she returns them. I understand why my grandmother left the Northern Tribe. Your customs for arranged marriage are just wrong. You should be able to love whom ever you choose. Especially with my case, if I grew up here I know I wouldn't be able to be with Azula."
Suddenly they heard screaming beyond the cave of the Oasis. "The Fire Nation has broken through the outer wall!"
"I better go help the other waterbenders!" Katara exclaimed.
"No."
Yue and Katara turned their attention to Azula. The firebender's golden eyes glowed piercingly through the darkness. "I'm going. It's nearly daybreak. I don't want you getting hurt out there. The Fire Nation will have the advantage. And I have a personal score to settle with Zhao."
"I can fight too, you know? I didn't spend the last month training with Master Pakku for nothing." Katara said as she poked Azula's shoulder.
"I know you can fight. We all know you can fight. But I don't want you to until nightfall. We could be dealing with elite benders and I'll feel much better knowing you're here waiting for Aang to cross back over."
Katara opened her mouth to argue, but was cut off when she felt Azula's lips on hers. Azula pulled away after a few seconds.
"I know, I'll be careful." With that Azula ran out of the Oasis cave leaving Katara speechless.
"So, does that make you two girlfriends officially now?" Yue innocently asked.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
Not wanting to immediately give away her identity to the Fire Nation soldiers, Azula drew her broad swords and began blocking attacks and countering every move Fire Nation soldiers were attempting. The other Water Tribe warriors and waterbenders spent a month becoming familiar with Azula and remember she was their ally.
"Duck!" One waterbender shouted towards her. Azula immediately did what she was told as a huge steam of water flew over her freezing a Fire Nation soldier.
The waterbender and Azula smiled at each other. There was a Fire Nation soldier right behind the waterbender. Before she knew it, Azula pushed the waterbender out of the way and fire bended the fire blast by pulling it back with her and sending it flying back towards the soldier.
"I better count my blessings you know how to bend fire like water." The waterbender quickly joked before running off to help the other soldiers and benders.
Azula walked over to the soldier who was groaning. Memories of Lu Ten's death flashed before her eyes, as she smelt the burnt blood of the Fire Nation soldier. Azula knelt down to the soldier and lifted him up.
"Why are you helping me?"
"Why are you fighting in this war?"
The soldier didn't ask her any more questions as Azula slowly helped him to one of the nursing huts. All the female waterbenders looked at Azula as if she was crazy bringing in a Fire Nation soldier. Yugoda was the first to respond.
"Where are his injuries?"
"He's burnt badly in the chest." Azula struggled in lowering the soldier without hurting him even further.
"Yugoda! You can't possibly help him? He's a Fire Nation soldier." One woman questioned.
"But he's still a human being. We could only hope the Fire Nation would do the same for our men." Yugoda replied. "This is going to sting a little." She began healing the soldier.
Azula got up and started walking out of the hut. "I'm fighting for my wife and unborn child." The female firebender stopped and looked back at the soldier. "I was never good in school, but I needed a job to provide for my family."
"Then you better not attack these healers. Remember your life is in their hands. Literally." Azula said giving the soldier a warm smile easing the tension in the room. "I helped you because I wished there was someone who could for my cousin."
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
The sun had fully set below the horizon. Azula fought along side the waterbenders and Water Tribe soldiers nonstop since daybreak. She understood the struggle Aang had the previous day. No matter how many Fire Nation soldiers were taken out, more kept replacing those who have fallen. She couldn't remember when, but at some point she gave up using her swords and redirected all of the attacks towards the soldiers. Azula made sure to control the fire so it was enough to knock the soldiers out and not kill them.
The whole time she was fighting, Azula never firebended an attack herself. She was saving her energy for Zhao. Azula knew he was here. She knew he was leading this invasion. And she was right.
There was Zhao riding a Komodo Rhino, just like the time on Kyoshi Island. The waterbender and Water Tribe soldiers were too busy fighting the Fire Nation soldiers to noticed Zhao casually making his way through the tribe.
Azula fought her way past Fire Nation soldier after soldier. Some she maneuvered herself around avoiding any confrontation at all. She stayed behind the admiral and his men far enough so the Komodo Rhinos wouldn't get agitated. Azula was a good two full length Komodo Rhinos away from the Fire Nation admiral.
She recognized where Zhao was headed. The Oasis. Before the firebender could attack Zhao, she heard a scream coming towards her. Azula rolled her eyes as the Fire Nation soldier charged at her with his spear. She raised her arm above her head into a high block breaking the spear's tip and countered by driving a punch directly into the soldier's nose. The soldier fell to the ground unconscious with a bloody nose.
When she finally arrived at the cave entrance to the Oasis, Zhao's men had tied Yue, Katara, Sokka, and Aang to the shrine gate. Stayed hidden in the entrance's shadows waiting to see what Zhao would do.
Zhao reached into the pond grabbing the white koi fish and forcing it in a bag. As the white koi fish struggled to escape the bag, the moon changed to bloody red. Aang and Yue groaned in pain.
"I am the legend now! The Fire Nation will for generations tell stories about the great Zhao who darkened the moon! The will call me, Zhao the conqueror! Zhao the Moon Slayer! ZHAO THE INVINCIBLE!" He shouted.
Suddenly Momo jumped on top of Zhao pulling his sides burns causing trouble. Momo flew towards Azula as the guards surrounded Zhao trying to help him.
"Get off of me you imbeciles!" Zhao bent a stream of fire around him forcing his men to back away. He looked to the entrance seeing Azula glare at him. She took a stance ready to attack Zhao.
"Don't bother!" Zhao held up his hand that held a knife towards the bag containing the Moon Spirit.
"Zhao! Don't!" Aang begged. "Azula, don't fight him!"
"I'd listen to the Avatar if I were you. It's my destiny to destroy the Moon and the Water Tribe." The admiral boasted.
Azula felt her whole body shake as she struggled between letting Zhao slay the Moon Spirit or attempt to protect the white koi. "I can't allow you to do that, Zhao. If we didn't need the moon it wouldn't be here right now. Firebenders need the moon just as much as the waterbenders do. The moon is the sun's opposite. We all depend on the balance!"
Zhao laughed at Azula. "You try to sound like an old wise man. You're just a teenager. We, firebenders, draw our power from the sun. With the moon gone, the Fire Nation will be invincible."
"Let the spirit go now!" Azula shouted getting lower in her stance.
"Ah… no."
Time seemed to slow down as everyone watched in horror. Zhao stabbed the knife through the bag killing the Moon Spirit. Suddenly all natural lighting had vanished. For the first time in seven years, Azula was blinded by rage.
"Men, take the Avatar to the ship and apprehend the traitor!" Zhao ordered his soldiers.
Before the Fire Nation soldiers could surround the female firebender, Azula attacked all the men firebending her blue fire every direction she could. Hitting every single man to the ground unconscious. Once she was sure the were knocked out Azula shot two small fire blasts from her finger tips burn part of the bindings to her friends. She looked around the Oasis not seeing Zhao anywhere.
There wasn't much time. She had to find Zhao before he escaped. Azula ran out of the Oasis not hearing Katara yell for her.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
Panicking was an understatement to what was happening at the Fire Nation palace. Chaos had spread through the palace as the guards frantically searched for their Fire Lord and Princess, the servants tried to find and light more candles and lanterns as quickly as possible, and the many nobles and their ladies were shouting through out Caldera City to all the confusion.
One minute Cazu was talking to her father, sharing a moment she hadn't experienced since she was five, to being confused along with everyone else on why the moon turned red, then suddenly there was no moon at all. Cazu felt her father's hand on her shoulder. It was a grip of a father protecting his child, not of a Fire Lord.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
The music instantly stopped when the lighting of the moon turned red. A young acrobat in pink stopped abruptly in the middle of her dance and stared at the moon with the rest of the circus troupe. She knew immediately the Moon Spirit was in trouble. When the moon suddenly vanished only the lanterns and campfire were illuminating through the darkness. The troupe continued to stare towards the sky.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
In the once great city Omashu, Fire Nation citizens were panicking as well. No one knew what was happening, not even the governor. Silently the governor's daughter found the chaos amusing. It wasn't every day the moon vanishes creating havoc in a city she hated the most.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
The entire Southern Water Tribe village looked up to the sky. The only source of light was the bonfire in the central part of the village. Kya and Kanna held their breath praying their family was safe. If this was a sign, they feared of losing someone they care about.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
Azula stopped running for a split second to see a giant koi fish creature illuminating the tribe. She squinted her eyes and saw Aang in the Avatar State controlling the koi fish creature. Hesitantly Azula ran away from Aang and tried to find Zhao.
He jumped off the tier onto a wall ledge. Azula shot a blast just barely missing him. Zhao stopped running and turned his attention to Azula.
"How is that possible? How could your fire be blue?"
The female firebender ignored the admiral as she launched a few blasts toward him. Not expecting the fire to be hotter or stronger, Zhao was burnt in the process of dodge rolling away from the blasts. Azula was now standing on the walls edge along with Zhao.
She continued her attack, shooting volley after volley of fire blasts towards Zhao. Azula did not leave any recovery time for the admiral. With every attack she made towards Zhao, the same deep cold voice that taught her to redirect heat was chanting, "Finish him. He's weak. He doesn't deserve to live. Only the strong survive."
Zhao made the mistake of leaving his chest unguarded. Azula took advantage of his slip up to send a blast from her side kick, hitting him hard right on the chest. The admiral lost his balancing falling to the ground. Just as Azula was about to strike a final blow, she barely saw a fireball flying towards her head.
Several of Zhao's men, two firebenders, a spearman, and a swordsman came to their admiral's aid. "She's a traitor to the Fire Nation! Kill her!" Zhao ordered.
Without thinking the soldiers ran towards Azula. She just barely ducked a fireball flying over her head as she positioned herself directly underneath the firebender. Remembering what Suki taught her back on Kyoshi Island, Azula lifted the soldier up as she stood tossing him over her, past the wall's edge into the canal.
The spearman quickly responded attempting to jab the female firebender only to have his spearhead cut of and the rest of that pole sliced down the middle. Azula drew her broadswords to protect herself. Still in shock, Azula took advantage of the situation to hit the spearman with the bottom of her swords hilt knocking him unconscious. The swordsman thrust his sword as Azula just barely evade the attack. Azula slammed the hilt of her swords in the soldier's wrist causing him to drop the sword as his arm went numb. She grabbed him by his collar and tossed the swordsman into the canal.
Azula turned her attention to the firebender who was staring at her in both awe and fear. "As cliché as this is going to sound. We can do this either the easy way or the hard way? Your choice." She took one step forward.
She expected the firebender to either run away or attack her. What he did surprised her. He ran past her and dove into the canal screaming. Azula just shook her head not understanding what had just happened, but she quickly snapped out of it remembering Zhao.
He was halfway across a bridge when Azula sent a long stream of fire towards the admiral. Zhao just barely dodge the blue fire. The admiral turned around seeing Azula fully prepared to fight him.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
"Uncle, what's an Agni Kai?" Azula asked her uncle one day after her firebending lesson.
"An Agni Kai is a fire duel. Something I hope you would never have to participate in."
"Why?"
Her uncle picked her up and sat her down on a near by rock making sure he had her full attention. "An Agni Kai only happens when there is conflict between two people who fight for honor. Agni Kais are about honor. If you lose you could be scarred or worse killed."
The young firebender gulped.
"Killed?"
"Yes, killed. After the reign of Fire Lord Sozin, many firebenders believe that losing an Agni Kai duel and one's honor is not worth living."
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
"Zhao! I challenge you to an Agni Kai!"
"You are more annoying that a spiderfly. I'm surprised you even know what an Agni Kai is. I accept your challenge, and when I'm done with you, you'll be wishing I'd have killed you." Zhao took a firebending stance.
The two firebenders stared each other down waiting to see who would make the first move. The first move would decide who would win. Losing his patience Zhao attacked first sending ten simultaneous fireballs towards Azula.
She jumped over the row of fireballs. Not allowing her a chance to recover, Zhao kicked a stream of fire to the ground leaving nowhere for Azula to land. Azula took a deep breath before releasing fire shield underneath her dispersing Zhao's flames when she landed.
Still on the ground, Azula kicked towards Zhao's leg, tripping the admiral. She turned away from Zhao sending a reverse sidekick towards his face using the momentum of her kick to get her to stand again. Zhao kept falling backwards as Azula attacked him physically with out any fire.
Azula slammed her elbow into his face before grabbing him by the shoulders and smashing her knee into his gut. With Zhao doubled over grasping his stomach, Azula finished her attack hitting the admiral across the face with a right hook sending him to the ground.
Instinctively Azula hovered over Zhao ready to strike him. The same cold voice from earlier was back.
"He's down. Now is your chance. Kill him. He's weak!" The cold voice barked.
She raised her arm preparing to strike when she suddenly heard Roku. "No, Azula! Remember what you were taught."
Azula froze remembering the rest of what her uncle told her the day she asked about Agni Kai.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
"Yes, killed. After the reign of Fire Lord Sozin, many firebenders believe that losing an Agni Kai duel and one's honor is not worth living. I personally do not believe in that philosophy. Honor is not something you need to defend. No one can take away or give you honor. You make your own honor. If you ever have to fight an Agni Kai, Azula, spare your opponent's life. Showing generosity is a greater honor than killing or scarring someone."
The young prodigy nodded her head showing she understood her uncle.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
What felt like minutes were mere seconds, as Azula punched a ball of fire purposely missing Zhao's face. Just barely.
"That's it?" The admiral questioned as if he was mocked. "You're not a true firebender. You're weak. You're a traitor. You have no honor."
"No." Azula stared hard into Zhao's eyes. "Honor is something no one can give or take from me. No one can neither take nor give to you as well. I've proven that I am stronger between the two of us since you're the one on the ground. To the eyes of Fire Lord Akuzo, I am a traitor of the Fire Nation. But at least I have friends and family who are loyal to me because of who I am. Unlike you're alone instilling fear into your men for their loyalty. I have greater honor than you, Zhao."
Azula turned on her heel walking away from Zhao. She had done what her uncle, Roku, and her heart told her, spare Zhao from humiliation and his life.
Zhao felt insulted. Losing to a teenage girl and lectured by her at the same time. He jumped to his feet and sent a stream of fire towards Azula's back.
The firebending prodigy felt the fire coming behind her and was ready to counter the stream by 'waterbending' the fire. Suddenly a giant glowing hand blocked the stream of fire from hitting Azula. Both Azula and Zhao looked up to see where the hand connected to to see the giant koi fish create the Ocean Spirit had taken form in.
Being in the presence of the Ocean Spirit sent a shiver down Azula's spine as she immediately dropped to her knees and bowed to the spirit. With her eyes down towards the ground she noticed her shadow. Azula's eyes widened.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
Akuzo's grip on Cazu's shoulder loosened when the moon suddenly reappeared once again. The chaos of the palace and Caldera City immediately came to a silence.
Cazu could hear some of the Imperial Firebenders and servants whisper to each other.
"Was it a lunar eclipse?"
"Is this a rare cosmic occurrence like Sozin's Comet?"
The Fire Nation Princess knew this was the doing of neither a lunar eclipse nor cosmic event like Sozin's Comet. She closed her eyes.
"Dad, I can already tell we've lost the Siege of the North." Cazu whispered before fully walking away.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
Ty Lee finally let out the breath she didn't realize she held. The whole circus troupe looked at each other in confusion to what had just happened. Not able to come up with an answer they began playing music again while others continued dancing.
The young acrobat however, kept starring at the moon. She felt something different with this new moon that was glowing. It wasn't the same spirit.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
Mai sighed when the havoc of Omashu finally died down with the moon's return. "Oh well, it was fun while it lasted." She mumbled.
She felt a tug on her robe. Mai looked down to see her little brother smiling up at her. Even though her expression displayed an emotion of no interest, Mai knew if Ty Lee were here, the acrobat wouldn't stop talking about how pink Mai's aura was when she was around Tom Tom. Mai picked up her baby brother bring a smile to the boy's face.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
Kanna's narrowed her eyes when the moon returned. Realizing what had just happened.
"Kanna?" Kya questioned as she looked at her mother-in-law's face.
"I have a story to tell you, Kya. Knowing your children, especially Katara and Azula, they probably already know." Kanna gently guided her daughter-in-law back to their igloo. The rest of the night was spent Kanna telling Kya about her past.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
"It can't be!" Zhao shouted.
Azula looked up to the sky to see the moon had indeed returned glowing brightly in the night sky. She heard several screams in the distance. With the moon back the waterbenders have the ability to bend water again and had the advantage over the Fire Nation soldiers.
Remembering she was in the presence of the Ocean Spirit, Azula bowed her head down once more. She didn't lift her head until she heard a large quantity of water submerge into the canal below the bridge. Azula looked around not seeing Zhao anywhere. Slowly she stood up and saw Zhao's cloak floating in the canal.
The prodigy blinked several times taking in what had just happened. She looked back up to the moon before running back to the Oasis. Azula didn't care what was happening around her. She kept running until she arrived to the Oasis.
When she to the cave entrance she knew immediately something was wrong. Slowly Azula walked into the Oasis taking in the scene before her. The Moon and Ocean spirits were once again dancing their eternal dance, Katara had her faced covered by her hands crying, and Sokka held desperately to a young dark haired woman as he cried. Azula looked closer and lost her breath realizing the young woman with dark brown hair was Yue.
Azula walked over to Sokka and gently laid a hand on his shoulder. He didn't bother looking up as he kept crying into Yue's lifeless body. The firebender quietly got up and walked over to Katara. She knelt down in front of the waterbender and gently grabbed hold of Katara's hands pulling them down.
Tears continued falling as Katara's saddened blue orbs stared back in Azula's concerned gold orbs. No words were said, as the two embraced not wanting to let the other one go. Katara silently cried into Azula's shoulder.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
The entire tribe was at the Central Plaza grieving as they watched their princess being cremated. The few Fire Nation soldiers who did not make it back to their ships were also present, including the one Azula saved. This moment proved that even enemies could meet common ground and respect each other.
Every Fire Nation soldier was remembering the funeral of Fire Lord Azulon, Prince Ozai, and Prince Lu Ten. They were shocked to hear that the Royal Family was overthrown by a coup nine years ago. None of the soldiers knew that it was their current Fire Lord who had led the coup to overthrow Fire Lord Azulon. They knew that Prince Iroh, and Prince Ozai's family was missing, but after seven years the missing Royal Family members were to be assumed deceased. None of them realized they were in the presence of their princess.
Azula stared blankly at Yue's burning body reflecting all of her battles as if it happened only a few seconds ago. Katara held onto Azula's hand needing to feel Azula so she knew everything that happened in the last forty-eight hours wasn't a dream.
"Azula?" The firebender looked to her left to see Aang.
"I would feel honored if you would be my firebending master." Aang looked down quickly before looking back up to Azula. "I know I haven't been the best student to my previous teachers, but I don't want anyone else to teach me how to firebend. I'll understand if don't want to teach me because of our rivalry…"
"Aang, I told you. There is no rivalry and you know that. And I refuse to teach you how to firebend."
Aang looked down at the ground in defeat.
"I refuse to teach you until your earthbending teacher tells me you have mastered earthbending." Azula gave a small smile to the Air Nomad.
He looked up in surprise and nodded. "Will you at least help me with the breathing exercises?" He asked.
"No. If I did, you'll be tempted to produce fire. No lessons until you mastered water and earthbending." Azula turned her attention back to Yue's cremation silently telling Aang the conversation was over.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
The next day, Katara was woken up hearing coughing and wheezing. She looked over at Azula seeing the firebender curled up in the fetal position shivering. "Azula!"
Katara placed her hand on Azula's forehead. Azula's body temperature was always naturally warmer than Katara's, but the moment she placed her hand on Azula's forehead Katara pulled it back as if her hands were burned again.
Azula coughed violently. Katara was by her side in an instant with a cup of water on hand. The waterbender barely lifted Azula placing the edge of the cup on the firebender's lips.
"C'mon, Azula. Open your mouth and drink it." Katara quietly begged.
Katara managed to get Azula to gulp down some water before the firebender grabbed her hand and jerked the cup away. Aang and Sokka watched helplessly not knowing what was happening. Both Sokka and Katara knew something was wrong. Azula never got sick. Not once when they were growing up did the firebender ever catch a cold or ran a fever.
"Aang, go find Yugoda, she'll know where to find the doctor. Hurry!" Katara shouted.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
Yugoda pulled her hands away from Azula's chest. Aang and Sokka were outside of the hut waiting to be let back in. Katara stayed with Yugoda as she watched the elder waterbender try to heal Azula.
"I brought her temperature down a little, very little. This is not an ordinary illness." Yugoda explained to Katara. "It seems to me, Azula is going through a spiritual illness."
"What does that mean?" Katara had just finished pulling a dry shirt on Azula.
"It means something must have happened yesterday to trigger internal conflict in Azula's spirit. Think of it this way. If Azula was an evil Fire Nation soldier who suddenly decided to help a water tribe peasant and it went against what she believe to be her destiny, she would also be conflicting internally trying to understand what is right and what is wrong."
"But, Azula does know! Are you saying Azula is going to betray us when she wakes up?" Katara panicked.
Yugoda chuckled. "No. I'm not denying that Azula is struggling right now to find the right path, but I believe she knows that being with you and the Avatar is what's best for her. I'll send down Teruko later with something I want Azula to drink when she wakes up. It's a special tea that'll help her get her strength back. Just make sure to keep her hydrated. Also don't be afraid to use your healing abilities, even if it doesn't do much, it'll will still help a little."
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
Several days have passed. Katara stayed by Azula's side the whole time. Sokka had to force Katara to take breaks while he watched over the firebender. Azula's temperature dropped significantly to what was normal body temperature for the firebender. Katara rested her head on Azula's chest as she started to fall asleep.
Azula took a deep breath before opening her eyes. It took her a few minutes to register her surrounding. Azula finally breathed when she felt Katara's head on her chest. She subconsciously stroked the waterbender's hair, content with the quiet and stillness of early morning.
"You're awake." Katara said quietly not opening her eyes. "How are you feeling?"
The firebender stayed silent. She continued to take deep breaths as she stroked Katara's hair. "I feel the need to have time stop so we can stay here. Just you and I."
"As your friend? Or…" Katara was silenced as Azula kissed her.
"As my girlfriend." The firebender finished.
Azula smiled against Katara's lips as she was pushed onto her back and continued to kiss the waterbender. Katara pulled back and pressed her forehead against Azula's. Their smiles grew understanding what the other was saying in their eyes before bringing their lips together once more.
Note: First off, thank you too all of those who have been following the story since the first three chapters. More chapters are to come, this story is far from being finished. Next chapter will be the start of Book 2 and you'll be seeing more of Cazu. Don't worry, Cazu is not going to turn out like AtLA!Azula. I hope those who are reading enjoyed Book 1 of Golden Wolf Warrior.
Yes, I did borrow some ideas from The Last Airbender. There were parts from the movie I appreciated more than in the series.
1. There's a cave entrance to the Oasis, not a door.
2. Yue's body didn't disappear like a Jedi. I liked how her hair turned back to her dark brown hair and her spirit became the Moon Spirit.
Please keep the reviews coming, this way I know what you ladies and gentlemen are thinking about the story.