The Past
6 days, 3 hours, 27 minutes and 4 seconds earlier
The throne room of the ancient underground Fire Nation palace was very much the same as the current throne room, only dustier. However it somehow lacked the charm of the new palace, perhaps lacking the possibility of sunlight that the above ground palace purposefully blocked out.
Many of the people in the room had found themselves in a similar position some months earlier. However this time had more players and more betrayal. As with most things in life- time had made things increasingly harder and painful.
Mai and Ty Lee stared across the room at the lone figure standing against them, no emotion reaching their faces.
The small tattooed boy standing near them was the first to speak. "Azula, we're here for the Fire Lord."
"I have the strangest feeling that we've been here before. No matter..." Azula's tone changed from wispy to authoritative. "Unfortunately Fire Lord Ozai is currently not here. In the future you should announce when you'll be arriving so that we may be better able to accommodate you." The Princess turned casually as if that were the end of the matter and began to exit the hall.
"Azula!" Aang's shout rumbled across the hall, the airbender was unsurprisingly good at shouting, but certainly could have benefited from a deeper tone.
"Oh very well, since you are so intent on fighting. Mai, Ty Lee- attack!" The group of fighters simultaneously flinched, desperately readying themselves for an attack from within. Mai and Ty Lee slightly tilted their heads, partially questioning each other out of the corner of their eyes before turning their full attention back upon the Fire Princess.
Azula's cold laugh echoed off the stone walls. "These are the friends that you've chosen? I would have given my life for either of you without hesitation." A similar pain tugged at the heart of each girl, only Ty Lee showed its signs. Mai masked it with indifference, Azula with cold hatred.
Suddenly a blue bolt of fire flew towards the ceiling, another towards the ground- a stream of fire hurtled across the hall threatening to consume the entire group in one fell swoop. The large group of rebels scattered for cover, the roof of the ancient palace began to cave in as more blue bolts were flung in every direction.
Aang managed to dodge a stream of lightning only to crash in to a fallen stone pillar. Katara almost electrocuted herself as her watery shield almost collapsed upon her. Toph
spent all her energy desperately trying to keep the entire hall from collapsing by tearing rocky supports from the floor.
Mai panicked as she saw Azula's lightning hit Zuko directly, the noblewoman's life flashed before her eyes at such a rate that even the monotonous drawl of reality seemed new and entertaining to her.
Azula was caught off guard by a combination of Zuko's redirected assault and an inherited inability to admit the possibility of defeat. She nevertheless turned her own confusion in to an attack- lunging towards Mai. Partial victory at hand- Azula produced an unpractised fire dagger from her right fist, the favored move of her brother. As Azula stabbed the dagger downwards towards Mai's neck she whispered sweetly "Goodbye, old friend."
It hit the Princess like sound, a feeling that she would never relate to anyone. A large clang- her arm felt funny and she could swear she smelt burnt toast. Two more clangs and almonds filled the air. As she turned, the prodigy saw the pinkish deliverer of her annihilation.
"Ay Ankslish Beckfet." The Fire Princess delivered her final words proudly with her chin held high before she fell in to unconsciousness and the arms of the weeping acrobat.