Hello everyone. I have finally returned with a brand new chapter for A Method to the Madness. It took me a while. Our school has finally started basketball and practice range all throughout the week for about an hour and a half each day. So finding time to type this was starting to become a bit of a chore. But, thanks to Veterans Day and half days of school, I had managed to type out this chapter. So without further ado, I give you the next installment in the exciting saga known as A Method to the Madness.

Dear Beloved Friends and Family,

I have grown tired. I just can't take it anymore. This world has grown too complicated and too difficult for me to bear it any longer. I've simply decided to give up, and take my life into my own hands. I wish to say that I have no regrets as I leave mother earth, but, however, there is one pressing manner that needs to be discussed, and that is that my one regret, is that I won't make it to my sister's wedding. However, I have decided that I will send Azula, to take my place as the bride's maid.

Goodbye Cruel World. Hugs and Kisses,

Natsuki.

As she placed the pen down by the papers side, its tip still dripping with the slight residue of recently used ink, Azula smiled accordingly at her work. She was filled with pride and felt boastful. She had accomplished a fairly difficult tasked. She was rather astonished by how well she was able to copy that bitch's hand writing in one draft. There would be no need to do another. It was simply perfect. No one would suspect a thing.

And just as soon as Azula stacked her papers on the desk that was most certainly not hers, in a house that she defiantly was not welcomed in, the front door began to groan as it was opened. Footsteps could be heard echoing towards her if one tried hard enough to listen. Azula's smile changed itself into a more devious nature. 'It's time,' she thought to herself mischievously, as she hid behind one of the many nooks and crannies of the Apartment, watching her prey in the dark, waiting for the perfect opportunity to pounce.

Natsuki felt particularly tired tonight. No, wait. On second thought, saying that she was tired would be too much of an understatement. She felt absolutely drained of her energy. It had been a long and stressful morning, which feed right into an increasingly annoying and hectic afternoon. First off, the pig rooster next door that belonged to the neighbors didn't crow. She had always used its traumatizing half squeals/half crows to symbolize her wakening up. With that out of the way, she had overslept and was completely late for work. Then, as things progressed, it had gotten worst and worst. Her local market place apple and watermelon street vender had run out of decently prepared food. The meat shop was closed due to some argument that happened earlier which lead into a fistfight. She got hit on by some annoying teenage kid who was obviously skipping school, and she was even hit on by her boss at work. "UGGGH! Men are such pigs!" She thought to herself desperately as she walked into the bathroom. The only thing that felt good right now, was sitting on her cot and sleeping off today's excessive amounts of activities. And, she could actually sleep in. after all, today was Saturday.

But guess what? Oh no. she couldn't do that. Her sister had her stupid wedding scheduled for tonight and she, Natsuki, was chosen as the honorary bride's maid. At the time, she was the happiest girl in the world to receive the news. Now, she was the angriest girl in the world. The worst part about this wedding was the fact that it was being held, at midnight! Natsuki was one for using symbolism and nature and all that fun stuff for weddings, but couldn't have the vows been exchanged at an earlier time! Great Spirits! She was going to have to either cut herself or slap herself to simply stay awake.

But she was knocking the entire marriage based on the fact alone. If truth be told, she was supremely happy for her sister. There was one majorly good thing coming out of this wedding, and that was the fact that Natsuki's sister was marrying a stinky rich man. People would object and say that this man that Terra was marrying wasn't "Stinky rich," But Natsuki didn't care. The guy was a doctor! And a handsome Blonde Doctor at that. The guys name was something like…..Mailto….or something like that. She didn't care at the moment. Once the knot was tied, Natsuki's family was going to be LOADED with cash. It was amazing. Natsuki would be a liar if she said that she wasn't particularly jealous of her sister. However, she realized that Terra was Marrying Mailto, and for that, she was happy.

Still, she couldn't help but wonder why couldn't of the wedding have been placed earlier in the day. She sighed in annoyance as she grabbed the comb which laid to her left on the surface of her sink. Her problems seized to matter at this moment. What mattered was the fact that she was the bride's maid, even more importantly; she was the maid of honor. And there was no way a maid of honor was going to show up at a wedding with flat hair.

Suddenly, she heard a noise that made her jump slightly. It was a scuffle of feet that ran along the wooden floor of her apartment. She stopped and looked behind her to see what was there, but the blackness of the dark made any visible sight of whatever scurried along her floor, impossible. What was it? A rodent? Some type of foul beast? She stuck her tongue out childishly and turned back to the mirror to work on the mirror. She didn't care. Whatever it was, it was distracting her from perfecting her beauty.

Then, all of a sudden, something caught her eye in her mirror. A reflection, of some sort, presented itself with a strange splendor. Something behind her, or so it seemed as deemed by her bathroom mirror, glimmered in the night as the moonlight struck it. It was bright and metallic, and very alluring to the untrained eye. Natsuki's eyes, however, were trained and a trail of shivers traveled down her spine in a distinct fashion. She automatically knew what it was that shone in the moonlight. It was a blade of some sort. But that struck her as odd. She didn't remember laying down a blade as she walked in today. Did she leave some silverware out or something?

Then, she saw a ghostly smile.

The last thing Natsuki remembered before she was knocked unconscious was that some unruly, ghastly, horrific creature jumped her from the dark; shouting with a vicious ferociousness as it tackled her to the ground, "SURPRISE!"

Azula examined her work yet again. The girl laid unconscious in the metal bathtub. Her head was bleeding somewhat, as when she feel, it collided with the wall of the bathroom. She would be out for quite some time. Not good in Azula's opinion. She needed to be awakened immediately. No sooner had this woman that Azula attacked fallen into the bathtub, did Azula began running cold water. She briefly thought to herself, 'Oh shit. Hope I didn't kill her. I need her for my plan,' before she began faze two of her operation.

When Natsuki woke up, she screamed. She found it hard to do so, as her noise came out as tiny bubbles. She was underwater, and she was being forced under by some unknown hand. Oxygen was running low and she found it not only hard to scream, but hard to breath as well. Blackness was beginning to surround her. Death was just a few more bubbles away. and no sooner had this thought crossed her mind, she was let up.

She coughed and gagged without any reserve. She had accidently swallowed some of the water as she was let back up. It was painful, but not as painful as the dull thud and burning sensation that ran along her skull as soon as she was let up. She automatically recognized that she had sustained a head wound. Why else would the water dripping down into her eyes seem slightly red? She was scared to death. Few minutes ago, she was focusing on hair styles. Now she was focusing on trying to survive. What was going on?

Suddenly, that evil forceful hand pushed her head back down in the water again. Once more, she was surrounded by blackness and her pleas for help were muffled by the water. Her eyes burned whenever she opened them because the water was so cold, thus, she couldn't get a good look at her attacker. Why was this happening? Why would anyone do this to her. More water entered her throat and she began to panic; realizing that if she wasn't let up soon, she would most defiantly drown.

Thankfully, she was. And when she came back out of the water, she wiped away the droplets that accumulated under her eyes. Then, she was greeted not by another hand, but this time, by and evil, nightmarish, demonic female voice.

"You know, when are you going to stop acting like a child, and just take you bath?" The voice sardonically exclaimed.

And then Natsuki was greeted with another trip back down into the pitch blackness.

She was let up once again after a good thirty seconds of frantic thrashing and bubbles bursting excitingly from the water. Just like last time, she was let up and welcomed by a scary voice. This time, however, she was able to get a good look at her attacker. It was another girl, about 26 or 27 years of age. She stood at the edge of the tube and her face could only be described as an insane scowl which revealed happiness and ungodly motives. She had long black hair, piercingly bright red lips, and eyes which danced liked crazy within her skull.

Natsuki's hear sank. Everyone in the four nations had at some time or another, saw a photo of the criminal and war crazy sister known as Azula. She just had no clue that one day she would be greeted by her presence.

"You seem to be a very popular girl," Azula remarked as she stared wide eyed and happily insane at Natsuki.

Just like her heart, her body sank as well with one last push from Azula's hand. She rose back up immediately and spat out the water in an amazing sputter. She found that her hands and ankles were bound in some kind of strong rope. She wouldn't be leaving the bathroom any time soon. That was for certain. And it was this fact alone that made Natsuki start to cry. She was going to die. There was no way out of it. Her tears feel down her face extraordinarily.

And for that, she was received with a slap to the face.

Her crying immediately stopped. She gazed at Azula, filled with fear and trepidation, and wondered why exactly did she do that. But then again, no one questions the crazy queen's motives unless he or she wished to die. However, Natsuki received an answer to that particular question, when Azula rubbed her chin in profundity, followed by a slight whisper.

"You look tired." Azula commented. "Tired of it all. You know, it's tough you know. It's even tougher for a girl like you. It's tough to keep your head above life's murky waters." Azula gazed out her hand and gestured her fingertips toward the tube, simply stating that the cold bath water, was just a metaphorical representation of Life's waters. She followed that up with, "I completely understand why you would want to kill yourself."

Natsuki blinked. "…..I don't want to kill myself?" she said with a surprised and confused tone.

Azula attacked her yet again; grabbing fistfuls of Natsuki's hair and dunking her back into the water. Azula however, made it distinctively sure that her ears were not submerged within the cold fluid. She had to hear what Azula was about to say. Whenever Azula speaks, it's a matter of life and death.

"You know," Azula shouted into the ear of Natsuki, whose face was buried in the water. "I'm tired of being selfish! I think I'll help you do it." She proclaimed as she let Natsuki back up again. The girl coughed and gasped for her breath for quite some time. Then, after her spell, she turned to Azula, dazed and confused. Azula sat there and examined her fingernails, rather board, but nothing could hide that devilish smirk. "It shouldn't be a stretch. I'm good at that sort of thing." Then she stood up, and began to prance around the room, searching for her precious items which she had stolen just for this occasion. "But the question is, how do you do it?" The psychopathic exclaimed. "I mean, after all, we wouldn't want you to suffer." She finished that sentence with a wink. "so, how do we end it?"

"I don't want to end it." Natsuki frighteningly shouted as tears fell down her eyes.

Azula's face stopped that vindictive smirk, and instead, plastered itself with a horrendous scowl. It spoke very simply, and quite clearly, to the poor girl being harassed in the tub. It simply said, 'Don't fuck with me.'

Natsuki shut up.

"I don't think we are high enough to jump out of a window." Azula inspected as she glanced around the bathroom for a window. She grabbed her first item which she had brought with her. On a conical side note, the first item she grabbed was in fact, not stolen just for this occasion. On the contrary; this item was prescribed to her by her doctors. "Maybe you can overdose on some sort of strange drug," Azula proclaimed as she shoved the experimental leaves and medications the doctors at Republic City Asylum had give to her.

Natsukis spat out all the contents immediately. They left a horrible taste in her mouth.

"No?" Azula called out playfully like a mother examining her innocent and sweet child who had just learned how to make a decision. Azula reached inside her dress sleeves, and spun about to small knifes in a stylish fashion. "How about, we slit your wrist." She lunged forward, blade in hand.

"Help!" Natsuki cried out as she was forced back into the water, not being submerged entirely.

"No need to scream. No one's coming to help. I killed the neighbors earlier." Azula informed her. "Just look at the knives."

Natsuki did so, and she noticed more blood. Droplets began to drip from the sharp edges, and onto the water, making the bathtub an even deeper shade of red. It was the neighbor's blood; possibly recently deceased blood.

She screamed yet again.

"No?" Azula proclaimed yet again as she wielded her throwing knives back into the insides of her dress's sleeves in a circus-like fashion. "Ok, ok. I understand. It's a little cliché for a girl to do that." She leaned forward and got no less than three inches away from Natsuki's face. "You're a tough girl now, right? You need a tough and rugged way to go!" Azula growled like a dog. Unexpectedly, her faced beamed with happiness as she turned around and grabbed her next item. It was a small can that only the wealthiest of the wealthy had. The four nations had now been testing this new sorce of fuel since coal was begging to lose its luster. It was thick, black and gooey; and supremely flammable.

Oil.

"Maybe you can set yourself on fire!" Azula said with a happy smile as she drenched the poor girl with the thick, murky liquid. This only added more pain to her head wound, causing her to gasp. She wiped way what little oil that had landed amongst her eyes immediately. She had to see what this insane woman was about to do next.

She was saluted by Azula's finger, flickering with flame.

Azula tried to move forward. Natsuki jumped back. Azula went to her left; Natsuki dodged and went to the right. Azula went right, Natsuki went left. She was dodging Azula at every turn. And when Azula just went straight forward, the smart and intelligent Natsuki simply blew out the light that danced on Azula's fingertip. It was basic survival instinct. It was working supremely well.

Azula sighed in anger and annoyance. "I'm trying to help here." She mentioned in a grumble. Slowly, casually, and in a somewhat disappointed manner, Azula stood up. With a menacingly loud and metallic shriek, a giant sword was revealed from the spot in the back of her dress. "Well, it's a little formulaic," the almighty princess groused. "But, you can always stab yourself through the heart." And with that, she tossed the blade into the bathtub. Water flew up with a small splash. It sank into the water immediately. It laid there for quite some time, before either one of the women spoke. Azula was the first to do so. "You see, there's one condition with stabbing yourself through the heart," Azula said. "And that is, you have to do it. Not me. I can't do all the work. Otherwise, that would no longer be suicide."

"But I don't want to commit Suicide." Natsuki exclaimed in a tired voice. She was about ready to pass out. Her head trauma was coming back.

"You spoiled brat." Azula stated as she folded her arms.

"But I have no reason to kill myself." Natuski made known nonchalantly.

"Aha! Exactly," Azula managed to say without her voice squeaking in excitement. The trap had been sprung. "So, it's not the 'How,' that concerns us. But it's the 'why.' I mean, why on earth would you, Natsuki, kill yourself on your sister's wedding day; especially when you're the maid of honor. I'm just shocked that you were planning on going through with this without telling anyone. I mean, what would your loved ones think? Not only is it unexpected, but it's also uncharacteristic. I'd even call it, insulting!" she finished her words with a gravely snarl. "Fortunately for you, I prepared this."

And with that, she turned back towards the bathroom sink, and grabbed her sheet of paper which she had written earlier. She sat it down calmly on the side of the tub, making sure not to get it wet and to not get it folded.

Natsuki stared at the paper, bewildered and shocked. She tried to read, but her earlier head injury had made everything almost like a blur from time to time. It was impossible. "What is this?" she asked.

"It's a suicide note. Duh!" Azula proclaimed snarky. Then, grabbing the pen that had recently been dipped in ink, Azula calmly commanded in a polite manner, "Please sign here at the bottom."

"But I don't want to kill myself!" Natsuki shouted at the top of her lungs. This whole situation was becoming unbearable.

"Umm, not according to this letter." Azula mentioned with raised brows, like a teacher pointing out the hypocrisies of a young student. She grabbed the paper. She made eye contact with Natsuki. "You said, and I quote," then she coughed as she began to read aloud from the paper. "'I have grown tired. I just can't take it anymore. This world has grown too complicated and too difficult for me to bear it any longer. I've simply decided to give up, and take my life into my own hands. I wish to say that I have no regrets as I leave mother earth, but, however, there is one pressing manner that needs to be discussed, and that is that my one regret, is that I won't make it to my sister's wedding. However, I have decided that I will send Azula, to take my place as the bride's maid.'"

And that's when Natsuki had finally realized why and how Azula came about to wearing a dress. Azula was wearing her dress. It was the bride's maid of honor's dress, and Natsuki had been left in the freezing water with nothing but her underwear. When she was passed out, Azula must have swapped closed.

Putting two and two together, Natuski said, "Is that why you're wearing my dress?"

"Oh you bet it is!" Azula proclaimed happily with a smile. "You see, I want to go to the wedding. But, I wasn't invited. And you just can't crash a wedding. You see, wedding are planned meticulously. There's always a cake to person ratio that no one wants to disrupt. But, with you out of the picture, that cake ratio stays perfectly in balance."

"THIS IS ALL ABOUT CAKE!" Natsuki screamed with every amount of strength that was left with in her body. She almost fell limp after releasing such extraordinary vocal power.

"Well, I do love wedding cake." Azula proclaimed fully.

Natsuki looked up at the deranged woman that was staring at her with complete content to kill her. On one hand, she could refuse. Yes, she could die, but she was going to die anyways once Azula stepped foot in her room. There's a saying amongst those who know about Azula, which goes, 'Once the queen gets her way, everything will go in dismay. But if you choose, to refuse, well you're gonna die anyway.' It was a matter of courage. Did Natsuki had what it took too stood up against Azula?

Nope. Like a frighten little rodent, she quickly jotted down the name on the paper.

Azula grab the paper and, very precisely, she folded in 4's before sticking it into her cleavage. She stared at the shattered human shell which once was Natsuki and patted her on the head like some sort of pet. "There, now, that wasn't so hard, was it?"

DING!

A loud, echoing, dull yet melodic thud could be heard off in the distance. Azula immediately recognized it. About 2 years ago, thanks to fire nation and earth nation co-operations, the Earth nation received a giant clock tower, which rang aloud the time of the day in a sequence of thuds. A certain number of thuds meant that it was a certain time. Azula began to sweat, and her eyes went wide as she counted the rings. It was 11:30 at night. The wedding was at 12:00.

She was running behind.

She was late.

But she will not lose.

She dashed out of the apartment as quickly as she possibly could. But before she did, she turned back around and went inside the bathroom. She stared at the shivering and scared body of Natsuki's. She trembled not only in fear, but in coldness. The room had grown very damp. And winter nights in Ba Sing Sae were most of the time, unbearably cold; even though it never snowed.

Azula showed sympathy and compassion. "You seem rather cold in there." She exclaimed as she produced a giant fire ball within her hand. "How about you curl up next to a great warm fire."

With a hypnotically evil laugh that could have ripped apart the very fabric of the universe, she chucked the fire ball at Natsuki and the poor woman immediately combusted into flames. The people who would later discover her body, would describe that she was "Burnt to a crisp." And that her face was hardly "Unrecognizable."

And Ironic way to go on such a cold night.

Wow. Another chapter completed. This one in just one day. AMAZING! I'm getting better at these. It's late while I type this. I have to head off to bed. Not much to report. Please check out my YouTube channel: themetalman3. Don't forget to tell others about this story. And, most importantly…

PLEASE REVIEW!

Hugs and kisses, lol.

Welcometofightclub.