Many thanks to guyw1tn0nam3, Kimjuni2, Kelev, and Wavebreeze for their reviews. Despite kind of feeling my way through the chapter last time, I got some much-needed input from these individuals on how to deal with Azula, and I think I did a better job here in Part 2, as we make our way down her degrdation and ultimate end in insanity.
Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko own Avatar.
"Why did you tell Father that I was the one who killed the Avatar?" My brother barged into my room, demanding answer in an insecure tone. It was eerily similar to the time I barged into his room, telling him Dad would kill him all those years ago. Funny how things took a turn for the opposite, as that was now it was him demanding things from me, even as he was at his highest point.
I shook my head, trying to get the sleep out of my eyes. I hadn't had a good night's rest in my royal chambers since I first left to bring Zuko and Uncle Iroh back. As expected, Dad branded Uncle a traitor and threw him in prison, and requested a meeting with Zuko to redeem his honour. Apparently, it wasn't good enough for Zuko, who raced in and disturb my sleep. Insisting it couldn't wait until morning, I got up to face him.
I got a good look at him in his military uniform. Even with all the glory, his fists were clenched and his body trembled tightly. "You seemed so worried about how Father would treat you because you haven't captured the Avatar," I replied, nonchalantly eyeing him up and down, "I figured if I gave you the credit, you'd have one less thing to worry about. Call it a generous gesture, as I wanted to thank you for your help." I shrugged, glancing at my fingers and hoping to get him out of my room.
That only got Zuko even more volcanic, as he alleged that I was lying. The dim lights reflected off the fume on his face as I wandered away, deflecting his accusations. "What could I possibly gain by letting you get all the glory for defeating the Avatar? Unless, somehow, the Avatar was actually alive," I leaned into his face with a sneer.
Suddenly, the room grew deathly silent as Zuko's body twitched. I could catch his head dip ever so slightly as I made the remark. "All that glory would suddenly turn to shame and foolishness," I continued, marching back to my bed, "but you said yourself, the Avatar surviving the attack was impossible." I cocked an eyebrow at Zuko just as his eyebrows curled to impossible shapes. Smirking, I dismissed the now-hesitant Zuko out of my room. "Sleep well, Zuzu," I taunted as he marched out my door.
As Zuko's shadow disappeared, I could only grin at the latest ingenious move. Right now, Zuko was all comfortable and enjoying his life back home, with Mai being his girlfriend and all the senior members of the Fire Nation military command chain giving him their utmost respect. But I had some doubts that the Avatar was truly slain in Ba Sing Se. Even as I shot him through with lightning, there was a chance that he might have survived. After all, some of our troops from the Siege of the North told me water benders had healing powers, so it was possible that the Avatar might not have died.
And it was due to this insecurity that I had to get Zuko involved. I was never a fan of people or events that didn't go my way, so if it couldn't be rectified immediately then I would find some contingency measure to help me keep my status. The perfect way here was to declare Zuko the Avatar slayer and taking the blame off of me should the Avatar be alive. After all, Father trusted me over Zuko, so even if I ever got in trouble for it, I'd say Zuko told me about the Avatar's death, and I merely received it by word of mouth.
As I turned to a more comfortable position, it also made me realize how powerful I was in the Fire Nation hierarchy. My words were so strong they could even convince the Fire Lord himself, letting me control anyone and do anything I pleased. Nobody could influence Father more than me, and I was the only one Father would listen to. With everything going through me, I could keep tabs on everyone, and severely punish those who refused to obey. With that happy thought in mind, I slowly drifted off to sleep.
By the time morning seeped through my blinds, my body was entirely refreshed. Even as I entering the dining hall for breakfast, I felt like all the attention was on me. I felt it was rightly so, given the fact that all these people were staring at a war hero here. As I took a seat, I asked the nearest servant, "Where's Zuko?"
The maid bowed and responded that Zuko was off to see Mai, and the two would be going on a picnic together. I could only nod thoughtfully as I pondered the outcomes of this pairing. While it did make them happier, Zuko and Mai together might put me in a slightly disadvantageous position. Knowing how strongly Zuko bonded with people, they might drift away from my sphere of influence, making them harder to contain. What's more, Zuko's bonds might return him to Uncle Iroh, perhaps visiting him in prison, and who knew what could be said between the two? Either way, I must keep an eye on them.
I climbed to the outskirts of the capital, near the rim of the caldera of this large extinct volcano, surrounded by rocks and mountains on every side. The tops of these peaks were usually a gathering spot for romantics to observe the sun, and apparently Zuko and Mai were among them. Just as the two lovebirds kissed, using language sappy enough to make me puke, I crashed their party. "Zuko, can I have a word with you?"
Zuko grimaced, not appreciating my presence. "Can't you see we're busy?" he rudely retorted, turning back to kiss Mai and completely ignoring me. The two were so focused on each other that I didn't matter to them anymore, even though I was the one and only reason they were branded as heroes when they returned from Ba Sing Se.
But like any good strategist, I had other options. Turning to Mai, I told her that Ty Lee required her assistance, effectively neutralizing the usually emotionless girl from the equation. Ty Lee and Mai were always my lackeys, and whenever I requested one to do something, there would be no defiance. As Mai wandered off, I had my brother all to myself. "So, I hear you've been visiting Uncle Fatso at the prison tower?" I asked. It was no good to get direct answers, so why not bait the hook and let Zuko bite it?
And just like old times, Zuko fell for it, hook line and sinker. Roaring that the prison guard betrayed him by telling me, I simply mocked him by retorting, "No, you just did." I savoured every moment of this victory as Zuko slumped back down, sitting on the ground with his back hunched and his head dropped between his knees. Just as I had predicted, Zuko and Mai were strong as a pair, but were weak separately.
Crossing my arms, I insisted that I wasn't here to make further demands of Zuko, stating that I wanted nothing from him. "Believe it or not, I'm looking out for you. If people find out you've been to see Uncle, they'll think you're plotting with him. Just be careful, dumb-dumb!" I warned him, hoping to sway his mind.
Zuko didn't speak, but looking at his glum expression, I knew I got through to him. As long as Zuko doubted his relationship with Uncle Iroh, he would be kept in check. Personally, I felt strong bonds only hindered progress, as before every action Zuko would have to see if Uncle approved. Why couldn't things be like what Dad and I did, where we knew what to do and didn't hesitate in getting it done, regardless of the means? No matter what, I decided that it was best to keep Zuko guessing. As long as he had one strand of thought on Uncle, it would jeopardize the entire operation. With that in mind, I left Zuko alone and returned to the palace, hoping to sort more of these details out.
"Okay, okay, calm down. I didn't mean what I said," I tried to reassure Ty Lee, who was on the verge of tears right now. It had been weeks since I last spoken with Zuko regarding Uncle Iroh, and now our father had other plans in mind. Realizing that it was the perfect time to proceed with the final stages of our war, he decided to meet with his closest advisors, and sent Zuko and me on a vacation to Ember Island with Mai and Ty Lee. While we were on the beach we met a couple of guys claiming to be children of Fire Nation nobles, and they invited the four of us to their party.
And that was where we found ourselves, loitering around the dining hall of this large beach house. People wandered back and forth, chatting with each other and grabbed food, with most in short-sleeved clothing and shorts. In an attempt to see how the world truly viewed us, I chose not to reveal my royal status, relegating myself to the role of an observer while Ty Lee had her flirtation mode on in full blast. And I had to admit, she was doing a much better job at getting attention than I did. That was why when she came to me stating that the boys clung to her, I had to tell her that they didn't really like her.
Apparently, that hit Ty Lee a tad too hard, causing her to pretty much burst into tears. Normally I would laugh at how weak Ty Lee was under her preppy exterior, but I had to admit I was intrigued by how Ty Lee did it. Ty Lee got the boys to flock to her almost effortlessly, and perhaps I was a bit envious at all the attention she got. "Maybe I said it because I was a little jealous," I explained, whispering the very last word.
The sad expression on Ty Lee's face was wiped off completely, her formerly scrunched up face replaced with her jaw hitting the wooden floor below. "What? You're jealous of me? But you're the most beautiful, smartest, most perfect girl in the world!" She responded incredulously, her arms waving up and down.
I was glad she pointed out all my traits, as everybody should, but that wasn't what I sought. "For some reason, when I meet boys, they act as if I'm going to do something horrible to them." I described, turning around and gazing at all the males in the room. I tried several times to start a conversation with the boy that invited us here, a teenager around my age by the name of Chan. It was to no avail, as he either didn't understand me or he didn't care. What was wrong with complimenting his sharp outfit by saying it could puncture the hull of an Empire class Fire Nation battleship?
Ty Lee smiled and shook her head. "If you want a boy to like you, just look at him, smile at him a lot, and laugh at everything he says, even if it's not funny," she instructed me. At first, I thought it was shallow and stupid, but if it meant breaking out of my usual mould and actually meeting someone new, then it was worth a try.
After a quick practice run with Ty Lee, I was ready to delve into the issue of talking with boys again. Locating Chan, I requested a tour of his parents' house, cutting short his chat with another girl. Placing my drink on the girl's head, I wandered off with my host, listening to his every word and stretching a grin so far across my face that I felt my cheeks would rip. In fact, I was surprised that I managed to get to the balcony alive.
We leaned on the railing, away from the stuffy party and loud people. There was nothing but night sky, the sandy beach, and waves gently splashing ahead of us. For a moment, the scene truly made me forget my role as a royal, and allowed me to integrate with those below my status. Most of the time, anything less than putting these inferior folks in their place would be the norm, but given what Ty Lee had said, maybe I should try enjoying it instead? After all, there were no boys of royal descent that I could speak with on a regular basis, so perhaps being second best would do.
Looking to my right, I saw Chan casually lean his back against the rail. "Is this your first time on Ember Island?" he asked, "It's a great place, if you like sand!"
Believe it or not, I actually found myself laughing to his joke. It wasn't just because I was taking Ty Lee's advice; rather, I actually found Chan a funny guy. I was giggling along to his every attempt to poke fun at the environment, almost like he was advertising how sandy this place was. "Welcome to Sandy Land!" He declared.
By the time he was done, we were both roaring in laughter as I tried not to split my sides open. As I glanced at the boy right next to me, I truly felt what Ty Lee was talking about. It wasn't about being royalty, it was about enjoying the company here. My eyes fell to his sleeveless shirt, revealing the chiselled limb before me. "Your arm looks so strong," I commented, my mind in a semi-trance as the smiling face came closer.
Before long, I found myself kissing the boy. What was considered taboo by my usual routine suddenly felt very normal, as I didn't feel the need to reject Chan. It was like my lips were attracted to his, letting our faces meld into one as we held onto each other. My face was flushed, the warm from the kiss lingering even as he pulled away from me. Still with his goofy grin, Chan responded to my compliment. "You're pretty."
Realizing the mutual attraction, I decided to take it a step further. "We will be the strongest couple in the entire world. We will dominate the earth!" I shouted, lighting two blue flames from my hands. Nothing was going to stop us now.
But that seemed to have the opposite effect on Chan, who shivered slightly and slowly scooted away. I could only fume as the boy sneaked back into the house and once again immersed himself within the crowd. "Coward," I fumed. Still, being around him was fun, and I truly hoped, after the war was over and we slaughtered all those Earth Kingdom pigs, I could return here with Chan and toast our great nation's victories.
By the time I returned to the party, it was sheer pandemonium. Any thought I still had on the romantic moment with Chan was shattered as Zuko was unceremoniously tossed from the party. As my brother slammed the door on his way out, I could see Chan in the middle of the room, trying to control his seething anger as a pile of debris were at his feet. My eyes tilted around, catching Mai fuming with her arms crossed while Ty Lee looking nervous. "What happened?" I asked my acrobatic friend.
Ty Lee quickly filled me in, claiming that Zuko erupted at a guest who knocked over his food, which he fetched for Mai. Then, when he saw Ruon-Jian, Chan's friend, speaking with Mai, Zuko immediately confronted him and threw him across the room. Ruon-Jian ended up landing on a vase belonging to Chan's grandmother, causing Chan to throw Zuko out of the party. Sensing tempers flaring between Mai and Zuko, I decided that we would leave as well. "It's time that the three of us had a chat with my brother."
While Ty Lee and Mai gathered at a secluded location at the beach, I went to fetch Zuko. In my mind, there was only one place that he would be: our family beach house, which we hadn't stayed in for years. The stench of years of unclean materials locked away inside shot through my nose as I made out Zuko's figure standing there, holding some small trinket. Why was it not surprising that my brother was so nostalgic? "Come down to the beach with me," I suggested, "come on, this place is depressing."
I took Zuko to where Ty Lee and Mai were. Zuko tried to greet Mai, who responded by crossing her arms and whipping her head away. Ty Lee tried to changed the subject by claiming it was chilly in the most chipper voice possible, but it was evident the tension hadn't gone away. Even as Zuko quickly strolled back to the beach house and hauled out some old materials to be used as firewood, emotions were still flying high.
By now, I was back to my usual self, analyzing my counterparts and trying to gauge their every word. Ty Lee, as usual, had to be chipper and tried to start a talk with Zuko, who just hurled our last family portrait along with some other goods into a fire he created through fire bending. When Ty Lee asked if Zuko still cared about family, it only sent Zuko into a rage. "You don't know me, so why don't you mind your own business?" he ranted at the former circus performer, "You're stuck in your little Ty Lee world, where everything is great all the time. Circus freak!" He yelled, tearing a strip into Ty Lee.
My eyes then tilted to Ty Lee, who was usually quite docile. That was why, when she actually tried to defend herself, I was taken aback, but also quite amused. "I joined the circus because I was scared to spend the rest of my life as a matched set. At least I'm different now. Circus freak is a compliment!" She retorted, glaring at my brother.
I cocked an eyebrow, surprised that Ty Lee would actually take anything in a negative sense. But what became more amusing was when Mai intervened, claiming that it was Ty Lee's thirst for attention that drove her to act this way. "You couldn't get enough attention when you were a kid, so you try to make up for it now." She stated.
Hearing that remark, I was quite impressed by her observation skills. Mai was quite quiet in her childhood, which actually served well strategically. But just being observational wasn't enough, as one must take advantage of the knowledge one gained through observing. Given that Mai had no skills in expressing or advancing herself, it was evident that she too was a failure. "That's why you're afraid to care about anything, and why you can't express yourself," I told her, referring to her parents' controlling natures.
And again, my comment touched a nerve, as it was Mai's turn to blow up at someone. First, she railed at me for not leaving her alone, and then she turned her shots to Zuko, as she claimed she still hadn't forgiven him for his actions. "Don't touch me, I'm still mad at you. There's no excuse for the way you've been acting." Mai snapped.
Now it was Zuko's turn to rant about the wrongs in his life. It was so predictable as he described how Father burned him in the face and banished him, forcing him through so much turmoil and hardship. But then, when it came to describe his return to the Fire Nation, he dropped a minor bombshell on us. "I should be happy for returning, but I'm not! I'm angrier than ever and I don't know why," he declared, his fists clenched.
Pursing my lips, I was determined to find out more about this. I still needed my brother for future plans, and the last thing that should happen was to turn him into a loose cannon. "Who are you angry at?" I demanded, casting a suspicious eye at him.
Surprisingly, Zuko became more and more flustered, not knowing what he felt or why he felt that way. Even as Mai, Ty Lee and I listed off name after name, there was no sure answer from him. Finally, just when his body seemed like it was about to explode, he slammed his fists down and cried to the skies, "I'm angry at myself!"
The large burst of flame ignited our fire to incredible heights, the heat scorching the entire area. Zuko could only hunch his back and face the sea, his body conceding to his own confusion as the fire simmered to nothing. "I'm not sure I know the different between right and wrong anymore," he muttered, his head shaking helplessly.
There was complete silence as I pondered those words. For some strange reason, the combination of Zuko's line and the party before where Chan and I kissed brought back a little-considered memory, one of my mother. While it was no secret that Dad was favouring me, it was just as obvious that Mom had favoured Zuko. Many times, during my taunts at Zuko, Mom would come up to chide me. But never in my mind did I imagine her true thoughts when one day, she said the unthinkable. "You're a monster."
My thought was cut short when Zuko and Mai made up, and in turn taunted me for being overly perfect. As usual, I had to assert the obvious, but somewhere in my mind that line just refused to go away. True, I hadn't been the perfect child in my mother's eyes, and I had done some things that she disapproved, so why did she have to go out of her way to make that statement? Moreover, why was it that, even as I tried to push on with my life, using all the skills I picked up from Dad and making it to a position of power, this line still haunted me? Was it true that my superiority actually showed a flaw of sorts? Why did it have to be that some things could never go my way?
I quickly shook the thought out of my head as I faced the group. "Know what would make this trip really memorable?" I asked, rubbing my hands in glee. I wasn't too impressed that Chan, my so-called boyfriend, threw us out of the party, and it was fine time that I showed him some manners. Since he trashed my royalty status, I was going to get even by trashing his house. "Let's go, my friends." I exclaimed, pointing at the house.
As I climbed the stairs to Chan's place, my mother's image slowly disappeared from my mind. I wasn't about to let that hassling woman be a factor in future decisions. I had a war to plan, and any signs of weakness, embodied so visibly by her, must be taken out. Once vacation was over, it was time to get extra tough on our enemies.
"So you're alive after all. But it doesn't matter, I've known about the invasion for months." I sneered at the three figures before me. It was truly odd that I was here in an underground bunker during a solar eclipse, facing a person many thought was dead. But nonetheless, here was the Avatar, alive and well, invading the Fire Nation with his two friends, his earth bending teacher Toph, and the Water Tribe warrior Sokka. They lost to me once before in that deserted town, now they believed they could take me on again?
As I stared down my foes standing down between two aisles of pillars, I realized that I had their water bending friend Katara to thank. Had it not been for her thinking that I was a Kyoshi Warrior and revealing this plan to me, I would have never known about this sneak attack. Luckily, I warned Dad about it, and he immediately ordered a full-scale evacuation. With the exception of Zuko and I, and a legion of top guards, nobody was to know where the Fire Lord was. Even War Minister Qin, our closest advisor, was told that he would be in this chamber where I stood. And apparently, the Avatar's group bought this story, and found themselves face to face with me. "Where's the Fire Lord?" our bald friend demanded, his voice laced with anxiety as it echoed off the walls.
I rolled my eyes. I knew that during a solar eclipse, fire bending would be useless, so the best I could do for now was to stall for time. "You mean I'm not good enough for you? You're hurting my feelings," I stated, gesturing melodramatically at the threesome.
Sokka, to the Avatar's right, brandished his black sword, claiming that I was in no position to bargain thanks to the eclipse. To the Avatar's other side, the earth bender Toph, in her awkward hat, demanded no lies from me, as she claimed she could detect a liar. Cocking an eyebrow, it was time I settled the two in their places. "Are you sure?" I challenged her, testing her technique with my skills. "I'm a four hundred foot tall purple platypus bear with pink horns and silver wings." I stated nonchalantly.
I could see the earth bender's expression change from stubborn firmness to total defeat. Her entire body deflated as she conceded her point. "Okay, you're good, I admit it." What a fool, thinking she could outsmart me. Didn't she know that I was an expert at this, given my years of having to deal with those challenging my power?
Brushing myself off, I merely snapped my fingers. "When I was at Ba Sing Se, I brought home some souvenirs: Dai Li agents." Just as I concluded, two Dai Li members dropped from the rocky ceiling and to the ground. Looks of fear crossed my opponents' faces as they recognized the prospect of having to face the most elite earth benders.
Before long, the Avatar made the first move, sending a jet of air towards me. I barely flinched as the Dai Li created a wall of rock, blocking anything on the spot. Even as Aang leaped above the rocks while Toph blasted through with her own earth bending, I saw no need for alarm, as the main point right now was to bide for time. Somersaulting in the air just as the earth bending girl sent a line of rocks up my feet, I landed right back at the end of the room, sitting comfortably on my throne-like chair. Even without my fire bending, the Dai Li could handle everything by keeping the Avatar's group at bay.
But there was one slip-up by the Dai Li, as they couldn't match the Avatar for speed. Being an air bender, I recalled that they could increase their speed by manipulating the air around them. As his allies kept one agent at bay, Aang propelled himself towards me, slashing through the final rock barrier set up by the second Dai Li member and sending him to the ceiling with a pillar of his own. Soon, I was met with air slice after air slice, putting me on the defensive. "Why are these Dai Li agents so pathetic at keeping them at bay?" I muttered to myself, "Oh well, let's send them on a wild-goose chase."
I barely escaped as the Avatar sent a jet of air and totalled the chair completely. Racing down the rocky cavern, I weaved, dodged, and even did somersaults around each pillar, never going in a straight line as I aimed for the exit. I knew my fair share of evasive manoeuvres, and though fire bending rarely required me to use them, this was a perfect time to demonstrate them. Last battle, offence drove me to victory, as it left Uncle Iroh wounded and the others dazed and confused. This time, it would be defence leading the way, as I avoided all their attacks with the assistance of the Dai Li agents.
Just as I barged through into the rocky passages outside, the Water Tribe warrior held his friends back. "Don't you see what she's doing? She's just playing with us, she's not even trying to win this fight!" He exclaimed, grabbing onto Aang and Toph. Sokka placed a hand on Toph's shoulder, trying to calm her down as he suggested that his group ignored me. "We don't have a choice. We just have to get out of here and find the Fire Lord on our own somehow." With that, they turned to leave.
I smirked, somewhat impressed that they managed to figure out my strategy with time still left in their eclipse. But I was sure they would be no match for my ultimate weapon: mind games. "So, Sokka's your name, right? My favourite prisoner used to mention you all the time!" I declared, referring to the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors. Before she was taken to a high-security prison called Boiling Rock, I heard from some jail guards that she knew Sokka personally, so it was the perfect time to take advantage of this. "She was convinced you were going to come rescue her. Of course, you never came, and she gave up on you!" I finished with a flourish, realizing the reaction was imminent.
Within seconds, I was pinned to the wall, my hand which held a blade earlier now wrapped tightly onto the stones as Toph bound me to place. I could see Sokka's face, his cheeks clenched and hot breath hissing through his teeth. Tears threatened to spill from his eyes as he demanded through gritted teeth, "Where is Suki?"
I said nothing, merely grinning at him. The more time he wasted on me, the less time he had for the eclipse. Even if I were to escape with some cuts and bruises, all of which unlikely thanks to my contingency plan, it would all be worth it. The Fire Nation had developed a set of deadly weapons, and they were about to rain fire on the invasion team outside. I would like to see how our warrior boy reacted when he found out that it was their blood on his hands because he spent too much time on me. "Where is Suki? Answer me!" Sokka roared, his voice slicing into my ears, "Where are you keeping her?"
Again, my lips were pursed. Sokka's voice echoed down each hallway, his cries of anguish music to my ears as I counted down the time. Except for Aang and Toph's pleas to Sokka requesting he stopped, there was still no sound coming from both tunnels. Either way, I knew they were running out of time. I couldn't help but think about the glory for me when I not only thwarted the intruders, but it was my information that led to such a great defence of our capital city. Why couldn't Zuko learn something like that?
Speaking of Zuko, he had been behaving strangely for the last little while. Ever since we returned from Ember Island, he had been acting like he didn't really know what to do. The most interesting one was at the previous war meeting, his first since returning from exile. Father seated him close to the front, and even let him discuss his findings. When he told us of the Earth Kingdom's stubborn pride, Father and I decided that the best way to deal with it was to crush it at all costs. I was quite close to the front as well, so I caught a glimpse of Zuko's expression. It almost seemed like he was hesitant, perhaps even fearful, of Dad's suggestion to raze the Earth Kingdom to the ground. Had three years of exile with his tea-loving kookiness made Zuko go softer than a wet noodle?
A sizzling sound from down the hall alerted me to the presence of the sun. "Looks like fire bending is back on," I taunted. Within seconds, I placed a well-aimed kick right at Sokka, sending him off of me and sprawling to the ground. The earthen shackles were no match for my fiery blue flames, as I made quick work of them. Turning to the tunnel that would take me out of the bunker, I merely told him Dad's location. "I'm sure he would be more than happy to see you now." With that, I raced off for the exit.
I climbed out of the bunker just in time to see five huge airships take to the skies. In the past, our ancestors hadn't mastered the skies, giving some groups, especially the Air Nomads, some advantage. Now, it was all complete, as with land, sea, and air, the Fire Nation would reign supreme in the end. I managed to board a final airship before it lifted off, getting into the air just in time to see bombs sail through the skies. Watching the invasion force helplessly retreating, my body swelled with pride. With even the most ardent group of invaders surrendering, nothing could stop the Fire Nation now.
"This is a guard who has been involved in a feeble escape attempt," the warden told me, his head dipped to the ground while he rubbed his hands nervously. When I had heard that war prisoners and traitors were discovered in the Boiling Rock, the maximum security prison located on an island in the Fire Nation, I was determined to investigate firsthand. Knowing that the warden was also Mai's uncle, I decided to bring Mai and Ty Lee along. Besides, there was something here that Mai should probably see.
The seated suspect half-pleaded and half-ranted at me, insisting that he didn't plan the escape, all the while Mai's uncle tried to silence him. I crossed my arms and shifted my eyes between warden and suspect. The Fire Nation's prisons were to follow orders directly from the palace, meaning anyone disobeying would be subject to the Fire Lord's wrath. Knowing that order and obedience were so important, would this feeble guard, who probably got this job via overwhelming patronage and service, throw his career away like that, all because someone wanted to escape?
Looking back at Mai's uncle, who was even more pathetic than his brother, the governor at New Ozai, the former semi-autonomous Earth Kingdom state of Omashu, I told him to stop wasting his time. "That's not one of them," I concluded, turning around to leave the room. Waving to Ty Lee, I decided that we moved on.
The warden, still confused by my words, chased after me, asking how I would know so quickly. "Why? Because I'm a people person," I retorted, rolling my eyes and continuing my march forward. How hard was it to predict human nature? If you gave a person what they wanted, and threatened to take that away every time they didn't do as they were told, could they afford not to listen to you? With that in mind, there was only one way to do things. That was the Fire Lord's way, soon to be my way.
Speaking of that topic, I couldn't help but switch my mind to Zuko. After the eclipse, he defected from the Fire Nation and joined the Avatar. Mai found out about this firsthand when she picked up his letter at her bedroom as we exited the bunkers after the botched invasion. Mai came with us after hearing that Zuko was found in the Boiling Rock, and while I wasn't worried about my inferior brother's defection, I was concerned that his bonds to Uncle Iroh might cause him to do this. I realized Zuko still saw Uncle quite often, and I figured the kooky old fool must have said something to spark the move.
Before we could even reach the interrogation room where they kept Zuko, a nearby guard rushed up to us stating that a riot had occurred. We hurried to the nearest balcony and glanced out at the yard. The prisoners were located at the moment and sheer mayhem was taking place. I knew some idiot must have fallen for the escape group's trap. "This is eerily reminiscent of something the Avatar's group members would do," I muttered to Ty Lee, scanning the crowd for any suspicious or out-of-place individuals.
A red blur zipped through the crowd, climbing up the tower in acrobatic fashion. Her moves would put Ty Lee here to shame as she took out a couple of bumbling guards and snatched the warden on the other side of the balcony. "There's no way out for them other than the gondola," I pointed at the wires leading to the cliff, "let's go, Ty Lee."
By the time we hurried to the boarding station, the gondola already left, with the main handle bar of the controls snapped off to prevent the cab from being stopped. The guards around us, in their kowtows, should probably keep their heads down, as they should be ashamed for being so incompetent. Time for them to watch pros at work.
Snatching a pair of handcuffs from a nearby guard, I rushed to the edge, leaping into the air. Using fire bending from my feet as a propellant, I shot to the overhead wire of the gondola. Above me, Ty Lee already scaled the wire, and was using her acrobatic skills to run to the lumbering cab. Realizing the speed advantage, I clamped the handcuffs tightly onto the wire and unleashed a huge blast of flames behind me. The view around me was a blur as I hurtled to the gondola, my prey right in my line of sight.
I was met with the resistors as Ty Lee and I landed on the cab. Zuko, Sokka, and Suki, leader of the Kyoshi Warriors, climbed out from the bottom to face me. Ty Lee had Suki all to herself, leaving me with my treacherous brother and the Water warrior. Not a single person moved as we stared each other down, the hot and humid atmosphere and the windless environment making me more uncomfortable. Still, the elements were only part of the battle, as there were other ways to finish off these inferior fools.
Taking the initiative, I started with a wide sweep kick, aiming my flames low to knock them off balance. With the dangling gondola above boiling water, anyone falling off would be cooked alive. As the fire raced towards them, Zuko got in front, splitting it down the middle with a knife of orange. For Zuko to increase his skill level this quickly, not only avoiding, but breaking apart my fire, I found that surprising.
I unleashed more shots at Zuko and Sokka, but it was getting more difficult than I anticipated. The two moved as one, often alternating positions and never letting one shot hit. Zuko brushed my every shot aside, putting me back on the defensive as Sokka pulled out his sword and took a swing at me. Every punch I sent out was the same result, with a ball of orange fired my way followed by a swing of black blade. My mind was getting a bit flustered. Why could I not land a single hit, especially against two inferior foes?
Just then, my momentary lapse in judgment nearly made me pay a price, as the tip of Sokka's sword dangerously passed by my face. As I reeled back to avoid the hit, Zuko unleashed another series of fire bombs, throwing me back completely. I could feel myself in freefall as my body hurtled off the cab, my arms reaching for the edge. Should I slip up here, I would be thrown into the volcano crater for sure.
But as much as they fought a tag-team battle, they forgot their foe was the most skilled fire bender in the world. My hands clutched onto the railing at the last second, my arms straining as I balanced the weight of my whole body sticking out horizontally from the cab. Gritting my teeth, I felt my hatred for them increasing evermore as they taunted my position. As long as I was around, nobody could get away making a mockery out of me. Curling my legs, I swung them underneath and kicked them forward, sending the largest blast yet. It shook the entire cab, swinging and tilting the gondola even more. If I wasn't going to prevent an escape, then I wasn't going to make it easy for them either.
Before anyone could make another move, the gondola lurched violently, almost like it would tear off from the wires above. We all halted our battles and teetered gingerly on the roof, looking around frantically as we tried to figure out what was going on. I turned around to look back at the tower, watching the guards as they struggled to hold the gondola's movements. Ty Lee, meanwhile, hopped onto the top wire again. Just like me, she saw the team bring out a huge saw. "They're about to cut the line!" She exclaimed.
I glanced around nervously, as I realized there was no escape route for Ty Lee and me. Suddenly, an idea came to mind, as there was a parallel set of wires for the gondola to come down. And as luck would have it, the other gondola was on its way down. I took one last look at our gondola, with Zuko trying to save Sokka from falling while Suki looked on in confusion, and decided to let the guards present them with the inevitable. "Then it's time to leave," I declared, jet-blasting off the cab with my feet.
Ty Lee followed suit, somersaulting away from the doomed gondola and landing with me on the roof of the one returning to the Boiling Rock. I looked on in pride as my plan succeeded, eliminating a traitor and three very dangerous invaders all at once. Was there even a thought in their minds that they could escape here? Sure, Mai's uncle would lose his life as well, but it was a small sacrifice for the greater good of the country. In my mind, he should be proud that he would die a hero's death, considering how this escape plan was hatched while the prison was under his watch.
Then, as suddenly as the gondola stopped moving, it went on its way again, taking the prisoners further away from the Boiling Rock. I could only look on in shock as the one allowing the escape was none other than Mai, who sent a flurry of blades out from her and pinned all the guards, preventing anyone from approaching the machine. "What is she doing?" I hissed through clenched teeth.
Mai continued on for a couple more minutes before she was blindsided from the back, a guard quickly pouncing on her and ripping the projectiles from her arms. As my former friend was pinned, a millions thoughts raged through my head. Since when did Mai started acting like Zuko and disobeyed the orders? Did she not know of the results if she continued this act? After all I had provided for her and her family, letting them be the new Fire Nation colony's governor, was this an appropriate way to pay me back?
Hopping off the cab, I marched up to the nobleman's daughter, a fume etched on my face. I dismissed the guards and scanned Mai up and down. Standing alone before me, she was surprisingly defiant, her back straight and her eyes staring right at me. It only made my blood boil, even harder than the waters that I nearly fell into earlier. "I never expected this from you," I spat. While I wanted to tear Mai apart, I was also curious to know her reasoning. "Why would you do it? You know the consequences!"
I could see Mai swallow hard, but her words spoke volumes. "I guess you just don't know people as well as you think you do," she responded, her tone monotonous as usual, "you miscalculated. I love Zuko more than I fear you." She concluded.
A million fire bombs slammed into me at once. All the years I spent reaching to her, influencing her family, and downright ordering her to do my bidding, never in my life did I believe it would fall flat. And of all people she swapped me for, it was for my idiot brother? "No, you miscalculated! You should have feared me more!" I roared. I got into my lightning bending stance, ready to hurl a bolt through her. Mai was no different than the enemy, and the only punishment suitable for her now was death by electrocution.
But no lightning shot out of my hands. In fact, I couldn't move my body at all, as a series of jabs to various parts paralyzed me completely. I fell to the ground in a heap, my face and morale never been lower as Ty Lee stood above me. I thought one friend betraying me wasn't enough, but now a second one ditched me as well? Hadn't Ty Lee forgotten that I was the one who pulled her from obscurity in the circus, allowed her to join my quest to capture the Avatar and Zuko, and made her a war hero? What goal was she trying to serve by siding with Mai? "You're both fools!" I hissed just as guards came to apprehend the twosome before they escaped as well.
As guards lifted me to my feet, I stared hatefully at the two girls. Even those that I trust the most turned on me, all for some friendship with traitors. What was so important about these bonds? The only person they ought to bond with was one that was superior to them, offering them a higher position in life, and gave them titles and honour. "Take them somewhere I'll never have to see their faces again," I ordered, "and let them rot!"
The guards all bowed to me and took them away, leaving me to seethe in my anger. As of today, I was convinced that not a single soul could be trusted, and the one that I had to destroy was Zuko. He was the sole reason why my life was ruined, and he turned my friends against me. Should I ever find him, he wouldn't be spared.
"What am I holding?" I demanded, waving the small, hard, round object before my maid's face. It was the day in which Sozin's comet would be closest to our world, and my father had taken the initiative to carry out the final phase of his plan. Amassing a fleet of elite airships, he planned to use enhanced fire bending to raze the Earth Kingdom, and proclaiming himself the Phoenix Lord, ruler of the entire world.
But while he became supreme ruler, there must still be someone to take care of the Fire Nation throne, and his choice couldn't be better: me. And that was where I found myself, seated at the dressing room where maids scrubbed my feet, combed my hair, and prepared me for coronation. While I did request for a plate of cherries, I never realized that there would be someone bold enough to imbed this object inside the fruit. As I glared at the servant, she meekly replied, "A cherry pit."
"So please, tell me why, on the most important day of my life, you've decided to lump it in my cherry?" I retorted, flinging the object into her face, "Do you realize what would have happened if I didn't sense the pit in time?" Being the new Fire Lord, I was none too pleased that there would be attempts on my life already. That was why, in my opinion, nobody could be trusted, not until Dad returned.
The pathetic girl got to her knees and begged for forgiveness, hoping that I would let her go. In my mind, this ridiculous scene just got sorrier, especially when she thought about who she was in the hierarchy ladder. Would someone like her really make a good leader of the Fire Nation, even if I choked on the pit? Rolling my eyes, I dismissed the maid, declaring that she would be banished. It wasn't so much a generous gesture, but a way to get this idiot out of my face. As she backed out of the room, her head rightfully bowed in shame, I ordered the others back to work. "I won't have my first day as Fire Lord marred by poor foot hygiene." I commanded, wiggling my toes in emphasis.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, these morons were finally done. I swore nobody was reliable nowadays. As I marched to the throne room, waiting for the Fire Sages to call me up, a cocktail of thought swirled in my head. I had no idea what the Avatar's group was up to, or where Zuko was now. I pursued him to the Western Air Temple, and ordered the airship fleet to blow the place to bits. But instead of turning tail like the little coward that he was, he charged out to battle me in between two airships.
And by some stroke of luck, he managed to survive, breaking his fall when the Avatar's Sky Bison caught him. Seriously, if ludicrous people like the Avatar could be more reliable than my own servants, what did that tell me? For starters, it showed me the palace staff could not be trusted. But also, it meant Zuko had gained the upper hand, to the point where he could manipulate those around him to help him gain power. It stunned me as to how someone that sentimental and mushy could do anything effectively.
I plopped down on the throne, taking a good look at my surroundings. It was dark all over, with the flames barely flickering before me. In one shot, I changed the colour to blue, just to better suit my style. Despite being ready for coronation, I still didn't feel so comfortable, as I wondered who or what would jump out from where to attack me. In the height of this unease, I decided to call in the Dai Li, hoping they could provide help.
As I waited for the elite earth bending team to arrive, I counted down the time in the completely silent room. Personally, I knew how powerful and stealthy some assassins were, as they could creep up on me without any sound, and finishing their killing mission without leaving a trace of evidence. The Dai Li had that type of style, correct? They should know the risks of such a possibility, right? So what in the world was taking them so long to get here?
"You sent for us, Princess? Is everything alright?" The team leader's thick voice sliced through my thoughts. I looked up just in time to see the robed individuals kneeling on the ground before me. Just the thought of their tardiness made my blood boil.
"Everything is not alright. Do you know how long it took to get here?" I met their greeting with a rant of my own, "Five minutes, to be precise, in which time an assassin could have sneaked in, done away with me, and been on his merry way. Is this how you plan to treat your new Fire Lord?" I added, the flames around me starting to heat up. For their insolence, I already had punishments in mind for the entire team.
The team lead tried to reassure me, insisting that his team would never betray me. But of course, I heard that song and dance before. "And I'm sure that's just what you told Long Feng before you turned against him and joined me." I hissed. Knowing how easy it was for people even as tough as the Dai Li to switch allegiances, I had no choice but to remove them from the palace. "You're all banished!" I roared, pointing at the door.
The Dai Li soon made their way out, their tails between the legs as I fumed in anger. Nobody around here was trustworthy anymore, as they were all looking out for themselves. Even when Lo and Li, my family's most loyal and closest advisors, and my hosts during the Ember Island vacation, couldn't get me to change my mind, as they insisted that I postponed the coronation. Deciding that they too were a threat, as they probably planned to use the delay to plot against me, I banished them too. "I'm going to my room. Don't anyone of you dare to do anything funny." I warned.
I finally returned to my chamber, locking the door behind me after entering. It was the one place I could still call my sanctuary, as nobody could really do anything in my private quarters. Plopping down before the mirror, I picked up a comb and tugged at my hair, hoping to make the final touches before I ascended the throne. It felt so good getting those knots out of my hair, as I recalled the times that this happened when I was young, especially when my mother was the one hurrying us to another important meeting. Placing down the comb, I grabbed the band to tie up my hair for the final time.
But for some reason, my front bangs kept falling down, no matter how I shifted them. "Oh, so even you're disobeying me?" I roared. Grabbing a pair of scissors, I aimed them at the confounding locks and clamped down. "It's time to face your doom!" With that, I sliced into the dark strands, cutting them down and hurling them to the ground.
As I glanced into the mirror, seeing the slightly messy but nonetheless shortened strands, a voice I thought I would never hear again appeared. "What a shame. You've always had such beautiful hair." My mother's voice echoed through the chamber.
I couldn't help but be taken aback. The door was locked, and nobody was allowed into the palace while the Phoenix Lord was out, so how did she get in here? Besides, she was supposed to be gone now, wasn't she? Gathering all my strength, I demanded, "What are you doing here?" I glared at the mirror, which showed so clearly her reflection.
Undaunted, my mother continued to speak in her soothing, almost hypnotic voice, stating that she didn't want to miss my coronation. For a while, I truly felt happy, as the one person who never accepted me decided to come at my moment of glory. But how did I know she wasn't here to manipulate me herself? Maybe she was here to sweet-talk me to submission. "Don't pretend to act proud," I spat, "I know what you really think of me. You think I'm a monster." I turned my head to the side, refusing to look at her.
But that didn't stop my fussbudget mother, who stated that I was merely confused throughout my life. "You've used fear to control people," she lectured, reminding me of all the times she defended Zuko, "like your friends Mai and Ty Lee."
Zuko. Just the thought of this individual made me nauseated. Of all the times his biggest cheerleader had to show up, it had to be now. And for her to bring up Mai and Ty Lee, the two traitors, this was unacceptable. I didn't make a mistake, as it was the rest of the world that was mistaken. Feeling my heart rate increase, I rejected her every word. "Trust is for fools! Fear is the only reliable way. Even you fear me!" After all, that was why she uttered that I was a monster, right? Even my own mother feared me.
But instead of cowering and submitting to me, the shameless woman had to be all sweet. "I love you, Azula. I really do." She stated, fake-sincerity laced in her tone.
That was the end of the line, as I couldn't take it anymore. How could she not fear me? Was it because she felt she was superior? Or was it because I really was a monster? I was proud of who I was, but apparently that wasn't good enough in Mother's eyes. In pure frustration, I grabbed the brush and hurled it at the mirror, shattering it into a million pieces. The sooner I got my mother's face out of my head, the better.
But it did no good, as I was soon overcome with emotion. My tears involuntarily fell, dripping down both cheeks and splattering the carpet below. Was she right that all the years when I had Father's attention, I merely gained ground by being on his coattails, and that I never truly earned trust and respect? I was royalty, meaning I had the divine right to rule, so why was there an empty hole in my heart? Would there be people to see my coronation, and be proud of my new role? Still sobbing, I headed for the main square. While I was about to become Fire Lord, right now I felt like I was anything but one.
"You want to be Fire Lord? Fine, let's settle this. Just you and me, Brother," I told Zuko as he climbed off the Avatar's Sky Bison and stood defiantly before me. Everything went as planned, and I met up with the Fire Sages in the usual open area where past coronations had traditionally taken place. I got onto my knees while the lead sage recited the ancient coronation chant, ready to bestow the title of Fire Lord on me.
But what did we know? My obnoxious brother, who thwarted my every attempt to control him, and even made a mockery out of me back at the Western Air Temple, had to return and declared that he was the rightful heir to the throne. In a usual situation, this would be correct, but it was no ordinary time. With Father still on the battlefield, only a competent and gifted individual could lead the Fire Nation. When one compared me to Zuko, need one even think about who would win? Besides, Zuko was a traitor and an escaped fugitive, and those things alone negated whatever qualifications he had to be a true Fire Lord. He wanted to challenge for the throne? What a joke.
"It'll be the showdown that was always meant to be," I continued, staring down at him. Apparently, he struck a pretty good relationship with that Water Tribe girl Katara, as she accompanied him on this trip. But even with them both, I could take on them with no problem. After all, everybody feared me, since I had all the divine right in the world. "I challenge you to an Agni Kai, and the winner will be the new Fire Lord!"
But Zuko remained unfazed, claiming that he would accept my challenge. I could only snicker at him, wondering if he would get another burn on his face. Now that I took out my pathetic mother, he had no one to turn to should he lose. Did he truly expect that Katara to console him when I send a bolt of lightning through him? Water Tribe scum like her would never stay loyal, let alone see him through to the end.
Marching to one end of the large square, I removed my royal cloak, leaving me in my usual Fire Nation military uniform. "I'm sorry it had to end this way, Brother." I sent the first verbal jab at Zuko. In my mind, this was probably the angriest I had been, thanks to the presence of this despicable individual. Then again, I knew anger could strengthen fire bending, which would only work to my advantage. And with Sozin's Comet zinging past our skies, this match had already been decided. I looked across the square at Zuko, getting into a stance eerily similar to the one he demonstrated before Grandfather Azulon. He fell flat on his rear end that time, and I would make sure he fell even harder here.
Swinging my arms around, I gathered up my flames and hurled them at Zuko. The comet's powers surged through me as I felt fire that lit hotter, brighter, and fierier than ever before. Through the blue wall, I could see Zuko summon his own flames, meeting my attack with his orange line. The two blasts met each other in the middle, creating an atmosphere rivalling any summer day in the Fire Nation. Even though I knew I had the superior skill, I couldn't help but feel that Zuko had the upper hand here. It was like he was matching my every move, making it very difficult for me to penetrate through. "How is he doing it? He had never been this good before." I muttered to myself.
I unleashed a series of kicks, whipping out the fire in pure frustration. Zuko was way too calm here; instead of cowering and fearing my better skills, he was fighting back with equal ferocity. It was almost like my mother was correct, in the sense that Zuko was one who never stopped fighting. "How could she be right? She was never right about anything. That's why she's no longer here and Dad is. So how can she be right?" I hissed, flailing my legs nonstop as blue fire emitted into every direction Zuko might be at.
For some strange reason, Zuko was still standing, batting down and slapping away my every shot. It didn't matter that the field was totally scorched, or that buildings near us were on fire. All that mattered to me was to defeat Zuko, and everything he stood for right now. Mother, the Avatar's group, Uncle Iroh, everyone that Zuko had befriended was undermining me in some way. Even with all the power in the world, even with such superior bending arsenal, they still refused to submit to me and did things my way. I unleashed the largest jet of flames yet, towering over our heights as it rushed to Zuko.
The flames soon lost its momentum as a wall of orange slid past me, giving my defenceless side a slight scorching as it hurled past. There was no way that Zuko could have brushed down my flames with that much ease, returned a shot of his own, and made me lose momentum all at once. I was near hyperventilation as possibilities rushed past my head. I couldn't possibly lose to my brother, as Dad didn't choose me as his heir for nothing. With my anger on full, I unleashed a two-legged jet blast at Zuko.
And to my horror, not only did he block it perfectly, he shot his own blast back at me, with a twisting double fire bomb drilling through the air. I jumped out of the way just in time, completely miscalculating its speed and ferocity. This was a miscalculation that I couldn't have possibly made, so how had Zuko become this strong? Using my blue jets again, I propelled myself towards Zuko, hoping for a closer short-range battle. I still had agility on my side, so if I could run circle around him, maybe it would confuse him.
But I barely got two laps around him before I was rudely cut down, my body doing several rolls before slamming to the ground. Zuko's flames hitting me reminded me of how Dad scarred Zuko's face, as the fire crashed into his body and sent Zuko spinning off the battlefield. As I struggled to my feet, Zuko had the nerve to taunt me some more. "No lightning today? Afraid I'll redirect it?" He sneered.
His taunting had gone too far, and now I would give him the ultimate punishment. "I'll show you lightning!" I roared, feeling the sizzle through my fingers again. I could see Zuko stand straight, turning his right side towards me while stretching out his arms. I knew with the stance, he wasn't afraid of getting hit, meaning my last weapon would probably be ineffective. Glancing around, I suddenly caught glimpse of a figure in blue seated at the edge of the arena, and realized my luck hadn't run out after all.
Tilting slightly, I aimed the shot right at Katara, who was in no position to defend herself. As the lightning snaked its way to her, in almost slow motion Zuko leaped into the scene, stretching out his left hand and absorbing my hit. My face scrunched up in total agony as my brother took in my shot, hurling his body through the air and sending it into the red skies. My final weapon was lost, and even as Zuko convulsed violently on the ground, I knew my objective of truly beating my foe could never be met.
But it no longer mattered, as I was intent to bring them all down. Laughing manically, I shot blast after blast at Katara, preventing her from approaching Zuko. It was either she died from my fire first, or Zuko died from his wounds first. Not surprising at all, the Water Tribe lowlife turned tail and ran, which only made me more determined to pursue. As the lowly peasant hid behind a pillar, I unleashed flame after flame, all the while taunting my brother. "Zuzu, you don't look so good," I referred to the lack of help from Katara. What did I say? Zuko couldn't install fear into her, and she turned on him.
The lowlife water bender thought she could get past me by drenching the roof of each building with water, hoping to flush me out. But I knew better than that, as I already jetted off and positioned myself behind her. With flames and lightning blazing, I sent the coward on a chase around the square, with only a trail of frozen water manipulated out of a nearby sewer being the only sign of Katara as she skidded around desperately. I was throwing a wall of flame at her, so there would be no escape. Since she was part of the group that turned my world into ruin, now she would experience the same.
"There you are, you filthy peasant." I roared as I landed before her. Katara was at the edge of another sewer, an appropriate place to dispose of her body once I was done with her. Getting into a lightning bending pose again, I lunged at her, ready to slice her through with the electricity. So long, you disgusting maggot, I thought.
But I couldn't make a move at all, as Katara pulled up a water dome, covering both our bodies in liquid. My eyes rolled around in confusion as the surroundings became cold, with Katara encasing me in ice. While I remained frozen and powerless, Katara managed to snake around me and wrap something around my hands. I couldn't do a thing as she pulled me down to the ground, my feeling of helplessness growing by the second as I heard several clicks. Whatever she was doing, I knew it would end the battle.
In one smooth motion, Katara lowered the water, leaving me chained onto a manhole with my hands immobile. I twisted and pulled, but the binds were locked up too well, to the point where all my efforts seemed pathetic. I hissed and grunted, unleashing flames from my mouth in frustration. All my glory shattered when I failed to defeat my brother, and now this lowly water bender was the one who placed me in my spot.
These chains would foreshadow my future, as Zuko would ascend the throne while I was sent away to an asylum. My domain was only as large as the four walls that surrounded me, a stark reminder of how my past life where I had everything was now diminished to nothing. I had everyone fearing me, obeying my every command and granting my every wish; now, all I had was darkness and dampness. There was nothing more than the echoes of my own voice that responded to my every order.
But perhaps it was for the best, as in here, I was finally secure. I would get what I needed to survive, and I would never be harmed. Mai, Ty Lee, Uncle Iroh, all those who had been with me before, they had to be out there in a world of instability, where mistrust would be present no matter how hard they tried. They were the ones suffering, not me. My mother always said trust and respect was more important than fear and spite, and how ironic it was I could only feel safest when I was trusted to not run away, and respected by my medical team who would monitor me every day. As I toiled away in here, I thought,
My name is Azula. That was my story. Those were my rites of passage.
I'm so happy with all the great work you guys have put into this, as your reviews and comments really helped me reach a whole new level of understanding in characters. I'm going to be busy for a while, but hopefully I can start writing again, and post another chapter in 2, maybe 3 weeks. Thanks for reading, and hope to see you next chapter!