You are a weapon.
The girl lifted a graceful hand up, signaling a waiter. She was small and petite, with vibrant green eyes and delicate features. An obviously high-born child. The waitress thought bemusedly that the Earth Kingdom girl couldn't be more than twelve. So what was she doing at the Fire Nation court?
"Poor thing," the woman murmured as she approached with the menu, "So young and already caught up in politics."
You are a spy.
The little girl thanked the waitress politely, but distantly, before folding her hands neatly in her lap and gazing down at the menu. She read the choices carefully, and then stood up, placing the menu neatly back on the desk. Turning, she walked out of the restaurant.
A woman was waiting for her outside—a woman with dead eyes and a fake smile. "I am Judy," she said mechanically, and the girl winced. She knew they were necessary, but the Dai Lee's use of hypnosis made her queasy.
"What news do you have for me?" she asked quietly.
Judy didn't answer, but turned and started walking away.
Whatever we say, you will do.
The girl followed, even when it became apparent where they were going. As they neared the palace, she felt her hands start to shake and clenched them. She would not show weakness.
They entered through a secret side entrance, and the girl nodded dismissively to Judy. "You may go."
Judy nodded stiffly and walked out, the same smile still on her face. The Earth-Kingdom girl walked to the nearest wall and pushed, pushing back the false layer of earth and revealing the secret passageway beneath. She walked in, earthbending the wall back into place.
We raised you as a weapon.
The smell hit her as she got deeper into the tunnels, relying on her feet alone to guide her way. There was nothing quite like the smell of burning flesh that stayed in the air, as if no matter how hard they tried to clean it, it continued to hover like a malignant spirit.
"Ah, you're here." The girl was only five years older, but the look in her eyes scared the Earthbender girl as the Fire Nation princess casually walked up to her. The Earthbender girl could see the twitching body of the man Azula had been torturing. His hand lay somewhere off to the side, its fingers missing.
"Ready to do your part?" It wasn't a question.
We took you in to be a spy.
She nodded, face blank, and sat down. There was a sickening crack as Azula roughly broke the man's arm, causing him to jerk out of unconsciousness with a scream. He would be dead by the morning. "Now, you will tell the truth," Azula hissed, "because if you don't, I will know. And then you will miss more than just a couple appendages. Who sent you?"
"The Earth Kingdom." The man gasped, "The Dai Lee."
Azula glanced at the little girl in the corner. "Well?"
Whatever the Dai Lee commands…
"He's lying." The girl said emotionlessly. The man stared up at her with agonized eyes, but never got to say another word. His face went up in flames as Azula finished him.
The Fire Nation princess didn't have a single drop of blood on her as she walked back towards the girl. "To be honest," she said silkily, "I wasn't sure you'd do it. You do know who he is, don't you?"
The younger girl shrugged. "His sperm helped create me." He was my father. Innocent, idealistic father who tried too hard to protect me. It wasn't my fault I joined the Dai Lee—I needed to learn to Earthbend and he wouldn't teach me.
Whatever we command…
"The next prisoner will be here tomorrow. Same place, same time."
She nodded subserviently, not letting the Fire Nation girl see her face. "Yes, Princess."
…you, Toph Bei Fong, will obey.