"Oh boy! A whole week off! All to ourselves! Such fun! Aren't you all just thrilled!"
Ty lee turned back to her crew mates. If they were thrilled, they didn't show it. The two children guards they'd brought with them looked far too nervous to enjoy themselves. And the princess looked like she was being sent to a war zone and not an island paradise.
"Thrilled? Thrilled for what? We're being sent on a forced vacation!"
"Don't think of it as forced Azula! Think of it as a gift! Think of it as your father- "
"My father what? Wanting me to take it easy on myself? Fat chance of that? He just wants me out of the way! He must."
"Oh come on Azula. You know your dad loves you."
Azula did not respond. Merely looking out at sea and huffing. Frisk made motions with her hands to which Ty lee just looked in confusion.
"Sorry what was that? I still don't get your method of communication."
Aang sighed. "She was just wondering why you choose to bring us along princess. Not that we aren't grateful. But surely there are more qualified candidates."
"What? Bring along a bunch of men on a meaningless holiday when they could be better spent doing real work? Besides, you're my student. You aren't getting out of another training regime that easily."
"Really Azula? This is a vacation! You're supposed to relax!"
"I am. I find watching rookies suffer very relaxing thank you!"
"So... This Ember Island... Have you been often?"
Azula looked annoyed for a moment at the measly guard asking such a personal question. But Ty lee jumped in.
"Oh yeah! You used to didn't you? You had a family home here!"
"That was a long time ago. Nothing worth seeing now."
Ty lee looked saddened then turned to Aang. "What about you Kuzon? You have anywhere you liked to go for fun?"
"Nothing worth seeing now."
He and the princess locked eyes. She smirked a little.
...
"Princess Azula! Lady Ty lee! So good to see you again! Guards! Please see their things to their respective rooms!"
"Oh no need for that. You two will do just fine." Azula held the bags out to the two old women. They stared back in surprise.
"Princess? Isn't that what they are here for?"
"Oh I wouldn't say that. They've proven to have a bit more zeal than the rest of their fellow guards. So they've earned vacation guard dog privileges." She paused, pondering the meaning of whatever she just said.
"Point is they're here with us. We'll leave the boring parts to you."
The woman continued to stare for a moment but eventually resigned themselves to carrying the bags into the next room. Meanwhile Ty lee spread herself out onto the bed.
"So, to the beach then? What do you think Kuzon? I bet you attract all kinds of attention without your shirt!"
Kuzon and Frisk looked at each other. Aang's uniform and wig managed to hide his tattoos. But if they removed them at the beach...
"Oh I knew it! You're a total ladies' man!"
"No not really. I actually haven't spent much time with the opposite sex."
That was a truth. Being with monks in an all boy temple didn't give him much chance to interact with girls. That wasn't what caught Ty lee's attention however.
"Oh! You said the S word! Did you hear that Azula? He said sex!"
"He's a boy Ty lee. What else do you think they think about?"
Ty lee blushed at that as did Aang. Frisk merely smirked.
"With your permission actually princess, I'd rather not visit the beach. Sun and I don't agree."
"Some Firebender you are! But that's all right. I'd rather not have horny teenagers ogle me either. I have a better idea in store for you."
"Aw! And here I was so eager to ogle you Kuzon! Oh well! Guess it's just you and me mute girl!"
She proceeded to glomp Frisk who stared at Aang with pleading eyes. Aang himself was too focused on the princess' smile. This was not going to be a merry holiday.
...
"Maintain the breath! Maintain the breath!"
Aang bit his lip. He felt his old anger rising up again. Peace. Inner peace. Don't fight. She'll kick your ass.
"Ugh! Just stop! Give it a rest. Come on. Let's go. I've got better things to do."
Inwardly cheering, Aang pulled himself up and trod along after his master. They walked mostly in silence for a time, until they came to an overlook of the beach. Far below, they saw their acquaintances lying on the beach. One surrounded by boys. The other off in the shadows.
"Looks like Ty lee's having a grand time." Azula's tone turned slightly jealous. Whether about the boys or Ty lee was unclear. She sounded amused looking at Frisk. "Can't say the same for your friend."
"Can't really blame her. Can't talk after all."
"Indeed. How did the guard hire a mute? Still, I suppose she can handle herself." She stared back at Ty lee who was chatting with the boys. She seemed excited as usual.
"Enough of this. Let's move on. This way."
They continued on to an abandoned... House didn't do it justice. It was a massive complex situated above the sea.
"Impressed? Our family vacation home."
"Nothing worth seeing I believe you said?"
She stared at him and smiled.
"Careful little guard. That's a sharp tongue. You wouldn't want to see it burned off. Now wait out here. Let no one else in."
Aang nodded in agreement. Inwardly happy for a chance to put some distance between himself and the iron-willed Firebender. He stood outside, practicing breathing while he waited. 20 minutes later she called out to him.
"Guard! Kuzon! Whatever! Get in here! Help me move something!"
He went inside to find her trying to move a bed from a very fancy room. Based on the size of the bed and everything else in the room, he assumed it was for kids.
"Here. Help me turn it over. Put some back into it! There we go. Here it is."
She pulled out a picture from underneath the bed. It featured two people in it. One a young girl who he presumed was a younger princess Azula. The other was an older woman who he didn't recognize. Azula clearly did, given her immense scowl.
"Good. Now let's add it to the collection outside."
The collection as she called it was a pile of paintings out in the main courtyard. All featuring the same unknown woman or an unknown boy with a ponytail. Some had Firelord Ozai himself. She added the latest picture to the pile and stood for a moment to admire her handiwork.
"Good. This should make a fine fire."
"Sorry. Fire?"
"Of course. Not right now of course. I was thinking of having a fire later tonight when it's cold. I'll keep warm from the memories being burned away."
"Painful memories?"
"All memories are painful in a sense. Even happy ones."
"With respect princess. How can happy memories be painful?"
"Because they're still memories. They're what were. Not what is. Not anymore. Not for me anyway."
Aang decided to step out on a branch. "Who are they? In those photos? I recognize the Firelord but the other two- "
"You really are new at this job. The boy is my brother prince Zuzu. Well I guess you could say ex prince Zuzu. Banishment and all that. And the woman is..." She sighed. "My mother."
"Oh and where might she be? I haven't seen her all this time in the capitol."
She looked at him like he was the dumbest person in the world.
"You're kidding right?. Agni, where did you come from? The colonies?"
"Yes."
"Figures. What do they teach kids out there?" She shook her head. "Anyway I'm done here for now. I'll be back later for the burning. It'll be something to see I'm sure."
They both went outside to find Ty lee and Frisk standing in front of the house. The former looked gleeful. The later looked dour.
"Hey Azula? Guess what's happening tonight?"
"I don't need to guess Ty lee. I've cleaned the house out. I already know."
That took her friend by surprise.
"Wait, you already know about the party?"
Azula stared.
"What party?"
Aang stared at Frisk who looked back apologetically.
...
"Knock, knock! Hey Chad! We're here!"
A muscular boy with an open vest greeted them at the door. He looked over Aang and Azula with raised eyebrows.
"These two your friends? Thought you said they were important. They don't look so much to me."
Aang smiled a little at Azula's look of irritation. But she quickly hid it under her normal blank stare. She'd told Ty lee and the two guards (airbenders) she didn't want her royalty known and they kept silent about it.
"Oh, trust me Chad. They're friends with me! Doesn't that make them important?"
Her wink made Chad smile again and beckon them in. Azula always found that ability of Ty lee impressive and useful. Right now though, she found it irritating.
"All right. So listen. My dad's an admiral. He has no idea I'm hosting this party. So please. Don't mess anything up."
"That's a sharp outfit pal."
Everyone turned to Aang with his goofy grin. Chad himself merely shook his shoulders and said: "Uh. Thanks." Before walking away.
"That was my line, guard." Azula whispered in his ears. "How did you even think of that? Have you been combing through my diary?"
"I didn't even know you have a diary, princess. I assure you."
"Quiet! I told you. I don't want anyone knowing about that."
"Why is that again? I figured you loved the feeling of dominance."
"Oh, too true! Guess you do know me. But just this once I wanted to see how people would react to me if they didn't know who I was."
"Oh, that's a good thing! Attempting to interact with the people and understand them?"
Azula laughed out loud at that, causing everyone else in the room to turn her way. She had to place her hand on Aang's shoulder to keep herself from falling over.
"Oh Kuzon. You're funnier than Zuzu! We're going to have so much fun tonight."
...
"God! This is so boring! Why did Ty lee agree to this?"
Frisk stood next to the angry and slightly drunk princess. She'd thought it better to do her duty as a "guard" rather than continuously have to wait for Aang to come by and tell off some guy trying to hit her up that no. She was not being off putting. She couldn't speak. Oh. Speak of the devil.
"Hey there lass. Like the party? You know what could make it even better?"
"Me right? I could make this night better. Wouldn't you say?" Azula leaned in front of the mute girl. The guy backed away from her all too creepy smile.
"Uh, right. I uh... What's that Kristy? You've got something to show me? Coming!"
"Huh? There's no one calling for you you big- Hey get back here!"
Frisk smiled a little at the sight of the might fire princess reduced to a half-drunk teen begging for a good time. She quickly regained her stoic persona when said princess turned less she incinerate her.
"Hey Frick! What gives? I see boys all over trying to give you a good time! What's your secret huh? Tell me!"
Frisk ignored the failed name attempt and tried in failure to communicate with her hands how she didn't really want the attention. Of course none of that made any sense to the Firebender.
"What's that? What's that you're saying? Oh, I get it. You want me to go right? Well fine! I get it! I told you to come! I didn't tell you to be nice, did I? No sire!"
Frisk couldn't keep the confusion off her face now. She briefly wondered if she could survive flipping the bird to this drunk psychopath. Too late. She began walking away.
"Fine. I get it. Who wants to chat with someone like me, right? Sure I just wanted to be a nice hostess for once. But I get it. Once a monster, always a monster. That's what mother thought, right? Why should you be any different?"
Frisk stared after this bizarre princess. Perhaps she should have felt a tad of empathy. But no. This was the monster who'd gotten Toriel killed. She wondered how Aang felt about their sadistic host.
Truth be told, his feelings were more complicated. But he couldn't address those feelings in this current climate.
"Why are you wearing these sleeves? Come on! Take them off! Like everyone else!"
"Seriously! Are you planning to go to the North pole or something?"
To hide the tattoos on my arms, duh. That's what he thought to himself. Not that he would say that out loud. Not to all the girls who couldn't seem to get themselves off his arms.
"Hey Kuzon! Looks like we've got the same problem huh? These guys can't seem to get their hands off me! And they can't seem to keep their hands off you! Weird right?"
He couldn't help but smirk at the girl's perkiness. How did she get involved with such a tyrannical regime?
"Hey, have you seen Azula anywhere? I'm starting to get a little worried."
Aang was secretly more worried for whoever she came across. The girls crowding him did not overlook that name however.
"Azula? You mean that... Wait. Who was that again?"
"I think she was like one of those uh..."
"One of the Ember Island players?"
"Yeah, that's it! An actress, right?"
Aang and Ty lee couldn't help but laugh. What he'd give for the princess to be there right now to hear that.
"Uh yeah. Speaking of that "actress..." Kuzon? You think you could find her? Pretty please?"
"Uh, sure. Let me just... get these off." He managed to push his way out of the sea of overenthusiastic girls.
"Wait, where are you going? Come back!"
"Please, let us massage your muscles again! Please?"
He passed another guy flirting on Frisk and her failures to tell him off. He sighed and walked over to him.
"I'd be careful around her pal. She's got pentapox."
That sent him running. The two airbenders laughed out loud as the other boys from across the party looked their way in shock.
Looking for your friend, Frisk said with her hands. Took off outside. Seemed even more moody than usual.
"I guess that's just part of her charm."
Frisk stared at him with a face that said, are you kidding me?
"Look uh... I know this isn't easy for you. After Toriel-"
Frisk held up a hand for silence.
"Hang on. I know this is wearing heavy on you and I thought-"
No time, she said. Do your job. Win her trust. Find your bison. Let's go home.
Now it was Aang's turn to stare.
"Home? Where's that?"
He left her there then, looking ashamed.
He saw the head boy Chad run back inside from the balcony where his grumpy princess awaited. He sighed upon seeing the look of terror on the boy's face and went outside to confront the source.
"Kuku? Is that you? Why aren't you in there flirting with your little sluts?"
Aang kept his face passive. She scanned his face for any sign of irritation or discomfort and sighed.
"Ah, just doesn't have the same ring as Zuzu does it? He always overreacts to it. I can't believe I'm saying this, but god I miss him." She raised her glass out to the sea and made a toast.
"Here's to you, you miserable bastard. Wherever you are. Just think. A whole year at sea trying to find the Avatar, and I found him without trying! It's like dad said. I was born lucky. Cheers, you poor unlucky bastard!" She stuck her tongue out and down the rest of the glass.
Aang took the glass from her as she stumbled. She held onto the railing and turned to her "student."
"Kuzon. Be honest with me. What do you think of me?"
Aang took a huge inhale. Crap. How to lie again?
"I think you're a uh... A worthy inheritor to the throne and uh..."
"Oh stop. I've had enough lies from my family. My father. My mother. I won't take it from a guard." She turned out again to sea. Her legs wobbling a bit to stay up.
"Born lucky. Pah! Years of training. Practice. Perfection. And what do I have to show for it huh?" She clenched her fists. Her fist trembling.
"I couldn't make my father believe in me. I couldn't catch a little kid. I couldn't even get one guy at this stupid party to like me! I mean look at me! How could anyone not want this?" Her hands lit up with flames, lighting up her angry face.
Even knowing what he knew about her, Aang had to admit. At a first glance at least, he would definitely want that. Clearly not everyone in the mansion shared that belief.
"Uh guys? Looks like they want us to leave."
"What for? Don't they know who I am?"
"Well, no. You told us not to tell. They want us to leave because... Uh... They think Frisk has pentapox.
"Pentapox? Who told them that nonsense?"
Kuzon bit his lips. "Yeah. What a load of crap, right? Yeah."
...
"Put your back into it! You're carrying your princess and teacher, damn it!"
"Apologies, princess. We're almost there."
"Excuse me? What did you call me? How dare you address me that way? Do you want to be banished?"
"Apologies again princess. See? We're there."
"Ah good. Set me down as close as possible. But not too close! You don't want to torch me, do you?"
Aang spent a few moments edging her to and back from the fire with her arm around his shoulder. She would keep saying further and closer until eventually she gave up and just resigned herself next to Frisk. The latter did not look happy.
"Good work servant. Now if you'd be so kind. Start the fire!"
With respect princess, I thought you wanted to burn the pile."
"While on drugs? Don't question your princess! Obey!"
Aang sighed and shot a fireball onto the pile of photos Azula had assembled earlier. The instant he did, the princess' eyes lit up in anger.
"What are you doing? That was mine to burn!"
"But you said-"
"I know what I said! Don't question your princess! Obey! That's what I said!"
"Uh actually Azula. You told him to do that."
Azula stared hard at the perky girl with one hand placed over her eye. She shook her head and leaned back on her hands.
"Well excuse me! Sorry for caring!"
Frisk wanted to laugh but was interrupted by Ty lee's sudden surprise.
"Hang on. Azula! These are photos of your family!"
"Yeah. So what?"
"So why are you burning them? Don't you care? Think of the memories!"
"Memories? Pah! Memories of what? Something that will never happen again? It's pointless. Better to give up on it."
"You don't mean that!"
"Of course I mean it. Don't pretend you understand Ty lee. You don't know me."
"Don't know you? Really? You think I don't know you At least your dad pays you attention? You don't have any other siblings to compete with anymore!"
"That's true. I don't." Azula smirked. "Best time off my life."
"I didn't get that option! Can you imagine living with 6 siblings who looked exactly identical to me? I didn't have my own name! You and the circus... You were the only ones who treated me as an individual! More than just a doll on the shelf!"
Yeah, more like a slave, Frisk said with her hands. That got the other two girls to stare.
"What did she say? God, I never understand that girl! What the hell?"
They turned to Aang. He wasn't sure what to say.
"Uh, she said that... She thinks it's done you good. Both of you good! You're a great couple!"
They both stared. Until Ty lee clapped her hands and glamped Azula.
"Did you hear that? We're a couple!"
"He didn't mean like that fool! Did you?"
"Well, no. I meant that you two complement each other. You're there for each other despite your differing personalities and conflicts of interest and all that. You know?"
Azula gripped her head. Then sighed.
"I suppose I am pretty lucky to have you. Can't believe I'm saying that."
"And I'm really lucky to have you! You always treat me as an individual! Even if it's sometimes questionable."
"Excuse me?"
"Uh, what I mean to say is... uh... I just think you're an awesome person and uh... I hope you recognize it!"
The princess snorted.
"Somehow when you say it, I can almost believe it."
"What about your father?"
The princess stared at the Avatar.
"My father? What about him?"
"I mean... Doesn't he think you're uh... awesome?"
She laughed. A hollow laugh devoid of warmth.
"Him? Think me awesome? The only reason he tolerates me is because his only other option is Zuzu!" She threw a bolt of fire at the burning pile in anger.
"Woah! Easy Azula! Easy!"
"Don't tell me to take it easy! I'm the princess! I do what I want! I have whatever I want!"
Except affection, Said Frisk. Fortunately the princess didn't understand. Though she didn't look happy either.
"I don't like that one," the princess slurred a bit. "Always talking with her hands. Were the guards really so desperate that they couldn't hire a child with words?"
Frisk looked Aang's way for assistance. Azula wagged her finger.
"Uh uh uh! No help from the handsome stranger! Answer yourself! What's your story?"
They all looked at Frisk. She stared back. She moved her mouth in irritation as if trying to remind them of her disability.
"Well? Speak! Your princess commands it!"
"I think she's trying. If she does that a few more times, I can almost get it down."
"Almost isn't good enough! I demand you tell us who you are! Tell me now before I get a hangover and can't hear anything!"
Frisk couldn't stop herself from smirking. Azula did not like that.
"Gah! See! Even the guards don't think I'm awesome! Well fine. Kuzon! Since your friend here is being a naughty girl and I've drunk too much to punish her, you tell me!"
Aang had been getting his own version of a headache from everything going on.
"Tell you what exactly, princess?"
"Her story! You can translate her finger mumbo jumbo, right? So tell me her story!"
Aang stared at his friend. She stared back. Neither sure how to proceed. Aang didn't have his unspoken communication nor frisk's past down perfectly. Most of their time together had been trying to work on communication and anytime he had made effort to ask about her history, she tended to focus on her time with Toriel and nothing before. Didn't seem they had an option anymore.
"Well uh... As I recall, she came from an island. I still can't translate the name of that island but it was uh... one of the colonies."
Azula narrowed her eyes but then gripped her head. He supposed he should count himself lucky she was intoxicated or she might not buy the story so easily.
"And let's see... You uh... You... hit... storm? Hit by a storm?"
"Hit by a storm? That's so silly! Storms can't hit you! Right Azula?"
"Thank you for your immense wisdom Ty lee. Remind me to hire you as an advisor."
"You're welcome! Azula!" Clearly she did not pick up on the sardonic tone.
"A storm could technically hit you. I mean, you could get caught in it. Is that what happened Frisk?" She nodded and made more hand motions.
"Ok uh... Something about a... a gang. A gang?"
"A gang? You were in a gang? Oh..." Ty lee looked at Azula to get her reaction but sighed in relief when she didn't show annoyance.
"Anyway, she was err...Saved? Kidnapped? Auctioned? Something?"
"Whatever! We get it! She hung out with a group of ruffians! Move on!"
"Wait! How did they treat her? Were they kind? Decent? Hot?"
"Ty lee, really."
"What? We were just talking about family treatment, weren't we? If they're the closest to family, I wanna hear!"
Frisk paused a moment. Not sure which hand motions to make. But eventually she made sideways hand wave which Aang took to mean as... whatever.
"So so. But... Uh... Wouldn't want to hang with them again. I think."
"So what happened then? Ugh! My head!"
Aang didn't have to translate this time. The look Frisk gave him told him all he needed to know.
"She met someone who loved her. Who raised her. And then she lost her."
"Oh, poor thing! What happened to her?"
Frisk didn't respond. Ty lee looked away sadly.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean-"
Frisk raised her hand to make her stop. Aang still didn't know the name of the gang she had traveled with. He was sort of afraid to ask now.
"Oh this is too good," Azula chuckled. "Well at least your parent loved you. Unlike Ty here, right?"
"Azula! How could you? That's cruel!"
"What? You should want what she had, wouldn't you? They treated her as an individual."
Frisk tilted her head in what Azula took as a sign of agreement.
"But they also saw her as a warrior! A weapon of death! That can't be good!"
"Uh, hello? Exhibit A, honey?"
Ty lee bit her lip, considering where to go from here. She turned to Frisk.
"Why did you leave?"
Frisk paused. Then worked her fingers.
"They uh... Hang on." Aang attempted to translate again.
"They uh... Asked... something of you... Something... Good? No, bad."
Azula stared.
"So they asked something you didn't like and you just decided to flee? That sounds like desertion. Do you know the cost for desertion?"
Everyone held their breath. Azula then laughed.
"Ha! Gotcha! You should've seen your face! Like I give a damn about some peasants! Although I have to say I'm disappointed thus far. Not some well-adjusted people I've surrounded myself with it seems. Tisk. Tisk. "She finally turned back to Aang.
"What about you student? What's your sob story?"
This got Frisk's attention. He hadn't related his own story to her and he sure didn't want to relate it to the Fire Nation. But as often the case with life for Aang, he didn't get a choice.
"Well, we're waiting. Unless you say you have no story to tell. In which case, I see no reason to keep you around. I don't like boring comrades. Only reason I put up with Zuzu after all!"
"I was... born in the colonies. Yu Dao."
Aang had worked with Sans to come up with the location of his "colonial home." In this case, Yu Dao happened to be the only one the lazy airbender could recall at the time.
"Yu Dao. Never been myself, but I hear the Fire flakes are great!"
"Of course Ty lee. Go on student."
"Well... I lived with my family. Just my sister and father. Never knew my mother."
"Good for you." Azula chuckled and gripped her head again. How much had she drunk?
"I wouldn't say that. I mean, my sister was ok. No. Not ok. Great. She was the best, ever."
"Bad for you." Aang couldn't help staring at her for that.
"But my father was... Another story. He had... Certain expectations for me. Both of us, but especially for me."
"Expectations?" Azula seemed interested by that. She even leaned forward a bit.
"He was a doctor. An amazing doctor. He could make anything. Strange machines. Even stranger chemicals. But he was amazing. Smartest person I ever met. Absolutely incredible."
Azula did not appear to like that claim. He paused a moment for her outburst. Upon hearing none, he continued.
"He was brilliant but he was also... Unusual."
"Unusual? Oh, like me?" Ty lee beamed.
"Mad."
"Exactly like you then Ty." Azula beamed this time.
"Mad? What do you mean by that?"
Aang felt childhood memories coming back.
"Come on Aang. Don't be difficult."
"Dad, please."
"Enough. Hold your arm out. Sleeve up."
"Dad, please."
A hand placed itself on the back of his head and pushed him up against the wall. Aang bit his teeth from the pain, but by this point he'd endured enough to not cry out.
"This will make everything better. It'll help you fly. Now breathe in deep."
Aang did as he was told. It was the only option to avoid more pain.
The syringe went into his arm. His blood pulsed. His eyes glowed.
"That's my boy. Now let's see how far we can go this time. Let's see you lift off the ground. Show your determination!"
"Let him go!"
He couldn't see, but he could hear his sister's anger. He could hear the slap of his father's hand against her cheek.
"This is for the greater good! Think of the sky, daughter! Think of what's waiting for us up there!"
Aang did try to push back this time but his father was too strong. Plus he hated staring at his face during this period. It made him look like a demon. Something inhuman. More inhuman than he acted anyway.
"Now then. Let's see you soar my son! Soar!"
"He wanted you to do what? Soar?"
Aang had to fudge some of the story. Couldn't let them know he was an actual airbender. Or the bit about the glowing eyes.
"He was... fascinated by the air nomads. He thought we could recreate their abilities."
Azula snickered.
"And people say my dad is nuts. Why would he think that?"
"I... I don't know. I guess he was desperate. He didn't like the life he lived. He thought there was something up there. Something better waiting for us."
Looking back he couldn't believe he didn't realize what the glowing eyes meant. He thought it was simply a result of whatever the hell his father had given him. He had no idea the kind of destiny waiting for him.
"Ha! All peasants think that. He should have served the crown better. That's the best someone like him could have hoped for."
"So... What happened? Did he die?"
"He... He did. And when that happened I... I left that life behind. Eventually found my way here."
That itself was not a lie. He just had to leave out everything that happened between then and now.
"And your sister? What happened to her?"
Time to lie again.
"Never found her."
Azula really was into laughter tonight. A good reminder not to let her drink ever again.
"So you don't know where your sibling is either? Isn't that nice? Being a single child really is amazing isn't it?"
"Azula, please! Sorry Kuzon. Your sister... What was her name?"
"Chara."
If Aang had looked to his left, he would have puzzled over Frisk's shocked expression.
"So crappy father and missing sister. Family that wouldn't give you the attention. And family that abandoned you only to leave you with a bunch of thugs. What a delightful bunch of misfits! I sure know how to pick them!"
"You didn't sound happy yourself, princess. From what I've heard you say about your father."
Said princess stared very hard at Aang but then just smiled.
"True. But I can't say my dad abandoned me. Or that I ran away like a coward from him! I found a way to make myself useful. And now look! Here I am set to be the next Fire Lord. And where's my brother? Who knows?"
"What about your mom?"
This time, Azula's hands lit up with flames. She looked ready to incinerate her friend until Aang stepped in and placed his hands on her shoulders.
He didn't expect it do work. But somehow something about his expression made her stop.
"Huh. Now that's what I like to see in a soldier. A little backbone."
"Azula. Please don't hurt him."
"Ah... Fine. But only because I'm somewhat drunk. If I weren't..." She made a slitting motion across her throat and giggled before falling into his arms.
His breath stopped. He was in a very dangerous position. The other two girls looked his way scared. But he just held her there for a bit while she mumbled through her slight drunkenness. Then he had to ruin it with one stupid question.
"What did happen to your mother?"
Azula pushed him away, again annoyed.
"Don't push it. You're still just a guard. And your training is merely a fun half time."
Aang nodded. Ty lee sighed in relief and looked at the burning pile.
"I know you didn't want to come here but I'm glad we did. I think we learned something about ourselves and each other."
"Yes. I learned that I keep surrounding myself with mentally unstable kiddies. I really need to pick them better." Frisk couldn't help snickering at that.
"What? No! I meant we learned how much we have in common with each other! You know, with the family issues and all that?"
"How much I have in common with you losers? Don't kid yourself."
Frisk was glad she couldn't speak at this moment. She probably wouldn't be able to stop herself from the retort on her mind.
"I will say this much. Watching this pile burn makes me smile. I feel like I'm watching all my problems go up in smoke."
Except your dad, Aang thought.
"Well, I've made up my mind. If dad wants me to have a vacation, who am I to deny him? Let's go everyone! To the party!"
They chased after the princess worriedly. They found themselves at the front door of the mansion. Chad answered the door with looking irritated.
"Oh, its you. What do you want? I told you-"
The princess kicked him in the chest and sent him across the room.
"Ladies and gentlemen! I find this party severely underperforming! Henceforth I am here to show you how to really spice things up!"
The rest of the night went by almost too fast for Aang to process. It started with the three girls smashing everything to bits with sadistic smiles. He'd stayed out of it until Aang got involved. Which he did with an apology. After about 20 minutes, the party goers realized they were having more fun at Chad's expense and got in on the fun, stealing from the house and making off into the night over the sounds of Chad's anguished screams. Under Azula's orders (who still chose to remain anonymous for some reason) they added more of his belongings to the burning pile until the fire started to spread to the rest of the house. The party then stood outside the house holding hands and singing while the fire consumed it.
Fortunately (or unfortunately) Frisk and a few others had taken all the booze from Chad's place. Under orders from Azula, any trace of soberness vanished from their systems and everything after that passed by in a drunken blur. Aang had make out sessions with a few girls. He couldn't be sure, but one might have been Azula.