Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Mask of the dragon. Enjoy the 900-word chapter. I don't own Avatar, Nick, Michael Dante DiMartino, and Bryan Konietzko do.
(Fire Nation Royal Barge)
Azula took a deep breath, meditating in the middle of her room aboard the barge. She sighed, thinking about how much this war would cost. Innocent lives would be thrown away, and for what? Because her life mattered more?
She knew she had to be strong, but something Ozai had she didn't? The strength to always stay strong enough to maintain her mask among the people she had to lead.
"Princess?" Azula heard from one of her servants as she opened her eyes, grabbing her pin and shoes. "My lady? Are you within your chambers? We have nearly reached the destination you have given us." Azula heard as she slid open the door.
"Then we have almost gotten thing done somewhat." Azula said, slipping on her boots as she looked upon the crew a moment later. "Has Sachi spoken since this occurred? I am still waiting on his intel before we act." Azula added while sighing to herself.
She knew that Sachi was one of the few people to have seen past her mask. One of the few people to know that she had doubts. Azula was glad that she could lower her defenses around him when she thought about it, anything that allowed her to be herself helped her at the end of the day. There was much more work to be done before this was done and dusted.
"I have just sent a message hawk, princess." The servant said before Azula nodded and slowly walked towards the bow of the ship. "I am still awaiting his reply. It will be passed to you when it arrived, your highness… I just do not know what will happen if something bad happens. The Fire Lord's spies? They are everywhere, your highness." The servant said as several of Azula's soldiers surrounded the princess.
"The more danger? The more desperate." Azula said which garnered a nod before she turned and looked over her shoulder with interest.
"Maybe, but if it was so easy, your highness?" One of the soldiers stated, looking around with interest. "Then we'd have already won this war. We have yet to start fighting…" The soldier added which garnered a nod from Azula.
It was then she noticed her friend's ship. She made a motion to dock with his ship, eager to begin her work of putting her plans into action. The sooner this was done? The sooner she could rest, her people at ease and someone worthy upon the throne.
"I will talk with him, everyone else? Stay here and mind the ship." Azula ordered as she looked over her shoulder, curious as to what awaited her with her friend.
"Yes, princess." They called as she nodded while she looked around and slowly began to step towards the edge. "Will you need anything else as of now?" Azula heard, worried about her.
"No, not really." Azula said before leaping onto the hull of the ship a moment later. "Excuse me, would any of you happen to know where Colonel Sachi is?" Azula asked, an eyebrow raised as she brushed off her armor, curious as to what this would bring.
She felt the metal was more worn under her feet. This was a military vessel, after all. One couldn't really work without really walking up and down this hull when it came down to it. Azula knew that the crew had been hard at work, she could tell it more then anything. Still? She couldn't let their work get her off topic at the end of the day. She had plenty of work to do herself, after all.
"He took a small party and left for town as per your request, princess." One of the soldiers said after she bowed. "He's been busy and left strict orders for us to when it came down to it. I was told to moor the ship and keep the crew ready when he came back? We were supposed to be ready to depart at a moment's notice." The soldier added, crossing her arms as the princess slowly turned and walked with things to do.
"Then carry on, I will meet him and discuss our next move." Azula stated, holding up her hand as she walked by the rest of the soldiers.
She was hopeful this could be ended today. The sooner that was done? Azula believed everyone would be ok when it came to the day's end. Work needed to be done, it had to be improved upon and when it ended? Then she could rest easily knowing she had nothing to focus on at the moment.
Azula slowly started to walk down the ramp, rubbing at her temples while letting off a sigh a second later with a look down at the ground in exhaustion.
Today was going to be long and exhausting to her, wasn't it?
Author notes
Phew. Another chapter done! I want to point out that next chapters will be a bit longer when it comes down at things. Next chapter will be in 2-10 months and will show both Azula and Sachi talking and such when it comes down to it. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!
P.S: Next chapter will be 900-6500 words such when it comes down to it.