Sup guys? Lighting Wolf here, back with another story. This one is about Avatar. Enjoy the 800-word chapter. I don't own Avatar, Nick, Michael Dante DiMartino, and Bryan Konietzko do.
(Fire Nation Royal Palace.)
If the 9-year-old Princess Azula was skilled at anything? It was making sure her mask never slipped. Not a physical mask, mind you, but one that hid her fear.
She was nothing but terrified of her father… Whom was conversing on how best to start a war?
"Do you believe this would at all defeat the Earth Kingdom?" Azula heard from one general. "The Earth Kingdom still stands despite General Iroh's best attempts to demolish it." The general stated.
Ozai said nothing, Azula knew how ruthless her father could be. The man could have flicked his fingers and set the general ablaze like he didn't exist. The conversation would be over with the same grace of a fly being swatted by a spider.
"The Earth Kingdom will fall." Ozai stated while looking around the room. "But my father cannot know that it was my brother who did it. Do I sense that you are against me?" Ozai added which made Azula cower more and more behind her pillar.
Her father thought Azula was a ruthless killing machine who would gladly shoot down a ship full of people. He thought Azula would gladly slaughter anyone in her path if need be.
She was a kid. A poor innocent bystander like her brother. Azula, her brother, even her mother and uncle? Azula fully believed Ozai only used his family as something to pour his anger and hatred until it cracked and broke to pieces.
It was why Azula pretended to go along with her father's cruelty, if only to protect the rest of her family.
"No, my lord." The general said while frowning. "I meant no disrespect. I only meant that in order for the siege of Ba Sing Se to work? We would need to send reinforcements to the front lines. Then you would be free to take credit for the maneuver as your brother wouldn't be entirely behind the victory." The general added, clearly afraid for his own life.
Azula was far too young to know her family tree very much… But she knew Azulon was a very cold and ruthless. The only kindness she saw from her grandfather? Was the fact that he cared about Iroh enough to crown him his successor.
Her father had been scheming to try and take apart this part of his destiny. Azula heard from her mother that the rest of the family was DISGUSTED at what Ozai was trying to do.
"Then do it… And make certain nobody knows of this meeting." Azula heard from her father. The prince walked away and left the generals flabbergasted at their orders.
Azula raced back to her room. Azula didn't want to be seen as having abandoned her family. Her father would just take it out on them more. Azula feared her father, but she feared her family taking the blunt of her father's rage more than anything.
The generals noticed Azula, but made no motion to stop her. To do so? Would be pointing out to Ozai that his daughter was out and about. They weren't stupid, nobody wanted Ozai to be the Fire Lord, but only the Fire Lord and Iroh had power to challenge him.
Azula raced through the palace while she looked over her shoulder. Azula said nothing but continued to race faster so she could reach the guardians where her father.
Azula turned the corner and nearly smacked into her friends. She saw pink as she crashed to the ground. Azula bit back the urge to cry in pain, weakness was something her father despised as he thought it made himself look weak.
Then again? What didn't Ozai think was weak? The man would constantly threaten his son for any failure Zuko made.
"Oh, hey Azula!" Azula heard from her friend as she climbed to her feet and looked at the smiling girl. Azula let out a smile in return before they heard footfalls.
"Look like your crying." Azula whispered, knowing her father expected her to make other people suffer.
Ty Lee for a moment frowned before realizing what she meant. Ty Lee brought her hands up to her eyes and pretended to sob.
Ozai paced past them, smirking as Azula frowned and patted her friend on the head.
Author notes
Phew, first chapter done! I want to point out that I got this idea a few days ago. I wanted to see what Avatar would be like if Azula was just hiding her fear behind a mask of ruthless sociopathy. Next chapter will be in a few weeks and will show more with Azula talking to her brother and will show her friend and love interest. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!
