N/A: JkAlex is back, but this time as a different man.
I am still the same in many ways, but with some slight changes. Now I have become a Medical Intern, or also known as an Undergraduate Medical Intern. This means that I work in a hospital like any other doctor, I work shifts and do overworked on-call, which is why I have been so busy upgrading.
My life has been very, very busy with little free time. And, unfortunately for my readers, it will remain that way for another 3 years or so.
A doctor's life is not easy. I spend more time at work in the hospital than at home. So I hope you will understand my delay in updating.
I hope you like the chapter and the point of view I decided to explore. And without further ado... Let's fucking go!
Chapter 12
The Flames of perfection
Azula
As her mother dragged her out of Zuko's room, Azula knew she would get a reprimand for teasing her brother. It had always been like that. Her mother had always been overprotective of Zuko.
"Speak up, Azula," her mother ordered, kneeling down to be on her level. "What was that about your father hurting Zuko?"
Though irritated by her tone, Azula obeyed and answered:
"Well... I accidentally overheard Grandfather talking to dad in the throne room..."
"Accidentally?" her mother asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Dad asked about Uncle Iroh's birthright, and Grandfather got really angry. I guess he didn't like the idea of having to disinherit Uncle after losing Lu Ten. And now, as punishment, Dad has to get rid of Zuko! Grandfather wants him to feel the pain of losing his firstborn."
Ursa looked really shocked to hear that.
"But... your grandfather seemed interested in Zuko's potential," she said weakly. "He said he would lead the elite group of swordsmen in the future."
"Grandfather said he would simply use Perseus as a replacement. Mom... Do you really think dad can hurt Zuko?"
Azula was so vulnerable because she wanted to check something out. She wanted to see if her mother was capable of going so far as to confront her father and grandfather in order to protect Zuko.
Ursa frowned in concern and looked away.
"Your father is a man of great ambition, Azula..."
Azula frowned at her mother's dismissive reference to her father.
"And what's wrong with that?" she asked.
Ursa shook her head sadly.
"There is nothing wrong with it, my dear. Ambition can lead you to great things..." she gave her a look that reflected a disturbing seriousness. "But also terrible things."
Azula fell into a pensive silence as her mother stood up.
"Go to your room," was the last thing she said before turning her back on her and walking down the hall, leaving Azula deep in thought.
Like every day for as long as she could remember, Azula's day began the moment the sun appeared on the horizon.
Though now the sunrises were not like all the others she had experienced in her life. Now, every sunrise would be with her as the princess of the Fire Nation.
In the days following her father's ascension as Fire Lord, her life in the palace had not changed much. She still received constant attention from the servants for mundane tasks such as grooming, dressing, and preparing for the Academy.
But not everything was the same.
The first different detail of her new social position came during breakfast. As she ate the food the servants had prepared for her, Azula noticed how large the dining room was. She usually ate breakfast with her mother and Zuko. Her father had always been too busy to join them for breakfast, even before he became the Fire Lord.
But now that she was a princess, she ate her breakfast alone. It was the first time she had eaten breakfast alone in as long as she could remember.
She felt a tightness in her chest as she looked at the huge dining table and saw the empty seats. To see the empty seat where her mother had always sat...
With a heavy frown, Azula pushed the plate of food away and stood up.
"Your Highness?" asked one of the servants, "Is the food not to your liking?"
"I have lost my appetite," she said, rising to her feet.
The servant simply nodded and bowed his head as she passed through the door. She no longer wanted to be in the huge, empty room.
The second detail of her new social position became apparent when she went to the academy. Normally, her classmates and teachers treated her with respect. Something normal considering she was a member of the Royal Family. But since she had become a princess, their respect turned into absolute adoration and submission. She noticed this during her etiquette lessons. She found the lessons boring and tedious. She had already memorized all the insipid customs of the palace, and in a fit of annoyance, Azula simply walked out of the class.
She knew that if anyone else had done so, they would have been reprimanded by the teacher. But the older woman just bowed her head and apologized for wasting her time with a late class. Azula just snorted and left the classroom.
As she walked through the halls of the academy, everyone stopped and stepped aside to let her pass, bowing their heads. A small smile formed on her lips at the sight. It was good that everyone recognized their place, and more importantly, hers. She walked gracefully with her head held high. With the dignity of a member of the Royal Family. With the dignity of a princess.
At noon, she sat alone at one of the many tables in the dining room. She looked around, looking for Mai and Ty Lee, but she couldn't find them.
Where were they?
Etiquette class was over, and the students were crowding into the dining hall. All the girls were watching her from a distance, whispering to each other as they looked at her, which only made her frown in annoyance. She understood that she was the new princess of the Fire Nation, which was why they were looking at her and whispering. But their stares and whispers only made her feel like a pig monkey at a carnival.
"Excuse me, princess Azula?"
She looked up from her lunch and saw three girls standing in front of her. They were obviously daughters of noble families, judging by their elegant clothes and neat appearance.
"What do you want?" Azula asked, annoyed that her lunch had been interrupted.
"My name is Xia, second daughter of Xing," the girl introduced herself, bowing her head respectfully. "May I sit with you?"
Before Azula could refuse her request, another girl stepped forward and bowed to her.
"I would also be honored if you would allow me to sit with you, princess. My name is Huan, first daughter of Ping."
The third girl stepped forward and bowed to Azula like the others.
"And I am Miao, daughter of Yuan."
"All three of you wish to sit with me..." Azula looked at them questioningly, causing the three girls to stir uncomfortably. "Why?"
"Well..." Xia spoke hesitantly. "We would be honored to sit with you, princess..."
"So that's why. You want to sit with me just because I am the new princess."
Azula's eyes narrowed as she looked at her, causing her to look away.
"No, Your Majesty. We..."
"Go away," Azula interrupted, waving her hand in a gesture of refusal.
Dejected, the three girls walked away, leaving Azula alone again. She was about to start eating again when more girls approached her. As they began to introduce themselves and say what family they were from, Azula felt like throwing a fireball at each of them. All her life, people had approached her with ulterior motives, but this was the first time it had been done in such a blatant and obvious way.
Annoyed, she abruptly stood up from the table, causing all the girls to jump and take a step back. Without saying a word, Azula turned her back on them and left the dining room. She could feel people staring at her, but she ignored them and made her way to the academy courtyard.
There she found Mai and Ty Lee sitting on a bench in front of the fountain, eating lunch. It was an intricate and elaborate sculpture in the shape of a dragon, spewing a stream of water from its mouth. Ironic, considering a dragon is supposed to spit fire out of its mouth instead of water.
"Mai! Ty Lee!" Azula called as she approached them. "Where have you been?"
The two girls tensed visibly when they saw her coming.
"Oh, Azula," Ty Lee said, shying away from her gaze. "I mean, Your Highness. We... uh... were having lunch."
Azula arched an eyebrow.
"Your Highness? When did you become so formal, Ty Lee?"
"Well... I..."
Ty Lee shifted nervously, still not meeting her eyes, which only made Azula feel more irritated by her evasiveness.
"You're the princess now, aren't you?" Mai pointed out. "That means we should address you as such."
There was a reserved, distant tone in Mai's voice that Azula had never heard before.
"Is that what you think?" Azula asked, her gaze shifting to Ty Lee. "Both of you?"
Ty Lee had a conflicted look on her face as she finally turned to look at her.
"I want to remain your friend, Azula. But... Things aren't going back to the way they were, are they?"
Azula wanted to deny it, but she knew Ty Lee was right; things weren't going back to the way they were.
"It's true that I have many more responsibilities now that I'm a princess," Azula agreed. "My father will have many more expectations of me. And I must live up to them."
"And the people around you must live up to them as well," Mai said.
"Of course they do. And you are up to the task. You are both worthy to be by my side."
Mai gave her a piercing look.
"For our families? Or for ourselves?"
Azula refrained from saying 'for your families' right away. It was true. Mai and Ty Lee were the daughters of the most prominent noble families in the Fire Nation. Their family had enjoyed wealth and prestige for generations. That was why she had agreed to spend time with them since they had begun their relationship when they were eight years old.
But now, was Azula spending time with them because she enjoyed their company, or because it was mutually convenient for their families?
"I... want to be by your side, Azula," Ty Lee said before lowering her head regretfully. "But my parents tell me that I should only associate with you because you're the princess now. Because it would benefit our family. To accept everything you say without question, and to try to please you in everything."
"Is that how you want our relationship to be, Azula?" Mai asked. "To the mutual benefit of our families?"
Again, Azula was speechless. It was true that both families would benefit from their relationship. The Royal Family would have the support of two of the nation's most prominent noble families. And in return, Mai and Ty Lee's families would enjoy the favor of the Royal Family. But Mai's question echoed in her mind.
Did she want their relationship to be based on that alone?
Seeing that Azula didn't answer, Mai and Ty Lee bowed respectfully and left the garden, leaving Azula alone... again.
Feeling slightly disoriented, Azula opened her eyes to see the darkness of her room, slightly illuminated by the moon.
It was unusual for her to be unable to sleep. Due to her demanding firebending training and rigorous lessons, the moment Azula touched her bed, she would fall asleep within minutes. But tonight, something felt different.
Shifting in her bed with growing frustration, she sat up. Her mouth felt very dry. She got up from her bedside table and went to her private bathroom. When she was finished, she drank some water from a pitcher on the table next to her bed and started to try again to fall asleep, but she heard the sound of her door opening. Azula turned to look, and squinting in the light of the torches in the hallway, she could see a figure dressed in dark robes entering her room.
"Who are you?" Azula demanded to know, looking cautiously at the hooded figure.
Slowly, the figure removed the hood, and Azula was surprised to see her mother.
"Mom..."
"Azula, my dear..." she murmured. A sad little smile tugged at her lips. "What are you doing up at this hour? It's late."
"I can't sleep," she admitted with mild frustration.
"I see... Perhaps I can help you sleep."
Azula gave her a skeptical look.
"How?"
Her mother approached and, to her surprise, climbed onto the bed and sat with her back against the headboard. She opened an arm and encouraged her to come closer, which she did with some hesitation.
Slowly and steadily, her mother ran her hand over her head. Azula tensed for a second, but after a few moments she began to relax under her mother's touch.
"When you were a child and had trouble sleeping, I used to do this," she said, not stopping her gentle touch. "It always helped you sleep."
"I'm not a child anymore," Azula said with slight annoyance.
"No, you're not. You are a beautiful young lady now. And you will grow up to be a beautiful woman," she gently took her cheek and made her look at it. "But you will always be my little girl."
"Do you... Do you mean it?"
"Of course," Ursa replied without hesitation, caressing her cheek gently and lovingly. "Azula, my dear, no matter what happens from now on, know that I loved you even before you were born. And I will always love you. You are my little girl, my precious fire lily."
Azula opened her eyes in surprise. "My precious fire lily." That was what her mother had called her when she was a little girl. She had forgotten the last time she had called her that.
A warm feeling swirled in the pit of her stomach as she looked at her mother. Her lips trembled, and she felt a sting in her eyes.
"Try to sleep," Ursa suggested.
Azula nodded and looked away in an odd display of shyness.
"Would you... Would you stay with me until I sleep?"
Ursa's eyes widened in mild surprise, but a soft smile formed on her lips.
"Of course, my dear. I will stay with you."
Ursa continued her gentle caresses, and Azula lay back against her mother's body, relaxing under her touch and taking comfort in her warmth. It wasn't long before she fell asleep with a small smile on her face.
With a grunt of effort, Azula sent a fireball at the wooden doll. The attack hit and shook the doll, leaving a scorched mark on its metal armor.
"Not good enough," Lo, one of her firebending instructors, commented.
Or was it Li? Azula didn't know. Her firebending mentors were a pair of elderly twin women who looked and dressed exactly alike. Their voices were the same, their personalities the same. For Agni's sake, even the wrinkles on their faces were the same.
"They lack concentration," Li pointed out. Or at least Azula thought it was Li.
"Again," the sisters said in unison.
Azula gritted her teeth in frustration and anger. She resumed her firebending stance and continued her training under the watchful eyes of her mentors. As much as it pained her to admit it, she knew that Lo and Li's words were true. Her fire was weaker, as was her focus. Her mind had been foggy, hazy, ever since she had become a princess. Ever since her mother had disappeared...
Because she was lost in her thoughts, she stumbled slightly and failed to make a proper move. The flame she generated was obviously weak and easily dissipated.
"Your fire is weaker than before," Lo commented.
"You are distracted," her sister continued. "And it is affecting your performance."
"If your thoughts are affecting your ability, get rid of them. You don't need them. Block them out."
Azula thought of her mother. Of how she stayed by her side until she fell asleep.
'I'll stay with you.'
"Get rid of all emotion," Li said.
"Get rid of all weakness," Lo continued.
She remembered her mother's warmth... which was gone when she awoke, as was she.
'Azula, sweetheart, no matter what happens from now on, know that I loved you even before you were born. And I will always love you.'
"Only in this way will you reach perfection," the sisters concluded in unison.
"Enough!" Azula shouted, sending an intense wave of fire that forced Lo and Li to retreat to avoid being burned. "Get out!"
Both sisters tentatively stepped forward.
"But, Princess..."
"I said, get out of my sight!"
Lo and Li looked at each other before obeying Azula's command. They bowed their heads and left the training room, leaving the young princess alone, falling to her knees and clenching her fists until her knuckles were white. She bit down hard on the inside of her lip until she felt the taste of blood. The pang of pain helped clear her conflicting thoughts and dampen the dark feelings swirling in her heart.
'You are my little girl, my precious fire lily.'
But she couldn't help the sobs that escaped her mouth. Nor the tears that trickled down her cheeks.
By the time she left the training room, Azula had recovered enough to look presentable. She was ashamed of her little moment of vulnerability, of brokenness, of weakness. If her father had seen her, he would have been disappointed. Such a display of weakness was unworthy of a princess like her. And he would see to it that it never happened again.
As she walked through the halls of the Royal Palace, she passed the garden, a part of her expecting to see her mother sitting by the pond with the turtle ducks, feeding them breadcrumbs as she always did. But when she didn't see her, she felt a cold pang in her heart, which she quickly ignored.
She prepared to leave the garden, but noticed someone at the foot of the tree by the pond. When she approached, she was not surprised to find Perseus sleeping in the shade of the tree. The breeze gently ruffled his hair, and the rays of sunlight filtering through the branches framed his face, which was peaceful in sleep.
Azula watched him for longer than she cared to admit before approaching him.
"Sleeping again, Perseus?" she spoke, arching an eyebrow.
Her voice was enough to wake him from his nap.
"Uh?" He opened his eyes, showing the world those unique green eyes. "Oh, it's you, fire girl. What's wrong?"
"I can't figure out how you're so good with a sword, considering how lazy you are."
Perseus just shrugged.
"I compensate with a rigorous training regimen. Dad says rest is just as important as training."
"You take great advantage of that."
Perseus chuckled.
"Dad says that too. But if you'd sit down and relax, you'd see what I'm talking about," he leaned further back against the trunk, making room for her. "Come on, sit down. You could use some relaxation. Looks like you've had a hard day."
"You have no idea..." he murmured.
Azula wouldn't admit it, but the casual and disinterested tone in which Perseus spoke to her was a welcome respite from all the absolute respect and obedience she had received today, even from Mai and Ty Lee. It was comforting to know that despite her new position as a princess, Perseus still addressed her in the same manner as before.
So she accepted his invitation and sat down under the shade of the tree. She wouldn't admit it out loud, but Perseus was right. This place was perfect to sit and rest. The breeze was pleasant, and the sun's rays that filtered through the tree's branches were invigorating. She understood why he was in the habit of sleeping here so often.
Everything seemed so far away. Her new position as princess, the alienation of her friends, the disappearance of her mother...
"Do you want to?"
Azula turned to see Perseus offering her an onigiri.
"Where did you get this?" she asked.
A mischievous smile formed on Perseus' lips.
"Well, let's just say that no one will notice that a few onigiri are missing from the palace kitchen."
Azula looked at him and raised an eyebrow.
"You stole them."
Perseus' smile widened as he looked at her.
"Everything in this palace is yours, including the food, isn't it, fire girl? Then it's not stealing, it's simply reclaiming what's yours."
A small, amused smile formed on Azula's lips as she accepted the onigiri. As she took a bite, she noticed that the taste was something... different. Delicious? Yes. But it was different from the onigiri she ate during her training breaks. The same onigiri her mother had been accustomed to bringing her for the past few months...
A grim frown creased her features as she thought about it. She stopped eating and Perseus noticed.
"What's wrong?" He asked, "Don't you like it?"
"I've tasted better."
Perseus looked at his own onigiri.
"Yeah. I know what you mean. It doesn't taste like what we used to eat when we were training, does it?"
Azula didn't answer, just kept a frown on her face as she looked at the onigiri. She no longer had any appetite.
They both fell into an uncomfortable silence. Sure, she and Perseus had been training partners for the past few months, but they weren't friends. They weren't that close. And despite his outstanding sword skills, Perseus was still a commoner. It would be undignified for a princess like her to fraternize with someone like him. Would their relationship change now that she was a princess? The way it had changed with Mai and Ty Lee?
Azula was about to get up and leave when she saw Zuko enter the garden and approach them. He had his dao swords on his back, attached to his torso by a leather strap. When he got close to them, Azula saw a frown on her brother's face, causing her to raise an eyebrow in mild curiosity. It was rare to see Zuko with an expression like that.
"Hey, hotman," Perseus greeted, raising his hand.
"Hi," Zuko greeted, though it was more of a grunt. "Let's go."
Perseus sighed before eating the rest of his onigiri and reluctantly getting up.
"Are they going to train?" Azula asked.
"Yep," Perseus replied, picking up his sword, "I already took a nap and ate something, now I have to train," he looked at her intrigued. "Would you like to join us?"
Azula was surprised and curious at his offer. It was the first time Perseus had ever volunteered to come to his house. She couldn't help but wonder if it was an attempt to curry favor with her as the new princess of the Fire Nation.
"Why are you inviting her?" Zuko asked with obvious annoyance.
Perseus shrugged.
"I thought she might be interested in our training methods. Just as I learned from her firebending, she might learn something from a swordsman's moves."
Azula looked at him closely. That sounded... disturbingly convincing. It was either a well-crafted lie to get closer to her, or an act of selfless kindness. Considering her new position, she leaned towards the former.
Zuko snorted in annoyance and turned away.
"As you wish," he spat.
Perseus watched as he left the garden.
Azula stood beside him, looking at him questioningly out of the corner of her eye.
"Why are you inviting me?" she asked.
The best way to know a person's intentions was to confront them directly, just as she had done with those girls at the academy who wanted to sit with her just to curry favor. If Perseus wanted to do the same, he would either falter in his explanation or give a sign that would reveal his ulterior motives.
"I told you so," he replied. "Perhaps you would learn something by seeing how swordsmen train..."
"Stop the evasive answers and tell me your true intentions. That's obviously not all you want."
A small, sad smile formed on Perseus' lips as he slumped his shoulders in resignation.
"Did you know it?"
'I knew it!' Azula thought, narrowing her eyes.
But at the same time, she was uncomfortable with Perseus' admission. The confession that, even though he acted with her as if nothing had changed, he was trying to curry favor with her because of her new position. It made her clench her fists.
"Someone as clueless as Zuzu wouldn't notice your deceptions," she said. "But I see them clearly. It won't work on me."
"Maybe," Perseus admitted. "It hasn't worked on Zuko either. In fact, I see him getting more... angry every day. I don't know what to do anymore."
Azula raised an eyebrow in curiosity. She felt like she was missing something.
"He's been like this ever since our mother disappeared," she clarified. "Since we both became princes."
"And that's why I'm here. That's why I come here every day."
"To win our favor," she accused.
Perseus turned to her in confusion.
"What? No. I want to help you."
This time it was Azula's turn to look at him, looking and feeling confused.
"Huh? What do you mean, help us?"
"And I thought you were the sharpest of us..." Perseus said, rolling his eyes and earning an annoyed look from Azula. "I've been trying to help Zuko ever since his mother disappeared. Be there for him. Help him... deal with the loss. But I don't know how to do that. The only thing I can think of is to train with him. I thought it would help you, that's why I invited you to train."
Azula was silent for a few seconds, thinking about what Perseus had told her. A part of her was still suspicious. Her father had taught her that no one acted kindly without wanting something in return. Everyone had an ulterior motive.
But... What would Perseus gain by being considerate to Zuko? And now to her as well.
She thought about it as she followed him home. Interested in the training method of the swordsmen who would become an elite force in the future, and also to find out if Perseus' intentions were true.
When they arrived at Piandao's mansion, Azula saw all of his students engaged in intense training. Some were engaged in sword duels, while others were performing moves in which they raised their swords above their heads, brought them down hard, and then repeated them.
Zuko wasted no time in entering a duel with one of the swordsmen. Azula, on the other hand, stayed next to Perseus and watched the swordsmen's training with curiosity.
"Princess Azula, what a pleasant surprise."
She turned to see Perseus' father, Piandao, approaching. At his side was his butler, who always seemed to be with him.
"To what do I owe this pleasant surprise?" Piandao asked.
"I am curious about the training your students have received," Azula admitted, looking at the men and women in training. "These men and women will become an elite force that will fight in the name of our nation. And an elite force requires elite training."
"In other words, she wants to train with us," simplified Perseus, earning an annoyed look from Azula.
Piandao nodded in understanding.
"I see. I am flattered that you are interested in learning from my teachings."
"I am only interested in becoming stronger so that I can defeat others," Azula said, glancing sideways at Perseus. The only person her age who could beat her. Her training partner. Her rival.
"I know nothing about how to surpass others," Piandao said solemnly. "I only know the method of surpassing myself. And that is what I seek to instill in my students."
"Surpassing myself...?"
Piandao nodded.
"That is the life of a warrior, princess. It's not about being better than someone else. It's about being better than you were the day before."
Azula thought about it. Certainly, she had slipped in her training over the past few days. Her skills had become sloppy, clumsy and weak, which irritated and frustrated her to no end, causing her abilities to diminish even further. She could not allow this to continue. Especially not now that she had become a princess.
Determined, she looked at Piandao.
"Show me."
Azula clenched her teeth in pain as the bamboo pole hit her ankle, but showed no sign of pain as she fell, using her arms to grab the ends of the logs stuck in the ground to keep from falling.
She raised her head to see Perseus towering over her, standing on a pair of logs with a bamboo sword resting on his shoulder.
"Come on, princess, is that all you've got?" he taunted.
Azula glared at him. For the past ten minutes, the two of them had been dueling in what they called 'the field of sticks'. It was frustrating and humiliating for Azula to be overpowered by Perseus once again. All the more so because he was not wielding a conventional sword, but one made of bamboo. So his blows were not lethal, but painful and very annoying.
His sarcastic remarks did not help either. Seeing his mocking smile, Azula wanted nothing more than to send a fireball into his face to wipe that annoying smile off his face. She had tried, but the unfavorable battlefield had prevented her from doing so. Perseus dodged her attacks or simply hit her legs and arms before she could firebend at him. No doubt he had much more experience fighting in this type of terrain.
"You have a good center of balance and awareness of your surroundings, princess Azula," Piandao said, standing apart from the field of sticks and watching them curiously. "But your desire to defeat your opponent is preventing you from exploring other options."
"What other options are there but to overwhelm your opponent with superior strength?" she asked, rising to her feet and stepping over two logs to stand.
"Get back and defend yourself so you can evaluate your options."
Azula frowned in displeasure.
"A Firebender doesn't fight like that."
"But a true warrior does. They fight with patience and discipline, even when their opponent uses less than honorable tactics... like taunting."
Piandao glanced at his son, who laughed ruefully and looked away in mild embarrassment.
"Sorry," he said sadly.
Piandao sighed.
"You have a long way to go on the warrior's path, my son."
"The warrior's path?" Azula asked, raising an eyebrow.
"One driven by the seven great virtues," Perseus replied almost automatically. "Justice. Respect. Courage. Honor. Benevolence. Integrity. Loyalty. This is the way of the warrior. The qualities that define a warrior of great valor."
Piandao nodded, pleased to hear his son's words.
"Though they are the virtues of a warrior of great valor, they could also be the virtues that define a great ruler," Piandao commented. "Though I did not know him personally, I served under your grandfather Azulon in numerous battles throughout the Earth Kingdom, including the Battle of Garsai. And I saw in him many of the virtues of not only a great warrior, but also a great ruler."
"Really?" Azula asked, curious about how her grandfather was viewed in his time as a leader on the war front. "What was he like?"
"He was... a man of great virtues," Piandao said with a glazed look in his eyes, lost in thought as he recalled a moment many years ago. "Watching him, I learned several aspects of what a warrior should be. Someone who is fair in treating everyone fairly on the battlefield, and as a ruler, able to maintain harmony within the army troops. Respectful in valuing the actions and sacrifices made by soldiers in the name of their nation. Courageous in facing danger in an unfavorable battle. And honorable in treating the people of the Earth Kingdom with respect and dignity, recognizing them not as enemies to be conquered and subjugated, but as people to be taught a better way. That's how I saw the Fire Lord Azulon" he looked directly at Azula with a seriousness that puzzled her. "Perhaps you can follow in his footsteps, princess Azula. And become not only his equal, but better. After all, new generations must surpass those that came before."
Azula listened intently, fascinated by Piandao's words. Obviously, she had studied her grandfather's great deeds in the war. Not for nothing had he been recognized as a great leader in the Battle of Garsai. But she was fascinated to learn how he was viewed by one of the men who had served under him in those battles. And not just any man, but the best swordsman in the Fire Nation. Someone who had defeated a hundred soldiers with one sword without being a master.
But something he said echoed in her mind. The possibility to not only be equal to her grandfather, but to surpass him. To be better than the man who was known in the Fire Nation as a prodigy without equal. That challenge, that ambition... it lit a fire in her heart that was invigorating. It was the same feeling that had motivated her to hone her firebending skills after losing her first duel to Perseus.
With that in mind, she prepared to resume the fight, taking a firebending stance while standing on the logs. Perseus raised his bamboo sword, ready to continue. But when Azula sent a fireball at him, it was only slightly larger than her previous fireballs, and Perseus dispelled it with a single swift swing of his sword.
Azula gritted her teeth in growing anger, but did not stop. She continued to send fireballs and fiery blows, but her flames were small and tasteless. They were not even capable of scorching Perseus' bamboo sword.
"What's wrong with my firebending!" she sputtered in frustration, sending a stream of fire from her fists that dissipated before it even touched Perseus. "What am I doing wrong!"
Piandao watched her carefully for a few seconds before speaking.
"I am not an expert in the art of firebending or bending itself, but I know the basics," he said, causing Azula to turn to look at him. "After years of fighting with and against benders, I have discovered that their control is largely dependent on their emotions."
"Emotions?" Azula snorted in mockery and contempt. "Emotions are a weakness. An obstacle that keeps you from reaching your true potential. An obstacle to achieving perfection."
"So you think that by getting rid of them, you can achieve perfection in firebending?" Piandao asked.
"Yes!" she growled.
'If I didn't have these... emotions, my firebending wouldn't be as pathetic as Zuzu's!'
At that thought, she couldn't help but think of her mother. Her last words and the last hug they shared... before she woke up the next day to find her mother gone.
The memory made her grit her teeth and feel a lump in her throat and heart.
'It's her fault!'
To prove her point, Azula sent a fireball at Perseus, but he dispelled it with a wave of his hand.
"Hey" he grumbled.
Piandao shook his head gently.
"Your firebending is faltering because your emotions are in conflict," he pointed out. "Because you cannot control them."
Azula's eyes narrowed as she looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
"If you want to regain the same control over your fire, you must first control yourself. Don't suppress your feelings, don't deny them. To deny them is to deny yourself. Who you are. To reach your true potential, you must accept yourself."
"I am Azula, daughter of Fire Lord Ozai! Princess of the Fire Nation! I have accepted who I have become!"
"But have you accepted what happened to your mother?"
Azula tensed in her seat and looked at Piandao with wide, perplexed eyes.
Piandao put his hand behind his back and walked up to them, especially Azula, and looked her straight in the eye.
"I don't know how you feel about your mother," he said. "But if you don't come to an acceptance of what happened, you will be stuck in the past."
"Acceptance?" Azula repeated, indignantly, "I have accepted what happened! She's gone!"
"And how does that make you feel?"
"It doesn't make me feel anything! Why should I feel anything towards someone who is no longer here! Someone who never cared about me!"
"Is that the truth?" pressed Piandao. "Or is it something you told yourself to accept what happened?"
Azula clenched her fists, feeling her frustration and anger grow. Not because of Piandao's words, but because of the memories flashing through her mind and the emotions they brought with them.
'Azula, darling, no matter what happens from now on, remember that I loved you even before you were born. And I always will.'
'Lies,' she thought. 'If she had told the truth, she wouldn't have left the way she did.'
'I will stay with you.'
'Lies! She's gone! She left me!'
She created a small flame in the palm of her hand, but it was small, fragile and weak... just like she was right now because of these conflicting feelings that overwhelmed her.
"Don't suppress your feelings," she heard Piandao's voice, which sounded strangely soft. "Let them flow. Accept them. Only then can you control them and your fire."
Control...
Despite her initial reluctance to accept Piandao's words, she now admitted that he was right. Firebending was about that. It was about having control not only over the fire you created, but also over yourself. And Azula would never allow herself to be controlled by her own emotions. As a member of the Royal Family, she was above that. And now, as a princess of the Fire Nation.
As she looked at the flames in her hand, she felt the memories of her mother flash through her mind again, along with the emotions she felt. But this time, she didn't try to suppress them, she let them flow.
One of her oldest memories was of how scared her mother had looked when she turned out to be a firebender. Unlike her father, who had been thrilled and pleased to see his daughter show the gift and talent of firebending at such a young age. Azula remembered her mother's constant rebukes and punishments, as well as her obvious favoritism toward Zuko, which only made her anger and resentment toward her mother grow by the day.
But... it wasn't all bad memories.
She remembered her mother teaching her to play Pai Sho in the palace garden and the matches they had. The lunches she brought her during her training sessions. The walks they took in the garden. And most of all, she remembered the words she had said to her the night before she disappeared.
This was the source of her conflicting feelings. There was a conflict between the image and relationship she had of her mother in the past and the one she had in the last few months. From the image of a distant and fearful mother to a loving and caring one. Which caused her control over her own fire to change due to her own emotions fluctuating... just as Piandao had said.
Azula looked at the man, who looked patient and understanding as he watched her, waiting to see what she would do.
She looked again at the flames in her hands, which looked fragile, wavering between dying and intensifying. Taking a deep breath, Azula closed her eyes and focused on her breathing. She did not resist the memories that quickly flooded her mind, nor the emotions they stirred. Just as Piandao had said, she let them flow... and accepted them.
Accepting the resentment she had held against her mother for so many years for favoring Zuko and pushing her aside. But she also accepted that what her mother had told her that night was true. Her mother really did love her... but she was gone.
The flame in her hand grew almost wildly, but Azula refused to let it get too big. She was the one in control, of her flames and of herself.
With a mischievous smile on her lips, she turned to Perseus, who took a step back with a fearful expression on his face.
"Oh, geeze..."
Azula lunged forward, sending a large and intense bolt of fire. Perseus dodged it by jumping aside and landing on a pair of logs, but Azula did not stop her attacks. She jumped and kicked twice in the air, sending two crescent-shaped flares that covered the entire field of fire, forcing Perseus to jump high to avoid the attacks.
"Hey, take it easy, fire girl," he tried to calm her down with his hands up and a nervous smile on his face.
"Oh, believe me. I'm very calm," Azula said, smiling at Perseus' expression. "In fact, I've never felt better!"
She bent her knees slightly into a solid stance and drew her fist back, concentrating her chi on it, feeling the heat of her firebending build before she struck forward, sending a powerful flare of fire. Perseus' eyes widened in surprise at the size of the flames, and he reared back, dodging the fireball as he fell backwards, though he managed to grab hold of one of the logs with one arm to keep from falling to the ground. He quickly got to his feet, using the strength of a single arm to propel himself forward, but Azula was waiting for him, approaching him and engaging him in hand-to-hand combat. She knew that Perseus could overwhelm her with his sword if she kept a medium distance, so she used the terrain to her advantage as much as possible and kept the distance as close as possible to prevent him from swinging his sword.
It was a close fight because Perseus could not swing his bamboo sword fully, and Azula could not hit him with a direct blow because he would deflect it by hitting her wrist or ankle with his free arm, or dodge it. But Azula did not give up, she remained patient and waited for her chance. All it took was one precise, powerful strike to bring him down, for Perseus had proven unusually resistant to firebending blows.
She got her chance when Perseus stepped back so he could swing his sword fully in an upward arc. Azula managed to avoid it by inches, feeling a gust of wind ruffle her hair as the bamboo sword passed within inches of her face. Stepping back over one of the trunks, she drew her fist back and focused her energy on it, compressing it into a single point. She could feel the heat building in her fist, and as she brought it forward in a motion she had repeated hundreds of times, flames erupted from it... but they weren't the typical orange flames.
They were blue.
Perseus opened his eyes in utter shock and reacted quickly, bringing his arms up to his chest in an attempt to protect himself, but as the flames struck his body, he was thrown violently off the logs he was standing on, falling several feet to the ground and skidding to a stop. A grunt of pain escaped Perseus' mouth as he pulled himself to a sitting position and his arms came into view. Surprisingly, despite the direct hit, they were only reddened.
"What the hell... was that?" he asked, growling. "Blue... fire?"
Azula was as stunned as he was. She looked down at her own hands, still processing the fact that she had created a fire of a different color. She opened her palm and created a small flame that burned in an orange and yellow hue, like any normal firebender's flame.
"Focus on your fire," Piandao advised. "Concentrate your chi on it. And remember, you are the one in control."
Azula turned to him and nodded slightly. As she concentrated and focused all her energy on the flame in her hand, it began to flicker a different color until it became a shade of blue with a whitish center. Despite being slightly smaller, Azula could feel the intense heat emanating from the flame dancing in the palm of her hand.
"What... What is that?" she asked, fascinated by the color of her own flames. "How is this possible?"
Surprisingly, it was Piandao who replied.
"Blue fire is the result of perfect combustion," he explained, making Azula and Perseus look at him closely. "When fire burns without any impurities, it turns blue due to the much higher temperatures it reaches, unlike normal fire," he gave Azula a thoughtful look. "Although it's the first time I've seen a firebender do it..."
"So... is it like a perfect fire?" -Perseus asked before looking at Azula. There was a strange look of contemplation in his eyes. "Goes with you."
She wouldn't admit it out loud, but she was flattered by the comment. She lowered her gaze and narrowed her eyes as she looked at Perseus' arms. Despite being hit at close range by a fire that burned brighter than normal fire, his arms showed no burns of any kind, and the redness he once had faded, leaving behind clear skin, free of any wounds or blemishes.
At the sight of him, Azula felt suspicion and intrigue rise within her. But those feelings were overshadowed by the intense prospect of advancing further in her training. Every conflicted feeling in her heart had been replaced by a fervent desire to reach a level no human had ever reached before, not even her grandfather Azulon or her great-grandfather Sozin.
A smile of excitement formed on her lips at the prospect, but it was wiped away when she heard a cry of pain.
She turned to catch a glimpse of her older brother, Zuko, the new Crown Prince of the Fire Nation, disarming one of Piandao's disciples by slashing him across the knuckles. Blood splattered the floor as the disciple fell to his knees, clutching his bleeding hand. Despite his opponent's condition, Zuko continued his attacks, swinging his dao swords fiercely and aggressively. Infusing his blades with fire, Zuko struck his opponent's sword and thrust forward, causing the student to drop his sword with a cry of pain as he felt the intense fire begin to burn his hand.
Azula raised an eyebrow in intrigue at her brother's somewhat reckless attitude and watched expectantly as he raised his swords, which were embedded in fire, ready to drop them on the fallen student.
Then Azula saw a blur glide out of the corner of her eye and heard the clash of metal on metal and the collective gasp of the students. Everyone watched wide-eyed, surprised to see Perseus parry Zuko's attack and show no sign of pain, despite the proximity of the flames embedded in the dao swords. But Azula was more surprised by something else. Before she could react, Perseus had moved with alarming speed, crossing the training ground in a matter of seconds and placing himself between Zuko and the helpless Piandao disciple.
"Percy...?" Zuko muttered, looking surprised.
Perseus, on the other hand, had a hard look in his eyes.
"Zuko..." he growled, narrowing his eyes. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
As he spoke, there was a seriousness in his voice that Azula had never heard before. And though she wouldn't admit it out loud, it unsettled her.
"I...? What are you doing?!" replied Zuko. "I'm in a duel! Don't interfere!"
Zuko used his swords to push Perseus, but he stood his ground.
"A duel? You're just taking it out on him! Like a bully!"
Perseus shoved Zuko, sending him staggering backwards, but he stood his ground.
"I'm not a bully!" Zuko vehemently denied.
"Tell him that!"
Perseus pointed at the wounded student, who held his bloody hand and was being attended to by Fat with bandages and ointments to stop the bleeding.
Zuko clicked his tongue and looked away with an annoyed grimace. The flames on his dao Swords dissipated.
"Look, Zuko, I understand that you're angry about what happened to your mother..."
"Understand?" Zuko's voice reflected disbelief and anger. "How can you understand what it feels like to lose a mother? You don't have one, you never did."
Azula raised an eyebrow curiously. So that's why Perseus had never mentioned anything about his mother. And judging by the pained expression on his face, it was a subject that affected him.
"Zuko..." he muttered in a hurt voice.
"Or maybe you did, but you were just a baby when she left you..."
Azula hadn't expected such insulting words from Zuko, let alone Perseus punching him right in the face. The sound of breaking bones was heard and Zuko fell to the ground, holding his face in pain as blood began to stain his hand.
"Perseus!" shouted one of Piandao's disciples, "What the hell do you think you're doing, it's prince Zuko!"
"All I see is an asshole who needs a lesson," Perseus snapped, looking at Zuko with anger, but also sadness. Obviously, Zuko's words had hurt him.
Perseus turned his back on Zuko and walked away. The students stepped aside to let him pass. As he passed Azula, he gave her a quick sideways glance before entering the mansion.
Azula watched him go, fascinated. From the day she had met him, Perseus had always been a person she found annoying and irritating, but also intriguing. And now, with what she had discovered about him today, she was even more intrigued.
"This is an unprecedented event in the history of the Fire Nation," Ozai said, sitting on the Dragon Throne that reflected his new position as Fire Lord.
Azula stood before him with one knee on the ground and her head bowed, but she could feel her father's piercing gaze.
"I always knew you were a true prodigy, my daughter," he said, and Azula could hear the pleased tone in his voice. "The blood of your great-grandfather Sozin coursing through your veins has made you strong. Your early awakening at the age of six and your outstanding talent and mastery of the art of firebending have put you on a par with your grandfather Azulon. And now you have reached a level never before seen by a firebender. You have furthered the lineage of the Fire Nation's glorious Royal Family. Be proud of yourself, Azula, for I am."
With each of her father's words, Azula felt a growing sense of satisfaction in her heart. Her father was openly acknowledging her, declaring that he was proud of her.
"Your words honor me deeply, father," she said, raising her head with a determined look on her face. "And I will do whatever it takes to be worthy of that honor."
Ozai nodded, pleased.
"As expected from a member of the Royal Family," Ozai rose from his throne and descended the stairs. The wall of flames descended as if bowing to their sovereign. "Don't forget, Azula. We must prove our supremacy not only to the citizens of our nation, but to other nations as well. So from now on, your main focus will be on mastering your blue fire. I will accept nothing less than perfection."
Azula bowed her head.
"So be it, father."
As she left the throne room, she did so with renewed determination. She had accomplished something extraordinary. Something unique in the history of her people. And her father was pleased. But with that joy came expectations as high as the feat she had accomplished.
Expectations she would not only meet, but exceed. She would prove herself a worthy princess of the Fire Nation.
It had been a week since Azula had discovered that she could create blue fire, the perfect fire. Her training schedule under the tutelage of Lo and Li had intensified under her father's belief that it was they who had guided her to achieve the feat of creating blue fire. Azula did not want to admit to her father that it was not their guidance that had brought her to a new level of firebending, but a renowned swordsman who had gained great wisdom after years of warfare.
It was for this reason that she found herself, after much thought, at the gates of the Piandao mansion.
Another reason she was here was that being in the palace was, quite frankly, unbearable. Between her father's expectations, Li and Lo's advice on how to control her new blue fire, and Zuko's constant complaints and tantrums about his fight with Perseus, being at the palace had become downright annoying. Not to mention how annoying the academy had become in the last few days, which was why she hadn't been to class. She hadn't seen Mai and Ty Lee again, and hadn't bothered to.
With some hesitation, Azula knocked on the doorknob of the mansion. It wasn't long before one of the double doors opened and Piandao's butler appeared.
"Princess Azula," he said in surprise before pulling himself together. "Do you want something?"
"I want to see Piandao," Azula demanded.
"Of course, Your Highness. He is busy teaching his students, but I am sure he will take a moment to see you. Please come in."
The butler opened the door and Azula stepped inside. She could see the students training with their swords, but there was one in particular that caught her attention. A little off to one side of the field, a fight was going on. Azula immediately recognized Perseus, who was facing three swordsmen alone. And judging by the way the fight was going, Perseus was winning. Which was no surprise. For as long as she had known him, and as much as it irritated her, he had never lost a fight.
The butler, who had introduced himself as Fat (an amusing name considering the man's physique), led her to one of the trees away from the training ground, where there was a small wooden table and some cushions.
"Please have a seat," Fat said. "Master Piandao will be here soon. In the meantime..." The butler picked up a teapot on the table and poured the steaming contents into a cup and offered it to her. "Enjoy the tea."
When the butler left, Azula grabbed the cup. Tentatively, she took a small sip. And when she noticed that it wasn't bad, she took another sip.
It wasn't long before Piandao appeared and joined her, sitting on the cushion in front of her and pouring his own cup of tea.
"Princess Azula," he bowed his head in greeting and respect, "It is a surprise to see you here. To what do I owe the honor of your presence?"
Azula took another sip from her warm cup of tea, tasting the jasmine flavor.
"There is only one reason I am here today," she said, setting the cup down on the table and looking directly at Piandao. "It is because of you that I have been able to reach a new level in firebending that was not thought possible."
Piandao bowed his head again.
"I thank you for your kind words, Your Highness. But the potential to reach such a level comes only from you, not from me."
"Yes, it comes from me. But it was because of your guidance. It was because of your guidance that I was able to not only regain my firebending, but take it to a level never before seen in the history of our nation. It wasn't my father, it wasn't my firebending teachers... It was you."
Piandao said nothing, just maintained a calm and unperturbed expression.
"And because of that..." Azula continued, not looking away from him. "That I want you to be the one to oversee my training to master my blue fire."
...
..
.
And that's all for now, dear readers.
How did you like my approach to the origin of Azula's blue fire?
I've done a lot of research into the lore of the Avatar world, and there's no official explanation as to why Azula is the only one in the entire series who can use blue fire. Some say it's because of the perfect combustion, others say it's because of Azula's conflicted feelings. And this hole is perfect for us as fans to theorize and delve into.
Personally, I focused on Azula's conflicted feelings over the loss of her mother. Knowing that Ursa, despite her reprimands and obvious preference for Zuko, truly loved her, yet abandoned her and created a conflict that affected her firebending (similar to what happened to Zuko in the show when he freed Appa or when he decided to join Team Avatar).
This is not to say that Azula has turned over a new leaf or gotten over what happened with her mother. What she did do was accept that her mother was telling the truth when she told her that she loved her, but she still always chose Zuko over her and then disappeared. Azula did not deal with this trauma, she simply repressed it and focused on controlling her firebending and pleasing her father, someone who expressed pride in her. After all, children want to please their parents.
Although she has made a strange choice in the person who will guide her to master her blue fire, and she has noticed the strange and abnormal resistance that Percy has to fire... What do you think will happen?
We also had the first buddy fight between Percy and Zuko. We all know that was going to happen sooner or later, because that's how guys bond. With a bare fist.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it. And with nothing more to say... See you next time, beautiful ones!