Chapter 31: Azula's Prisoner
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With a mischievous smirk playing on her lips, Azula's voice dripped with amusement as she observed the group of warrior girls from Kyoshi island, her eyes tracing their every move.
"My my," she drawled, her throat laced with a mixture of surprise and delight, "you're certainly an easy bunch to locate." As her gaze lingered on their formidable gauntlets, she marveled at the intricate mechanism within, causing the metal to extend in a mesmerizing circular motion, forming a retractable shield adorned with the coin-like crest of the Earth Kingdom.
The sight was truly astounding, leaving Azula to ponder why her brother, the ever-ambitious Zuko, hadn't managed to capture these skilled fighters yet. She couldn't help but notice the girls' faces, adorned with vibrant paint, each stroke a testament to their unwavering spirit, while their unified uniform spoke volumes of their unyielding determination.
With a defiant glare, Suki boldly confronted the princess, her voice filled with both curiosity and a hint of caution, as she stood confidently at the forefront of her loyal group of Warriors. "What do you want with us?" she demanded, her words echoing with a resolute determination that matched the unwavering strength of her companions.
In response, Azula, arched an eyebrow with a sly smirk, her voice dripping with mockery and amusement. Her piercing gaze swept across the assembled group, scrutinizing each member with a discerning eye. She couldn't help but taunt them, unable to resist the opportunity to provoke a reaction. "Who are you? The Avatar's fan girls?" she sneered, her words laced with a mix of derision and curiosity. As her sharp gaze landed on each warrior, she couldn't help but notice that none of them appeared particularly formidable, save for their leader, whose air of competence set her apart from the rest.
"Ohhh," Ty Lee remarked from the mongoose lizard to Azula's flank, "I get it! Good one, Azula."
Azula looked the group before her up and down. By now, the Avatar and his friends would have made their presence known, undoubtedly. But no indicator. He wasn't here; none of them were. But Azula now had some very potent leverage.
With a defiant glare, Suki's voice dripped with determination as she retorted, "If you're looking for the Avatar, you're out of luck," As her eyes scanned the group before her, she quickly discerned the subtle signs of authority emanating from one individual, solidifying her understanding of who their leader was.
Meanwhile, in an almost dismissive manner, Mai's nonchalant reaction punctuated the futility of their endeavor, her exasperation evident in her weary declaration, "Ugh, I knew this was a waste of time."
As Azula stood poised and ready, her every muscle tensed with anticipation, she couldn't help but feel a surge of confidence coursing through her veins. The intensity in her eyes mirrored the flickering flames that danced within her heart.
"No Avatar, huh?" Azula's voice dripped with both disdain and a touch of amusement, as if she found their futile attempts to resist her all the more entertaining. "Well, that's okay. Any friend of the Avatar is an enemy of mine!" Her words resonated with a mix of determination and defiance.
With a swift and graceful motion, Azula dismounted from her steed, her feet barely touching the ground before she unleashed a torrent of searing flames upon her adversaries. The intensity of her attack was matched only by the unwavering unity of the Kyoshi Warriors, who instinctively huddled together, forming an impenetrable barrier with their interlocked shields.
Like a formidable fortress, they stood firm, resolute in their determination to protect one another from the destructive force that threatened them. Sparks of blue fire clashed against the unyielding strength of the Kyoshi Warriors' defense. The flames licked at their makeshift shield wall, but they held strong, their unwavering resolve shining through in the face of imminent danger.
Amidst the chaotic clash of clashing warriors, Azula emerged from the fray, her lithe figure moving with an elegance that belied the lethal intent in her eyes. As her comrades engaged in their own struggles, she found herself locked in an enthralling duel with Suki, their movements blending seamlessly into a mesmerizing ballet of grace and danger.
Each step, each strike, was a testament to their skill and determination.In this mesmerizing display, a symphony of sapphire flames flickered and swirled, casting an ethereal glow upon the battlefield. Knives were hurled with precision, glinting in the air before finding their mark, while swords swung with deadly accuracy, their metallic symphony echoing through the air.
The clash of metal on metal reverberated, creating an intense and exhilarating cacophony.But amidst the chaos, a stray blast of fire erupted, igniting a fallen log and setting it ablaze. Flames licked at the air, dancing with a ferocity that matched the intensity of the battle itself.
Undeterred by the encroaching inferno, Azula and Suki continued their deadly dance, their every move a calculated step towards victory or defeat. Suki, her determination unwavering, drew her sword with a resolute grip, poised to deliver a final, decisive blow.As Suki lunged forward, her sword gleaming in the firelight.
With a fierce determination burning in her eyes, Suki fearlessly propelled herself forward, her sword gleaming in the sunlight as she charged towards Azula. Every muscle in her body tensed, ready to strike at any moment. As she lunged forward, her blade aimed directly at Azula's heart, Suki's mind was filled with a mix of adrenaline and anticipation.
However, Azula, displaying her remarkable agility, swiftly leaped into the air. In a breathtaking display of acrobatics, she positioned her body parallel to the ground, deftly evading Suki's deadly strike. The razor-sharp edge of Suki's sword narrowly missed Azula's lithe frame, grazing the air just inches below her.
In a display of unmatched agility, the nimble princess gracefully spun around, her eyes locked on Suki's katana. With a single, lightning-fast motion, she slapped the sword out of Suki's grip, sending it flying through the air. The blade found its final resting place, embedding itself deeply into the trunk of a nearby tree, as if marking the battleground with its presence.
Unfazed by the loss of her weapon, Suki's determination burned brighter than ever. With unwavering focus, she swiftly raised her shield just in time, blocking the scorching fire blast launched by Azula. As the flames danced menacingly against the protective barrier, Suki stood her ground.
With a graceful twirl, Azula skillfully maneuvered her body, swiftly pivoting on her toes to bring her right foot into action. Like a gust of wind, her foot swept beneath Suki's stance, causing her to lose her footing and stumble momentarily. However, Azula's display of agility did not end there. In one seamless motion, the heel of her foot propelled forward and connected with the captain of the group, sending them sprawling to the ground. As the captain's body hit the earth with a resounding thud, Azula's acute senses picked up on the faint, yet unmistakable sound of metallic fans being unfurled behind her.
With lightning reflexes, Azula anticipated the imminent danger and gracefully evaded the two fans hurtling towards her, their metallic blades whistling ominously through the air.
As she gracefully dodged, a mesmerizing whirlwind of fire erupted from her spinning kick, leaving behind a mesmerizing trail of dancing flames. Meanwhile, the valiant Kyoshi Warrior, sensing the impending clash, swiftly retreated.
In a burst of furious flames, Azula unleashed a scorching blast that propelled the dodging warrior girl directly into the heart of the engagement area, where the agile Ty Lee, renowned for her prowess in the art of chi-blocking, stood poised and ready.
With uncanny precision, Ty Lee's lightning-fast strikes found their mark, relentlessly targeting the vulnerable chi points of her hapless opponent. Each strike landed with a hypnotic rhythm, resonating with the fierce determination pulsating through the battlefield.Inevitably, the overwhelmed warrior girl succumbed to the torrents of Ty Lee's relentless blows, her strength waning with each strike. Finally, as the brutal symphony of combat subsided, the defeated girl crumpled to the ground, her body splayed across the battlefield.
Azula knew these warriors would be key in her next concocted plan. A rebound from the colossal failure that was the now totalled siege drill from a few days prior. Determined to assert her dominance and make a resounding statement, Azula summoned the raw power of her firebending, unleashing a scorching blast of flames towards the leader of the warriors. Undeterred, the fearless leader skillfully deflected the onslaught with her trusty shield; however, the sheer force behind Azula's attack sent her stumbling backward.
With a graceful stumble, Suki swiftly regained her footing, her determination unwavering. As her hand instinctively reached for her belt, she skillfully unsheathed her war fan, an elegant weapon poised to strike. Simultaneously, she raised her shield, its polished surface gleaming in the sunlight, as if reflecting her unyielding resolve.
"Don't you know fans just make flames stronger?" Azula taunted with a hint of mockery.
In a stunning display of fierce determination, the two formidable combatants clashed head-on, their eyes locked in an intense battle of wills. With lightning speed, Suki expertly maneuvered her shield, skillfully deflecting Azula's ferocious fire blast, creating a mesmerizing dance of flame and steel.
Undeterred by the searing heat, Suki pressed forward, closing the distance with calculated precision. In a flash of ingenuity, Suki transformed her delicate fan into a formidable tool of redirection, harnessing its graceful arcs to manipulate Azula's own momentum and energy against her.
It was a daring gambit, an attempt to turn Azula's own power into her downfall. Yet, Azula's cunning proved to be her greatest weapon. With a swift burst of agility, she evaded Suki's grasp, slipping through her fingers like a phantom. The battle raged on, a symphony of clashes and near-misses, as the two fierce warriors continued their intricate dance of combat, each maneuvering with calculated strategy and unyielding determination.
With the grace and agility of a nimble cat, her movements matched Suki's in every way, granting her an equal footing on the battlefield. Dressed in a vibrant green attire that blended seamlessly with the surrounding foliage, the warrior poised herself for an attack, aiming a swift jab towards her opponent.
However, Azula anticipated the strike and swiftly evaded it, effortlessly ducking beneath Suki's outstretched arm.Seizing the opportunity, the princess retaliated with lightning speed, her piercing gaze fixated on Suki's vulnerable chest plate. A surge of raw power surged through Azula's body as she forcefully pushed her opponent backward, momentarily disrupting Suki's balance.
Before the seasoned captain had a chance to regain her composure, Azula unleashed a ferocious roundhouse kick, a whirlwind of fiery determination propelling her leg forward.The impact was nothing short of cataclysmic. Like a tempest unleashed, a torrential blast of flames erupted from Azula.
The scorching flames crashed against Suki's defenseless form with the unstoppable force of a charging Komodo rhino, propelling her backward through the air. Helpless, she spiraled through the sky, her body twisting and turning as she hurtled towards the unforgiving ground below.With a resounding thud, Suki finally made contact with the earth, her body rolling and tumbling amidst the dirt and debris.
With graceful determination, Azula strode across the battleground, her eyes gleaming with a mix of triumph and malice, until she reached the towering tree trunk. Despite the fatigue that threatened to consume her, Suki summoned every ounce of her remaining strength, determined to rise from the dust-covered earth and continue the valiant fight against her formidable adversary.
As Azula loomed over her fallen opponent, a sinister smile tugged at the corners of her lips. The fire nation princess, cast an intimidating shadow as she gazed down upon Suki, a defeated warrior gasping for breath. In a moment that seemed to stretch into eternity, Azula's cold gaze met Suki's weary eyes, relishing in the sight of her vanquished foe.
With a swift and calculated motion, Azula grasped the hilt of Suki's sword, feeling the cool metal against her palm. She raised it high above her head, the sunlight reflecting off its polished surface, and brought it crashing down towards Suki's defenseless form. The tip of the blade pierced through the fabric of Suki's green uniform, barely grazing her arm, causing a sharp sting of pain to shoot through her body. Suki winced, her face contorting in agony, as the realization of her predicament sank in.
"We're about the same size and physique, don't you think?" Azula looked down on Suki with a scheming gaze. She removed the bronze headpiece from Suki's head, tilting and rotating it in her hands as she examined the ornament.
"What should we do with them?" Mai inquired as she looked over the disabled grouping of fallen Kyoshi warriors.
"We'll wait for nearby Fire Nation troops to detain them. This one here is their leader," she said, standing over Suki.
"Naruto will come to save me," Suki said in a lower tone. "I know he will when he comes. You won't be so tough then!" She promised with an almost smug voice.
Azula's eyes widened in delight once she heard Suki bring up Naruto's name. She licked her lips slightly, her golden eyes showing a hint of desire, something Suki didn't like seeing in someone like Azula. She briefly wondered why saying Naruto's name had caused that reaction in the Fire Nation Princess.
"Naruto," Azula repeated the name, licking her lips once again before crouching to get to Suki's level, Azula's golden eyes looking directly at Suki.
"How do you know him? Tell me everything you know, and I Will let all your friends go away," Azula proposed with a generous smile, her voice sly like a snake. Suki was tempted to say something, and she looked at her unconscious friends. Suki wanted to help them. She knew Azula was probably lying, but she wanted to take the chance to save her friends, but Suki's attention quickly turned toward Azula. She wanted to know how Azula knew Naruto.
"Why do you want to know about him?" Suki questioned instead of answering Azula's question. She couldn't help but shudder at the way Azula was talking whenever she mentioned Naruto like she knew Naruto well. You will never know him as well as I Do, Suki thought, remembering the days she used to play tag with Naruto when they were naught but stupid children.
"Ohh, let's just say he has intrigued me," Azula started, looking upwards at the clear sky. For a fleeting moment, her face showed something else besides cruelty, but Suki wasn't sure what it was; Azula's face quickly turned back to emotionless as she looked down on Suki once again.
"Now, will you be a good girl and tell me everything?" Azula questioned with a sharp voice, taking hold of Suki's chin and tightening her grip slightly, causing Suki to wince in pain. Suki almost opened her mouth to speak but quickly closed it tightly while glaring at Azula.
"I Will never betray Naruto's trust," Suki spoke with determination. She didn't care if Azula tortured her. She would never betray the one person she valued the most. Azula laughed mockingly after hearing that, right at Suki's face, before letting go of Suki's chin, causing her chin to hit the ground below.
"Naruto will come to me, trust me," Azula told Suki with a hushed tone before she stood up and turned to look at Ty Lee.
"Ty Lee, gather their supplies. We'll surely make use of them," Azula ordered with a strict tone.
Mai examined one of their iron war fans plainly. "What are you thinking?" She questioned, looking from the war fan to Azula, whose smirk only grew.
"I found our ticket into Ba Sing Se."
Later
Azula smoothed Suki's thick auburn hair, picking up a small curl that was even more reddish than the rest of her hair.
"Red hair." The princess snapped her tongue. "I thought that this was a Fire Nation thing." She let the curl slip from her hand and pricked Suki's green uniform. "But you are definitely from the Earth Kingdom."
"We are from Kyoshi Island," Suki answered.
"Kyoshi Island, huh?" Azula giggled. "I heard that Zuzu had some trouble there. Don't tell me that it was you who repelled him." Before Suki could answer this, Azula touched the golden strip on Suki's uniform and ran her finger on it. "And what does this silly insignia mean? Does it have something with that creepy makeup you wore?"
Suki turned towards Azula, her face twisted by anger, but before she could reply to this insult, she caught Azula's face. She was smiling. And in her eyes, Suki could see satisfaction. Azula was seemingly enjoying the situation.
"And impulsive, too. Are you sure that you are not from the Fire Nation? Your parents, maybe?"
"I'm from Kyoshi Island." Azula raised her eyebrows, still smiling. "But I don't know my parents." This confession dropped a huge stone onto Suki's heart, and Azula knew it.
"Don't worry, redhead. They have exceptionally good conditions. I keep them within arm's distance." Azula's smile was unbearable. Suki had had to spend the last two hours chattering with the princess in a dark room, and Azula dropped the interesting bits of information slowly and carefully.
"Just in case something awful happens, and I need their services." Suki looked up suddenly. This one came out of nowhere.
"What?"
"Hey, don't look at me like that! You Kyoshi Warriors are smart girls. But it seems that you are smarter when you are not alone. Your little subordinates have already realized the inevitable and pretty much swore loyalty to me." Azula stood up from her chair and slowly walked behind Suki. "They are in my hands now."
"You're lying!"
"Maybe I am." Azula leaned over to Suki's ears. "But even then, what do you want to accomplish with this? I can let you rot in prison for the rest of your life, but I think you are far too valuable for such a fate. Or I can give you a life of your choice. In my service." Azula's words rang some bells in Suki's head, but she silenced them quickly.
"Forget it. I won't bow before you like a beaten dog, I won't betray my friends, and I won't betray my country."
"Aaaahhhh. What a shame." Azula's voice was full of joy. "But as a side note, your so-called friends are dead or have abandoned you, and your country is a small island in the middle of nowhere, ready to be invaded by the Fire Nation. If I were in your place, I would seriously reconsider my position." Azula's glance chilled Suki's blood for a moment. "And my loyalties with it."
.
.
Even though Suki knew where this was going, she could do little to stop it.
Azula was in a rather good mood. She sat in front of Suki, playing with a golden fan – Suki's Kyoshi Warrior war fan – with one hand and making wide gestures with the other. She was chattering without a break, and she was surprisingly informative while doing so.
"Zuzu is never fully satisfied with anything. And his three years with Uncle Tea-Brains changed him a lot. But I can't blame him for that. Three years with our uncle would turn even me against the Fire Nation. I don't know his secret, but I guess he poisons his tea with some sort of mind-altering drug." Azula laughed out loud at her own joke. "But it isn't really your business. What is your business is that, as you can see, I'm a generous person. Generous and forgiving."
"Cut it out, Azula. What do you want from me?"
"Isn't it obvious? I just want you to stand up, come over here, kneel down, and swear loyalty to me both as Suki and as the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors." Azula narrowed her eyes and closed the fan. Her smile vanished, and the casual atmosphere of their talk gave way to something indescribably sinister. For Suki, it felt like the shadows around Azula could suddenly reach out at the princess' will to catch Suki and force her to do what Azula said. Suki tried to overcome her mounting fear, but she was only partially successful. It was enough for a final word, though.
"Never!"
Azula raised her eyebrow, and for a moment, Suki could see that the answer unsettled Azula. The fire princess leaned forward across the table and roughly grabbed Suki's chin.
She forcefully turned Suki's face right toward hers. For a seemingly very, very long moment, the two girls stared into each other's eyes without saying a word. It was a silent battle of wills, and Suki made sure that Azula knew that she would not break her.
Not on her terms, at least. She stared into those golden eyes and steeled her spirit not to show any signs of weakness, even under the gaze of this menace. She wouldn't give the fire princess the pleasure of seeing the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors cowed. But she would let her know that if she truly wanted her so much, then she should come up with something truly extraordinary.
Maybe it took only a few seconds, but this face-off put an enormous strain on Suki. But ultimately, Azula backed down with a smirk on her face. She didn't let Suki's chin slip from her hand, but she broke eye contact and swiftly glanced over Suki's auburn hair.
"You will bow to me, sooner or later, once Naruto does as well," Azula taunted and turned around to leave the room. She grabbed the door handle when Suki's voice from behind stopped her.
"You're wrong." For a moment, Azula was surprised that Suki still held enough strength to talk with such strong will. Azula turned her head once she heard Suki's voice from behind. She turned around to face her with a challenging smirk.
"What?"
"Naruto," Suki repeated the name with respect, the same kind of respect she would use only when she talked about Avatar Kyoshi. "Naruto will never bow to you, he's stronger than all of you, and I Know he will come to save me, go ahead, taunt me all you want, but even you know that not even your precious father, The Fire Lord can defeat Naruto," Suki spoke with a smirk of satisfaction and determination behind her eyes, especially when Azula's smile disappeared, for a moment Suki expected Azula to kill her for saying that, and Suki was ready for it. Still, Azula simply stood there like a statue.
"You say my father can't defeat Naruto, that Naruto can kill him," Azula spoke with what Suki thought was uncertainty, much to Suki's triumph, but Azula's face of fear slowly disappeared like the wind. She slowly smiled in pure delight and genuine satisfaction, something Suki had never seen before on Azula's face.
"Who said that would be a bad thing?"
Aang
"This is good enough," Aang spoke as he closed the door of his own room. Once he was sure the door was locked, Aang walked up to the center of the square room before sitting down in a crossed-legged position, ready to meditate.
Aang closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to calm himself. Slowly, he could feel all the tension disappearing, like sand slipping through his fingers, the noise disappearing around him; Aang could hear nothing, and once he opened his eyes, in front of him formed Avatar Roku, his entire body made of blue glow.
"It's good to see you, Aang. All of us are happy to see you made it to Ba Sing Se," Avatar Roku spoke with an old wise voice, with a smile.
Aang smiled, but Avatar Roku quickly noticed that it didn't reach his eyes as it usually did. "I'm good, Roku, but I need your advice on something important." Aang greeted him with a friendly wave before clearing his throat, his voice turning serious at the end.
"We all are always with you, Aang. Whenever you need help or advice, we are here. All of Us," Avatar Roku reassured with a friendly voice, as past Avatars appeared around Avatar Roku like ghosts, forming a sea of past Avatars around Roku, all of them sitting in a crossed-legged position like Avatar Roku and looking at Aang.
Aang saw Avatar Kyoshi, Avatar Kuruk, Avatar Yangchen, Avatar Szeto, and countless other Avatars. Aang couldn't help but feel as if the weight was lifted off his shoulders, knowing he had help from all the Avatars of the Past and that he could rely on them whenever he needed help.
"Well, I need advice about what to do about Naruto," Aang requested, looking at Avatar Roku. The moment those words left Aang's mouth, Kyoshi narrowed her eyes at Aang, almost glaring at her, while Yangchen looked confused.
"Naruto?" Avatar Roku repeated the name with a look of confusion. "I thought he was your friend, Aang?" Roku questioned slightly hesitantly, hoping Aang was overreacting a little.
Roku knew how much Kyoshi valued Naruto, her only great-grandson left. Roku was even surprised that she hadn't already demanded from Aang to explain why he was talking like that for Naruto, as if he was an enemy of the Avatar.
"We are," Aang quickly confirmed in haste, with a look of almost shame, before looking downwards, gripping the sides of his head. He himself wasn't sure what to say, taking several deep breaths, knowing this conversation would be a difficult one to have. "Is just," Aang stuttered slightly in his words before looking up at Roku once again.
"He's getting more violent; he killed hundreds of people when he destroyed that drill, and I'm not sure if I can trust someone like him if he doesn't stop," Aang explained, feeling slightly ashamed of himself for talking like that about Naruto. Still, he knew he needed to have this conversation sooner or later. Aang hoped he was simply overreacting, and perhaps Naruto could still be considered his friend, even if he thought little of the life he had taken.
I hope I'm wrong...
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