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Azula's Lost Chapters OR Azula's New Cook	By : DecieverGod Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > Het - Male/Female Views: 13899 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 31
- 32
- 33
A resounding rumble shook through the crystal tunnels beneath the palace of Ba Sing Sei.

Princess Azula strode down the center of the metal hall, two Dai Lee agents at her sides. “How are the preparations for the acceptance of the Fire Nation’s armies into Ba Sing Sei coming?” She ignored the noise absolutely and completely. There were more important things that needed her attention, like surrendering the city to the armies of her father.

After all she had just captured Ba Sing Sei, the greatest and last of the Earth Kingdom strong holds, and she was not about to allow anything to distract her from cementing her victory into the annuls of history where it belonged. And one might be surprised how must effort was actually involved in surrendering a massive walled metropolis to an invading army against the will of its citizens.

The man at the princess’s right bowed remaining low as he spoke; Azula hated it when her subordinates were taller than her. “Everything is moving forward as planned, all of your orders are being carried out and while the citizens are currently in a state of mutual fear and confusion, we’ve encountered little resistance ignoring the occasional disruption.”

Another blast echoed through the halls, shaking some dust from the rafters.

Again the princess ignored it; they were in the crystal catacombs where the Dai Lee had relocated after abandoning their base under Lake Laogai. It was doubtful that the noise had malicious origins. More likely it was just some Earth Bending being used for something that Earth Bending was used for. Really, it was such a messy bending art. Fire was so much cleaner.

“Isolate these disruptions and imprison anyone suspected of being involved. We can’t allow for even the appearance of weakness in this transitional time.” Even if the armies of the Fire Nation were only a few days away, it was rather impressive that the Dai Lee had the man power to occupy the city at all. They were doing the jobs of the police, military, and government, all at once. Of course it helped that they weren’t actually fighting a war anymore, and the people of the city already thought of the Dai Lee as ghosts, but it was still impressive.

“As you order princess.” This man neither bowed nor remained hunched when speaking with her. “Though if I may princess. The cell block is becoming crowded and the Dai Lee are stretch thin. Without outside support it will soon become difficult to maintain proper security.” He rather treated the princess with a modicum more respect, at least enough that he didn’t feel the need to hunch while speaking.

“Reprioritize the prisoners, condition and release anyone imprisoned for non-violent crimes and…” Another blast shook through the stone corridors of the catacombs. “And just what is that racket? It’s beginning to give me a headache.”

“Our apologize princess, it is simple a prisoner rattling his cage.” The Dai Lee hardly seemed to have noticed the reverberating din, but they were keen to perceive the annoyance of the princess. “We’ll have his fingers broken.”

“See that you do. There is no reason to allow any disobedience in this new era. The war is over gentlemen, we’ve won.” Azula allowed herself a tentative smile. It was a nice line, even for her.

The war is over.

It was a lie of course. The war wouldn’t end until her father, the Fire Lord, said it did. She’d simply removed one of the more ground-in pockets of resistance of the past hundred years, but there would be others. Their enemies were Earth Benders after all; going underground was practically what they did.

And then there was always the Northern Water Tribe, though now that the Avatar was dead it wasn’t all that likely that they’d be too ready to pick a fight, especially since the Earth Kingdom was practically a thing of the past. Ozai could probably get them to surrender under whatever terms he wanted simply by asking for them.

But since when did her father ever ask for something, when he could just take it.

It was an admirably trait really, and there wasn’t any actual point in letting people think you cared about them when you really didn’t, it generally just cause problems down the line. But it had always seemed to Azula that sometimes even her father could use a little more tact. It just seemed that sometimes, he made things harder than they needed to be, because he needed to do things his way.

Not that she’d ever tell Him that.

“And the scout reports from the surrounding areas?” Azula was down to one agent now, the other gone off to silence the source of the pounding, which it seemed he had rather effectively done.

“We sent a team of agents to Full Moon Bay as you requested, and the refugees there are being detained, awaiting your orders. We were also able to locate the machine you requested, it was precisely where you specified, and we have dispatched a team to ship it back to the city. All remaining Earth Kingdom troops have been dispersed, and the military of Ba Sing Sei has been effectively neutralized.”

“And the personnel stationed with the train?” The princess didn’t so much as glance back, the machine in question, the Train, sure it was an important piece of Fire Nation machinery, and it was important that it was recovered, but truthfully that wasn’t the reason she was interested.

Tatsuya hadn’t responded to her messenger hawks. He was supposed to have been waiting with the train; he was supposed to rally the armies of the Fire Nation to march triumphantly into Ba Sing Sei.

Without him Azula had been required to write all the letters of requisition herself, which, while just as effective, meant the princess had to spend time writing them, when she could’ve been doing other things. Really conquering a city was so much more than replacing a flag.

“My apologize princess, but we were unable to locate any personnel with the machinery, and reports state that it appears to have been abandoned for weeks.”

Azula ground her teeth a little, not out of concern of course, so what if the Captain wasn’t at his post. It just meant he was either captured, or a deserter. Either way it wasn’t the last time the Fire Nation would see him. It might’ve been the last time they saw him in one piece, but it wouldn’t be the last time they saw him. “Alert the Fire Navy that Captain Shouhei is M.I.A. and see to it that the train is ship here in its completion. I’d rather not have to apologize to War Minister Qin for breaking his new toy…”

“As you wish princess.” The Dai Lee agent bowed once more before shuffling off in that semi-silent sweeping that Dai Lee moved with.

And with that the princess found herself alone in the crystal catacombs of Ba Sing Sei.

She permitted herself a sigh and rubbed her eyes. It had already been a long day, and it was only noon. And it wasn’t like she could rely on Mai and Ty Lee for a moment’s peace.

Mai was busy stalking Zuzu in an attempt to convince him he’d actually thought about her for half a second over the past three years, and Ty Lee was busy attempting to convince Lang that simply because she’d overthrown his nation’s government and delivered his home to the hands of the enemy didn’t mean they had to stop dating.

And Tatsuya was missing in action.

Azula allowed herself another sigh and started walking, heading roughly in the direction of the palace, maybe she could find her brother and harass him a little to lighten her day. That had always worked to lift her spirits back in the day. Although he was in a rather gloomy mood to begin with as of late; something to do with betraying their uncle, or maybe it was just his time of the month. Either way, harassing him was less amusing.

Still that was no reason to let him off easy; after all, she had three years of harassment to make up for. Now she just had to find him.

A task that was a little easier said than done. The city of Ba Sing Sei housed well over three thousand people, and even if he did have a disfiguring facial burn, Zuko could still blend in fairly well, it was a city of refugees after all.

Refugees who at the moment were rather scared and frightened, not that they didn’t have reason to be, their last bastion of hope and ‘freewill’ had just fallen, with them in it. Though most probably didn’t realize that Zuko had had any part of that.

And of course Zuko hadn’t really figured that out yet.

Azula found him sulking in one of the more dower chambers of the Earth King’s Palace. One of the ones that were predominately black, rather than green or gold, and had large bookcases dominating the walls, with the exception of a single fire place somewhere in the center of the room to provide both warmth, and non-green light.

Her brother was sitting hunched over the edge of the fireplace throwing scraps of something into it and watching them burn. It was all very melodramatic and pointless.

“Ah there you are Zuzu.” Azula leaned in the doorway crossing one arm over another as she smirked at her brother. “What are you doing in here? I had to look everywhere for you, you know.”

He just leaned back in his over sized chair and sort of looked at her. “What do you want Azula?” Though he really more just glanced toward her shadow, he wasn’t much feeling like small talk.

She pouted a little. “Well there’s no need to be snippy Zuzu, I just came to check up on you.” She strolled a little ways into the room, walking around behind her brother’s chair as she absentmindedly circled him, letting her hand brush across the broad back of his chair. “You’ve been so down as of late, I thought you could use some cheering up is all…”

Now at least there was some truth to what Azula was saying. She did want Zuko to feel good about his choices, not because she wanted her brother to be happy mind you, she could careless, but because she wanted her brother to agree with her and therefore be easier to manipulate.

Not that that was lost on Zuko. He wasn’t a total idiot. He just sort of started into the fire again, Azula pouted a little again. “We think the Avatar’s dead.” She offered as a piece of news that might cheer him an ounce.

He responded as if she’d told him that it was sunny outside. “That’s nice.”

“Nice?” She wasn’t too happy about that. “I’ve just told you that the greatest enemy of our father is dead through our actions, and you think it’s ‘nice’? You should be happy, the Avatar is dead, your quest is over.”

“Through Your efforts.” Zuko practically snapped back. “You shot him with lightning… all I did was beat up on a little girl, and betray my uncle.”

His sister sighed, and sounded genuinely concerned for a moment. “Zuko… We’ve been over this. You’re not the traitor here.” But only because she was really good at faking concern. “And while I understand that that might be a new experience for you, you have to understand. Iroh is the traitor. He betrayed his country, he betrayed his brother, our father the Fire Lord, and he betrayed you Zuko. Why should You feel bad about his betrayal?”

She slid into a chair across from her brother, Azula smirked a little. “After all your life is about to change for the better. You’re about to get to come home. After three years, you’re going to get to see our homeland again Zuko. Your home.”

“I know... I know all that. I know that what I did was right, I know that now I have a chance at restoring my honor, I know that now I’m a hero to my people. I know everything… but…”

“But what?” Really sometimes it felt like Zuko need his answers force fed to him. “But you’re not sure if you want to be hero? You’re not sure if you want your honor?” Azula laughed a little. “Really Zuko, you sound like someone the Dai Lee have brainwashed. You do know that right?”

“I know…” Zuko feigned a smile at his sister, sometimes it really didn’t seem like she was the incarnation of evil. Sometimes it actually felt like she was just his little sister, and was actually concerned for his well being. “I know I’m sorry, I’m… just not used to being the hero I guess.” And sometimes, it really felt like he should try to be her older brother.

Of course Zuko wasn’t always the best judge of character. “Well you should try and get used to it…” Azula smirked, sort of sauntered up and heading for the door. She stretched her arms out over her head and tucked them together neatly behind her back. “Because it’s not something that’s going to change anytime soon Zuzu.” Before pausing in the door way and sending a smirk, more of a simplistic smile really, back at her brother before stepping out into the hall. “Oh, and Mai’s been looking for you.”

Zuko smiled back at her. “Thanks…” Before turning back to staring solemnly into the fireplace, he really wanted to believe her. He wanted to believe that he’d done the right thing; that the Fire Nation, his nation, wasn’t the evil warmongering country that everyone seemed to believe it was. He really wanted to be one of the good guys…

Azula was actually contemplating having the Dai Lee brainwash him, but from what she’d heard the whole spinning candle thing didn’t work very well on Fire Benders, candles tended to explode when you made them angry enough, and crystal light was too constant, they needed the flickering of a flame. Just one more thing that made Fire superior to Earth.

Of course now that Zuko had been confirmed as being a buzz kill the princess was in need of something else to occupy her time. At least until some member of the Dai Lee found her and needed her advice on what to do about rioting cabbage merchants or some such silliness.

Oh don’t get her wrong, it wasn’t like Azula was avoiding her responsibilities. She actually liked being the central governing figure of an entire metropolitan city; issuing edicts, imprisoning rabble-rousers, outlawing anything remotely negative toward the Fire Nation, and enforcing each and every law as she saw fit.

It was just that good help was hard to find, and while the Dai Lee had an ample supply of willing and ready military forces, they weren’t exactly a well oiled machine.

Apparently Long Feng had rather enjoyed micromanaging each and every little thing that went on in the city. He had files on each and every one of the city’s citizens, and while Azula was attempting to catch up on her reading; she had only really had a chance to browse through the collection, looking for the most useful or volatile citizens. For various purposes depending on what she’d needed for that particular instance.

But running a city wasn’t really for her. It was too much effort. Not that she really minded the effort, but if she was going to plan out the movements of each and every person in a city, she would’ve rather preferred it if she didn’t have to do it in This city.

Ba Sing Sei was a fine place to conquer, but she wouldn’t want to rule here. Too many people and not enough things to do. A rare problem admittedly but a serious one none the less; without something to occupy their time people might actually start looking around and realize that their government is corrupt and try to do something about it. That or at least attempt to get in on the action. Either way it was irritating.

As the princess walked about the inner ring it wasn’t long before she found herself past the walls of the palace. The upper ring was quiet, quieter than it had ever been when Azula hadn’t been in charge. It was, refreshing, a moment’s peace out of the constant noise of the past weeks.

But still, the air held the fear of the people, they didn’t know what to expect. They’d run to Ba Sing Sei to escape the atrocities of the Fire Nation, and now the Fire Nation was at their door.

She’d have to be careful. Azula thought looking out at the dry and empty city streets. If she gave the people reason to panic the city could erupt into chaos. The Dai Lee were influential and they had things under control, to a degree, but until the Fire Nation Army got to the city, the citizens still outnumbered the Dai Lee considerably.

One-hundred-forty-to-one, or something like it had been the number, it’s been stashed away in one of Long Feng’s scrolls. Apparently he’d entertained the thought of occupying the city with the Dai Lee before. Too bad he wasn’t around anymore to assist in his city’s occupation, but Azula couldn’t risk mixed loyalties among her men. Long Feng was still in charge, to a degree, but now he answered to her.

The problem was that while a trained Dai Lee agent could maybe take a hundred drunken rabble-rousers, they couldn’t deal with a hundred Earth Benders. And if the people figured that out before the Fire Nation arrived and took control of the city, than Ba Sing Sei could very likely burn to the ground.

Or worse they could manage to eject the Dai Lee and Azula with them; she’d be reduced to something like her uncle. Someone who had Ba Sing Sei in the palm of their hands, but let it slip away.

No. She wouldn’t let that happen, she couldn’t let that happen. Azula would keep the people scared, but just scared enough. Not so terrified that they’d consider making a last stand, but not too comfortable that they might get ideas. Scared, but just scared enough.

And if that meant that she didn’t sleep for a few days until the Armies of the Fire Nation arrived than that would be what it took. She would just have to treat herself once all was said and done.

And as if on cue a Dai Lee agent came striding up behind the princess, a messenger. He paused a few steps behind her and knelt before speaking. “Ma’am there’s a riot in the outer ring; some place called the Two Twin’s Tavern appears to be the center.”

Azula permitted herself a light sigh before turning to address this new issue. “Send two dozen agents, pull them from around the palace and the catacomb patrols, imprison anyone even suspected of being involved beneath the palace, and let no word of what’s to happen to them out and await my orders.” The less the public knew about their new government the better. As long as they were thinking about what might happen to them, they weren’t thinking about what they might do to stop it.

“By you word, princess.” The man bowed, hiding his face beneath his broad brimmed hat before disappearing back into the shadows like the Dai Lee were so good at.

The princess half turned and tucked a hand beneath her chin. Her brother was useless, he friends were preoccupied, Long Feng couldn’t be trusted and the soldiers that could weren’t here yet. She turned and stormed back into the Earth King’s Palace, no… Her palace. That thought brushed a dangerous smirk across Azula’s face.

It was her palace after all. She’d taken control of fair and square. Well maybe not ‘fair’ and square but it was still hers after all, she had killed the Avatar for it. The princess smiled again.

It wasn’t that she’d never conceived of being the one to kill the demi-god. After all it had been clear enough that Zuko wasn’t going to do it, and though she’d never personally met that fool Zhao, it was clear enough that while he had the ambition, he hadn’t had the spirit for it. It took a certain something to kill a god. Something Azula had, and something those fools didn’t, a sort of woman’s intuition.

It was a pleasant enough thought, just one more thing that the princess possessed that permitted her the right to hold her head up. Just one more thing that proved her destiny was laced with gold, that her fate was written with triumph and victory in mind. A far cry from her brother’s whose soul contribution to their family to date was being born.

Well Zuko’s soul beneficial contribution. He’d made others but they were generally things that they didn’t talk about outside of the family. Shame, disgrace, treason, it made her sick to think that even now her brother would return a hero, simply for having the good sense to side with the victors.

Of course it wasn’t like Zuzu hadn’t earned it. He’d done well enough to avoid capture and gain access to Ba Sing Sei after all. Though truthfully Azula suspected that had been more of their uncle’s influence than her brother’s wit. Of course Iroh wasn’t speaking to anyone so it was hard to say; maybe the old fool had finally lost his mind, though he’d seemed lucid enough when he assisted the Avatar’s friends…

There was still that last ounce of doubt in Azula mind that she had actually ended the life of the boy god. Sure, every logical vein in her body told her that no one, not even an Avatar could survive being struck squarely with a bolt of lightning, her lightning, but there was still that last ounce of doubt. They didn’t have his body after all, and it would be so very like the demi-god to disappear until the absolutely most inopportune moment.

And there was still the matter of the Eclipse.

To be robbed of her Fire Bending… To simply forfeit it for the time she’d been in the city had nearly been too much, but to be robbed of it completely. The simple thought sent an uncommon chill through the Fire Bending prodigy.

Of course it wasn’t like the Eclipse should really be something that concerned her. The Fire Sages would no doubt have already foreseen the coming the Eclipse, and the effect it would have on the Fire Benders.

What concerned her was simply that her father had apparently not found fit to share such information with her. Sure it wasn’t like she couldn’t have handled herself without her bending for a day, or for however long the Eclipse lasted. But one would’ve thought that it might’ve come up when he sent her off to mop up Zuko’s mistakes.

‘Do try your best to apprehend your brother and uncle Azula, oh and, you’ll be rendered completely unable to bend sometime this summer, so try not to be anywhere too vulnerable.’

Of course her father would never have mentioned it. Not in such terms anyway.

Finding herself pacing the palace halls the princess took a deep breath and calmed herself attempting to find some destination to head toward, rather than simply aimlessly walking the halls of her captured palace.

Showing concern for something was a sign of weakness. If you were concerned about something it showed your enemies that it can be used against you. The fact that her father hadn’t mentioned the Eclipse simply showed how much he trusted her…

He knew he needn’t concern himself with her safety. She could take care of herself, more than just herself. After all, she’d been tasked with retrieving her failure brother and traitorous uncle, and now she was returning with Zuzu a hero, Iroh in shackles, the Avatar dead, and the back of the Earth Kingdom broken in half.

Why should Ozai concern himself with her? She could take care of herself, and her idiot brother.

Azula brushed a stray hair from her face and smirked as she survived the Dai Lee’s cavernous headquarters. Who knew, perhaps after all was said and done, and if she asked just right, her father would let her keep Ba Sing Sei, for all that she’d done.

It wasn’t the throne of Fire Lord, to be sure, but let Zuzu have his little birthright, as long as everyone knew who the rightful heir to their father’s name really was, as long as people knew, she was better.

And speaking of people who knew she was better, here came another couple of Dai Lee agents, this time one carried a scroll with him, Fire Nation from the looks of the clasp, no doubt reports of new arrivals.

“Princess, Colonel Mongke and the platoon of Rhinos under his command have just arrived at the outer wall.” The Earth Bender knelt offering Azula the scroll.

She absentmindedly uncurled it, skimming over the obligatory congratulations and statement of honor and right on down to the command roster. “Five?” She practically spat. Five soldiers isn’t a platoon, five soldiers is hardly a detachment. Azula growled a little and rubbed her brow. What was she going to do with five soldiers? She was trying to occupy a metropolis, she didn’t need weapons specialists, she needed man power.

The princess ground her teeth a little before turning back to the Dai Lee. “Thank the Colonel for his prompt response and ask him to patrol the parameter of the outer wall. Ask for reports back on any refugee camps and tell them they have orders do deal with any straggling Earth Kingdom soldiers they encounter as they decide.” That ought to brighten Mongke’s day, he always was one for hunting down the weak and dying.

“Of course princess.” The first agent bowed and shadowed off to do his duty.

Leaving Azula to turn her attention to the second. “And you?”

He bowed and knelt exactly as his predecessor had, really protocol was one thing but a little individuality wouldn’t exactly hurt. “We rounded up the involved in the disturbance in the outer ring and are awaiting your instructions as to how to proceed.”

Azula curled a lock of hair around one finger and thought for a moment. If she executed them then the people might seek retribution and riot, but if she just slapped them on the wrist than they might think she was weak and inside more disturbances once released. “Keep them locked up for a few days while you condition them, then release a few at a time over the next few weeks.”

The Earth Bender bowed, muttering something about following her orders and vanished like the Dai Lee seemed to enjoy doing. Really it wasn’t like it took a genius to figure out she was stalling until her reinforcements arrived.

Still it was good they came to her for everything, even if something seemed trivial; if they didn’t, they might try to decide something important on their own and then where would they be.

Of course it would be nice if the princess could get some time to herself. Azula hadn’t even found the time to check in and see how Mai was reacting to seeing dear Zuzu after three long years. And come to think of it, Azula wasn’t even certain her dower friend had had a chance to see Zuko’s lovely gift from their father before his banishment.

It would’ve been nice to see the look on Mai’s face when she first got an eyeful of Zuko’s new look. If it was half as amusing as the look princess Azula was imagining, then her smile was well deserved.

Still there were kingdoms to conquer, governments to overthrow, and little time to do it in. After all once Sozin’s comet passed the war would be over, once and for all.

Now there was a thought that gave the princess pause. The war would be over. Of course it wasn’t like Azula had never imagined the war’s end. Eventually someone had to win, and of course it was only proper that that someone be her father, Fire Lord Ozai, but there was the question of what would happen to her after the war.

By tradition Zuko would take the throne, and while he might not be the greatest Fire Lord ever, after the comet passed even he couldn’t screw things up too much. Iroh would probably still be under whatever punishment Ozai decided for him, death or prison, either way it wouldn’t be pleasant. Mai would probably do her best to marry Zuko, and with a little ‘gentle’ encouragement from Azula it wouldn’t be avoided.

Ty Lee… well Ty Lee would probably continue to do whatever it was that made her Ty Lee, at least until her parents decided it was time to marry her off of course that was if they ever remembered they had another daughter to marry off, if memory served they were normally rather preoccupied before their attention finally trickled down to Ty Lee.

And as for the princess, well in all likely hood her father would ‘encourage’ her to take a husband from one of the noble families, and while she could probably defy him if she really wanted to, once Zuko took the throne there wouldn’t be much point.

Azula let out a solemn breath as she strolled the dark halls of the crystal catacombs, hands neatly tucked behind her back as she surveyed the foreign and ancient architecture with minuscule interest. It was very likely that this would be her last visit to the Earth Kingdom, at least while it was still the Earth Kingdom. She had won the war for her father, and her greatest victory, would be her last.

After she returned home she would have to resign herself to manipulating her brother, of course after a little prodding and the proper ground work she was confident that she could get her dear brother Zuzu to do whatever it was she wanted. But still, it wasn’t like sitting on the throne yourself, to be the one in charge, to be the Fire Lord.

Just the thought of, being resigned to the shadows, simply because her brother was born first, just because he was her Brother, it put an unpleasant taste in her mouth. Why should he get the power, the prestige, the crown, when she was the one who’d done everything to deserve it?

Azula ground her teeth, before taking a breath and remembering who she was. She was the second born, the prodigal princess, the left hand. Besides there was nothing that could be done about it, short of Zuko’s untimely death, and while that did have its upside, it did risk a civil war in the ensuing chaos.

Without her father’s blessing Azula would remain condemned to stand behind her undeserving elder brother.

Something exploded, and for a half second Azula questioned if it wasn’t her that caused it. The idea of being condemned to her brother’s shadow… upset her. But who knew, maybe Zuzu would do something incredibly stupid and get himself killed; it wouldn’t be the first time, for the former at least. Besides there were more immediate thing to be concerned with.

Like whatever it was that had caused an explosion in the supposedly secure and relatively secret catacombs. “What was that? Dai Lee, report!” It could’ve been her uncle, he probably could’ve escaped a dozen times by now had he the desire to, he’d already twice escape the Dai Lee during the coup.

A trio of the green and black robed benders fell in line before the princess a moment later, their origins both mysterious, and irrelevant. “Our apologizes princess, it would seem that one of the prisoners attempted an escape.”

Azula smirked a little, attempted an escape, so his attempt failed. “I trust he didn’t get very far.”

“No princess, our guards apprehended him within his cell, though two men were burned in the process. But you needed concern yourself.”

“The prisoner is a Fire Bender?” Now there was something that was actually interesting. “I thought I ordered all war prisoners freed?” Not that there had been terribly many prisoners of war within the holds of Ba Sing Sei.

“Respectfully princess, the prisoner is not a soldier. He was apprehended within the city sometime before your rise to power. We believe him to be a deserter who was attempting to make a life within the city walls.”

“Two of our agents were attempting to break his hands when he assaulted them.”

“We don’t believe him to be of sound mind. The guards assigned to H bock often report whispering at odd hours, and every day since his incarceration he has battered his cell door in an attempt to escape, often until he draws blood. Thus far, none of his attempts have been successful.”

“Clearly or he wouldn’t still be here.” Azula rolled her eyes lightly. Still a determined Fire Bender could be useful, particularly one vulnerable enough to be twisted into the princess’s personal servant. “Take me to see him.”

The Dai Lee hazarded a glance toward one another, before bowing lower. “As you wish princess.” The three very neatly swept themselves up to their feet, tucking their hands behind their backs, “This way.” as they lead the way toward the prison ward of the catacombs.

“Do we know the prisoner’s name?” Really Azula was only half interested; a Fire Bender could always be useful to his nation. She could offer him a pardon in exchange for his assistance securing the city, or if nothing else they could publically execute him as proof that they judged all equally.

“No princess…”

“We have been, informally, referring to him as ‘Berserker’, princess.”

“A lovely prison nickname, of which I’m sure he’ll be very proud if we release him.” The princess smirked a little, really just half amusing herself as she followed the two Earth Benders. “Assuming that he’s not actually insane… Of course if he is I want him to be executed as a public showing of our devotion to the equal distribution of justice in the new world.” She was reminded of why she didn’t normally attempt to amuse herself. It was troublesome, and people could be given the wrong idea.

“Of course princess.” The three agents nodded as they arrived at the cell block in question. There were at least a dozen cells but only had two Dai Lee standing at its sides, and slightly smoking edges.

Azula smirked a little. There were so few reasons the Dai Lee would have two guards stationed at one cell, even if on the books they were simply assigned to the same cell block, they chosen to stand at the side of the one door in that entire block that happened to look like it might give way. Either they actually thought the door might give way, which judging from the bolted hinges wasn’t likely, which left the other option.

They were afraid of their captive.

Perhaps not consciously or even noticeably, but the fact of the matter was that somehow at some point the man on the other side of that cell door had done something that had burned his image into the memory of the guards. Something that they didn’t want to see repeated.

The princess kind of liked him already; hopefully he wasn’t quite as insane as the Dai Lee seemed to believe he was. Of course even if he was it wasn’t any big loss.

The Dai Lee opened the door, the two that had been at the cell door took a half step in the moment the heavy iron thing was clear, and with a simple shadow of motion, had their stone gloves around the prisoner’s wrists holding them over his head, pinning him to the wall, and forcing him to his feet.

Azula strode in just far enough to stand in the center of the small metal room. A quick glance told her enough, the door bore scorched red stains, and the prisoner’s knuckles were raw, two of the fingers on his left looked misaligned, broken but never put back in place. His hair was greasy, and while it couldn’t by any stretch of the imagination be called kept, it didn’t look completely a shambles, and even as the man was pinned to the wall as a rag doll, his feet not too high to reach, but still he let himself hang.

There was still a shadow of the man he had once been clinging to him, broken, and hanging on but by a thread, but still there, it would be enough.

“Prisoner. What is your name.” She didn’t ask so much as commanded him to respond, her arms crossed neatly behind her back. She held herself as she would if addressing a soldier, a subordinate, not a captive.

“I betrayed…” The prisoner didn’t so much speak, as breath. His eyes were unfocused distant, his right milky and white. He wasn’t in his cell, he wasn’t with his body, he was someplace past.

“That’s all he ever answers, Princess.” The Dai Lee at Azula’s side volunteered. “He just claims that he betrayed some woman… it’s all he ever says.”

Azula paused for a moment. And then took half a step closer to the rotting man, she leaned lightly to one side, tilting her head to look up past the tangles of the prisoner’s bangs, to see his face. There was something familiar about him. “Tatsuya?”

Author’s Notes- Eh, I’m not too happy with this chapter. I feel it tries too hard, but it’s really just a ground work piece anyway, I needed to get things done, so I got them done.
I should be back into full swing with the next chapter.
I hope.
No promises.
The next sex scene may take a while to get uploaded, I have a lot to live up to…
- 31
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- 33
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Azula's Lost Chapters OR Azula's New Cook