Azula's Recovery - Avatar: TLA

12.1 - Azula

The day after the festival most people had laid in bed, sleeping off the late night and rice wine. Not Azula though, she'd been up just after sunrise which by all accounts was still much later here in the south pole, careful not to wake Kiyi or Suki as she dressed and hurried out the door.

Azula had woken with an epiphany – she'd had an idea of how to get back into combat bending, and she was now on her way to the only other person she could think of to get help from.

Knocking on the door, Azula hoped it was the right one. It was, and a very sleepy mess of hair opened the door.

"What do you want?" Katara groaned.

"I've had an idea for the combat bending, and I need your help," Azula said decisively.

Katara just squinted at her, "This couldn't have waited until after breakfast?"

"We can have breakfast now. Then we could do it." Azula did not see the issue.

Katara rolled her eyes, "Okay, yeah, just...give me five minutes."

Azula waited patiently outside, and was quite surprised to see the transformation Katara had undergone in the five minutes. Her hair was neatly combed and pulled back into a long plait, and of course she was dressed in a warm parka and boots. Of course, she never wore any makeup which Azula had found sort of strange, but she supposed the waterbender didn't need any, she was rather pretty without it.

"So, breakfast?" Azula began as they walked in an awkward silence down to the dining room.

"Yeah," Katara rubbed her eyes, "Do all of you Fire Nation people get up this early?"

Azula grinned, "Well I can't speak for everyone, but Zuko and I always had to."

Katara seemed to remember the insane lives and schedules Azula and Zuko used to have, "Ugh, when we first started travelling with Aang, he would get up at the crack of dawn too. It was exhausting, especially because Sokka is so grumpy when he's sleep-deprived."

Azula laughed a little, "But Sokka's always grumpy."

"True, true," Katara agreed, and the girls sat down together, taking bowls of steaming stew for breakfast.

Azula tried not to turn her nose up at their food and hospitality but it was difficult when she was eating from a bowl of gray mystery meet. Katara ate in silence, staring off into space, as though still waking up.

Once they were done, the girls headed outside, and Azula asked to go somewhere they would have a bit of space as well as peace and quiet. Katara didn't hesitate before jumping in a sled saying she knew a great place. Azula was eternally grateful that they'd been able to take the sled, saving her from making the horrible trek on foot.

Soon enough, they exited the Southern Water Tribe walls, and were out in the open tundra. Azula had seen it on their ride in, but seeing the smooth snowfields stretching as far as they eye could see at dawn was something else entirely.

"So sparky, what are we doing today?" Katara asked as Azula gawked at the snow.

Azula scowled, "Don't call me that." Scanning their surroundings, Azula explained, "I just...miss bending. I want to fight again, and use my fire, but I don't want to hurt anyone. I thought we could try coming up with a new kind of...duel. One that you can win without hurting your opponent. 

Katara blinked, "You know, I've kind of missed it too. All right, let's do this. Any ideas?"

"Hmm, maybe we should start with an arena?" Azula suggested. This was going to be harder than she'd first thought.