Best Friends Forever?[SPORATIC UPDATES]

15: Something A Little More Intense

It took me a while, but I finally managed to find my borrowed room. Does this place REALLY need to be this big? Maybe i should draw a map, or leave a trail, or tie a ribbon to my door for next time.

If there even is a next time.

All that worry and work to get back here... only to realize, I have nothing to pack.

I let out a sigh and flop on the bed.

Maybe I'll just let her arrest me and put me in some jail.

The door opening distracts me from any more stupid thoughts.

"Princess Azula?"

"Azeala, get up. You're coming with me." She said, more like demanded.

I peak around her, searching for the guards that are going to cuff me and throw me in a dank cellar.

But there are none.

I get up from the bed and follow her out with stiff steps. Prepared to run if she decides to sneak attack me.

And then I realized being stiff would do the exact opposite of helping me in the case she sneak attacks me and loosen up.

Geez Azeala. Get a grip.

"Here will do."

I tune back into reality to find us at one of the outdoor sections of the palace. I don't admire the scenery much before immediately bending backwards. A stream of blue flame passing through where my upper body had just been.

I turn to Azula with wide eyes and mouth agape in complete bewilderment."What are you doing!?"

She doesn't answer and instead shoots another stream of fire at me.

"Whatever I did," I narrowly avoid her fist, "it can't be THAT bad!" I duck as she kicks more fire in an arch. "I'm not even a bender!"

Should I block her? Would I get executed for incapacitating the princess? At least that's a better reason then whatever it is that she's currently trying to kill me for.

She scoffs. "Mai and Ty Lee have told me all about your little lightning ability. You've been holding out on me Zea."

I froze. I- how could they... why would they... how is this even-

"Maybe you need something a little more, intense." The crackle that accompanies Azula's words set in the fact that she is REALLY going to do this.

I can't even move.

She brings her 2 fingers up. Directing them at me. Conducting such ferocity to my being. And it hits me:

I'm going to die.

I'd say my whole life flashed before my eyes, but I didn't see much. I didn't see anything actually.

The pain of being struck by lightning should hurt, shouldn't it? At least that tingling sensation should be happening, right?

After a few seconds... I realize there is no pain.

And my eyes are closed.

I crack open one to find Azula with her eyebrows scrunched and a slight frown on her lips. Still posed as she was before.

"Why didn't you do anything? I would've killed you."

It's now when I realize the scent of burnt hair. I snatch a chunk of hair on my right.

She cut my hair. Or singed it rather.

"Why didn't you?" I ask. Stroking the flaking ends of my once beautiful hair. At least it's black. Can't see the mar very well. "Sure seemed like you were trying to."

Azula stands up straight and lowers her dark brows. "Answer my question.  Why didn't you bend? Do you take me for someone you can beat without it?" I start to panic when she stomps over to me.

"Woah woah woah. That clearly isn't true." I almost breath a sigh of relief when she stops. "I just... I'm not a bender, Azula." Avoiding her golden gaze, I stare at a tree. What a nice tree. Wish I was that tree. Just be around and soak up the sun and wind and water. Occasionally grow leaves or bark or flowers. Not have to deal with any of what I am right now. Not have to deal with lacking the ability to bend.

My idle thoughts don't stop me from getting upset, like I'd hoped. I can't help but clench my fist just thinking about the disappointment I am.

After all that 'training' my father put me through. After all the hope my mother tried to instill in him that I was just a late bloomer, I'd be able to bend in no time. After all that pain...

"Don't lie. Ty Lee and Mai told me about the lightning you bent in Omashu when you tried to stop the Avatar's friends."

"I don't know what that was!" Maybe it's because I started thinking about the past. Maybe it's because I thought I was going to die only a short moment ago. Maybe it's because I want it to be true. But, I yelled at her. I yelled at the Fire Nation Princess.

And I didn't stop.

"You think I'd lie about being a bender? You have no IDEA how much easier my life would have been if I could even make a spark!" Tears pooling in my yellow eyes, I take a breath to try and calm myself. "I don't know what happened that day, but it hasn't happened since."

I turn and walk in the direction, I hope, we came from.

"And I haven't really talked much with Mai or Ty Lee since we got here. They wouldn’t know anything." I say one final thing over my shoulder, before walking away.

Once I'm out of sight, and decently sure I don't hear an army running after me, I let the tears fall. Leaning on the wall for support.

I should have never come back here.

I should have never joined the hunt for the Avatar.

I should have never left the circus.

What if I never left-

I scrunch my face at the last thought, tears freely flowing from my eyes.

I don't think I'll ever understand people.

Why do they need to be so cruel?