Shadows and Embers

Prologue:

Azula stood up, exhaling slowly. "Well done, Princess," Lo or Li said (she couldn't tell which one). "1 hour in horse stance, and in perfect form too, quite impressive. Now the lightning kata." The other was with Soza, who wanted to head to bed early.

She shook her head and went through the form again, but not quite getting it to her standards. She was in the middle of her 56th repetition when a guard approached. "Princess Azula," the guard interrupted, bowing and waiting for acknowledgement. Azula glared at the interruption. "Speak."
The guard stood up straight, not quite looking her in the eye. He was afraid, good.

"The Fire Lord requests your presence in the war chamber." "My sister, has she been summoned as well?" Azula asked. Another war meeting? They had one yesterday, so it couldn't be, and it was late, so it must be urgent. Perhaps it was to discuss Zhao's failure in the North. What a disgrace, if the fool ever showed his face in the Fire Nation again, she'd personally burn the words 'incompetent imbecile' onto his forehead.

"Yes, Princess, she is already on her way." Oh, so he's summoned them both. For what? Then again, he's the Fire Lord. He doesn't need a reason to see anyone.

Azula left the training pavilion and stopped by her chambers to clean up. Father wouldn't appreciate seeing her in her current state. She took off her training robes and put on her under armor and pauldrons. A servant helped her put on the rest of her armor and then brushed her hair and pinned it into a neat top-knot.

She then proceeded to Father's throne room and war chamber. She met Soza on the way, who gave her a small smile that she returned. Soza was dressed similarly, only her hair was in a half-up, half-down top-knot. She told the guards to stay outside, and they walked in together.

The room was bathed in its usual orange glow, and Father sat right in the middle of the fire pit, almost one with the flames. Azula wondered how the room would look if she sat there. She would one day. No doubt the blue of her flames would look just as menacing and powerful.

They approached the throne and knelt. Father's deep and steady voice filled the chamber, projecting the strength Azula emulated. "Iroh is a traitor, your brother Zuko is a failure, I have a task for you." Azula looked at Soza on her right. She had this sparkle in her eyes and was basically shivering in anticipation. Azula felt exactly the same.