Azula, Flames Of Change

Chapter 25: demonstrate and report

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In the dimly lit dungeon beneath the Fire Nation palace, Suki sat in chains, her face bruised but her spirit unbroken. She was in the deepest part of the palace, where only the most dangerous prisoners were kept. Around her were the sounds of distant footsteps echoing down the stone halls, and the occasional drip of water from the damp walls. She strained her ears, but all she could hear was her own breathing and the clanking of her restraints.

After hours of silence, the heavy iron doors creaked open. Azula entered the room, flanked by two Dai Li agents, her cold gaze fixed on Suki. The air felt tense, the temperature in the room seeming to drop as Azula approached. Her presence alone demanded attention, her regal posture emphasizing her control over the situation.

"Suki," Azula said softly, her voice almost sweet, though there was a dark edge to it. She walked slowly around the Kyoshi Warrior, studying her. "You've proven yourself resilient. Admirable, really."

Suki met Azula's gaze without flinching. "I won't tell you anything."

Azula's lips curled into a faint smirk. "Oh, I'm not here for information. I already know what your friends were after—and how little they learned." She paused, letting the silence fill the room before continuing. "No, I'm here to offer you something much more valuable. A choice."

Suki frowned, her defenses up, though curiosity flickered in her eyes. "What do you want, Azula?"

Azula stopped in front of her, folding her arms behind her back. "Loyalty. I want you, and your Kyoshi Warriors, to join me. To serve under me, as protectors of a new world order. One built on true strength, not the fragile ideals that Team Avatar clings to."

Suki's expression hardened. "I'll never betray my friends."

Azula's smile widened, her eyes gleaming with a dangerous light. "Friends? Do you really think they care about you as much as you care about them? They left you here, after all. Escaped without you. What kind of friends abandon someone they claim to value?"

Suki's fists clenched, but she remained silent.

Azula circled around her again, her voice turning quieter, almost a whisper. "I'm offering you power. A future where you and your warriors aren't reduced to mere footnotes in history. Join me, and you'll have a real place of honor. Refuse..." She motioned subtly to the side, and one of the Dai Li opened the door to reveal Suki's fellow Kyoshi Warriors—captured, bound, and kneeling on the floor outside the cell.

Suki's heart raced as she saw them, her loyal friends and sisters in arms. Ty Lee had betrayed them once, and now they were prisoners in the Fire Nation's darkest depths.

Azula leaned down, her voice soft and venomous. "They're still alive—for now. But their future depends on your decision."

Suki's eyes narrowed, fury mixing with desperation. "You wouldn't dare."

Azula's smirk returned, colder than before. "Oh, I wouldn't be so sure about that. You know me better than that, Suki. I've already broken one brother... don't think I won't break another sisterhood."

Suki swallowed hard, her mind racing. She knew Azula wasn't bluffing. The weight of her decision pressed heavily on her. "You don't care about loyalty. You only care about control."

Azula tilted her head, considering that. "True. But control comes through loyalty, doesn't it? In the end, Suki, the world is about power. Who has it and who doesn't. I'm offering you the chance to have it—and to save your warriors."

For a long moment, Suki was silent. She knew Azula was manipulating her, but the sight of her friends—the people she had sworn to protect—left her with a choice no warrior ever wanted to make.