ATLA: Azlua

Ripples of War

Intermission

Azula's morning unfolded much as it always did: a rigid routine honed to perfection. Her movements were sharp, each step calculated as she swept through the palace halls after her morning training, her mind consumed with the responsibilities of ruling a nation. Yet, despite the efficiency of her every action, the sense of tedium gnawed at her. The waiting—the stillness between moves—was agonizing.

It was mid-morning when she found herself in the Fire Nation's royal library, surrounded by reports and documents. Her sharp eyes flicked over a detailed missive on the rebel movements in the Earth Kingdom. Another report from her operatives mentioned Aang, still in self-imposed seclusion in the Southern Water Tribe. Ty Lee was tasked with pulling him out of that quiet corner of the world, to convince the Avatar to act. She wondered briefly how her mission was progressing. Ty Lee was surprisingly effective when motivated, though Azula still questioned how the Avatar might react. Would he be convinced? Would Ty Lee succeed where so many others had failed?

Azula allowed herself a small sigh as she scanned through another report, this one about logistical movements from the colonies. Despite her sharp focus, a part of her mind drifted back to the missions she had set in motion. Ty Lee with Aang, Mai with the rebellion—it was a game of strategy, and though she relished the game, the waiting had begun to wear on her.

And then there was Hiroshi.

The thought of him made her scowl just slightly, a subtle tightening of her lips. She still chafed at the fact that Jai Yu, "The Serpent," had managed to corner her into this engagement. Jai Yu was a crafty, elderly man who had slithered his way into Azula's politics and had arranged the betrothal between her and his grandson, Hiroshi. It had been a move she hadn't seen coming, and it irritated her—at least, at first. Hiroshi wasn't a threat to her; that much was clear from the beginning. He was smart, yes, but not cunning enough to challenge her. And he was powerful, a talented firebender, enough to be useful.

Her eyes narrowed as she considered her fiancé. He had qualities she could appreciate: looks, strength, and just enough intellect to be competent without becoming dangerous. He wasn't perfect, but she could mold him.

Still, the idea of marriage grated on her. Azula liked control. Being Fire Lord gave her that control, but marriage? It felt like a concession, something she hadn't wanted but had to accept.

As the hours stretched into the midday throne room meeting, the droning of her ministers and generals grated on her nerves. The endless discussions on economics, military provisions, and politics all bled together, background noise to her thoughts. Her mind wandered again. What was Mai doing right now? Had she made the decisions Azula had expected her to make, or was she wavering? Azula smirked slightly at the thought—Mai had always been loyal, but this mission would test her to her core. Ty Lee, on the other hand, was more unpredictable, though Azula knew she could rely on her to accomplish her mission if she put her mind to it. But Aang was another factor altogether. Would the Avatar remain in hiding, or could Ty Lee's persuasive nature coax him out?

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sight of a servant bowing deeply before the throne, cutting through the monotony of the meeting.

"Fire Lord Azula," the servant said, his voice respectful but careful. "Lord Hiroshi is requesting a private audience with you."

Azula's brow arched slightly, her interest piqued. This could provide a welcome distraction. Hiroshi wasn't someone she actively sought out, but his presence was certainly preferable to the dry reports and the endless litany of bureaucratic affairs. A break from routine, even one involving her fiancé, was at least something different.

"Very well," she said, her tone crisp and authoritative. "End this meeting early."

There was a moment of confusion among the ministers and generals, but none dared question her. They bowed hastily, murmured their respectful titles, and shuffled out of the room. The heavy doors closed behind them, leaving Azula alone for a brief moment, anticipation replacing the dullness that had plagued her thoughts earlier.