Chapter Text
The door opened to Azula’s room on the ship, revealing two people: one that she was happy to see, the other most decidedly not. Azula straightened her bangs on either side of her face. She forced herself to show no emotion other than slight disdain. That was a fitting look for a princess.
“Admiral Zhao,” she said, not demeaning herself by bowing to him, “What brings you to my humble ship?”
The Admiral and Iroh stepped in. Zhao assumed an imperious air; Iroh an apologetic one. Both held their hands behind their backs.
Zhao raised his nose to her room. “A royal scion of the Fire Nation shouldn’t be living in a room like this. The quarters on my flagship are much nicer.”
Azula fought the urge to roll her eyes. “It has been good enough for me.” Her eyes met Iroh’s. “We are not pampered like many royal families.”
He looked at her scar. “I can see that.”
Blood rushed to her face, and her nostrils flared. “What do you want?”
Iroh stepped forward. “The admiral needs every vessel for a strike against the Northern Water Tribe.”
A cold feeling of dread settled into the pit of Azula’s stomach. “You’re commandeering my ship.”
“Your crew as well,” Zhao said. “My sources say the Avatar is going to the North Pole anyway. It's convenient.”
Azula nodded at that. Her spies had said the same, in particular, a certain well-traveled cabbage merchant who always seemed to cross paths with the Avatar and his little pack of miscreants.
Zhao leaned forward, invading her personal space. “You are free to join me in the assault.”
Her golden eyes blazed with anger, but the warning in Iroh’s eyes told her to calm herself. She decided to take a different tack. “How can you capture the Avatar when he escaped from you the last time? I heard about your failure at the Pohuai Stronghold.”
Zhao stepped back. “That was a fluke. The Red Spirit rescued him.”
She crossed her arms. “Only you would blame a folk legend for your own failures. Pathetic.”
Zhao slammed his hand on her desk. “He was real enough. He gave me this.” He pointed to a small scar on the side of his head. Azula wished her alter ego had done more to Zhao that night, but Aang had stopped her.
“Truly, he is a menace,” Iroh said, trying to pacify them.
Zhao resumed his cold, haughty manner. “It doesn’t matter. What matters is that I now command your ship. After my victory over the Northern Tribe, I will be able to ask any boon I want from the Fire Lord.” He gazed at her lustfully. “I do enjoy conquering unruly people.”
“Those people would rather die before you could get your grubby hands on them,” she said.
Zhao snarled. “Your only hope for restoration lies through me.”
“I would sooner marry an Earth Kingdom peasant.”
“Death would come to all who sully the royal line!” Zhao said, nearly yelling. "You won't get a better offer than mine, and I take whatever I like."
“Try it,” she said coldly.
Blue fire lit from her hands, red from his. Both glared at one another until Iroh stepped in between them.
“Might I suggest some soothing chamomile tea? It does wonders for my mood,” Iroh said. He placed a light hand on Zhao’s shoulder.
Zhao suddenly must have realized that he’d threatened a member of the royal family, and loudly enough that the sailors outside the room probably overheard. It was an extraordinarily foolish thing to do, even if that member was currently an outcast. His face paled, and he backed a few steps away. Azula gave the admiral her most infuriatingly triumphant grin, which caused Zhao to scowl.
“Perhaps another time, General Iroh,” Zhao said. “You are, of course, welcome to join me in my invasion.” He raised his nose to Azula. “You have one day to finalize transfer of this ship and its men to me.”
Azula said nothing, not moving a muscle, but her eyes never left the admiral’s. With a bow, he turned on his heel and left her room.
Iroh shook his head. “You certainly have a way with others.”
“I’m a people person,” she said.
***
Azula was so infuriated by her conversation with Zhao that she refused to leave her quarters for several hours. She racked her mind for a contingency plan, but nothing came. There was no way she could save her command of this vessel. Her father had granted Zhao absolute authority.
“I wish he’d show his own flesh and blood the same favor,” she murmured.
There was a knock at the door.
“Who is it?”
“It’s Lieutenant Jee, Princess.”
She raised her eyebrows. What could he want? She opened the door.
Lieutenant Jee bowed deeply to her. “The men would like a word with you.”
“Now?” she said, blinking several times. What could they possibly want?
He nodded. “Yes, Princess.”
She followed him to the main deck. All the men had lined themselves up in two parallel columns. Lieutenant Jee led her between them. As he did so, all of them bowed to her, prostrating themselves on the ground.
“We were honored to serve under you and General Iroh, Princess, and we’d like to present you with this.” He bowed and held out a bamboo-handled knife. Ornate kanji were carved into the hilt. She slid the blade from its sheath. Burnt into the metal were even more elaborate kanji. It was beautiful, exceeding even the one Uncle Iroh had given her brother Zuko all those years ago.
It was the greatest gift she'd ever been given by someone who wasn't in her family. Azula was so shocked, she couldn’t find words. She bowed to them in return.
Iroh came close to her. “Perhaps you could say something to them?”
Her mouth hung open for a split second before she recovered any semblance of her wits. She nodded. “It would be my pleasure.” She rose to her full regal height. “Please stand.”
They rose and stood expectantly.
“I—” she stopped, suddenly overwhelmed. She swallowed and then continued. “When I first came aboard this ship, I did not realize what sort of subjects served my family. Now I know. The Fire Nation has the greatest military in the world because of you. You serve with quiet distinction every single day, hazarding your lives for the greatness of our nation. More than that, you welcomed me among you. You even pretended to enjoy my singing during music night.” The men grinned, and she breathed deeply. “You have honored me today with this marvellous gift, but it is I who have had the greatest honor to live and fight and serve alongside you.”
Iroh grinned. “Well said.”
The men cheered. Azula stood stoically, fighting the tears from falling.
Finally, Lieutenant Jee spoke up. “We must prepare to leave this ship. Everyone to your duties.” With that, he began barking orders, and the men went back to work, leaving Iroh and Azula alone to talk amongst themselves.
***
That night, Azula sat on her bed, alone on the ship. Everyone had left, and the world was eerily quiet. She’d even sent her uncle to shore.
Zhao had reassigned everyone to different ships. He was obviously ensuring that they could not organize against him in any way. It was smart. Azula might have done the same, were she in his shoes. Still, it was odd to only hear the gentle lapping of the waves against the hull. She placed her hand on the metal wall, fingers tracing the bolts that held everything together. This had been her home for the past couple of years. Part of her was loath to leave it.
She stood from her bed and walked over to her desk. A small sack was there. Delicately, she took out the ceremonial knife she’d been given and held it up. She hadn’t received much from anyone over the past few years. Her fingers traced the markings on the handle, and then she smiled. She placed it in the sack, along with the red spirit mask, some throwing knives, and the perfume her uncle had bought her. Other than some clothes, these were her only real belongings.
What had she to show from her time pursuing the Avatar? It had all been such a waste. If only her father had valued her tremendous mind! She could plan a war better than any of those arrogant old fools in her father’s cabinet.
Something clanged against a hull.
“Uncle?”
No one answered her. She narrowed her eyes. Something wasn’t right. She slung the bag onto her back and began searching the abandoned ship. Heart pounding, she raised her hands, ready to unleash fiery violence on anyone who would dare attack her.
She made her way to the deck and saw a couple of men setting up some barrels of an unknown substance on the deck. They looked familiar…they were a couple of the pirates that she’d hired a few months ago! What were they doing here? They spotted her and ran around a corner. She raced after them.
She rounded a corner and saw a burning fuse that rushed toward a couple of large barrels. Her eyes widened as the barrels exploded.