Avatar: TLA (Necro and Kuroi01)

[Kuroi01]

( The kids understand why she's being cold, also feel free to time skip.)


Azula looked up at her father with a regretful expression, despite the mild affection shown she felt like she should have done more to help instead of just hiding behind her mother. It was pathetic of her and she hated to act so weak in an attack, she'd have to train harder if she was to be of any use.


Zuko noticed that everyone seemed extremely serious and somber despite the Dai lee being gone now. " What if we send a revenge attack?" He asked before Ly left, he wanted to show the earth nation that they were stronger and would not stand for such behaviour.

 

[NecroKnight]

"That response will likely come sooner than later Zuko," said Ly, as she opened the door. And then closed it after her - oh, there would retaliation, the likes of which would equal to the entire Earth Kingdom being burned and smoked in ash and fire.


xxx


Later on, while most of the War Council of the Fire Lord - mostly generals, admirals and other military officials were busy discussion a retaliation against the Earth Kingdom, Ly herself was busy eyeing a map in one of the storage room's. She had picked many a target that could be hit, along the coast.


...Ozai would most likely concentrate all his effort on capturing Omashu - it was the last intact city of the Earth Kingdom. If that were to fall, it would mean the Kingdom would have almost zero coordination with its remaining troops, with those atleast that still followed Kingdom and hadn't gone rogue or deserted.


But for this journey, she wouldn't want to go alone, as she had something in planned, namely related to Zuko. Whom she had called to meet her here.

 

[Kuroi01]

Zuko was beyond excited to go on this trip and he was amazed that Ly had chosen to take him and not his sister, it was like she was giving him a chance to prove himself in war even if he was technically a year or two younger than soldiers were supposed to be.


When Azula found out however she was furious and went to her mother wanting to learn some things from her so that she could let off some steam and avoid losing it at Ly who'd rather take her brother than her to a war zone.

 

[NecroKnight]

Her mother sighed a little at her antics, albeit she understood, somewhat her reasoning. Azula had trained the most, and by that she should have been taken along. "Azula, one of the reasons you aren't going is because you are too young. You might think you are ready, since you can firebend better than your brother - but out at sea, it will be heavy physical labor there. With the only time, they would be using firebending...is when they are to engage in actual combat."


Ursa looked sad at that saying, because her boy was growing-up, and it wasn't in a peaceful time. "The second reason, is...because of me. Zuko would've had to go...war, eventually," she said, sounding defeated. "He is to become of age, when he could join the military. All men and Fire Lord' of the nation have served. If Ly, hadn't taken up the opportunity to strike again...he would've likely been sent to the front. And that Azula...is far worse."


"A bare two years younger than your brother, and you would've joined him at turbulent sea and rain. I am sorry Azula, but as a mother...I couldn't allow that. Not unless you are older," she said, sounding firm in that belief. Then she smiled a little. "With you brother going away however, it would seem that you and I have some more free-time together."


xxx


"Zuko. Good you came, by the letter I sent - you understand what I am going to take part in. I am going to take a small ship, and start scouring the coasts of the Earth Kingdom. It will be a good way, to show you the world and to work you better physically and mentally. From what I saw, a few days ago in the Palace - you were good. Actually good enough, to pass as an army firebender," spoke Ly, holding up her hand at the slight insult - calling him a simple grunt-bender.


"You are to become Fire Lord, thus you would need to take part and learn the art of warfare, sooner or later. As thus, instead of simply sending you onto the front - you will be travelling with me, and my group of individuals," spoke Ly, having a slight smile on her face. "I believe, you already met the blind-girl already. I got two more...friends, that will be joining us too."


Her tone, then dropped the warmth and went slightly colder. "But I won't sugar-coat anything here Zuko - this will be life-threatening and physically hard. You will be trained hard, mentally and physically - there will come a time too, when you fight. Then you must, fight to win - at all cost. Because only the living know victory. And I am not in any mood, to report to Ursa, Ozai or Azula on whom you got killed. Understood, Zuko?"

 

[Kuroi01]

Azula was still unhappy and she shook her head. "But I'm hardly that much younger than him and when he returns he will surely have improved far too much. Despite what you may or may not like mother we are at war with the world and I refuse to be inferior to my brother, father will certainly be disappointed in me as well." She said looking seriously upset by the idea of staying home.


xxx


Zuko nodded feeling somewhat nervous about what she was saying, he'd hardly survived a day of Azula's training and she would surely challenge him to a duel to prove that she was stronger. She would fight any number of firebenders if it meant that she could go instead of him.

 

[NecroKnight]

Ursa merely shook her head, before she crouched to her level. "Azula - you aren't going, becausse you have other studies ahead of you as well. You might be physically capable - but now are facing the mental challenges too. I don't mean, sending you to school again - I mean, that you will starting to learn the aspects of politics, economy, warfare and more so."


"With the recent attacks - your father thought, that it would be best, that both of you be ready to take the Throne. Incase..." she sighed, daring not to look. "...one of you dies. Or you father dies. Zuko has learned some aspects about rulership, yet as Ozai had said it - he lacked any physical or military experience. You have all of that down, but you haven't begun learning yet the mental aspects about being a ruler. Zuko can improve outside the Palace; while you can improve yourself inside the Palace."


"...and if assassins succeed this time....they atleast won't kill the entire family..." sighed Ursa again. "...you saw, what became of Ly. she was like Zuko once...but she had your skills. Now look at her, do you think behind those eyes are any remains of hope or life?"


"Your grandfather, Azulon had that look - a man who had lost much, and was barely burning with life. How fast, did he pass away - once word reached on his son and grandson were dead?" asked Ursa - she dared not think, what event would cause Ly to simple give-up and pass-away. "I will not let you turn into that - you will live as much as you can get out of life, so help me Agni!"


xxx


"Good, start packing your stuff. We will tomorrow night, when the sun has fallen beyond the sky - our ship will depart," spoke Ly, exhaling. "If you have anything you wish to do, or say goodbye to. Make it so - because we might likely be several years out at sea. Dismissed."

 

[Kuroi01]

Azula could see how much it hurt her mother to recall what had happened and she quickly gave her a big hug. "I understand mother, I'll keep the life in my eyes I promise. And while my brother is out fighting the war I will learn what I can about ruling, however I still want to learn about that technique in the greenhouse. It would be extremely useful to me for when I do get to go out and fight." She said looking up at her with a more childish smile.


xxx


Zuko nodded. "Well of course I should say goodbye to mother and father, I guess it will be a while so I should say goodbye to Azula as well. Maybe we will get along better by the time she gets back." He said thinking that he might actually miss her somewhat.

 

[NecroKnight]

Ursa smile at that proposal, fixing a little piece of hair, that was out of place on her head. She so, liked being the perfectionist. "Don't worry, by the time were finished, you'll be wanting to grow your own flowers right in your own room."


xxx


"Don't leave anything loose, Zuko. Trust me on this," spoke Ly, her back to Zuko - her voice sounding broken. "You might not get a second opportunity in life. It can come at any time, don't leave nothing unsaid. Say what you have, and board the ship tomorrow without any regrets."

 

[Kuroi01]

"That's something I already intend to do, no I want to know how to use that fireball. The plants are something I figured I would obviously be studying, they would be very useful to know about and I must admit it would be enjoyable to spend more time with you." She said smiling a little up at her.


xxx


Zuko nodded and bowed to her respectfully. "I will begin packing at once then I shall bid farewell to everyone so that I am ready tomorrow." He said before beginning to walk away, it made him feel so sad to see Ly so broken and he wasn't sure that he could handle it.

 

[NecroKnight]

"Well, sure dear. It was a move, I had learned a while ago. A secret trick, not even your father or anybody else knew. So I suppose I can share this little secret," spoke Ursa, a little mischevious tone to her. "It was one time, when my instructor just made so angry, I wanted to burn him."


"He never liked how I performed my activities. So by the time, I was put up against some targets - I had been managing a small fire behind my back, occasionally making it big and small, not enough for him to see. And when I released it...well...it shut him up...and took out the entire targers," said Ursa. "The key to fire-bending is breath right - so you create a fire. Take a deep breath, and then by your will - force everything you got into that single flame. Contain and increase. Your breath stays inside your body - all of your chi moving towards your life and boom. Easy, yeah - if you know what to do..."


xxx


Ly didn't say much, as Zuko left the room. Likely to go see his mother, father or sister. Ly merely was slumped over the table. "Why did you leave and leave me in this cold world..." sighed Ly, trying to cry - yet no tears came as always with her.

 

[Kuroi01]

Azula nodded and thought about the technique. "Okay, can we go and say goodbye to Zuzu now?" She asked not sure why she was going to even talk to him since they never got along with him but she doubted she was going to see him for a long while and she didn't want to be on too bad terms with him.


--


Zuko found his mother and sister within a few minutes, when he saw his mother he wasn't quite sure how he was going to be able to say goodbye to her without crying. But he would have to since Azula was there, if he did cry she'd mock him for the rest of his life.

 

[NecroKnight]

"Sure, we can dear," replied Ursa, patting Azula' shoulder, just around as Zuko entered their room. She gave a smile at his look, her boy would be gone for a long time, so she did as many mother would do. She hugged him, knowing that when he returned, he would likely be a grown-man by then.

 

[Kuroi01]

Zuko hugged her back and quietly said goodbye to her knowing that he was going to really miss her while he was gone but there was no choice, he would not yield to anyone especially those who threatened his family. After finishing saying his farewells to his mother he turned to Azula. "It's not gonna be the same without you Zuzu, I'm gonna miss kicki your butt." She began but was cut off when he hugged her just as tight as he had their mother.

 

[NecroKnight]

Her mothe soon joined them both again, glad that atleast her two children had a good farewell. "Good-luck Zuko, and look after you cousin to. She might not show it much, but even she might sometimes use a good hug," said Ursa to Zuko. Knowing that helping her niece, will likely help Zuko in return.

 

[Kuroi01]

Zuko nodded solemnly. "Where is father? I want to say goodbye to him too." He said after finishing the hug with Azula which was surprisingly pleasant considering how she always used to take whatever chance she got to hurt him in some way no matter how nice he would try and be to her.

 

[NecroKnight]

"He is with his military staff. He won't likely be available until tomorrow," said Ursa sadly. "But he promised to be there, when you were sent out."

 

[Kuroi01]

Zuko bit his lip and nodded. "Well it was good seeing both of you, I should go and start packing now. I don't want to waste anyone's time." He said with a shaky voice before running out.

 

[NecroKnight]

"I'm going to miss him," sighed Ursa, keeping arm on Azula' shoulder.

 

[Kuroi01]

"I'm going to miss him as well, but at least we still have eachother. Right mother?" She asked looking up at her hoping she would be enough.

 

[NecroKnight]

"Sure thing, sweety," replied Ursa, scooping up Azula upto her, giving her a slight tickle under back. "...I am so going to spoil you now. Since I have a lot of years to make-up."


xxx


By the time nightfall, had arrived the next day, everything was prepared. Ly had gathered what supplies they would require, money and resources to be an effective fighting force. All that required was Zuko to get ready too - to which Ly was busy outfitting the young man with armor of his own. That he would likely spend a year or two wearing, until the weight of it all was nothing but his second skin.

 

[Kuroi01]

Azula smiled brightly and hugged her mother back, she looked forward to making up for lost time however she still intended to train. She was already used to wearing armour every day even as she trained, she even put it on in the mornings without even realising it.


xxx


Zuko had packed everything he would need and now he was getting ready, the armour was heavy and uncomfortable and he was worried he wouldn't be ready to fight in time.

 

[NecroKnight]

"Trust me Zuko, eventually you'll wear it as a second skin," spoke Ly, wearing her own battle-armor that didn't seem to slow her down or make her brake a sweat - attached to her hip a longsword. "Lets go. Our ship awaits us."


She then, lead them outside - no civilians or commoners were to seem them away - just their family, and their guard.

 

[Kuroi01]

"Azula already wears her armour like it is nothing, she's even worn it without meaning to when she's been sparring and it doesn't slow her down one bit. What if I'm not strong enough by the time we arrive at the earth Kingdom?" He asked voicing all his concerns now.

 

[NecroKnight]

"Trust me, you will. I did it in a year and half," spoke Ly, carrying most of the heavier stuff of their herself. As they soon headed towards the docks. Soon enough, her ship - once that belonged to her father, Prince Iroh, stood long and proud upon the docks. It hadn't been used for several months - yet is crew was one of the best known.


One the docks waited Ursa and her sister Azula, and by her word even Ozai stood there, impassive but eyeing as Zuko approached them.

 

[Kuroi01]

Zuko nodded and held himself as strong as he could despite the heavy armour, he wanted to make his father proud of him and look forward to his return. It was so hard for him to impress him and this was his chance to do it.


xxx


Azula wanted to hug her brother and wish him well but she kept a very stoic face as she politely bid him farewell.