Team Avatar currently found themselves in a forest, Sokka was cleaning in-between Appa's toes with the help of Momo. Meanwhile, Katara and Harry were by the river having a practise battle using only waterbending while Aang sat next to Appa, one hand idly stroking the loveable bison while his attention was focused on watching Harry and Katara.
"Duck!" Katara yelled when a water blast went past Harry and towards Sokka.
"Huh?" Sokka turned around and got hit in the face with the water.
"Quack," Harry smirked before continuing to practice with Katara.
"Why is it always me?" Sokka grumbled as he got back up. "I swear, one day, the universe is going to make this up to me. Hopefully in food and hot chicks." He sighed before he continued to clean Appa. Aang smiled at his words before pulling his attention back to Harry and Katara.
He couldn't help but think back to that moment when he saw Harry kill Zhao, it was a couple of days ago and it was still hard to believe. Yes, he already knew that Harry was an infamous, mass-murdering weapon for the Fire Nation, but he thought that Harry had stopped, that he had changed. If he wanted to join them then surely he understood that killing was bad, right? Jeong Jeong's words echoed in Aang's head, the firebending master was right about the fact that Harry could have simply stayed in the Fire Nation if all he wanted to do was murder people but Aang still couldn't shake his feelings about Harry.
Harry, sarcastic and irritated he may constantly appear, was a nice guy and always looked out for him and the others. A lot of times it felt like he was the big brother of the group, the one that kept everyone on the mission and also cared for everyone. Harry sometimes made food, he would help set up tents, he would care for Appa and Momo, he'd train with them and joke with them. Harry was his friend, undoubtedly, but...Aang wasn't so sure anymore. The Harry that killed Zhao, was cold and dangerous. He couldn't help but wonder how he should interact with Harry now, should he ignore what he did? Should he...
"Nice one, Harry!" Katara's voice interrupted his thoughts, causing him to look up and see Harry dodge a water attack from Katara. "Your waterbending is getting much better." Katara complimented him with a grin before sending a water whip at Harry who countered with one of his own.
"Thanks, but it's time to end this little sparring match of ours." Harry caught a water blast from Katara before sending it back at her after ripping a small part of it away and turning it into an ice dagger, he rushed forwards and dodged another attack from Katara before tackling her to the ground and holding the dagger against her neck with a grin on his face.
"No!" Aang screamed, leaping to his feet and rushing forwards only to stop when he saw Harry and Katara looking at him, Harry's eyes narrowed as he turned the knife back into water and tossed the water into the river.
"Aang, are you alright?" Katara asked in a voice filled with concern and confusion.
"Uh...yeah..." Aang said slowly, "I'm...I'm fine." He added. Unfortunately, it was clear that he wasn't that good of a liar if the disbelieving looks on everyone's face were any indication.
Deep in the Fire Nation in the training grounds of the royal palace, blue lightning was shooting up into the air.
The creator of that lightning was none other than the sixteen-year-old princess of the Fire Nation, Princess Azula. She was currently dressed in black and gold shoes and armor over red clothes. Her hair was pulled into a bun with two long side bangs dangling down to just past her chin, she wore red lipstick with a tiny bit of make-up.
She took a deep breath, allowing her mind to calm down, she allowed her emotions to fade away as she performed the kata for lightning bending. The circular motion of her arms was natural to her by now, the lightning generated on the tips of her fingers before shooting into the sky, ripping through the air. She took a deep breath to calm her heart rate, a grin appeared on her face. The feeling of lightning bending always cheered her up.
"Impressive," A voice interrupted her thoughts. "but could be better."
"Indeed," Another voice that was very similar to the previous one spoke. "I've seen the Emerald Dragon produce bigger than that."
Azula growled as she looked towards the two old women sitting off at the side, Lo and Li, her personal advisers. Though she hadn't actually chosen them, still...she was stuck with the two old hags. She did not appreciate being compared to Harry, nor did she appreciate being told that her bending wasn't good enough, especially by two old women that were long past their prime and not even firebenders. She had no idea why Father insisted on these two advising her. Unfortunately, that meant that she was unable to show them how good her lightning really was by making them experience it. She supposed it didn't matter in the end, one day she'd be allowed to hurt them or they'd drop dead within a year or two.
"Do not scowl," Lo - or was it Li?- admonished her. "ladies do not scowl."
"Yes," Li - or was it Lo? Does it really matter? - agreed. "now continue with your training."
Azula bit back a series of curse words that would likely have earned her another lecture before performing her kata again.
"Princess Azula," A familiar voice called, causing Azula to let out a small groan before she turned around. She had been hoping to retreat to the comforts of her room, but apparently, that wasn't going to happen just yet. "forgive me, Princess, but I would like a moment of your time." The owner of the voice said.
The owner of the voice was someone that Azula was unfortunately familiar with, he was four years older than her with black hair pulled into a ponytail, and on his face was a small goatee. He dressed in expensive clothes and was currently supporting a lecherous grin.
"What do you want, Ryu?" She drawled, staring at him with an unimpressed look.
"Princess, you're as beautiful as always." He smiled as he gently grabbed her hand and pulled it up towards his mouth, he puckered his lips and leaned his head down to kiss her hand, only to be shot down when she pulled it out of his grip. He didn't get a chance to react as less than a second later he felt the same hand press two fingertips against his neck.
"Touch me without permission again and there won't be much of a body left to be buried, is that understood?" She asked in a cold voice, raising an eyebrow. Despite his best attempts at not doing so, Ryu gulped.
"O...of course, Princess." He quickly nodded, Azula looked at him like he was something that she had just stepped in before lowering her hand.
"Now, what do you want?" She asked impatiently.
"I...I would like your help," He answered a moment later after rubbing his throat. "with an important matter."
"I would but your right hand seems to do the job just fine, who am I to break up the dream team?" She said with a small smirk, it was a shame that there was nobody else around to laugh at her joke and that it seemingly was not appreciated by Ryu based on how he was looking at her. Truly, she felt like her sense of humor was wasted here. Ryu coughed into his hand, taking a moment to compose himself.
"Princess, you are aware of the fate of my father?" Ryu asked.
"I doubt there are many people in this palace that aren't," Azula answered, nearly everyone knew that Ryu's father had been killed by Harry, though his loss affected the Fire Nation's army, it wasn't an overly massive problem. Besides, there weren't that many people beyond her father that liked Zhao's company. "what of it?"
"The Emerald Dragon," Ryu snarled. "he's cost me so much, and it's not just myself that has suffered because of him. There are also the other members of the Fire Nation that he has killed, the members who have lost their loved ones to him, those who have...w...what are you doing?" He blinked when he realized that the princess was walking away from him. "Where are you going?" He asked before rushing after her.
"You're clearly more interested in hearing you're own voice than answering my questions, you would be better served to talk to a mirror instead of wasting my time," Azula said without looking back.
"I am sorry," Ryu quickly said as he rushed forwards and stopped in front of her, causing her to stop and look at him. "I am sorry. I...I want revenge on the Emerald Dragon." He told her.
"We both know that you're not the only one. I imagine that there's a list somewhere."
"Would your name be on that list?" Ryu asked with a smirk.
"Your point, I suggest you make it quickly." She warned, causing his smirk to drop. He took a breath before he spoke again.
"I would like for you to help me convince your father, Fire Lord Ozai, to allow me to take revenge on the traitor and give me my fallen father's position so that I have the men needed to do so," Ryu answered.
Azula stared at him for several long seconds, her face blank and not giving any hints about how she felt. That lasted for all of ten seconds before she ended up bursting into laughter. One hand grabbed a nearby wall to keep herself upright while the other clutched at her stomach as she let out a belly full of laughter. Once she managed to get herself under control she stared at Ryu who had adopted a very offended look on her face.
"You think that you can beat Harry? The Emerald dragon?" She asked disbelievingly as she straightened herself up.
"With the Fire Nation's help, of course." Ryu confidently answered.
"Preposterous," Azula scoffed. "he's..."
"Despite all of his achievements, he's just a single man. Not even a man," Ryu interrupted. "he's a teenager with delusions of grandeur."
"I wouldn't talk," Azula said under her breath before speaking to Ryu. "and what? Are you going to grab some men and defeat him? Just like that? Your father tried the same thing and..."
"My father was a great soldier, but he is not me." Ryu cut her off. "He was focused on obtaining scrolls from times long gone and on nonsense like spirits. I, on the other hand, belong to the real world and would like to point out that the Fire Nation's greatest disappointment is still a mortal being, it would take one blade through his neck to end him."
"I don't doubt that, I just doubt you," Azula replied before she turned and walked off. "do what you want, just don't expect my help." She called without looking back.
"He's not good enough for you, Princess," Ryu called, "I will prove that to you."
Azula didn't stop walking, she didn't even stumble, her face betrayed nothing, nor did her body. As of the moment she wanted nothing less than to go into her room and have a break from everyone's bullshit.