12 Invasion and backstory

A few more days passed while the squad just continued on with their routine. Zuko asked azula if she can help him find a place where they can practice fire bending and she nodded. They went and rode Shou and flew around deeper areas where snow and ice are thick. They found a place way further down the tundra and started practicing fire bending. Zuko wanted to learn lightning bending so he asked his sister if she can teach him, in which azula nodded again.

Zuzu, lightning is very destructive. Unlike fire, lightning is an element that is kind of alive. If you can't control your chi better you will not be able to redirect or make lightning using your body as that will just destroy your body. Once the lightning enters your body without any chi protection a road for it to exit, it will spread to every part of your body and will reduce your body to nothing.

Zuko listened well to his sister as even though he's older than her, she's much more knowledgeable when it comes to bending lightning. After a few more lessons, azula started preparing zuko for redirection of lightning. She taught him the proper stance, position of his body, proper breathing, and how to clear his mind. Their first try, azula made sure to only use a low voltage. 200V was the limit for zuko, as even though that is deadly for regular humans, azula has her virus inside zuko which helped him have some resistance towards it. Their training went on till sunset and they decided to finally go back to the tribe. They both got dinner together and after that, both headed to their own rooms to take a shower and rest for the night.

The next day, during one of azula, Pakku, and katara's training session, a black snow started falling from the sky. Seeing this made azula smirk which she hid immediately and looked at Pakku. "Master Pakku, the fire nation is here. We should inform the chieftain." Azula Warned Pakku and the people around her. Pakku nodded at azula and Katara and ran back to the palace to warn Arnook.

"What should we do now Azula?" Katara confusedly asked azula. "I will communicate with the moon and ocean spirit in a few minutes so that I can find a conclusion on what to do in this situation. You try and help defend the people here." She told Katara and they both went their separate ways. Azula went to the palace and noticed sokka and zuko running towards her. She informed sokka that Katara is near the gate to help with evacuating the people. Sokka bid them goodbye and ran towards katara's location.

"Where are you headed Lala? I'll go with you." Zuko said with a hint of worry which made azula feel weird inside but at the same time, she liked this feeling of being cared for. She told him to just follow him and when they are further away from the crowd, she told him that she wanted to absorb the spirit of moon and ocean. This surprised zuko but he trusted his sisters decision so he just followed her. Azula is curious as to why her brother is always there and never questioned her. She still feels a little suspicious of zuko, and she decided to ask him while they were on the way.

"Zuzu. Why do you still trust me. I've told about my strange ability, how I killed people and absorb them, how I killed the avatar and absorb the spirit Raava and all the previous avatars memories are in me. Why are you still not readying your weapon and hunting?" Azula asked zuko which made zuko frown. He thought of all that happened to his sister and how they were separated from a young age and after a while, he smiled back.

"Because you're the only one I can trust now. Our mother disappeared, our father tried to turn you into weapon, took his own son's right and banned him from entering his birth kingdom. He sent people to hunt you down. All of these happened, but before all that, you were always there for me. You helped me from the tiring training and always brighten my day. Before you left, you made a choice to warn me which you didn't have to since your life was on the line. When you disappeared, I felt like a part of me was missing. When I finally saw you, I saw the light that guides my way. Azula, you are the only family I have left. No matter what happens and what you choose to do, I'll follow you and protect you. You're my little sister. Now that we're older, it's time for me to be the older brother you deserve. I know I'm not strong yet, but I'll be there to always help you out."

Zuko said with the most heartfelt emotion which caused azula to blank out for a while. She stopped moving and when zuko saw her face, he panicked. He didn't know why azula started crying. He tried to calm her down, and it seemed to work and she hugged him. "Thank you Zuko." Azula whispered to him.

Flashback Azula POV

'In my previous life, my parents abandoned me since they couldn't afford to raise me. They were both drug addicts which caused them to always be not mentally stable. They tried selling me off to get more money but no one wanted to buy me. In the end they just left me in front of a house. Unfortunately, the family who lived there weren't exactly a good kind either.

Those people who raised me were sellers of body parts obtained illegally and sold to the black market. They sent me to school and after school was taught the their business. Even though I didn't like it, I was forced to do it. After I graduated high school, I made the choice to confess all the things my adopted family did which got the authority's attention and went on a raid to catch my adopted parents. The police questioned me as to why I didn't go to the police sooner and I told them that I would've died before I reached the police station and only after graduation was able to slip out of those people's eyes due to the crowd in the event. The authorities asked me more questions and after a few hours, I was released. Since I'm still technically a minor and I was the one who ratted the syndicate out, I was only given a supervised probation to which I have to report to my officer 4 times a month for a year. The government helped me pay for my rent and gave me allowance for a year to help me settle down and find a job. After that year, the government will stop all the help and I will be left to my own devices.

I found a job at a convenience store and gas station. After the year probation, I didn't receive any more money from the government and I had to find a third job to help me with bills. My life ended up in a loop of working, working, more working, eat, sleep, and then more work. Soon the virus broke out and then a few months later I finally ended up dying. Or at least I thought so.

End of flashback.

" lets go Zuzu. I still need to meditate and communicate with the spirit first before the fire nation arrived and starts wrecking havoc." Azula said after wiping her tears and nodding at zuko. Zuko still dazed from his sister crying, didn't respond immediately but soon snapped out of it after azula pulled him. "Hurry Zuzu let's go!"

After a few minutes of waking, they finally arrived at the spirit oasis. Seeing it made zuko gasped and azula was mesmerized for a bit before she went towards a big tree and sat down. She looked at zuko and told him that she was going to meditate and go to the spirit world and that he should protect her body while she's gone.

A few hours passed and soon the fire nation arrived in the nation. They used their trebuchets while setting the boulders on fire. Katara and the other water benders started sending a stream of water towards the blazing boulder and then froze it so that it won't hit the buildings or the people. Some got passed the water benders and killed a few people and even some benders didn't go unscathed. After the first wave, the ship arrived near the frozen wall and started attacking it. Atop the mass of one of the biggest ship, a person was seen standing and yelling at the people from the deck. He looked at the water nation and smirked.

avataravatar
Next chapter