Chapter 4: Training

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It had been two weeks, since Azula started to see that boy Zhan. Oh by Agni, did she hate it.

She had initially wanted to learn his unique fighting; being Azula, she didn't wanted to be bested in anything. So on par with her Firebending Training, she also had private Hand-Combat Courses with him.

Slowly her physique improved, if only by two weeks, she could feel her body better, more controled breathing and a couple of aching muscles. The Courses she didn't mind, what she hated was his attitude: always cheerful, joking, laughing; and he wasn't scared of her even, which gave her almost no leverage against him, save for her firebending. She was almost like Ty Lee, she shuddered at the thought, minus the hugging and pink.

Agni...and that was only the tip of it. The servants, guards and maids had all started to talk about her and him. Damn gossipers. Even her father had encouraged her with his blessing. Oh could they all just, shut up!

She was currently practicing on some wooden targets...with her fists.

"OW!" yelled Azula, hitting the target, the wrong way. "This is useless, I can just burn them."

"Azula, it's just practice, don't go all steaming," replied Zhan smirking.

"Yeah, because I'm really gonna fight wooden men, out in the war," said Azula sarcastically.

"Bones and flesh, are tougher than wood; this is the easy level," he replied.

"I'd like to see you do it. Without your gauntlets," she hissed.

"Easily," he replied removing them.

He took up a position, near the wooden target, giving a few quick jabs; then with one swift punch, smashed the target in half.

"See."

"Idiot," she mumbled.

"Alright, I think we need a break," he said.

"You're kidding right?" asked Azula.

"Nope, a good walk can those some good," he replied smiling.

"Good walk? I wanna learn to fight, not take a walk. Perfection demands sacrifice," said Azula confidently.

"And if you don't take a break, then you're limbs will go numb. You need to take break, otherwise your joints won't heal. And Woody will still be standing there," replied Zhan giggling.

"You know I can burn you right," she said, looking him straight into his ash-gray eyes.

"And I can still, sweep you off your legs," he replied, casually.

Oh you will regret one day, messing with Fire Lord Azula.

"Fine. Let's go before I decide to hang you," she said.

"Don't worry. You'll have your chance later," he replied, coming without his trade-mark gauntlets on. Guess those things do get HOT.

XXX

It was close to the evening, so most people and shops had been closed up,he had opted for a tour around the Capital city and then the park, and to her eternal annoyance, she was still getting stares from the remaining people still around. Agni...there goes my dignity, and reputation.

They had finally arrived in the city park, and to her luck, they would soon head back.

"C'mon now, don't you wanna feed the turtle-ducks?" asked Zhan playfully.

"Do you wanna burn in a volcano?" replied Azula.

"Okay. Don't go all, setting my head on fire," he replied chuckling.

'If only I could,' she thought.

Their boring walk continued for awhile, until Zhan stopped suddenly.

"What now? A bird caught your attention?" she asked, but getting hushed by Zhan.

Faster, than she could see, Zhan had grabbed turning her around...and shielding her from a...fireblast?

He had grabbed her into a tight hold, both of them rolling down the hill, fireblasts following their wake; until they stopped near a lake, on open ground and away from their radius.

"Show yourself, TRAITORS!" yelled out Azula.

Out of the bushes appeared four people: three males and one female, one of the males wielding a sword, the other three in bending stances. All of them wearing red leather robes, faces covered.

"Give up Princess, your outmatched and outnumbered," said the female, their leader obviously.

"Not on your pathetic, scum life," replied Azula angrily.

"Then we're forced to take you by force. Zin, handle the boy," said the female, to the one holding a sword.

"Perfect. You handle him, Zhan, if you can do that," replied Azula.

Azula took a position, opposite of the 'renegade' firebenders, Zhan behind her with the swordsman. She struck first, legs kicking fire at the female. But she managed to block, counter-attackin. Soon enough, Azula found out, that these traitors were more than, simple bandits...more like assassins. She was focused on the firebenders, so she didn't know how Zhan was doing.

She was getting tired-out since, she was attacked from all-sides, and they had experience to back it. A blind-spot shot behind her sent Azula rolling onto the ground.

"Surrender or el-" said the man, before he was silenced.

Azula could see Zhan, fly-kicking him into his shoulder, bones cracking, then legs swept.

Second one got a kick to his knee, and an elbow to the face, both times bones cracking.

The female tried to counter-attacked, but got her hand grabbed and broken, then a jab to the ribs, cracking them. Finishing her with a strike to the neck, knocking her unconscious.

Looking at him, Azula could see that the goofy, cheery boy was replaced by someone else. His face in anger, teeth baring, fists clenched, checking on the defeated. A few feet away, she could see the swordsman, lying unconscious, his right hand in a very wrong angle.

This couldn't be the same boy, who laughed at her warnings; rather this was a lethal killer. He had easily, taken down three skilled firebenders single-handedly. Azula then realized how much he held back...and this darker side she liked.

A few city guards, soon arrived running, while Zhan was helping her up.

"GUARDS! Arrest these traitors, under charges of attempting to capture and kill the Crown Princess. Inform the Fire Lord. And don't treat their injuries, until they've revealed who hired them!" said Zhan, in a deep commanding voice, suprising the guards and Azula.

"You heard him," added Azula, when they seemed, frozen still.

"Of course, Princess Azula," replied the guards, starting to drag the traitors away.

"I think we should head back to the Royal Palace," said Azula.

"Agreed, Azula," he replied, a slightly angry look on him, and she started to like this side of him.

Arriving back at Palace, Azula could see it a buzz with activity, guards running around and his father waiting with three squads of Imperial firebenders outside.

"Azula! There you are. I heard about the attack, are you alright?" asked Ozai, checking on her.

"I'm alright father," replied Azula.

"Forgive me, M'Lord. I took the Crown Princess for a walk. Making her open to these attacks. I take full responsibility from this action," said Zhan, bowing to the Fire Lord.

"Is this true?" asked Ozai, a bit angry.

"This is nothing father. I needed to clear my head, and these dissidents were easily dispatched," said Azula plainly, waving her hand. Pulling her father away. "By me and Zhan, who broke a few of their bones with ease. He's just covering for me, and I can say his loyalties are very well placed."

"Very well then Azula. I trust your judgment," said Ozai, then addressing the boy. "No action will be taken against you, as you seemed to have guarded the Crown Princess well. You're free to resume your duties."

"Which involves my Training Courses. Come along," said Azula, pulling Zhan along. "Also I think you need a healer."

"For what?" he asked.

"This," she said, touching a scorch mark on his clothes back, making him wince.

"It's nothing," he replied, shrugging.

"Oh yes it is. Now come along," she said, dragging him to her Royal Chambers.

"Can't take you to a healer, because that will make them question about the scale of our little traitor bunch," she said, pushing him onto her bed. "So I'll have to care of you myself, unfortunately. Now, shirt off!"

"Pardon?" he asked confused

"I can't put this salve on your shirt?" asks Azula, stating the obvious, getting some Euca-salve, for his burns.

Turning around, she could finally see Zhan's naked upper body: he had a strong athletic build, focusing on strength and speed but being agile enough. Adorning his back beside the burn mark, Azula could see many scars.

'Guess, he's full of suprises,' though Azula, applying the salve. 'An ally like this can do wonders, loyal, self-sacrificing...and maybe he can be toleable enough.'

XXX