Chapter 2: Birthday Suprise 2

Did that just happen?! Had Firelord Ozai had finally gone crazy? Had his eyes deceived him or did his daughter, Azula really get beaten by someone, a non-bender even.

"Did that just happen?" asked Ozai, in a whispering tone, to a nearby Imperial Firebender. After a moment, the guard silently nodded.

How? How was that possible? She was trained by the best in the Fire Nation, yet she could be beaten by some boy. He had to find out who this boy was, and soon. Luckily, her daughter signaled him, that it was time to end the duel and celebration.

"Well then, that concludes the celebration, a good day to you all," said Ozai, after he had gotten down. Soon the gathered crowd started to leave, and servants started to clean up. He also ordered the generals and admirals, to gather in the war-room for a short brief about the war. Yet before that, he had to find the boy, who was to his luck chatting with Azula, showing off his interesting weaponry.

"Azula," he said, gaining their attention. "Who's your new friend?"

"Zhan, son of General Zhu, M'Lord," replied the golden-haired boy, doing a fist-bow.

Ah, of course. Son of the northern army commander in the Earth Kingdom.

"Interesting device you have there," said Ozai, gesturing at his gauntlets.

"Thank you M'Lord, I've made myself."

This young man made this kind of weaponry? Impossible.

"Are there any more of these?"

"No. They're a long time-consuming process to make. However, I did make a gauntlet for the princess, for her birthday, M'Lord," replies Zhan, to which Azula eyes light up.

"I'll go retrieve it," said Azula, heading towards the gift pile.

Meanwhile Ozai could examine the boy further: strong, confident, tinker to an extend, combat skills equal to Azula's, not afraid of him..interesting.

"You have some interesting skills," said Ozai.

"Thank you M'Lord," replied Zhan, bowing. "Being a Fire Nation citizen, I have to do everything in my power to succeed. And by being a non-bender, I have to try even harder."

Mhhh. Maybe this boy is worth something," though Ozai, deciding to take this leave.

"I found it," replied Azula, coming back with a red-black wrapped gift. She herself felt it a bit light, a metal armor piece should weigh more, shouldn't it? "Were did Fire Lord Ozai go?"

"Your father left, mumbled something about a war meeting."

"Alright then," replied Azula, a bit disappointed, yet also relieved.

Soon she unwrapped it, on a red pillow rested the gift. It was a crimson black color metal glove, different from his dull gray's, two golden dragons looping around the gauntlet, with their heads meeting at the middle, with the Fire Nation Royal Emblem resting between them. A work of craftmanship.

"My, my. This is...interesting," said Azula examining it.

"May I?" asked Zhan.

Azula wanted to figure out how to use it herself, yet couldn't find a trigger mechanism to unlock the blades.

"Very well then," said Azula, politely but neutrally, keeping her emotionless charade up.

Zhan, after a few clicks, slipped out his hand from his metal glove. Then took hold of Azula's hand with his non-covered one, while picking up the gauntlet with his other hand.

"Oh...Agni, why did I let him touch me," thought out Azula, feeling Zhan's hand roam around hers, she was barely able to hold back a blush. "What are these feelings, and why..do I feel hot?"

Zhan worked quickly, while for Azula it took forever. Yet soon he was done and Azula could admire the weapon. It was light and flexible and beautiful, yet felt also strong, and deadly.

"Very nice indeed," said Azula, feeling the weight of the glove around. "How do I activate the blades?"

Using his bare hand again, he flexed a few of her fingers and a bit of her hand, before five crimson blades shot out.

"The mechanism works on a simple, hand-finger pattern, easy to implement," he said doing the same again and the blades retrackted. "Yet accidentally impossible to activate. Try it."

Azula did as was instructed, a flex here, then there...and the blades shot up. A grin started to form on her face. An ideal weapon, deadly, yet easy and light to use, and the blades looked sharp enough to pierce through armor and bone.

"Thank you for this gift Zhan," said Azula, retrackting the blades. "Yet I'm more curious about your fighting technique. Something I haven't seen before."

"I made it up myself princess...however I could teach it to you. If you would like?" smirked Zhan.

If Azula was feeling hot right now, she was practically burning right now. Agni, what's wrong with me?

"Hey, um-...sure," stuttered Azula, as she motioned him to follow her. SINCE WHEN DID SHE, STUDDER WHILE TALKING?

After finishing his war-meeting with the high-ranking generals and admirals, Ozai was left pondering about the young man: Zhan. He had silently asked about him, through his father; who wasn't unfortunately here. Yet all the generals knew, was that he was supposed to join the northern front in about a few months. Damn it, he needex some information. So he had the servants bring him Li and Lo. Two of the wisest and most experienced persons in the Fire Nation. Known for their knowledge and other skills.

"Firelord Ozai" "do what do we owe" "the pleasure" "of you summoning us?" they asked, in their between each-other sentence continuing way.

"There has been a great...disturbance, regarding towards my daughter being bested by a non-bender, who seems to be wielding some unique weaponry and skills. I want you two to find out everything about general Zhu's son Zhan, and his family, yet especially about the boy."

"You can" "trust us" "Firelord Ozai" "we'll not" "let you down."

"Very well then. You have your orders, dismissed," he said, as the two women left. This boy, was becoming quite the interest.

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