Chapter-70

"You have two hours to leave, or you will be executed."

With those words from her father, he simply turned away and reclaimed his throne, as though banishing his own daughter were an ordinary occurrence. It was as if he had dismissed just another soldier from his army, when in fact, it was his own flesh and blood he was casting aside.

For a few moments, the princess waited, hoping her father might turn around and regret his decision, but it never happened. Instead, he occupied his throne and cast a disdainful glance her way, as if her very presence disgusted him.

With no other choice, she reluctantly turned to leave at a slow pace. The world around her seemed grimmer and darker than she remembered, and as she passed her aunt, she didn't spare her a glance, as if she didn't even exist.

She continued walking, slowly down the corridor. She didn't care about the time frame they'd given her; nothing mattered anymore.

"Azula?" The princess halted in her tracks when her shoulders were gently grasped. Looking up, she saw her two lifelong companions. "Are you okay?" The circus girl appeared concerned, as did Mai. Azula wore a blank expression.

"Let go."

"What's wrong?"

"Let go!" Blue flames enveloped the princess, forcing her friends to step back, fearing being burned.

"Azula! Calm down!" Mai stepped forward, shielding a frightened Ty Lee.

"No, I won't calm down! I've lost everything! Everything!" Her rage soared, causing the flames surrounding her to intensify. "I've been banished, by that boy! I should have killed him when I had the chance and brought back his lifeless body! Now... I've lost everything, and I'm weakened."

"But..."

"..."

"You still have us... We can go with you!" Ty Lee regained her smile and approached Azula, standing a few steps away. "If you're not here, I don't see why we should stay, right, Mai?"

"..." Mai grappled with what to say, well aware that anything she said now would likely be in vain.

"We need to stick together; we're friends," Ty Lee said as she reached for Azula's hand, attempting to offer support during this delicate and trying moment. Azula's hair was disheveled, her clothes torn, her armor shattered, and her eyes... so...

"We are not friends." These words struck Ty Lee like a slap. She stood there, petrified by the cold, unfeeling gaze Azula directed her way. "I needed talent and status. You caught my attention by defeating an entire karate class, and Mai provided that status and influence that served me well, being the daughter of one of the richest families in the Fire Nation."

"But I... I thought..." Ty Lee felt her heart break.

"What? That we'd be friends forever? Eating cookies and tea in a treehouse? Braiding hair and making best friend bracelets? Going to the beach to have fun and check out guys, growing old together and sharing our adventures with our granddaughters as best friends... you're foolish," the banished princess spat angrily, her words laced with bitterness.

"..." Tears welled up in the girl's eyes, and she couldn't hold them back, bursting into tears before fleeing. Mai and Azula were left alone, exchanging a brief gaze.

"Why did you do that?"

"Why shouldn't I?"

"Just because you're having a tough day doesn't give you the right to be mean."

"A tough day? Is that what it looks like to you? Just a tough day?!" she screamed in rage, flames escaping her hands, causing Mai to take a step back. But she stood her ground, unperturbed by her kimono and hands almost catching fire.

"If…" Mai couldn't stay silent, even if she knew Azula could harm her with a mere gesture. "Don't you see? Your father is one of the worst people I've ever encountered!"

"Don't you dare speak ill of my father."

"Your father is a monster! He doesn't hesitate to commit terrible deeds, not because they're necessary, just because he wants to!" Mai knew that if a soldier overheard her, she'd be executed for disrespecting their leader, but she didn't care.

"Shut up! Don't talk about him!"

"Why are you defending him? After what he did to you and Zuko?"

"Zuko deserved it, and so did I. I failed in my mission."

"Your mission... to kill a boy like Naruto, a boy who saves lives, except mine, fights for what's right, makes good choices, and offered you his friendship, even when you spurned his kindness, he kept smiling and extending a hand."

"And now my life is ruined because of that foolish decision."

"No, Azula, it's not over... it's time for a change."

Time seemed to stretch as the two girls locked eyes, oblivious to the world around them. Eventually, Azula started walking past Mai, breaking their gaze.

"I always feared you'd become just like your father." Those words made the princess halt. Even with her back turned to the heiress of the richest family on the continent, she heard Mai's parting words. "But I was wrong; you're different. To your father, by letting Naruto go, you showed that you're not like him... and I'm very glad for that."

"..." Azula walked out of the massive doors of the grand fortress, without looking back.

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