Chapter 7

Ozai wasn't usually disappointed by his daughter.

Azula kneeled a few feet away from where he sat, nervously waiting for him to say something. After her performance today she deserved to stew in his displeasure for a while.

That she had awakened the rare blue flames had been a stroke of good fortune, enough to salvage her reputation after that disaster of a fight, but it did not absolve her of her failure.

Azula took to the lessons he gave her like a natural, whether they be on combat, politics or morality.

There had been a few mistakes in the past, usually after her mother had filled her head with some sentimental nonsense, but it never took long to correct her mistakes. He could usually count on Azula to act in a way befitting of his heir.

Yet today Ozai found himself disappointed. No, that wasn't a strong enough word. It was more accurate to say that he was infuriated. He had never imagined that Azula might lose to anyone of her own age, but now he saw that he'd been too lax in her training.

Oh the rabble might think that she and that commoner child had been equally matched, but Ozai was not fooled. The blonde girl had planned for the match to end in a tie right from the beginning, and Azula had allowed herself to be led by the nose.

Speaking of the blonde girl, Tanya, Ozai was torn on how to deal with her. That she represented the fire sages irked him. People forgot, but the original firelord had been a member of the fire sages, and had ruled with them as his equals.

Time had separated the firelord into a more political entity, but the fire sages still held the exclusive right to coronate the new firelord, or to refuse to do so if they disapproved of them. The idea that those old fossils of a bygone era should have any power over the firelord, however fleeting, was an insult.

The weak should never dictate the will of the strong. Once he became Firelord and brought an end to this war he would establish a new regime where the authority of he and his chosen heirs was beyond any doubt.

Yet as much as he despised the fire sages, he did not see this Tanya as one of them. The girl had shown more than just firebending talent during her fights, but also cunning, ferocity and ambition. All traits he prized.

That monstrous grin the girl wore as she fought was exactly the kind of expression he'd been trying to instil into his own daughter. He could not leave such an asset in the hands of the sages, but eliminating her would be such a waste.

Azula shifted uncomfortably, drawing his attention back to her. That should be long enough. With slow, deliberate words Ozai spoke.

"You failed me."

Azula's face blanched, her fists tightening so hard that her knuckles turned white. Good. At least she understood the consequences of failure.

"I-… it was her fault!" Azula stuttered. "She must have cheated somehow! She is not my equal."

"Words are empty Azula. Results are everything."

Azula held her tongue, but her expression betrayed her indignation. Interesting. It seemed his daughter had taken the commoner girl's challenge personally.

Could that be the reason why Azula had unlocked her blue flames in the middle of a fight of all times? Had her desire to defeat Tanya provided the motivation she needed to surpass her previous limits?

And just like that a plan formed in Ozai's mind. A solution that would kill all his birds with one stone.

"I shall be sending a letter to the High Temple." He declared. "An invitation for Tanya to attend the Royal Fire Academy for Girls under a scholarship from the royal family. It would be a waste to allow talent to untapped after all.

Though I fear a peasant child may not feel comfortable among the children of nobility. I expect you to help her feel welcome. Take her amongst your friends."

Azula's eyes widened in horror. "But father-…"

"Am I clear, Azula?"

Azula bit her lip, visibly shaking with emotion, and for a moment Ozai suspected she might speak out in defiance. Yet the moment passed, and Azula's shoulders slumped as she accepted her punishment.

"Yes father."

"Good. You may go."

Azula stood, bowed and hurriedly left, no doubt to find something to burn. Out of all the lessons he'd taught her, one she'd taken especially well to was his philosophy on friendship.

Genuine friendship was a parasite for the strong: a leech that bound you to the weak and compelled you to waste your time and effort on solving their pitiful problems.

Yet through the guise of friendship one could forge an effective leash to keep useful pawns under your thrall.

Azula had done well in selecting her "friends" so far: choosing two girls of similar age with noble lineages and useful connections, who both possessed useful skills that Azula could learn for herself or deploy for her own purposes.

However her decision to not befriend a child with the ability to firebend was telling. She did not suffer anybody who might be able to rival her.

Ozai had learnt many important life lessons indirectly from Iroh. His struggles to prove that he was just as good, if not better, than his oh-so-sanctimonious brother had taught him much about the drive hatred could grant you when used properly. Having a mortal enemy inspired you to put your utmost effort into destroying them.

Yet the one who should have been that rival for Azula, Zuko, was a soft-hearted weakling who'd give up and run to his mother rather than provide any sort of challenge. In a way Azula's success had been her failing; she had never learnt how to deal with competition, for there was nobody who could compete with her.

Until now.

Enrolling Tanya at a royal academy would separate her from the fire sages for most of the time before she could be conscripted into military service, and would drive a wedge in the sage's plans to use her as their poster child.

Forcing Azula to accept the peasant into her social circle would also teach his daughter how to cope with a genuine rival, while simultaneously giving his daughter time to work her hooks into this girl and make her a puppet.

With her natural talent and a fine education Tanya was certain to become a powerful weapon for the Fire Nation: one that would dance to his daughter's tune, and by extension his too.

Yes, destiny seemed to have greatness in store for young Tanya. Greatness that, through his designs, would be harvested in service to the Fire Nation.

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