Aboard Princess Azula's ship, the soldiers remained attentive to their duties, though they couldn't help but steal glances at the young man who, in the blink of an eye, had become the right hand of their relentless leader.
He was barely fifteen, yet his presence was unsettling. Magnetic. He claimed to be a loyal spy for the Fire Nation, and in a very short time had won the favor of almost everyone on board. The cooks adored him; they saw him as someone who understood the pressure they lived under. The soldiers respected him: he had the rare gift of knowing exactly what to say to soothe the nerves that Azula could set ablaze with a single glance. He was a relief, a buffer between them and the living fire of their princess.
But that same calm was also a threat. There was something in his eyes, in the way he silently observed, that sent shivers down the spine. At times he seemed more strategist than soldier, more noble than spy, more dangerous than trustworthy. He never proposed plans, yet always found the flaws in others', and pointed them out in a neutral, almost instructional tone. As if he had already lived it all before.
They had even had a conversation about their pasts. At first, Azula had initiated the talk as a tactic: to interrogate without him realizing. But she ended up revealing more than she intended. She spoke of her mother, of how she saw her as a monster, even if she knew she was right. He spoke of his own mother's death, and how he hadn't been able to save her. She mentioned how she enjoyed being feared… and also, how that isolated her. He told her about his former partner, how they died, and how he had started traveling to avoid facing his family.
Azula showed no reaction. But she remembered everything.
He had done what few managed: to hold a conversation with her without falling into flattery, fear, or open provocation. And in that exchange, though Azula maintained control, she couldn't help but feel that he understood… too much.
That, precisely, made him useful. And dangerous.
And Azula looked at him as if evaluating a distorted reflection of herself. An equal. A rival. An enigma.
"Do you enjoy correcting my men?" she asked one afternoon, as they shared a game of Pai Sho over the ship's war table.
"Only if they deserve it," he replied, without looking up from the board.
Azula smiled faintly, the corner of her lips curling slightly. That blend of boldness and deference amused her. It was rare for someone to speak to her like that… and live to tell the tale.
"And do you think I deserve correction too?"
"Yes," he said, moving a tile without hesitation. "But it's not like you'd take them. You only listen to the ones you choose."
Kuzon—or rather, Sokka behind the disguise—replied with amusement. But his words had an edge. As always.
Azula raised an eyebrow, not so much annoyed as intrigued.
"So, what correction would you suggest for me, then?"
Kuzon thought for a second, then looked up.
"Not many, actually. But that obsession of yours with perfection could become counterproductive."
Azula studied him carefully, scrutinizing his face with cold intensity as he took one of her tiles.
"Perfection is not a flaw or an obsession. Perfection leads to success. No errors. No doubts. No setbacks."
"It is," he said softly. "Because the constant pursuit of perfection in everything, the way you do it, is dangerous. For you... and for your allies."
He took another tile without lifting his gaze from the board.
"If something isn't perfect... if there are cracks in your 'flawless system,' your mind won't handle it. The small flaws add up. Tiny frustrations, insignificant details that slip through the cracks."
He placed the tile on the table.
"Like micro-cracks in glass. Invisible at first, but they add up. And one day, all it takes is a small tap. An unexpected piece of news. A poorly timed revelation… and everything shatters. Bottling up your frustration and sadness does the same."
Azula narrowed her eyes, contemplating the board. She was an expert at this game, and this young man who had just learned the rules was beating her. The worst part was that she was getting frustrated. And even worse: she knew he was right.
"You learn fast," she commented, a hint of coldness masking her discomfort.
"Thanks. I had a good teacher," he said, and their eyes met briefly. "Are you upset?"
Azula didn't respond immediately. The lie reached her tongue, but she didn't say it. Because admitting something—on her own terms—was a form of power.
"Yes. Your intelligence is annoying."
Sokka smiled. Seeing Azula admit it was new. And entertaining.
"Tell me," Azula resumed, moving a tile with precision. "Why are you really here?"
"Why else would I be? For fun, to learn what spy training didn't teach me... In short, for my own benefit. And also to keep you from burning the world down. You know… I live in it."
Azula laughed. It was a short, controlled, almost mocking laugh.
"You do talk well. But if you're lying... I'll know."
"And if I'm not… does it scare you to think I might be able to stop you?"
"No," she said. "It intrigues me."
Sokka raised an eyebrow at her. Planting the seeds for her to care for her mental health might not redeem her… but maybe it would keep her from becoming too dangerous. Or too unstable. And that would save him a lot of trouble in the future.
"By the way," he added, resting his elbow on the table, "don't you have more allies? I mean friends. Female friends. The soldiers are good, especially those royal guards," he said, pointing at a woman in a red uniform and white mask, "but at the end of the day, they're still soldiers. They don't know your tactics inside and out. They don't know you up close."
Sokka had a clear reason for asking. He wanted to meet Mai and Ty Lee. They were iconic figures, and he wasn't going to waste the opportunity to see such important characters in person. Plus, it wouldn't hurt to see what real friendship looked like for someone like Azula.
She narrowed her eyes, pondering the question. She had ordered the ship's captain to reroute toward Omashu, where her friend Mai now lived. It was her new home. And although she had deliberately kept that information from Kuzon, his current question caught her off guard.
"Yes… Did you already know I was going to Omashu for them?"
Sokka was genuinely surprised. "What? Of course not. I asked because I thought it would help you to have someone close to you on your mission. More than soldiers. Friends."
Azula scrutinized him with narrowed eyes. She doubted his words, but whether or not he knew they were heading to Omashu didn't seem critical. And if he did know, it didn't matter much either.
However, Sokka was euphoric on the inside. He wasn't just going to meet Mai and Ty Lee! He might also get to see Bumi. With all the changes caused by his presence, he had no guarantee the old king was still alive, and that made him anxious.
That's why he spent most of the trip training with his spear and studying the ship in detail. The routine wasn't easy, but it kept him alert.
Until, one afternoon, something caught his attention: a hawk flying over the ship.
It resembled those of the Fire Nation, with a red cloth tied to one of its legs. But something was different. The bird seemed to be searching for something, turning its head from side to side with no clear direction. On its back it carried a small message tube. Tied to the tube was a blue string.
Sokka had a hunch.
Tyro? Haru's father?
The possibility made him react immediately. He leapt, bounding between railings and smokestacks until he reached an elevated part of the ship, effortlessly—and most importantly—unseen.
The hawk looked at him, curious but tense. Then, Sokka manipulated the chi of his face, pulling off the cloth that covered his disguise and revealing his true face for a few seconds.
The bird recognized him immediately and descended with precision, perching on a nearby railing. It assumed a posture that allowed Sokka to access the cylinder on its back.
Sokka took it carefully and unrolled the parchment. He read in silence, recognizing the familiar handwriting.
---
Dear Sokka:
This letter is to inform you that your guests have arrived. Although we were initially frightened by seeing a Fire Nation ship, everything became clear when they showed your letters. Tyro and the earthbenders delivered the agreed supplies, all in order according to your second message.
The warriors have begun training the newcomers, just as you instructed. They've also settled into the vacant houses. Thanks to the new facilities, we've avoided what you called "inflation" and "resource shortages."
I've implemented the fishing, hunting, gathering, and construction work. Everything has gone wonderfully these two weeks since they arrived. We wish you and Katara were here, but knowing that—even in your absence—you remain an excellent chief… reassures us.
Everyone in the tribe sends their regards. We look forward to hearing from you.
P.S.: The hawk is very smart, according to Tyro. If you give it an order, it will follow it.
Tiga.
---
Sokka smiled. He had a moment of relief. The tribe was fine. His plans were still on track.
Sokka calmly stored the letter and changed his face again. The hawk now recognized him in his new face, and Sokka ordered it to stay close without being seen.
With several jumps, he returned to the deck of the ship and decided to spend some time with the soldiers there.
And Azula… she remained in her room, thinking.
To her, Kuzon was enigmatic and dangerous. Through her research, she had confirmed that there had been someone named Kuzon who was a spy and had a son who was also a spy. However, the records didn't reveal more about his life. She knew this unknown young man, who worked as a spy for her nation, could benefit her in incredible ways.
An entire day passed peacefully, and now the young princess and the young spy were calmly watching the horizon... at least until Kuzon spoke.
"I thought we were heading to Omashu," he said, noticing they were veering off course.
"Why don't you tell me about your father?" she asked, shamelessly changing the subject. She also noted how Kuzon wore green Earth Kingdom clothing with ease.
Sokka looked at her with amusement.
"There's not much to say. He died when I was younger. Left me a lot of money that allowed me to travel and learn many things, but I couldn't bring him back to this life."
Azula listened to him speak calmly. But she also noticed something else. Sadness? Disappointment? She couldn't tell — just as she had no way of knowing that Sokka was referring to his past life.
Still, she changed the subject one last time.
"I've noticed you've been spending time with my subordinates."
"Yes, I wanted to get to know them and see what they were like," he replied, amused by the situation.
"Let me make something clear," Azula said sharply. "They're my subordinates. You have no reason to socialize with them."
"Yes, but I'm not doing it to challenge you. On the contrary, I'd suggest you be a bit kinder to them. Imagine how much their performance would improve. You'd gain a kind of respect no general has. You'd have your soldiers' trust and fear, perfectly balanced."
Azula analyzed his words. There was truth in them, and she knew it.
However, her thoughts were interrupted when they arrived at the port.
Azula ordered Kuzon to accompany her, and all the soldiers watched them. Their princess walked proudly, face calm, while Kuzon followed her with relaxed steps and a wide smile as he took in the rocky, tree-filled landscape.
Minutes passed quietly as Azula observed Sokka, and a wicked smile appeared on her face.
"So?" she asked. "Aren't you going to ask why I've come to a circus?"
He already knew the answer, but decided to play along.
"Of course not. Why would I? I'm not a stalker who wants to know everything about your life."
One of Azula's eyebrows twitched in anger, realizing Kuzon had just described her with that phrase.
Before she could respond, a cheerful, energetic voice called out from behind them.
"Azula!" shouted a beautiful, slim, athletic young woman.
---
Sokka's POV
"Azula!"
I recognized Ty Lee's excited voice before I even saw her. The gymnast flipped backward and bowed respectfully. I thought she was with Mai in Omashu, not at her circus in the Earth Kingdom.
"Princess Azula."
"Ty Lee, I need your help capturing the Avatar," Azula said bluntly.
She really needed to learn how to deal with people. A good leader offers incentives, not just threats. In the series, her lack of tact led to betrayal and madness.
Ty Lee seemed conflicted. She knew what would happen if she refused, but Azula didn't take "no" for an answer. I decided to step in.
"How about offering her something?"
"What?" Azula shot me her murderous glare.
"Who are you?" Ty Lee asked, confused by my Earth Kingdom clothes.
"Azula," I smiled at her, "why don't you offer something? Threats and expecting loyalty just because you're a princess isn't effective…"
"Kuzon," Azula interrupted, her eyes blazing, "are you questioning my decisions?"
"No, just giving my opinion. If you push people too hard, they'll run. They'll leave you behind."
Like your mother. I didn't say it, but the implication was clear. We both knew too much about each other. I could hurt her, but I needed her to reflect.
She stepped toward me, her hands wrapped in blue fire.
"Maybe I should teach you a lesson. Don't mistake my kindness for weakness."
I stepped forward until we were just inches apart. Neither of us showed fear. Would we fight? If necessary, I would. But Azula needed to understand the world was bigger than her.
"So?" I asked with a smile, "What do you think of my suggestion?" as she frowned.
---
End of POV
Ty Lee trembled in fear at the scene. On one side was her cold and dangerous friend; on the other, a total stranger who faced her without the slightest trace of fear.
"I'll go with you!" the gymnast finally said, a mix of resolve and fear in her voice. "Only because I don't want to stay here any longer."
"Don't worry, the great Azula will reward you well, because she's a good leader and friend, right?" Kuzon said mockingly, like a butler praising his mistress.
Azula glared at him, then turned to Ty Lee.
"Yes, I'll reward you well once we're done."
Ty Lee seemed excited by the promise and rushed to hug her friend.
Kuzon watched the scene with amusement as they boarded the warship.
"You know, Azula really seems like a dominatrix, don't you think?" he said, jokingly, to Ty Lee.
Azula blinked, confused. Ty Lee, however, blushed to her ears and covered her face with both hands.
"Huh?" Azula frowned. "I still don't get what's so funny." Then she looked directly at Ty Lee. "And why are you embarrassed?"
"N-nothing!" the acrobat stammered, failing to hide her flustered state.
"Looks like our innocent little circus girl knows more than she lets on," Kuzon teased with a mischievous smile. "I wonder where she read about it."
"Explain it to me. Now!" Azula demanded, annoyed at being left out.
The situation was so absurd that Kuzon could barely hold back a wicked grin. He was about to give the Fire Nation princess an unexpected lesson.
"Well, my dear Azula, allow me to introduce you to the wonderful world of S&M."
Ty Lee tried to slip away quietly, but he grabbed her by the arm.
"Where do you think you're going? I also want to know how you learned about this."
Even though this world didn't have the internet, explicit books were clearly not unheard of. And above all, Kuzon loved drama.
"Let's start with the basics," he announced, while Ty Lee's face turned redder than a tomato. "First, the concept of domination and submission…"
Azula remained silent, visibly embarrassed, and Ty Lee wasn't doing any better as she explained that she had accidentally found a book belonging to another circus member. She read it out of curiosity… and never gave it back.
"So yes, that's the general essence of it," Kuzon concluded with a triumphant smile.
"Such debauchery. People enjoying pain? That's stupid," Azula said, shaking her head, visibly skeptical of the idea. "And how do you know about this, Kuzon?"
She had spent so much time questioning Ty Lee and mocking her that now the question landed back on him.
But just as the tension was rising, they arrived at the docks. Kuzon took the opportunity to deflect.
"Oh, look, it's the ship. We should go train now."
Azula narrowed her eyes — she wasn't going to let him off the hook so easily.
"You're going to say that after making us go through all this? The least you can do is tell us a bit about yourself."
"Those words are awful," Kuzon muttered under his breath, far enough from Azula not to be heard. But Ty Lee heard him, and looking at her friend, she couldn't help but laugh.
"Well," he said in a more neutral tone, "do you want a lie or the truth?"
"The truth, obviously," Azula replied, as if she couldn't imagine any other option.
"During my travels I had a girlfriend who liked it… she was a masochist. Not extremely, but she even taught me how to choke someone without leaving marks. Want to try it, Azula?"
"Do that and I'll burn your hands," she replied, unbothered.
Kuzon laughed loudly as he walked toward his room on the ship. The whole situation was hilarious to him: a princess raised in royalty, ignorant of the world's pleasures, and a circus girl now explaining sadomasochism to her childhood friend.
His amusement lasted a few more hours, which he spent eating and training with his spear. But there was something else — Azula was watching him with a piercing gaze.
And Sokka thought that if she could shoot fire from her eyes, he'd already be dead.
They finally arrived in Omashu, and Azula once again ordered him to accompany her to pick up Mai. This time, however, he declined, using the excuse of staying behind to eat at a restaurant — and Azula, still a bit uncomfortable and annoyed by the S&M conversation, let it slide.
Several minutes after the girls had left and he had finished his meal, Sokka exited the place and began walking calmly through the streets of Omashu. It was practically deserted — the only people visible were soldiers and a few Earth and Fire Kingdom civilians. It felt like a ghost town.
Sokka wanted to visit Bumi, but he didn't know where he was being held. Worse still, the brothel he had visited last time, where he had gotten some great information, was now closed.
Clicking his tongue in frustration, he headed to Mai's residence to get the information discreetly.
Taking his Skybreaker spear, he vanished from the spot. Anyone who saw him would've thought it was teleportation — but Sokka wouldn't waste his boots on something as mundane as walking a few meters.
Instead, his almost divine disappearance was due to the enhanced agility and speed the halberd granted him while holding it.
Sokka had realized this while training with it on Azula's ship — his agility and speed had increased by at least three or four times, by his calculations. Of course, only when holding the halberd.
Azula was standing on the balcony of the tallest castle in Omashu. Now that one of the most dominant cities in the Earth Kingdom had been captured, it was only a matter of time before the rest of the Kingdom followed. Although time was not exactly on their side, because the longer they waited, the worse it would be, as the Avatar could master all four elements.
Meanwhile, the King of Omashu was a warrior and strategist. The kind of person from Ba Sing Se who hadn't even been seen in any war… or seen at all.
"You know, I thought you'd be with your friends," said a voice beside her.
Azula almost shot a lightning bolt by reflex, but stopped when she recognized Kuzon. He hadn't gotten off the ship with her because he was eating.
She stared at him.
"You shouldn't sneak away from me so suddenly."
He just smiled mischievously. That look said he was bound to do it again.
"Do I seem angry?"
Azula didn't say anything more about that. She really was upset about the embarrassment she went through in front of her friend when Kuzon told her about sadomasochism.
Instead, Azula turned around and began to walk out of the room.
He followed her.
As they left, the guards in the hallway were surprised to see another man dressed in Earth Kingdom clothes alongside the princess. They got into fighting positions, but with a simple gesture from Azula, they stopped.
Now that she thought about it, how had Kuzon managed to get through the entire castle in that outfit without being seen? From the guards' reactions, they hadn't detected him when he entered. That intrigued her. It seemed Kuzon was still hiding many secrets from her… one of them was his assassin's stealth.
Suspicions began to arise within her: Kuzon was not just a simple spy.
As they walked down the hallways, they ran into Mai and Ty Lee.
The girl with the cold expression stared at him, squinting. Just as Ty Lee had said, if one looked closely, the atmosphere around Kuzon was really strange… or at least that's what she liked to think. Because while he smiled at them, he seemed like an ordinary teenager.
"I'm Kuzon. What's your name?" he asked Mai casually, offering his hand.
She didn't shake it, just looked at him indifferently and replied:
"Mai."
"Ahh~" — realization dawned in his eyes — "So you're one of those emo guys?" he said playfully.
"Emo?" Mai frowned. "That sounds like an insult."
Kuzon didn't answer. His silence was answer enough.
Azula intervened calmly:
"Mai, don't let him get into your head. He's just trying to get under your skin."
In response to the accusations, Kuzon simply laughed nervously and scratched the back of his neck.
Ty Lee pouted and looked away.
"I was planning to give you a hug, but now, never mind."
He laughed and hugged her anyway. He would never miss that opportunity.
"Sorry, I just wanted to see what the new member of our group was capable of," he replied teasingly.
"You're mean. We've been a group since we were kids. You're the newest member, not Mai."
Ty Lee returned the hug, but with a mischievous smile. She planned to scare Kuzon by blocking his chi.
Azula watched amused. She also wanted to see him in a helpless position. But it was in vain when he caught Ty Lee's hand just before she struck, thanks to his danger sense.
"Hm? Are you trying to prick me? That could have been dangerous."
Ty Lee looked surprised. No one before had been able to react to her chi blocking technique, especially seeing it for the first time. Still, she hit his chest with her head as hard as she could.
"Those monstrous instincts aren't fair!"
Sokka spent a couple of days as Kuzon and quickly got close to the girls. Even Mai and Ty Lee came to accept him as part of the crew.
As always, even now they were having fun playing chess, a game Kuzon introduced to them. Pai Sho was a game Kuzon also seemed to excel at, but Azula was able to beat him more times than he beat her.
The game called chess was also fun, but in it, Sokka seemed to dominate and could never be defeated. Not even by Azula, who was the most fascinated by the game because of the names of the pieces and how she could imagine real strategic battles with them.
Azula and Kuzon were playing their tenth game of chess that day, while Ty Lee and Mai placed their bets. The latter had bet on Azula, believing in her friend's intelligence and natural talent to overcome the experience barrier over time.
The room they were in belonged to Mai; it was her bedroom. Ty Lee lay down on her bed and stretched.
"Hmm~ So, what's been happening around here? I traveled a bit and didn't see any signs of battle in the city. Honestly, there weren't many people either."
"That's because there was no fighting, no soldiers, and almost no citizens when we came to take the city," Mai clarified. "It was just the crazy guy and some people playing Pai Sho in the middle of the street."
Ty Lee looked surprised by that. Everyone knew Omashu had a strong army. So why did they leave now? They could have held out for at least a year or more. King Bumi was also known as a military genius, so some feared he might have been able to repel and destroy the forces.
But judging by how things seemed to be going, most think he went crazy.
Azula frowned as she could see Kuzon was about to defeat her. But she relaxed and tried to think of a way to win.
Slowly, a plan began to form in her mind, and she asked:
"Kuzon, what do you think about it? The way King Bumi reacted to all this."
She hoped he would be as puzzled as everyone else, but instead, he just smiled.
"He has a good plan. One that, even if everyone else knew about it, they couldn't stop."
"For an information specialist, a spy, you sure like hiding secrets from me," she was now a bit intrigued, as it seemed Kuzon knew something she didn't. That only excited her more.
She loved this game of cat and mouse every moment, while little by little she managed to tear apart Kuzon's mind. Azula knew he probably had already realized this, but he didn't seem to care and even played along.
"Heavens, just kiss already," Mai muttered softly, although only Ty Lee could hear her.
Turning around, the circus girl looked at Mai curiously. Mai then approached and whispered to Ty Lee:
"Can't you see how she looks at him? Those intense eyes."
"Yes, but would you call that love?"
"Well, she either likes him or wants to burn him alive. Maybe both," Mai admitted, since Azula was not someone easy to read and didn't have a long history of being full of love. So the chances she wanted to kill Kuzon were also quite high.
"By the way, what did you do with the King?" Sokka finally asked Mai and Azula after several days. Questioning that information from the start would have made him look suspicious.
"He was in a warehouse, but today we hung him in his metal coffin in the city. I want everyone to see that he fell too… even if he was the one who surrendered," Azula replied coldly.
Sokka smiled.
"Azula, I know our nation attacked the Southern Water Tribe for decades to capture their waterbenders, but the historical records don't say what they did with them," he said calmly while moving his knight and threatening one of her pieces. "What did they do with them? Kill them? Imprison them? Sell them?"
Azula found Kuzon's question strange. But he was like that: always saying what he was curious about, no filter. It wasn't the first time he had dropped something similar.
"We have them captured. Not just the waterbenders, but also the southern warriors who raided us. Honestly, you'd have to be very stupid to attack an enemy who outmatches you in technology," Azula said with amusement, taking Sokka's bishop.
"I see… I imagine the waterbenders still alive must be kept in warm places."
"That's right. The southern invaders made several raids to the Pole in the last decade. They captured waterbenders from small settlements separated from the main tribe. And, of course, those guarding them are the same invaders, on ships, in warm and dry environments."
Sokka was silent and pretended to think about his next move. But in reality, he was already planning how to free those people.
"I see…" he repeated calmly, just before moving a piece and putting Azula in checkmate.
Azula frowned and didn't bother hiding her annoyance. Mai snorted and paid Ty Lee begrudgingly.
"Alright, I'll go for a walk," said Sokka, standing up.
"Do whatever you want," Azula replied, starting a new game with Mai.
Upon leaving the palace, Sokka thought of ways to free the people from his tribe who had been captured. The best way would be at night, when the southern invaders had no way to warn the others about attacks.
However, something interrupted his thoughts—someone was following him from several meters behind. Could it be an assassin from the Earth Kingdom or a spy? Yet, he stuck with the most likely and simple idea: Azula had sent him to keep an eye on him.
Sokka smiled amusedly and entered an alley.
The spy following him watched him enter the alley and calmly followed. He was an experienced man and expert at his job. He had heard of Kuzon and how he was also a spy, but he fully trusted his years of experience.
So, when he turned the corner where Sokka had crossed, he was surprised to see a hand reach out to his face.
The man tried to free himself, but that young hand exerted a brutal force, comparable to an industrial press.
"Azula should stop sending rookies after me," Kuzon said playfully.
But his face turned cold when he struck the man's kidney; the man collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.
Sokka looked at him with disdain. He could have killed him, but this man hadn't done anything to him, and furthermore, Azula might try to kill him if he did.
So he decided simply to punch the man's chin. His brain shook violently against his skull, and he fainted almost instantly.
A simple and effective blow.
When Sokka finally arrived at the city center where Bumi was hanging, he evaded the guards by jumping between houses. The old king looked at him curiously, a playful smile on his aged face.
Sokka took a giant leap to stand before him, and with a quick move, stabbed his spear into a small crack at the base of the metal coffin. This allowed Sokka to stand on his spear and look Bumi in the face.
"Wow, you're quite amusing. But who are you? Come to bring me food? Because if so, you took your time!"
Sokka smiled.
"Sometimes people can get in the way of things. Anyway, tell me where the army is."
"Huh? What the hell are you talking about, kid? I'm just an old man whose people abandoned him because they thought he was crazy," Bumi laughed with his iconic snort.
Sokka sighed, passing a hand over his face while manipulating the Chi of his face and hands.
Bumi's eyes widened when he saw it.
"Face change!? Incredible!"
Sokka smiled.
"You prepared me to be your general at the front of this war. So now I need an army."
For the first time in many years, Bumi was surprised by what he saw.
Bumi crackled with excitement. Normally, he could predict most situations. That was due to his experience and long life; there hadn't been many situations he hadn't seen until now. But this was the first: a young man from the Southern Water Tribe who also knew the face-changing skill. He seemed to be at a high level too.
Sokka, on the other hand, was calm. His body remained upright and motionless as always. His breathing cycle didn't change either; there were no signs of panic or nervousness from him. This showed his skills at hiding his emotions, and Bumi couldn't help but think Sokka was an even better candidate than he initially thought.
"Where did you learn something like that?" Bumi asked, laughing after the question as if he had just heard the funniest thing.
"Here and there," Sokka waved his hand. "There's not much to do in the Southern Water Tribe besides learn skills and train them in a boring, repetitive way."
"Oh? That's a very vague explanation. It felt like you explained something but actually didn't explain anything."
Bumi explained what he had done, in key detail. He had seen right through Sokka. But knowing the young man wouldn't say anything more anyway, he decided to change the subject.
"How did you get here?"
Sokka pointed to his face as if to say he had already shown how: through the mask. Bumi, however, felt no frustration about this, only excitement. In his old age, there was something he could not reconstruct: a sense of mystery. That made it even more exciting.
"My army never moved, and it's where the sun doesn't shine," Bumi murmured. His gaze filled with unusual joy. "The last time we met, you were passable and good, though a bit violent. Now you're impressive. Calm and serene. I've never seen anyone change as fast as you."
Sokka said nothing about that. He had his weaknesses like everyone else. His emotions could sometimes run wild. But he wouldn't change the perception Bumi had of him.
Still… where doesn't the sun shine? The army hasn't moved?
While that might seem like a tough riddle to others, for someone like Sokka, who previously had access to the internet, it was easy. He might not be a genius at solving riddles, but he could deduce that the people and army were now underground, in Omashu.
With that in mind, Sokka prepared to descend but stopped.
"Please, survive until the end of the war. Aang would be quite devastated if you died."
After saying that, Sokka walked away, dropping to the ground with his halberd in hand.
When they boarded the ship a couple of hours later, Azula was no longer angry and Ty Lee seemed amused by some of the ridiculous stories Sokka told before going to his room.
Azula was lying on Mai's bed with Ty Lee and Mai. As they lay there, many thoughts passed through the princess's mind.
"Hey, Mai, you used to like Zuko, right?" Azula asked suddenly, surprising her friends.
"..."
Mai stayed silent on the subject, which her friends took as confirmation.
But Azula didn't care.
"So, what do you do when you like someone? Or want to go out with that person?"
"Kyaa!!" Ty Lee jumped for joy, unable to believe what she was hearing, and immediately went to hug Azula.
The princess grabbed Mai and pulled her.
"If I'm suffering from it anyway, doing it would just be problematic."
Azula then threw Ty Lee like a cat, and she landed on Mai, causing the circus girl to hug her deeply.
Suddenly, the door to the room opened. Azula was ready to burn the guard's face who had done it, but it was Kuzon. He simply stood there, and since the girls were playing, they intertwined with each other and their clothes fluttered.
Sokka blinked once, twice, and slowly closed the door.
"Sorry to interrupt you. I never thought you three had that kind of relationship."
"Wait, no!" Azula shouted, terrified. She didn't want Kuzon to think she liked girls. "This is not what you think!"
"Yes, I was just hugging Azula, and then she threw me at Mai," Ty Lee said innocently with a smile on her face.
But Sokka didn't seem convinced and looked at the girls.
"Don't worry, I don't discriminate against these kinds of things and I won't tell anyone."
---
POV Azula
THIS IS EMBARRASSING!!
I could see it in his narrowed eyes. He suspects I like girls. Damn it! I wanted him to like me.
After all, since I would have to marry anyway, sooner or later I would choose Kuzon as my husband. He was skilled enough and smart enough to be by my side.
But having him suspect whether I like boys or girls will make things harder. After all, this was a battle of wits, and even if I said I don't like girls that way, Kuzon wasn't someone who'd be convinced by words alone. So it must be with actions.
How do you prove you don't like someone? Hit Ty Lee? No, that would be too blunt, and someone like him would notice.
So, how can I convince him? The method must be quick, ruthless, and convincing. I must not hesitate and must show true resolve.
Kuzon kept watching and took a step back, so I was on a time limit.
So, without overthinking, I grabbed Ty Lee by the nape and kissed her on the lips. While my eyes remained glued to Kuzon, now this would show him that even though I was kissing Ty Lee, it didn't mean I liked her.
...Wait... this might have been a bad decision.
Suddenly, I felt Ty Lee start touching my chest and using a bit of tongue in our kiss.
Hey, hey, hey, aren't you taking this too far?!
"Stop," I pushed her away, and both Kuzon and Mai looked at us as if they had seen a mythical creature.
Turning toward Kuzon, I saw him close the door and walk away.
I made things worse!
End of POV.
"Wow, I didn't think Azula liked Ty Lee, and even more so, I thought that kind of relationship was forbidden in the Fire Nation... Unless she kissed her to show she doesn't like Ty Lee... That's a stupid logic. But seeing how Azula reacted..." Sokka thought amusedly about the whole situation, laughing all the way to the deck.
Azula had kissed Ty Lee to show Kuzon that she didn't like her — she liked him.
On the ship's deck, Kuzon began training with his halberd. His speed and strength were such that the weapon sliced the air with a sharp sound. The soldiers watched, impressed and somewhat jealous of his great skill.
He practiced for an hour without realizing Mai was watching him with her empty eyes. She simply didn't like him.
Meanwhile, Azula was training on the upper deck. She controlled her breathing and suppressed her anger while manipulating her chi. In front of her, she imagined an opponent with a spear: Kuzon. She formed a bow with her fingers, which sparked; a thunderous sound filled the sky, drawing everyone's attention on the ship.
Azula had unleashed lightning with chilling ease, as if it were something common.
"Azula is definitely a genius..." Ty Lee commented shyly to Mai, who looked at her with irony. "There's no one like her, not even the Fire Lord would be able to throw lightning like that."
However, this time Mai spoke hurriedly:
"Hey, just because you're excited about what happened in the room doesn't mean you can say things like that so casually. If Azula hears you, she'll execute you herself."
The young acrobat looked confused, still stunned by the kiss. She was so distracted she didn't even notice what she or her friend had said.
Azula descended to the deck and stood in front of Kuzon.
"That was a magnificent lightning bolt, Your Majesty," he said.
Azula ignored his words and responded sharply:
"Let's train."
Sokka looked at her amusedly and spoke calmly:
"Alright. But if I win, I want a vacation. I'm busy too."
"Fine, but I warn you: you won't win. My lightning has no weaknesses."
"Hey, hey, I thought we were just training."
"Yes, but I'll destroy you for what you made me do back there."
"Oh, come on. Don't blame me for your actions."
Kuzon's playful voice only increased Azula's anger so much she was starting not to care if she accidentally killed him. It didn't matter if she was in love with him.
Sokka observed Azula's furious eyes, as well as the blue fire crackling in her tightly clenched fists.
"Alright. I'll show you the weakness of your lightning," he said seriously.
His voice grew cold, indifferent to the palpable threat. Mai and Ty Lee heard it, and fear filled their hearts.
And Azula... this was the first time she saw Kuzon so serious. Her heart trembled for a moment. Fear? Excitement? Love? She didn't know, because it was the first time she felt something like that.
Azula and Sokka stood face to face. She, in her characteristic royal armor; he, with his infallible halberd. Everyone watched closely.
"So? How do we decide who wins?" Sokka asked.
"It'll be obvious when the winner... wins!" Azula replied, launching a burst of blue fire.
Sokka dodged the attack easily, barely tilting his head. Although he recognized Azula's talent, he had faced creatures much faster and deadlier. Still, the heat of her flames was above normal, and he didn't underestimate it.
"You really are a genius, fire master," he said with genuine admiration.
Azula quickly closed the distance, seeking to break her opponent's defense. But Sokka dodged each attack with surprising precision. He didn't even use his spear. Azula noticed: if he wanted to, he would have already struck her.
Furious at his apparent superiority, she improvised. She turned her body and, for the first time, exhaled fire from her mouth. It was a complex technique she had never tried before, but it worked. Sokka ducked just in time and, seeing the opening, had the chance to counterattack... but he didn't.
Instead of using his palm to close her mouth and cause an internal explosion, he just made her stumble on his spear and retreated. The weapon burned from contact with the flames, but he didn't seem to care. Quick as ever, Azula used the momentum to do a handstand and shoot fire with her feet, forcing Sokka to jump back.
"Be careful next time," he warned. "I could have killed you if I hadn't held back."
Azula shuddered imagining it. She knew he was right, and that made her even angrier.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and relaxed body and mind, letting her anger flow away until it vanished.
Sokka watched her as she began moving her arms with pressure. Small lightning bolts sparked from her fingers until finally, pointing at him, she launched one straight at him.
Sokka used all his speed and agility. In that state, the world seemed to move in slow motion; even the lightning advanced calmly, as if someone were walking toward it.
He drew two knives and threw them at the lightning. Both hit, and the electricity lit up the place. The knives, thrown with force, absorbed the impact of the lightning.
Everyone present watched in amazement. No one imagined that was possible.
"You win..." Azula admitted resignedly.
Sokka, though pleased, understood the consequences: having defeated her, even in training, would attract Ozai's attention.
"Thank you, Princess Azula. I know you can throw more than one lightning bolt consecutively. Thanks to you holding back, I'm alive."
Azula looked at him impressed, as did Mai and Ty Lee.
Kuzon just bowed and headed to his room on the ship. When he came out again, he was carrying a bag with his things. He approached Azula, who waited with a complex expression.
"Do you want me to give you an escort?" he asked hesitantly.
"No need. They'd only slow me down," she answered.
Somehow, she didn't want to let him go. She liked him... or so she thought. The idea of parting was unpleasant.
"We're close to the base I mentioned to you days ago, if you want to go when you finish your business. And if you don't make it in time... we'll go to the North Pole to destroy the tribe."
Sokka opened his eyes in surprise. She had never told him the last part, and for the first time he was glad for a farewell.
"Don't worry. I'll catch up with you at the Pole," he replied with a kind smile.
He went to Ty Lee, who had a sad expression, and hugged her. To Mai, he simply shook her hand calmly, but she looked at him cautiously. That man had proven stronger than Azula. And from the cold look she gave him before the fight, she knew that if anyone tried to hurt her, he wouldn't show mercy.
Azula grabbed Kuzon by his green shirt and kissed him forcefully.
Everyone was surprised. Mai's eyes widened, Ty Lee blushed, and Sokka — though surprised — did not reject it.
He returned the kiss, and she pulled away after a few seconds.
"Come back. You're my spy, and I don't think I could marry anyone more incompetent than you."
Sokka smiled at her.
"You flatter me, Princess. But remember, I'm a spy... One way or another, you'll see me again."
Azula smiled with something that looked like joy, and Sokka jumped overboard, straight into the sea.
He had memorized several maps during his stay on the ship and knew where to go. One of them mentioned some ruins and a herbalist master he remembered from an old chapter of the original series.
However, upon reaching land, he couldn't help feeling guilty about Azula. He had done his best to improve his relationship with his friends and his men. But in the end, he had used her for his own benefit.
He used her to get information. He manipulated her. And even with all that... he hoped her fate could be avoided.
He was not in love with her. And even if he were, he couldn't go to the Fire Nation with her. Azula couldn't go to the Water Tribe with him either.