Post by Teяa253 on Apr 8, 2009 5:44:26 GMT 1
the 84th chapter of the series... And, because just like too much fighting is boring, too much chit-chat without fighting is also boring. Therefore, I've got it balanced out-ish, and there's gonna be more fighting in the next chapter.
So yeah, here's chapter 84. enjoy.
CHAPTER 84: AZULA CAROSO'S WISDOM
A while passed, and The Avatar Guard was decently rested, but Azula and a few of the others who had been wounded more severely had not yet recovered enough to fight with full strength.
It was here that many Avatar Guard members [Zakura and Malak being prominent exceptions] turned to Azula to ask her a few things, such as who she was and where she came from.
“My name,” she replied, “is Azula Caroso. I was born 27 years ago in the Western Air Temple when my parents were passing through. They used that as an excuse to dump me off. They gave birth to me, and the Air Sisters found me the next day crying alone in the bed they put me in.
I grew up among them, but felt very confined, not being an airbender and all. Everyone there was friendly to me, but to outsiders I had a bad name—literally. I’m not sure what they were holding against me, but they named me Azula as a hate movement. There was a note attached to my blankets that said what my name was and where it came from. It wasn’t exactly the most pleasing thing to learn once you were old enough to understand it.”
“Your name, child,” The airbender said, “is Azula; you were named after the vile Fire Nation Princess who used her power and cunning to give her homeland a bad reputation. She eventually wound down to having no friends, and everyone hated her. That is the name your parents gave you child. I am deeply sorry.”
Little Azula at the time was more surprised than anything.
“What else do you know about my parents?” she asked them curiously; she was about 7 or 8 at the time. Before that she just accepted her name, but the little girl was confused as to why outsiders looked at her with weird looks every time she introduced herself.
“So basically my name became my black mark,” Azula muttered, “of course, after I learned of some of the atrocities of Princess Azula, I understand why it was a name with such a dark reputation. Apparently there was also an Azula named Azula Kimara, who was Avatar Zuroc’s right-hand commander, and she was worse than Zuroc during her pursuit of world domination; the name was said to be controlled. Everyone expected me to turn out the same way.”
Azula closed her eyes, reminiscing how she was an outcast everywhere she went except for the Air Temples. She did not even dare go to the Fire Nation at all, lest worse memories spring from that name, which was likely also more common there in its history.
“You never told me this,” said Zakura,
“Because it’s painful to bring up,” Azula replied, “I was despised by both groups, both of which thought I would become some sort of manipulator or traitor or something. I can understand why naming me Azula could be considered a hate crime. And of course, I later learned that my last name, Caroso, was notorious for criminal acts [though I can vouch that as truth, as I’m no longer innocent of that] and such.”
“All because of a name,” Zakura spat, “seriously, Azula, “what sort of messed up world were you living in?”
“A world where prejudice runs rampant, Zak,” Azula replied, her eyes still closed, “I was kicked around until I finally found what was right for me. I decided that if the world was going to torment me, that I should do my duty in repaying the favor. I became a Zuroc Sensei, and I became a pirate. I was a prodigy, just like my namesake, both in firebending, and in the arts of the Zuroc Sensei. I moved up the ranks rapidly, gaining many followers, just like Avatar Zuroc had done. However, instead of taking over the world, we just decided that a little havoc here and there wouldn’t hurt anyone.”
“And so that’s what we did,” she continued, “and we continued until we met Tenoko Dragmire. She was the one who organized us; she was a good firm leader. After hearing her back-story, I knew at once that mine was nothing like hers—the losses she suffered; I never had anything to lose; I simply had nothing to lose to begin with. Tenoko... she lost everything she held dear. I’d go into further detail, but it’s a sensitive subject for me too, ‘coz I’ve grown so close to Tenoko over the years. You’ll all have to get it from her.”
Azula paused, and then took a deep breath before continuing.
“From here though,” she said, “things get a little better, but I’ve done some things that I’m not so proud of. Probably the worst thing I did was capture a young firebender named Katara Altina II.”
“That was you who took her,” Sokka exclaimed, “you were the one who took my sister two years ago?”
“Aye,” Azula replied, closing her eyes and lowering her head, “I am not going to lie and say she was treated badly. She was treated like the rest of us. It was the fact that we took her against her will, and at that young of an age.”
Sokka looked upset; he could tell that Azula was sincerely sorry for what she had done, but the fact remained that she had done what she did to Katara, and that was what upset him.
“She was only 13,” he remarked, “how could you do that to her? She was broken; lost in all possible ways and you have to go and pull a stunt like that and make her life even worse...”
“Look,” said Azula flatly, “I said I was sorry for taking her. I have no other excuses, and other than my apology, there is nothing that I can or am willing to do. Either you accept it like she did, or reject it. It’s your choice, but my conscience is clear.”
“What was she like when she was with you,” Sokka asked,
“She kept herself away from the rest of us,” Azula replied, “Like she was in her own little world. She always looked so lonely and sad. It was probably that reason why we all decided to sympathize and befriend her. She became happier after that, but still looked lonely.”
“She misses her father,” Katara I replied, “he meant everything to her.” And she was taken from me only a few months before you took her.”
“She lives hoping to be able to reunite with us,” Sokka replied, “she’s desperate. She wants to see her family again. That’s all she ever talks about. I think she’s lost part of her mind.”
Azula frowned. “I said I was sorry,” she said, “but I assume you want more information out of me. Your sister believes that this will be the place where she dies. She comes with the intent of not returning.”
“She’s lost her mind,” Sokka exclaimed, “I need to get to her; now.”
“I would not recommend it,” said Azula, starting to be able to stand up again, for she was regaining her strength; “she’s towards the top of the tower, awaiting her worthy opponent.”
“And who is that,” Sokka asked,
“We are not sure,” Azula replied, “but don’t worry, you should know that your sister is powerful. She’s not going to get killed from this mess. Besides, she’s got Orzon and Ayumi on her side.”
“So she’s alright then,” Katara I asked,
“Aye,” Azula replied, “she’s too tough to die. I’ve never seen such a resilient spirit.”
“So,” said Zakura, standing up as well, “is there still anyone too weak to stand, or is everyone good now?”
Everyone seemed to be ‘good’, and as a result, they could continue their march towards the top of the tower. The next room was actually empty, and instead had a cryptic message in the middle of the floor.
“Water; Earth; Fire; Air; Long ago, the Four Nations lived in harmony together. That all changed with the rise of Avatar Zuroc. Spreading her malice into the world, with the attempt to take it over and rule it as her own. She was brought back to normalcy by the 21st generation of the Serenes Villagers; namely Kai Serenes XXI. The peace was supposedly restored after the power-hungry avatar attempted to repair her damage, but there remained extremists who wish to end her life and the Avatar Cycle forever. This is the group that later formed The Order of the Avatar Slayer, which exists to this day.”
“Ah,” Azula exclaimed, “this place looks familiar when me and some others scoped this place out through the upper walls. The next chamber has some of the most powerful Kyoshi warriors The Order has. Logically, they set their pawns out to guard the outside of the tower, to give them a false sense of what exactly is inside. These ones air fierce. They’re bloodthirsty savages known as The Masahiro Warriors.
“Wait,” Taki exclaimed, “Masahiro, you say?”
“Aye,” Azula replied, “you know these people?”
“There’s a large probability that my family could be among them,” Taki replied, “but considering that they want to slit my throat and drink my blood as much as I want to do it to them, sympathy won’t be necessary.”
Taki’s statement did get a few eyes popping, but they consented.
“You are likely to be the one most affected out there,” Cheng replied, putting an arm around her, “as long as you’re alright with it.”
“I’ll be fine,” Taki replied, “besides, look what happened in that last room; that was their work.” She pointed to Azula and the other Zuroc Sensei that had survived. “We’ll be fine. Look at her. Her intellect and wisdom will work for the time being—Azula Caroso’s Wisdom.”
~Azula~
So yeah, here's chapter 84. enjoy.
CHAPTER 84: AZULA CAROSO'S WISDOM
A while passed, and The Avatar Guard was decently rested, but Azula and a few of the others who had been wounded more severely had not yet recovered enough to fight with full strength.
It was here that many Avatar Guard members [Zakura and Malak being prominent exceptions] turned to Azula to ask her a few things, such as who she was and where she came from.
“My name,” she replied, “is Azula Caroso. I was born 27 years ago in the Western Air Temple when my parents were passing through. They used that as an excuse to dump me off. They gave birth to me, and the Air Sisters found me the next day crying alone in the bed they put me in.
I grew up among them, but felt very confined, not being an airbender and all. Everyone there was friendly to me, but to outsiders I had a bad name—literally. I’m not sure what they were holding against me, but they named me Azula as a hate movement. There was a note attached to my blankets that said what my name was and where it came from. It wasn’t exactly the most pleasing thing to learn once you were old enough to understand it.”
“Your name, child,” The airbender said, “is Azula; you were named after the vile Fire Nation Princess who used her power and cunning to give her homeland a bad reputation. She eventually wound down to having no friends, and everyone hated her. That is the name your parents gave you child. I am deeply sorry.”
Little Azula at the time was more surprised than anything.
“What else do you know about my parents?” she asked them curiously; she was about 7 or 8 at the time. Before that she just accepted her name, but the little girl was confused as to why outsiders looked at her with weird looks every time she introduced herself.
“So basically my name became my black mark,” Azula muttered, “of course, after I learned of some of the atrocities of Princess Azula, I understand why it was a name with such a dark reputation. Apparently there was also an Azula named Azula Kimara, who was Avatar Zuroc’s right-hand commander, and she was worse than Zuroc during her pursuit of world domination; the name was said to be controlled. Everyone expected me to turn out the same way.”
Azula closed her eyes, reminiscing how she was an outcast everywhere she went except for the Air Temples. She did not even dare go to the Fire Nation at all, lest worse memories spring from that name, which was likely also more common there in its history.
“You never told me this,” said Zakura,
“Because it’s painful to bring up,” Azula replied, “I was despised by both groups, both of which thought I would become some sort of manipulator or traitor or something. I can understand why naming me Azula could be considered a hate crime. And of course, I later learned that my last name, Caroso, was notorious for criminal acts [though I can vouch that as truth, as I’m no longer innocent of that] and such.”
“All because of a name,” Zakura spat, “seriously, Azula, “what sort of messed up world were you living in?”
“A world where prejudice runs rampant, Zak,” Azula replied, her eyes still closed, “I was kicked around until I finally found what was right for me. I decided that if the world was going to torment me, that I should do my duty in repaying the favor. I became a Zuroc Sensei, and I became a pirate. I was a prodigy, just like my namesake, both in firebending, and in the arts of the Zuroc Sensei. I moved up the ranks rapidly, gaining many followers, just like Avatar Zuroc had done. However, instead of taking over the world, we just decided that a little havoc here and there wouldn’t hurt anyone.”
“And so that’s what we did,” she continued, “and we continued until we met Tenoko Dragmire. She was the one who organized us; she was a good firm leader. After hearing her back-story, I knew at once that mine was nothing like hers—the losses she suffered; I never had anything to lose; I simply had nothing to lose to begin with. Tenoko... she lost everything she held dear. I’d go into further detail, but it’s a sensitive subject for me too, ‘coz I’ve grown so close to Tenoko over the years. You’ll all have to get it from her.”
Azula paused, and then took a deep breath before continuing.
“From here though,” she said, “things get a little better, but I’ve done some things that I’m not so proud of. Probably the worst thing I did was capture a young firebender named Katara Altina II.”
“That was you who took her,” Sokka exclaimed, “you were the one who took my sister two years ago?”
“Aye,” Azula replied, closing her eyes and lowering her head, “I am not going to lie and say she was treated badly. She was treated like the rest of us. It was the fact that we took her against her will, and at that young of an age.”
Sokka looked upset; he could tell that Azula was sincerely sorry for what she had done, but the fact remained that she had done what she did to Katara, and that was what upset him.
“She was only 13,” he remarked, “how could you do that to her? She was broken; lost in all possible ways and you have to go and pull a stunt like that and make her life even worse...”
“Look,” said Azula flatly, “I said I was sorry for taking her. I have no other excuses, and other than my apology, there is nothing that I can or am willing to do. Either you accept it like she did, or reject it. It’s your choice, but my conscience is clear.”
“What was she like when she was with you,” Sokka asked,
“She kept herself away from the rest of us,” Azula replied, “Like she was in her own little world. She always looked so lonely and sad. It was probably that reason why we all decided to sympathize and befriend her. She became happier after that, but still looked lonely.”
“She misses her father,” Katara I replied, “he meant everything to her.” And she was taken from me only a few months before you took her.”
“She lives hoping to be able to reunite with us,” Sokka replied, “she’s desperate. She wants to see her family again. That’s all she ever talks about. I think she’s lost part of her mind.”
Azula frowned. “I said I was sorry,” she said, “but I assume you want more information out of me. Your sister believes that this will be the place where she dies. She comes with the intent of not returning.”
“She’s lost her mind,” Sokka exclaimed, “I need to get to her; now.”
“I would not recommend it,” said Azula, starting to be able to stand up again, for she was regaining her strength; “she’s towards the top of the tower, awaiting her worthy opponent.”
“And who is that,” Sokka asked,
“We are not sure,” Azula replied, “but don’t worry, you should know that your sister is powerful. She’s not going to get killed from this mess. Besides, she’s got Orzon and Ayumi on her side.”
“So she’s alright then,” Katara I asked,
“Aye,” Azula replied, “she’s too tough to die. I’ve never seen such a resilient spirit.”
“So,” said Zakura, standing up as well, “is there still anyone too weak to stand, or is everyone good now?”
Everyone seemed to be ‘good’, and as a result, they could continue their march towards the top of the tower. The next room was actually empty, and instead had a cryptic message in the middle of the floor.
“Water; Earth; Fire; Air; Long ago, the Four Nations lived in harmony together. That all changed with the rise of Avatar Zuroc. Spreading her malice into the world, with the attempt to take it over and rule it as her own. She was brought back to normalcy by the 21st generation of the Serenes Villagers; namely Kai Serenes XXI. The peace was supposedly restored after the power-hungry avatar attempted to repair her damage, but there remained extremists who wish to end her life and the Avatar Cycle forever. This is the group that later formed The Order of the Avatar Slayer, which exists to this day.”
“Ah,” Azula exclaimed, “this place looks familiar when me and some others scoped this place out through the upper walls. The next chamber has some of the most powerful Kyoshi warriors The Order has. Logically, they set their pawns out to guard the outside of the tower, to give them a false sense of what exactly is inside. These ones air fierce. They’re bloodthirsty savages known as The Masahiro Warriors.
“Wait,” Taki exclaimed, “Masahiro, you say?”
“Aye,” Azula replied, “you know these people?”
“There’s a large probability that my family could be among them,” Taki replied, “but considering that they want to slit my throat and drink my blood as much as I want to do it to them, sympathy won’t be necessary.”
Taki’s statement did get a few eyes popping, but they consented.
“You are likely to be the one most affected out there,” Cheng replied, putting an arm around her, “as long as you’re alright with it.”
“I’ll be fine,” Taki replied, “besides, look what happened in that last room; that was their work.” She pointed to Azula and the other Zuroc Sensei that had survived. “We’ll be fine. Look at her. Her intellect and wisdom will work for the time being—Azula Caroso’s Wisdom.”
~Azula~
