Avatar: The Last Airbender: “Azula’s Past”
By Gunwild

***

“It’s called a leech, Azula.”

The small girl watched the creature wriggling at the bottom of the bowl. Once more water was added it stopped thrashing so violently, instead beginning to crawl with an undulating motion that reminded her of a worm. It didn’t go anywhere, but seemed eager to keep in motion, unaware of how futile its efforts were.

She’d heard about these. “I didn’t know they were so large. The pictures seemed smaller.”

“Oh, yes,” her father agreed, “Most specimens tend to be quite small. But this is a pure animal, bred for size by doctors. It’s designed to remove as much blood as possible, quickly. When swollen, it would be even bigger than your hand. Perhaps bigger than mine.”

Azula thought about this. “It disgusts me.”

“Does it?”

“Can I kill it?” she asked interestedly. It might be amusing to boil the water around it. Maybe if it cooked nicely she could trick Ty Lee into eating it. “I mean, may I? If it’s alright with you.”

“I would have to know your reasons.” Today the newly-crowned Fire Lord was carrying his fan about with him, as his ancestors once had. Ozai tended to hold it open whenever he stood still, since it was still summer. He peered over it at his daughter, who looked back unabashedly, trying to figure out how to phrase this. “Well, it’s ugly, for one.”

“That’s true. But is that enough reason to destroy an otherwise useful animal? One you might need to employ later?”

Azula shuffled her feet just slightly. So this was going to be one of those conversations, where she was expected to learn something by being asked questions instead of asking them herself. Someone needed to explain to the Fire Lord that things should work the other way around – but it wasn’t going to be her. “Er, no. I think it should die because it’s stupid. It sucks away at other people’s lives and then just sits there waiting to do it again.”

“That’s true. But it is an important tool.”

“How?”

“When you reach a certain age, there are ailments that can thicken the blood. Removing some of it helps. Further, it can decongest the veins around a wound. And there are always the applications in interrogation.”

Azula figured that he meant a prisoner would be afraid of having a leech feed on them and share information. She didn’t see what was so frightening here.

“Even if a creature is despicable, it can be best to use it, rather than destroy it outright. Conquest isn’t always glorious.”

She could only grunt while watching the leech circle ineffectually in the too-smooth bowl. Why didn’t it have eyes, anyway?

“To control something grants you more power than simply destroying it. I’m told you burn anything which upsets you, daughter. Have you considered the other options?”

Azula rolled her eyes. “I don’t burn everything I dislike. I’d get in trouble.”

“That’s true. So what do you do when you can’t respond with force?”

The girl shrugged. She tended not to think in terms of alternates to setting things on fire. Firebending was all she wanted to do these days. Every breath was dedicated to putting more heat in her flames, even if that meant storing the energy in her chest for hours at a time. If she could be left alone to focus, she could feel the lightning waiting to jump out of her. Nobody told her when to practice; she simply did so at any time she was able.

“I want you to think beyond your love for firebending. There will be much more to your life to master than the art of fighting.”

Or I could set those things on fire and not bother with them. “Okay.”

“The day may come when you hold a great deal of power. You should have some idea of what to do with it.”

I’ll use it to become a better firebender. “Okay.”

“There are aims you must fulfill. There is a war still to win, and reasons it must be won.”

I bet he’s less skilled than me. That’s why he doesn’t understand the way I do what I do. “Okay.”

“Do not agree with me without thinking, or I will kill you.”

That got her attention. Azula looked up at her father with renewed concentration. She said what came naturally. “Can I have your reasons?”

Instead of finding this echo of his words funny, he gazed at the leech with a new, solid ferocity. “The real basis for your hatred of this leech – and mine – is its weakness. As you said, it feeds on its betters and gives nothing back. Were it not in captivity, it would be another pest to be eradicated. But kept on my terms, it has a point, and increases my own authority.”

Azula did not speak. She did not see how this related to her, but her father was all too willing to force her to understand.

“You are something weaker than me, Azula. You’re a pest, just like every other creature I set eyes on. But, like the leech, you’re under my command. I have a purpose for you. So instead of turning you into cinders, I would have you be my instrument. You will learn to think as I think, to impose my will on the world beyond this palace. That’s the way of our family. I’d hoped your brother would serve me in that capacity, but each passing day makes me surer of his failure.”

It was strange, but she didn’t fear for her life. In fact, he’d grabbed her curiosity more than anything else. “Zuzu’s weaker than me. I think about destroying him a lot, too.” Azula felt no shame in this; the boy was a disappointment to his father, and weaker than his own younger sister. He was unworthy of respect.

“That’s to be expected. But there will be uses for the prince. Think for a moment – if he died, or lost his honor, who would rule?”

“Me.” The idea had never appealed to her. If her father wanted to set her up to be in charge one day, that was fine, but she didn’t have to find any enthusiasm for it.

“Yes. And if he can be deposed in the right fashion, you could be the most influential crown princess of all time. Think of it – Zuko as a disgrace, left only to be replaced by his beautiful, loyal sister, worshipped by her people, who would die for her without hesitation.”

“What does that mean to me?” she asked. It seemed like a good idea to put forth questions, since he wanted her to think so badly. Besides, if he had the notion it was obvious he was quite wrong.

“Azula, you’re a simple creature – here’s a motive for you. If we have total mastery of every nation, then when I’m gone there’s nothing to stop you from setting the world on fire.”

Oh, my.

It wasn’t the idea of a horizon black with smoke or the cities blazing like fallen stars that thrilled her about this statement. It was the thought that she, Azula, could be the end of everything. She could be the soul of fire itself, kindle the flames that destroyed the world – or as much of it as she didn’t want around anymore. That was real power. Influence involved too many intricacies to matter in the direct ways that she valued. But something like this, the ability to annihilate anything she pleased… this could work for her.

“Tell me more about power, father. How do I earn it?”

“You don’t earn it, child. You take it.”

“Then how do I take it?”

“By listening to me.”

***

Written by Gunwild
Created by Bryan Konietzko & Michael Dante DiMartino
This fanfiction not produced for profit
Avatar: The Last Airbender and related indicia are the property of Nickelodeon