Chapter 8: The Palace

They walked toward the palace casually talking while the building in question loomed overhead. They weren't even standing right next to it, yet it still gave the impression that it was the tallest thing in existence and it had the strength to match.

Yes, it was definitely clear what message the fire nation was trying to send … resistance is futile.

But they've never met 'me'.

All of the things I have done before this moment pale in comparison to what I am going to do now. I've caused havoc before, like picking a fight with a guard and winning, and disappearing into the night because the whole capital went into high alert.

But that was all in the name of training.

The next thing I needed to do was do something real for once. That's not to say the things I've done before weren't real, they were in fact too real sometimes, but now it is time to face the man at the top of the totem pole. First, you sneak into your enemy's compound pretending to be friendly, then you get subtly closer by being the one and only that they can truly trust. Once they are blinded by that, the next step becomes evident.

One swing of the blade is all it takes.

Obviously I am getting ahead of myself here. Piandao seemed to have planned something big out, either on his own or with his network of people. But that's where things get hairy, who is in his network and who isn't, and can I trust them, because if I can't, I can't trust anyone, period.

"So Sokka, tell me a bit about yourself?" Ty Lee asked him.

"Ummm-"

"What do you mean um?" She asked with any angry undertone.

"Well, I have been training for over half my life and haven't really given thought to anything else besides that", he replied slightly disappointed at listening to his own statement.

"Then I will change that, but for now, come up with some kind of backstory for yourself, but make sure you say you are from the fire nation".

"Why?"

"Because you will probably be killed on site if you say anything besides that".

"Oh, lovely!"

"Yep, and it would be a shame to see such a good face and body go to waste", to which Sokka blushed profusely.

I don't think that I can deal with this all the time … not that I'm complaining but it gets awkward sometimes.

"Looks like we're here", Sokka said, pretending that nothing happened in addition to actually seeing the guard post ahead.

"Act natural".

"They have a sense of humor?"

"You're right, act … respectable", which brought a sigh from Sokka.

"Well, we're just about to the gate, any potentially last words you want to say?" She asked as a genuine question.

"Way to be positive".

"Eh, you always want to make sure all the bases are covered at the very least, it would be a shame to eternally regret something".

"You do bring up a good point, but I think I will be fine for now, thank you though".

"Hmm".

"What is it?"

"Oh, it's just that people don't generally thank me for anything, they just say 'Ty Lee do this' and 'Ty Lee do that' and they just expect me to do it".

"Wow", he said in astonishment, "Why wouldn't you do that? It's such a courteous thing to do that it seems rude otherwise, but I guess this is the fire nation".

"Hey!" she said angrily at him.

"What? Oh, Sorry". Sokka said to which Ty Lee started laughing.

"What's so funny?" Now it was his turn to be offended.

"I don't really mind you insulting us much, it's not like I'm not used to it. However, act like a loyal fire nation noble in front of the royalty will you? Anndddd… we're here. Showtime".

They stood at a checkpoint which would let them through the perimeter wall to the courtyard and the menacing building in question.

This has been going way too easy.

"Wait," said one of the guards, "Who is this?"

"Oh, I'm Sokka", he said gleefully.

Well maybe it has been going too easily.

"What business do you have here?"

"He's my boyfriend", Ty Lee said as she clung to his left arm.

"Yes, I'm her… boyfriend".

"And we're here for my visit to the princess", Ty Lee said.

"Yes, well then, go ahead", the guard said as he waved them through.

"Not bad, but did you really have to pause to contemplate being my boyfriend?"

"Well Honey, I just think that things are moving just a little too fast between us. I think I might need a break to think about it, okay?"

Frustration visibly showed on Ty Lee's face. Clearly, she appreciates sarcasm. Next thing Sokka knew, he was massaging a red hand mark on his face.

"Yeah, I probably deserved that one", to which she nodded.

They walked through the vast corridors in silence, and as they did, Sokka couldn't help but notice… emptiness. That wasn't to say it wasn't ornate or nicely decorated, but there wasn't anything in these hallways that seemed adequate for the size of palace he saw on the outside, there were no people, no furniture, no emotion, no anything, it almost felt cold to him, despite the warm weather of the fire nation.

Suddenly, the air became almost as frigid as the south pole. It even caused him to get goosebumps even with his high tolerance to the cold.

"We're here" Ty Lee stated as they stood in front of a colossal door. She seemed completely unaware of any lack of heat, which through Sokka off.

She knocked on the door, emitting a deep resonance.

"Enter!" someone shouted in a firm voice from a large distance away on the other side of the door.

Ty Lee opened the door to a stadium- no, a bedroom.

Why does everything in this palace have to be enormous? Are they compensating for something?

"Ty Lee, it's nice of you to finally show up", a woman slightly younger than Sokka said in an edgy tone. She was nothing special compared to anyone else in the fire nation except for three things: she wore a topknot with a small crown headpiece, armor that probably made her appear much larger and menacing than she really was, and her eyes were impossibly gold, yet upon walking closer to the two of them, Sokka felt like he was going to get hypothermia and he realized it was her all along yet Ty Lee didn't appear cold in the slightest.

The room was no different than the rest of the palace, very ornate yet hollow. The room had a bed fit for a king, or a princess in this case, and a seating area off to the side where a statue sat in one of the chairs.

Peculiar.

"And who is this?" She said in the same tone as before.

Hmm… Sokka thought to himself, does she always sound like this.

"This is Sokka, he's my boyfriend", Ty Lee said in the bubbly attitude he hadn't seen since they first met.

Her face changed from serious to surprised and back in a split second and pretended no one saw her facial expression change.

"And you must be the princess?" Sokka said as polite as he could.

"Yes", she said as if she were disgusted that he was even talking to her.

Why does she seem so angry?

"Oh, and Mai is here too!" exclaimed Ty Lee.

"Yes" a monotone voice said from a seat in the distance.

That's not a statue?!

"So Ty Lee, you never told me you were interested in a boy, why?" asked the princess.

"Well, because we only meet each other once every three months", Ty Lee said, causing Sokka to laugh a little at the absurdity.

"What's so funny?" the princess asked in condescension, which was really starting to agitate him.

"I was just thinking of a joke. Never mind though, it's not important".

"What-was-it?" her temper was very short fused.

"Well, it's not really a joke per say and I've never tried it myself, but have you seen what cactus juice does to a person?"

"No, why don't we try it on you, shall we?" she shined a devilish smile toward him.

"She's a malicious one isn't she?" Sokka asked the other women in the room

"Indeed" Azula replied and broke out into a highly unsettling laughter causing everyone to glance at her worriedly. She stopped laughing immediately and once again pretended nothing had happened.

Something seems… sketchy, about her.

"Ah, Sokka, I almost forgot, this was the day we agreed to meet my parents. I'm sorry Azula, we have to go", and Ty Lee slammed the door and ran with Sokka's wrist in her hand.

Once they rounded a corner, they tucked against the wall in dim light hidden away to catch their breath.

"Ty Lee, what was that?"

"I honestly have no clue. I've never seen her act that way", although her expression seemed to say otherwise.