Author's Note: O noses, another boiling rock rewrite. Hmmmm. Just something that randomly struck me one day.. that I just decided to write now. Chars are prob OOC. And fail. But whatever +_+
*Disclaimer* Everything from Avatar © their respect respective owners
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"Leave us alone," she ordered. The guards released their hold on the other girl, saluted, and then stepped back a good distance away. They knew better than to get in the way of the Fire Nation Princess.
The three childhood friends stared at each other, and though they were surrounded by guards all around them, it felt like it was them, and only them on that platform.
Tense moments passed, and finally she spoke. There was a cold anger, and deeper within, a hidden hurt that only those close to her could hear.
"I never expected this from you. The thing I don't understand is why. Why would you do it? You know the consequences," she bit out as she struggled to keep her voice level. She noted that Ty Lee was off to the side looking worriedly between them.
Mai looked at her calmly, her eyes determined as she picked her words carefully. "I guess you just don't know people as well as you think you do. You miscalculated. I love Zuko, more than I fear you."
As soon as the words had left her mouth, Mai regretted it as she caught sight of the hurt that appeared on her face. It had disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared, and nothing but anger remained.
"NO, YOU MISCALCULATED," she angrily shouted. "YOU SHOULD HAVE LO—" the word had tumbled out before she could stop it, and she clamped her mouth shut and looked away in shame and embarrassment at her slip-up.
Mai looked over to Azula in shock, and then turned to Ty Lee who looked equally surprised.
The weapon specialist gave out a small sigh, and then looked over at Azula who was angrily glaring at the floor.
"Were we really friends, Azula?" she asked gently, and the princess looked up finally and golden eyes met golden eyes.
"… I…" and there was that memory of her setting the apple on fire. "… don't know…" she finished. They were, weren't they? Flashbacks of her forcing Mai and Ty Lee to follow her surfaced in her mind, and with it, doubts of the validity of their friendship. Weren't they friends? She had never treated them like they were, had she? It was no wonder Mai had chosen Zuko over her; she had never told Mai and Ty Lee how much they had actually meant to her… They… should know though, shouldn't they…?
"Of course we are!" Ty Lee shouted at them, and they both turned to look at the other girl as angry tears threatened to spill from her grey eyes. "How can you two even question that?!" she glared at them. "Sure, we've had our ups and downs, but that's what it means to be friends!"
They both looked away, feeling guilty at having made the bubbly girl cry. .
"SAY SOMETHING!" Ty Lee demanded as she angrily wiped at her eyes. "We are friends, aren't we?" she pleaded to them.
"…you know even my status as princess can't save you," Azula admitted quietly, and Mai merely nodded. She knew what would happen to her when she had thrown that first knife. She had already accepted it.
"Azula? Mai?" Ty Lee looked back and forth from her friends, confusion apparent on her face.
"…is my brother really worth this?" Azula asked, easily ignoring the acrobat. She stared at Mai's normally neutral face and felt her eyes widen slightly as she caught the small smile that tugged upwards from Mai's lips.
"Yes, he is."
"I see," Azula replied, though it was apparent to them all that she really didn't. The two looked at each other briefly, and surprisingly Azula was the first to look away.
"Guards!" she called out a few soldiers that were still silently observing off to side. They approached her, and she gestured to Mai. "Take her away and lock her up for treason."
"Azula??" Ty Lee looked in surprise at her friend and turned to Mai who shook her head.
"It's okay, Ty Lee," Mai gave her another one of her rare small smiles even as the guards pulled her arms behind her back and shoved her forward.
Azula kept her face blank as she watched the guards lead Mai away.
"Wait," Mai said suddenly, and turned to look pointedly at the Princess. The guards moved to drag her, but Azula held out her hand and signaled for the guards to let Mai speak.
"… I hope that one day… you'll find someone worth it," Mai glanced at her and then turned away and started walking toward the prison cells. The guards blinked and then ran to catch up to her.
"Azula…?" Ty Lee looked worriedly at the prodigy who remained rooted in her spot, eyes gazing at Mai's back.
"Let's go, Ty Lee," Azula responded softly after another silent minute or two, and then started walking in the opposite direction they had taken Mai. She was heading to the main tower where she would send a messenger hawk for another airship to get them off the island. She tried not to think that only the two of them would be leaving this time.
Ty Lee watched Azula walk away for a bit before turning and barely catching sight of Mai before she disappeared inside the prison building. The acrobat felt tears in her eyes once more and brushed them away quickly before chasing after Azula who was already halfway to the tower.
"Azula! Wait for me!"
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