Of Fire

Chapter 1

She stood, leaning against the railing of her balcony, glaring at the vibrant city in front of her, the lamps on the streets eating the silver rays of the room. Her golden eyes mere slits as she glowered at the people in the city, people she couldn't see. It was one of them. She knew it, without a doubt. It was one of those men in that city, unaware of what they had done. But they would be, once she found them. The man who did it would know what he had caused, would feel the pain and fury she refused to show. It would be a slow process, she decided, a malevolent grin tugging at her lips. Oh, she would enjoy it.

Footsteps coming up to her from behind drew her from her musings and she turned to face the intruder. She looked at the form of her brother, both staring and not speaking. He sighed first and broke the eye contact, not noticing her grin. He ran a rough hand against the back of his neck and stated, "The Fire Sages and the fortune teller agree, it's…"

"How," she interrupted. "How could it be? It's not even physically possible, brother. I'll have nothing to do with it." She said finally, turning her back to her brother to cast her glare upon the city once more.

"Then will you…" he hesitated but she knew what he meant.

"No," she answered, "I would not ask that of her."

"Do you think that she...?"

She chuckled at his inability to finish a sentence. "No, I do not think that. If nothing else she's stupidly loyal to me, she wouldn't do it willingly."

He sighed again, "Azula, this is Ty Lee we're talking about, do you think someone could take advantage of her like that, or be willing to face your wrath if they did. Despite everything you're still very much feared."

She smirked, even being insane for a couple of years after the war hadn't stopped the people of the Fire Nation from fearing her. Azula's smirk faded and she turned to her brother, "What are you saying, Zuko?"

"Look." He started, walking towards her a little. "I don't know how this happened, but both the sages and the fortuneteller can't be wrong. Ty Lee's pregnant with your child."

Her hawk eyes glared at him, "That abomination is not mine!" she turned away from him again.

Zuko sighed, turned and walked back to the balcony door. "Believe what you like, Azula, but maybe the gods have more in store for you. Taking care of a child that carries your bloodline could be the greatest thing you'd ever know."

Azula scoffed but said nothing as her brother left. 'The gods,' she thought. 'Are only out to take what is mine.'

'That's not true,' a young voice unlike any other she had ever heard, but seemed so familiar, echoed in her head.

The princess of the Fire Nation turned quickly in a defensive stance, ready to fight off the intruder. But there was nothing. Cautiously, the prodigy eyed her surroundings. Finding no one, she relaxed slightly out of her stance, turning back to the city and shaking her head. She thought she had stopped hearing voices. "Azula." A timid voice she recognized came from behind her.

The Princess turned to her lover, her wife, the one person who never left her even when she was mad, and met her sad grey eyes. "Ty Lee," Azula intoned.

Ty Lee swallowed hard as her gaze touched the ground at Azula's feet. "I'm sorry," she said lightly. "I don't know how this happened. I've only ever been with you." Large tears formed at the corners of her large eyes. Azula frowned; she hated seeing her woman cry. "I swear, there was no one else."

Azula embraced her lover, unable to stop herself from smiling as the acrobat clung to her. A frown quickly replaced the smile as she thought about the monster that grew inside her lover. "I don't blame you." Azula said simply, being careful of her tone. 'I blame it.' "It will be okay."

"You won't make me leave?" Ty Lee asked as she dared to look up at the princess.

Azula smiled slightly, placing a well-manicured hand on the shorter woman's cheek. "Of course not, I love you." She kissed Ty Lee lightly then pulled her back into the room, closing the door behind them.

TBC