The sea. Waves that soothed the ears. A bright blue sky with frozen white clouds. The wind, which should have caressed my hair, did not. A paradox. Upon closer inspection, one could notice that the clouds were not moving across the sky. The waves repeated themselves over and over, reaching a certain line on the shore. There was no smell of the sea in the air. Everything I saw, everything that surrounded me, was a fantasy, an illusion of the mind that revealed itself if one only looked closely and thought.
A rather interesting effect. My stay here turned out to be a surprise. My attempt to put the princess to sleep ended with me falling into the deepest depths of her mind.
It was a very unexpected picture, one that I never expected to see in the girl's consciousness. Peaceful, calm, warm. It was surprising that Azula's deep soul retained such vivid memories of this place. Back then, she was just a tiny child, knowing nothing about the world she was born into. Her entire family was vacationing on the Cinder Island at the time.
However, it seems someone did not notice the falseness of our surroundings.
Turning my head, I saw the princess dancing. The girl was dozens of meters away from me, actively dancing a strange dance. Only music was missing. Yes, without it, dances are not nearly as colorful. And dressing in Fire Nation armor didn't add to her beauty either. Making sharp lunges, circular movements, and strikes at the air, the girl didn't take her stern gaze off me. Good girl. She quickly figured out my identity.
"Excellent dance," I praised Azula, who began to look at her own hands in bewilderment.
Of course, it wasn't a dance, but an attempt at firebending and lightning redirection. It's just that in the place where we both were, different rules applied. I wonder how quickly she'll figure everything out? Watching her get angry while trying to figure out an unfamiliar topic was always amusing. Any failures deeply hurt the princess's pride.
"Why isn't it working? What did you do to my magic?" Looking at her furious gaze, I couldn't help but smile cheekily. How predictable she is.
"Nothing."
"Liar!" the princess disbelieved, boiling with anger.
"No," I continued to provoke the capricious girl with my calm demeanor. It was even funny.
---
We stared into each other's eyes. The tension grew. Azula slowly took a fighting stance for close combat. What a fool she is…
"Don't you understand?" I stopped the girl, who was ready to attack, with a couple of words. The princess froze in place, scrutinizing my appearance. She was ready to fight at any moment but restrained herself. She doesn't understand. I'll have to spell it out.
"Magic is closely linked to the physical body and the life energy, Qi. Didn't I already tell you that?"
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"Look around, don't you find this place a bit strange? Unnatural? Like an illusion or…" I paused, allowing my interlocutor to listen to her feelings and look around the sandy beach with the sea and sky. She's not that stupid, she should figure it out. My expectations were not in vain.
"A dream? Am I sleeping?"
"Bravo, you figured it out quickly. But no, I don't think it's a normal dream, rather very old memories that haven't been perfectly preserved. Look closely, you know this place," after listening to my speech, Azula cautiously looked around. Her golden eyes slowly began to gleam with recognition.
"Crescent Island…"
"Yes. A long time ago, your whole family vacationed in this place. Your warmest memories are connected to this place. Remember how Zuko was almost swept away by the ocean? Father had to dive for him, and then perform artificial respiration. Mother grabbed you in her arms, pressing you tightly to her chest. And you… You were a child who didn't understand what was happening. Feeling her anxiety, you started to cry, not really knowing why," I got carried away, Azula's memory does make itself known. But it also allows me to understand the girl as best as possible.
"This…" the girl's face became grimmer. She remembered this because I remembered it. She was uncomfortable with such memories; they oppressed her. I, on the other hand, perceived them calmly, like a recently watched movie.
"These are my memories," she replied in a falsely stern voice, still standing in a convenient position for both offense and defense or evasion.
"Yes. Shall we sit down? We have a long conversation ahead of us," without waiting for her answer, I sat down on the sand, looking towards the endless sea.
Azula was somewhat taken aback by my reckless behavior and didn't understand the catch. My carefree demeanor simply threw her off balance. Yes, after our last meeting, such behavior was quite strange; the girl thought she had killed me. And here I am, suggesting we sit on the sand and discuss something. She doesn't even guess the futility of conflict in this place. How long it takes for these geniuses to understand anything.
"Allow me to dispel your foolish intentions of attacking and extracting answers from me. Right now, neither you nor I can harm each other. You hear the wind, but you don't feel it. You see the sun, but you don't feel its heat. You see the sea, but you don't smell it. Right now, only our minds or souls, as you prefer to call our states, are here. Bodies, with all their worldly concerns, remain in the real world. We cannot inflict pain on each other," I explained to the girl, once again disrupting her plans with my words. Truly, the power of words is great, however, it only worked because of my interlocutor's confusion. No matter how hard she tried to remain outwardly calm, I saw right through her.
"Biting wasn't necessary," I commented on the girl's actions, who decided to test my words by biting her own hand. Her doubt-filled gaze again fixed on me.
"Okay, let's talk," Azula carefully sat down a few meters away from me, not taking her eyes off my figure. "Where did you get my memories from?!"
"It's a consequence of your actions."
"What?"
"I'm saying, you gave me all your memories, skills, and blue fire. Thanks for such a generous gift."
"What? How is that possible?!"
"Sigh…" It's a bit funny, of course, but I thought it would be easier.
"Stop talking in riddles! You remind me of my uncle, it's annoying," I saw displeasure in her eyes. What's wrong? I know her better than I know myself, why is she being so obtuse? Maybe it's the meeting and the setting? Or has she changed so much after my fake death?
"Don't be silent!" the capricious princess continued to press.
This will be a long conversation…
"Maybe you should stop acting emotionally and use your brain? Come on, you're capable of it. We both know that. Just cool down and think. What did you do to me that could lead to this result?" I gave her the most obvious hint. Azula continued to look at me, understanding dawning in her eyes. She turned towards the sea, falling silent.
We watched the sea in silence for a while. The conversation somehow ended on its own. And our communication was very strange. Azula acted differently than I expected. She said the wrong words, asked the wrong questions. Lately, she has almost always behaved out of character, not in her usual manner. It was as if something had happened in her life that forced her to reconsider her values. And such an event had indeed occurred.
I was glad that my "death" did not pass without consequences for the princess. I was not indifferent to her. She deeply regretted her actions but couldn't sort herself out. She didn't understand what to say or how to continue the conversation. It was surprising how easily I could read the girl's emotions from the slightest movements of her body. However, I know this from our shared memories, but all of Azula's actions confirmed my thoughts.
The silence stretched on. Curling up with her legs tucked under her, she rested her head on her knees, continuing to look at the sea. Memories of a happy childhood were deeply oppressing her. She wanted to leave, but she strongly resisted her desires. It was good that Azula calmed down so easily. Without the hormonal teenage turmoil that remained in her body, emotions are much easier to control. I know this from personal experience; disembodied beings cannot have tantrums.
Perhaps I should start. She would never dare to. After all, she has absolutely no experience in social interactions.
"How did you realize it was me?" I decided to start from afar. The girl cast a hostile glance at me.
"Your voice."
"My voice?"
"Yes, your voice. Despite the unfamiliar appearance, I perfectly remembered your voice. As soon as I heard you, I became completely convinced of your identity. And even before that, I suspected your survival," replied the girl's quiet, emotionless voice.
"By the way, about your appearance. Why do you look so much like me? I see traits of a young father, a brother, and yours in you. As if we are brother and sister. Is this also somehow connected to my actions?" Azula finished, showing some initiative in the conversation.
"Clever girl, you noticed correctly. When you decided to infuse me with your Qi, it led to interesting consequences…" after which I explained what happened to me.
Simultaneously, I finally decided to give her another chance and told her a little more than necessary. After all, after watching her memories, I felt sorry for the girl. And I enjoyed her company, even though I suspected lies. Giving Azula a chance, I revealed a lot. About my transformation, desires, minor changes, gaining all her memories and skills. How I watched her from the outside, how I obtained a body and became a complete spirit. How I practiced my powers on her team. In short, I told almost everything that had happened to me recently. I talked and talked, while the princess listened silently, continuing to look at the sea.
I did all this to demonstrate my trust in the girl. Of course, she understood much more from what was said, figuring out many things on her own. After finishing my short speech, which answered her question in detail, the conversation fell silent again. Azula contemplated every piece of information I provided. Then she suddenly asked:
"Are you satisfied?" I heard Azula's quiet voice after a few minutes of silence. The girl clearly guessed about the accidental storm and the monster attack. She took it calmly, too calmly. However, we both know that the fate of her ship's crew is indifferent to her.
"And you?" I smiled a little wider, our eyes met. She understood the hint, and she herself was ready to kill me. Azula averted her gaze back to the sea.
Silence was my answer. Despite our short period of cooperation and strained acquaintance, we now understood each other without words. Once the girl calmed down, it became a little easier to talk. After all, it was the right decision to try to put her to sleep, preventing a hysterical breakdown and subsequent harm to her personality and body.
"Did it hurt?" the girl asked, and I immediately understood what she was talking about.
"Yes… it felt like I was boiling in a cauldron, completely paralyzed and mute."
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why did you refuse to serve me? I… No, just answer, why?" And I know that she strongly desired such a development of events, very strongly. It's a pity, however, that Azula turned out to be too impulsive.
"I don't want to serve you. I don't want to serve anyone. Maybe it's pride, or maybe something else? I don't even know myself, but the very thought of being beneath you is disgusting to me. I was perfectly content with what I had. I knew that over time I could achieve everything I intended. However, you decided to take much more than I wanted to give you, crossing everything that was between us. I was lucky that the effect of your outburst was positive; it only made me stronger. Thanks again for that."
"Pfft…" She turned away and fell silent. The girl felt unwell at the moment. Most of my actions shook her worldview. And my strengthening from her attempted murder made her clench her teeth tightly, from indignation and the joy she felt, which was so contrary to Azula, but the girl quickly calmed down.
After a moment of silence, looking at the waves, she continued.
"What's next? What will you do with me? I won't have the strength to resist you now," her voice filled with despair and, at the same time, calmness. Indeed, Cinder Island is a magical place. Or is it because she doesn't have access to hormones, not fully experiencing emotions?
"What happened, happened. We can continue our confrontation until one of us disappears completely, and the victor remains alone. Or we can start all over again. Forgive each other and continue to live on, pursuing common goals."
"Start over? Common goals? What common goals can we possibly have?"
"Yes, start over. I would certainly like to spank you properly for your bad behavior, but with your current state, it would be excessively cruel. And we will find common goals. The same power. Since we met, you have become significantly stronger, as have I. But, of course, that's not all."
"Spank my butt?!" she asked in surprise, shocked by my audacity once again: "How vulgar, even my parents never laid a hand on me. Who do you think you are to say such words to the princess of the strongest country in the world!"
"I know, and they should have. For some of your childhood behaviors, you should have been punished much harder. Perhaps then you would have turned out to be a worthy person, not the parody that throws a tantrum when she doesn't get what she wants," she pursed her lips tightly at such audacious words, expressing all her emotions with a single disdainful look without unnecessary verbosity. However, we both knew—my words were true.
"Well, enough about the past. It is in the present that the future is forged. What do you think of my proposal to leave everything in the past and move forward? Together, we will achieve much more than alone."
"What do I think? Are you mocking me? Why are you acting so… So! I have no words to describe your arrogance. It has always infuriated me!" the princess began to get worked up, but her fervor began to dissipate before her eyes.
"Azula, I don't have much experience in social interactions either. So let's be calm, at least in this place. I know how weak and defenseless you feel. I know how much you dislike it. I also know how much you missed and regretted your choice, every night, feeling loneliness and cold. We both know that you missed me. Someone you could talk to about anything. After all, you're not even open with your friends, let alone all your other subordinates."
"Don't talk as if you know me," the princess snapped back, bristling at my arguments.
On the contrary, I know, better than anyone else in the world.
"Azula, it's time to face the truth. You don't hate me at all and deeply regret your actions. Look at me. Please, look, it's not difficult," having achieved my goal, I saw tears welling up in her eyes. What is it? Is it because of my appearance?
"Disgusting. Why do I feel such calmness?" the princess declared in surprise. "As soon as I start getting angry at you, I almost immediately lose the desire to say everything I think to your face, finding it a senseless waste of time and energy! Such indifference, it's so disgusting," wiping away a few tears, she calmed down again.
"The body greatly influences the mind; you are thinking clearly now. Crystal clear. Emotions disappear quickly. And what you feel seems to pass through a filter. In this place, you cannot experience the full spectrum of emotions, only fragments of them. I constantly felt something similar when I was a spirit; one can get used to it," I explained to the girl, smiling a somewhat sad smile.
"So that's why you wanted a body so badly? No wonder, such a disgusting state…" Azula looked at her hands again.
"I know. What about my proposal? Shall we leave everything in the past and start anew?" I asked her, feeling that this was the best moment.
"I…" Azula stammered uncertainly, not knowing what to say. "I'm willing to listen to you…"
"Good, we have a lot to talk about. First, take my hand," I said, extending my open palm towards her.
"Is this necessary?" the princess replied warily, not thinking of taking my hand.
"Yes. Don't be afraid, nothing bad will happen. However, it would be better if you hugged me from behind," I continued to insist on my own, well aware that if this prickly person didn't take a step towards me, my attempts would be stopped by her prickliness.
"Hug? Why? What are you trying to achieve with such strange requests?" Azula didn't understand, unable to trust me even in such a small matter. Yes, it's difficult, but I chose this path myself, and I want to walk it with her. No matter how difficult it is to walk.
"Trust, I'm seeking your trust. I can tell you everything about myself. Absolutely everything. We have nowhere to rush in this place; time flows differently. But please, hug me," I continued my attempts to establish trust between us.
"You're starting to annoy me again," Azula said coldly, turning to face the sea. No one said it would be easy. On the contrary, with the princess, everything will always be difficult. And the sea is so beautiful…
We fall silent, sit, each lost in their own thoughts.
"It's such a small thing. It's like a pain hold, like a neck crank or a chokehold. Only you need to…" I stopped, feeling the girl timidly wrap her arms around my neck.
Wow… what a pleasant surprise.
"Are you satisfied?" her voice sounded very close. It was filled with such unusual notes, shyness, uncertainty, all of which made Azula's voice so charming and soft. I didn't think her voice could be so pleasant to the ear.
"…It's nicer than I thought. Cough-cough. Not that much," completely relaxing, I entrusted myself to her arms, leaning my head on the girl's shoulder. Although she slightly overdid the strength of the grip, even so, it was a wonderful result! Azula was even more confused by my actions and simply didn't know what to do. I, on the other hand, enjoyed our spiritual closeness, feeling trust forming between us. Fragile, thin, easily broken, but still trust.
"See? It wasn't that difficult, but it was pleasant. A normal interaction that people use to show their support, joy, or other emotions. In such moments, you realize that you are not alone in the world. It's always easier together than alone. Do you enjoy feeling this?" I asked the girl, trying to find her eyes with my gaze to look into them, but I only saw her hair arranged in a hairstyle. Azula turned away in another direction, just to avoid meeting my gaze. How cute.
"You forgot, our emotions are muted? Or is it different for you?" I hear the girl's uncertain answer.
"That's right, I would like to repeat our embrace in the real world, having my own body and full access to emotions. And you? Would you like to hug me?" While basking in her embrace, I derived considerable pleasure from such significant progress in our relationship.
"Well…" she prolonged uncertainly, playing with a lock of her own hair. "Probably? I don't know. We wanted to talk about something else, didn't we? You mentioned common goals?" Not knowing what to do in such intimate matters, she simply changed the subject. Perhaps I shouldn't push my luck and insist on my own for now.
"That's right, first, you need to calm down completely," I decided not to overwhelm her with this information so abruptly. It's better to prepare the girl for such revelations.
"Calm down?"
"Yes, it will concern the future of your nation, you, your father. Allow me…" I gently broke free from her embrace, carefully taking her hand, and looked into the girl's eyes. She was worried.
"Okay, I'm calm, speak."
"The Avatar will return this year…"