(Firelord has chosen your punishment.) Iroh

About time.

(You are going to build multiple bunkers for the royal family.) Azula

I see. Make sense. Earthbender could do exactly that.

(Why did you come to tell me this personally?) Shamo

(Because knowledge of these bunkers must be kept hidden. Some of them can not be told even to me. These hiding places are made with the mind of sudden invasions. Not just from outsiders but with our countrymen. We need them to be large and durable.) Iroh

(That does not explain why she is in here.) I pointed toward Azula.

(I came to apologize. This was kind of my fault. I was the one who told about you and caused even more problems later.) Azula

(Do not worry about it. I am certain that you knew that this would cause trouble for me but you were not planning to cause any bigger problems than a minor headache. I still expect that you will make this up to me in the future. No need to hurry though. Depts are the best paid by later time. At least that is to the benefitor.) Shamo

(Do not worry. I will make this up for certain.) Azula was unusually happy. She was under a lot of trouble during the fight which caused darker emotions to go toward me. This went to pass since her father could not punish his children since Ozai was the largest problem around. This allowed Azula to have way more free time than usual. This sudden change of situation did change how she felt toward me. There is no love but I think I have become a positive role model to her. I do not know if this is a good or bad thing though.

Unfortunately, I was kicked out of the school. It was made to be a punishment to me but it arose of status. I was made army trainer to fire the army. I was charged to teach the dangers of earth nations and earthbending. My class became popular even though they were forced to work with the bunkers. I was charged with the building but everything inside was under their responsibility. For this reason, my status and free time became better than ever before. I think I am thinking this in the wrong way. No nine years old should work this much. I do not care. Every day is exciting and interesting.

Today I am meeting privates from the desert. I found out they were doing ok. One was working with the dam. The other was working with medication. Two were promoted to lieutenant. The final one was in fact captain of the small vessel.

My friend Oki was hired as the doctor to southern raiders. They had agreed to send me to the southern air temple and southern water tribe. These went well for me. The largest problem was explaining why earthbender wanted to go places where he could not bend. I made an excuse of finding knowledge directly from air temples and looking for any surviving waterbenders from the south since there is no way that the north could teach me anything since I am an earthbender with a fire nation. My best bet is to find someone from the south. My real aim is to help Sokka´s and Katara´s mother to survive.

I am worried about how this will change the story. If their mother is with them then they would not leave south behind.

I know that there are swamp benders but I am not going to tell them that. I am not sure should I free Hama from the prison. I think she is still imprisoned. At least no form was written about it. It is happening soon. That is for certain. There might be others prisoned too. Maybe they are keeping this a secret from me. I do not why they would do so. Hidden bunkers are way more important than a couple of prisoned waterbenders.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

(What are you thinking about?) Azula

(Would you believe me if I said I was not thinking anything?) Shamo

(No.) Azula gave a simple answer.

I had to spent almost all of my free time in the palace. This caused me to spent a lot of time with the girls. I would have been happier to spent time with Zuko, but Azula and their mother were against it. Ursa used her time mostly with Zuko. Does she not understand that Azula is her child too. Is not this the perfect moment to become close to her? She does not need a male figure in her life. She needs a mother. Why can not you do anything about it?

(i am worried about something personal. Actually. This reminds me to ask you something. Do you want to become closer to your mother?) Shamo

(Sure but is it possible. She thinks I am a monster.) Azula

(I will stop you right there. There is a monster inside every human. You are not the only one with one. Monster is a variable term even dragonfly is a monster in the lake but does not eat when it becomes grownup. I do not know your mother enough to say if she thinks like that but you had to have good reason to claim so. Do you have concrete proof for your claim?) Shamo

I left her speechless. I honestly do not know how she feels about her daughter. She very least thinks her husband is one but how is it to her daughter?

(Can you prove that I am wrong?) Azula

(Of course, I can not.) I left her speechless once more.

(If you are going to ask her then of course she will tell that she does not think you are a monster. That can not be proved. I can only prove if we are trying to find is she scared of you or are you a horrible person to her. Monster is a term used for something terrifying or frightening. Your mother thinks of me as one. Not to her but your brother.) Shamo

(Make sense. Mother always babies him. She is afraid of what you might cause him. Certainly, she thinks of you as a monster. I have never seen her talk to you.) Azula

(You are correct. She has not talked with me. I was about to say the same things. You must have an idea of what I am aiming for with this talk.) Shamo

(You are planning to create a situation where my mother must choose between me and her life.) Azula

(I was not planning to go that far but you are correct. I have no plans of attacking the royal family no matter the reason. Any other earthbender would take the change. I am trying to stay impartial since no matter who is going to win this war, the world has changed forever.) Shamo

(What do you mean?) Azula

(You must have heard that I have no fire nation bloodline in me for certain. I am very least capable of being around fire nation citizens. I have heard there is another earthbender who is a fire nation citizen by blood. Other nations were combined their strength over the years. Even if Avatar would arrive, even he can not stop the change which war has caused to the world. Airbenders have gone instinct but there is a chance of them arriving. I mean even if I would kill everyone in here it will not stop the hate. The only way how this war can end peacefully is by Avatar or someone how has combined all the nations. And when I say all the nations I mean fire nation and air nomads. I am alone. And sadly even if the war ends peacefully, it does mean no new conflict will not happen. When I studied in the spirit library, I found danger way larger scale than this.) Shmo

(That is heavy.) Azula

(You are correct. Would you help me if you become the ruler of this nation?) Shamo

(My services as Firelord will not come cheaply.) Azula

(Did you forget you own for me?) Shamo

(Did you think I would carry such favor a long time. By that time you own me multiple times over compared to me at the moment. Be prepared.) Azula

(I will not. I will never going to own anything to you ever.) Shamo

(We will see about that.) Azula left me. It was lightly strange since my trip to the southern air temple and southern water tribe has arrived. This is the last day I spent here for a while. Maybe I can take this trip as a vacation. I doubt but southern raider has no other order except guide me. They must be happy about the small break even if it is in the southern air temple. I am planning to be the first earthbender outside the avatar who entered there.

I will meet Oki tomorrow. I will get a peaceful sleep at last. I hope there are no problems coming tomorrow.

After a peaceful sleep, I meet Oki.

(You must be excited to go south.) Oki

(I am, but I still do not understand why you are coming with me.) Shamo

(Do not worry about it. You are only eight years old.) Oki

(I am nine but I think that would change anything. Just what are you planning since you are trying to avoid conversation by talking about my age? I wonder?) Shamo

(It has nothing to do with you.) Oki

(I doubt that but I am happy to go with a familiar face no matter how ugly it is.) Shamo

(Good to see you too.) Oki