Chapter 5: Tough Call Ch 5
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Five months two weeks and three days had passed since Azula's birthday, and Ozai could tell that she had changed. 'While still appearing as the feared Princess, Ozai could tell her attitude had changed, she seemed more relaxed and calmer, lacking the ruthlessness she once had although only he and only a few people could tell that, the rest of the world still saw her as she was: ruthless and heartless. Even though these changes should usually worry him, there wasn't any reason to worry. Azula was getting stronger, her firebending was more precise, and she could fight, longer not to mention the physical skills she seemed to acquire.'
'The look on the trainees, when Azula herself, had knocked both of them out, not with firebending, but her fists, was priceless. Two grown men knocked down by two broken noses. The boy was good for her, physically by her training results. Mentally, as Azula seemed to hold a more mature way of thinking to her now, and not to forget, the emotional benefits: her sudden change, could only be attributed to only his doing.'
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Azula and Zhan, they both were found on the training grounds, engaging in full-contact sparring, no holding back. Azula with her firebending and Zhan with his weapons; with the twin's Li and Lo observing.
Despite their apparent differences, they indeed equaled in a fight Azula having her firebending advantage yet Zhan using this combat and tactical abilities. While Azula could beat him in long-distance confrontation, he was up close to her, effectively eliminating her firebending now it was mostly hand-combat. Azula had a bit of firebending to her side, but Zhan had his metallic claws, so indeed, it was a fair fight.
"Are you tire now, want to give up?" he said, blocking and attacking.
"Not by a long-shot," she replied, dodging and counter-attacking.
'She wasn't easy-going anymore, she could fight him now close up, although he was more experienced, she was nimbler and years of firebending, had left her with a large supply of stamina.'
"Gotcha," he said, locking her arm in, after a failed attack.
"I don't think so," she replied, sweeping his legs...yet she forgot about her locked arm, sending her down him.
"Well...I'll says you've gotten better," he said to Azula, who was lying on top of him.
"Although, you should've gotten your hand free first."
"Maybe...maybe," she replied, flirting a bit, before getting up.
"Well, your skills,"
"Seem to have improved since,"
"Almost six months ago," said the twins.
"Indeed it has," said Zhan. "Although...I can improve you more if you'd like Azula."
"Oh no," she replied immediately. "As fun as it may sound, I'm not risking 'this' for it."
"Suit yourself," he said, coming closer to her. "Although you could like it."
"N...O!" she whispered back.
"Alright," he replies, backing off.
But their training was interrupted by a messenger hawk, arriving landing on the ground.
"What does it say?" asked Azula. "Is it for me?"
"No," he sighed after reading it through. "It is for me."
"What then?" she asked.
"I was afraid this day would come. I am to report to military duty, ordered by General Zhu, my father," he said regretfully.
"What!" she said, troubled by what she had just heard.
"I got three days before I need to go and report back," said Zhan and sadness, could be heard from his words.
"No! You can't I can revoke that order!" she said.
"Azula don't, do that," he replied.
"Why not?! I'm the Crown Princess, and I can, besides you got my training to focus on!" she yelled.
"Azula, I've taught you everything I can, without going to the extremes as you wanted. The only thing we got left is practice," he replied.
"Then teach me them, but don't go!" she said, barely pleading.
"Azula," he sighed, "what kind of citizen would I be if I refused to serve my countries army?"
"I...uh," she sighed heavily. He was right, he may have needed to serve anyway, and it would cause questioning of why a healthy young man, wouldn't attend.
"You're afraid I'll get hurt?" he asked, smiling at her.
"What? That's is further from the..." she said, eyeing him, but still worried. "A little."
"Hey," he said, getting closer to her. "You've seen me fight. How do you think the Earthbenders will fare?"
'Azula chuckled at the mental image of Zhan cutting his way through Earthbender soldiers, but he was still, a non-bender and they're hardened soldiers.'
'She knows he can handle himself but why does she still worry?'
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Three days soon passed and from her mood swings. Half the Palace could've guessed what was troubling her. Although she had brought it up to her father with subtle hints Ozai was cut both ways her or the country, but he understood that some service would be still required.
By Agni, if Azula had it her way, she'd burned the orders, told the General off, and scorched anyone who'd questioned his loyalty.
"You know, I'll write to you," said Zhan, inside her room.
"Figures," mumbled Azula, brushing her hair. She didn't hide her anger at his going.
"Hey, Azula. Don't be so gloomy. Cheer up!" he said.
"Yeah, yeah," she said, turning back towards the mirror.
"I promise to write and to visit when I can. Keep up your training, and also..." Zhan said to Azula.
'Azula saw him getting close to her and kissed her on her cheek, shocking her still, frozen in place.'
"You should keep your hair down it looks natural and gorgeous on you."
'Azula barely realized what just happened: angry, confused, shocked, dizzy. He left for war, yes. But he had also just kissed her on the cheek.'
'Why do I feel like fainting,' she thought smiling, picking up the brush, she had just dropped, admiring her hair loose. 'Guess it does look more natural...and gorgeous...maybe.'
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Perhaps not to be is to be without your being,
without your going, that cuts noon light
like a blue flower, without your passing
later through fog and stones,
without the torch you lift in your hand
that others may not see as golden,
that perhaps no one believed blossomed
the glowing origin of the rose,
without, in the end, your being, your coming
suddenly, inspiringly, to know my life,
blaze of the rose-tree, wheat of the breeze:
and it follows that I am, because you are:
it follows from 'you are', that I am, and we:
and, because of love, you will, I will,
We will, come to be.
by Pablo Neruda
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
DriedSnug
DriedSnug Guys, since we are in trouble times, I decided to update, one day and the other day, will be free or maybe I update Fridays and Mondays?
I am doing all this because you will run out of fun things to read, see I am such a nice person, praise me.
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