บท 86: A Long Conversation
''Are you the leader of this new cult? The one that's been spreading unusually fast in the Fire Nation?'' Azula asked with a calm facade.
However, on the inside, her heart was beating like it wanted to escape from her chest.
On one hand, she was angry beyond words. She felt pathetic, and humiliated. Someone, no, Something made her back down and bow like a servant. She wasn't only angry at that being. No, she was angry mostly at herself.
Her instincts and royal education won over her pride and she actually suppressed her own pride on a matter like this.
On the other hand, she was scared.
'Scared?' she scoffed at herself, immediately getting rid of most of the unnecessary emotions.
'I just acted rationally and made the best choice. Nothing wrong with that.' she consoled herself on the inside as her kept calm.
''Yes. It was a fun little project. I'm saying 'was', but I still plan to expand on it though. Earth Kingdom is next, and Water tribes after that.''
Kunyo commented casually.
Upon seeing Katara's concerned face, he reassured her, ''Don't worry, this is not a oppressive cult.'' he laughed to himself. ''You know, just be nice to each other and stuff. Water tribe is free to refuse our help and of course, they are free to refuse this religion.'' he shook away her worries.
''That's... cool?'' Aang said as he scratched his head.
''Don't sweat your shiny little head over stuff like this. We're the good guys, end of the story.''
''Will you keep betraying your nation?'' Azula suddenly asked, trying play into his guilt. ''The nation that raised you, your father, your family, your friends, your everything?''
''Where would that come from?'' Kunyo shook his head once again.
''I'm not betraying anybody Azuzu... That's a stupid nickname, I will come with a better one next time don't worry. Anyways, if you think about it, I'm doing it for the good of not only the world but also the fire nation.'' Kunyo said, surprising everybody.
'Bringing down the fire lord would help the fire nation?'
''The way things are going, fire nation will fall to ruins.'' Kunyo dropped the fake bomb.
'That's all bullshit. Ozai nearly won in the canon after all.'
''Honestly, do you really think that every being on this planet would let Ozai rule over as a supreme emperor? Balance is more important than you think. Last time, when the fire nation made Airbenders un-live, he could only do it thanks to a mixture of luck and surprise factor. None of the great spirits actually thought that a human would dare to do such a thing. And then, it was all done and it was already too late.'' Kunyo shook his head
''Look at Aang. He is the protector of balance, working for the spirits. If he failed, they would send something stronger. That's it.''
''It's better for the fire nation to just take all the wins it has and stop the fight before losing.''
Katara felt like it made sense, but, 'Didn't we need to save two great spirits back in the Northern Water Temple? Are they really that great and is Aang really disposable for them?' she couldn't decide if it made sense or not, but decided to trust Kunyo and nodded her head as if she understood some profound truth.
''Eh? I'm a worker? I don't even get paid!'' Aang asked in surprise.
''Shut it. You get paid with your powers.'' Kunyo shot back, shutting him off and letting Azula think for herself.
Azula's mind was filled with questions and doubts.
'How much of his words can I trust?' she didn't forget how he held big secrets just some time ago, and likely still held some.
'But, what if it's true..?'
''Azula, how would you like to be the Fire Queen?'' Kunyo dropped another bomb into the conversation after letting her think for a few seconds.
''I know you will most likely be the next queen anyway, what I meant is that, how would you like to move that forwards and become even a younger queen?''
''You... You want me to overthrow my father...''
Azula's fist trembled.
Deep down, she had no affection to her father. Years of emotional abuse made sure of that.
But, sure, she was obedient. Very obedient.
Even the thought of rebelling against him just now made her heart beat madly. It was just a mention, but she still felt like roasting Kunyo's face.
Betraying her father... It always felt impossible. So impossible in fact, she didn't even have a thought of it until now.
''You're mad.'' she spat out.
Avatar of a God or not, she had to say it.
To even suggest betraying him? Why would she do that? Risks outweighed the wins by far, and trusting the words of this guy who she barely spoke to?
'Seems like they forgot that we were enemies just because we sat down on a table like civilized people.'
Kunyo sighed.
'I wish things could be easily like that.'
''Ozai is falling Azula. You don't need to fall with him.''
''You keep saying that, but you have no actually proof. You want me to betray my own father over the words of a stranger.''
''Hmmm.'' Kunyo caressed his chin in thought.
'It would be a shame to kill her... What should I do?'
'Can I make a trauma deleting potion? Or heal mental scars with my dragon fire? No, this isn't just her obedience to her dear father. She might choose to obey him even if I heal her solely due to the benefits of following him. She's right after all. There's no proof of wh... WAIT A FUCKING MINUTE!'
He laughed to himself, surprising everybody.
''You said I had no proof?''
''Exactly,'' Azula said smugly.
''Bitch, I don't need solid proof. I'm enough proof myself. Hey, look at me. Do you think Ozai could stop me if I barged into his palace right now, and roasted him alive?''
His sudden change in demeanor stunned everyone, but Azula's focus was on his words.
''I, somebody who can take him down any time he wants say that he will go down. Isn't that enough of a proof?'' he laughed again.
''Azula, don't think that this is an alliance or something. This is me helping you out, solely out of my mercy. I thought that it would be a shame for such a cute and talented girl to die for her father's mistakes. Do you understand?''
''It's fine if you refuse. Your brother has already turned over a new leaf. He can become the next fire king if you don't want to.'' he shook his head as if he was disappointed.
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[Sorry for the late update. You won't believe it, but whenever I sat down to start writing it, something went wrong. One day it was electricity, another day it was a fucking earthquake. I mean, internet came back in like 2 hours and the earthquake wasn't really that much, but it really put me off from writing for that day lol.]
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