Before Leaving, {open}

[Princess Azula]

Azula had important things to manage before the return to the Fire NAtion. Word of an invasion had reached her, though she did not allow herself to dwell upon it. Any event would be switly brought down one way or another. Of that Azula was sure, no one could beat her. She walked around her nely conquered city, the inhabitants of which had only recently come to see the occupation. Some were taking it better than others. It was to be expected that some would be harder to persuade than others and that was what the Dai Li were for. But some sneaky individuals were making the transition more difficult than need be. Still wearing the colors of the Earth Kingdom Azula found it easier to blend in. She needed to get a grasp on the situation that was unfolding in the rings. The other agents watched constantly, but a princess needed to see and experience some things for herself. It was Azula's brilliant planning and action that had made it all possible. She deserved a moment to enjoy her success.

[Hai]

Hai grimaced to herself as she wove her way through the streets of her old home, her hood hiding her face as she avoided eye contact with anyone who might remotely recognize her.


'That captain was an idiot, telling us to go find the princess and give her a message. Like he couldn't do it himself!'


Lai muttered indignantly in the back of her head.


'He was probably afraid of her temper-they say it's definitely a sight to behold if she even gets the smallest bit angry.'


She thought back in her street-educated tone.


'He'd better be more afraid that we don't kill him next time we see him. If you let me out I'd-'


'You won't do nothing Lai.'


'But no one would be the wiser-'


'I said no. Now leave me alone.'


Lai was seemingly childish today, and sulked in the back of Hai's mind, probably plotting different ways to defeat and torture a genius Earth-Bender protecting his village but who slightly favored his left arm do to an injury from playing ball when he was a child.


Or something like that.


Lai's random dark thoughts were all but a mystery to her more humane counterpart. That along with Hai’s alter-ego's morbid sense of humor. The blonde girl just wished that she could be more confident publicly then what she was just in her mind.


Lost in her thoughts, she almost didn't see the cabbage cart in front of her. Almost. But not quickly enough, and her retaliation time was off. So surprised was she that instead of jumping backwards or over the cursed thing, she accidentally blasted her way through it with the lightning that sprung from her hands without her say-so...again.


"MY CABBAGES!!!"


The old man who had been most likely the owner of the cart screeched at the now burnt and smoldering remains of his vegetables. But then he seemed to realize he was dealing with a Fire-Bender, and merely muttered incoherencies to himself as he wrung out his hands and began walking away. Hai flinched as she pulled a piece of the putrid stuff off her face, crinkling her nose in the process. Gross.


It was then that she noticed that right across from her was the Princess of Fire, in the flesh. She knew it had to be because of the image of Azula she had been shown before sent off to deliver her message.


Lai snickered.

Hai gulped.

[Princess Azula]

Azula turned with a smug expression to see the girl and the merchants ruined cabbages. Her golden eyes gleamed at the man's obvious upset, though he did nothing about it. He tried to salvage a few that someone might sell but eventually threw them down in aggrevation. Taking a few steps closer to the girl, the Princess looked her over.

Her hair was the first thing Azula noticed. She wasn't sure if she liked it; the color was so different from anything she had seen before. Folding her arms across her chest casually, Azula spoke. "That was quite an entrance."Her tone was on the edge of mockery but not overly so. She wanted to see this gilrs reaction to the Princess of the Fire Nation. "Some important business that you have to be so destructive?"

[Hai]

Hai had frozen to the spot. Literally.

"I...I-um...I…guess...that...I-I..."


'You are pathetic.'


Lai muttered. Hai felt her alter ego shaking her head in mockery. Curse it!


"I...was suppose...t-to...to-tell…you to come back t-to the Earth Kingdom palace...be-because y-your bro-bro-"


'Oh let me just say it for the sake of the spirits!'


Lai cried before pushing her way foreword, using Hai's extreme nervousness against her as she took control of the blonde's body. And with a flash of her eyes, the change withing powers was done.


"Your brother had wanted to speak to you for some important business or another, so he sent someone to go ask for you in your rooms-but then the guards couldn't find you, and the Dai Lee wouldn't speak, so everyone was in a tizzy like a bunch of chickens. And THEN they sent about forty people out in the city to find you and tell you to hike it back to the palace. I just had the pleasure of finding you first. Then again, knowing the incompetency of many of the people in your army, I might have been the only one who didn't take a lunch break."


Lai told the princess, uncaring of her superior's reaction. Hai started trying to stop her other self-too late.


"The entrance, well, that obviously happened because of MY own incompetence of not watching where I was going, so I made an error. But it doesn’t perturb me. For you see, grand entrances are my specialty. Other then that...I can't say much for myself."


The more sadistic side of the girl said with a smirk, but then pausing at Hai's emotions of utter fear running around in her head.


"Your highness."


She added to appease her more nervous side, albeit, a bit late.


'You're gonna get us KILLED!'


Hai cried indignantly, before taking control again. Lai didn't put up to much of a fight, she was too busy still smirking to herself. There was another flash of something in the molten silver eyes of the lightning bender.


The blonde now began fiddling with her fingers.


"Oh, umm...I'm so...sorry....It's j-just that…sometimes...I have an illness see...oh...what am I saying, of course you can't see-but-no, um...I-I mean you can of course but...my li-lightning...and the-the spirit...th-there's....um..."


She bit her lip. Okay, just shut-up now.


'You can say that again.'


Hai groaned and rubbed her head...not again with the snickering-


She grimaced to herself before kissing her freedom goodbye, waiting for the Fire Nation heiress to blow up and fry them on the spot or something after her reply. The blonde was going to be so dead. And it was going to take forever to explain...or for Lai to bust them both out of whatever prison she was going to be dumped into.


This was a great way to start the day.


Just greaaaat.

[Princess Azula]

As the girl spoke Azula tried to pay attention. Her bumbling annoyed the princess, and it showed in her facial expression. Azula's mouth turned down in the corners and her eyes didn't watch the girl very closely. She was about to order her to quit trying to repeat the mesaage and that Azula would go to the palace and simply find someone else more capable of relaying what was needed. But then her whole attitude changed.

Azula's eyes locked on the girls' as she suddenly spoke with much more confidence and attitude. She had to wondr at what this girls problem was. "My brother is known for causing such problems." Azula sighed. She examined her sharp nails as the old, stuttering voice began again. A faint smile threatened Azula's lips and she let it slip. Her white teeth barely showed and stood out from the rich red of her lips. "It sounds like quite the illness." Azula remarked. "And a spirit, so you can bend lightning." The princess shook her head. "My, that does explain the mood swings. Do you or this spirit have a name?"

[Hai]

"Umm...well...It's...no-h-her...name...it's...L-Lai. And I-I'm Hai."


Hai mumbled lamely, turning slightly red under the princesses' gaze. It wasn't every day you were stared down by a Fire Nation Heir.


And yet, Hai got the sinking feeling in her stomach that with Lai, those moments were going to become more and more frequent.


'Hmph.'


Lai made the sound smugly in the back of the blonde's head. Hai gave an inward glare.


'What?'


'Nothing...'


Hai had a feeling that Lai was keeping something from her, but she knew it would all come out in good time.


"Umm...What's y-your...sp-pirit's name? 'Cause...i-it must've taught you a-alot, I-I heard about...y-your strength i-in the army...and…I'm n-not...t-to good just yet and...I...umm..."


Hai trailed off, trying to be polite and not look like an idiot as she waited for the princess to do something.


Little did she know how foolish she sounded in already.


"B-bec-cause...don't...everybody have to have a Lai to...you know...bend Lightning? A good and a bad side?"


She asked quietly as she proved her inferior and street based knowledge in matters of even her own powers.


Well, there was no one to blame except the spirits who cursed her to be unknowing.


She paused as she felt Lai roll her eyes.


'What?'


She asked.


'You're a fool.'


'...What?'