Chapter 3- Leaving For A New Start

"Tomorrow, we're what?" You asked Zuko as your servant packed your clothing for you.
"We're going to Ember Island, but by force from my father," He grumbled while braiding your hair.
"How long are we staying? Because if we have to talk to new people, then I'll deck someone," You commented, making him slightly chuckle.

"I know you will," He smiled and kissed your cheek, getting up to leave the room. You kept the soft smile until the door closed, and you let out a deep sigh.
"It seems like you become tired each day," You heard the servant said.
"It's because I am getting tired. I've never been used to... I don't know, pampered?" You pondered as the servant gave an amused look.

"It just all feels weird, royal life was never for me, I guess," You shrugged.
"I may not understand your struggle (Y/N), provided I was always a servant when I was your age, but I know the feeling of being free," The servant sighed and placed a hand on your shoulder.

"Freedom is the one thing we all wish for," They mumbled, and you gave them a smile.
"Yeah... that's something I'm going to get for the both of us," The servant tired their head, a little confused on what you're saying.

You stood up, and turned to them with a determined look.

"Because tonight, I'm going to escape here, and I'm going to set you free once the war ends,"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Are you so excited (Y/N)! Ember Island!" Ty Lee beamed as Mai leaned against her chair at the dinner table.
"Why must it be a place with sand?" Mai mumbled, twirling her knife.
"I would like to see your childhood vacation Azula," You told the princess as she gave a grin.

"It's not anything special, though Zuzu liked it very much," Zuko just hummed and took a bite from his food.
"I'm sure you'll like it, it had... memories there," You nodded at his words.
"But don't worry love, we'll be able to make more memories there with you, once we rule the island once again and make those peasants kneel over our power of love!" Azula grinned with her hand having blue flames on her hand.

"Enough with the dramatic scenes," Mai rolled her eyes as Ty Lee clapped at the performance. Zuko held your had as you gave a small at their words.

"I'm sure..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Night falls, everyone is asleep in their own beds, but not you. You quietly opening the door open and snuck out of your room, not making a single noise. Sneaking through the halls, you spotted the servant standing near the window, looking down.
"Weren't followed?" You whispered to the servant, who jumped at your sudden appearance, but shook their head, grasping the dagger you asked them to retrieve.

"This is dangerous (Y/N), I'm worried that they'll find you," The servant whispered to you, which you just shook your head.
"They'll only find out if someone says something, and I hope that you won't," You told them, which they looked down.

"I... I can't keep secrets from the royal family, you know that," The servant muttered, and you sighed, turning to them with your hands on their face, giving them a soft look.

"Please, do not tell anyone, and if they do manage to make you talk, then I know you've tried your hardest to keep it a secret," You told the servant, who you placed a hand over theirs.
"I understand (Y/N), thank you for trusting in me," They bowed, and you gave them a hug, which made them freeze.

"Just know one thing. You're more than just a servant, you're my friend," You whispered, making taking the dagger from their hands and giving them a smile before running off. The servant stood there, a little shocked, but tears weld up in their eyes as they smiled softly.

"A friend..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Standing on the top of the palace towers, there you were, looking down at the cities.
'All these people, they believe this nation is superior than others. They believe they're worshipped, but they're not. Being loved is better than being feared,' You thought.

"I would like to be loved, but not like this, and so young," You whispered, speeding your arms out, turning so your back would face the outside world. The wind slightly hits your as the world around you was quiet, and soon it'll be too quiet. Permanently.

"Maybe this was for the best," You whispered to yourself, closing your eyes and taking a deep breath. With one step back, you let yourself drop, and felt the wind cradle your body as you started to fall.

"Is this how my life will end?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Can you tell me, when I'll die?"

"Your death? My dear, why would you ever want to know about that?" Aunt Wu asked you, completely shocked at your question.
"Because I have these troubles in my past. Ones I want to confront, the ones I was able to pull through. But what happens if those problems fight back? And what if I lose?" You asked her with a serious expression on your face.

"Oh my... Well, alright dear, let's see," She closed her eyes and held your hand close. Twig whined and nuzzled against you. You suddenly felt the ground shake, and you felt something dangerous nearby. Wu then opened her eyes and gave you a solemn look.

"Here is your future,"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Snapping your eyes wide open, you see the roof of the house you were falling to, and you twisted your body to land on it, sliding across the tiles slightly. You quickly jumped onto another rooftop and continued to run and jump through the city.

Stopping to only hide from guards, you hopped down from the roofs and used your cloak to hide in the shadows. Just barely a guard spotted you, but you quickly knocked him out with him being trapped in rock and covered his mouth.

Running to see a giant wall blocking your escape, you bended the ground to jump over it, landing on top of the wall and catching your breath. Panting, your turned to the palace one last time, before stabbing the wall with your dagger, and sliding down until you felt the ground underneath.

"Shit..." You breathed out, and slightly laughed.
"That... that was something," You panted and placed the dagger in your waist hold, and ran.
'Get away from the Fire Nation palace as far as possible,' You repeated to yourself, and you ran until you collapsed near a river.

"Dang it... should've... exercised... more..." You coughed, and sat down in front of the river.
"You could do this (Y/N)... no shame of what you're about to do," You mumbled, still hesitant on what you're going to do, but it was not for the sake of hiding, but to prove that you belong to no one. Not royalty, not man or woman, no one.

Grabbing the dagger, you stared into the water that held your reflection. The scars on your face was clear, and you gripped the ponytail in frustration.
'There's no going back,' You thought, exhaling what little breath you had as you pressed the dagger to your hair, and with one swift movement, it was cut off.

Looking at the clump of hair that was your ponytail, you placed it down the river, and watched it disappear within the water. You continued to trim around your hair until it felt comfortable, and sighed. Running your hand through your hair, you fully acknowledged everything that happened.

"It's okay, it's okay. First mission," You stood up from the ground and turned to the woods.
"Find Twig and the Gaang," You mumbled as you dragged your dress to walk properly.
"After that," You trailed off and continued to walk deep into the woods, dagger close to you.

"We end this war,"
____________________________________

Alright gays, I'm starting school tomorrow so wish me luck, but anyways-

From tumblr user, Alaskajbug, made this amazing fanart

Also! Since you have seen your royal dress, here is what Lava Monster (Y/N) looks like,

Couldn't be bothered to actually blend in color, so I just found a photostock of lava and just warped it-
ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ
Also yeah, I based it on Te aka from Moana, I just think lava monsters are very cool.

Anyways-

Stay healthy and stay tune!