Mindbenders

Azula smiled at no one as she sat down her bed
Azula smiled at no one as she sat down on her bed. Everything was a complete success, the dance, the manipulation, the sex. Everything she loved rolled into one perfect night. But it wouldn’t last, sooner or later he would hear her calling him again. Her voice was a constant threat to everything Azula had built, all of the voices were. They called out in desperation and anger, haunting her dreams, disturbing the perfect world she had created for herself. Why couldn’t they just leave her alone? Couldn’t they see she was finally happy? Everything was secure, no one would leave her and no one would betray her. It was finally safe for her, or it would be if only they would move on. But no, even in their death they couldn’t leave her be.

A small tingling crept up her spine, her smile disappeared.

“What do you want?” she snapped

“Why do you hurt him?” Ursa asked

Azula turned around and faced her mother’s spirit, her eyes glowing red.

“He’s not a child clinging to your robes anymore Mother, Zuzu’s a big boy. He can take care of himself”

“And you?”

“What about me?” Azula spat “I’m fine, I have everything I’ve ever wanted! I am the eternal leader of the Fire Nation. All of my inbred, half-wit descendents are so far under my control they don’t even realize they’re royalty”

Shining tears filled Ursa’s eyes.

“And that makes you happy?” She asked, hoping the answer would be different this time

“Of course!” Azula lied “Everything is just the way I want in.”

Ursa nodded, she wished there was something she could do to help her daughter. But Azula was beyond that now, she’d been beyond that from the moment her father realized her potential. She had spent years trying to be perfect for him, and Ursa, knowing Ozai would not want Azula coddled, put all of her love into Zuko. She looked at Azula, her beautiful daughter and knew what she had to do.

“Alright,” she said “Since you’re so happy, I won’t bother you again.”

Azula looked up, stunned at what her mother just said. She opened her mouth to protest but Ursa was already gone. She listened for her mother’s voice, tried to sense her spirit, but it was a worthless effort. Ursa had moved on. Tears dripped down Azula’s face; she would never see her mother again.