Chapter 6

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Chapter 6 As I head back to my chambers, I remind myself that it won't be long before Long Feng realizes how stupid he really is. All the wheels are in motion. Now we just have to put together the final pieces of my plan. Even though I was nervous, I was not about to show it in front of the group of Dai Li agents I had gathered. Everything hinges on the performance I am about to give. I need their trust, but if I can't have that, I need to inspire fear. I have found that fear is a stronger motivator than trust, especially among those, like the Dai Li, who are used to operating along the shadowy edges of the rules. "The Earth King and the Council of Generals do not trust the Dai Li," I said firmly. "They imprisoned your leader, Long Feng. Next they will eliminate you. We must seize power at once. Our coup must be swift and decisive. The king and his generals must be taken out simultaneously. Then the military will fall under our control." I have captured their attention. Now this is it, the moment in which I establish control. I really have to sell this. "Long Feng has placed you in MY command

while we overthrow the government. For some of you, it might be difficult and strange to ally yourself with a Fire Nation princess. But you must banish that prejudice from your heart." I believe that if I make an example of one agent, the others will follow. Yes, this one looks suitably nervous. I'll stare at him directly in the eyes as I deliver the final piece. "If I sense any disloyalty, any hesitation, any weakness at all… I will snuff it out!" The agent bowed to me, refusing to stand back up until I had spoken. It couldn't have been more perfect. They are all now my servants. "That is all," I said dismissively. The Dai Li hurried from the room, leaving only Ty Lee and Mai at my side. "Nice speech, Azula!" Ty Lee said. "Pretty and poetic, but also scary, in a good way." Precisely my intention. "I thought it went well," I replied. "But there are still a few loose ends—the Avatar, and my brother and uncle." I sent a message to Iroh's tea shop—making it look as if the note had come from the Earth King— requesting that he and Zuko come to the palace as guests of the king, to personally serve him tea. There was no way Iroh could resist such an offer.

The next day, I watched from the shadows as Iroh and Zuko set up tea in the palace tea room. I marveled at how soft and so pitifully domesticated they had both become. The once great general, who was called the Dragon of the West, and the Fire Lord's firstborn, preparing tea like servants. If my father could see his son… Well, no matter. Soon they will be back in the Fire Nation, or else they will be destroyed. At a signal from me, the Dai Li agents entered the room. "Something's not right," Zuko said, noticing their presence. Smart boy. Something is most definitely not right… for you! "It's teatime!" I announced as I stepped out of the shadows. "Azula!" Zuko cried. I could see the fear in his eyes. Still, he put on a brave face, stepping toward me as if he was ready to fight. A Dai Li agent quickly stepped into Zuko's path. The loyalty of the Dai Li is without question. They are willing to lay down their lives to protect me. Excellent. This unwavering allegiance will be necessary in order to complete my ascent to the

throne. Iroh calmly sipped his tea. He is better at not showing panic than Zu-zu. "Did I ever tell you how I got the nickname Dragon of the West?" he asked. I don't know which is worse: fighting Iroh, or being bored to death by one of his hopelessly longwinded stories. "I'm not interested in a lengthy anecdote, Uncle," I said impatiently. "It's more of a demonstration, really," Iroh insisted. Then he suddenly Firebended a blazing burst of flame from his mouth. The Dai Li scattered in all directions, and Iroh and Zuko ran from the tea room. The Dai Li and I chased them down the hall—and into a hallway that was a dead end. They were trapped! But then Iroh did something that surprised me: He used a lightning attack to blast a hole in the wall and jumped several stories down to the ground. "Come on, Zuko," he called from below. "No," Zuko said firmly. "I'm tired of running. It's time I faced Azula." "You're so dramatic, Brother," I said. "Are you challenging me?" Zuko glowered. "Yes, I challenge you."

"No thanks," I replied, just as Zuko unleashed a powerful Firebending attack that was easily blocked by the Dai Li agents. They Earthbended a huge wall of rock to deflect the flames. Then the agents swarmed on Zuko, quickly subduing him. Seeing this made me realize that as much as I enjoy a good fight, I could get used to having a squadron of agents handling my enemies for me every now and then! The rest of my plan was quickly set in motion. With Katara and Zuko locked away in an underground prison chamber, I set the Dai Li to the task of arresting and imprisoning all the generals on the Council of Generals. At long last, I will soon sit upon the throne of the Earth Kingdom. We returned to the king's throne room, and this time he was there. Mai and Ty Lee took up their bodyguard positions on either side of the throne, and I once again lingered in the shadows. A short while later, the other two members of the Avatar's party—the tall warrior boy and the Earthbending girl—rushed into the throne room. As the two approached the king, Ty Lee and Mai attacked. The Earthbender managed to put Mai on