apparently I write fanfic now
Lo and Li crouched on opposite sides to the enormous platform overlooking the central forum of Coalfire City. Azula paused on the outside of the structure, waiting to be announced. The introduction should preface her appearance and remind the officials, the locals, and even the slaves of what this day was before she told them what it meant.
“Your Empress Azula, brave as she is beautiful,” began Li, her voice ringing out, quieting even the softest of whispers in the crowd, “on this day three years before, was victorious over her brother, the traitor, in an Agni Kai, and claimed the throne to the Glorious Fire Nation in its darkest hour.”
“In these barbarian lands,” continued Lo, “her father fell, crippled by the Avatar’s demented hands, but Azula rallied our forces and captured the Avatar and his terrorist squad.”
The two, elderly women then called out together, their voices growing louder, “And the principalities of the Earth Kingdom fell to her mighty army. And the resistance on Kyoshi Island fell. And the resistance in Gaoling fell. And the resistance in Omashu fell.”
“Azula and her courageous forces completed her father’s plan to break the base of resistance in the former Earth Kingdom,” Li announced, the plaza still thick with tension, and was joined by Lo’s voice as she continued, “And turned their fields and forests to ash.”
“The armies of the Fire Nation have embraced her cunning strategies which have fairly punished the remaining terrorist forces,” explained Lo, continuing, “Those who speak ill of the forgiving Fire Nation will only face the justice of feeling the weight of their words,” and Li’s cry joined hers, “as the heat of a coal on their tongue.”
“With the same spirit of forgiveness,” proclaimed Li, “Empress Azula asks only for the sacrifice of two tributes from each district for the Games.”
Lo and Li together shouted, as if heralding a god: “They are a reminder of what you subjects have to repent. They are a sign of Empress Azula’s mercy after your time of folly. They are a warning of what will be done to Ba Sing Se when it falls once more.”
Azula serenely walked forward, coming into better view for the Fire Nation officials and their families gathered in the upper story balconies around the square. She smirked slightly, then came fully into view of even the colonial slaves, dressed in tattered garments and standing in terror in the middle of the plaza.
“Do we have any volunteers, district twelve?” She jokingly called out into the complete silence.
“Your Empress Azula, brave as she is beautiful,” began Li, her voice ringing out, quieting even the softest of whispers in the crowd, “on this day three years before, was victorious over her brother, the traitor, in an Agni Kai, and claimed the throne to the Glorious Fire Nation in its darkest hour.”
“In these barbarian lands,” continued Lo, “her father fell, crippled by the Avatar’s demented hands, but Azula rallied our forces and captured the Avatar and his terrorist squad.”
The two, elderly women then called out together, their voices growing louder, “And the principalities of the Earth Kingdom fell to her mighty army. And the resistance on Kyoshi Island fell. And the resistance in Gaoling fell. And the resistance in Omashu fell.”
“Azula and her courageous forces completed her father’s plan to break the base of resistance in the former Earth Kingdom,” Li announced, the plaza still thick with tension, and was joined by Lo’s voice as she continued, “And turned their fields and forests to ash.”
“The armies of the Fire Nation have embraced her cunning strategies which have fairly punished the remaining terrorist forces,” explained Lo, continuing, “Those who speak ill of the forgiving Fire Nation will only face the justice of feeling the weight of their words,” and Li’s cry joined hers, “as the heat of a coal on their tongue.”
“With the same spirit of forgiveness,” proclaimed Li, “Empress Azula asks only for the sacrifice of two tributes from each district for the Games.”
Lo and Li together shouted, as if heralding a god: “They are a reminder of what you subjects have to repent. They are a sign of Empress Azula’s mercy after your time of folly. They are a warning of what will be done to Ba Sing Se when it falls once more.”
Azula serenely walked forward, coming into better view for the Fire Nation officials and their families gathered in the upper story balconies around the square. She smirked slightly, then came fully into view of even the colonial slaves, dressed in tattered garments and standing in terror in the middle of the plaza.
“Do we have any volunteers, district twelve?” She jokingly called out into the complete silence.