Blue Crusade

~ Chapter One ~

“Can you do this?” Ice asks.
“I’m not afraid,” I say.
My eyes are focused on the point before me, a small balcony and covered by a red canopy. My body shivers, cold rainy days are the worst. The rain pours down around us relentlessly. My clothes are soaked through, making me feel much more substantial than I am.
“I didn’t ask if you were afraid, I asked if you could do this,” he says.
I look up at him, my teeth chattering. “Do I have a choice?”
He sits back, lips pressed together. Ice pulls his cap down, covering his tired eyes. I don’t expect him to say anything to me. There is nothing left to say. Shaking I push myself off the airship, air and cold water slap against my face and thighs. It stings, but it quickly numbs. Turning so I’m facing the castle I watch as the balcony soon comes into view. Breathing deeply I calm down and my body slows down. Levitation isn’t something I can find a teacher for, this genetic trait hasn’t been sense since my great grandfather’s time. He was too free-spirited to write down any tips or tricks to master the skill.
As I hover, fighting against gravity to stay in the air, I reach out for the redwood platform. My hands grab onto the rail just as my body loses to gravity. I swing my leg between the beams and push myself up and over the railing. Every breath I suck in doesn’t calm my racing heart.
Pushing myself off the railing, I push open the balcony door. The room I enter is warm and smells like cinnamon and peaches. I close the doors behind me, and my hand twirls the broken latch. It’s been broken for two years now, why repair it hastily. I almost remember Azula’s voice when she said that to me.
Azula’s room is spotless, not a single thing out of place. She has likely not been in here since this morning.
I resist the urge to go through her closet for something warm to wear. I lift my arm and see that I only have a few minutes to get from her room to the main hall, to the door before dinner ends. My feet lift from the floor, from experience I realize what will likely happen next. I brace myself as my body sails forward into a wall. A loud THUNK echo. I crawl up the wall and wait, the door opens. A guard steps in, and he moves towards the balcony doors. I crawl down the wall and pull myself out of doors.
No one is in the dimly lit hallway. I continue to launch myself along the top of the corridor, bracing myself for a loud fall when my power decided to cut out on me.
I stop at the hallway intersection. Three different options to go, but I know I need to continue straight, from the right I hear the sound of chatter drifting down the hallway. I peak around the corner and see three four large men stationed outside of a door. The smell of roasted duck tickles my nose and makes my mouth water.
Thoughts aside, I glide forward undetected. My body lowers as I make it to the stairway and grab on the rail to ensure I don’t tumble down the stairs. My landing is quiet, and I jump over the rail landing lightly on the black marble floor.
My heart is in my ears as I gaze at the sizeable metallic gold doors. These doors mark the end of my mission, and I know for four seconds I will be completely exposed to anyone walking around the second floor or people coming from the east or west wing.
Everything in me, and I stand. I take my first step and-
“Hi, Nana,” Azula says.
My heart calms, or perhaps it stopped, fear does weird things to a person. Azula’s voice came from above. I don’t look up at her. Instead, I dart forward with everything I have. Each impact my feet make with the marble get heavier as if they are turning to stone.
She chuckles. Within inches from the door, a pair of hands grip my shoulder and weight pushes me down. I land on my stomach, and Azula sits on my back. I look back and see sharp purple flames near my face.
“Don’t move,” Azula says.
The doors open and I watch the palace guards drag in a group of people, including our fearless leader Ice. He has a black eye and a split lip, and he is barely able to stand. Our eyes meet, and he quickly looks away from me. I could see the tears forming in his eyes before his eyes left me.
“Your boyfriend is pretty weak,” Azula says in my ear.
She raises off me and offers me her hand, and I stare at her. Her attention is on her other hand. She is studying hear perfect nails. There is no malice radiating off of her.
“If you don’t come with me and my father sees you, he will show YOU no mercy,” she says.
I take her hand, and she pulls me. She looks at the guards.
“If any of you indicate she was with these rebels, I will make it my mission to destroy you,” Azula says, the threat was extended out to my allies.
The look of defeat in both radicals and soldier eyes, tells me both parties understood it. Guilt takes root in my gut.
Azula pulls me towards the west wing of the palace, behind us I hear the familiar voice of her father, King. He is at the top of the stair looking down at my captured allies. We are halfway down the hall, and I turn back. I see his yellow-gold robes and his long black hair. Fear engulfs me, and I squeeze Azula’s hand tighter.
We turn down a hall, and up to a flight of stairs, she leads me into a hidden door. The candlelight is faint, and the tunnel is cold. The trip is short, and we come to a wall, she pushes another button and light shines into the shaft. The familiar smell of cinnamon and peaches is welcoming.

~ Chapter Two ~
(Azula, Nunnally, King, and Apollo)
– Conflict – Days after the attempt on the royal family. Nunnally is not sure what Azula is thinking and is plotting on getting to the rebels in the