Birth of a Blue Flame

Year 95 AG

One month later

"Arrggh!" Zuko clutched a hand over his chest as he fell backwards. The pearl-handle dagger, gifted by his uncle during his seige in Ba Sing Se, slowly rolled out of his hand.

His eyes glared hatefully at the perpetrator before him. The perpetrator's shadow loomed over Zuko as he made his way towards him with steady steps.

"Face it, Prince Zuko," Naruto clasped his hands behind his back, his haughty gaze looked down at the defeated prince. "I am the one who will claim the throne and become Fire Lord!"

"Over my dead body, Prince Uzumaki!" Zuko grabbed his dagger and charged at Naruto in one final assault.

"Energy shield!" Naruto waved his hand out. "Your dagger has no effect on me!" A smug smirk formed on Naruto's face. He felt enraptured by the angered look on Zuko.

"That's cheating, Naruto!" Zuko protested.

"Cheating?" Naruto laughed menacingly. "All is fair in love and war, Zuko."

Zuko suddenly tackled Naruto to the floor, and they began their usual childish squabble. Both of them tossed and turned as they tried get the upper hand on each other.

Since a month ago, the two of them had formed a unique brotherly bond through constant fighting and training. They would always end up in small cuts and bruises, much to the dismay of Ursa. However, after their constant infighting, they would share laughter like normal brothers.

"Take this, idiot!" Zuko bit down on Naruto's arm.

"YEOW!" Naruto quickly pushed him away. "You didn't need to bite my arm just because you're bad at roleplaying!"

"I'm bad at roleplaying?!" Zuko retorted back. "You're bad at roleplaying!"

Naruto stood up and dusted himself off, "Cry more, loser."

Azula watched as these two numbnuts go at each other for like the bazillion time now. And frankly, she was feeling rather bored already, and Naruto was already late for their daily training time together.

"Don't you two idiots have anything better to do other than roleplaying as two BIGGER idiots?" Azula hopped off from her chair.

"Oh, haha. Very funny, Azula," Zuko sarcastically said.

Azula walked up to Naruto and poked him right in the chest, "And you, Foxy. You were supposed to be training with me ten minutes ago."

Naruto pulled Azula into a hug and spun her around, "C'mon, princess, will ya ease up a bit?"

Azula felt the warmth from his body which had always made her feel safe and calm. Ever since he first embraced her, Azula was intoxicated by his soothing warmness and needed more.

A perfect warrior shouldn't be bothered with such useless displays of affection; her father had ingrained that into her brain, but Azula began to believe that maybe her father was wrong. Maybe, that everything she'd been taught by him were all nothing but farce.

Since a month ago, Naruto had slowly whittled away her defenses against him. Azula had been annoyed with his constant presence at first, wary even. Her father even told her to stay away from the whiskered boy because he would corrupt her mind.

Now, Azula felt content when Naruto was by her side. That dopey grin he would show her everyday made her cold heart flutter. The time they spent together at Ramen Ichiraku every week were her best memories, especially with him.

But deep down, Azula was scared. She spent most of her time before being cold and manipulative towards her own brother and mother. She was afraid to open her heart only to be tricked by the same thing she did to them.

Azula remembered the time she spoke to Naruto when he cried; how he said he was scared to be alone. She couldn't help but feel that way, too. The thought of everyone abandoning her was scary, itself. However, Azula didn't want anyone to know what she truly felt. Even to Naruto. She was too prideful for that. But, even more so, she didn't have the courage to speak how she truly felt like Naruto did.

Azula wanted to stay in his comfortable embrace for a bit longer but reluctantly pushed him away.

"Azula and Naruto sittin' on a tree, K-AAH!" Zuko hastily dodged a fireball aimed for his feet.

"Finish that detestable song, and I will burn you to a crisp," Smoke trailed from the tips of Azula's fingers as she glared at him.

"Okay, I won't sing it!" Zuko hastily said.

Azula turned back to look at Naruto, "Now is now, Foxy, and NO running off this time, understood?"

"Sure, whatever you say, princess," Naruto said in resignation.

Azula grabbed Naruto's hand and dragged him towards a small courtyard where they had always trained at. She suddenly stopped when she notice Zuko trailing behind them.

"Why are you following us, dum-dum?" Azula asked.

"What? I can't watch you guys?"

"Well, it's was only supposed to be Naruto and I," Azula answered. "But, I suppose you can come along..."

*****

Azula knelt down on one leg as she tried to calm her rapid breath. Sweat trickled down her face as she gazed at Naruto's relaxed figure. His stamina was truly something inhuman. However, Azula had a growing problem. For some odd reason, her firebending had weakened, and Azula was absolutely livid.

Ever since her spars with Naruto, the power in her flames had gradually weakened as if an unknown force snuffed it out. She was hailed a genius by everyone, but why couldn't she beat him? How is he so much better than her? Is she really the perfect warrior her father claimed her to be?

Azula hated it; she hated her own weakness. There were times when she doubted herself, and her abilities as a perfect firebender. Compared to Naruto, Azula felt like she was nothing.

"Let's stop here for now, Azula," Naruto lowered his hands.

"I don't understand... Why am I getting weaker!" Azula yelled as she smashed her fist against the ground. It was a daunting question that had always plagued her mind.

Naruto stared at her for a moment, "It's all in your heart, princess." He responded rather sagely.

He brought his palm out, and a small, golden flame flickered to life. Naruto took one deep breath and blew into the golden flame. The golden flame suddenly transformed into a large whirl of fire and soared up high into the air.

"What do you even mean by that!" She yelled at him. Her face showed anger and frustration. She sat down on her bottom and rubbed her face in exasperation.

To her knowledge, firebending is the element of aggression, a powerful force guided by anger and hatred by the one using it. It is destructive in nature and can be uncontrolled without proper practice.

Naruto walked towards Azula and sat down in front of her, "Where do you think the source of fire comes from?"

"A desire to dominate those below us," Azula recited from memory.

Naruto facepalmed himself, "Who the hell taught you that?"

"Is it not?" Azula frowned. "It's basic knowledge throughout the Fire Nation."

Naruto sighed. What she said was the exact opposite from what Pervy Sage had taught him.

"How do I explain this...." Naruto tapped his forehead. "Fire is a source of life and energy. Sure, it can be used to cause destruction, but it can also create new life."

Naruto pointed directly at the sun, "The sun is like one giant ball of fire. It gives us the warmth we need to live. The tree behind you feeds off of its sunlight. Hide the tree away from the sun, and it will eventually die."

Azula raised an eyebrow, "Where are you going with all of this?"

Naruto rubbed his neck, "What I'm saying is that you need to find a new source for your fire, Azula. Pervy Sage called it The Will of Fire."

Naruto created a golden flame in the palm of his hand and brought it close to her.

"In this flame is my Will of Fire," Naruto stared fixedly at the flickering flame. "It's my desire to be the strongest, protect those who I cherish and be happy even if the whole world is against me. They're all fused into this tiny flame here."

Azula thought about what Naruto had said. All her life, she had always strived for absolute perfection. She thought her mother loved Zuko more, so she wanted to be recognized by her father.

Azula was drunk on the desire for power. She didn't want to be just Fire Lord, she wanted the whole world to bow to her feet. Her drive for more power and dominance had made others fear her, and she began to regret it. Maybe she should change...

She looked deep into Naruto's eyes. Those blue eyes of his that gaze down upon her on a tall pedestal.

Azula wanted to stand on the same pedestal beside him. She wanted to show Naruto just how powerful she really is; she wanted to surpass him, to fight beside him, to grow with him even through the depths of hell. More importantly, she wanted to lose the fear of opening her heart to him.

That was her Will of Fire.

A new determination glimmered in her golden eyes as Azula stood back up, "I want to try again, Naruto."

Naruto nodded," Alright, let's see what you got, princess."

Azula closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. She felt the spark in her heart burst into a flickering flame; a new Will of Fire being born. Azula sensed the overflow of Chi coursing through her veins like a raging river. She exhaled out slowly, and a thick plume of white smoke shot out from her nostrils.

Azula slowly opened her eyes and lowered her stance. With a fierce shout, she quickly punched out into the air.

Suddenly, a bright blue stream of fire of incredible intensity burst from her hand before it dissipated into thin air.

Naruto and Zuko stood slack-jawed as they witness a flame unlike anything they had ever seen before.

"No way..." Zuko muttered under his breath.

Naruto's slack-jawed face quickly turned into a wide grin, "You did it, Azula, dattebayo!"

Azula smiled in pure elation. She did it. She actually did it.

Naruto's voice quickly shook her out of her thoughts.

"How bout' it, princess?" Naruto spread his body into a wide stance. "Wanna go for another round?"

Azula smirked at him, "You're on, Foxy."

With a punch, Naruto had launched a ball of golden flames at her. Azula quickly raised her palm out to block it, and the fireball burst into tiny flames that fell to the ground. Clashes of blue and gold soon danced between the two of them, creating a rainbow of flames as a consequence.

Azula felt her heart race in the thrill of battle. She felt much stronger, more alive than ever before. Her flame was much more than she had imagined.

Azula spun her body, guiding a large wave of azure fire and slammed it against Naruto. She stood in place and waited for the thick cloud of smoke to clear out.

"Damn, your flames are really hot!" Naruto yelled as his arms moved around him in a loop. The golden shield of fire around Naruto gradually vanished, and he lowered his arms.

Azula studied Naruto; she knew he was incredibly proficient in long range combat. But, she had never engaged him in close quarter combat before.

'Let's see how well he fares,' Azula thought fo herself.

Azula charged at him, forming a pair of flaming daggers as her weapon of choice. The both of them quickly locked on to close combat. They danced around the courtyard with various punches and kicks thrown. Naruto's clothes were singed from the cuts of her blue dagger, but he didn't look bothered at all.

He quickly ducked under the fire dagger that was aimed for his neck, 'Is this girl trying to kill me?'

In response, Naruto grabbed Azula's wrists and lifted her arms above her head, "Heh, looks like I got you now."

"Do you now?" Azula puffed her chest out and breathed out a torrent of azure fire directly at him.

"Woah!" Naruto shouted.

Naruto tried dodging, but he accidentally tripped over his own foot and fell backwards. Azula immediately took the opportunity and pounced on him.

She straddled on top of Naruto's waist and formed another fire in her hand, "Give it up, Foxy. Or else."

Cerulean eyes met with her golden ones.

Naruto laughed as he sprawled his arms out, "Alright, princess, you win this time."

The azure fire vanished, and Azula stood up, raising a hand out to him. Naruto grabbed her outreached hand, and Azula quickly helped him up.

"Man, that was really fun, dattebayo!" Naruto gave her his signature Uzumaki grin.

There it was again; his grin that always made her chest feel strange, but Azula now knew what that feeling was: love.

Without thinking, she cupped his cheeks and poured everything she had out into one quick kiss to the boy that captured her heart.

Naruto stood there stunned, and his mind couldn't process what was going on anymore. He felt like his heart was about to burst out of his chest when his lips were claimed by Azula's.

Azula quickly pulled away and tightly embraced Naruto, "Thank you, Naruto." She whispered.

Naruto stunned look quickly turned into a soft smile as he slowly embraced her.

"Woah, you guys actually kissed!" Zuko shouted.

Azula turned to Zuko, "Shut up, numbnuts. Don't ruin the moment."

Azula snuggled herself against Naruto and indulged in his warm embrace.

Azula didn't need to be scared anymore, after all, she had her Naruto now.