#who gave Azula scissors

[vanillabean-97]

I was inspired 🔥✂️

[writebecauseyoucannotbreathe]

If Ursa came back at the end of ATLA I think the conversations would go like this:

Azula: I'm a monster.

Ursa: You're 14.

Azula: My friends hate me.

Ursa: They're 14.

Azula: Would you take me seriously?

Ursa: Again, you're 14.

Azula: I killed the Avatar.

Ursa: Well, I didn't end Azulon's reign at 14 but I did accidentally break your father's heart.

Azula: *rolls eyes* Yes mother because that is so comparable—

Ursa: I called him Iroh.

Azula: *gasp*

==

Ursa: This can't be the Avatar. He's 14.

Aang: I'm 13 actually.

Azula: You're 13?

Aang: Well, technically I'm 113 because I was trapped in a iceberg for a century.

Azula: ...

Azula: I have follow-up questions.

=

Bonus:

Ursa: Zuko who gave you that scar? Did you kill him?

Zuko: It was father and, um, no. Aang did take away his bending and he's currently imprisoned.

Ursa: ...

Ursa: Perfect. Fetch me the scissors.

[ultranos]

Between the brothers, it sounds like Azula is closer to Minh to the point of being adopted. What's their relationship like, & why are they closest? What's the relationship with Thanh like in comparison?

They are, but to be fair to Thanh, he's an incredibly close second (the two of them joke that they did rounds of rock-paper-scissors to figure out which gets to "officially" adopt. Neither of them confirm if this actually happened or not).

Thanh is...incredibly ride-or-die for his little brother. Their parents and the rest of the family they grew up with more or less immediately accepted Minh when he came out. But outside the walls of the clan compound, in town, was a different story. There was a much heavier, Sozinist-leaning Fire Nation population in that colony, as well as a large military fort. When it became clear that Minh really wasn't going to get a fair shake at his career and decided to move away, Thanh gave up a very promising position as a junior smith to go with him.

When Thanh is closing up their shop one early winter evening and finds a half-starved half-feral teenager in the alleyway huddling next to the wall and looking about 3 seconds from literally digging through their trash for food...well.

What else are ya gonna do?

(In retrospect, Thanh realizes he probably saw echoes of his brother in Azula even before Minh did. He's not exactly a soft heart. But something made that connection in that moment, and that was that.)

Thanh’s a bit of a goofball and the more outgoing one. And Azula did eventually need someone to push them to grow a bit more and regain confidence in things. They trust him to have their back (and Thanh wouldn’t even think twice, because the kid is family).

Minh, though...Minh understands certain things about Azula on a level that no one else does. There’s the entire “not cis” part, but also the feeling of being trapped and forced to play a role you don’t want to and never being “enough” for some people.

And then there’s the glass.

There’s a very important thing for Azula that happens when you first start learning to blow glass. You see, you start out with plain glass. No colors. And inevitably, you fuck up at some point. You pulled too much glass, not enough, the glass fell off the pipe, didn’t transfer to the punti right, marvered it wrong, it shatters, etc etc.

You stare at those shards of glass on the floor, and then you get a broom. Sweep them up.

And dump the plain, broken glass back into the crucible to melt down again. Because if it’s plain, uncolored glass, it mixes in with everything else, like it never happened.

Mistakes cost nothing in terms of materials, and it is not time wasted because you learn.

Minh is the one who teaches Azula how to work with glass. Minh is the one who teaches them that mistakes are not failures, and flaws are often better than perfection. It’s the lesson they needed to hear from a parent that they never got.

[themoonandhersun]

thinking about

a no hundred year old war au where zuko goes the southern water tribe with his family, and he’s grumpy about the cold.

but he’s not grumpy about spending time with katara again. (he’s ten, she’s eight and they met two years ago.)

when they see each other, they get excited and bow traditionally, then give each other a big hug.

and of course, sokka and azula tease them about it.

they tell their siblings to shut up and walk off together.

zuko tells katara about the plays he sees on ember island. “i can take you to go see a play sometime, princess katara—but only if you want to, of course,” he looks at her, cheeks pink, fiddling with his fingers. “you don’t have to go if you don’t want to.”

“i would love to go see a play with you, prince zuko,” katara tells him, her cheeks pink too.

they make eye contact, and look away from each other quickly, their pink cheeks turning a bright red.

zuko and his family spend a few days at the southern water tribe, and zuko spends a lot of time with katara there, of course. he loves penguin sledding and watching katara waterbend.

(spoiler: he thinks she’s so cool.)

when zuko has to leave, she quickly kisses his cheek and tells him she can’t wait to see a play with him. zuko blushes hard and says he’ll take her soon.

he leaves.

they write letters to each other for months (and they send each other gifts on their birthdays like they always do), then zuko comes with his family again to take katara to see a play. kya and gran gran go along with katara, and they talk with ursa on the ship (hakoda is on a hunting trip with sokka during this time, but he knows it was gonna happen and is okay with it). zuko and katara spend time together on the ship, and he tells her he can’t wait to see the play with her.

a few days later, they’re on ember island.

zuko tells her that he should hold hands with her so he can show her around better (yes, uncle iroh gave him this tip) and katara agrees (she wanted to hold hands with him anyways). he takes her to their house on ember island and shows her around. he shows her where she’ll be staying, and she tells him how excited she is to be spending time with him on ember island.

(she’s only been to the palace before, not ember island.)

she asks about azula, and zuko says that azula is spending time with her friends and doesn’t really like watching plays anyways. but he assures her the play is really good and that if she doesn’t like it, that’s okay. (she jokes that it would be a bummer if she came all this way just to not like the play, and zuko laughs and agrees with her.)

they play together and talk together until they have to go to the theater. they don’t hold hands this time, but katara loops her arm with his. ursa, kya and gran gran sit by them, but not too close—they don’t want to disturb katara and zuko’s little date (even though they both insist it’s not a date).

zuko glances at katara throughout the play just to make sure she likes it, and he thinks she does. he asks at the end of the play (just to make sure) how she felt about it and katara beams. “i loved it! thank you for taking me, prince zuko,” she hugs him.

he pulls away and slowly shows her a bracelet he had in his pocket. “this is for you, princess katara,” zuko smiles timidly. “i thought of you, and i got it...um, for you. well, actually, uh—i made it. i know, i could have done better, but i just really wanted to make you something—“

“thank you, prince zuko. i love it, it’s so pretty,” katara giggles and nudges him gently. she points to her wrist, “so, can i—“

“um—here, let me,” zuko ties it around her wrist securely, cheeks red. it’s a black, cotton string with a charm on it: a silver crescent moon connected to a gold sun.

“do you really love it, princess katara?” he asks quietly, fidgeting in his seat.

“i do,” she nods and kisses his cheek. zuko smiles at her. “and...i may have made you something as well.”

his jaw drops. “wait, what? really?”

“yeah,” katara grins and hands him a bone dagger with blue handle and a fire carved into its side. she looks at him nervously as he holds the dagger.

she rambles: “you mentioned in your letters that your cousin got a really cool earth kingdom dagger and that you wanted one, so i—i made one for you. well, my dad helped me, but—“

zuko hugs her. “this is so cool, princess katara! thank you so much!” she hugs him back, both of them feeling butterflies in their stomachs.

they get up and join their family members, and they all go back to the ember island house. then zuko admits that he has another gift for katara. “wait here,” he tells her when they’re in the living room. he runs up to his room and runs back downstairs.

“here,” zuko whispers as he blushes and holds out a fire lily, “for you, princess katara.”

“oh—thank you, prince zuko,” katara whispers, grabbing the flower as her cheeks get hot.

(yes, she knows what a fire lily means.)

they hug again.

when zuko travels with her and her family on their journey back to the south (with ursa, of course), they bicker about cloud shapes (katara swears it’s a flower and zuko swears it’s a baby turtle duck) and when it gets to be night time, they argue about what a constellation is named.

“it’s the little penguin named tuka,” katara insists.

“no, it’s a baby dragon named eyala,” zuko shakes his head.

“no, it’s not!”

“yes, it is!”

“last person to the other side of the ship has to admit that they’re wrong!” katara calls out and they race to the other end of the ship, laughing as they do so.

they tied, then played a game of elements (the atla version of rock, paper, scissors. idk if that’s the name of it though?) to break the tie.

katara won. (and zuko didn’t mind saying he was wrong all that much.)

when they make it the south pole, and they hug, it’s zuko who kisses her cheek this time. “i’ll write to you soon, princess katara,” he whispers and pulls away.

“you better,” she whispers back, and watches as zuko gets on the ship. she waves goodbye until she can’t see him anymore.

they keep writing to each other.

but then, gradually over the course of a few years (she is eleven now and zuko is almost thirteen), zuko’s letters get shorter and more vague, and they don’t come in as often as they used to.

then he completely stops sending letters by the end of the year, and she remembers how, the last time they talked in person, he admitted to her: “listen, so—um, i don’t know what’s going on with my dad—but if i ever stop sending you letters, katara, please know i had nothing to do with it. you’re my best friend—and i’ll always want to talk to you.”

(then he placed his hand over hers, his thumb stroking her skin. “you’re my best friend, and...i love you, katara,” he whispered it like it was a secret. she whispered it back, and they hugged.)

(and they had a joke only written in their letters to each other—that she was his, and he was hers. she’s gonna be honest: she doesn’t remember how the joke started, but she knows she keeps it going even when he’s not around. mostly because she thinks about it all the time. he’s her zuko, her zuko, her zuko. she’s his katara, his katara, his katara.)

she’s very worried, angry and sad all at the same time. and she never liked ozai in the first place if she was gonna be honest with herself.

as three years pass, she doesn’t hear from zuko. once, she wrote to azula asking about zuko, and azula wrote back with a vague letter that gave no information on zuko. she tried two more times and got vague responses each time. (she gave up writing to azula after the third try.)

all she found out was that ursa left, and she had to find out through her dad.

but why doesn’t anyone know what happened to zuko?

she doesn’t want to think negatively, but she’s fourteen now, and if her dad knew anything about zuko, he would’ve told her by now. she often stares at the bracelet zuko gave her when she was nine. she was six when they met and they wrote to each other until she was eleven.

she misses him.

(a messager arrives and gives a letter to hakoda. he reads it in his office. he doesn’t know how to tell katara, but he knows he has to.)

hakoda goes to katara, and tells her gently that zuko was burned and banished by ozai three years ago, and she feels sick to her stomach.

her zuko?—burned by his own father?

and he could be anywhere in the world right now?

and he could be—

no.

she can’t think like that.

she tells hakoda that she needs some alone time. he hugs her and walks out the room.

she starts writing to her friend, aang—who has an air bison—and hopes that he’ll agree to help her find zuko. and aang is also friends with zuko.

(they can find zuko, can’t they?)

unfortunately, though, hakoda intercepts the letter (the messager dropped it, and it popped open, and he recognized katara’s handwriting.)

he tells her that she can’t just leave and they argue. kya was trying to be the mediator. it did not help.

katara attempts to leave at night on a boat, and sokka catches her. he tells her, “katara, you can’t leave—“

“—oh, not you too—“

“—without me,” sokka finishes.

katara looks at him, confused. “what? you wanna come along?” she notices he has a bag slung over his shoulder.

sokka nods. “yeah, why not?”

“okay, then, come on, sokka,” katara motions for him to hurry up and get on the boat. sokka gets on the boat and informs her that he left a note for hakoda and kya.

she grumbles something like, “whatever,” in response. (she’s still grumpy about the argument with hakoda.)

she uses her waterbending to make their trip to aang’s temple faster. sokka sleeps while she waterbends, and sokka rows the boat while she sleeps. and the cycle repeats until they’re at the air temple.

aang agrees to help them (he’s also very concerned about zuko after katara tells him what happened) and they all get on appa. aang says that zuko once told him that if he ever ran away, he would go to the earth kingdom. so they head to the earth kingdom.

“i think he mentioned gaoling,” aang tells them. “so let’s head there.”

they search for a few days.

and...

they don’t find zuko.

instead, they find toph, an amazing earthebender who didn’t want to be miserable with her parents anymore.

(basically, they went to an earth rumble, and watched toph fight, and aang was like, “she’s so cool, can she be part of our group?” and sokka was like, “if you can convince her to join us, sure, why not?”)

(by the way, sokka didn’t mean it.)

(he also didn’t think aang would do it—or that toph would agree.)

either way, they ended up with a confident, blind earthbender who ‘carries her own weight’ in their group. (at least she brought a bag full of money with her. they were already running low on funds.)

(sokka has a bad spending habit.)

(plus, him, aang and toph have big appetites for their sizes.)

(seriously.)

“i heard there was a good fighter in ba sing se with a big scar on his face,” toph tells them as she picks at her feet. “they say he’s a firebender. it could be this zuko guy you guys are looking for.”

“we can try ba sing se,” sokka nods. “especially since we don’t have any other leads.”

“i hope we find him,” katara mumbles, staring at her bracelet. she’s scared—because he can’t be dead, he can’t be dead, he can’t be dead. she can’t accept that possibility. “i mean, he’s been by himself for three years, and we just found out about him. he—i hope he’s okay.”

“well, you know how zuko never gives up without a fight, katara,” aang says to assure her and to lighten the mood, “after all, you knew him best out of all of us.”

“yeah,” katara smiles a bit. “he’s so stubborn—in fact, he’s more stubborn than me.”

“okay, let’s not go that far, katara,” sokka snorts. “because you are—nothing,” sokka whistles when katara raises a small water whip and raises an eyebrow at her brother. “i mean, i wasn’t—i was just—i think you’re great, katara,” he says quickly.

“i know i am. thank you, sokka,” katara laughs.

they travel for about two months (appa needs rest, he’s not used to traveling for so long.) they make a stop to omashu mostly because aang insisted it would be a good idea (and appa needed a break too), and aang’s friend, bumi, joins them in appa. (toph is more than delighted to meet another earthbender on her level.)

all of five of them head to ba sing se, bumi talking excitedly about ba sing se and the great deserts they have. and this, of course, leads to a discussion about food, and then—of course—everyone gets hungry.

so they have to stop and make camp, and katara goes to get some water for the rice, when she sees someone sleeping on the other side of the river next to a small fire, wearing a—a blue spirit mask.

her heart races.

a blue spirit mask.

it’s—that’s—that’s zuko’s favorite ‘love amongst the dragons’ character.

it couldn’t be.

could it?

katara puts the pot down. she doesn’t hesitate to swim over, with a water whip in case she’s wrong, and quietly gets out fo the river. katara gently shakes the guy awake, cautiously trashing her water whip in case she’s wrong.

the guy sits up immediately and draws his swords at katara. “what are you doing?” he demands. (her heart beats faster—that’s his voice. it’s his voice.) “do you—wait...katara?” he sheathes his swords slowly. “is—is that really you?”

“zuko?” katara whispers, tearing up. “it’s you. oh, spirits, it’s you.”

she bends the water out of her clothes, and moves to hug him, but zuko scoots away before she can touch him.

she frowns, hurt. “zuko, why did you—“

“i don’t want you to see—it.” zuko awkwardly adjusts his mask. “i don’t—you—i want—just...katara. trust me—you’re not gonna like...it. you’re not gonna like me.” his voice breaks with vulnerability, with sadness, and katara does her best not to cry.

how could he think that?

because—

she loves him.

“are you kidding, zuko? i’m your best friend. i’m always gonna love you,” she sniffles, and zuko doesn’t hesitate to hug her tightly. she hugs back, her head in the crook of his neck.

“i love you, too,” zuko tells her softly, holding her. “i missed you.”

“i missed you, too.”

a beat.

“katara, i’ll show you...my scar,” zuko swallows.

“are you sure?”

“yes, but—but i’m just scared. i don’t want you to think i—that i’m...ugly,” zuko confesses, “i’ll show you, and then i’m, um, gonna put the mask back on.”

“okay, zuko,” katara nods and gently pulls away from his arms. she misses his warmth already. it’s been too long.

she sits across from him, watching him patiently.

zuko’s hands shake as he takes off his mask, and puts it beside him. his eyes are closed tightly.

katara gasps softly as she looks at it. her zuko—he—it must have hurt so much.

she leans forward, and carefully cups his cheek. zuko tenses up, then relaxes. he leans into her hand.

“my zuko,” she whispers, fingers brushing against his scar.

“my katara,” zuko whispers back, opening his eyes, and placing his hands over hers.

“it’s not ugly,” katara informs him as his fingers curl around hers. “and you’re definitely not ugly. my zuko—how could you ever be ugly?”

zuko stares at her, almost as if trying to see if she’s lying, almost like he doesn’t...believe her. “katara, you can’t be serious,” he gently pulls her hand away, but keeps holding it as he grabs his mask with his free hand.

“i am,” katara says, eyes soft. “i’ve never lied to you before. can...can i heal it?”

zuko frowns. “it’s a scar. you can’t heal it, katara.” a beat. “but it itches, sometimes.”

“can i...?”

“you can.”

katara summons water around her right hand like a glove. she cups his cheek with her left hand, tilting his head to the side. zuko closes his eyes and katara presses her water gloved hand on his scar. she watches as the water glows, and feels the scar change, somehow. (yes, she wishes she paid more attention to her healing classes. she knew enough, but she didn’t know everything.)

when she’s done, she puts the water back in the river. “it feels...better,” zuko admits. “thank you, katara.”

“of course,” katara grabs his hands and squeezes. “anything for you, zuko.”

they smile at each other.

then katara remembers—“i still have to get the water for the rice!” she gets up and zuko looks at her, confused.

“i’ll tell you everything later, just—please,” katara reaches a hand out to him. “come with me, zuko.”

zuko nods slowly, and grabs her hand. he gets up, and puts his mask on. “okay, katara, i’ll come with you. after all, we still have a lot to catch up on, don’t we?”

“we do,” katara smiles brightly, holding his hand, and intertwining their fingers. they go into the river, and katara puts water into the pot.

then they head to camp, both of them smiling like idiots.

_____

this......got way longer than i originally thought it would. (it was supposed to be short and cute)

i promise i can do better than this though. i promise!!!!!

(i might write a fic about this now....but it would be different from this obviously)

also, you can thank @ pokidokies for making me think about baby zutara.

like, i was already thinking about them, and then i saw this on instagram—and oh my god,,,,!!!

i had to! express! my thoughts! i just had to!

baby zutara is just...something that can be so personal, you know?

follow her on tumblr and on insta! :D (her blog name on here is the same as her insta name!)

[sokkascroptop]

traitor. (sokka x f!reader) pt 5

part 1 | part 4 | part 6

A/N: Y/N finally meets the gaang; on a side note, I am really proud of this chapter ❤️

She caught it just a moment before it smacked her in the chest. Her reflexes were delayed from her sleepiness but also from the realization that her Fire Princess just had dropped to her knees and tied her boots for her. “Easy. I’m not a bender. I don’t need the sun.”

“Lo and Li have advised me that it isn’t smart to go after Zuko and Uncle with a Royal Procession.” Azula leaned in the doorway to Y/N’s room. Her hair was a black curtain around her pale face. Y/N ran her fingers through her own loose hair before replying.

“It would be less conspicuous without guards flanking us on all sides. Do you think that the two of us could do it ourselves?” She asked hesitantly, thinking back to just a day earlier when Azula said she was a liability. Y/N wasn’t even planning to fight when she agreed to come! She thought it was going to be easier, she didn’t expect Iroh to be so suspicious of them from the get go. Apparently, neither did Azula. She was so mad when they pulled her from the sea, the water was steaming off of her clothes and skin. 

Azula smiled and sat in the chair to the small, empty writing desk in the room. “I need a small, elite team.” She tapped one pointed nail on her chin. “I think it’s time to call on some old friends, don’t you think so?”

“Mai and Ty Lee?” Y/N questioned. The last time one of them was mentioned Azula set fire to the napkin she was holding at dinner and pointed a butter knife in Y/N’s direction telling her never to mention their names again. 

“Of course them.” Azula rolled her eyes and cracked her fingers. “They’re our friends, Y/N. They’ll do anything I want.” Her voice was low and even though it wasn’t meant as a threat, it sounded like one. 

Azula shut the door to Y/N’s room with a sharp click. She leaned back against her pillow and crossed her arms. This was not going to go well. 

Anytime she and the girls exchanged letters, the answer was always the same. Neither Mai or Ty Lee were planning on coming back to the palace any time soon. They never explicitly said that Azula was the reason–one could never know who was reading your letters–but Y/N could see the subtext. A taste of life outside of Capital City and outside of Azula’s influence had spoiled them. Y/N had never felt like that before, but every day, she got a little bit more understanding as to why one might want to leave. 

It was still dark out when Azula came into Y/N’s room the next morning. She tapped Y/N’s cheek with her nail. “Get up, we’re leaving soon.”

She glared at Azula from under the very warm covers. “Why so early?” 

Azula’s gold eyes flashed with humor. “It’s a long ride into town. I’ve got us a carriage.” She grabbed the blanket that Y/N was clutching and threw them off the bed, leaving her shivering. 

“Every time,” Y/N muttered as she pulled her night clothes off and her red tunic and pants on. 

“Every time what?” Azula asked. Y/N thought she could hear a smile in the other girls words but she was currently too busy looking cross-eyed at the laces of her boots to check. 

“Why are you such a morning person?” Y/N knew the answer that Azula was going to give, but it didn’t make the question any less relevant in her mind. She hated mornings. 

“More like a question as to why aren’t you?” Hands slapped Y/N’s own fumbling ones away and tied each boot deftly. Before Y/N could even utter a ‘thank you’, Azula was grabbing her sword from where it was propped in the corner and tossing it in Y/N’s direction. 

She caught it just a moment before it smacked her in the chest. Her reflexes were delayed from her sleepiness but also from the realization that her Fire Princess just had dropped to her knees and tied her boots for her. “Easy. I’m not a bender. I don’t need the sun.”

Azula had only tied the boots because she wanted to get going, Y/N decided. Probably.

“You sound like one of those Water Tribe savages. Next thing you know, you’ll be howling at the moon.” Y/N laughed with Azula no matter how awful she thought the joke was and basked in the warm that her friend gave off. She was always so much nicer in the mornings. 

The sun was just rising as they set off, probably purposeful if she knew Azula. Y/N stared out the window the whole trip. She’d never been to the Earth Kingdom before and she was so intrigued by everything she saw. There was greenery everywhere. It made her heartache for her childhood home on Ember Island. The climate was different, here it was much cooler and the wind ruffled the leaves on the trees every now and then. And Ember Island was hot and muggy year round. But she couldn’t miss the similarities of the two places. Every now and then she’d catch an animal she’d never seen before run past and she’d all but hold her head out the window to get a second look. Azula was much more regal, which was unsurprising though she wasn’t sure if Azula had ever been to the Earth Kingdom either. She sat in the seat across Y/N with her arms crossed and her feet on the bench next to Y/N. Azula had her eyes closed the whole time, reclining in a beam of sunlight coming in through the windows, but Y/N knew she wasn’t sleeping. 

She thought Azula looked much better like this; with her face softened in relaxation. No furrowing of the eyebrows or pursing of her lips. Occasionally, the wind would blow in the windows and ruffle her usually pristine hair. Y/N thought Azula glared and frowned way too much for a fourteen year old girl, Fire Princess or not. Just then Azula cracked open one of her eyes like she knew Y/N was thinking about her. But Y/N didn’t look away like she usually would have done. She just stared and smiled at her friend until Azula closed that eye again and settled further down into the seat. Y/N chose to ignore the light tap of Azula’s toe on her elbow, but not the small smile that was now on her face. 

After reaching the town it wasn’t hard to find the circus. Azula and Y/N just followed the noise and the smell. They were set up in a large field where they could have enough room to set up their tall tents and keep their platypus-bears and scorpion-lions. 

Ty Lee was in the middle of it all. 

She didn’t see them when they first approached. Y/N thought it looked like Ty Lee was flying as she flipped head over heels in the grass. She held herself in a perfectly still handstand. Y/N’s abs ached just watching. 

“Azula! Y/N!” Ty Lee rushed forward, hastily bowed, before crushing Azula in a hug. Y/N received the same tight–albeit longer–hug. “It’s so good to see you!” Ty Lee chirped. 

“I’ve missed you!” Y/N did realize how excited she was to see her old friend until she was in her arms. She smelled the same, like rose perfume and the rosin she used in her tricks. Letters were nice, but they took weeks to travel to each other. Something always happened between them, and when it was time to reply, that ‘something’ was never important anymore. 

“Don’t let us interrupt… whatever you’re doing.” Azula raised an arched eyebrow.

Ty Lee took that as permission and backflipped back into a forearm stand and began scissoring her legs in the air. She held herself on her elbows and rested her head in her hands like it was the easiest thing in the world. 

“You look like you’re having the time of your life here, Ty Lee,” Y/N said. The glow on the girls cheeks and the permanent smile on her lips was obvious. She was always bubbly, but she’d never been like this.

“What is the daughter of a nobleman doing here?” Azula asked, gesturing around to the tents and people who walked by. A hurt look erased Ty Lee’s smile, one that Azula didn’t pay attention to. She jumped right in, never caring for small talk. “I have a proposition. I’m hunting a traitor. You remember my old fuddy-duddy uncle?”

“Oh, yeah!” Ty Lee exclaimed. “He was so funny.”

“I would be honored if you would help me and join my mission.” 

Ty Lee’s feet, which moment’s ago rested on her head, slipped as she lost balance and nearly fell forward on her face. She looked to Y/N for assistance but like a coward, Y/N looked at the grass under her boots. The glance lasted half a second, maybe even less but it still made Y/N tense next to Azula as if she was caught with her hand in the bowl of unfried dough by her mother. This was between Ty Lee and Azula. Any indication that Ty Lee and Y/N had spoken since she’d left would. Be. Bad. 

“Oh, you know Azula, I would love to.” She flipped back to her feet. “But the truth is I’m really happy here. My aura has never been pinker!” Y/N smiled. Leave it to Ty Lee to lighten the mood by talking about her auras. It was incredibly smart, to make it seem like you were dumb to avoid consequences. Y/N wished she could pull that card with Azula sometimes, but she knew her too well. And Y/N knew nothing about auras. 

“Well,” Azula frowned. “I wouldn’t want you to give up the life you love to please me.” 

Y/N ground her teeth. She looked up through her lashes at Ty Lee. This was somewhere she finally fit in. Y/N knew the story with Ty Lee’s sisters and how she felt like part of a matched set. This is where she needed to be, not traveling the world with Azula on some mission that wasn’t going to do anything for her. Y/N didn’t have a choice. Ty Lee did. Don’t fall for it! Y/N wanted to scream. 

Maybe it was Agni, or maybe Ty Lee just had more self control and a self-preservation that Y/N lacked. She placed one fist against her open palm and bowed deeply. “Thank you, Azula.” 

Azula was bristling beside Y/N as they walked away. “Of course before we leave we’re going to catch your show. Aren’t we, Y/N?” Azula gripped Y/N’s arm like a vise. 

“We wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Y/N said. 

----

Y/N wasn’t sure what Azula told the ringmaster, but every seat in the tent was empty that night. 

High above their box, a square frame filled the stage. Lanterns hung around the frame, illuminating the whole tent. A tightrope spanned across it; a tightrope which Ty Lee was currently balancing on. 

“We are so pleased to have the Fire Lord’s daughter here tonight to see our humble circus. Please tell us if we can do anything to make it more enjoyable.” the ringmaster bowed and left the stage. 

“I will,” Azula muttered. Y/N furrowed her brow in Azula’s direction but she stared straight ahead like she didn’t even notice. What was she planning? Y/N wondered. 

Ty Lee was perched on a pole that rolled along the tightrope like pulley. She slowly switched from hand to hand, posing with a split in the air. Her costume glimmered under the candle-lit lanterns and her full dancer’s skirt bounced as she moved. 

“Incredible. Do you think she’ll fall?” Azula asked Y/N. 

Y/N scoffed at the question, never taking her eyes off of Ty Lee. “Of course not!”

“Then let’s make it more interesting. Ringmaster! Let’s remove the net at the bottom.”

The man’s grey eyes widened. “Remove the net? The thing is–the performers–”

Azula waved a hand. “You’re right. That’s been done. Set the net on fire.”

“Azula, don’t you think that’s a little much?” Y/N asked warily. She wasn’t sure what her friend was playing at but risking Ty Lee’s life wasn’t the answer. Y/N, however, didn’t get an answer. The ringmaster had already done what she had asked. 

For a second, just as the fire reached all the corners of the net below, Ty Lee seemed to teeter, before regaining her balance. Azula huffed, almost like she expected the other girl to fall. “Brilliant. And ringmaster, what kind of dangerous animals do you have here?”

“Azula, I don’t think–” Y/N started only to be cut off by a hand waving in her face. 

“Well, Princess, our circus boasts an assortment of exotic–”

“Release them all,” Azula smiled. 

Y/N sat in horror as she watched saber-tooth moose tigers, scorpion-lions and even an elephant-bear get released below the tight-rope. 

How Ty Lee managed to finish her act without falling was a mystery to Y/N. When she reached the opposite platform she even blew a kiss in their direction before climbing down and ceding the stage to the rest of the performers. 

Azula had only been interested in Ty Lee’s performance and ignored the rest of the performers, finding filing her nails into sharp points more interesting. Y/N wasn’t much better, her head was still spinning at what Azula had done. This was her friend. Someone who ignited such a rage in leaving her that Azula had threatened Y/N with fire if she ever mentioned her name. Was that why she did it? Was this some type of revenge for running away to the circus?

For a second she allowed her mind to think of what would have happened if Ty Lee hadn’t been such a good acrobat. What would either of them have done had she fallen into the flames? The net was in tatters, blackened and burned away. It couldn’t have held her weight from a fall that far, would have been like it wasn’t even a net at all. Plus she would have been on fire! Y/N had just watched Azula try to publicly kill her, and Y/N had just sat there and watched. 

As soon as the performance ended Azula dragged Y/N out of the tent. The air was full of black smoke from the net being burnt away and it blotted out the stars above. They made their way to Ty Lee’s tent. 

She was sitting at her vanity peeling sticky jewels off her face and wiping away layers of makeup. Y/N stared at the stain of ash that coated her gold-plated headband.

Azula leaned against the table forcing Ty Lee to look up at her. “What an exquisite performance. I can’t wait to see how you’ll top yourself tomorrow.”

Ty Lee caught Y/N’s eyes in the mirror and Y/N knew what she was going to do. 

“Unfortunately, there won’t be a show tomorrow.”

Azula widened her eyes in mock-surprise at Y/N. “Really?”

Ty Lee stood to hang her headband above the mirror. “The universe is giving me strong hints that it’s time for a career change. I want to join you on your mission.”

And that’s when it all clicked for Y/N. That net being set on fire and the animals being released wasn’t about killing Ty Lee. Sure, it would have killed her if she had fallen, but the real motive behind it all was worse. 

She could tell by the smirk on Azula’s face that she had gotten exactly what she wanted. Because during Ty Lee’s show, Azula was putting on her own. She was displaying the power she held over them. Telling them without so many words what would happen if they proved disloyal, or stepped out of line. She was in control. And suddenly, Y/N was very fearful of her friend; even as she allowed herself to be pulled into a hug. 

“Let’s go get Mai.” Azula tucked a stray hair behind Y/N’s ear and nodded at them to follow her out of the tent and back to the carriage. 

----

Azula made the carriage take them back to the ship that night. The mountain roads were too small for a carriage as large as theirs to carry them to Omashu, where Mai’s father governed and they needed to dock the ship at the city’s port. This time, Azula entered on a palanquin. Ty Lee and Y/N marched behind it as they entered the palace grounds. 

“Please tell me you’re here to kill me.” Mai bowed to Azula as they approached. She looked at Azula seriously, before smiling and laughing. 

“It’s good to see you too, Mai,” Azula confessed. 

Ty Lee rushed past both of them to hug Mai. When Y/N could tell that the hug had lasted long enough for Mai, she gently pulled Ty Lee off and replaced her. 

“I thought you ran off and joined the circus?” Mai asked Ty Lee. “You said it was your calling.”

Ty Lee smiled brightly. “Well, Azula called a little louder.” 

“And you–” Mai gripped Y/N’s bicep. “Swinging that stupid sword must be all you do. You’re built like a guard.” A comment like that coming from anyone else might have offended Y/N, but from Mai she knew what it really meant–you’re still in one piece. 

Mai was quick to join their team. Y/N knew from letters that Mai was bored with Omashu, and this was a perfect opportunity to get out from underneath her parents. 

“You guys came at the right time,” Mai said as they entered the palace. “My brother was kidnapped by the resistance last night.”

“Oh no!” Ty Lee gasped. 

“Why would they take Tom-Tom?” Y/N asked. There had to be a motive behind kidnapping a baby. Omashu might have been taken over by the Fire Nation but surely the people here wouldn’t resort to anything...murder-y just for their city back. He was just a baby! 

Mai looked back at her and Y/N noticed dark circles under her eyes she hadn’t seen before. She didn’t sleep at all last night knowing someone had her brother. “We don’t know.”

As she led the three of them to the throne room where Ukano and Michi were waiting, she caught them up on everything they needed to know. The room smelled like dust, clearly sitting unused since the governor took over the city. The three girls, as well as Mai’s parent’s knelt on pillows as Azula ascended to the throne. 

They all bowed before sitting up. Mai continued, “We’ve offered up an exchange; we sent a messenger hawk last night. We have Omashu’s King in the prison–Bumi.”

Azula turned to Ukano. “I’m so sorry to hear about your son. But really, what did you expect by just letting all the citizens leave?” She clasped her hands together and crossed her legs. Y/N noticed she didn’t look sorry at all; her face was cold, angry even. 

“Princess–” Ukano bowed his head respectfully. 

“My father has trusted you with this city, and you’re making a mess of things.” She stepped down from the throne and the girls all rose to meet her. “Mai will handle the hostage trade so you don’t have the chance to mess it up. And there is no more Omashu.” Azula growled. “I’m renaming it in honor of my father. The city of New Ozai!” She strode out of the room with all three of them on her heels. All three of them ignored the tears in Michi’s eyes.

They met on the landing of a construction project. Looking up, Y/N could see what it was. It was a giant statue of Ozai. It was mostly covered in scaffolding but Y/N still shuddered just looking at it. Though this Ozai was made of stone, the eyes were the same, cold and dead. Mai took the lead flanked to left with her and Azula, the right with Ty Lee. 

Even from a distance Y/N could tell that these weren’t members of any resistance. They were kids, probably her age, but maybe younger. Two were wearing Water Tribe blue–the boy in the middle though–was wearing yellow and orange. Y/N had never seen anyone wear those colors before. She could hear Azula hum thoughtfully next to her. 

A crane from above lowered the metal box that held former King Bumi. Y/N noticed he seemed rather chipper for being locked in a metal coffin with only his head sticking out. 

“You brought my brother?” Mai asked. Her low, raspy voice carried over the distance between them. 

“He’s here. We’re ready to trade,” The one in orange answered.

Azula turned to Mai. “I’m sorry, but a thought just occurred to me. Do you mind?”

Mai tensed. “Of course not, Princess Azula.”

“We’re trading a two-year-old for a king. A powerful, earthbending king. It just doesn’t seem like a fair trade, does it?”

Mai’s eyes narrowed, searching over every inch of Azula’s face. Her jaw tightened and slowly she turned to look back at the ‘resistance’ members. “You’re right. The deal’s off.”

Ty Lee and Y/N shared a look. What was Mai thinking? This was her brother. 

As King Bumi was once again lifted into the air, the boy in orange ran towards them, a swirling mass of dirt trailing him. Azula stepped out and threw a ball of fire at him. Or at least where he should have been. He jumped and then flew? high above them, floating on air currents with his staff that was now a glider. He was an airbender. 

���The Avatar!” Azula exclaimed. “My lucky day.” As Azula took off after the Avatar, Y/N ran to the Water Tribesmen, Ty Lee and Mai hot on her tail. She drew her sword and cut an ice dagger in half that the girl threw at her head. She ducked a rope of water and slipped past the waterbender, leaving Mai and Ty Lee to take care of her. Y/N was going to get Tom-Tom. 

The Watertribe boy was furiously blowing on a silent whistle and trying to wrangle the squirming baby in his arms. He turned and ran but tripped over a loose board and slid backwards to the edge. Y/N was nearly there, her fingers inches from grabbing the baby when something wet wrapped around her ankle like seaweed and pulled her hard in the opposite direction. She hit her chin on the wooden boards and lost her grip on her sword which skittered away helplessly over the edge and down to the ground. 

She kicked out but there was nothing for her foot to hit. The waterbender had grabbed her foot with a water rope to stop her and went back to fighting Mai and Ty Lee. She had her hands full with them, dodging chi blocks and blocking knives so she was protective of the boy–loyal to him. Her brother. Use it. A voice in Y/N’s head that sounded too much like Azula’s told her.

Y/N pushed herself to her feet, ignoring the sting of her chin and slid down the ladder just as the Water Tribe boy had done seconds earlier. 

He stood at the bottom looking to the air like he was waiting for something. He watched her come near but didn’t move. That’s when she saw her sword laying a few feet away. He saw her see it at the same time. 

They both rushed to it. Y/N grabbed the hilt but couldn’t pull away. He’d crossed his club over it holding the blade down.

 “Don’t.”

“Then I won’t.” She kicked his club away and pulled her blade back. They both backstepped giving each other space. She held her hand out to him. “ I just want the baby.” 

“Not a chance.” His bright blue eyes watched her every move. He shifted Tom-Tom on his hip.

“Please, it’s my friend’s brother. What would you do if this was your sister?”

“Don’t talk about her!” He shouted. But Y/N didn’t miss his eyes flicker to the platform. 

“I can talk to Princess Azula. I can tell her to make the deal. Bumi for Tom-Tom. Just trust me.”

“Trust you?” he echoed. Then he laughed. Y/N didn’t get to ask him what he was laughing about because she was suddenly hit with something large in the ribs and thrown under the scaffolding. She grunted as she sat up and crawled through the broken beams she was thrown through. In the sky was a flying bison.

“Damn it.” 

After climbing back up the ladder, Y/N and her friends met in the middle of the platform, Azula nowhere in sight. 

Y/N shook her head. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get Tom-Tom.”

Mai massaged a bruised wrist and shrugged. 

“But why would Azula cancel the deal?” Ty Lee asked. “We want Tom-Tom back just as much as they wanted King Bumi!”

“Azula didn’t,” Mai spat. 

Y/N sighed. “Why’d you let her do it, Mai?”

“You know why.”

“It’s not fair.” Ty Lee slung an arm around Mai’s waist. Y/N mirrored her on the other side. They walked back to the palace in silence. Nothing needed to be said, they knew what one another were thinking. 

----

“We have a third target now,” Azula announced from inside the palanquin as they marched out of the city. “We’re going after the Avatar.” 

“Ooh, I’d like to see that cute Water Tribe boy again, wouldn’t you?” Ty Lee nudged Y/N in the ribs with her pointy elbow. Y/N smiled, he was pretty cute, she thought to herself. 

Her smile grew to a grin. “Yeah, but I bet Mai’s more excited to see Zuko.” Y/N poked Mai in the arm and watched the girl who tried her hardest not to show her emotions flushed a deep red. 

Ty Lee and Y/N fell into a fit of giggles. Y/N missed her friends.

Taglist: @reclusive-chicken-nugget​ , @myexgirlfriendisthemoon​ , @astroninaaa​

A/N: if you’re getting vibes that Azula likes Y/N more than a friend, you are right ;) AND HEY we finally meet the gaang!! Y/N thinks Sokka’s cute!! Sokka hates her Fire Nation guts!! 

Like & reblog!! ❤️If you would like to be added to the taglist please shoot me a message or ask! 

[casualdadnomad]

sorry i’m spamming your ask box, sokka driving Zuko and Toph around hc?

i try to answer these in order but i literally could not resist answering this one first

modern atla masterpost :)

okay so we all know neither Toph nor Zuko could pass the vision test to get a license

Zuko was infuriated by the fact that he wasn’t allowed to take his driving test

Zuko: why? I can see just fine! Uncle, tell them I can see fine. Wait, where did you go? // Iroh: I’m just standing on your left side, Zuko.

Sokka is the best driver out of the entire gaang

i mean that’s hardly a surprise

Aang is an anxious driver and he doesn’t even have a license, just a permit (he 15). Katara succumbs to road rage far too easily, and Suki doesn’t have her own car. she drives a motorcycle because she’s cool as fuck, obviously

Toph refuses to ever let her parents drive her anywhere

mostly because they’ll try to talk to her friends or something which is a nightmare

but sometimes she just straight up lies about where she’s going

Toph, sitting on the counter at hot topic: can you believe they thought i was going to the library? anyways, i sharpened your knives, here you go. // Mai: how did you get here? // Sokka, popping out from behind a display case: wheels

Toph and Zuko rock paper scissors on who gets to sit shotgun when they’re both in the car

If you lose you get thrown in the back with the bookbags

because yes, Sokka drives them to school every day

and yes Katara is there too on school rides but she’s always in the back

so if you lose you get thrown in the back with the bookbags and Katara

Sokka: whichever one of you keeps stealing my sweatshirts from my backseat better stop // Zuko: what? it’s not us // Sokka: seriously you’re both wearing them right now // Toph, whispering: do you think he’s onto us

Sokka knows where they both live by heart so no matter where they’re coming from, he knows the most efficient route of getting them home

and honestly Toph is at Zuko’s house more than her own anyways

she’s mostly chill with Azula since Azula started getting her life together, and she likes Iroh better than her actual dad so it’s a win win

Sokka lets the other two rock paper scissors over music choices too but Toph has started blasting glee covers in protest of Zuko’s theater music

Aang has repeatedly asked why Sokka is blaring Naya Rivera’s smooth criminal cover and recieved the same answer every time, from Toph: “spite.”

also i have mentioned fucking Glee in i think three of these posts now what the fu-

Toph and Sokka once turned on Cupcakke because they expected Zuko to turn into dust like Aang

he didnt 

he figured it was better than having to listen to 100gecs for the fifth time in a row

oh god why was this one so long. like idk if this is even ✨quality content ✨ but i definitely gave u lots of words.

[grither55]

The Princess and the Peasant - (An Azula Epic) - Chapter 45 - Wounds and Encampment

About four hours later…

Team Azula sat in a circle while the powerful monarch gazing down a hill at the assortment of her people arriving with the Dai Li in tow.

The injured were being placed in a makeshift nursing station while their few nurses tended to the wounded.

Including Zoe who was impatiently sitting with her wounds being cleaned by an equally frustrated nurse.

Behind Azula sat tents.

One was a large red tent which the Dai Li had been so kind as to forage from the ruins of their warship.

A short distance away from the royal tent sat a smaller tent that the two noblewomen were going to share.

And down below sat a great many smaller tents that were being set up by those among them who were able bodied.

Only for the princess to turn her cold gaze back to her handmaid while the petite girl reached up to dab at the markswoman's cheek once more.

"Elle…" Mai trailed off in a grateful voice while she allowed her little sister to clean her face once more.

And Ty Lee sat grinning down at Elle while the smaller girl wiped a pain cream onto the other woman's stunned cheek.

"This is a cream that should reduce the swelling." Elle answered in a loving voice with all three highborn women gazing at her in appreciation while Mai's monotone face broke out into a softened smile.

"Thank you…little sister." The markswoman offered in a fond voice with her back against a tree while the young handmaid beamed up at her.

"Dōitashimashite oneesan!" The blonde-haired girl cried out in a joyous voice before she began rubbing the cream on the older girl's neck while the noblewoman patted her back gently.

"Isn't she pink Azula?" Ty Lee asked in a sisterly voice while Azula rolled her eyes before turning to stare at the teenager's robed back.

"Yes Ty Lee. The girl is certainly pink." Azula agreed with a wave of her hand while the acrobat smiled even wider in agreement.

All the while they watched Elle dig in her oversized backpack before pulling out a box of bandaids much to her older friends’ curiosity.

Only for the princess to snort in mocking amusement when Elle tore open a bandaid with a childish brown dog on it.

"Here! This will keep your cuts from getting infected!" Elle quipped with a happy nod while Mai eyed the bandaid in mild humiliation yet she made no move to prevent her from applying it to the wound.

"Thanks again kid." Mai replied with a nervous smile while Azula smirked at her expense when a large Scooby Doo bandaid now adorned her cheek.

"Aww! That dog bandage is so cute Mai!" The brown-haired woman exclaimed with a nod while her friend cast her a mild glare through the corner of her eye.

She was well aware that the only reason why Mai ever allowed such a thing to be put on her face was to avoid hurting Elle's feelings.

"Yes Mai. It is very pink." The princess taunted with a cruel smile while she watched her pet dash over to 'treat' the grinning acrobat.

"Let me tend to your wounds oneesan." The blonde-haired girl stated with a bright countenance while the acrobat reached out to pat her head.

"You don't have to little sister! Really!" Ty Lee assured in a warm voice only to gaze down in surprise when Elle started washing off the wound on her bare belly.

An action that caused Azula's smile to contort into a death stare that sent a shiver down her spine.

But even so.

She loved her little sister far too much to push her away!

"Really oneesan! I don't mind at all! I am more than happy to help!" Elle exclaimed with a hum while Ty Lee smiled down at her as she rinsed the wound on the acrobat's belly.

"Ty Lee." Azula warned in a glacial voice with her hands on her knees while Ty Lee sighed in frustration.

"She's just cleaning my wounds Azula. That's all!" The brown-haired woman assured with her hand still patting the smaller girl's hair.

And then the acrobat sat motionless while she gazed down with affectionate eyes when the younger girl applied the cream to her bruised stomach.

Just before she followed up by opening another dog bandaid while the group watched in amusement when Elle slapped it on Ty Lee's bicep.

"And now you have a Scooby Doo bandaid too oneesan!" The blonde-haired girl commented in an innocent voice while the acrobat mussed her hair in appreciation.

"Did you hear that Azula? I have a Scooby Doo bandaid." Ty Lee spoke in a pleased voice while Azula rolled her haughty eyes once more.

"Charming Ty Lee. You have a peasant patch on your arm." The princess snorted in a mocking voice while she tapped her fingers along her bicep.

And then to the puzzlement of all of Team Azula they watched Elle bend over to retrieve another item from her bag.

None other than a small folded up blanket.

And then the girl's coming words took all three of them by surprise and showed them just how much Elle cared about their safety.

"I think I can make you a temporary cast for your foot out of this blanket oneesan." Elle remarked with a helpful countenance while Ty Lee's mouth hung open in a rare sense of shock.

Team Azula was so stunned by the generous announcement that even Azula had yet to form a taunting quip.

"Elle…that's your blanket…I…don't want to dirty it by walking all over it. I couldn't! I'll be fine without a cast!" The brown-haired woman attempted to reason only for the smaller girl to shake her head.

"It's just a spare blanket Ty Lee. It has no sentimental value. I would much rather you have something soft to cushion your foot. It doesn't look like they brought up any supplies to make a cast…so this is all we have. But I think I can make it work until we get rescued!" The blonde-haired girl insisted with her loyal amber eyes peering up at the acrobat's moved expression.

All while Mai stared on with softened eyes when the girl began getting out a small pair of scissors and a few other medical items.

"But…you need it to sleep Elle…" Ty Lee protested lamely once more with a heartfelt tear brewing in her eye only for Elle to shake her head yet again.

"Oh no! I don't need a blanket. I have Azula-sama!" Elle answered with sweet laughter lacing her voice while Azula turned away to glare into the tree line in an attempt to act like she didn't care.

"Y-yes but…Elle…" The brown-haired woman trailed off with a tear dripping down her cheek when the young handmaid began gently removing her boot.

"You just be sure that all she does is put a cast on your foot Ty Lee. She massages my feet only." Azula grumbled in a spoiled voice while Mai rolled her eyes back at her.

"You hurt yourself saving me from the burning ship. This…is the least I can do for you Ty Lee…" The blonde-haired girl mumbled just as she began to wipe off the acrobat's foot while a hand lowered into her hair once more.

"T-thank you…Elle. You're such a sweetheart." Ty Lee spoke in a grateful voice with her hand petting Elle's hair while she watched the young handmaid wipe down her foot.

"A-arigatou gozaimasu…oneesan…for saving me." Elle murmured in a barely perceivable voice while she cleaned her big sister's foot while Ty Lee's hand remained in her hair.

"It…was my pleasure to protect you Elle. I would do it again! A hundred times over if I had to!" The brown-haired woman declared in a protective voice while she watched her little sister clean her foot with a look of shame in her eyes.

She had made it a point to never abuse Elle's status as their servant.

And unlike Azula she never ordered the girl to serve her.

So, it went without saying that she was ashamed that her beloved baby sister was kneeling before her while she served her by cleaning her foot of all things!

And yet…Elle still smiled all the same.

"A-and I would put a cast on your foot every time oneesan! Because I love you!" The blonde-haired girl chirped with a gentle look in her eyes while she began spreading the cream on her sister's foot only for a shy smile to appear on her lips when the acrobat petted her once more.

"You are so sweet Elle…so sweet." Ty Lee responded in an emotional voice with her finger wiping at her eyes while she tenderly patted Elle's plush head.

It was a bit strange but they all knew that Elle greatly enjoyed it when her head was petted.

So, they all chose to do it because it makes their young friend happy.

Well that and Azula delighted in the sense of control that Elle gave her.

And then the acrobat just sighed with her head against the tree while the princess's greedy eyes continued to stare icily at her face.

"Someone's jealous." Mai teased with her arms folded in her lap while Azula's lips pursed into a scowl.

"I am not jealous!" Azula snapped with her cold eyes glaring at Elle kneeling before Ty Lee while the acrobat affectionately petted her hair as the girl began to wrap her foot in the blanket.

"You should be able to take it off when you bath! Just be sure not to lose the clips!" Elle explained in a devoted voice while she continued wrapping Ty Lee's foot with the acrobat grinning in appreciation.

"I won't little sister. I promise!" The brown-haired woman assured in a loving voice with her palm still patting the small handmaid's head while the blonde weaved the blanket around her foot.

And then the adorable serving girl began cutting it with the scissors after an adequate amount of blanket had been wrapped around her sole.

A few minutes later Ty Lee sat staring down at Elle still kneeling before her now wrapped foot while the smaller girl peered up at her with a bashful smile.

"H-how does it look oneesan? I know it could be better…sumimasen…" The blonde-haired girl requested in a worried voice only for the acrobat to rapidly shake her head with a large grin adorning her warm features.

"Oh no Elle! You did a great job! Didn't she Azula!" Ty Lee exclaimed in a soothing voice with her words causing Azula to glare at her once more.

"A bit too good of a job Ty Lee. Judging by how much you seemed to enjoy that." Azula accused in a possessive voice while Ty Lee just smiled as she reached down to pat Elle's head once more.

"A-as long as you think so Ty Lee. That's all that matters to me." Elle stammered in an adorable manner while Ty Lee gently pulled her up from her bow.

"Aww! This calls for a reward! How does snuggle time sound!" The brown-haired woman cooed with her strong hands on her now excited young friends shoulders just before she crushed the girl against her bosom.

"Snuggle time with Ty Lee!" The blonde-haired girl cried out with the acrobat smiling over her shoulder while the princess glared at the scene.

And the weapons expert watched with mild amusement in her stoic eyes.

"Ty Lee! My breasts only!" The Princes bellowed with her lips pursing in a furious thin line while the acrobat embraced her giggling pet.

"It's just a hug Azula." Ty Lee sighed with her muscular arm holding Elle in her lap while Azula's golden eyes never ceased burning a hole through her skull.

But she wouldn't deny that it was truly adorable watching Azula get jealous over something so…platonic!

"Just a hug? She just spent ten minutes kneeling before you while she cleaned your foot and wrapped it in a blanket. All while your hand never left her hair and now her face is in your breasts." Azula spoke in a callously displeased voice while the other two noblewomen sweatdropped.

"Well she deserves a hug after all that! It would be cruel not to hug her after she did all of this for me!" The brown-haired woman shouted with a cheerful nod while the small blonde smiled in her lap.

"Let me get one more thing for you oneesan! It should help with the pain." Elle chimed with her arm reaching out for her bag while Azula's possessive eyes watched her every move.

"Elle! You don't have to do anything else. That was more than enough!" Ty Lee yelled out in a tending voice only to smile when Elle fumbled in her pack once more.

Only to remove a pill bottle of pain medicine that the princess recognized with her observant eye while she briefly eyed the bottle with displeased golden eyes.

It only served as a reminder that her girlfriend was in daily pain and that she had yet to solve it.

'As soon as I get back!' The princess thought with her callous eyes glaring off into the tall trees while the acrobat stared down in bafflement when a pill was dropped into her open palm.

"Take this pain pill oneesan. It should reduce the pain for…about twelve hours. Enough for you to eat dinner and go to sleep comfortably." The blonde-haired girl offered in a faithful voice with her words hitting the acrobat hard in the chest.

Mai and Azula turned to stare at the younger girl in bewilderment while Ty Lee hastily shook her head much to the young girl's confusion before dropping the pill back in the handmaid's palm.

It didn't surprise either of them that the acrobat refused to take Elle's medicine.

"No! I can't take this from you Elle. You…you need it. Don't…you get daily pain from your…breathing condition?" The brown-haired woman spoke in an unnerved voice with great concern in her warm eyes only to frown when the young handmaid just smiled widely.

"Sometimes! It depends how much I run. But it's just one pill! I would feel better if you took it. I have enough for over a month and I trust Azula-sama to get me something just as good if not better!" Elle explained before she thrusted the pill back into Ty Lee's hesitant hand.

"B-but you've been walking all day Elle." Ty Lee protested once more with a nervous shake of her head only for Elle to pat her hand affectionately.

"It's fine! Because you can't take more than one at once or it can make you too sleepy. I'll be fine without it! I would rather you have it." The blonde-haired girl answered in a lovable voice while the acrobat bit her lip in uncertainty.

"Just take the pill Ty Lee! I'll be changing up Elle's treatment with something more efficient anyhow." Azula declared in a rigid voice while Ty Lee clutched the pill with an unconvinced countenance.

"Okay Elle…if you say so. But only one. I'll be okay without it on the other days." The brown-haired woman sighed with a nod before she dropped it in her mouth as she swallowed it with an audible gulp.

And despite her reservations she couldn't help but smile softly when the young girl beamed up at her.

"I am so happy that I was able to help my oneesans." Elle stated in a compassionate voice with a sweet smile that had both of the noblewomen now gazing at her in endless appreciation.

Only for the princess to loudly stomp her boot while the other two women turned to sigh in the spoiled woman's direction.

"Get over here and tend to my needs! I matter more than Mai and Ty Lee combined because I am royalty!" The princess called out with a pompous huff while she smirked when her pet scampered over to her side on command.

"Azula…please don't make her run!" Ty Lee pleaded only for her words to fall on deaf ears while Elle adorably slid to a stop on her knees before Azula's now smiling face.

"Are you injured Azula-sama!" The blonde-haired girl asked in a worried voice while the other two women rolled their eyes when the princess began to sigh as if she was in great pain.

"Yeah Azula. Where's your injury?" Mai snorted with an amused smirk while she watched Elle fretfully begin inspecting Azula's body from all angles.

"Speaking of that…are you okay Azula? I saw you cough up a drop of blood in your battle earlier." The brown-haired woman asked in a worried voice that only served as fuel to the young handmaid's concerns.

"A-are you going to be o-okay Azula-sama?" Elle stuttered in a distraught voice with her hands grasping Azula's armored shoulder only for her master to reach down to pat her head.

"Hm? Oh, that was just a side effect of overusing my new power." Azula replied with a wave of her hand while her three companions stared at her in shock.

The two noblewomen could only gaze at their leader in disbelief to hear that the princess's new bending ability causes strain on her internal system after a prolonged battle.

Azula didn't say as much in so many words but it was obvious that she was just paranoid of mentioning it aloud in front of prying ears.

They now understood just why the princess declared that it was 'forbidden'.

"Azula…" The markswoman trailed off in shock only for the princess to literally wave their concerns off.

"As I said. It's nothing. Now servant! I demand that you treat my wounds!" The princess barked with a finger jabbing her handmaid's rapidly nodding face while she petted her girlfriend's soft hair.

"Y-yes master! As my girlfriend commands!" The blonde-haired girl cheered with innocence lacing her voice while her big sister's just shook their heads fondly.

They no longer bothered telling Elle that master and girlfriend were not usually one and the same.

"So…where's the injury Azula? Or are you just making stuff up so Elle will tend to you?" Ty Lee inquired with her toned arms folded over her breasts while she eyed her friend closely.

"Hm. I received injuries…in two different places that require your…inspection." Azula purred with a hand under her chin while her lifelong friends gazed at her dryly when Elle nodded her little head eagerly.

"W-where? Show me so I can help you feel better princess." Elle begged only to blink in puzzlement when Azula lounged back against the tree with a prolonged sigh.

And then Mai and Ty Lee nearly fell over in surprise when Azula stretched out her long legs only to point between her thighs with a beyond smug smirk on her red lips.

"I received a cut…on my thigh…right here. Would you be a good girl…and put that pain cream on it?" The princess announced with a refined smile while her young girlfriend bashfully gazed down between her thighs.

"A-Azula! Can't you wait until we go to the springs for this!" The brown-haired woman sputtered with her eyes agape only to sweatdrop when her baby sister began digging for the pain cream.

"Of course, I can Azula-sama! I'm your loyal girl! You can count on me!" The blonde-haired girl cried out with the tube in hand while her big sisters coughed nervously when her smirking girlfriend waved her forward.

"No, I cannot wait Ty Lee! My comfort is far more valuable than all of you lesser people combined! Leave my hill if you have a problem with it!" Azula bellowed with a finger pointing at Ty Lee while the acrobat sighed as she turned away.

"Your hill…Azula?" Mai repeated in a deadpan voice after turning away.

They were so lucky that the soldiers could not see them from this angle!

"This is my hill. And I have conquered it by divine right. For the time being it shall serve as my impromptu palace." The princess boasted with her fingers sweeping through her hair while her two friends gazed at each other in exasperation.

"Um…Azula-sama? H-how do I do this? Eek!" Elle stuttered in an adorably confuddled voice only to release a cry of surprise when Azula's hand pushed her down into a bow on all fours.

With her head in quite the precarious position!

"It's really simple Elle. Much simpler than treating Ty Lee's foot. I just need you to…give my thigh a close inspection. Can you…do that for your princess?" Azula explained with a charming smirk while she stared down at Elle's bowing face now close to her robed thigh.

"Shameless! You're taking advantage of the sweetest girl there is Azula." Ty Lee complained with a frown while she gazed down the sloping hill.

"And that surprises you?" Mai asked in a deadpan voice only to blush slightly when she caught of glimpse of Elle crawling between Azula's open thighs.

It was damn apparent just what Azula was alluding to.

To all but Elle that is!

"I-I don't see a-anything Azula-sama. There doesn't seem to be a cut in your…uh…pant leg!" The blonde-haired girl informed with her face awkwardly tucked under the princess's royal armor while she peered at a lovely red clothed thigh with a growing blush on her cheeks.

"I wonder why." The brown-haired woman grumbled only to turn as red as a tomato when she caught of peak of what was happening behind her.

The young girl was on the ground on all fours with the princess's hand on her back while Azula smirked down at her when the continued to fumble about under the faulds of her armor that covered much of her thighs.

"B-by Agni Azula." Ty Lee protested with a reddened cheek while Elle naively peered at the thigh with a finger under her lip.

"Look closer…it's a…vicious cut." The princess ordered with a beyond smug smirk while she gazed down at her petite girlfriend moving closer until her head bumped into her thigh.

"A-Azula-sama? I…d-don't s-see any t-tears in your…p-pants." Elle stammered in a lovably overpowered voice while her bright amber eyes gazed at the shapely thigh covered in red cloth looming in her line of vision.

All while the two noblewomen turned to stare at Azula's pompous smile with scolding gazes.

"I see…well…perhaps this…warrants a more…intimidate inspection in the springs?" Azula sighed as if it was a great burden to shoulder while her palm remained planted on her kneeling girlfriend's back.

"I'm sure it does." The brown-haired woman snorted with her good foot tapping on the forest floor while she offered her selfish leader a chiding stare.

"I-if you think it so then it must be…s-so princess!" The blonde-haired girl called out with her cheeks overtaking a crimson hue when her gaze accidentally swept over her master's nether region.

"Hm. It pleases me that we are in agreement dear. So, will you…give me a close examination in the springs later on?" The princess purred with a suave smile while she traced her fingertips along the back of her pet's head as the petite girl continued to bump about between her thighs.

"Why don't you have the nurse exam you Azula?" Ty Lee questioned dryly with a pointed stare while Azula sighed heavily once more.

"It is…a wound that I only trust Elle to treat." Azula answered with a finger under her chin while her domineering golden eyes grew even smugger when a delightful cry flowed into the air.

"I would be happy to take a look at your leg Azula-sama! Anything for my princess charming!" Elle announced with her backside pointing into the air while Azula smirked down at her.

Mai could only slap a palm over her face while she groaned in aggravation.

Azula was going to draw this out for the next two years like pouring molasses.

"My…what a good girl you are." The princess spoke with her palm patting her handmaid's soft hair while she smirked haughtily over how her friends were uncomfortably gazing away.

"I-it pleases me that you think so princess! May I…get up now?" The blonde-haired girl squeaked in a gulp with her amber eyes still avoiding gazing at her older girlfriend's robed womanhood.

"I suppose I could allow it. After all, I need you to tend to my…other wound." Azula commented with a spoiled wave of her hand only for her smirk to grow even larger when Elle clumsily backed up out from between her thighs.

"Where's your other wound Azula?" The brown-haired woman pressed with a roll of her eyes just when her little sister sat up.

The small girl sat on her knees with her lips curling up in worry while she peered up at her beautiful master's sophisticated smiling face.

Only to gulp nervously when she found herself lost in dominant golden eyes.

"I was cut by a sharp rock…when the Avatar through me into that rock wall….it is bleeding terribly." The princess remarked with a feigned wince while her subordinates gazed at her pointedly when her adorable handmaid tugged on her sleeve.

"Y-you're bleeding Azula-sama? Does…does it hurt?" Elle pondered in an increasingly distraught voice that took Azula aback while she grasped ahold of her hand.

"I…confess that it does. Terribly so…why I don't think I can walk another step. But I must not show weakness to my people…such is a princess's burden." Azula confessed in dramatic sigh while she gazed down at her little admirer's naïve face with a spark of fondness in her hardened eyes.

"Azula…” Ty Lee trailed off in a louder voice while Azula continued to smile down at Elle's panicking face.

"N-no! I don't want to lose you princess! Show me your wound and I will do all that I can to help you!" The blonde-haired girl cried out while she chewed on her lip with her master’s stronger hands gently patting her own.

"Very well dear…you may begin now." The princess spoke with a sadistic smile just before rudely shoving her girlfriend down on all fours while the girl plopped into the grass with a squeak.

And then without any regard for her sputtering audience Azula turned around until she was facing her incredulous companions while they turned red in shock over her gall.

Hovering mere inches before Elle's overwhelmed innocent eyes was none other than Azula's round bottom.

"A-Azula have some decency!" The brown-haired woman stammered out in a futile protest while Azula stared ahead with a smug smirk gracing her red lips.

"She doesn't have any." The markswoman snorted before turning away with a shake of her head.

"I-I don't understand Azula-sama…you want me to…inspect your…b-backside?" Elle asked in an infatuated voice with her thumbs twiddling anxiously while she shyly averted her eyes from Azula's robed ass.

"Shame on you Azula! Elle is just trying to be helpful and you are making a game out of it." Ty Lee accused with an angry finger pointing at Azula's arrogantly smiling face.

"Of course, Elle. How else will you find the cut? Go on. There's no shame in it." Azula purred with her toned arms folded over her armored chest while her friends gazed away when Elle gulped but moved in to peer at her ass nonetheless.

"Just say no Elle. Don't let her humiliate you like this." Mai advised with a look of anger in her eyes while Azula scanned her fingernails with a proud smile.

"W-which s-side is it on Azula-sama?" The blonde-haired inquired in a lovesick voice while she swallowed nervously only for her master to chuckle above her.

"Elle…" Ty Lee groaned in a voice akin to a sister chiding her younger while she gazed away with a blush on her cheeks.

"Hm. I think…it's on the right side." The princess taunted with her legs folding before her while her handmaid shakily gazed at her round bottom.

"I…I d-don't see any blood or…c-cuts on the right side…" Elle informed in an adorably gazed voice only to gulp when Azula's ass scooted closer until it touched her nose.

"Look closer servant!" Azula barked with a wave of her hand while she gazed down at her paralyzed handmaid with an enormous grin on her lips.

"I…still don't s-see anything. N-nothing but your…" The blonde-haired girl answered in a lovelorn gulp while her amber eyes gazed up at the older girl's bottom in a spellbound trance.

"Nothing but my ass dear?" The princess cooed with a hand under her chin while she smiled tauntingly down at her pet trembling before her backside.

"You're so rude Azula. And to such a sweet girl." The brown-haired woman grumbled with a huff only for the spoiled woman to smirk pridefully.

"Y-yeah. I…don't see any rips in your pants. It…l-looks fine." Elle stuttered in a jumbled voice with her entranced eyes never gazing away from her girlfriend's round ass hovering near her face.

"Just fine?" Azula demanded with a narrow of her sadistic eyes while Elle sunk into a deeper bow like a disciplined puppy.

"T-that's not what I meant Your Highness! I-I only meant that your bottom is…free of any injury! B-but it's…so…very beautiful." The blonde-haired girl explained in a hurried voice with her big sister's sighing somewhere nearby while she blushed as red as a tomato.

"Humph. Of course, it is. I have the body of a goddess. Now check out the left side peasant." Azula commanded with a finger under her chin while she smirked when Elle did so without question.

'Boiling Rock…can't come quick enough.' The markswoman thought with a hand over her face.

"N-no injuries on the left cheek…that I can see princess!" Elle reported in a stumbling voice while Azula stared down at her with a conceited smile.

"Are you certain that you're…viewing it from the right angle? Maybe…even closer?" The princess queried with a sophisticated smirk on her full lips while she watched her young girlfriend tremble under her gaze.

"I-I…uh…p-please A-Azula-sama." The blonde-haired girl pleaded with her shaken eyes staring directly at the robed womanly ass seated before her.

"Please what dear?" Azula answered in feigned innocence while she smiled down at Elle's overwhelmed face.

"P-please s-show me m-mercy A-Azula-sama! I-I don't know how to handle this…" Elle cried out in a pouting voice while her heart raced when Azula's hand lowered into her hair.

"You are just too precious. Isn't she Ty Lee?" The princess purred after turning around with her back against the tree once more while she ran her fingers through her petite handmaid's hair.

"She is Azula. But not for the same reasons that you're thinking." Ty Lee replied in a protective voice while Azula smirked back at her.

"C-can I sit up again master?" The blonde-haired girl requested obediently with her words earning her a smile of approval from the royal woman.

"You are a good girl. I will permit it." Azula commented with a wave of her hand while her subordinates rolled their eyes when she pulled the girl up by her shirt.

"O-oh A-Azula-sama…" Elle mumbled with her thumbs twiddling once more while Azula cupped her chin with a strong palm.

"Would you be willing…to inspect it again in the springs? Perhaps…without any garment to obstruct your diagnosis?" The princess cooed in a smoothly dominant voice while she held onto her handmaid's quivering cheeks.

"Y-yes. A-anything for you…Azula-sama. I…serve you with pride on this day…for all of my days until my last day." The blonde-haired girl assured with a sweet smile while she reached up to touch the woman's warm hand.

"That's my little peasant. Oh, how I like you." Azula admitted in a sigh with her palms holding Elle's face while she stared down at the girl in a possessive gaze.

And despite the princess's perverted behavior the acrobat couldn't help but crack a smile once more.

Even though Azula took far too many liberties in her authority over Elle.

It was plain to see that her friend was falling for the young girl.

"I…am so honored to be your peasant princess…oh no!" Elle exclaimed with her eyes agape in alarm while Azula peered down at her in slight puzzlement.

"What is it? Is it an assassin!" The princess hissed in a comically overprotective voice only to blink when her handmaid reached up to touch her cheek.

"You…have a cut on your face." The blonde-haired girl muttered with a frown while the older girl surveyed her in approval.

And the two noblewomen could only stare at their leader in a reproach.

After all of that demeaning treatment Elle was still going to tend to Azula's few actual wounds!

"Hm? Oh that's…just an insignificant little scratch." Azula scoffed with an uncaring roll of her eyes only to observe in surprise when Elle began urgently digging in her backpack.

"And having her inspect your ass isn't?" Mai quipped in a monotone voice while Azula just smirked back at her.

Only for the princess to stiffen in shock when a gentle hand reached up to wipe her wounded cheek.

"It doesn't matter how small it is…I love you Azula-sama…and I…can't bear to see even the slightest wound on you." Elle spoke in a heartfelt voice with her hand wiping Azula's face while golden eyes stared down at her in confusion.

The emotional declaration hit all three of the highborn women in the feels.

Even the cruel princess herself.

Not that she would ever say it aloud.

"You are a soft-hearted peasant…but I approve of you all the same." The princess declared in a stern voice while she leaned back against the tree with her small handmaid dutifully cleansing her cheek.

"A-arigatou gozaimasu Azula-sama!" The blonde-haired girl cried out with bounce in her movements while the callous princess eyed her strictly before she dabbed peroxide on her master's face.

"Now that…is pink." The brown-haired woman stated with a giggle while her leader lazily glared back at her while her little sister adorably tended to her cut.

The fact that Azula was sitting still while Elle cleaned her face off was just even more definitive proof of their unbreakable bond.

"Just don't go getting the impression that I am going soft on you. Because I'm not!" Azula grumbled with a violent snarl while Elle smiled lovingly with a hand on her cheek.

"Wakarimashita princess!" Elle cheered with sweet laughter lacing her youthful voice while Azula continued to scowl down at her happy face.

"That's my favorite handmaid. You know your place…unlike the others." The princess sighed in a spoiled voice with her pet craning her arm to dry her face.

"That's so master. My place…is with you." The blonde-haired girl responded in a swooning voice with a shy smile while her master's cold eyes stared down at her in approval.

Only for the powerful princess to tense up in humiliation when she caught sight of the hideous bandaid that the girl was retrieving from her bag.

All the while the two noblewomen snickered under their breath while she murderously glared at their laughing faces.

Elle's lips were in a loving smile while Azula found herself hastily thinking of an excuse to say before she ruptured the seal of the bandaid.

"That won't be necessary servant." Azula remarked in what she hoped was not too cruel of a voice while Elle peered up at her with her shoulders slumping as soon as she spoke.

"O-oh…okay." Elle mumbled in a pout while Azula scowled down at her.

"Not that I don't want it of course. But wearing such a patch would show weakness in the eyes of my people." The princess explained with a serious nod while she watched in satisfaction when her girlfriend's smile began to return.

"Weakness Azula-sama?" The blonde-haired girl asked in eagerness to hear all that her brilliant friend had to say while her princess smiled confidently down at her.

"A princess must not show even the slightest sign of weakness in front of her people. I must maintain a proud image at all times…for their sake." Azula announced in a sanguine voice with her lips curving into a smirk when Elle beamed up at her in admiration.

Mai and Ty Lee exchanged a deadpan glance but they knew better than to call Azula out on her lie because they did not want to hurt Elle's feelings.

"I understand! That is so kind of you Azula-sama. I will put save it for later then." Elle chirped with her amber eyes sparkling in reverence while Azula lowered her hand into her hair once more.

And then she giggled when the princess patted her head while she began putting her first aid supplies away.

"Good girl." The princess purred with a fond smirk on her regal lips while she enjoyed the way her little handmaid blushed under her petting hand.

The two noblewomen smiled softly at their young friend once more only for angered shouts from the bottom of the hill to gain all four of their attentions.

"Please stay still captain! I can't clean your burns if you don't sit still!" Shii shouted across the forest air while Azula turned to gaze down at Zoe in amusement to see the warrior hissing in anger.

"I am going to break that cunts legs and drag her broken behind a cart through komodo rhino shit! Do you hear me you House Lin whore!" Zoe roared with her teeth clenched in her rage while all but Mai sweatdropped.

The weapons expert now seethed in fury while her leader cast her a taunting smile.

"Bitch." Mai snarled with Ty Lee leaning over to pat her arm.

"Try not to let her get to you Mai! Just think pink thoughts!" Ty Lee advised in a kind voice only to flinch when Mai cast her a glare that rivaled even that of Azula.

Only for Elle's cheerful voice to just barely calm her friend down.

"It will be okay oneesan! Sometimes the best of friends starts off hating each other! And before you know it a beautiful friendship will blossom from the flames of hatred!" Elle cheered with a fist in the air while all three of her highborn friends gazed at her dryly.

"Yes Mai. You shouldn't be so quick to turn down this…opportunity for friendship." Azula taunted with a smug smile while the other woman glared a hole through her skull.

"Of course, captain. But you won't get to drag her through komodo rhino shit if you die from an infected wound!" The nurse retorted in a frustrated voice with the princess smirking in cruel entertainment while the warrior thrashed once more.

"These wounds are not enough to bring me down!" The captain yelled with her burned arms being wiped down with salve.

"Even the greatest of warriors can fall to one infected cut! You should really let us finish!" Shii pleaded while Zoe's soldiers sweatdropped from the sidelines.

"By all means don't! It would be a real tragedy if you didn't make it back home with us!" The markswoman retorted in an unusually fired up voice with her fist clenching beside her while the monarch finally sighed in annoyance once more.

"That's exactly what the spineless spawn of Ukano would say! You can't win a battle that doesn't involve striking the enemy in the back! Your only talent is sucking cock! And judging by how quick the former prince was quick to leave you I can only imagine that you leave much to be desired!" Zoe sneered with a cold glare while she sat on a stump only for Mai's face to turn red in her rage.

And much to both Mai and even the acrobat's fury the princess chuckled with a hand over her mouth.

"Azula!" The brown-haired woman exclaimed with the other woman just smiling cruelly.

"I am going to kill her Azula. If it's the last thing I do!" Mai shouted only for Elle to lean over to place a calming hand on her wrist.

And once more the weapons expert breathed heavily in her anger while the petite girl calmed her by touch alone.

It was just astonishing to all of Team Azula when they saw time and time again just how much of a comforting affect Elle had on all of them.

Even Azula herself.

"I know it's hard oneesan but I really think that you two should use this time…to try and bury the hatchet! I would be happy to be your mediator! Maybe…just maybe we'll even find a new friend." The blonde-haired girl insisted with a cheerful smile while even the acrobat sweatdropped beside her.

"No kid. No, I won't!" The markswoman grunted before she plopped back down on her backside while the smaller girl began to rub her arm.

"I urge you to sit still captain! The state of your left arm is simply atrocious! It looks like it was nearly blown off and you continued to abuse it!" The nurse announced in a worried voice while Azula now glared at Mai's proudly sneering face.

"I have a war to win! I have no time for rest! I have many enemies to kill!" The captain snapped with a merciless scowl while the medic sighed once more.

"Be that as it may! I am going to have to ask you to refrain from using this arm…as much as possible until we return! If you want to keep it!" Shii explained in a hurry while Zoe clenched her teeth with a humiliated look in her hazel eyes.

All the while Nako stood with a clipboard in hand while she surveyed the warrior with a flinching expression before she cleared her throat to speak to the captain.

"So anyway captain…" Nako trailed off with a shudder when Zoe's eyes pierced her soul.

"Ah General Nako. Can this wait?" Zoe asked in a terrifying voice while Nako quickly nodded with a pale countenance before stepping back into submission.

"Good. I hope she loses her arm." Mai snorted with a roll of her eyes while the acrobat nodded in agreement.

"Me too! She isn't pink at all!" Ty Lee agreed in an unusually stern voice while Azula glared at the two of them.

Only for all three of them to furrow their brows in puzzlement when Elle stood up with her backpack over her shoulders.

"What are you doing servant?" Azula inquired in a curious voice only to gaze on in bafflement when her pet smiled back at her.

"To make a new friend and sue for peace! Worry not my friends! I shall return shortly!" Elle declared in an innocent voice while her big sister's sunk back in horror just as she began scampering down the hill.

And the princess just blinked after her admirer while she watched the girl run up to the soldier's side.

"Elle…" The brown-haired woman groaned with a fond shake of her head while her fellow noblewoman folded her angered arms over her breasts.

'Damn it Elle…why do you have to go and help her?' The markswoman thought with disbelief in her tawny eyes.

But she knew the answer.

It was because Elle had an open heart and the girl didn't hold a grudge.

At least…not in most circumstances.

"Captain." Saro called out with his words causing Zoe to turn her head around to notice Elle running up to her.

And strangely enough to his surprise the lethal warrior did not lash out when the young girl ran up to her.

"Hello!" The blonde-haired girl greeted with a wave only for her friends to sweatdrop while the captain's glare lessened ever so slightly.

"Hello…Elle." The captain answered in a curt voice with the nurse cleansing her wounds while she met the younger girl's gaze.

"It's possible that I can be of use! I have some medical supplies in my bag." Elle offered to the surprise of those in the camp while Zoe's hazel eyes widened in surprise.

And some even turned to gaze at the strange girl in suspicion that she had ill motives.

"That…won't be necessary. I can clean the captain's arm just fine with…this salve." The nurse stated with evident suspicion in her voice while the young girl's shoulders slumped ever so slightly.

And Team Azula gazed down in disbelief and even a small bit of anger that their young friend was viewed as an oddity even in their own camp.

Just like back in Royal Caldera City as they saw with the bullies, the merchants and even General Bujing.

The girl doesn't fit in with the rigid Fire Nation culture.

As a result, people distrust her.

Even though Elle's the kindest soul there is!

The princess rolled her eyes with a twinge of anger in her cold stare while she watched the scene below.

'Please! It couldn't be more obvious that Elle isn't an assassin!' Azula thought with a snort of blue fire briefly escaping her nostrils.

This too…she will have to mend.

It will not do to have her betrothed distrusted by her own subjects.

"That call is not yours to make. It is mine…bring it closer…Elle. Let me have a look at your supplies." Zoe remarked in her usual stoic voice to the surprise of many while Elle raised her head to smile brightly back at her.

"But...captain." Shii protested weakly only for Zoe to glare at her icily before she relented while Elle sprang forward with bounce in her step.

The other soldiers and workers stared at the teenager in a margin of distrust while the captain watched observed her with a curious eye when the girl began digging in her backpack.

"I have….an antibiotic cream that will help prevent infection. And…a burn gel." The blonde-haired girl answered with an unwavering smile while the soldier gazed down at the two tubes in mild puzzlement.

"I have…never seen these labels before…" The nurse muttered after leaning in to survey the supplies with a baffled look in her eyes.

Only for the ever-cheerful girl to smile knowingly.

"That's because I am not from around here. But that doesn't matter! I would like to help!" Elle assured with a quick nod while some gazed at her in increased distrust only for Zoe to wave her hand in the air.

"May as well try. It can't make this wretched day any worse." The captain snarled with her hazel eyes glaring up in the other noblewoman's direction.

"I…assure you captain it very well could." Shii advised in a concerned voice while Elle set her first aid kit on the forest floor.

Just where…is this girl from?

These supplies were not Fire Nation, or Earth Kingdom and most certainly not Watertribe!

"You speak of poison Shii?" Zoe questioned in an unconcerned voice while she gazed at the other woman's grimacing face.

"Not necessarily poison…" The nurse trailed off only for the famous soldier to chuckle in amusement.

"Be assured my friend…that if anyone poisons me. I will start cutting down everyone around me at random! Not even Princess Azula will be safe! I will take as many with me as I can! Starting with that House Lin whore!" The captain announced in a frigid voice with now nearly a hundred people staring at her in a mixture of shock and fright.

All except for Elle that is.

And not one voice dared to question the legendary soldier's ability to prove her boast.

Many people gazed up at Azula's tent with terrified eyes while the monarch still gazed down with equally frightening golden eyes.

"Just put the damn cream on! It's not poison!" Azula bellowed in a fed-up voice with her childhood friends staring down in disappointment.

Mai most of all.

And then to the further surprise of even the captain herself the young girl began wiping down her burns with a fresh cloth.

"You would not only give me supplies to treat my wounds…but you would apply it yourself…even though I wish to kill your…friend?" Zoe asked in a taken aback voice with a hateful emphasis on the word 'friend' while the small girl continued to applying the antibiotic to her wound.

And despite the markswoman's reservations she could only sigh heavily.

It was obvious that Elle was too kind to ignore the injured.

No matter who it may be.

"That's so! I hold you no ill will! Consider this…a token of peace and friendship!" The blonde-haired girl chimed with her master rolling her eyes up on the hill while the warrior stared at her incredulously.

"Peace and friendship from House Lin?" The captain inquired with an edge to her voice while the blonde spread the cream down her bicep.

"No…from me!" Elle exclaimed in a kind voice while Zoe's hazel eyes widened in a rare sense of confusion.

Up on the hill the acrobat found that she couldn't help but smile despite how much she disliked Zoe.

"You gotta admit Azula. Elle is quite good at getting violent, uncooperative people to see the ways of peace." Ty Lee commented with a nod while Azula rolled her golden eyes once more.

"Only some people Ty Lee. Not all." The princess snorted with a hand on her knee while her lifelong friends grimaced in agreement.

"Friends…me and you?" Zoe repeated in a softer voice while Elle now spread the burn gel across her arm without complaint.

The encampment could only watch in astonishment to see that the strange young girl was successfully convincing their infamously vicious captain to sit still so she can treat her wounds.

A feat that that had their nurse gazing on in complete bafflement.

"If you want!" The blonde-haired girl replied without delay while the nurse took to assisting her in her task.

"Fine. But this…changes nothing between me and House Lin." The captain grunted with her lips entrenched in a scowl while she grudgingly allowed the two females to apply the gel to her arm.

"You…have some medical experience." The nurse muttered from where she stood beside the younger girl while the blonde smiled sweetly.

"I would…my mother…she treated the injured." Elle admitted in a reminiscent voice while her highborn friends gazed down in realization.

Azula could only frown once more while she held a hand to her chin.

So…that's why Elle is so insistent on peace.

Her mother was a medic.

"Good…that will be helpful. We are short on help…and we have far too many intolerable brutes to treat." Shii complained with her eyes narrowing at the back of the stubborn soldier's head.

"Oh, would you shut up! What are you? My mother!" Zoe retorted in an irate voice while the two girls worked on her arm.

"Of course, captain. I would also like to inform you that we lack the supplies to make you a proper cast…so I will simply ask you to act as if it is in a cast." The nurse remarked with snap in her voice while the captain gritted her teeth once more.

"Just get it over with then so I can move on with my day." The captain answered in a bitter voice while she briefly glared up in the direction of her monarch's tent.

Three months she mused in resentment once more.

That was when the teenager puzzled the others when she handed the nurse the two tubes while she gazed at her in increasing puzzlement.

Only for Shii's eyes to widen when Elle began unbuttoning her shirt.

An action that caused the entirety of Team Azula to nearly fall over in surprise.

'What…is that girl doing!" The princess thought with a brief spark of jealousy in her eyes while she glared down at her captain's bewildered face.

Just when the blonde tore off her long-sleeved shirt to now stand in only her light undershirt.

"We…can use my shirt…to make a temporary cast." The blonde-haired girl spoke in a quiet voice while the captain stared at her with her hazel eyes that were as wide as dinner plates.

There wasn't a single individual that wasn't floored by the young girl's announcement.

And even one as kind as Ty Lee was just astonished that Elle would do that for Zoe.

Mai's mouth hung open in mutual disbelief while she sank back against the tree.

And for once even Azula was taken aback.

The princess's golden eyes were wide in confoundment while she gaped down at her lovely handmaid's now nearly bare upper body.

The entire camp was silent except for the sound of a few people muttering and many people breathing in amazement.

The girl was giving a new meaning to the old saying of what it meant when someone was willing to take the shirt off their back for you.

Literally!

"Y-yes…that would work…for the time…being." Shii stammered in a stunned voice while she watched the girl kneel with scissors in hand as she began to cut up her shirt.

The whole of the camp was speechless while the teenager stood up with half of her shirt in her hand.

And Zoe was still staring at her with astonishment in her hazel eyes while she numbly watched Elle start wrapping the cloth around her well-muscled arm.

"S-sumimasen…but a shirt is all I have." Elle murmured in a timid voice with her humble words prompting Zoe to turn her head in disbelief.

And Team Azula could only stare down at their young friend in increased bafflement that the girl was apologizing for not having better material.

"What! No! This…will do…just…. fine." Zoe muttered in a noticeably kinder voice as she raised her arm while Elle bound her cast with the mutually shocked nurse's assistance.

All the while more than aware that her princess was glaring down at her with venomous golden eyes.

A terrifying gaze that warned her of what would come if she did not express sufficient gratitude.

"That…t-that is good to know." The blonde-haired girl stuttered shyly while the older woman still observed her with an uncharacteristically baffled gaze.

"Thank you…Elle. I am…in your debt." The captain announced at long last with a newfound fondness in her cold eyes only for the handmaid to shake her head.

"No…I ask for nothing. I help…because I want to." Elle assured with a still persistent smile while Zoe mutely nodded head.

And all throughout the camp people began to mutter to one another about the young blonde.

"Now…I've seen everything." Mai admitted with her mouth still ajar in surprise while Azula's fist continued to clench in her lap.

The acrobat nodded her head while she gazed down at her foot with appreciative brown-gray eyes.

'Elle…you gave me your blanket to walk on…and Zoe your shirt…you have got to be the kindest person I've ever met.' The brown-haired woman thought with an emotional nod while she smiled down at her little sister.

"She…truly is the sweetest…isn't she Azula. Azula?" Ty Lee questioned in a confused voice while she turned to her friend only for a shiver to travel down her spine when she met the other woman's eyes.

It was almost ironic.

Zoe could try to kill Mai several times over but as soon as the other woman is gazing at Elle with interested eyes only then does Azula truly become furious.

As soon as both noblewomen noticed the princess's wrathful expression, they both shivered in terror with sweat dripping down their foreheads.

And they both wisely remained silent.

All of the sudden they were beginning to realize that Azula made for the scariest girlfriend in the world!

And it was obvious what set Azula off.

A few moments later the captain flexed her fist in her new arm sling with her hazel eyes still gazing at the petite girl in fascination.

And the nurse returned to finishing her dressing of the lesser injuries on her right arm.

And for once the famous soldier did not resist or lash out.

Instead…she was still gazing at the much younger girl with astonished hazel eyes.

"Well! I hope that helps! I should probably go help with the rest of the injured! I'll see you later Zoe!" The blonde-haired girl cried out with a wave at the dazedly nodding older woman before she scampered away just as quickly as she arrived.

"Right…. see you later…Elle." Zoe replied in a bewildered voice while her comrades also gazed after the young girl in silence.

"Erm…can we talk now captain?" Nako requested with a cough while Zoe still gazed after Elle's dashing form.

'That girl…is romance material. If the princess hadn't already snagged her…I would date her in a heartbeat.' The captain thought with a resolute nod only to shake her head in disappointment.

If only.

"Hello! Can I be of assistance?" Elle chirped with a happy wave of her hand while another nurse quickly nodded her head.

And soon enough Azula's callous ire only boiled over even further as she watched her admirer run from one wounded man to the next.

All the while many men that were old enough to be the girl's father gazed after the teenager with far too much interest than she cared for them to have.

"C-calm down Azula!" The brown-haired woman exclaimed with a shudder while her controlling friend continued to exhale blue flames after hearing another man mutter how pretty the girl was.

Only to flinch again not a moment later when another commented on her young friends 'marital potential'.

And soon another saying that Elle was the 'sweetest' they've ever met.

"We told you that Elle would have no problems finding a suitor that doesn't demean her…but you didn't want to listen." The markswoman stated dryly with the acrobat giving her a fearful glance while the princess released another snort of azure fire.

Only for the insane princess to take them aback when she raised her fingers in the air with lightning generating at her fingertips.

And before the two frightened women even had a chance to speak Azula fired a bolt of lightning down at the camp below.

Crack!

The entire encampment turned to watch a tree split in two as it fell with a resounding thud while their princess's unbelievably strict voice cut into the air.

Her terrified friends sat speechless while Azula now stood over them with her right hand extended before her while she glared down at the equally terror-struck encampment.

"That girl is my pet! She belongs to me and me alone! The next person that I catch so much as looking her for even an instant will find themselves facing me in an Agni Kai!" Azula bellowed over the entire with her fist falling back to her side while the two noblewomen stared up at her in a disturbed silence.

And with that almost one hundred voices cried out in affirmative while Elle stood with an awestruck blush on her fair cheeks.

The young girl peered up at the princess's callous face with a swooning hand on her cheek that transformed the monarch's rage into a pleased smirk.

"O-oh Azula-sama…" The blonde-haired girl swooned in a lovesick voice while she bashfully twiddled her thumbs under the princess's possessive stare.

"You may carry on now!" The princess shouted in a sadistic voice before plopping back down on her ass while her childhood friends gaped at her as if she had just spouted a third arm.

"Uh…Azula…that was a little…overboard." Ty Lee spoke in a still terrified voice only for Azula to continue gazing down with a smug smirk on her red lips.

"Seriously Azula…. you're insane." Mai grumbled with a pale countenance only for her friend to pay no mind to her words.

Leave it to Azula to scare off any interested eyes with the promise of an Agni Kai if caught gazing the girl's way!

"Perhaps…I really should place a collar on her…a collar that says…Azula's pet." Azula muttered with a finger residing under her chin while the two noblewomen shuddered in pity for her handmaid.

The only one who failed to cower was Zoe herself.

The captain just glanced over her shoulder with an amused look in her eyes before turning to gaze past her frightened subordinates.

Yes, she certainly can see why such a lovely girl caught her princess's eye.

"Azula-sama! I'm going to find Ty Lee a walking stick! I'll be right back!" Elle called out with a happy smile while she waved up at Azula's smiling face.

"See to it that you do! If you're not back in ten minutes I'll send armed guards after you!" The princess yelled out with a possessive smirk while her subordinates shook their heads as they watched the petite girl dash into the trees.

'Somehow I bet that anyone down there would allow Elle much more freedom than she will have marrying Azula.' The brown-haired woman thought with a heavy sigh while she peered back at her spoiled friends gratified smirk.

But even so!

Elle was happy with Azula, and that was all that mattered to her!

It couldn't get any pinker than that!

"Zoe! Get up here! I want to have words with you!" Azula barked with her palms clutching her robed knees while Zoe sat gazing down at her clenching fist.

Only for her eyes to narrow in anger when her most skilled warrior failed to even look her way.

"Anyhow Nako…you were saying?" Zoe questioned in a taunting voice while the chief pilot stared at her in disbelief.

"Erm…the princess…is talking to you." Nako responded in her usual shaky voice while Zoe turned to gaze up at Azula's scowling face.

"How strange. I didn't hear her say a word. Anyhow…go on." The captain quipped with the nurse quickly rushing away in terror while the princess narrowed her golden eyes in anger.

"I-I uh compiled a list of names of the d-deceased as you requested. But uh…you s-should really speak to the princess first." The chief pilot answered in an increasingly fearful voice only for the pilot to also scowl back at her.

"Give me your paper and pen." Zoe demanded with her good hand extended while Nako fretfully handed the items over.

"Zoe! Come here right now!" The princess ordered in a wrathful voice with her two-childhood friends now scooting away while the captain swiftly wrote on a piece of paper.

"Deliver this message to Her Highness." The captain commanded to the now terrified pilot who grasped ahold of the paper with a trembling hand.

The entire camp fell into a frightened silence once more while Azula's golden eyes were now agape in rage.

Saro could only shudder while he watched from his seat while his captain refused to meet their monarch's gaze.

He understood his leader's cause for anger.

But even so.

That did little to still the sense of terror that he felt when Azula's murderous eyes now glared down at them.

Much like a vengeful deity staring down from the heavens themselves!

"B-but…s-she asked for…you." Nako protested in a clearly apprehensive voice while Zoe stood up with her bitter eyes glaring into the forest ahead.

"Just take it to her!" Zoe snapped after she glared over her shoulder at the now cowering young woman.

"Y-yes! R-right away captain!" The chief pilot squeaked just as she began running up the hill while the princess smashed a fist to the ground in her anger.

"Zoe!" Azula roared with her companions hastily moving away from her while she shook in rage when Zoe began walking away.

"Wouldn't it be something if royalty returned a shred of respect that they demand from their people! Wouldn't that be the day! Three months!" The captain ranted in a clearly enraged voice as she stomped away with the frightened encampment making a wide berth for her retreat.

The princess's teeth clenched together while she seethed in fury as her soldiers stomped towards the forest.

"Damn you Mai! You are nothing but a liability!" Azula screamed in a growingly hateful voice while Mai shrunk back in dismay under the resentful glare.

"A-Azula…" Ty Lee attempted to plea only for a blast of blue fire to scorch the green grass.

Only for a frightened voice to grasp their attention while they turned to the poor pilot cowering in terror in a bow before the furious monarch's boots.

"I-I have a m-message for y-you p-princess." Nako stuttered in a mousy voice while Azula glared down at her from her seat.

"Then say it Nako!" The princess hissed as she turned her head when the sound of a tree being cut down resonated through the forest.

Zoe panted with her bangs sticking to her eyes before she charged at another tree while the other soldiers watched in a frightened silence.

Thud!

"J-just p-please d-don't k-kill me!" The chief pilot begged with her face in the grass while she fearfully glanced up at the powerful woman's booted feet.

"I won't kill you! Just read me the damn message!" Azula shouted with a finger snapping in the air while Nako flinched at the volume of her voice and of the sound of trees falling in the distance.

It was becoming increasingly clear to the frightened Ty Lee that Mai would not be getting off with an easy three months.

And she couldn't help but stare off at the cleared tree line in terror while she watched an unseen Zoe cut through her tenth tree.

With only one arm!

"Y-yes Your H-Highness!" Nako exclaimed with a shaken nod as she half sat up to read the note only for her eyes to nearly fall out of her head.

"Well! What does it say!" The princess growled with a boot tapping on the forest floor while her eyes narrowed when the poor woman began to shake even worse than before.

"H-House Song is a prideful house…and I am the greatest warrior in the Fire Nation…" The chief pilot trailed off in a gulp while her monarchs glared down at her.

"Continue." Azula commanded once more with her two friends' also shivering on the sidelines.

"O-oh my…" The chief pilot mumbled vaguely as the words promptly died in her throat.

'That…doesn't sound too promising.' The brown-haired woman thought while she observed the terrified girl stare up at her leader in obvious horror.

"I-it's…p-probably better if you read it princess." Nako stated in a shaken voice as she reached up to hand the note to Azula who grasped onto it with a furious fist.

Only for the princess's hand to clench upon the now wrinkled paper in a clear display of rage.

Princess Azula,

House Song is a prideful house, and I am the greatest warrior in the Fire Nation. I have served in your name with pride, in over thirty successful missions! You ask for my loyalty…and then spit on me in return?

I have admired you ever since I heard of your famous victory in Ba Sing Se. You carried yourself with pride, and unlike your father, and brother you backed up your words with action.

I saw a leader that was worth following. I saw a monarch that was worth bending the knee to.

Now…I am not so sure.

I am not a nameless soldier. Nor am I a slave.

I am your most valuable soldier…and I will not tolerate this insult!

I will not tolerate this…hypocrisy…this 'three months' slap on the wrist that you consider punishment.

I expect a satisfactory resolution that will cleanse this insult to my honor.

Or I will withdraw from the war effort and return to my villa until you deliver a satisfactory ruling.

Sincerely,

Captain Zoe

An unfathomably wrathful roar filled the air while the two noblewomen and the young pilot cowered in fear when the message was lit a fire in blue flames.

And then without any warning whatsoever Azula jumped at the speechless Mai before viciously slamming the frightened woman against a tree.

"If she wasn't so fond of you, I would set you aflame! Why don't you get lost and go join Zuko if you want him so much!" The princess snarled before dropping the trembling woman at the similarly shocked acrobat's feet.

"P-please A-Azula." Ty Lee murmured in a shaken voice with a hand on the ashamed woman's shoulder only for her leader to scowl down at her in disgust.

"Silence! You seek to ruin me! So Zuko can take the throne in my stead! I see through your treason! Maybe it was you who sent that assassin after me!" Azula accused with a livid finger pointing down at Mai's stunned face.

The accusation hit both noblewomen hard in the chest while they shakily gazed at each other before fearfully meeting the enraged monarch's gaze.

"I-I have sent no assassins after you Azula! All I did was protect the man that I love! Wouldn't you do the same for Elle if you return even a fraction of the love that she has for you!" Mai retorted in an uncharacteristically distraught voice while Azula seethed down at her with her eyes briefly flickering in some unknown emotion.

"As of this moment forward your travel pass is revoked. You and the rest of House Lin will await my judgement for your crimes. And if you ever betray me again…" The princess spoke in a beyond frozen voice with her malicious gaze piercing the guilty faced woman's skull.

She clenched her fist at her hip with her vengeful eyes peering down at her two friends frightened faces before speaking once more.

"I will kill not only you…but all of House Lin. Is that understood Mai?" Azula concluded in a monstrous voice with her utterly cold eyes staring down at her two friends unfathomably horrified faces.

An ominous wind swept through the air while Mai found herself numbly nodding in understanding.

"U-understood Azula." The markswoman agreed with an unusually unnerved countenance while the acrobat still sat in shock beside her.

In all of their years knowing and serving Azula.

This was the first time that they have ever heard her threaten to put an entire family to the sword!

It was clear that Azula was starting to crack under the pressures of ruling as well as the stress that came with being stranded on this island.

Which was to say nothing of the paranoia that attempted assassination left on her psyche.

But even so.

In this moment they realized that they were not gazing up at the face of a longtime friend.

No.

They were gazing up at the heartless face of a terrifying tyrant!

Ty Lee found herself unable to muster up so much as a single word in protest.

And Mai too found herself unable to find the strength to say anything further.

It was only when the pilot's voice frightfully called out to the wrathful woman that she finally turned away from them.

And somehow both noblewomen found themselves breathing heavy sighs of relief when that monstrous gaze was no longer bearing down on them.

"M-may I go Y-Your Highness?" Nako whimpered in a low bow while turned to glance down at her with a calmer but still angry gaze.

"You…may…after I am finished speaking." The princess answered in a stern voice with her hands clasped behind her back while the young woman shakily nodded her head.

"Y-yes princess!" The chief pilot cried out with her golden eyes still staring into the grass.

"Stop your cowering Nako. You have not angered me. Rather…you have pleased me." Azula commented with her rare spark of approval in her strict eyes while Nako's shaking lessened after hearing those words.

The two noblewomen sat in silence as they gazed at their friends back well aware of the meaning in her actions.

Azula's trust in them was vanishing and in its place, she was starting to look to others for counsel in their place.

"I…have?" Nako asked in a relieved voice only for Azula to roll her golden eyes down at her in a manner similar to a mother would scold her child.

"I am not even going to answer that. I have decided to reward you…by giving you both the position of royal pilot and a seat on my counsel." The princess announced to the disbelief of all upon the hill while she gazed down at the stunned pilot's face.

"M-me? But I-I'm just a commoner! A lowly…pilot." The now royal pilot protested lamely in an awestruck voice while her monarch continued to tower over her.

"Only I may decide your place Nako. You have proven yourself as someone that I can trust. Therefore, I wish to have you close by…at all times." Azula explained with a satisfied gleam in her golden eyes while Nako gaped up at her in a speechless shock.

The young pilot found herself at a loss for words.

How was a peasant girl supposed to respond to such a heavy statement?

"Well! Do you accept or do you decline!" The princess snorted with her lips still pursed in a frown while the bowing young woman kissed the grass once more.

"Thank you, princess! You honor me! Of course, I accept!" Nako in a delighted voice with something akin to a smile while Azula eyed her in a pleased manner.

"Good. Very good. At least I know that I can depend upon you. Unlike some people around here." The princess stated with obvious venom in her voice while she glared over her shoulder at the weapon's experts humiliated face.

"I won't let you down princess! I…promise!" The royal pilot declared in a grateful voice with a speedy nod while the royal woman finally waved her off.

"You may go now. I will send for you if I need you." Azula ordered with her hands at her hips while Nako sprang to her feet with noticeable pep in her step that was not present before.

"Yes, my princess! Thank you…for both the promotion and…for leading me through this harrowing day." Nako informed with a hand over her chest before turning to walk away with a relieved smile on her face.

The princess stared after her retreating subordinate with a more pleased look in her eyes than before.

Only to turn to both of her still speechless friends with returning disgust in her eyes just before she stomped past them.

Only to vanish into her royal tent not a minute later while her lifelong friends sat in a disturbed silence.

Not too far away.

The teenager sat on the ground with her backpack strung out before her while she gazed down at a small device in her hand.

The small girl stared down with a guilt-ridden face as she thought back to the half lie that she just told her girlfriend.

It is true that she wanted to search for a walking stick…but she had another reason for walking out into the woods alone.

She swallowed down her nervousness after the phone turned on with a brief flash of light.

As expected, she received a low battery signal and an indicator to let her know that she was out of service.

Something that she could have chuckled over if she had not been so unsettled by what she noticed earlier.

After taking off the back of the phone to discover the recording chip she had been shocked to discover that Rieko gave her a modified phone.

Next to the compartment for the rechargeable battery was a custom slot for a single tiny disposable battery!

It was all the more proof that Rieko was somehow involved in her travel to this…other Earth!

"She…she put spare batteries in my bag…I didn't even think twice when I saw them before." Elle muttered with a nervous gulp while she quickly slipped one of the batteries into the back before it could power off.

And just like that she breathed in anticipation while she sat back in the grass with her amber eyes never leaving the menu screen.

She quickly cycled through the menu options only for her fingers to freeze after she noticed that Rieko had loaded data files under the audio folder.

And then with great hesitation she opened the audio folder only for her eyes to widen even further when she noticed a series of files.

All cleverly titled in Japanese so that prying eyes will be unable to decipher Rieko's words.

And then with a brief spark of bravery she hit the play button the first audio file.

And with that she sat there in a stunned silence when the older woman's voice began to play in her ears.

If you are hearing this Elle-chan, then that can only mean that you've turned down my offer. Even though it might seem…as if I am the one responsible for your…predicament. I assure you…I am not. All I did child…was leave you with…a small piece of guidance.

The teenager now sat with a hand over her overwhelmed face while gazed down in a growing panic.

"S-she…knew. She…knows." The blonde-haired girl mumbled in a shocked voice while the older female's smooth voice continued to flow into her ears.

This…was going to happen regardless of what I did. You opened a gateway my child…a gateway with your power. Had you come with me…I would have been able to explain it to you in a more direct manner that would have left no room for doubt. Sadly…you did not.

Now sunk to the grass in her disbelief while she held onto the phone with a trembling hand.

"I…brought myself here? H-how!" Elle asked herself in a growing panic while she grasped at the grass below her.

Never in a thousand years would she have ever imagined that was the case!

You have a special power. A power like no other. A power that has passed between countless holders throughout the millennia before it found its way into your veins. According to my records…this power is called the Component. Or as I like to call it, the key.

"The…key?" The blonde-haired girl spoke in a muted voice with her hand tightly grasping the phone.

There is a pseudo space that surrounds our world…and something beyond. In your hands you hold a key…and this power of yours Elle-chan is the only known force that can operate this key to open the gateway. Like putting a key in a door lock…only you can open it and only you can lock it.

Elle sat in a speechless silence while she found herself numbly nodding to the heavy declaration.

This was…so surreal.

Just too unreal!

I want you to do something for me. I want you to discover how you got to…wherever it is that you are. And I…want you to come back. On the day that you finally understand just how you all of this came to be. I want you to return home and bring your power back to me. So, we can open a gateway…and save us all.

"G-go home? To that…h-hell? N-no! Never!" The blonde-haired girl blurted out with a rare sense of anger in her voice while she began to breath heavily.

You are a rare breed Elle-chan. You…are pure of heart. This is both your strength…and your weakness. But unfortunately, I ask that you shed your purity…and open your eyes to what lies before you.

Elle said nothing while her blonde locks stuck to her cheeks as she listened to the older woman's foreboding words.

I am going to force your eyes open and make you stare straight into an endless pit of darkness. You will cry…you will cry a thousand times. You will see this world for what it really is…a disease. But fear not…I will patch your mind back together with a vision.

The small girl sunk with her hands over her head while she once more longed to never have awoken this power.

"I don't want this. I just…want to spend my days…smiling with Azula-sama." The blonde-haired girl whispered in a broken voice with her head falling into her knees.

I will show you how to get rid of the rot…and together with my Apostles. We will build a better world! We will build a just world! A world where a mother doesn't have to die to protect her child from invading soldiers. That Elle Turner…is what I wish to show you.

"A…b-better world." Elle stuttered in a confuddled voice with a sniffle while she listened to Rieko's final words.

Think it over…and if you find yourself wishing to see me again. Listen to the next recording to find out more. I look forward to hearing from you again soon. Take care…and I hope you find what is lost to you.

Click.

The small girl knelt in the grass with her far away eyes staring up into the looming forest tree tops while a lone tear dripped down her cheek.

"I…have already found it. A-and I…don't want to leave her. I…don't want to leave this life. This is…m-my home. Beside…Azula-sama." The blonde-haired girl lamented in a reminiscent voice with her hands falling to her side.

She didn't ever want to leave the Fire Nation.

All she wanted was to serve Azula-sama, for this day, for all of her days, until her last day.

Nothing more, and nothing less.

Just Azula-sama.

[bellatrixobsessed1]

Swift As Karma (Part 12)

She tossed things into a suitcase methodically but quickly. She tried not to think too much of what she was doing. She wasn’t sure that she could. She’d managed on her own well enough when tracking Zuko and Iroh down, but that was when she knew that she had a palace to come back to. 

That was when she could write to her father to receive funding and anything else she might have needed. 

The sound of the door opening made her jump. “Azula? What are you…?”

“I don’t have time, TyLee.” She replied. 

“You’re leaving aren’t you?” 

Azula closed her eyes for a moment. “You can help me.” She tossed a final article of clothing into her pack and a pillow. “Or you can pretend like you haven’t seen anything.” 

TyLee bit her lip. “What do you need help with?”

Azula gave her room a final once over before snatching a very generous sum of gold pieces. “Just pack your clothing quickly.”  Her stomach knotted at her own words, that was a risk she couldn’t afford. She couldn’t spare that kind of time. “Actually, use mine.” 

As TyLee picked through her clothing she pondered upon whether or not she’d even be able to make it out of the palace. Her father was never a patient man and she’d promised him her attendance nearly five minutes ago. Her time was running dangerously low. 

“Are we going to get Zuko and Mai?”

Another set of knots tie themselves into her stomach. “TyLee, I barely have time to take you along.” A good part of her knew that she should take Zuko along, it was her fault that he’d come home in the first place. But there father wasn’t going to kill him. 

No, Zuzu was in his good graces for the time being. She could imagine that her departure would cast him in an even more radiant light. 

“Where are we going to go?” TyLee asked. 

Azula swallowed, just like everything else these days, she didn’t have a plan. She didn’t have time for a plan. “We’ll hide in plain sight.” She decided. “Father will probably anticipate me trying to get as far from him as possible. Why would he think to look within the Capital?” She couldn’t see herself having the ability to get very far with her torso as ravaged as it was. A long-distance flee wasn’t exactly ideal. 

“You aren’t exactly hard to miss.” TyLee pointed out. 

As they walked down the hall, Azula fished out a pair of scissors. “You’re going to have to use them too, if you’d like to accompany me.” 

“Shouldn’t we be more sneaky?” 

“And make ourselves look suspicious?” Azula asked. “Just keep walking. We’ll leave through the front entrance.” If she pretended that things were as ordinary as ever, perhaps they could leave without obstacle.

“Azula, father is looking for you.” Zuko’s eyes looked almost frantic. They fell upon her suitcase. 

“TyLee asked me if I could help move some of her things into the palace since she will be staying here now. Her room is along the way to the training room.” 

“Should I tell him?” 

Azula nodded. “Let him know that I won’t be much longer.” 

“You do realize that he’s going to shoot the messenger, right?” 

Azula cringed inwardly. “I’m sure that you’ll be fine.” She watched him head towards the training room, a look of skepticism etched onto his face. They passed TyLee’s room and then the training room. A brief glance into it reiterated her urgency to leave. Her father’s expression darkened considerably at Zuko’s words. The way his fists clenched and his jaw worked.

She picked up her pace. 

.oOo.

She watched TyLee first. Lock after lock fell to the floor. “Can you get the back?” TyLee passed the scissors to Azula who evened out the remaining long strands of TyLee’s hair. As long as it was, TyLee was able to get away with having her hair unbound and at shoulder length. For good measure, she began working curls into it. 

The way the new style framed her face was flattering.

More so than Azula had anticipated. 

Somehow it put a maturity into her baby face. 

As TyLee fussed with what was left of her hair, Azula moved in front of the lake. She removed her crown and pulled the ribbon from her bun, letting her hair fall. She ran her fingers through inky black tresses. She was going to miss them. With careful and graceful fingers, she began snipping away. Watching her self-esteem shorten with every inch of hair that landed at her feet and in the water until the grass was a mess of black intermingled with the brown-black of TyLee’s hair. 

“Want me to touch up the back?”

Azula silently passed her the scissors. Upon finishing, TyLee ruffled the back of her hair. 

She decided that she had cut it too short. She probably could have gotten away with letting her hair fall to just below her ears, or possibly even midway down her neck. But paranoia and overthinking had gotten the better of her. And, really, it was a shame. Her hair had been so pretty, so elegant. Not like the rough and edgy pixie cut she’d given herself. 

But then, pretty and elegant Azula was gone--if she had ever been there at all--gone and traded off for a rough fugitive. 

TyLee cocked her head at the former princess, “you look so different.” 

She didn’t want to think about that, she hadn’t even bothered to assess the look her new haircut gave her. “Yes, so do you.” Perhaps that was what compelled her to tenderly sweep TyLee’s hair behind her ear. “It suits you.” Perhaps that same longing for a break or a distraction was what compelled her to offer TyLee’s cheek a caress and her nose a soft kiss.

[autistic-yuri]

Azula always hated long hair but she doesn’t trust anyone with her hair for awhile so it’s always been quite a mess and she knows she can’t cut it herself. Fast forward a few months into dating Jin. She walks into Jin’s place really late one night with a pair of scissors.

She asks her, bleary eyed and in a quiet vulnerable tone, not meeting Jin’s eyes, “Can you cut my hair?” there’s a small silence between them where she finally meets Jins eyes. “I- Your the only one I trust to do it.”

Jin is shocked, and the shock must scare Azula since she bites her lip. But she doesn’t linger over her confusion, and shoots her girlfriend a small smile. “Of course, come in. I’ll get some hair stuff and get started right away.” Jin moves out of the doorway to let Azula in.

Jin’s place is very small compared to Iroh’s residence. It’s three bedrooms, which fit Jin, her father, and her three sisters. It was quaint, and tinier than any of the palaces or mansions she’d stayed in. Despite this, she wanted to call this place home. Because the problem with palaces is that they’re built for status, not for people. Houses are built for people. And Azula was a person, not a figure of status. No matter how many times Azula’s brain told her otherwise.

Jin quietly pulled Azula into the downstairs bathroom, and told her to wait there. She quickly ran upstairs to get her sister’s hair products and then ran back downstairs. She threw them in the bathroom and quickly grabbed a chair for Azula to sit on. She did this all messy, uncoordinated, imperfect. Perfect to Azula. She gave out a light chuckle as her girlfriend panted in front of her. Jin shot her a smile and readjusted her spiky ponytail.

Jin sat her down in the chair and started brushing through Azula’s hair gently, before whispering to her, “How short do you want it?” Azula blushed, nervousness filling her stomach like a sinking ship would fill with water.

“Umm, up to the chin.” Azula stuttered out, flustered, the way Jin always made her feel.

“Got it.” She said, planting a kiss on Azula’s cheek.

And she got to work. She put some stuff Azula didn’t recognize into her hair, that smelled of cherry blossoms and love. Well actually the love part is just because Azula is that in love with Jin.

And then chop. She saw the hair fall to the ground and sucked in a deep breath. She remembered the mirror, before the Agni Kai. Snipping away. Her mom behind her in the reflection. She was wrong, how could anyone love Azula?

“So, how does the Princess of the Fire Nation still get so flustered by her girlfriend?” Jin said teasingly, snapping out of her misery.

“Jin, you know that it took 4 months for my brother to practically drag me to your flower cart so I can ask you out.” Jin giggled.

“And you didn’t even know that I dated your brother!” Jin broke into laughter at that and a deep shade of crimson covered Azula’s cheeks.

“My brother who doesn’t even like girls! I mean how did he date both you and Mai and then didn’t realize he liked boys and only boys until the Boiling Rock?!” Azula said frustratingly.

“How did you go your whole life thinking you liked men until you moved here?” Jin said in rebuttal.

“Well- I knew. I just didn’t acknowledge it. I couldn’t acknowledge it!” Azula turned to Jin who gave her a fond look.

“I know. Here, turn back around. I’m almost done. Would you like bangs?” Jin said, softly forcing Azula’s head forwards.

“You’re already done?” Azula said with shock and just received a nice hum from her girlfriend. “I guess you can give me bangs. Just, be careful.”

“Okay.” They sat in relative silence for the rest of the time, Azula trying not to look down again. Jin came in front of Azula and gave her a smile before kneeling to start to cut Azula’s bangs. Azula noted that she stuck her tounge out of her mouth in concentration. It was beautiful.

Eventually Jin got back up and patted down Azula, before returning back in front of her. “It’s done! Want to see?” Azula nodded at Jin, who yanked her out of the chair and pulled her in front of a small wooden mirror hanging on the wall. Much smaller than the grand but empty gold mirrors that hanged around the palace.

Azula looked at the haircut. It was choppy, the hair sticking out in some place. It hung right below her chin, and was oh so slightly lopsided. It was imperfect. It was perfect. “I love it.” Just like her girlfriend. She looked over at Jin’s bright green eyes and crooked smile and said, “I love you.” for the first time.

Jin blushed and pulled her girlfriend close. “I love you too Zul.” She landed a kiss on Azula’s lips and they could’ve stayed there kissing for an eternity. Jin was so gentle with her kisses, yet it had so much power, and was sloppy. And Azula loved every part of it. Loved every part of her. Azula loved someone who loved her back.

That was the most amazing thing to her.

Pssst... Jinzula Nation... spread our gospel... tell me some thoughts about our girls...

[bellatrixobsessed1]

Wan High Weeping 15

She knew that his father cared little for Zuko, even still it astounded her that he hadn’t even reported his son missing. he had been absent for a little over a week now. He hadn’t even sent one pleading, sniveling, ‘please come back’ text.  No, it would seem that reporting his absence was a task for her. Lately Zuko had been leaving nothing but a sour taste in her mouth, even still, she couldn’t just stay silent.

Maybe she should have.

She should just keep out of things and keep to herself as she usually did.

He wasn’t her boyfriend anymore. In a way he was almost toxic. She didn’t know if she should feel angry that he had left with no warning, pity because his situation had become so grim that he had to flee, or relieved that he was safely out of her life.

 Mai wandered down the hall, she was ridiculously early, most of the lights weren’t even on yet. But her home was suffocating anymore. She was tired of hearing about that dammed lawsuit. Tired of hearing about how she should have been watching Tom-Tom better. Tired of being told that if she had then he would have been using the scooter properly.

More than that she was tired of passing Toph by, knowing that it was her fault that the girl’s family was under fire.

 She should have been a better sister.

 She made her way to her locker, pondering and contemplating. She could come forward. She could admit that she hadn’t been watching her brother properly and spare the BeiFongs more hassle. She could, but then she’d have even more scorn from her mother. And frankly, she didn’t know how much more resentment her wrists could handle.

 .oOo.

 Lunchtime is dismal, too many people were trying to talk to her. She didn’t know any of them and she didn’t want to get to know them. She had an inkling that their interested extended as far as her family’s wealth. The company she did keep was as quiet as her. They sit together only because there was a silent acknowledgement; that they all wanted to sit alone at their own table but there weren’t enough tables for that. So they all ate together but isolated. And mostly this was fine by Mai. It kept her from having to talk and it kept her from the attention of Usha. But that day was different. That day she had a lot to think about and the quiet wasn’t doing her well.

 Her ears wandered as much as her mind and soon she happened upon a conversation that hits her in the most unpleasant way. She thought that it was karma for having yelled at Katara on the first day of school, for doing exactly what she was.

 “Is Toph going to be coming back to school?” Suki asked

 “Maybe in a few weeks. Poppy made it sound like she can’t see at all.” Katara replied. “I thought, that she just had pink eye.”

 “Yeah, pink eye can get worse if you can’t afford the medication for it.” Suki pointed out. “I just wish that Toph spoke up sooner, it takes a while to process prescriptions as it as and getting doctor appointments? Take it from me, that takes a while.”

 ��Poor Toph.”

 Mai tried to zone it out. She didn’t want to hear. It just piled more guilt onto her. A dreadful desire to bring about a twisted sort of justice stirred within her. She, to some affect, was causing Toph to suffer. It was only right to suffer in turn.

 Perhaps the feeling was taking its toll because she did something foolish. She dialed Zuko’s number. It was an almost robotic action. So much so, that it takes his voicemail for it to set in that she had called again.

 She didn’t want him to pick up, not by any means. But somehow it stung that he hadn’t.

 All in all, she no longer knew what to torture herself over more, the BeiFongs, concern for Zuko, or her parents. It was dangerous on school grounds, but she needed a release…something else to focus on. “Emi?”

 The girl next to her turned.

 “Can I borrow your scissors?”

 The girl gave a silent nod and slid them over. It was hard to act with the girl’s dark eyes fixed on her. But she opened the scissors anyways and pressed the blade closer to her skin. It was chilly and unfriendly.

 “You should use the other side, the one I don’t use.”

 She knew that she was sitting at the right table. But God, she didn’t need that kind of encouragement.

 In fact she wished that someone would stop her, because she couldn’t do it herself. She wished that she shared lunch with TyLee, maybe then things would be more pleasant.

 .oOo.

 “Oh Mai.” TyLee whispered. “What happened, that looks like it hurt!”

 They were sitting in their usual spot in the Jasmine Dragon.  “Art class.” Mai lied. “We were using those exacto-blades and I wasn’t paying attention…”

 “Were you thinking about you know who.”

 “He’s been missing for a week now, TyLee. Haven’t you thought about him?”

 Her face fell. “Yeah, a little bit. I wonder how Azula’s taking it.”

 She didn’t want to think about that either. Just like she didn’t owe Zuko, she didn’t owe Azula anything. They were both the same when she really thought about it; they used her and toyed with her. And they both made her feel horrible for not being there for them. At least Azula had the decency to be less overt about it.

 “Should we go look for him?”

 She admired TyLee’s enthusiasm.

 “I can’t, I have to…” Her stomach lurches. “I have to watch Tom-Tom, I was supposed to be home.”

 “You always have to watch Tom-Tom.” TyLee frowned. “Can I watch him with you? I really don’t want to be alone right now…”

 “You know how my mom feels about…pretty much everyone I bring over.” It would seem that she couldn’t even choose her friends right. TyLee was a bimbo, Chan was an asshole, Azula was a snake, and Zuko was her mother’s worst nightmare personified. Azula was the only one her at least tolerated.

 “I’ll leave before she gets home.”

 Mai considered, “well I’m already in pretty deep tonight…”

 TyLee pulled her into a crushing hug. “Oh, thanks Mai, you’re the best!”

 And maybe that was why she kept hanging around with TyLee despite having no common ground with her. The girl was one of the few people who actually tried to uplift her. The only one who made her feel useful. “So what was this scary secret you had to tell me?”

 She looked around the bustling café. “I’ll tell you when we get to your house. After you get Tom-Tom to sleep.”

 “That could take a while.”

 “That’s fine.” Something in her eyes seemed to say that she actually didn’t want to speak at all.

 “You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to. If you’d rather just help me fuss with Tom-Tom, that’s fine with me.” She knew she would be in for quite the fit when she got home. She’d left him on his own for at least an hour. It only just began to settle in that he could get himself hurt again. Her parents would never forgive her for a second accident. “I don’t mean to rush you  but we have to hurry and get to my place, TyLee.”

 Oh God, she hoped that Tom-Tom hadn’t gotten himself into too much trouble.

[bellatrixobsessed1]

Slash

Kuchisake-Onna Azula fic. For those of you who don’t know Kuchisake-Onna (known also as the slit mouth woman) is a Japanese urban legend about a woman whose husband slashed her mouth. 

Azula’s room was thick with silence. The sun was well on its way down, even so, she hadn’t bothered to light any lanterns. She pulled the sheet away from the mirror, revealing a dingy, cracked thing. She hadn’t bothered with it since trying to break it in the first place. She didn’t want to admit it, but her heart was pounding. She came to stand before the mirror, just the same way she had before she broke it. And with the same glowering glare. But the glare fell away in anticipation of what she was about to do. With trembling hands slowly unraveled the bandages wrapped around her mouth. The regret to follow was immediate. The woman she stared at wasn’t her. Not quite. Azula knew that she should be happy, that she probably shouldn’t have survived at all. But staring at a face so horrifyingly marred brought her to tears. She touched her cheek, rather the place where it would have been had her mouth not been slashed to her ear on the right and near that on the left. She crumpled to the floor, remembering the night all over again.

 The night was hot, the summer heat nearly over powering. In other words it was a prime night for a party and she was more than in the mood. After landing herself in an institution and making a rather full recovery, she felt as if she owed it to herself to have a good time. To be able to forget, even for a moment, everything she’s been through. Zirin and the others would be there any minute.

She appeared with her braids unraveled and her long hair loose and flowing. Azula realized for the first time, that she’s never seen Zirin with her hair down before. And Zirin probably hasn’t seen her with her hair down either. That was how their evening started; with flattering remarks about each other’s clothing and hair.

It all seemed so simple.

So normal.

 Azula was a few drinks in when Chan got the nerve to slide into their conversation. The last time she’d seen him was summers ago before the comet. That seemed like such a long time ago, which was probably why it was so easy for her to assume that he had forgotten about her. Truth be told, in the hectic jumble that was her life, she nearly forgot about him.

 Maybe it was the drinks thinking, but now that he was older, he had a certain charm about him. There was a certain slickness to his voice that wasn’t there before. A grander demeanor, one  that was very nearly equal to her own. He shared stories of his father and of life on Ember Island for quite some time before sauntering off to entice more women.

 “He isn’t too bad.” One of her friends remarked, the memory of which one was foggy.

 “Yes, he’d make for an interesting night.” Azula agreed. She had looked across the room in the direction of Chan. She found out that she was wrong about the women thing—he was off in a corner speaking with Ruon-Jian. She pondered whether or not she should go for round two, now that she had polished her social skills.

 Zirin looked up from her drink and told Azula to go for it. Before giving her a not so subtle shove towards him.

 Azula finished her drink and made her approach. Her attempt at flirting was infinitely more successful—and perhaps she owed that to the drinks too. Their conversation progressed over one more glass and a few more songs. Halfway through one more song, Azula suggested going somewhere quieter. She seemed to have a habit of being her own undoing. But she couldn’t quite resist the way her ran his hand through her hair and hoped that the feeling was mutual. They escaped the party scene, ditching it for a serene time on the beach. She caught Zirin’s eyes as they departed. Her companion offered her an encouraging wink and a thumbs up.

If only she knew.

 Chan was indeed, a good time. He cracked a few jokes…jokes that were actually witty. She didn’t have to force a laugh that time. The sound of the waves, crickets, and a few hog-monkey chirps from the tree line gave the only sounds She kissed him then, for the second time. She let herself fall to the sand on her back. Her swimsuit still tied tightly—according to the drinks, too tightly. She pulled him on top of her, hoping to fix that. She brushed her pointer over his cheek and he brushed her bangs out of her eyes.

It was going so smoothly until he pulled out the knife.

Maybe if she had expected it, she would have fought back.

 Instead, partially due to the drinks and mostly due to her shock—she lay there and let him slash at her mouth. When he finished carving he gave the knife a powerful toss, the ocean swallowed it right up. He smiled at his work and in the same smooth tone that lured her in began calling her a bitch and informing her that he’d been waiting a long time to do that. Explaining that the damage she and her friends caused all those years ago was the reason he had to work so hard to regain his dominate social standing. Humiliation, he claimed, can change a man.

 “Only a weak man.” Azula took one whispered jab. For it, she received a jarring kick to the head.

 He began to walk away, turning around one time to kick a cloud of sand in her face. She didn’t cry until after her was out of earshot. Too weak and too buzzed to do anything else she remained there, dazed and numb.

Zirin found her an hour or so later with a decent puddle of blood around her head. The sand was soaked with it. Though Azula had run out of tears to shed, Zirin was practically sobbing as she took her into her arms. Most of what she said was lost on Azula, but she could tell by the tone and the apologizing that Zirin felt like the whole thing was her fault.

 She couldn’t reply, all she could do was lay limp in Zirin’s arms, feeling blood run drizzle down her chin.

 The path stood desolate. Chan stood there shivering, the air was unsettlingly cold for a Fire Nation night. It has been awhile since he had been in the capital and he never remembered it being this chilly nor misty. He grumbled to himself about never going to the capital again, the mainland was overrated anyhow. He kicked at a rock and continued on his way back to his room at the local inn. Not a single other soul passed him by. At the flicker of one of the overhanging paper lanterns, Chan considered that perhaps he should have stayed at the party. It was already very late at night he may as well have stayed and got trashed with Ruon Jian. The rest of the string of paper lanterns was swaying precariously in the wind. He could tell that a storm was stirring. Storms in the Fire Nation were always pretty brutal. He pushed himself on anyhow, his inn wasn’t too far away. The first droplets of rain pelted his face and he scowled.

 Lighting exploded not quite in the distance and in its flash he could see a figure. She stood there forebodingly. She had a firm grip on something, it gleamed in the moonlight. The figure took a few steps closer, her footfalls were the only sound—the crunch of boot on stone. Each one was taken with a hint of drama so as to emphasize the noise. Chan noticed as she closed their proximity that she was probably holding a knife. His stomach lurched. How had he forgotten that he was this close to her home? Gulping, he knew that she could sense his anxiety. He could see it in her eyes and her entire posture that she was thrilled.

 In less time than he thought it should have taken, the princess was an arm’s reach away from him. From this nearness, he saw a glint in her eyes that wasn’t there the last time he saw her. The half-psychotic twinkle he has, up until then, only heard rumors of.

The lighting burst again. With its assistance he could now see that what he had thought was a knife was a pair of scissors.

 He had the audacity to must up a, “please no.”

 She didn’t strike though. Instead she closed what little space was left between them. She stood there unmoving for quite some time her chest rising and falling steadily, he could hear each scarf-muffled breath. He didn’t dare do any breathing of his own. Still she didn’t attack instead she brought her fingers to the silk. Agonizingly slowly, she lowered the scarf. It was too dark to see much, especially since, by this time, the wind had clamied most of the lanterns. But he could make out what looked like rough bumpy scars. Lightning sizzled once again, reveling to him the extent of damage he’d done her. She had no scars at all, there was no tissue to be scarred. Chan was shaking, his frantic eyes landing on the scissors.  

 In a voice that was both alluring and horrifying—tinged by a creeping madness—she asked him, “do you think I’m beautiful.”