From a distance the structure looked like a metal cube, free floating inside a crater. When it grew nearer, one could see it was suspended by massive chain links.
Two ninjas descended on the fortress. Dressed in black from head to toe, they were the shadows. Taking the lead, one shadow super-heats the wall into a smelted ooze. They enter. Silently, the golden eyed ninja signals to her partner. A whip flashes and wraps tightly around an exposed pipe. The women swing across the opening. As the whip recoils, it lets out a ffpt.
"Did you hear that?" a petite guard asks.
The larger guard replies, "It's probably one of those rat birds again."
"Let's check it"
At the moment he was saying "out", both were taken down by stealth and grace. The shadows made their way, level by level, without raising alarm. They continued until they found him. Inside a cold metal cell, a lone criminal sat.
"Who are you? What do you want?" he asks the dark figures.
June unmasks herself and smirks.
"No, not you again.." he grunts "I suppose you're here to free me. Just so you can turn me back in and collect on my bounty twice."
She pauses for a moment. "No, but that's actually not a bad idea."
He grunts again and turns his attention towards the second figure. "Who are you supposed to be? A bounty hunting trainee?" The man snickers at her.
Azula removes her cover and her evil smile ignites his emotions. Reacting in fear, he screams hysterically. The woman quickly subdue him and muffle his cries.
Two fingers loom by his temple, they fire off like a blue welding torch. "If you yell like that again I will melt your eye right out of it's socket. Trust me when I say, before any guards arrive, I will have already melted the other."
He frantically nods, showing her that he fully understands.
The bounty hunter comments, "Wow, and I thought I was dark. A little disturbing there princess."
"Let's continue this conversation where we left off. What name did my mother use?" Azula removes the gag from his mouth.
"Sh, sh, she.." stumbling over his words. "she. used. the."
"Out with it!" the raven snaps impatiently.
"Saru." he states her name plainly.
"Tell me everything you know about her, now."
Ding! Ding! Ding! Alarm bells relentlessly sounded.
The huntress replaces her cover. "Azula, Let's go!"
Irritated, she replies "I still have questions that need"
June cuts the royal pain off by shoving past her. She quickly grabs the man by the neck and swings him in front of her. Forcing him to lead. "Then he's coming with us. Let's move!"
Two women head down the corridor with their captive. Only to be met by several guards . Each of them welding a larger weapon than the next. Once they were completely surrounded, Azula exhibited an unusual stance.
She exhaled slowly in and out and whispers "shhhhhhhh.."
Every light source within the prison began to glow blue, abruptly flickering until they were all extinguished. Under the cover of darkness they made their escape.
Far from the levitating jail, the trio stops. The man was delighted to be out. He rolled and frolicked in his freedom. Cheering and singing of the ocean blue. His behavior changed when his eyes met a set of torturous golden ones.
"Uh.. thanks for getting me out of there." he acknowledges gratefully.
"I don't want to hear you speak another word unless it's about my mother." Azula replies in a level tone.
"All I know is she's a merchant." he shrugs "She travels around the world selling medicines and scented oils."
"Anything else?"
"Tea leaves, oh, and perfumes." his trembling words ease as he continues.
June pipes in "Perfumes? If she's wearing a strong scent like that, then maybe that's why Nyla couldn't find her."
Azula looks at her "..very interesting." her gaze then returns the the criminal. "Tell me peasant, what does she use to travel the world?"
"...a boat." he thinks it's an obvious answer.
"A boat. How about that." Azula glares back at June, giving an aloof smirk. "So your telling me she uses a boat. Not a lion turtle."
"...yes" a look of confusion covers his face.
"Tell me peasant, How did one such as yourself come to know my mother?" her eyes burning with interest.
"Well, we were in the same business. Sort of... I traveled with a crew back then, selling "freely" acquired merchandise. She was often at the same port as we were. A very mysterious woman, never reveal much about herself. One day we noticed how well her business was doing. So a group of us decided to acquire some of her items for "free". Which was a huge mistake!" he gulps and continues "The next thing I know, she had our ship and I'm waking up alone on a roof top somewhere!"
His head hung low. "Without a ship we weren't pirates anymore. We were nothing more than petty thieves without a place to store our loot." The man mourned his loss.
"You tried to steal from my mother? Frankly, I'd be upset if her end of the story didn't impress me so much. But still.." Azula takes the opportunity to give the thief a swift kick in head, knocking him out cold. "I'm going to the Northern Watertribe. He already said she doesn't live there, but with a name I can find more leads."
"What should I do with him?" the huntress asks.
The banished princess smiles "I'm sure you can come up with something creative."
June smiles back "Oh, I will."
Early the next morning the ex-pirate wakes up in bonds, tied to a saddle. He looks around an notices the passing scenery, the rear end of a shirshu, and June sitting on the saddle in front of him.
"You're turning me in again, aren't you?" The man says with an tear.
The bounty hunter laughs "Hey, I won't take credit. I know it was your idea. But I just couldn't resist capitalizing on it!"