Chapter 12
Sister
"Oh, this is the best time, isn't Miss Blue? It's night and the moon is up, we could travel the entire city if we wanted..." Ranshao pointed that out as both he and Azula looked around the port as the guests were unloaded from the train. They were no doubt going to travel around exploring the night life of Ba Sing Se as the amber eyed princess sighed.
If the fools knew how close the city was being under Fire Nation rule they probably would think twice about laughing and walking casually away from her. With that being said, Azula actually wondered what she was going to do from there, after all they finally arrived at their destination and they didn't had a plan to do anything.
While having a guaranteed safe house was useful, Azula was far off from the Fire Nation, and she doubted she could obtain a rebellion considering how she treated the Dai Li, she doubted they would be willing to help her now. That wasn't even taking into account how Ranshao's sister would react to her, from how Ranshao talked about his siblings, it seemed that he spoiled them. Which was funny considering the kind of profession he was in.
"No, I just want to get into a bed, if we are planning on staying here as long as I think we are, there will be plenty of time to look around the city, though I doubt there is anything interesting in this dirt pit," Azula finally replied to Ranshao question as she looked towards the walls of Ba Sing Se, it seemed that they were already finished repairing the wall. The wall that was supposed to be impenetrable, though it's not like someone needed to break down the wall if someone could slip in.
"How foolish, a show of good will to reuniting the world, they have become more lenient on those who are allowed in this place," No doubt the Avatar stressed such a point, she doubted the Earth kingdom would have allow such nonsense...though Azula did find it amusing that the people currently running the world had such little political knowledge it would no doubt crumble underneath them. Well either way the Fire Nation would be safe as long as Zuko continued to be the Avatar's puppet.
Puppet, that is the only way Azula could describe it, puppet of the word peace that only suited the ones that followed the balanced path...but what about those who didn't want to follow that path? What about those who killed, murdered, created weapons for a living?
"Hmm, Miss Blue, you really need to stop doing that..." The gray eyed teen looked at Azula, once again she was starring off into space, he couldn't help but wonder more about her. Ranshao never really considered himself mysterious, he had no problems sharing his name or what he did. But the girl in front of him always kept it locked away, it seemed rather odd. "We need to hurry, we got lucky that they dropped us off at the upper ring, but my sister gets pretty cranky if you wake her up at night. I would prefer getting there before she falls asleep, I don't want to hear her mouth," Ranshao chuckled at his own comment as he continued to walk through the clean upper ring.
It was somewhat odd, how similar the tier system was to the Fire Nations, instead of using outer rings, they used levels similar to that of a building. It was something the princess noticed during her first visit to the city, it seemed even the Earth Kingdom knew how to keep the poor under their foot.
The candles were already lit, as large number of royals enjoyed their night out. They weren't doing anything wrong, simply showing off the wealth they were born with, and there is nothing wrong with that. After all benders showed off their bending to non benders, so why shouldn't the rich show how rich they were. No matter what people say, no matter how much people preached, some people were simply born better than others.
Some people simply had natural talent and worth, was it fair? No, however was it fair to restrict others from using their natural talent? No, it simply was an unbalanced world where the weak should be trampled under the hooves of the strong. It is simply nature running its course, and trying to prevent that course from being run wasn't creating balance, it was creating balance for a certain side that favored those idea's.
But was balance really the correct way.
"Hey...Miss Blue, we're here," Ranshao said such a thing, his expression not changing once...his expression never changed so expecting it to do so was rather pointless. As Ranshao knocked on the door, Azula head started to hurt.
She started to wonder what she wanted, did she truly want to rule over weak willed fools that would bend to the will of anyone that comes along. Those will to stab others in the back and kiss the feet of those who provide protection for them instead of doing it for themselves.
Those who protect the weak with their strengths are intelligent however, they can bend them to their will and manipulate them. They have the power, because they sugarcoat everything despite doing the exact thing the so called cruel people do in the world. Zuko did that, he gained the will of the people and thus has strength and weight in the world.
"What do I have...?" It was a question gnawing at Azula, what did she have now? A lazy killer and her intelligence? When utilized properly they were quite useful, but they weren't really rebellion level of usefulness. Those thought swirled in Azula's head as the door opened.
"You..." The maid that answered the door looked shocked, no doubt they were completely different than the maids that belonged to the waterbending girl. Azula couldn't help but wonder how long since Ranshao visited his sister, if the maid was so surprised no doubt his sister would either be seething with anger or jumping with joy.
Though the family was so odd, Azula really couldn't understand any of its members they were a rather chaotic bunch. Though if Ranshao was any example, they weren't people who enjoyed lying, actually despite saying he didn't have any pride. Ranshao never was untruthful to her, though all that proved was that he was stupid.
"Yeah, me, is Liang asleep or is she still up. It doesn't make a bit of difference to me, but I would hate to wake my little sister from her nap," Ranshao looked at the maid with his gray eyes as the woman eyes simply narrowed, perhaps it was irritation, but she simply bowed before responding.
"No...Lady Liang is still in the sitting room, she was getting ready for bed, I would try to stall you until she gets under her covers...however I don't think she wouldn't care either way," It seemed the maid knew something as Ranshao sighed.
"She's still messing with those things under the house, shouldn't she get another hobby or something? Just because she's smart, doesn't mean she has to be weird..." The Maid took a few steps back before saying one last thing, no doubt it was directed to Azula since the maid was looking directly at her.
"Hmm, may I ask for your name? Ranshao rarely brings girls home, so it's odd to see one such as beautiful as you," Azula wondered how she would reply, no doubt it was a stock complement that the maid gave, however it still was a complement.
"My name...is none of your concern," However, in the end the person in front of her was a maid, there was no need for kindness as the woman in front of the two simply shrugged.
"Very well, now please follow me..." The maid turned her back as she walked down the bright entryway, both Azula and Ranshao entered the large manor like building as the princess took note of the golden color candle holders. No doubt it was dark, the only thing keeping everything lit was the light from the candles as they walked through the halls.
The place was far too large, for what Azula assumed to be a single girl with some maids, though it was no doubt just to show off to the rest of the upper ring. After all, showing how rich you are is important to a healthy life among the wealthy, being number one is all that mattered.
The maid opened one final door, as Azula shut her eyes, it went from near pitch dark to a brightly lit room. Lamps were scattered about as a brown haired girl was writing in something, a book no doubt. She sat in front of a large table as she looked up, "Didn't I say not to bother me you fool! I'm busy right now and I have to work on finishing these notes!" Her voice was grating as the girl lifted her head from the book.
She had gray eyes, just like everyone from the Ranshao family, though she wore rather thick glasses. Freckles lined her face, her hair style was that of two twin tails of shoulder length as she closed one of her eyes, it seemed that she noticed Ranshao.
"Oh, you're here...what do you want anyway?" It was surprisingly uncaring, not even anger was in the girls voice. Simply apathy, which was surprising since Ranshao said he hadn't seen her in nearly two years, but the brown haired girl simply acted like no time had passed.
"Aww, that's no way to treat you big brother. You know it took a lot of work to get here, can't I at least get a warm welcome?" Ranshao closed one of his eyes as the brown haired girl looked at the maid in the room.
"Whatever, whatever, you came here for a reason right? Just tell me, it will be faster for everyone and less annoying for me," The girl started to write in the book once again, almost treating the current situation as an after thought.
"Oh, something simple, we need a place to stay for a while," Ranshao didn't even try to lessen the blow as the girl didn't even look up, no doubt she was far too concerned with her research before responding halfheartedly.
"Fine, whatever, just don't get in the way of my work and you can do as you please..." It was surprisingly simple, Azula expected her to glare or make a smart comment, but the girl in front of them honestly didn't care what they did. At least that is what Azula thought until the brown haired teen turned her attention to the golden eyed princess, "...Have I met you before?" Azula eye twitched, it was strange to have someone ask that,
"No, we've never met before," Azula replied bluntly as the brown haired girl didn't even show an emotion as she returned to her writing saying one last thing.
"Show them to their rooms, I'll be heading to bed shortly..." It was directed to the maid as she simply lowered her head as she turned her attention back to Azula and Ranshao.
"Please follow me, I shall show you to your rooms...unless you wish to share one," The maid looked at the duo, it went without saying that Azula disliked the implication of those words.
"No, separate rooms will be good enough for us and please do not treat us like a couple..." Ranshao laughed a little, he didn't know if he should take the comment as an insult or if he should be relieved that he wasn't treating him like some sort of property. No doubt dating a woman like her would be mind crushing and quite frightening.
"Ah, no need to be so harsh Miss Blue," Ranshao joked as the maid simply nodded.
"Very well, I shall show Ranshao to his room, and Miss Blue to hers..." It was odd, no one else had called her Miss Blue, and Azula didn't like the maid referring to her as such. Then again, what was she going to be called? That Girl? That probably would have been even more insulting than Miss Blue, and of course she couldn't use her real name.
Once again, they were in a pitch black hallway with only candles lighting the way... at that moment the woman took one of the holders off the wall allowing for a portable light source. They made a left turn as a pair stairs came into view, it was impossible to see anything, Azula noticed that they were windows. However all the curtains were closed. The duo followed the maid up the stairs as the maid pointed to two doors down the hall. "You may pick which rooms you want, now if you excuse me, I have other matters to attend to," The servant simply left the two as Ranshao looked towards the rooms.
"Well, which one do you want Miss Blue?" Ranshao asked as Azula grumbled. It was obvious the gray eyed teen didn't care as Azula simply walked towards the room located on the left. Leaving Ranshao to take the room on the right, neither closed their door, at least not yet.
"Oh, I guess we should be saying goodnight, but I doubt you need that do you Miss Blue," Azula scoffed as she closed the door, as Ranshao shrugged before closing his. That was the last time they saw each other that night.
Azula eyes were tightly shut, she was asleep no doubt. Something she was missing for awhile, the best part was the fact she didn't have any rats sneaking in. However, once again, her dreams were empty, nothing was showing, just a blank black sight. No dreams and no visions, though even Azula wondered if such a thing existed.
"Please Miss Blue, wake up!" A harsh knock was heard throughout the room as Azula grumbled, no doubt it was the annoying maid waking her up. Azula eyes cracked open as the noticed a warm yellow light piercing, it was morning already as Azula sat up.
"What do you want?!" Azula snapped as the maid replied on the other side of the door.
"Breakfast is ready, I assume you want some, since Ranshao went out with a friend," Azula paused for a moment at the maid's comment.
"Ranshao...went out with a friend," It was weird to even think about, Ranshao going out with a friend, he said that he had a friend before...but Azula assumed that said friend was far off from somewhere, not also in Ba Sing Se. Of course that was assuming that the person he was with was his so called friend and not someone else.
"Tell me maid, who did he go out with?" There was a long silence, as an unexpectedly blunt response was heard.
"If you could mind my rudeness Miss Blue, but you are in no relationship with correct? So it is completely pointless for you to know who Ranshao is out with currently and what he is doing, if Lady Liang permits an answer, than very well. However until then I shall keep such information to myself. Now may we please continue with a more pressing matter, are you coming down for breakfast?" Azula grumbled at the maid's response. Either Ranshao told her not to say anything, or she didn't know how to treat her guest at all.
"I'll be down..." Azula stated, after all, not showing up to a meal would be rude and that was the last thing she wanted to do. After all, she was still a princess even if no one else knew it, and a princess should act as such.
"Thank you, I shall tell Lady Liang," It seemed the maid left the door as Azula slowly opened it, the maid was already down the stairs as Azula looked around. The manor looked completely different than it did at night, almost welcoming and royal. No doubt whoever sent Ranshao sister had wealth, though Azula wondered why Ranshao sister was even there in the first place.
"I hope he doesn't do something stupid while I'm not there," Ranshao wasn't one to think about his actions, simply someone who did things out of the need to do them. The most basic of humans, though honestly Azula couldn't really blame him for that. It was something that humans did, though she could blame him if the city guards started to look for them.
"Gahahaah!" Unexpected laughter filled the manor, no doubt it was the same girl that was writing in the book the previous night. Liang was her name, no doubt she was Ranshao sister, Azula hadn't seen enough of her to form an opinion.
As Azula walked towards the main room as she opened the door. Once again the brown haired girl was fiercely writing in her book. An untouched plate of food before her, it was obvious that Liang had no intention on eating what was before her. Azula sighed as she sat across from the girl, the princess had no idea what was more annoying. The fact that they were no doubt similar in age, or the fact that the sound of her pen moving was louder than expected.
The meal went uninterrupted, there wasn't anything special about the food. Which was a good thing considering the last time she at with a Ranshao it was something that couldn't even be explained by the human mind. So having a nice boring meal was satisfactory.
The silence continued as the freckled adjusted her glasses. Azula finished her meal, but there was still silence, it seemed that Liang had no intentions on starting a pointless conversation. Which was fine by Azula, the princess doubted Liang had anything interesting to say.
"Well, aren't you going to ask me what I'm writing down?!" It was unexpected burst of emotion as Azula sighed. The princess questioned if she should be rude or not. Maids were one thing, but this was Ranshao little sister, being put in a situation that may result in the two of them leaving would be against the entire plan.
"Fine, I'll indulge her for awhile..." It would be nice to have something to hold over Ranshao's head, and this would allow Azula to get more information out of her.
"Oh, I'm sorry, may you please tell me what you're writing?" Azula tried to act as innocent as possible, even if the words coming out of her mouth wanted to make her vomit.
"Well, I'm glad you ask, you see there these insects here called Stalkers, they're the Ranshao's family animal. Even though their insects, they are actually far large than men, about ten feet tall. They-"
Blah, blah, blah, that was all Azula was hearing. Perhaps it was due to her chosen ignorance on the matter, but she didn't find bugs interesting. She already dealt with enough human like worms throughout her life, no need to hear about actual ones was rather dull.
Liang continued to run her mouth as Azula scanned the girl in front of her, no doubt Liang was fit. Even if she had more body fat and muscle mass than Azula. Knowing the Ranshao family she was probably a bender of some sort, most likely fire.
"-Of course I don't expect you to understand such complicated matters as breading insects for battle, though I must advice you not to go into the basement, I can't promise the Stalkers won't attack anyone they see but me," Liang continued her rant as Azula sighed. It was probably something she should have been paying attention to, but the princess was more interested in the questions she could asked the freckled girl.
"That's all well and good, but why are you here instead of in the Fire Nation?" Azula wanted to get that question out of the way as soon as possible as Liang smirked, she adjusted her glasses in such a way that her eyes could not be seen.
"Well, isn't natural for me to expand my research? I documented most of the animals located in the Fire Nation, so I asked mother to send me here for awhile, It's nice having a lot of money, I can travel where I want and how I want...though it's annoying keeping my bending a secret. Than again, I don't think I'm going to have to do that for much longer, the war is over after all,"
Azula grumbled, every time someone brought up the fact the war was over she couldn't help but feel irritated. Mostly due to the fact that it was a constant reminder of her defeat, something Azula wanted to bury as deep as possible. "That seems like a rather pointless reason to do something like that, couldn't you just send someone over here and do the research for you?" Liang simply laughed at Azula's statement.
"Don't you understand?! As someone who gave their soul to science I can't let someone else discover something amazing! As a pioneer in this field I have to show everyone else my absolute rule, being second place is the same as being the winning loser, and I am no loser," No doubt Liang was passionate about such thing before she added a comment.
"Plus once the Stalker in my basement is finish, it will make traveling far faster, I mean you can only get so far on bending talent alone. And having a creature fight for me is perfect for someone of my heritage, though I don't think someone like you would understand that..." Azula eye twitched, once again she was being treated like a worthless commoner, though if the roles were reversed Azula would do the exact same thing.
"Hmm, I'm surprised that your father allowed you to do such a thing," Azula made a rather off hand comment as Liang scoffed.
"Well that's impossible since that guy is kind of dead..." It was an unexpected statement.
"Wait...are you saying that your father is dead?" Azula wanted to confirm it as Liang simply nodded,
"Yep, deader than dead, he's been dead for ten years actually. Though I was pretty young then, if you want to know more ask Ranshao, he was there when it happened," It seemed that Azula had a few questions to ask Ranshao when he arrived back at the manor.
Author note.
Sorry this took so long, my birthday came up, and I had a lot of stuff to do. Next chapter will move the plot forward even more, and we'll actually get to see Aang and his friends, though we have seen Zuko a lot...
