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The Terrifying Power of the Emperor - Chapter One Hundred-Twelve

"Andromeda! What is the meaning of this! Why are you trying to kill my prospective apprentice!" Rieko bellowed in a voice of limitless authority as she stared tyrannically in her subordinate's flinching gray eyes.

While her piercing blue eyes passed over each and every person of note gathered below.

All the while as the Fire Nation women still stood around their frightened young friend with their eyes staring defiantly up at the unusually tall woman.

While the older woman stood high above them adorned in black-plated combat armor with her gloved hands folded gracefully behind her back.

While Naoki now stood with a small on her lips as her scarlet hair hung over her emotionless eyes.

All the while as sweat now dripped down the caped woman's obviously intimidated face.

All while as the highborn women turned to gaze back at the smiling redhead in shock to hear that she was this emperor's prospective apprentice.

While Elle's amber eyes now widened in realization as she stood in front of her confused friends.

"I-I get it now…so that's why you…don't want to come back with Azula-sama. Heika…she offered to train you." Elle stammered in a quiet voice as Naoki wiped the blood from her smiling lips while Azula turned to glare at the girl through the corner of her eye.

While Zoi remained rigid with her sword in hand as she stood beside her fellow taken aback noblewomen.

All the while as Azula turned to glare back up above her with her lips already adorning a deep scowl.

It was plain to see that the woman was far more powerful than she had previously thought.

While her callous golden eyes flashed with a spark of violent jealously when the monarch's eyes glanced over her trembling pet.

All while she clenched her mighty fists in displeasure over the prospect of another woman of royalty trying to claim her pet as her own.

Only for her golden eyes to widen in surprise when she watched a long bridge of ice effortlessly shoot forth out from under the statuesque woman's combat boots.

While the Fire Nation women gazed up with astonishment in their eyes to see that the woman was creating ice…seemingly from thin air!

As far as they could see she wasn't pulling it from any nearby water source or even the air itself!

It truly seemed out from underneath her boots as if she was able to create as much of it whenever she pleases!

And just like that the imposing emperor began to gracefully slide down on a moving bridge of ice as she began to rapidly encircle her intimidated audience.

"I wasn't trying to kill her. I was…just testing her lungs." Andromeda stated with her gray eyes gazing up at her leader as the older woman still eyed her coldly.

While Azula rolled her elegant golden eyes over as she crossed her arms over her breasts with her armored back purposefully shielding her pet from view.

All the while as the two firebenders and their nonbending comrades never once took their eyes off the unnerving woman as she rode on her ice slide above them.

"How curious. Test her lungs you say…" The emperor hummed in an effortlessly poised voice as she rode over her second in command while she stared down at the younger woman's face.

"I imagine that you will do far worse to her once you begin training her. If she can't even survive a trivial degree of pressure on her lungs…then how will she survive you beating her day in and day out?" The air force commander retorted in a sly voice as she gazed up at her leader while the woman rose a regal brow.

While the Fire Nation women instantly grew defensive of their handmaid at the mere mention that the woman was going to beat the redhead.

And that was all it took for the Fire Princess to glower as she vowed that the woman would never get her hands on her serving girl.

Only for Naoki to simply smile back into Andromeda's scowling face.

"You are hardly in any position to talk about survival. Considering that you waited until I was drained before you pulled your little stunt." Naoki remarked with sass in her voice as she smirked back into Andromeda's angered gray eyes.

While her crew wisely kept their mouths shut.

All the while as Katsu stared up at the woman with fascination in her wild golden eyes.

Only for the sound of Rieko laughing loudly to resonate into the air as her belly shook with her chuckles.

While her penetrating eyes now gazed back down at the redhead's fearless visage.

All the while as Team Azula vigilantly followed the laughing woman's every rapid move.

"It would seem as if the kid has you beat in that regard Andromeda. Given that…I am inclined to side with her." Rieko spoke as she descended to lower ground while her icy eyes passed over Elle's face once more.

While she found herself unable to resist smiling tauntingly when the princess glared back up at her with all the ferocity of an overprotective lover.

"My name is not kid. It's Naoki." The assassin stated in a tone devoid of fear while Team Azula watched her closely.

All the while as her crew stared on with fear in their eyes as the emperor smiled down at her from where she stood over her.

"Naoki…watch your mouth or you are going to get us killed." Kane urged as he stood as far back as humanly possible while his fellows swallowed in fright behind him.

While the acrobat's brown-gray eyes flashed with fear as she shivered over the increased chill in the air.

There was something unsettling about the way that the man implied that the woman had their lives in the palm of her hand.

"Right. Naoki." The emperor purred as she traveled on her elaborate slide with her blue eyes intently observing her potential.

Just before she came to a stop with her hands folded behind her back over Naoki while the teenager fearlessly met her gaze.

"You did exceedingly well today Naoki. You fought against four whole military platoons all on your own accord. And then held your own in battle against three other aberrants. All without taking a single rest. Well done. I am very pleased." Rieko spoke in a gratified voice as she stared down into the redhead's stoic brown eyes while the girl smiled up at her.

All the while as the two firebenders glared back at the woman and their previous opponent with annoyance in their eyes.

They didn't like how the two already seemed to be behaving as if they had already formed an alliance.

While the colonel's blue eyes flickered with fright after hearing that the girl was her intended student!

"Hn. Yes, well the intent was to get out of here before you arrived but Elle decided to act emotional over some snobbish royal grab." Naoki stated with her brown eyes gazing tauntingly back at her childhood friend's now reddened face.

While the girl dried her tears as she tried to avoid crying any further.

All the while as her tall master glared imposingly back at her childhood companion.

While Kane once again sighed over his leader opening telling the emperor that they had intended on swindling her.

"Oh? Is that the case? Well in any event. Regarding those…nuclear weapons of yours. I am going to have to ask you to surrender them to me." The emperor continued in a skilled voice as she gazed down at her would be apprentice with cold blue eyes.

While Naoki gazed back up with hardened brown eyes as her scarlet hair blew in her undaunted eyes.

"Those are my nuclear weapons. I found them and recovered them myself. I did the footwork. And that means that they are mine to detonate at my choosing." The assassin replied in a composed voice as the emperor arched a lovely brow.

All the while as Kane stared on with widened gray eyes as he hurriedly shook his head.

While Elle swallowed as she shivered behind her older girlfriend's back with her amber eyes gazing back at the redhead in renewed fear.

"I am afraid that I must insist. If I allow you to detonate weapons that will wipe out entire countries whole. Then what will I rule afterward?" Rieko queried in a sanguine voice with her words causing Team Azula to stare up with widened eyes.

All the while as Ty Lee and Mai stared on in fear of the unhinged redhead once more.

And Zoi couldn't help but stare back into her princess's glaring golden eyes.

The meaning behind the look was more than clear that it was about the plans to burn the Earth Kingdom down on Sozin's Comet.

"I am not here to rule. I am here to destroy. I couldn't care less if there is anyone alive left afterward. As long as I get what I want." Naoki responded in a smooth voice with a smirk on her lips as Rieko's blue eyes gleamed as she gazed down at her.

While Elle trembled as she gazed back at her friend's ruthless face.

Only for the sound of Katsu speaking up to distract the emperor from continuing her interrogation.

"What about me! Did I do well?" Katsu asked in an excited voice as Rieko turned her attention to her while the older woman surveyed her curiously.

And then the ice bridge began to travel over Team Azula once more while the emperor briefly gazed down at them through the corner of her eye.

Before her focus was shifted back to the bomber as she slowed to a stop over her.

All the while as the woman's blue eyes inspected the teenager closer as she hummed thoughtfully.

"Yes…. I confess that I was impressed with your battle performance. I am sorry…what was your name again?" The emperor pondered in a controlling voice as the feral girl smiled widely.

While the girl's vibrant golden eyes danced with a flicker of madness that caught her interest.

"The name's Katsu! Katsu Bakudan!" The bomber exclaimed as she cackled with green light forming in her palm once more while the older woman smiled in approval.

All the while as Azula's golden eyes began to twitch in outrage over how the woman was riding about claiming all of her intended prizes.

"Katsu…interesting. Pardon me for saying so…but your mental faculties…seem a tad…defective." Rieko commented in a conceited voice as she stared down at the girl who only stared blankly up at her.

While both Team Naoki and Team Azula stared on humorously.

"Huh? What's that mean?" Katsu inquired in a clueless voice as she scratched her head while Naoki sighed as she ran a hand through her hair.

While Azula rolled her eyes once more as her subordinates stared on in slight amusement.

All the while as Elle frowned with her head gazing away not liking how her berserk friend was being mocked for something that wasn't her fault.

"Never mind. Don't strain your brain over it. And what else have we here…" The emperor trailed off as she began to slide on her bridge with her blue eyes gazing down at Team Azula.

Until she came to a halt hovering over the four Fire Nation women while they stared uncertainly up at her.

All the while as her smile widened as she held her head up with her blue eyes gazing down at Azula's merciless face.

Before her gaze was swiftly drawn to the mousy girl hiding adorably behind the far taller girl's back.

"If it isn't Elle-chan." Rieko cooed in a voice that had a twinge of a maternal edge to her tone as she massaged the underside of her chin with a gloved fingertip.

While she distinctly caught the sound of the petite girl audibly swallowing behind the four older girls.

Ah. She's still afraid of her.

"Leave…leave her alone. She's…she's been through a lot. She…. she doesn't need you taunting her right now." Ty Lee spoke up with a frown to the surprise of her companions while Rieko's intimidating eyes glanced down at her.

And just like that she found that a cold sweat was already forming on her forehead while she began to feel as if she was staring Azula down on one of her worst days.

"Taunting? You have me mistaken Lady Ty Lee of Clan Wan. I am not taunting her. I am simply saying hello." The emperor answered as she hovered lower with her blue eyes staring down at the acrobat's stunned face.

All the while as the four highborn women exchanged a look through the corner of their eyes after hearing that the woman familiar with the name of the acrobat's clan.

Just as the older woman turned her predatory eyes to Mai's bored face as she bent over to inspect the noblewoman as if she was browsing through the window of a candy store for sweets.

While Mai's tawny eyes spiked with aggravation and unease as she gazed right up into the emperor's eyes.

Before she swallowed quietly as she was already able to assess that the woman was easily worse than Azula.

And it was now starting to become clear why everyone was so terrified around this woman.

"And you must be Lady Mai of Clan Saolin. I am astonished that you still draw breath after attempting to assassinate your comrade from Clan Song. Is treason not a capital punishment in your culture?" Rieko taunted as she remained stooped down to peer down into Mai's taken aback tawny eyes.

And that was all it took for the acrobat to stare up at the woman with a flash of horror in her eyes.

It was already apparent that the woman was just toying with them given how she was trying to provoke Azula to change her ruling on a punishment for a woman that she doesn't even know.

While Zoi gritted her teeth in revived offense as she glared at the other woman through the corner of her eye.

All the while as Azula began to breath fire from her furious nostrils as she turned to glare up at the emperor.

"How…do you know about that?" Mai questioned with a bewildered edge to her monotone voice while Rieko smiled widely.

Just as she bent down even lower to loom over them with her hands clasped behind her back.

"Why that's simple. I was listening to every word that you four said until the moment that your leader crushed my spy device." The emperor commented as she held a gloved fist before her smirking face while she gazed delightfully down into the princess's boiling golden eyes.

While Zoi's golden eyes widened as she turned to cast a questioning glance at her princess while the royal woman's eyes contorted in visible rage.

All the while as both Mai and Ty Lee stared up with unnerved looks in their eyes.

They hadn't forgotten that incident.

They just had not wanted to believe that this woman truly could have gleamed everything that they said in Elle's presence over a whole world away!

All the while as Elle's amber eyes shimmered with renewed shame as she hung her head behind her master.

"And you must be Zoi of Clan Song herself. The famed warrior." Rieko spoke as she now assessed Zoi while the warrior gazed up at her with composed golden eyes.

"You know of me. I am flattered. And you must be Emperor Rieko." Zoi quipped with a small smirk on her lips as she stared up into Rieko's entertained blue eyes.

"That is one of several titles that I go by. Some call me Lord Rieko. Some call me the Frost Tyrant...others the Winter Emperor… and some even call me God. Use whichever one you wish…it doesn't matter to me." The emperor stated in a beyond egotistical voice as she smiled down at her stunned guests.

While the eyes of the highborn women conveyed their disbelief that the woman had actually just introduced herself to them as a god!

"Please. It sounds like someone needs to get her ego under control." Azula snorted with haughty scoff as she rolled her eyes while her companions turned to stare incredulously at her pompous back.

While all three noblewomen gazed back at her with deadpan looks in their eyes.

All the while as the emperor smirked in amusement above them.

"This exchange is starting to feel eerily familiar. I feel like I've done this before." The markswoman commented in a dry voice while the acrobat stared on in agreement alongside her as they both gazed back at their leader's unfathomably spoiled face.

While the unbelievably tall woman let out an arrogant laugh as she smiled down at them.

"And you…you must be…Princess Azula." Rieko spoke with her blue eyes turning to survey Azula as she rubbed the bottom of her chin while she began to lower herself to the ground.

While the young woman stared back with unyielding dominant golden eyes that refused to yield control of her subjects.

And then just like that the monarch landed on her booted feet before the highborn women.

While the team found themselves gazing on in shock over how abnormally tall the emperor was.

All the while as the emperor now stood before the princess with a smirk on her lips her blue eyes took great delight in making the younger woman gaze up at her.

While Azula's callous eyes brimmed with rapidly rising ire as she crossed her arms over her breasts.

All while she slightly raised her eyes upward in aggravation to see that the woman was a good five or so inches taller than her at what looked to be an astonishing height of six foot five.

While the three noblewomen gazed on with wary expressions in their eyes as they studied the two royal women closely.

It went without saying that ever since their Fire Princess had matured to her full adult height that she was almost always the one doing the looming over both men and women.

And yet…it had not escaped their notice that this woman was taking obvious pleasure in making her look up at her.

"Your address me correctly…Emperor Rieko. I am Princess Azula…the queen of blue fire and lightning. The future Fire Lord to be and eventual ruler over my entire planet." The princess huffed as she arrogantly posed her body with a haughty smile on her lips.

While her childhood friends stared between the two dominant women with their eyes grimacing as they already mused that their gigantic egos were bound to clash with one another.

And they could already tell that it would not end well for any commoners unfortunate enough to be around either of them.

Most notably their timid little friend who was chewing on her lip as she gazed between her princess and the emperor.

While Rieko tapped the underside of her chin with a widening smile on her lips.

"Hm. Impressive." The emperor answered in a thoughtful voice as she tilted her head to attempt to peer over the tall young woman's shoulder at the small girl hiding adorably behind her back.

All the while as Azula purposefully shifted her womanly hips with her round posterior bumping into her squeaking pet's chest.

While she smiled confidently with Elle's meek face quivering behind her.

All the while as Ty Lee and Mai resisted the urge to groan when they saw that it was clear that Azula was going to lord over poor Elle to make up for her damaged ego.

"Indeed. I am also the goddess of…this one here." Azula stated with an unbelievably smug smile on her lips while she gazed arrogantly back into the older woman's gleaming blue eyes.

While both the acrobat and the markswoman gazed in pity back at their little sister over how the girl now had to deal with two unfathomably spoiled queens trying to walk all over her.

As if one wasn't enough!

As the even the captain almost sighed as she glanced in sympathy back at their bashful young friend.

"Are you now?" Rieko pondered with a smile on her lips as she surveyed Azula's smirking lips closely.

"I am. I own her…you see. She is mine." The princess purred in a hubristic voice as she stared ruthlessly back into equally tyrannical blue eyes.

While poor Elle shook with a blush on her cheeks as Rieko leaned over to survey her with an elegant brow raised a questioning fashion.

All the while as Naoki let out a sigh.

"Elle…do you actually enjoy this? Having spoiled wealthy older women order you around like this?" The assassin inquired with a raised brow while the smaller girl turned beet red.

While the three noblewomen turned to gaze back at their innocent friend with sympathy in their eyes.

All the while as Azula turned around to smile seductively down at the poor lovestruck teenager with her lipstick covered lips already hypnotizing the girl.

While Rieko smirked as she tilted her head to peer down at Elle while the girl swallowed nervously under her stare as well.

"I-I um…w-well…uh…y-yes? I…mean n-no…or do I mean yes..." Elle stuttered as her heart raced while both queens smirked down at her with domineering delight in their controlling eyes.

Just as Mai slapped her palm against her forehead as Ty Lee shook her head as she sighed over her little sister's lovable habit of digging her own grave.

Before the princess turned back around with her powerful fists planted on her hips as a giant smirk graced her lips.

"And there you have it. I am her master. Which is why I must mention…I don't quite approve of the way that you look at what belongs to me." Azula spoke with her palm held out before her face for emphasis while the teenager smiled shyly at her armored back.

While Rieko still seemed mostly undaunted as she smiled down at the petite girl.

"Elle-chan…is it true that you belong to this woman?" The emperor asked in a curious voice while the princess's golden eyes stared coldly back at her.

Only for Azula to smile when the girl nodded her head in affirmation.

"T-that's so. I serve Azula-sama with pride. I…I am her closest handmaid." The handmaid murmured as she still tried not to cry over the knowledge that the man who played a key role in ordering her parents deaths was so close by.

While the princess smirked in approval as she haughtily studied her fingernails while her lifelong friends sighed.

All the while as the emperor smirked in amusement as she turned to gaze back at the princess.

"I believe that you are projecting your own anxieties onto me. You are the one that wants to ride the girl…not me. I simply want to talk to her." Rieko quipped with a knowing smile as Azula's golden eyes now glared back at her through her skull.

While Elle turned red as her three big sisters nearly fell over in incredulity.

"R-ride? W-why would anyone ride me? I-I'm not a steed…" Elle stuttered in a confused voice as Ty Lee blushed alongside her.

And both Mai and Zoi rubbed their hands over their faces.

While Azula's smirk grew even larger as she glanced smugly down at her girlfriend.

And Naoki once again just shook her head.

All the while as Rieko let out a chuckle as she tapped her chin yet again.

"Kid. Just quit while you're ahead." Mai sighed in a helpful voice as Elle slowly nodded her head.

Only for Azula's amusement to rapidly vanish when the woman slid onto a bridge once more and rode around her before she could even react.

While her golden eyes now burned with unhidden fury when the woman dropped down gracefully towering directly above her trembling girlfriend.

All the while as the noblewomen turned around with scowls on their lips as they already deduced that the woman would be a huge problem.

And not even a second after that an ice platform began to raise up underneath both the teenager's feet as she shook in fright when it rose up into the air.

While Rieko now stood towering above her with her blue eyes staring intently down at her.

All the while as the four highborn women spun around with their eyes glaring up at the woman over purposefully pulling such a ploy to intimidate their vulnerable friend.

"Apparently you didn't hear me. I said that she is mine!" The princess snapped in a ruder voice as she gracefully jumped to land on the platform.

Only for a look of outrage to form in her eyes when a wall of ice slammed into her face.

While her subordinates stared up with increasingly unnerved gazes as they watched their princess furiously drop back down alongside them.

"Let our little sister down!" The acrobat called up in a protective voice as she glared up at the emperor while she hovered above them with her little sister staring nervously up at her.

"Calm yourself child. I am not going to hurt you. You also fought superbly today. Both against your brother and Naoki. You have been blooded on the battlefield. I applaud you." The emperor praised in a perfectly flowing voice as she gazed down at the teenager's innocently anxious face.

While Azula's jaw clenched as she began to tense up in unfathomable rage.

All the while as her subordinates glared up at the ice platform as they never once took their eyes off the woman.

Only for the princess's golden eyes to brim with a spark of jealously when the teenager dropped down into a flawless curtsy at the hip.

While she squeezed her fists so tight that she started to shake in anger.

'The only queen that Elle curtsies is me! How dare you try to take what is mine and mine alone! I claimed her by my divine right to rule!' Azula thought with her golden eyes boiling over with immeasurable fury while she bared her teeth like a seething dragon.

"A-arigatou gozaimasu Heika." The handmaid stammered as she arose from her bow while the much taller woman stared down at her.

All the while as the captain stood on standby with her sword clutched in her hand.

While her fellow nobles also prepared themselves once more to defend their innocent young friend to the death if need be.

"Are you mad at me…Elle-chan?" Rieko questioned with another tilt of her head while the girl stared down at her booted feet.

While the four women below still glared up at her ice bridge.

"Um…" Elle trailed off meekly with her face still wet from her earlier emotional episode while Rieko eyed her wet cheeks closely.

All the while as the three noblewomen stared up with looks of astonishment in their eyes.

The woman seemed to be even more domineering and oppressive than even Azula herself!

"Come now. Did it not work out in your favor?" The emperor pondered with a wave of her gloved hand as she gestured to the princess's mercilessly glaring face.

"W-well… it did but…." The handmaid answered in a mousy voice while the older woman turned to glance in the direction of her master's narrowed golden glare.

Only for the tyrant's lips to pull into another smile as she eyed the glaring princess with a pondering gleam in her blue eyes.

"It certainly seems that it did. After all, you managed to catch 'that' all on your own." Rieko remarked with her breath pouring out before her face while the teenager turned an adorable shade of red.

All the while as the noblewomen gazed comically back at their princess's glowering face.

While the royal woman angrily tapped her boot in the snow as she squashed the blush that almost formed on her proud cheeks.

"I did! I came I saw…and I conquered with a fire lily." Elle admitted in a momentarily happier voice as she innocently puffed out her chest while her princess glared up at her.

While the acrobat resisted the urge to smile as she stood beside her scowling friend.

Only for the princess's golden eyes to spark with the blazes of war once more when the woman set her gloved hand on her serving girl's shivering shoulder.

"I have to say…nicely done." The emperor purred as she stared down at the young girl's reddening face.

While the air continued to grow colder all around them as the Fire Nation women still glared distrustfully up at the enigmatic woman.

"Elle! Don't let her play you like that! Just because you ended up catching the graces of a Fire Nation goddess doesn't mean that you should ignore how she used you!" The princess barked as she pointed a spoiled finger up at her abashed handmaid.

While the three noblewomen gazed in exasperation at the back of their leader's head.

And that was all it took for Elle to recoil as she took a step back on the ice pillar while emperor still stared intently down at her.

All the while as the young girl shivered with her arms wrapped up in her coat while the older woman loomed over her.

While the air force commander watched from below with her arms folded over her chest.

"Now I see…this girl managed to infiltrate a foreign kingdom all on her own accord by posing as a palace servant to the princess and her inner noble circle. All the while as she schemed to seize absolute control of the government in preparation for her silent takeover as emperor." Andromeda commented in a serious voice while the young girl turned red as everyone gazed up at her.

All the while as the highborn women watched in amusement as their young friend nervously shifted on her feet.

"N-no…actually I am really am just a handmaid…" The handmaid spoke up in a timid voice as she held an abashed hand in her hair.

While the princess now held her head high as she smirked smugly back at the disbelieving face of the air force commander.

All the while as the nobles gazed fondly back at their adopted sister's adorably embarrassed face.

"How disappointing…I would have violently seized power and crushed them all like bugs." The air force commander remarked as she tapped her fingers along her folded arms while the princess rolled her eyes at her back.

"Well, whatever the case it still played out to your benefit." Rieko stated with a wave of her gloved hand while the girl averted her eyes from her gaze.

Only for Elle to grasp at the straps of her backpack as Rieko turned to glance back down at her once more.

"E-even so…Azula-sama is right. You did use me." Elle muttered as the emperor still stared down at her while her highborn friends glared at the woman's back.

"Are you telling me that you are discontent? Would you rather go back to your previous life before you met her?" The emperor inquired with a raised brow while the young girl hurriedly shook her head in a sudden show of panic.

While the highborn women glared up at the emperor's turned back for even asking such a cruel question in the first place.

"N-no! I…don't." The handmaid stammered with a speedy shake of her head as she turned to peer down at her princess's beautifully stoic face.

All the while as the royal woman stared up at her with brilliant golden eyes that she instantly found herself lost in once more.

"Then what seems to be the problem? It is just as I told you. It is inevitable that you would have found your way past the bridge between our worlds sooner or later. Afterall…you do have the power to cut down otherworldly barriers." Rieko announced in a factual voice as the teenager gazed up with wide amber eyes.

While the older females stared up with their eyes widening in disbelief once more as they gazed at their little friend's confused face.

"T-the bridge…between our worlds…" Elle murmured in an awed voice while the older woman still towered over her.

"All I did was speed it up." The emperor concluded in a confident voice as she smiled down at the young girl's enraptured face.

'So…that's what happened. The girl somehow entered the Pseudo Space and passed through one of those fissures that Koh spoke of….and made her way into the Fire Nation! To think that my Elle is capable of such a power!' Azula thought with her callous golden eyes still wide in wonder while her subordinates listened in shock behind her.

While her lips began to part in a pleased smile as her gaze lingered on her little girlfriend's lovably bewildered face.

And she was all hers.

All the while as her lips grew into an even bigger smile when her pet turned to stare down into her eyes once more.

While she narrowed her strict eyes as she watched the younger girl quiver under her conquering stare.

All the while as she silently took great delight in how the girl melted under her domineering golden gaze.

"I-it's just that…" The handmaid began in a dazed voice while she found herself unable to look away from her princess's captivating golden eyes.

While the emperor rose another brow as she turned to glance down at the princess's defiant face.

All the while as the younger royal refused to back down from her gaze as they stared each other down.

"S-she's…she's more than just a pretty girl to me." Elle stuttered in a lovelorn voice as she bit her lip while Azula listened in a marveled silence.

While everyone else fell silent as even the emperor gazed down at the teenager with a taken aback expression in her eyes.

"Azula-sama is my best friend…my master and my mentor…she is my first and only love…she…she is also my queen and she is also my goddess." The handmaid explained in a voice of absolute reverence while a stunned silence swept through the air.

All the while as all sides stood stricken with disbelief as the princess gazed up with her golden eyes wide in astonishment.

"S-she is my sun…and she is my stars…. she is my ocean and she is my moon. She is all of that and more. I live for her…and I would gladly give my life for her. She…. she is everything." Elle informed in a voice of upmost seriousness while her friends listened to her ode to her princess in a moved silence.

While Azula found herself unable to resist allowing her regal lips to curve into the barest hint of a fond smile.

All the while as her lips parted in a rare show of long buried emotion while her companions stood speechless behind her.

'Azula….' Ty Lee thought with her brown-gray eyes taking on a heartfelt gaze as she turned to her royal friend while she saw that the woman was trying her hardest not to smile.

"Sumimasen Heika. I hold you no ill will. But I am loyal to her and her alone…and I am not interested in following anyone but her." The handmaid stated in a resolute voice as she stared up into the older woman's still recovering blue eyes.

While the princess seemed to visibly swell with pride as she held her arms proudly over her armored chest.

All the while as she gazed about with her crimson lips forming a pleased smirk.

While the young prodigy now gazed on from where she stood with understanding in her emotionless brown eyes.

'Short of killing Azula…there is no separating those two…I see that now.' Naoki thought as she sighed with a shake of her head while her crew stood in shock behind her.

All the while as Rieko finally regained her composure as she turned to smile in the direction of the glaring princess.

"My…now that is devotion. Let's hope that she doesn't take it for granted." Rieko remarked with her blue eyes still gazing down into the princess's glaring golden eyes.

While another cold chill blew through the air as Elle gazed down at her feet with a still bothered expression in her eyes.

"But…enough about that. I…I have a question to ask you Heika." Elle muttered in a thoughtful voice while Rieko tilted her head with her brows arching inquisitively.

"And that would be?" The emperor pondered in a perfectly refined voice with her hands folding behind her tall back once more.

All the while as she never took her gleaming eyes off the younger girl's clearly emotional face.

Only for her gaze to turn to follow the teenager's when Elle shifted her distressed eyes to the ground below.

While all eyes followed the girl's gaze only for Team Azula's eyes to burn with wrath like never seen before when they saw that the colonel was trying to crawl away!

"What are you going to do about that man! He oversaw the operation that killed my parents and everyone else in my childhood home! I will see to it that he faces justice!" The handmaid roared with returning fury in her bitter voice while the maimed colonel's blue eyes flashed with outrage.

And that was all it took for Zoi to launch her tired body across the battlefield.

And then the mighty captain slammed the struggling man face first into the ice wall.

While her golden eyes brimmed with rage as she glared at the back of his skull.

All the while as Azula glanced on with ruthlessly tyrannical eyes in approval of her warrior's swift action.

While Ty Lee and Mai stared on with the same level of hate in their eyes.

All the while as Rieko gazed down with recognition in her understanding blue eyes.

"You are not getting away!" The captain shouted as she twisted the colonel's arms behind his back while she gritted her teeth in her fury.

"Ah. Yes. Him." Rieko commented in a calm voice as she stared down at the writhing man with pitiless blue eyes.

Only for her gaze to flicker with slight surprise when she turned to glance down at her feet to see that blue fire had erupted all around her ice pillar.

And not a moment later the Fire Princess used the distraction to leap on top of the ice formation.

All the while as she landed with her servant being pushed behind her once more while she glared back into the older woman's entertained blue eyes.

While all eyes on the frozen battlefield now turned to the two queens standing with the trembling peasant girl on the ice pillar as it continued to melt under the heat of the princess's flames.

All the while as Azula and Rieko stared right back into each other's domineering eyes with neither leader willing to give in to the other.

While the tall princess now stood protectively shielding her small girlfriend as her lips pursed into a frightening snarl.

While the emperor for her part seemed to simply gaze on with amusement in her cruel blue eyes.

"Stay away from my girlfriend." The princess hissed in a terrifyingly violent voice as she seized her quivering little girlfriend in her steely grip.

All the while as her imposing golden eyes glared ruthlessly back into the older royal woman's aggravatingly amused blue eyes.

"A-Azula-sama." Elle stuttered in a swooning voice as she held onto her princess's armored belly while she listened to the older snarl over her.

While Azula's golden eyes remained narrowed into savage slits as she began to flare what was left of her drained aura.

All the while as a look of fury brewed in her eyes when the older woman let out a loud laugh once more.

While the ice pillar shrunk as the three noblewomen stared up in amazement from below.

"I believe that you have me mistaken Azula. I have no intentions of taking your…girlfriend away from you. It's just going to be a change in who sits at the top…that is all." The emperor responded in a completely unfettered voice as she stood unflinching on the sinking pillar while the princess's golden eyes now boiled over in rage.

The meaning behind the statement was all too clear.

And not a second later Azula bounded off the collapsing structure with Elle crying out from where she held on underneath her armpit.

Only to land skillfully on her booted feet beside her two childhood friends while she glared at the monarch with murderously narrowed eyes.

'How dare she presume that she can conquer me!' Azula thought with her teeth bared in a merciless glower while she shoved her little girlfriend behind her back.

All the while as she watched with a ruthless glare when the older woman landed on her boots with just as much skill.

While the woman still smiled back at her with her blonde hair swaying in the wind behind her.

While the two noblewomen crouched down with every intent to fight the emperor.

All while as the captain stood with her blade against the back of the colonel's neck as her focused golden eyes gazed at every major player present.

Just as Rieko stood up to her full height with her gloved hands still relaxing behind her back.

While she turned to glance around with a methodical gleam in her eye as she scoped out the battlefield.

And not even a second after that the emperor took all of the Fire Nation women by surprise when a beam of ice was fired over their heads.

And then just like that a scream penetrated the air as Azula and her subordinates turned around to gaze over their shoulders in shock to see a man falling lifeless from an overhead ridge.

Just as the slain soldier dropped dead face first in the snow with his sniper rifle in his lifeless hands while Elle closed her eyes in fright.

And not even seconds after that more shrieks echoed out over the ice valley while four more soldiers rolled with holes in their chests down the snowy hilltops.

All the while as the acrobat and the markswoman stood stricken with awe over how the woman had done it so casually.

While the princess and her captain stared on with their eyes widening in disbelief.

While the young prodigy stared on with an impressed look in her eyes as her crew watched in fright behind her.

While the berserker gazed around with blinking golden eyes in awe of the older woman's power.

And the air force commander just glanced around with a bored look in her unsurprised gray eyes.

All while as the emperor now held her gloved hand suspended over her head as it slowly fell to her womanly hip.

"Will there be anyone else that wishes to follow in their footsteps?" Rieko questioned in a sanguine voice with her blue eyes sweeping about the battlefield.

Only for her lips to crease into a knowing smirk when the enemy army was deathly silent.

All the while as the Fire Nation women gaped on with their eyes wide in shock.

And then the older woman folded her hands behind her back once more while she stood authoritatively at the center of the ice valley.

"Those that wish to join my army kneel." The emperor commanded in an unyielding voice as she still gazed around with dominating blue eyes.

And then not an instant after that Team Azula turned to watch in astonishment as soldier after soldier dropped to the ground on their knees!

Even those who had been in their tanks climbed out to take a knee as they knelt shivering on the ice.

While Azula's callous golden eyes flickered with a begrudgingly impressed stare as she glanced over all of the kneeling soldiers.

All the while as she scowled deeply with her mighty fists gripped at her hips as she glared back at the older woman's smug face.

When her girlfriend told her about this woman's existence over all this time, she never thought that she would be this strong!

And she already knew that there was no way that she and her subordinates could fight another intensive battle in this frozen land!

Not when they were about to collapse from frost bite and chi exhaustion!

'Damn this woman! I…can't face her today…not like this! I must retreat and regroup!' Azula thought with her merciless golden eyes taking on a strategic gleam while she held her little girlfriend's trembling wrist in her fist.

And soon after that the only ones that remained standing were all of Team Azula.

And to their shock Team Naoki as well.

And that was when the highborn women and their young friend turned to watch with further alarm in their eyes to see that the emperor's military force was arriving upon the horizon.

Just as another armored car rolled to a stop before them.

While a door now opened up as all eyes turned to face a nicely dressed dark-haired woman who was stepping out into view.

All the while as Victoria smiled back at Rieko as the ruthless leader turned to regard her with a pleased stare.

"The operation was a success lord. We now have complete control over the territory." Victoria informed as she bowed with an arm over her chest.

While the Fire Nation women listened with uneasy stares in their alarmed eyes as they shared a look with one another.

All the while as the Fire Princess stared coldly back at the bowing woman as if she were trying to combust her into flames by her glare alone.

"Well done, Victoria. Unlike some other people here you never fail to please me." Rieko remarked with an edge to her voice as she turned to glare over her shoulder at Andromeda once more.

All the while as the loyal communications commander still smiled in her bow while Team Azula curiously studied the scene.

Just before the emperor turned her gaze back to the faces of the four highborn women.

And just as soon as Rieko looked away Andromeda's face broke out into a sneer that would have earned any Fire Nation soldier an execution from Azula.

While the air force commander began to stride across the battlefield towards her leader.

Until Andromeda came to a stop beside the emperor while she waved a hand in the direction of the cornered colonel.

"This man contacted me prior to our arrival to inform me that he has he has gifts for you." Andromeda announced with a sadistic undertone to her voice while she stood with her fists on her hips.

While Rieko's blue eyes turned to gaze back at Reynold's pale face as Zoi furiously glared back at them with her blade pressing into the man's neck.

"Oh? Is that so? Where are my gifts?" The emperor pondered as she tilted her head with her hands clasped behind her back while a cold sweat dripped down the colonel's face.

Only for the second in command to cut the man off before he could even speak.

"Scattered about the battlefield before our very eyes. They were in captivity but apparently this man thinks that it is acceptable business practice to have nothing to offer us and still call them gifts." The air force commander stated with a scoff while she stared coldly back into the colonel's widened blue eyes.

All the while as all of Team Azula bristled with rage at the mere prospect of the colonel living to see another day.

Just as the princess flared her enraged aura while her emotional serving girl shook from where she stood behind her.

"That man isn't leaving here alive! Not after almost executing my subordinates! And above all not after what he did to my servant's parents! I will see him burn!" The princess bellowed with absolute rage lacing her malicious voice while she glared monstrously back at the older man's paling face.

All the while as both the markswoman and the acrobat let out a righteous hiss of agreement.

"I don't give a damn who controls this frozen shithole! But in the name of Lana and Elias Turner I will see this man die!" Zoi yelled out in a furious voice as she crushed the man's neck in her muscular arms while Reynolds gritted his teeth in humiliation.

"O-oneesan…p-princess." The handmaid mumbled in a touched voice as she stood beside her master while the royal woman glared back at the colonel with predatory golden eyes.

While the emperor still stared back into the colonel's frightened eyes with an authoritative gaze that seemed to terrify the man more than the warrior's blade.

"I see…so you sought to join my side by presenting me with an offering of aberrants." The emperor commented as she paid the angered shouts of Team Azula little mind while the colonel attempted to nod his head.

Only for blood to drip down the back of his beck as he knelt with the captain's blade nearly cleaving into his skin.

"Yes! Every action that I took today it was all to join you!" Reynolds exclaimed in a desperate voice with Zoi's bicep crushing into his neck.

While the mighty noblewoman glared down at her captive with ruthless golden eyes as she exhaled steam through her furious nostrils.

While the princess snorted out blue fire through her constricting nostrils as she pursed her lips together into an unforgiving snarl.

All the while as the two other noblewomen glared out with outrage in their eyes at thought of letting their little sister's parents' deaths go unavenged.

"In other words, it finally dawned on you that you are going to lose this war. So, you came here to kiss my ass and sell out your comrades in the hopes of begging me to spare your life. Is that it?" Rieko questioned in an exceedingly imperious voice as she tipped her head back while she stared terrifyingly back into the man's shaken blue eyes.

While the highborn women of Team Azula now stared on with a flicker of confusion in their eyes as it almost began to feel as if the colonel's hopes for survival were not as great as they first thought.

All the while as Naoki's machinelike eyes flashed with a hint of pleasure as she watched the man grovel.

"No! I had every intent to join you for months now! I had to plan my moves with caution otherwise the higher ups would have noticed! I saw the perfect opportunity to prove my loyalty to you and so I seized it!" The colonel insisted with his stump hanging at his hip while he stared urgently back into the emperor's unfathomably horrifying blue eyes.

While the arctic air in the frozen valley continued to get progressively colder as the Fire Nation women stared on with uncertainty in their narrowed eyes.

All the while as the princess's golden eyes flashed with bewilderment as she studied the older woman closely.

If she didn't know any better…the woman almost looked furious.

"You insignificant ant! All you accomplished was ruining my covert operation!" The emperor boomed without warning as she clenched a gloved fist before her seething face as her soldiers began to back away in fright while a look of pure terror overcame the colonel's face.

And just like that Andromeda leaped away with a blast of airbending while Team Azula watched in suspense.

All the while as Elle's amber eyes trembled in heavy emotion from where she stood beside her princess.

While the Fire Nation women grew more and more paranoid as they began to fear what the woman gleamed about their nation during the time that she was listening to them through their young friend.

"I was spying on the Fire Nation for months. At no point in time did I not have their lives in the palm of my hand. I could have launched a complete invasion at any moment of my choosing. Until you came in firing a hail storm of bullets at invaluable war powers like some unskilled butcher." Rieko spoke in a venomous voice with her blue eyes taking on an expression rage while the colonel began to cower in the captain's arms.

All the while as an unsettling silence took over the frozen battlefield as the highborn women widened their eyes in horror.

While Azula's golden eyes now shook with inconceivable fury as she smashed her fist at her hip.

All the while as she stared murderously back at the older woman with a promise of agony in her eyes.

Months!

This was absolutely unacceptable!

There was no way that she could leave today with that gateway intact!

While the handmaiden's sensitive amber eyes flashed with guilt as she stood with her princess's strong fist crushing her wrist.

All the while as the captain's golden eyes began to glance about with a widened look of her own as she gritted her teeth.

This woman was far more dangerous than they had predicted!

"I-I…I…didn't know! I…I meant no disrespect lord!" Reynolds shouted in a rapidly frightened voice while Rieko's tyrannical eyes still glared through his soul.

All the while as beads of cold sweat continued to make their way down his trembling brow as he felt the air turn colder once more!

"Let me explain something to you…you fool. If I say that the princess and her three nobles die…. then they shall die. If I say that Elle-chan is to be brought in…she will be brought in. If I decide that Naoki will be my apprentice then she will be my apprentice." The emperor snapped in a livid voice as her blue eyes shone with wrath while her horrifyingly cruel blue eyes continued to make the man tremble in terror.

While the princess boiled with rage overcoming her golden eyes as she stood with her little girlfriend's hand in her own.

All the while as the two noblewomen stared on with rapidly soaring fright in their eyes.

While the captain stared on with her golden eyes widening in alarm as she watched the older woman's chi begin to rise.

"I-it was all for your benefit!" The colonel cried out in a fear-filled voice while the emperor stared monstrously back at his distraught face.

"I don't care if it is was for my benefit. It doesn't matter if the sky is falling. It doesn't matter if the core of this planet is imploding. You are not to take action until I have spoken even if it costs your life. The lives of every single person here are mine and mine alone to decide." Rieko ranted with her pony tail swaying wildly behind her as the colonel sunk back wide-eyed with fright.

All the while as a sense of disbelief consumed the air as the highborn women gaped on in shock.

Most especially Mai and Ty Lee over how horrifically similar the older woman's reasoning was to that of Azula's!

"But that is not what angers me the most. It is the actions that you took at Rosewood that truly infuriate me." The emperor stated in a seething voice with her jaw clenched in barely controlled rage while the colonel's eyes widened in confusion.

All the while as a look of astonishment came over all of Team Azula as they watched in growing puzzlement.

"W-what? I…I don't understand!" Reynolds sputtered in a disbelieving voice from where he knelt in the captain's arms.

While Zoi gazed on with fascinated golden eyes as she observed the chi seep off the woman's body.

"Y-you're going to punish him right Heika? F-for what he did to my m-mom and d-dad? T-to the village and to Naoki and Katsu? To my friends?" Elle pleaded in a sorrowful voice with tears in her eyes once more while her lips trembled in still present anger and grief.

While Naoki and Katsu's eyes flashed with recognition as they turned to gaze back at their innocent friend over how they were included in the girl's plea.

While Azula still glared on with her golden eyes narrowed into slits as blue fire snorted out her enraged nostrils.

All the while as her subordinates watched in shared anger as the man cowered in her captain's arms.

"Such a monumental waste of life. Thousands dead and butchered. Among them the girl's parents and so many more. Children enslaved. And for what?" Rieko commented in a verbally abusive voice with her icy eyes glaring wrathfully back at the terrified man.

While the highborn women gazed on with a taken aback look in their eyes as they watched the older woman unload on the cowering man.

He was so visibly frightened that it almost looked as if he was more afraid of the emperor's rage than death at the captain's sword!

All the while as the small girl listened with her amber eyes growing wider in surprise as she stood in shock by her stunned princess.

"Only a primitive fool would engage in such mindless slaughter. How can humanity move forward to a new dawn of glory if we cannot rise past such barbaric instincts?" The emperor stated with an enlightened edge to her furious voice while the colonel continued to sweat in terror.

While everyone listened with a marveled expression in their eyes as the older woman still glared back at the man with her blue eyes overloading in rage.

"I haven't felt my blood freeze this cold in a long time. Genocide and child abuse are unacceptable in the world that I am creating." The emperor declared in an unforgiving voice with her eyes hardening like crystalizing ice while the highborn women listened in astoundment.

And just like that a powerful chi began to flow into the air before her imperious face while the Fire Nation women gazed on with their eyes agape in astonishment.

All the while as Elle stared on with a look of childlike wonder in her amber eyes as she began to wonder once more if she had judged the older woman wrong.

While the colonel shook with his blue eyes wide in pure unadulterated terror as the captain gazed on with her golden eyes agape in awe.

"In any case…I have been looking to kill you and your cohorts for some time now for your roles in the murder of Lana Turner. If nothing else I should thank you for showing your face to me. At the very least…you have saved me the trouble of looking for you." Rieko spoke in a frigid voice as she held out her gloved palm before her unfathomably ruthless face.

All the while as the chi blew into the air as the captain's eyes widened in greater alarm.

While the teenager listened with her mouth open in a moved emotion after hearing the older woman speak respectfully of her departed mother.

And then in that very moment the captain released the man from her grip to fall to the ground.

"P-please forgive me Lord Rieko! I am sorry!" Reynolds screamed in a voice as he fell back with his blue eyes widened in a state of abject terror.

While everyone from all sides stood staring back at the powerful emperor in captivation.

"I do not accept your apology." The emperor replied in an absolutely ruthless voice that was devoid of compassion while a deep glower graced her lips.

And then she snapped her gloved fingers while she watched with pitiless blue eyes as the man screamed at the top of his lungs.

All the while as the captain raced out of the way with her golden eyes gazing back over her shoulder in shock.

"P-please wait! I-I beg of you Lord Rieko! Please let me see the world that you are creating!" The colonel shouted in an utterly hysteria ridden voice as he watched in horror as a light swept over his body.

All the while as Team Azula gaped on with their mouths hanging open in speechless as the man that they had all grown to hate in the span of only a single day was consumed by a bright light.

"No." Rieko concluded in a heartlessly blunt voice as she straightened with her gloved hand falling to her hip.

While her hair blew in her eyes as she watched as the maimed colonel wailed as he screamed with his blue eyes nearly exploding from his eye sockets.

All the while as Team Azula and Team Naoki stared on with stunned expressions in their eyes as the man was froze to ice before their very eyes!

"Farewell…Reynolds." The assassin stated with her hair blowing in her eyes while her usual smile graced her lips as she watched the man scream madly as he was crystalized in ice.

While Azula gazed on with her golden eyes wide in shock as she watched the man rapidly become frozen with ice that Katara would never be capable of!

And that was all it took for the colonel's screams to literally be frozen in time when the ice completely crystalized over his entire body!

All the while as Zoi still gazed over her shoulder in mid run with her eyes wide in disbelief.

While Mai and Ty Lee stood unmoving with their mouths hanging open in a speechless display of terror.

And Elle watched with stunned amber eyes as the man now glistened with a brilliant luster in the arctic sunlight.

And then the ice statue of Reynolds shattered to thousands upon thousands of tiny shards of sparkling ice before their awestruck eyes.

All the while as the many glistening crystals of ice landed on the frozen ground.

Only to be dispersed by a gust of arctic wind not even a moment afterward.

While the emperor watched what was left of the man get blown away in the northern winds.

Until all that remained were the foot prints in the snow from where the man had been standing not even moments before.

People like him…

Have no place in the world that she is creating.

AN:

So, this chapter was mostly about Rieko.

Azula and Rieko finally met face to face at long last, and as we saw it was a huge clash of egos. Azula's ego has grown quite a great deal thanks to Elle's adoration, and she now views it as her destiny to defeat everyone who stands in the way of her rule. Including her own father.

So, it goes without saying that Azula doesn't appreciate the way that Rieko was exerting dominance over those on her team. Especially Elle.

We also saw that Rieko has a way of effortlessly taking control over the battlefield and that she has a powerful presence that resonates even with people who are not among her followers.

And Rieko also confirmed that she gathered a great deal of data from Team Azula before Azula crushed her spy device. Which means, that Rieko was likely able to gauge just by Team Azula's talks with Elle that the Fire Nation is at a technological disadvantage against her army.

Rieko is truly abnormal in many respects, both in power and her imposing height.

Also, as we saw with Elle. Even though Elle was upset that Rieko used her as a pawn. Rieko is quite adept at getting those who distrust her to second guess themselves.

And unlike Ozai, we saw from her interactions with Team Azula that she does possess a sense of humor.

I hope that everyone enjoyed Elle's ode to Azula. As that established to all present that Elle's loyalty was for Azula alone.

And while Elle was not willing to kill Reynolds. We also saw that she does not forgive him, and that she recognizes him as a monster that doesn't deserve to live.

Elle pointing out Reynolds's attempt at escaping the scene is the most wrathful that we have scene Elle yet. And it also shows that Elle can be quite resourceful when pushed to it.

Elle realized that she has an obscenely powerful emperor that wishes to come back with her for her own purposes. So, she decided that if she was going to interact with Rieko that she would petition her to punish Reynolds for his part in the destruction of her childhood home.

I also hope that everyone enjoyed Zoe's swift capture of Reynolds, as it is symbolic of the way that she is evolving as a person thanks to Elle. When Zoe first appeared, she had no respect for pacifism and peaceful ways. And now all of that has changed, because Elle has earned her respect and loyalty. And now, Zoe is just as loyal to Elle as she is Azula.

And Rieko also revealed her tyrannical side when she expressed fury towards Reynolds for acting without her consent. And that she won't just welcome anyone into her fold if she feels that they are of no use to her.

At the same time, she also demonstrated that she is a strong believer in order and that she looks down upon those who participate in wholesale genocide.

Of course, the ultimate irony to all of this is that through this entire arc Reynolds was working to get a position in her ranks. Only to find out in his final moments that he was on her kill list.

I considered having Azula kill Reynolds, but we have already seen Azula beat Hoshin to death for Elle and I didn't want to write a repeat of that scene.

So, I gave the kill to Rieko. As I thought it would better serve the story if Reynolds met his end at the hands of Rieko as it helped illustrate the value that she places on order. Thereby allowing Team Azula to get a glimpse at her power first hand for themselves.

It also shows that Rieko differs greatly from Ozai. I would say that Ozai is more of a generic tyrant who just wants power for powers sake.

Whereas Rieko is unique in that on some level, she genuinely believes that her rule is what's best for the world.

And above all, it shows why people are so terrified of Rieko. It is because they know that if they displease her that she will shatter them into thousands of shards of ice.

Anyhow, that will all for now.

Stay tuned for next time.

For chapter one-hundred-thirteen! Through the World Gateway!