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I hope that you all enjoy the chapter.
The Promise - Chapter One Hundred Thirty-One
Three hours later in the Capital City Prison.
The sound of heavy metal doors opening up echoed into the air.
While Mai glanced up from where she sat in her cell as she listened to the sound of footsteps striding her way.
Only for her tawny eyes to widen a fraction in surprise to see Azula come to a stop standing outside her cell.
While Azula gazed back at the incarcerated woman with callous amber golden eyes as she folded her arms over her breasts.
"Mai. You have a visitor." Azula stated in her usual impassive voice as she stared at her childhood friend's taken aback face.
While Mai turned to gaze past her royal friend only for her eyes to flicker with a moved emotion when she saw her adopted sister come scampering up behind the princess.
"Elle?" Mai greeted in a surprised voice while she watched the teenager rush forward to her cell door.
"Oneesan Mai! Are…are you alright! Are they treating you okay!" Elle cried out in a fretful voice as she stood before the bars while her big sister cracked a small smile back at her.
"Kid. What are you doing here?" The markswoman asked with a tiny margin of fondness in her voice while she watched the princess step up beside the girl.
"I was worried about you and I wanted to see how you were doing. So, Azula-sama brought me here to see you." The handmaid responded in a sweet voice as she seated herself before the bars while she gazed into the cell at the noblewoman's recovering face.
While Mai gazed at the younger girl's gentle visage with an appreciation reflecting in her tawny eyes.
Before she turned her gaze to Azula's emotionless face knowing full well that the girl had to have pestered the princess a great deal to allow her to come here.
"The girl has been weeping for days because of you. She had this preposterous notion that Boiling Rock meant that you were going to be boiled alive." The princess snorted in a callous voice while she glared into the noblewoman's remorseful tawny eyes.
"I am sorry for causing you more sorrow Elle." Mai stated with a rare sense of guilt in her composed voice as she gazed out her cell at her adopted sister's movingly emotional face.
While her tawny gaze softened when she watched the young girl brace grasp onto the arms of her cell.
All the while as the princess stood above her with her ruthless amber golden eyes staring coldly back into the cell.
"Don't be sorry Mai. You know me. I wear my heart on my sleeve." Elle commented as she leaned in to peer back into Mai's regretful eyes while the woman sighed fondly in her cell.
"And just so we're clear. The only reason that I am allowing this little visit is because you are interfering with the quality of my foot rubs." Azula remarked in a beyond spoiled voice as she studied the fingernails on her fist while she gazed back at her incarcerated friend's now deadpan face.
"Foot rubs Azula? Is that really what this is all about?" The markswoman inquired in a monotone voice while she gazed past her little sister at the princess's arrogant face.
"This morning I wanted a foot massage and instead of massaging my feet she broke down crying. Not only have you betrayed me. Because of you I haven't had a proper foot massage in two whole days." The princess complained in a haughty voice as she glared down at her handmaid's still sentimental face while the noblewoman rolled her tawny eyes.
"It sounds like you really suffered Azula. I don't know how you managed to survive." Mai stated in a sarcastic voice while Azula just sighed as if it was a great hardship to shoulder.
Only for both highborn women to turn to gaze back at their young friend when the teenager pulled her backpack off her shoulders.
"I brought you some stuff in my backpack oneesan to help make your stay more comfortable!" The handmaid chirped as she scooted closer while the markswoman gazed fondly back at her.
"You didn't have to bring me anything Elle. I'll get by." The markswoman assured in a softer voice while she stared back at the younger girl's compassionate face.
While she avoided mentioning that her status as a high noble would play a role in her being treated with more care than the other prisoners.
Only for her tawny eyes to gaze on in slight amusement when the girl began to comically dig through her pack.
All the while as the princess turned to stare down at the girl's back as she rolled her amber golden eyes.
"Elle. Just hurry up so that we can be done with this." Azula sighed as she loomed over the girl while the teenager dug through her back.
"No oneesan! I had to. Let's see here…I brought you a blanket!" Elle informed as she withdrew a small blanket as she passed it through the cell while Mai's smile grew just a little bigger.
"Thanks kiddo." Mai replied in a grateful voice as she took the blanket in her hand while Azula still scowled down at the girl.
"And I also brought you a pillow." The handmaid stated in a lovable voice as she held out a small pillow while her big sister accepted it with an appreciative sigh.
All the while as Azula's amber golden eyes glared down at the girl's back as she watched her dig for more stuff.
"Naïve girl. What are you doing? This is prison. It's supposed to be a miserable place." The princess scoffed in a cruel voice only for her amber golden eyes to flash with annoyance when the girl continued digging.
"And I baked some mochi for you." Elle declared in a sweet voice as she held out the box while Mai's tawny eyes widened with uncharacteristic emotion.
"Elle…" The markswoman trailed off in a thankful voice while her eyes conveyed a sisterly warmth as she gazed back at the smiling girl.
"Mochi? You didn't tell me that you made mochi." Azula commented in demanding voice as she bent over to inspect the box.
And not a moment later the handmaid released a mortified cry when the princess opened the box and selfishly took one of the balls of mochi.
While Mai stared back at the princess with an unsurprised expression in her deadpan tawny eyes.
"A-Azula-sama! Those mochi are for Mai!" The handmaid cried out in an upset voice as she quickly passed the box through the bars while her princess smirked above her.
"Yes, well. What can I say? It's been a tiring day and a princess has to eat." The princess remarked in an entitled voice as she greedily took a bite of the mochi while a conceited smile graced her lips.
All the while as she continued to elegantly eat her mochi while she paid her handmaid's pouting gaze no mind as the girl closed up her backpack.
While the markswoman just shook her head as accepted the box with a grateful countenance.
"Thank you…little sister for all of this and more." Mai remarked with a small smile on her lips while her indebted tawny eyes stared back at her adopted sister's heartfelt face.
While Azula sighed once more as she took another graceful bite of her ball of mochi.
As she leaned against the wall with her callous amber golden eyes observing the two closely as the teenager emotionally gripped the bars in her hands.
"I have something that I have to tell you oneesan." Elle declared in a contemplative voice as she sat gazing at her big sister's shadowed face through the bars.
While the markswoman sat in silence as she waited to hear what the younger girl had to say.
"I promise you. I am going to do all that I can to defeat the Avatar and secure your freedom. No matter what happens. I will not let you down." The handmaid announced in an unusually resolute voice while she met the noblewoman's moved tawny eyes.
While the princess glanced over her shoulder with a flicker of surprise in her ruthless eyes to see that the girl was using her friend as motivation to defeat the Avatar.
'Elle. I can't help but ponder how motivated you will be to defeat the Avatar when you discover that our nation is committing the same torments that you were forced to live through.' The markswoman with her tawny eyes gazing down at the prison floor.
Until she met this girl.
She never really gave any of the actions that the Fire Nation has committed in the last one hundred years much thought.
And yet as she raised her eyes to gaze back at her little sister's warm face still peering back at her through the bars.
After getting to know this girl that she now calls family and seeing what she went through.
How could she not?
"Elle. I want you to listen to me. I do not want you to worry about my freedom. Leave all thoughts of the length of my sentence to Azula. And just try to enjoy yourself with Azula. Okay?" Mai advised in a composed voice as she gazed right back into sentimental amber eyes.
While Azula stared back at the two with a pleased gleam in her amber golden eyes that both were deferring to her authority.
And then she swallowed what was left of her ball of mochi while she gracefully wiped her hands off.
All the while as she gazed at her little girlfriend's back with the slightest hint of a smile on her lips.
No one cooked better than her little handmaid.
"I am sorry oneesan. But I can't not worry about you. You're my family." Elle insisted in a passionate voice with her devoted eyes staring in at the noblewoman's softening expression.
Just as the teenager turned to gaze up at the princess's regally stoic face with an obedient look in her eyes.
"Azula-sama. Will you please open the cell so that I can give Mai a hug before we go?" The handmaid pondered in a hopeful voice while her princess's amber golden eyes now narrowed down at her.
"If I open the door of this cell door…is this going to lead to a several hour cuddle in Mai's lap?" Azula questioned with a haughty snort while she glared down at her girlfriend's trembling face.
While Mai stared out of her cell with a small trace of amusement in her eyes.
"N-no?" Elle answered a terribly unconvincing voice that prompted the princess to roll her eyes.
Before Azula pushed her body off the wall as her elegant sigh resounded into the air as she stepped forward with the key in hand.
While the teenager's amber eyes lit up with excitement as she smiled up at the face of the ruthless woman.
All the while as the markswoman stared back at the two with a slight smile still on her lips.
"You've got one minute Elle." The princess remarked in a beyond strict voice as she stared down into her handmaid's understanding amber eyes.
And not a second later the sound of the cell door clanging echoed into the air as the doors slid open.
And that was all it took for a blonde blur to leap into the cell and into the noblewoman's arms.
While Mai released a fond sigh as she wrapped her arms around the younger girl's shoulders.
"I l-love you Mai." The handmaid stammered in a touching voice as she embraced the woman around the neck while a hand patted her back.
"I love you too Elle. You're always be a member of my family." The markswoman replied in a hushed voice as she held the smaller girl against her shoulder.
While Azula stared on with her regal lips pursing to the barest hint of a jealous scowl as she tapped her royal boot on the floor.
And with that the two girls held each other close for the span of one minute.
Before the younger girl reluctantly pulled away as she swallowed down her apprehension as she gazed back into the older girl's caring tawny eyes.
"You…you take care oneesan. Be safe." Elle whispered as she wiped at her eye while Mai nodded her head in appreciation as a ghost of a smile adorned the woman's lips.
And then she hesitantly stood up as she stepped out of the cell while her amber eyes lingered on the noblewoman's seated form.
"You too Elle. We'll see each other again sooner than you think." Mai assured in a voice of acceptance as she watched the girl nod her head while the cell doors slammed shut once more.
"I…I sure hope so oneesan." The handmaid answered with a smile returning to her lips while her princess came to a stop standing over her once more.
"Well, at least you got one last hug in before we boil her. After all, it is Fire Nation custom to cook and eat traitorous nobles." Azula remarked in a devilish voice with a smirk on her lips while her handmaid spun around to gaze up at her in horror.
While the markswoman just stared at her leader in returning annoyance as she shook her head.
"W-what! Is it really?" Elle sputtered in a naïve voice while the princess rolled her eyes over her.
"That was a joke Elle." The princess commented in a stern voice as she rolled her eyes while her girlfriend breathed a sigh of relief.
"Azula. I have something to say to you before you two go." The markswoman stated in a reflective voice while the princess turned to gaze stonily back at her.
And for a fleeting moment the two childhood friends gazed back at one another as the incarcerated woman developed a serious expression.
"I am not going to apologize to you for saving Zuko. Even though he is an honor obsessed fool…I still love him. But I will apologize to you for any feelings of betrayal that my actions brought upon you. I have come to terms with what I did and I accept my punishment." Mai declared in a forthcoming voice while she stared out into the princess's taken aback amber golden eyes.
While Azula stood impassively considering the other woman's words.
Only to find herself gazing on with a flicker of surprise in her eyes over the resolute expression in her friend's eyes.
"I have misjudged you Azula. Elle has helped me come to see that…and I want you to know that I believe in your rule." The markswoman announced in a strikingly honest voice while the princess listened in captivation.
"You…believe in my rule?" Azula asked with something akin to relief in her refined voice as she stood beside her smiling girlfriend.
"I do. I have confidence in you and Elle both." The markswoman replied in a firm voice as she sat on the floor of her cell while the princess stared back in consideration.
While a stony look still graced the princess's lips as the teenager grinned up at her.
"I have only one request to make of you. I would like to see Elle on her birthday…" Mai confessed with a trace of sisterly affection breaking through her calm voice while the princess furrowed her brows.
"O-oneesan…" The handmaid stuttered with a smile on her lips as a moved emotion overtook her gentle gaze.
"I will consider your request." The princess stated in a stoic voice as she sighed as she stared back at her friend with less hatred in her eyes than before.
Before she turned to walk away as she gestured for her loyal servant girl to follow after her.
"It's time for us to go Elle." Azula informed in a commanding voice as she watched the girl reluctantly turn to follow after her.
"Bye big sis. I'll…be thinking of you." Elle called out in a happier voice than before while Mai offered her a small smile.
"Look after her for me Azula." The markswoman responded as she sat back in her cell while the princess let out a cold scoff as she walked away.
"I don't need you to tell me to do what comes naturally." The princess scoffed as she strode away with her head held high while her serving girl padded alongside her.
And as strange as it may be.
She…actually felt happier than before she came to visit her friend.
And with that the two walked away.
But not before Elle stopped for one last time to glance back at her incarcerated big sister.
While Azula glanced callously down at her as she bit her lips.
Before she smiled once more back at the noblewoman's appreciative face as they turned to head out.
And just like that Mai watched the couple depart through the doors of the prison.
While sat back on the floor with her legs folded underneath her gazing down at the box of mochi.
Before she reached in to eat one with a sliver of a smile still forming on her lips.
'That girl really is something else…to be able to get through all of us like this…even Azula.' Mai thought with a reflection of fondness coming over her eyes as she shook her head.
The princess and the peasant were now stepping up to enter the royal carriage once more.
Only for Azula to halt in her walk with a gratified smile pulling onto her lips when her handmaid scurried in front of her to open the door for her.
"Please like me get the door for you princess!" The handmaid exclaimed as she faithfully opened the door for the woman while she curtsied her princess with her other hand over her chest.
While she smiled shyly up at her master's smiling countenance as the graceful woman stepped past her.
"As always, you show your queen only the upmost courtesy." Azula stated in a vastly pleased voice as she stepped foot into her carriage.
And then she gracefully set her backside down on her cushioned bench while she folded her hands in her lap.
While she watched through the corner of her possessive eye as her pet closed the door behind her.
Just before the young girl timidly sat down beside her highborn girlfriend.
All the while as the princess sat there with the faintest signs of an at ease smile on her lips.
"Do you feel better now peasant?" The princess inquired in her usual strict voice as she gazed down at her handmaid's smiling face.
"As a matter of fact, I do. My flow is brighter than before." Elle answered in a lovable voice as she beamed up at her master's face while the older woman let out a lovely snort.
"You may be a childish little thing Elle. But you are my little thing." Azula commented in a controlling voice with her callous amber golden eyes staring down at the smiling girl seated beside her.
Only for her lipstick painted lips to curve into a wide smile when she felt two dainty arms wrap around her belly.
While she wordlessly allowed her young girlfriend to hold onto her as they listened to the royal carriage travel back to the caldera.
"M-my queen. My gorgeous goddess of a Fire Nation queen." The handmaid spoke in a beyond reverent voice with an infatuated expression in her warm amber eyes.
While she smiled in contentment as she sunk her face into her princess's warm body.
Only for the peaceful expression in her eyes to grow when she felt a muscular arm slide around her neck.
And then she fell forward with a blush into her princess's side while the much taller woman smiled charmingly over her.
"That's right my peasant." The princess purred in a content voice as she held her little lady underneath her arm.
"O-oh Azula-sama…." Elle murmured in a voice of endless worship as she clung to the older woman's body.
While the princess smiled widely as she enjoyed every moment of her girlfriend's boundless adulation.
"I rule you Elle." Azula stated in a supremely pleased voice with her arm greedily coiled around her pet's little neck.
"A-and I serve you Azula-sama." The handmaid stammered in an adorable voice as she smiled in serenity while her princess smiled above her.
"Hm. And you best remember it little lady." The princess sighed as she sat back with her submissive girlfriend laying against her breast.
While she listened to the sound of the carriage traveling smoothly down the caldera road.
There wasn't a shred of doubt in her mind.
This is the way that it was always meant to.
It was her destiny to rule with her little beloved by her side.
And so, she will.
Several hours later back at the Royal Palace.
Ty Lee now walked with Elle while she smiled down at the younger girl's sweet face.
As she felt a sense of relief to see that the girl was smiling brightly once more.
"It sure has been a long day, Ty Lee. But my flow feels better now after visiting Mai." Elle chirped as she strode with the noblewoman while her big sister grinned down at her.
"Well, I am glad to hear it little sister." Ty Lee replied as she patted the younger girl on the shoulder.
"And now I get to have the honor of serving Azula-sama in her royal spa." The handmaid stated in a cheerful voice as she beamed on happily while her big sister sighed in fondness.
"Elle, haven't you been spent the whole day serving Azula?" The acrobat asked in a warm voice while the younger female nodded proudly.
"I have! And now I get to do it even more." Elle remarked in a jubilant voice with a sunny smile on her lips.
"Azula is already the most spoiled woman in the world Elle and now you are making her even more spoiled than before." Ty Lee chided in a sisterly voice as she gently shook her head while her adopted sister cutely scratched at her cheek.
"I know that Azula-sama is spoiled and that I am only making her even more so. And I am aware that it must seem like it is a lot of work to serve her. But I don't mind really…because I am overflowing with love for her. And serving her is my way of letting her know it." The handmaid commented in a happily thoughtful voice as she smiled sheepishly while the acrobat fell into an astonished silence beside her.
While Ty Lee paused in her step as she stared at her younger sister in captivation as the girl turned to smile back at her.
"She feels that I am the first person to show her love in her entire life. And that is why I must serve her Ty Lee. Because if I don't love her. Who will?" Elle explained in an innocently devoted voice while Ty Lee slowly nodded her head in amazement.
And somewhere deep within the acrobat's heart she felt a twinge of guilt that she allowed her friend to feel unloved for such a long time.
"That is so sweet of you Elle. You have such a gentle heart. I am so thankful that you are here for Azula." The acrobat answered in a kindly voice with a grin pulling onto her lips once more while the girl smiled at her.
As the teenager continued to walk towards the royal spa only for her smile to grow when a strict voice resounded into the air.
"Get in here servant! I want a foot massage!" Azula called out in a beyond demanding voice as she sat in her chair with her feet on the floor.
While Ty Lee just tenderly shook her head with a smile still on her lips as she watched the girl scamper off.
"I'll see you later Ty Lee!" The handmaid exclaimed as she waved at the smiling woman as she hurried towards the spa.
And then the acrobat watched the girl disappear down the vast depths of the palace.
While she found herself grinning even wider as she turned to retire her caldera estate for the evening.
They truly were fortunate to have Elle in their lives.
The handmaid stepped into the spa wearing her servant's attire while she closed the ornate door behind her.
Just before she turned to shyly smile in her princess's direction to see the woman seated beautifully in her seat with all the dignity of royalty.
While the princess turned to confidently gaze back at the approaching teenager with her palms folded over her robed belly.
"Well, peasant. Are you finally ready to worship your goddess with your all?" The princess questioned with an alluring grin on her lips while she stared dominantly back at her handmaid's pretty smiling face.
Only to find herself gazing on with surprised amber golden eyes when the girl took off running towards her.
And not a second after that she fell back into her seat with her eyes widening in pleasure when the small girl enveloped her in a tight hug around the neck.
"I will always be ready to serve you Azula-sama. Because you are the head of this family and that means that I have to take care of you." Elle responded in a dedicated voice as she hid her face in her speechless girlfriend's dark hair.
"Take care of me?" Azula asked in a bewildered voice with a blink of her amber golden eyes while she listened to the girl let out a decidedly adorable giggle.
And then she felt gentle lips bashfully peck her on the cheek.
All the while as she sat on her throne with a pleasantly taken aback expression in her amber golden eyes.
"That's so Azula-sama. It's my job to care of you…b-because I love you." The handmaid informed in a compassionate voice as she retreated with a blush on her young cheeks.
While imposing amber golden eyes now narrowed authoritatively back at her as she happily dropped down onto her knees.
"Naïve girl. You have it backwards. I am the one that takes care of you." The princess snorted in a conceited voice once more with a haughty smile on her lips.
Only for her smile to grow when she felt her girlfriend take hold of one of her feet while she wiggled her toes in delight.
Just before she arched another elegant brow when small girl giggled once more as she smiled back up at her.
While her callous amber golden eyes stared sternly down at her loyal servant as she sighed while she sprawled out upon her throne.
It was a strange notion to her…
Being taken care of by her own serving girl.
And yet a curiously welcoming one all the same.
Yes, it most certainly was indeed.
Later on, elsewhere in the outlying islands.
Darkness had overtaken the city of Shung Wu.
And now, a chaos that made the previous incident seem pale in comparison was sweeping over the isolated city.
Fires were lit all throughout the city as what local guards were available were overwhelmed by the enraged populace.
And the once prestigious Castle Zanoda that overlooked the city was now being ransacked by the rampaging townspeople.
While Joza ran through the streets in a terrified panic as he listened to the yells of the vengeful commoners.
"There he is! Get him!" A Fire Nation man roared as he cornered the former governor against an alley wall.
"N-no! Please! I had no part in General Meram's brutality! You've got to believe me!" Joza pleaded in a paralyzed voice as a large crowd of commoners stood seized him by the arms.
Only for his yells to go unheeded as he was swiftly dragged with his terrified golden eyes listening to the screams of the peasants resounding all around him.
"Shozak was right! No more! it's time that we showed the aristocrats that they must fear us! And the only way that they will fear us is if we spill their blood!" The same man bellowed as he held a blunt instrument in hand while the former governor frantically shook his head.
"I-I beg of you! Please don't do this! I swear that I will do whatever I can to petition the Fire Lord!" The former governor shouted as he was hauled out to the center of the city where the executions had taken place.
While blood still stained the city street as the desperate nobleman continued to howl for mercy.
Only for his golden eyes to widen in horror when he saw his daughter screaming surrounding by the murderous townspeople.
All the while as his wife's cries split into the air as his cries went ignored by the rage of the commoner horde.
"F-Father! What's happening!" The young girl hollered in a hysterical voice only for her screams to pierce the air when she was thrown to the ground.
"Joza!" The wife howled in a shrieking voice when she just barely caught sight of her horrified husband.
"N-no! No! Please at least spare my family! P-please! Please!" Joza screamed in a terror-struck voice only to be struck savagely in the face.
While the screams of both his family and the enraged yells of the townspeople carried all throughout the city.
And those that weren't involved in the revolt were hiding away in their houses in terror of being associated as being aligned with the aristocrats.
"This is for Shozak!" Another man yelled as he began to brutally beat the screaming nobleman.
While Joza yelled at the top of his lungs until he felt like his vocal cords ruptured.
Only for his wails to be in vain as he was mercilessly beaten by commoner mob.
And then he felt someone strike a blow to the back of his head.
And soon enough even the screams of his own terrorized family members were began to seem further and further away.
And that was when he caught a glimpse of her face staring down at him from the rooftop above.
It was the most terrifying face that he had seen in all of his life.
It was the face of a sinister Fire Nation woman whose eyes were gleaming with unfathomable horror.
Vega stood on the roof of the building with her arms crossed over her chest as she locked eyes with the screaming nobleman.
While a truly sinister smile pulled at her lips as she let out a deranged laugh that carried into the air throughout the chaos riddled city.
And not a second after that Joza's shrieks split into the air as he was finally torn apart by the rabid mob.
While the screams of his wife and daughter still carried out over the now lawless city.
And many guards were now screaming in unison as they were helplessly beaten to death by the overwhelming populace.
And the rest of the guards had taken off fleeing to the hills as the roars of the bloodthirsty peasants carried out over the horizon.
While countless voices stood chanting a message in the burning streets.
"Down with the monarchy! Down with the nobility!" The violent townspeople boomed over the air of Shung Wu.
All the while as the herald observed the destruction of the great noble clan with a malevolent smile.
Just as she turned gaze over her shoulder when she heard footsteps approaching behind her.
While Silah gazed down at the carnage below with an impressed look in her dark green eyes.
"Just look at them. Isn't it revolting? Never content. Always wanting more. Until their savage nature consumes them and everything else in sight." Vega commented in a dark voice with her sinister golden eyes staring down at the maddened scene below.
While the puppeteer arched an emotionless brow as she gazed curiously back at the herald's visage as their faces were lit by the flames below.
"Revolting? Aren't you also a Fire National?" Silah asked in a tone devoid of pity for the people below while screams still split the air.
Only for Vega to smile wickedly as she stared down at the spectacle from above.
"This has nothing to do with nationality and everything to do with the nature of humanity. We are but a persistent disease that deserves to die." The herald answered in a heartless voice while the puppeteer chuckled in psychotic amusement.
"I disagree with you. That is quite the bleak way of looking at the world. I personally view the world in more of an artistic light." The puppeteer remarked in a sadistic voice with a smile on her lips while her ghostly silver hair glistened in the firelight.
While the herald rose a brow as she turned to stare back at the other woman in entertainment with a wicked smile of her own on her lips.
Before she too let out a chuckle as she turned to gaze back down to the festivities below.
"The judgement of all humankind has begun. I am going to kill them all, and then…there won't be anything left but ashes and rubble." Vega announced in a vicious voice as she watched the city be enveloped in chaos while Silah still smirked alongside her.
And then she erupted in sinister laughter as her monstrous cackles carried out across the once peaceful Fire Nation city.
Meanwhile, back in the servants' quarters of the Royal Palace.
In that very same moment Elle sprang up from her bed with her amber eyes wide in fright.
While she panted with sweat sticking to her forehead as she held a terrified hand over her accelerating heartbeat.
As she held her hands to her forehead as she tried to drown out the demonic voice that was flowing through her mind.
The judgement of all humankind has begun!
I am going to kill them all!
There won't be anything left but ashes and rubble!
And that that was all it took for Elle to sink back in a ball against the wall of her quarters.
While she lay there with her frightened eyes as wide as can be while she still heard the sound of the woman's voice playing over and over again in her mind.
"W-what…what are we going to do?" The handmaid whispered in a breathless voice as she sat there holding her rapidly beating chest.
And even though she has never met this woman.
In all of her life she has never heard a voice that was so terrifying.
It was…even more horrifying than Felix!
And she knew right then in that very moment in her veins that this woman was a horror like no other.
And so, it went all through the night.
As she was unable to shut out the sound of the mysterious woman's cackling in her mind.
And just as unable to suppress the feelings of doom of whatever was waiting over the horizon for her and her friends.
AN:
Thank you Jigoku-kage and guest, for wishing me well. I truly appreciate it.
Elle's visit with Mai in prison was critical because she needed to see with her own eyes that nothing horrible was happening to Mai.
Now Elle has Mai to use as motivation to help Azula defeat Team Avatar.
As we heard in Mai's thoughts. Will that motivation remain after she discovers the truth behind the Fire Nation's actions?
It was also an important moment for Mai and Azula's friendship. Because unlike in canon, even though Mai is being imprisoned.
Azula and Mai have shown that their friendship has been mended from what we saw in canon and from what it was at the start of the story.
In response to Elle losing all of her blood family, Elle has shown that she has decided to devote all of her love to Azula. Because Elle feels that by serving Azula, that she is showing her the love that she has craved all her life.
Though Azula is too proud to admit it, she knows that Elle is taking care of her in her own gentle way. And that is just one of many reasons why Azula appreciates Elle's companionship.
That brings us to the big moment with the fall of Clan Zanoda.
We finally got a glimpse of how dangerous Vega is as a villain.
If anyone is wondering why Fire Nation citizens would descend into such madness.
It is implied by Vega's presence in Shung Wu that she has been coaxing them to violence behind the scenes.
She was likely doing this before Azula arrived and quelled the discontent of the people in the city.
Then General Meram came along, and poured fuel over the fire that Azula put out by having a brutal public execution that only enraged the people even further.
Ozai cemented the destruction of Clan Zanoda when he rewarded Meram instead of punishing him. This sent a message to the people of Shung Wu that their Fire Lord does not care about them.
Vega took advantage of this and manipulated the people into publicly massacring Clan Zanoda.
This is a huge event that will effect the Fire Nation as a whole, because while Azula told Joza that his clan would be stripped of their rank as high nobles. Ozai had yet to pick a clan to replace them.
The people grew so furious that they wiped out an entire clan, and rampaged throughout the city. Unlike the small revolt that Azula encountered, this couldn't be a bigger show of revolt to the Fire Nation aristocracy.
We have two people working to stir up rebellion against the Fire Nation government.
The first is Sia, who is the founder of the revolution movement and she truly just wants to make life better for the people.
And the other is Vega, she is taking advantage of this public anger, and using it as a means to an end to bring the world one step closer towards an apocalypse.
And then there is Silah. It was clear from Silah's observations that she didn't have a role in organizing the carnage in Shung Wu.
Silah is an ageless serial killer with very little ability for empathy, so she is able to watch large scale carnage without feeling pity for the people involved.
Vega and Silah are loosely working together, but that is only because Silah has an unspoken wariness of the entity that Vega serves. Silah has no loyalty to any side. She is just in it for the hunt.
It was also interesting to see Vega and Silah converse. Because while we know more about Silah than Vega, they are both deranged in their own way.
Despite this, they don't see eye to eye. Vega thinks Silah's belief that her puppets are art is absurd. And it was implied that Silah thinks Vega's bleak desire to kill all humans is mad even for her tastes.
If Ozai and the Fire Nation elite continue to project a callous coldness towards the needs of the rebelling people and if they do not learn to show concern for their subjects.
Monsters like Vega that are out to destroy them will capitalize on their cruelty and use it against them to incite the public into chaotic violence.
This is what Mava meant when she warned that Vega would tear the Fire Nation apart and that she would come after Elle.
We know that she got into Elle's mind all night long.
We are going to see Team Azula try to uncover who Vega is and how to face her as she continues to cause discord from the shadows.
Most enemies of the Fire Nation, Azula can just track down to destroy them. The problem with Vega is that she is called a herald for a reason. She serves a dark monster that pervades the entirety of the Avatar world.
She has been empowered by this dark force and that means because of her supernatural abilities it will not be easy tracking her down.
We won't be seeing as much of Vega as we do of Silah, as Vega is more of a behind the scenes villain while Silah prefers to hunt hands on. But when we see her again she will likely be doing something messed up.
On a more personal note, for those curious about my health.
My testing confirmed my diagnosis and I finally know the cause of my four year intractable head and neck pain. I have a rare condition called vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia.
Which means that an artery in that reason is looping when it is supposed to be straight.
I was freaking out when I researched this, because I was reading about how it can eventually cause fatal stroke later on in life because it can compress the brain stem.
The good news, is that my doctor says that it usually occurs near the brain stem but mine is nowhere near the brain stem. So, they can operate to fix it without going into my skull.
This also means that it will be much easier to fix.
As of this moment, my neurologist is sending me to a neurosurgeon at UOM to see if he has the skills to do the operation needed to fix it. If not, they told me that there is a surgeon in New York City who has experience with this type of surgery.
My neurologist assured me that there is hope and that he believes that if I get surgery that they can make all of this head pain go away.
In the meantime, I am not going to deny it. I am in extreme hellish pain. It has gotten to the point where the artery is compressing me so badly that I can't even walk straight anymore.
Almost no pills give relief for the head pain, and let me tell you, it is way beyond what most people consider a head ache.
And if anyone is wondering why I am still pushing through with the story and why I don't instead take a break.
Well, writing the story makes me happier and helps me take my mind off the pain. I am invested in telling this story at this point. When I write, I immerse myself in this world that Azula and Elle are in with all of the other characters and how it all plays out.
When I get into my groove, I hear their voices and see how it all plays out as each chapter connects in my mind and each moment intertwines.
The chapters are just coming along slower, because the pain is hindering my ability to do anything, including writing the story that I love.
So, I'll just do somewhat slower updates for now. And I will let everyone know when I get an operation scheduled. I am crossing my fingers, and hoping that UOM can do it and that I won't have to leave the state.
Anyhow, that's it for now!
Stay tuned for next time.
For chapter one hundred thirty-two! She Dreamed of Doom!